The steps wind downwards, deep into the mountainside.
The deeper one descends, the more pronounced the pure and ancient aura becomes, subtly clashing with the surrounding malevolent Evil Qi. After descending about a hundred feet, the view suddenly opens up, revealing a huge natural cave.
In the center of the cave, there was no towering tree as one might have imagined, but only a strange Xiaoshu, about three feet tall, with a body like jade and branches and leaves that were pale gold, rooted in a huge piece of milky white jade.
The Xiaoshu may seem inconspicuous, but a faint light emanates from its branches and leaves, and the aura it emits invigorates those who approach it, even lessening the oppressive feeling and the corrosive Evil Qi around them.
"This is... the Heavenly Seal Treasure Tree?" Ba Xiyue was somewhat incredulous; it looked more like an exquisite bonsai.
The sect leader bowed respectfully, his eyes filled with awe. "Indeed. Though it appears young, it has actually existed for countless millennia."
"Just this little thing?" Chu Ran scoffed first, looking the jade tree, barely three feet tall, up and down with disdain in his eyes. "I thought it was some earth-shattering divine object, but it's just a bonsai. Sect Master, you wouldn't be desperately trying to fool us with some legend, would you?"
The sect leader of the Heavenly Seal Sect blushed, but could not refute it. He could only whisper, "That's indeed how it's recorded in the ancestral master's notes... Perhaps, perhaps, a special fortuitous opportunity is needed to activate it."
" Fortuitous opportunity?" Chu Ran sneered, taking a step forward. "I'd like to see what this broken tree can possibly hold!"
He said no more and walked straight to within three feet of the Heavenly Seal Treasure Tree.
The aura of Heaven-Defying Fen Yan rose from his body, crimson flames coiling around him, carrying a domineering and scorching intent, attempting to use its power to suppress and communicate with the treasure tree.
Xu Yeming scoffed from the side, "Trying to suppress a spiritual creature that no one has been able to control for so many years with brute force? Did this second young master get slapped on the cerebellum by Senior Han back then?"
He then looked at Han Shouyi to confirm, "Senior Han, is that right?"
Ye Qiubai and the others shook their heads helplessly. This Junior Brother Xu... his mouth is truly venomous.
Han Shouyi laughed heartily, "Junior Brother's friend is truly interesting!"
As expected, the Heavenly Seal Treasure Tree did not react at all.
The pale golden leaves didn't even shimmer, as if Chu Ran's aura, powerful enough to melt gold and iron, was merely a gentle breeze.
Chu Ran frowned, a fierce glint in his eyes, and reached out to grab the main trunk of the precious tree. "Playing tricks!"
"No!" the sect leader exclaimed.
Just as Chu Ran's fingers were about to touch the tree trunk, a very faint golden ripple suddenly spread across the surface of the precious tree.
"Bang!"
Chu Ran as if by a heavy blow, and his whole body flew backward, crashing hard into the cave wall. The flames around him instantly dissipated, and he groaned as a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
He scrambled to his feet, his face ashen, his eyes filled with shock, anger, and disbelief.
The old man in gray hurriedly stepped forward to examine it, then sighed and shook his head, "Second Young Master, this thing seems to possess a spirit, and it rejects being taken by force."
Chu Ran gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, his eyes filled with resentment.
Seeing this, Ba Xiyue stepped forward.
After taking a deep breath, he did not act domineeringly like Chu Ran. Instead, he restrained his aura and released the orthodox dragon energy and pure immortal essence belonging to the Banan Imperial Clan, attempting to resonate with it with a gentle and noble aura.
A pale golden aura of imperial authority swirled around it, exuding majesty and grandeur.
The precious tree remained standing still, its branches and leaves shimmering with a faint light, yet it showed no intention of accepting anything.
Ba Xiyue persisted for a while, then slowly stopped, shook her head, and couldn't hide her disappointment in her eyes.
"Let me give it a try." Qin Zhao forward, his three-foot-long sword hanging at his side. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and a pure and sharp Sword Intent emanated from his body.
The precious tree seemed to glow for a moment, but then returned to normal and showed no further signs of life.
Yang Shao sighed and stepped forward as well.
He formed a hand seal, and his body radiated a pure and righteous light, but the result was the same; the precious tree remained motionless.
Even Qin Zhao and Yang Shao failed?
Everyone present looked at each other in bewilderment.
Everyone present was a rising star among the younger generation of the Soaring Realm...
The sect leader of the Heavenly Seal Sect smiled bitterly. No wonder no one in their Heavenly Seal Sect had been able to resonate with the Heavenly Seal Treasure Tree all these years...
Even these people failed!
Chu Ran waved his hand and snorted coldly, "Forget it, it's more practical to go back and think about how to break the formation."
Han Shouyi glanced at Chu Ran, then looked at Ning Chenxin, "Junior Brother, why don't you give it a try?"
On the other side, Yang Shao also said to Ye Qiubai and the others, "Why don't you give it a try? Your success rate should be higher than ours."
"Heh." Upon hearing this, Chu Ran sneered, "Them? If the few of us fail, who in the Soaring Realm can succeed?"
Yang Shao looked at Chu Ran and said unhappily, " Chu Ran, are you really stupid or just pretending? After these battles, are you still looking down on Brother Ye and the others?"
After being mocked repeatedly, Yang Shao grew increasingly displeased with Chu Ran.
At the same time, doubts were also lingering in my mind.
As the second young master of the Chu Clan, a top clan and the most direct descendant of the direct line, he was once a shining star, but now his temperament has changed to such an exaggerated degree.
Besides... even if he's become decadent, his original upbringing should still be there.
The Chu Clan, a Aristocratic Clan, not only excels in talent cultivation, but also places great importance on etiquette.
Chu Ran his arms and sneered, "Even if they're talented, they can't do what we couldn't? Are they really that talented?"
Ba Xiyue and Jiang Yi, who were standing nearby, actually agreed with Chu Ran's words.
Even if they are talented, their talent level won't be significantly higher compared to others.
Yang Shao couldn't help but have some doubts.
At this moment.
Han Shouyi picked at his ear and said, "What's all this babbling and whining? Junior brother, go set an example for them."
Ning Chenxin nodded and stepped forward.
Ye Qiubai, Hong Ying Xu Yeming also stepped forward, saying, "Time is of the essence, let's go together."
Ye Qiubai did not release any sharp Sword Intent; he simply stood quietly in front of the precious tree and closed his eyes.
His aura was extremely restrained, with only the pure Sword Dao in his heart, which had experienced countless life and death and cut through all illusions, clear as a mirror, reflecting his true self.
Without contention, without desire, only unwavering devotion to the sword.
The branches and leaves of the precious tree seemed to tremble very slightly.
Everyone was slightly taken aback.
Is there a chance?
Qin Zhao shook his head and said, "Let's take another look."
At that time, Qin Zhao also caused a slight disturbance to the Heavenly Seal Treasure Tree, and then... nothing happened.
Hong Ying did not display the domineering majesty of Imperial Intent, but instead restrained all her outward momentum.
The pale golden light on the precious tree's branches and leaves subtly brightened.
Xu Yeming did the same, without releasing any aura to forcibly suppress the Heavenly Seal Treasure Tree. He simply let the Great Wilderness Beast Heart beat slowly, its beating sound like thunder, which everyone present could hear!
Ning Chenxin walked calmly to the front of the precious tree.
He did not chant Daoist Dao Scripture, nor did he urge on his Vast Righteous Qi. He simply looked quietly at the ancient Xiaoshu, his gaze clear, filled with understanding of the true way of heaven and earth, compassion for the suffering of all beings, and steadfastness in his beliefs.
However, apart from that brief tremor, the Heavenly Seal Treasure Tree remained completely still.
"Well."
Finally, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ba Xiyue sighed, breaking the silence.
Chu Ran shrugged, preparing to leave. "Let's try to break the formation by force."
The words had barely left his mouth.
Buzz--!
The three-foot jade tree suddenly burst forth with an incomparably dazzling golden divine light!
The light was not dazzling, but it was filled with a vast and pure aura, instantly filling the entire cave and even faintly illuminating the blood-red color outside through the rock walls!