An unassuming gesture of his finger, without the slightest trace of fire or smoke.
The next moment, roots abruptly took hold in the gaps between the shifting jade tiles and grew wildly. In the blink of an eye, a tree thick enough to encircle with both arms had risen.
Within the Golden Hall, the tree swayed in the breeze, its blue flowers and autumn leaves vivid and lifelike.
Everyone's gaze was drawn to the sight. Not only the Foundation Establishment cultivators, but even the True Persons seated there could not help marveling.
Conjuring an enormous tree with a casual gesture was hardly difficult for someone at Purple Mansion, but surely there was more to this display than that.
For a moment, everyone found themselves eagerly anticipating what this newly advanced True Person would show them.
Jiang Yang had no intention of keeping them in suspense. His fingertip shifted, and the great tree withered in an instant, its branches turning a dull yellow, as though time had accelerated around it.
Withered leaves fluttered through the hall, scattering in all directions. In moments, every Foundation Establishment cultivator present had an autumn leaf in hand.
Some reverently cradled theirs and leaned closer to examine it. Its veins crisscrossed, seeming to reveal interwoven sword marks.
Those who curiously sniffed it could even detect a faint, clean bitterness mingled with the scent of wood. Everything about it suggested that this was an ordinary fallen leaf.
Naturally, there were also those who refused to believe it. One took the leaf into his palm and, with a squeeze, easily crushed it. Brittle fragments of its veins slipped down his hand.
Clang!
A sword seemed to ring out in the void, sweeping away every other sound.
"Ah!"
A young man in gold clenched his fist and cried out