Azure Oak Spirit Tree

After listening, Lin Xiao remained silent for a moment before saying, "Actually, you don't need to be so hung up on right and wrong. Different perspectives lead to different opinions. In many cases, there is no absolute right or wrong in the world, only personal choices."

Although he felt that the elders of the Zhenyang Sect might not have said everything for Qingle's own good, and that there was definitely an element of not wanting Qingle to leave and keeping her tied to Zhenyang City, he really didn't know much about the tree demon.

Not to mention Qingle, a tree spirit of a species he didn't recognize at all. He could only share his thoughts and suggest some possibilities, but the specific choice and course of action would still be Qingle.

After thinking for a long time, Qingle finally seemed to have made a decision, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Xiao: "I want to go out!"

But then he worried, "However, there's a barrier around Zhenyang City. If I go out, the elders will definitely know immediately."

He had already tacitly agreed in his heart that the elders should not know about this, because he had a vague feeling that if the elders found out, he would not be able to leave.

Seeing that he had made his choice, Lin Xiao instead asked a series of questions, "Whether the elders know or not is secondary. Isn't Zhenyang City constructed by your original body? Are you planning to go on a long trip or just wander around nearby? If you're going on a long trip, shouldn't you take your original body with you?"

Qingle was taken aback by the question, her mind racing as she pondered Lin Xiao's words. After a while, she replied, "I haven't thought about the distance I need to travel. Fellow Daoist Lin, you're right, that's an important thing to consider."

He had been in the city for so long that he had become numb to the passage of time; he didn't even have a concept of it until Lin Xiao mentioned it.

"However, I can answer your question about Zhenyang City immediately. Although the entire city is my main body, I no longer need to be bound to it. I can separate the outer shell from the inner body without affecting the existence of Zhenyang City," Qingle said.

Lin Xiao: "I think it's probably not that simple."

Qingle looked puzzled. "Why?"

"Do you know that the reason Zhenyang City can attract so many cultivators is because you can transform the surrounding mixed Spiritual Qi into pure Wood Spiritual Qi?" Lin Xiao asked.

Qingle nodded, seemingly understanding, "The elders said from the beginning that this was a way for Zhenyang City to attract other cultivators; otherwise, we wouldn't have an advantage building a city in this desolate wilderness."

"If you leave, will the empty shell you leave behind still be able to convert Wood Spiritual Qi?" Lin Xiao continued to ask.

After understanding, Qingle's expression grew even more bitter. "No, my innate supernatural Divine Ability can only follow my new body after I shed my outer shell."

Lin Xiao shrugged.

That's it. If Qingle leaves, it's not just a matter of whether the elders will find out; it also involves the very foundation of Zhenyang City.

Without the ability to transform Wood Spiritual Qi, how could Zhenyang City possibly survive in this godforsaken place?

Without sufficient Wood Spiritual Qi to attract and nourish the plants over the years, even the surrounding Spirit Plant and herbs will gradually decrease in yield or even disappear with frequent harvesting. This rate may be even faster due to the precipitous drop in the surrounding Wood Spiritual Qi.

Unless Qingle only wanders around Zhenyang City, within the range where his innate Divine Ability can be used normally through his physical body, this is not a choice between going out for training and the elders' persuasion, but a decision about whether to give up Zhenyang City.

Qingle was quite frustrated by these problems, never expecting that simply wanting to go out and gain some experience would be so difficult.

Seeing his worried expression, Lin Xiao pondered for a moment before speaking, "I think perhaps you could try gaining experience in the surrounding area first."

Qingle looked up, somewhat puzzled, "But even if it's just in the vicinity, as long as I step outside and the barrier fluctuates, the elders will know."

In response, Lin Xiao said, "Fellow Daoist Qingle, I'm guessing your cultivation level is quite high, so passing through that barrier without anyone noticing shouldn't be difficult for you."

He had already checked it before coming in. The barrier was mainly used to defend against low-level Demon Beast. It could only serve as a warning to high-level Demon Beast if they touched it. If a high-level Demon Beast wanted to break through it, it would be a very simple matter.

Moreover, he could come up with many ways to sneak in and out without causing any damage, not to mention being able to appear beside you without anyone noticing and smell the Qingle of Ganoderma Cicada Seed.

"Cultivation level?" Qingle lowered her head, stretched out her right hand, silently counted her fingers, and then said to Lin Xiao, "My current cultivation level should be the Spirit Concentration Stage."

"The Spirit Concentration Stage?" This time, Lin Xiao counted on his fingers. "Spirit Opening, Core Formation, Core Consolidation, Primordial Connection, Spirit Concentration... that's equivalent to the Spirit Transformation Stage for cultivators..."

He thought Qing Le was only at the Spirit Transformation Stage? He had thought that with Qingle's age of several thousand years and her elusive abilities, she should at least be at the Void Return Stage, or, in the case of Demon Cultivator, the Gathering Intent Gathering Stage.

"Then think about it, do you tree spirits have any methods to sneak past the barrier, like when you suddenly appeared next to me before, and I didn't even notice?" Lin Xiao suggested.

Although she hasn't reached the Intent Gathering Stage, Qingle's cultivation should be sufficient, since if the Zhenyang Sect truly had array masters, they wouldn't have set up such a crude barrier for Zhenyang City.

Qingle listened and then began to ponder.

Although it is well known that his innate Divine Ability is to convert Wood Spiritual Qi, the inheritance he actually received from his bloodline goes far beyond this Divine Ability ability. Many of his clan's Law Technique will be unlocked as his cultivation level increases.

Having spent a lot of time idly in Zhenyang City, Qingle had long since mastered these Law Technique.

He had never thought of using his Law Technique to do things like sneaking out.

Because someone once told him that the skills he learned were not meant to be used against his own people.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, if I use Law Technique to sneak out, would that be considered using my own abilities to fight against my own people?" Qingle asked uncertainly.

Lin Xiao was taken aback, not expecting him to have such concerns. He put himself in his shoes; if he were confined by his sect's relatives and friends and not allowed to leave, what would happen if he tried to sneak out...?

"Of course not, it's just our way of interacting with loved ones!" he replied confidently.

Upon receiving his reply, Qingle felt as if the heavy weight in her heart had suddenly disappeared, giving her a sense of clarity and relief, like the clouds parting to reveal the moon.

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Fellow Daoist Lin!" Qingle said happily.

He got up, used Law Technique to clean the teacup he had used, handed it back to Lin Xiao, and then turned to leave.

Before leaving, he suddenly remembered something and turned back, saying, "By the way, Fellow Daoist Lin, my true form is the Azure Oak Spirit Tree, from the Great Wilderness Domain."