Yun Che followed the direction indicated by the Essence of Ten Thousand Trees. The deeper he went, the denser the spiritual energy of the surrounding woods became, until even the air was steeped in gentle, moist wood attribute vital energy.
After nearly another half day of walking, a valley shrouded in thick mist appeared ahead. The Essence of Ten Thousand Trees grew slightly hot in Yun Che's palm, emitting a soft green glow that pointed straight toward the center of the valley.
"The spiritual energy here is so thick it can barely disperse. The Wood World Origin must be inside."
Yun Che spoke quietly and took the lead, parting the thick mist and walking in. Yuezheng Xiangling followed close behind him, keeping a measure of vigilance at her fingertips as she guarded against dangers that might emerge from the shadows.
The farther they walked into the valley, the thinner the mist became. When they reached its center, the view suddenly opened up before them, revealing a fist-sized ball of emerald light floating in the middle of the valley.
The fluctuations radiating from the light made all the surrounding vegetation grow luxuriantly. Fresh shoots had even sprouted from cracks in the rocks. It was precisely the Wood World Origin they were looking for.
Just as Yun Che reached out to take the origin, a soft sigh suddenly came from midair. The translucent figure of an old man in green slowly materialized. His hair and beard were the same color as the vegetation, and a faint woody fragrance lingered around him.
"Young man, you're quite capable, to have found your way here." The old man's voice was gentle, giving no indication whether he was friend or foe.
Yun Che's hand paused before he withdrew it. Cupping his hands, he asked, "Senior, are