Kong Ling beat his wings and plunged into the heavy clouds.
Five-colored rosy light drew a dazzling trail beneath the gloomy sky as he sped from the Azurewood Sect toward the Old Site of the Dongting Immortal Sect.
The closer they came to the old site, the more desolate the scene below became.
The Spirit Fields that had once stretched across fertile land for thousands of miles had long since fallen into ruin.
Half-human-height weeds filled the paths between the fields.
Several abandoned wooden houses were covered in purple vines.
Most notably, a distinct rotten stench hung in the air.
Still, compared to when the Defiled-Earth God had run rampant, things were much better now.
Li Chuan stood atop Kong Ling's back, sweeping his gaze over the land below before speaking. "Back then, the Earth Qi here was so dense that even Nascent Soul Cultivators did not dare approach carelessly.
"Poisonous fog blotted out the sky and sun, and even birds could not cross it.
"Looking at it now, more than half the Earth Qi has receded, and the poisonous fog has thinned considerably as well."
"With the Defiled-Earth God's contamination gone, the Earth Vein here is slowly recovering."
Xu Changqing stood at the forefront with his hands clasped behind his back and said calmly, "In a few more decades, this land will be able to grow Spirit Rice again."
At those words, a trace of complicated emotion flashed through Qin Baili's eyes.
The Dongting Immortal Sect of old had been encircled by Immortal Peaks, with spiritual energy drifting like clouds and mist.
Disciples from the seven great Immortal Peaks had flown back and forth above the Spirit Fields.
Yet now, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but devastation—silent wasteland soaked through with Earth Qi.
Kong