Ace Domain

Five people surrounded the ancient tree.

Su Mo, with his two-meter-two holy physique.

Xiao Wu, shrouded in a terrifying aura.

Tang San, wielding a Blue Silver Grass sword.

Big Black Ox, a six-hundred-year-old demon king.

Ma Hongjun, the successor of the Kun Fist.

The ancient tree looked down at the group, each of whom possessed unique skills.

A mocking smile played across its face.

"Why resist me? Isn't it better to be happy together?"

Its branches danced wildly.

Pink mist permeated the air once again.

It unleashed its mental attacks at full power.

"I am the Holy Tree that can bring happiness to everyone~"

Seeing this offensive, Su Mo immediately said in a deep voice, "Everyone, guard your minds! Don't be affected by its illusions!"

Big Black Ox let out a roar, and the righteous energy of Confucianism erupted, dispersing the mist.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass sword severed the incoming branches.

Xiao Wu engaged in close-quarters combat, focusing her attacks on the trunk.

Ma Hongjun unleashed an Iron Mountain Lean, cracking the tree bark with a single strike.

Su Mo charged to the front, slamming his fists into the trunk one after another.

Under the close coordination of the four, the ancient tree was forced into a steady retreat.

It finally panicked.

"Impossible! How can you possibly resist my happiness?!"

It desperately pushed its mental attacks, but with every strike, the face on the trunk withered a little more.

Su Mo noticed this.

"It's overdrawing its own life force! It won't last much longer!"

The group unleashed their full power.

Finally—

"Boom!"

The ancient tree crashed to the ground.

A soul ring rose.

The group sat on the ground, panting for breath.

The bewitched believers woke up one after another and left with bewildered expressions.

Tang San silently pulled up his pants, pretending nothing had happened.

Big Black Ox huddled in a corner, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

Xiao Wu hugged her carrot, curiously examining the fallen ancient tree.

Ma Hongjun sat to the side, lost in thought.

He looked excited and hesitant one moment, and disgusted the next.

Su Mo walked over.

"What are you thinking about?"

Ma Hongjun looked up.

"Boss Su, just now... I almost thought I had awakened some strange hobby."

Su Mo's mouth twitched.

Ma Hongjun continued:

"But then I figured it out."

"The things the Evil Fire makes me want to do are, in essence, just a pursuit of pleasure."

"Because it seeks pleasure, it loses control and turns me into a monster."

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

"But there are many things that can bring me pleasure."

Su Mo watched his movements, a look of disdain appearing on his face.

Ma Hongjun didn't notice a thing and continued, "Winning a fight feels great. Breaking through in cultivation feels great. Eating delicious food feels great. Being recognized by others also feels great." He looked up, his eyes clear. "What I want to pursue is the kind of satisfaction that makes me stronger. Not the kind that turns me into a beast."

Su Mo patted him on the shoulder. "Ah... right, that's it. That's what I was thinking, too. Anyway, congratulations on growing up."

Ma Hongjun grinned. "Boss Su, can you write me a new book when we get back? One about the satisfaction of getting stronger through battle."

Su Mo: "..." I'm just a literary plagiarist, you know...

The Benevolent Ancient Tree crashed to the ground, and a purple spirit ring emerged from its body. Nine hundred years. Su Mo stared at the spirit ring, lost in thought.

Tang San leaned in. "Master, are you going to absorb it?"

Xiao Wu asked curiously, "What do you think this tree's spirit ring does? Does it make people like being whipped?"

Big Black Ox: "Moo." (Don't even mention it, I need to forget that memory as soon as possible.)

Su Mo ignored them and continued to ponder. The tree's abilities were quite sinister—converting pain into pleasure, mental control, and illusions. Though twisted, they were undeniably powerful. And, if used for the right path... He thought of his mother's illness. If he could control this power, could he help alleviate her suffering?

Su Mo nodded. "I'm absorbing it."

Tang San said worriedly, "Master, this tree's abilities are so wicked, will there be side effects?"

Su Mo smiled. "Don't worry, your master knows what he's doing."

He sat cross-legged and began to absorb the spirit ring. The purple ring slowly merged into Su Mo's body. Unfortunately, Su Mo could not escape the fate of facing the Benevolent Ancient Tree after all. During the process of absorbing a spirit ring, one must endure its power. His expression shifted between agony and ecstasy.

The four people watching had complicated looks on their faces.

Xiao Wu: "Master's expression is so strange..."

Tang San: "Don't speak, Master is cultivating!"

Big Black Ox silently turned his head away.

Ma Hongjun watched, deep in thought. So, absorbing a spirit ring can feel this good... No, no, what am I thinking?! He hurriedly shook his head, casting the thought aside.

I don't know how much time had passed.

Su Mo opened his eyes. A flash of purple light flickered within them.

He stood up and stretched his body.

"Not bad, it didn't turn out perverted."

Xiao Wu leaned in curiously: "Master, what ability did you obtain?"

Su Mo thought for a moment, unsure of how to explain it.

Thus, he simply lit up his spirit ring, and a white mist appeared all around him.

He slapped the Big Black Ox on the rump with one palm.

"Moo-oh-ooo~~~"

A moan rang out, giving everyone nearby goosebumps.

Terrifying...

The Big Black Ox came to its senses, wishing it could die of shame.

It glared angrily at Su Mo.

Su Mo explained:

"As you can see, within the range of the mist, my strength and defense are increased by twenty percent."

"At the same time, all the pain I inflict will be mixed with an equal amount of pleasure."

Tang San blinked: "Then what do you plan to call it?"

Su Mo remained expressionless.

"Ace Domain."

Tang San tilted his head: "Ace?"

Su Mo: "Nothing, just a letter."

Xiao Wu was curious: "What letter?"

Su Mo: "...Children shouldn't ask."

On the small path, the atmosphere was a bit subtle, as if everyone still had lingering feelings.

The Big Black Ox was still walking with a sway, its psychological trauma too great.

Tang San touched his own rump from time to time, his expression complex.

Ma Hongjun was in high spirits, practicing his Iron Mountain Lean the entire way.

Xiao Wu was still holding a carrot and gnawing on it, completely unaffected.

Su Mo walked at the back, occasionally looking back at the depths of the forest.

A nine-hundred-year spirit ring; the ability was perverted but useful.

After returning, he would have to study how to use this ability to treat his mother's illness.

However...

He recalled the scene from earlier, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

He would never forget those rump-thrusting believers for the rest of his life.

The Big Black Ox let out a mournful "moo" from the side.

(Me too.)

Tang San silently quickened his pace.

'Me too.'

Ma Hongjun pretended that nothing had happened.

'Me too.'

The tacit understanding between brothers often didn't even require a glance.

Xiao Wu looked at them blankly: "What kind of riddles are you guys speaking in?"

The three of them said in unison: "Nothing."

Xiao Wu: "???"

Under the moonlight, the five figures gradually drifted away.

They seemed to be stretched infinitely, until they merged into one...

In the Royal Hunting Park, a figure crawled out.

It was none other than Yu Xiaogang.

To say he was "crawling" was no exaggeration.

His legs were as soft as two noodles, trembling with every step he took. His clothes had been torn into strips by thorns, hanging off him like rags. There was a large hole in the back of his pants, his pale buttocks faintly visible, and they were stained with white spots of unknown origin.

Perhaps it was bird droppings from the trees, or perhaps something else.

In any case, he did not want to look into it.

Three leaves and a dead twig were stuck in his hair, his face was smeared with mud and unknown slime, and his entire person emitted an indescribable odor.

It caused everyone nearby to steer clear.