The Source

Within the indescribable mist, countless roots bursting from the ground surged and boiled like living tentacles, their massive branches and willow twigs enveloping an area of several miles.

This sudden turn of events caught everyone present off guard.

Why did this ghost willow suddenly appear on the surface of the earth?

Why was Xu Yuan sitting on that ghost willow tree?

Is he now truly Guiliu inside, or is he still himself?

If it's the former, why is Tianye, who is bound by the Lock of Shared Life, still intact?

If it's the latter, how could Origin Beginning resist the possession by a Saint-level Yingui?

But soon,

The white-robed man sitting cross-legged atop the ancient willow tree then made a move.

He slowly propped himself up on his knees and stood up, looking down at the three people below, and at the golden runes that almost enveloped Tianyan.

As far as the eye can see,

The willow branches swayed, and more and more fluorescent cherry blossoms drifted down, adding a touch of brilliance to the eerie and sinister mist.

Then,

Xu Yuan raised his hand indifferently, pointing it at the spot where the three people were standing.

Upon seeing this scene,

A young woman in a black dress, with a captivating figure, suddenly smiled.

The connection of the Lock of Shared Life confirmed to her that the man was still himself, not Gui Liu who had successfully possessed her body.

Looking at the white-robed man sitting atop the towering ancient willow, Tianye smiled as if he were a good friend and asked:

"Xu Yuan, you even have the leisure to change your clothes. It seems you've succeeded. Congratulations!"

Speaking of this,

Tianye paused for a moment, staring at Xu Yuan's brow, a sinister smile on his face:

"However, I am very curious, how did you manage to resist the possession by a Saint-level Yingui?"

"."

Xu Yuan's response to her greeting was simple: he slightly clenched the three people's hands, and a bewitching light flashed in his pink-tinged eyes, causing the tree roots and willow branches that covered several miles to begin to wriggle.

Upon seeing this, Luo Zhiyuan immediately looked around at the swamp, and his expression suddenly changed.

According to his perception, the entire underground area had been hollowed out by the roots of the ghost willow, and it was about to stir with activity.

His aged voice was extremely solemn:

"Holy Maiden, retreat! The ground beneath has been hollowed out by the Ghost Willow."

Tianye raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes as he looked at Xu Yuan.

She hadn't expected the other party to react so quickly.

In an instant, he understood the current situation.

However, what Tianye admired even more than Xu Yuan's reaction was how decisive this guy was.

Just half an hour ago they were all lovey-dovey, but now they've struck without hesitation, showing no mercy whatsoever.

A hint of excitement flashed in Tianye's golden phoenix eyes. He showed no sign of backing down and quickly gave the order:

"Help me take control of Tianyan first."

Everything has its priorities and urgency; no matter what the issue, it's essential to look beyond the surface to see its true nature.

Although the specific process is unknown, Xu Yuan seems to have successfully controlled the Ghost Willow using the Charm God Tree Seed.

Xu Yuan's decision to have it appear here was clearly to rescue Tian Tianyan from Luo Zhiyuan's clutches.

As long as she controls Tianyan first, Xu Yuan will inevitably be hesitant to act rashly.

As she spoke, the thousands of golden runes that had been condensing in the air shone brightly and bound towards Tianyan's slender body.

In the blink of an eye,

Tianyan's golden eyes were dazzling as he watched everything around him seem to slow down.

Just now, in order to rescue Xu Yuan, when Tianye activated the ' Four Symbols God-Sealing Seal ', she did not make any move to resist.

At their level, if they were even a breath or two late, they would have no chance to resist, not to mention that she had a saint by her side at the moment.

In thought,

Luo Zhiyuan's attack has already arrived.

The power of the sage against the Origin Beginning is almost irresistible.

"Pfft!"

Luo Zhiyuan raised his hand and pointed, and the arc of electricity that shot out from it pierced through Tianyan's slender body, the immense force sending her flying.

Intense pain surged through him, Tianyan could clearly feel the injuries he had suffered.

The Dantian was pierced, and tiny arcs of electricity seeped into the meridians along the wound, instantly spreading and numbing all the meridians.

Even so, Tianyan's calm face remained completely devoid of emotion.

Upon witnessing this scene, a sigh immediately rose in Tianye's eyes.

It failed.

That old codger Luo Zhiyuan actually treated Tianyan the way he treats ordinary cultivators.

Piercing the Dantian might be enough for an ordinary person, but the woman in front of her is a ' Tianyan ' who, like her, has mastered the Secret Method of substitution.

As long as one part of the Dantian remains, the substitution Secret Method can still be activated.

Tianye wanted to try to use the "Sealing" mantra to delay the opponent's substitution Secret Method, but he was willing but unable to do so. His injuries made it difficult to even use the "Four Symbols God-Sealing Seal," let alone concentrate on casting other spells.

No sooner said than done, a secret telepathic message was transmitted through the Tianye:

"By locking onto Tianyan's Qi, she can be reborn through possession of another's body."

Luo Zhiyuan subconsciously turned to look at Tianye, his eyes filled with confusion:

"What's the meaning?"

Tianye's clear and beautiful voice carried a hint of urging:

"Stop dawdling, cripple her one more time! If she's not strong enough, escape by killing herself."

Before the words were finished,

Luo Zhiyuan's pupils contracted slightly; he suddenly understood the saintess's meaning.

Under his perception, the girl whose Dantian he had pierced suddenly self-destructed, and almost simultaneously, a strange fluctuation came from a hundred feet away.

In an instant,

Tianyan's figure appeared in the void a hundred feet away, his face, which had originally had some color in it, was now as pale as paper.

"."

Looking at the scene before him, Luo Zhiyuan felt that his worldview, which he had lived for nearly 300 years, had been shaken.

Could there really be such miraculous magic in this world?

That girl was clearly dead, so why?

"Hurry up!" Tianye whispered.

Luo Zhiyuan suddenly came to his senses and subconsciously wanted to teleport over, but his figure ultimately stopped beside Tianye.

A moment's hesitation, and it was too late.

Tianyan's figure teleported another hundred feet away.

And from even further away, countless willow roots and stems rose up to meet her.

The cooked duck flew away.

Watching Tianyan depart, Tianye took a deep breath, his flippant voice finally tinged with anger:

"Luo Zhiyuan, why did you hesitate just now?!"

Two chances, two reminders, all lost because of this old geezer's distrust.

Luo Zhiyuan exhaled a breath of stale air, his response to the Holy Maiden's questioning appearing nonchalant:

"I have never seen such a miraculous technique before, and I am quite surprised, hence my hesitation."

As he spoke,

His aged eyes met his gaze:

"Your Holiness, how do you know the other party's background?"

Upon hearing Tianye, a hint of anger visibly rose on Tianye's bright and beautiful face, but it quickly turned into helplessness.

These Saint Venerable, like Luo Zhiyuan, have long held high positions and developed their own system of judgment. Apart from the Pavilion Master, probably no one can gain their unconditional trust.

"How do I know that you wouldn't understand even if I told you?"

Tianye's voice returned to its usual casual tone, and he snorted lightly, "As for you, Venerable Luo, have you figured out how to bring Tianyan back to the pavilion? That Ghost Willow, controlled by Jing He, seems to be even stronger than you."

Luo Zhiyuan was slightly taken aback, then replied in a low voice:

"The Yingui cannot be controlled indefinitely; this matter requires careful consideration."

Upon hearing this, Tianye smiled wryly, dispelled the activation of the ' Four Symbols God-Sealing Seal,' and looked up at the towering ghost willow in the distance.

The man above him happened to be looking at him.

His eyes held no emotion whatsoever, only a cold, icy expanse.

Ah, men.

How heartless!

Tianye chuckled inwardly, a slight smile playing on his lips, when he heard Luo Zhiyuan's urgent whisper beside him:

"Holy Maiden, you must leave this place! They're coming!"

"Boom!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the previously quiet Misty Ghost Domain suddenly erupted into chaos.

From stillness to movement, in less than a few breaths, the willow branches swaying in the air, along with their roots breaking through the soil, intertwined and surged towards the two people below like waves!

Upon seeing the willow branches surging towards him like a tidal wave, Luo Zhiyuan's expression darkened completely, and he unleashed the powerful aura of a saint without restraint.

Centered on Luo Zhiyuan, a chilling and terrifying thundercloud instantly formed and spread outwards.

The sky and earth changed color, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and where the thunderclouds covered, the Ghost Mist dissipated, leaving the willow branches charred black.

The powerful aura caused everything around it to lose its color.

Even so, the tree roots and willow branches surging in from afar like ocean waves showed no sign of stopping.

Five li.

Sanli.

One mile.

Buzz--

The sea of willow roots crashed straight into the thunderclouds that were looming over the ground.

The clash between the Dao Domain of two Saint-level experts instantly resounded through the heavens, and the powerful turbulent flow of Source Qi swept away the Ghost Mist within a radius of dozens of miles!

When everything calmed down and the thunderclouds dissipated, a massive crater, hundreds of feet deep and littered with debris, appeared in the center of the swamp.

Standing atop Ghost Willow, Xu Yuan silently gazed at the surging scenery below, which seemed as if a realm of trees had descended, without uttering a word.

Inside the giant pit, the mist dissipated, the swamp evaporated, and charred willow trunks covered the ground, while various roasted and decaying corpses emitted a foul stench.

In the center of that deep pit, two figures stood in mid-air.

Tianye stood to one side with his arms crossed, his face full of amusement.

Luo Zhiyuan looked somewhat disheveled; his once meticulously tied-up white hair was now loose, and his wrinkled face had several scratches.

Even among sages, there are differences.

Luo Zhiyuan seemed no match for this Thousand-Thorn Ghost Willow that had endured countless years.

Of course, it's also possible that it was to protect Tianye, preventing him from fully unleashing his power.

In the midst of deathly silence

Xu Yuan's calm yet undeniable voice suddenly spread out:

"You may leave."

"."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiyuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Before he could answer, Tianye spoke first, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement:

"Changtian, it seems your control over this Ghost Willow isn't perfect after all?"

"Although the Charm God Cherry Tree can manipulate Saint-level experts, it is still, after all, a tree species."

Xu Yuan did not deny this, but his reply was addressed to the old man:

"Even though my control over this Ghost Willow is flawed, I'm still willing to fight to the death with you before it goes out of control."

After saying that,

Tianye seemed to want to say something more, but was stopped by Luo Zhiyuan's telepathic message.

He couldn't gamble that the other party was bluffing; the previous clash had already proven the kid's control over the Thousand-Thorn Ghost Willow.

As for continuing the fight

That Ghost Willow is far stronger than him in terms of raw power. Unless he uses his trump card to fight to the death, it's impossible to determine who will emerge victorious.

The problem is that even if he wins by using his trump card, he cannot guarantee his and the saint's safety afterward.

After all, this is the All Swords Valley, shrouded in Ghost Mist for ten thousand years.

Those beings deepest within are most likely spying on this place from the shadows.

The current situation on the field is not suitable for continuing the battle.

It would be best to consider this matter carefully.

A thought flashed through Luo Zhiyuan's mind, and after glancing at Xu Yuan's eyes that were sparkling with pink light, he suddenly proposed loudly:

"Kid, how about we make a deal?"

Xu Yuan observed the old man's expression, pondered for a moment, and then directly used telepathy to ask him:

"You want the Charm God Tree Seed?"

"You're quite clever."

"Impossible," Xu Yuan replied outright.

"What I mean is to exchange with you for other treasures," Luo Zhiyuan, not annoyed, and continued speaking.

Well, that's Old Man Luo's ancestor.

Upon hearing that the other person's surname was Luo, Xu Yuan felt a strange unease, but he still shook his head.

"I told you, it's impossible."

"As long as you hand over the Charm God Tree Seed to me, Luo."

"It's ruined."

"." Luo Zhiyuan.

Xu Yuan didn't hide anything and told the truth:

"Old man surnamed Luo, I don't have much time left to control this Ghost Willow. I'll ask you one last time: do you want to leave, or do you want to stay here and fight me to the death?"

"."

Luo Zhiyuan's expression was very unpleasant.

After seven years of pursuit, both sides actually maintained a sliver of decency.

That is the Charm God Tree Seed.

They wouldn't kill Tianyan and his companion unless Tianyan destroyed the Charm God Tree Seed, since they needed Tianyan to refine the Charm God Tree Spirit.

But now, that bottom line has been crossed.

Thinking this, Luo Zhiyuan's voice took on a chilling tone:

"Kid, are you serious about that?"

"If I hadn't completely sacrificed the entire tree, how could I have controlled such a Saint-level Ghost Willow?"

As he spoke, Xu Yuan extended his right hand:

"One palm strike is all it takes. After that, I will control Ghost Willow to kill you all."

"Five.

"Four."

That's enough.

Luo Zhiyuan took a deep breath, interrupting the countdown, gave Xu Yuan a long look, and said in a deep voice:

"Let's leave."

Simple and decisive, he finished speaking and turned to look at Tianye beside him:

"Holy Maiden, let's go."

"Old Man Luo, if you want to leave, then leave. When did I say I was leaving?" Tianye asked with a smile.

Upon seeing the saintess's expression, Luo Zhiyuan's forehead veins bulged instantly.

Tianye ignored him completely, looking at the man in white, and transmitted his voice:

"Xu Yuan, take me with you when we leave."

Xu Yuan stared at the madwoman, his voice carrying a strange undertone:

Are you sick?

Tianye raised a slender index finger and gently pointed to his head:

"If you don't take me with you when you leave, I will kill myself immediately."

Xu Yuan gave her a deep look, then suddenly chuckled:

"Suit yourself, I'll stay here and watch."

"." Tianye.

"Why aren't you moving?" Xu Yuan's voice carried a perfectly timed hint of doubt. "If you want to commit suicide, you can do it now. This old man shouldn't be able to stop you. Why are you standing there motionless?"

"." Tianye.

There was a moment of silence.

The girl in the black dress stuck out her small tongue and gently licked the corner of her lips, staring at him with seductive eyes:

"It seems you really understand me, Brother Xu Yuan ~"

"I know a little about madmen."

Xu Yuan looked down at the black-clad enchantress with a hint of mockery. "Before, you didn't care about life or death because everything here was an illusion. Now that you have the hope of possessing someone else's body, how could you possibly bear to die?"

Tianye pursed his lips, lowered his head and chuckled twice, then murmured with a sigh:

"You're right, I don't want to die anymore."

So stop talking nonsense.

Xu Yuan interrupted the other person's rambling, his voice icy. "Get out of here."

"What a terrible temper! Can't you let me finish what I have to say?"

Tianye's golden eyes darted around as he searched his surroundings, saying softly, "I think I've figured out why you were able to resist the possession of a Saint-level Yingui while still in your Origin Beginning Form."

Xu Yuan frowned immediately upon hearing this:

What are you trying to say?

"Don't worry."

Tianye smiled casually and waved his hand, then his eyes lit up as if he had found what he was looking for.

Their gaze was fixed on a barefoot girl several miles away.

It was Tianyan, who had escaped earlier.

Her face was still as pale as paper, but compared to before, her cheeks now had a sickly flush.

Charm Poison

Tianye immediately recognized the other party's state, licked his rosy lips with interest, and transmitted his voice with a smile:

"Xu Yuan, why does Tianyan have the Charm Poison on her body?"

"What's it to you?"

"Just asking, don't be angry~"

Tianye raised her slender hand, gently stroking her fair chin, glancing at the towering ancient willow beneath him. Her red lips parted slightly, and she spoke in a languid tone:

"Ah, that Gui Liu is really stupid. A mere living soul actually tried to seize the source of the entire illusion. No wonder he failed."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan's pupils contracted.

Tianye's voice, like a demon's whisper, continued to echo in his ears:

"I just want to ask you, what if Tianyan knew that the source of this illusion originated from your Will Soul?"

Speaking of this,

Tianye smiled broadly, her smile as beautiful as a flower.

"What do you think she'll think of you then?"

"Will you kill yourself to break free from this illusion, or will you stay in this illusion with me forever?"

"."

His breath hitched, and a flash of killing intent crossed Xu Yuan's eyes.

Tianye immediately feigned fear and shrank back.

"Brother Xu Yuan, your expression is terrifying!"

While speaking,

Tianye chuckled, pointed in Tianyan's direction, and said with a smile:

"However, it's too late to silence you. When I spoke to you, I already informed Tianyan about this matter telepathically. I hope the two of you can get along well from now on."

"Tianye is really looking forward to our next meeting, Xu~Yuan~Ge~Ge~"

Having said that,

Tianye glanced at Luo Zhiyuan beside him, and the two of them transformed into two afterimages, flying towards the sky and eventually disappearing.

After the two left, all was quiet.

Xu Yuan slowly turned around and looked at the girl who had come up behind him.

The girl simply bit her lip and watched him quietly.