Within the hall.
As Vast Marsh finished speaking, the surrounding light of dark Ren Water trembled and rippled, changing with his will. Deep crimson thorns and creeping vines gradually sprang up, taking root in the Ren Yang waterlight.
The dark Ren Water drew inward, slowly merging into a stretch of sky-blue vast radiance and vanishing from sight. Only an ink-gray dragon shape flashed past.
"Vast Water belongs to that lord in the Eastern Sea. But who stands behind Yi Wood?"
Xu Xuan's expression grew slightly grave. The path of Yi Wood was uncommon. He had only seen it practiced on Rejuvenation Mountain, where it was a lineage beneficial to spirit planting, and had paid it little attention. Yet according to Vast Marsh, this path had far-reaching entanglements behind it.
"The lord of that age has long since vanished into ancient history. Once, we could still glimpse a few traces, but ever since the soil of history was gathered away, we no longer even know their true name."
"Before the rise of Zhou, the path of Yi Wood was firmly held in check by our Ren Water. When the torrents swept through, the waters flooded and the wood floated-how could it bind us?"
"The clear, harmonious nature of Ren Water could also grant it a measure of vitality. We did not wholly suppress this path. Presumably, the Dragon Lord also aided the lord of Yi Wood."
At the mention of this, Vast Marsh's dragon head looked somewhat savage and fierce. He said angrily:
"The lord of Yi Wood in the Zhou era seized upon the fall of our Dragon Court's sovereign to reverse the cycle of generation and restraint, then slipped free."
"By the Feng era, Yi Wood had attained its station anew, and a fiend emerged with the Daoist name