Lushwood.
Crimson-black Vast Wood energy flowed and shifted, its aura of death growing stronger. Trees like iron and gold stood here, while dead roots tangled and intertwined beneath the ground.
A vast, magnificent wooden nest stood here, constantly drawing in and releasing Vast Wood energy through its formation to nourish the spirit beasts. Disciples frequently came and went, tending to their duties.
[Gathering Nest], a low-grade spirit artifact.
As large as a palace, this nest stood on what had once been the Wu Clan's land. Wen Guang had reforged its interior into three levels. The first housed ordinary spirit beasts, mostly creatures used as livestock to cut through mountains and divert water.
The second was reserved for those with exceptional bloodlines and could sustain Foundation Establishment monsters.
The third was prepared for noble-blooded creatures and had long been occupied by Crimson Centipede. This insect possessed little intelligence and was more like a special spirit artifact capable of acting autonomously. Without its master directing it, it fell dormant.
A streak of crimson spiritual light suddenly shot out from the second level. A girl in crimson robes flew out, her face alarmed. The spirit thunder light around her was in utter disarray, yet an altar law held it firmly in check.
She was Hexin, the spirit thunder red ray whom Xu Xuan had subdued in the Northern Sea years ago.
A young Nine-Infant crawled out behind her. It had nine long necks, heads resembling flood dragons, a body like a great crocodile, and four wolf-like feet.
Crimson and black mingled across its entire body, which was covered in scales and armored plates. Savage bone spurs and pointed horns jutted out everywhere. Newly born, it was already as tall as a person, and its aura had firmly reached Foundation Establishment. It was an