The rotting moss beneath the tree had been soaked through with red fluid, forming pool after pool of sticky, greasy puddles.
Countless cultivator and demon beast skeletons lay submerged in the puddles. Innumerable tiny gu insects clung to the bones, gnawing at what remained and making faint, rustling "sasha" sounds that sent chills down one's spine.
At the base of the tree, a pitch-black entrance lay hidden behind the rotting moss and skeletons. Billowing black smoke rose from within, mixed with the faint sound of insects chirping, as though it connected to a ghostly realm of the Netherworld.
In Clearbrook Valley, Xu Changqing raised his brows at the sight. "Evil."
The centipede-like patterns writhing across the bark, the venomous insects densely packed within the fruit, and the entrance connected beneath the tree—all of it proclaimed its strangeness.
This thing had undoubtedly been a sinister spirit plant alive for who knew how long. Perhaps it had long since bonded with the Lifeless Insect Mother.
"Qiong Valley, the Mayfly Offering, the Nine-Headed Insect... where are they?"
"Do we have to crawl inside and investigate?"
"But it isn't the day of the moon's darkening yet!"
Meanwhile, on the wastelands of the Central Region, a flying ship cleaved through lead-gray clouds and headed toward the region shrouded in miasma ahead.
The four seal-script characters, "Dongting Immortal Sect," gleamed brightly on the ship.
Xu Ping'an, Li Yueyao, Jian Hanxin, and the others were about to reach their destination.
The farther the flying ship traveled, the thinner the surrounding spiritual energy became. In its place came a thick aura of yin evil and decay.
The once-clear sky was now obscured by heavy gray miasma clouds, and the light was dim as night.
Leaning on the railing, Li Yueyao looked toward the region suffused with