Ling Xiao did not refuse Zhenyuanzi's sincerity. He accepted the Ginseng Fruits and asked, "Where do you plan to move the tree?"
Zhenyuanzi paused for a moment before answering slowly, "I haven't decided yet. I can only carry it with me for now and wait for a suitable opportunity."
The current situation left him no time for deep deliberation; the Ancestral Witches were practically at his doorstep. Remembering the destroyed Bodhi Tree of Mount Sumeru, Zhenyuanzi felt he could not afford to be optimistic. Those Witches operated outside the bounds of common sense—they wouldn't cherish an Innate Spiritual Root just because it was rare.
Ling Xiao nodded and suggested, "Why not move it to the Three Immortals Island?"
The Three Immortals Island?
Zhenyuanzi's eyes flickered, but before he could speak, Hongyun cut in.
"That's perfect! We couldn't ask for better, Fellow Daoist! A treasure land like the Three Immortals Island—the Ginseng Fruit Tree will definitely love it!" He spoke with such excitement that one might think the tree belonged to him.
"I..." Zhenyuanzi started to hesitate but eventually agreed. He felt it was a bit hasty, but he had no better options.
Ling Xiao didn't say more. With a thought, a clump of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil appeared in his hand, and he tossed it to Zhenyuanzi.
"There are three Fairies on the island managing it for me. Once you arrive, just let them know." He added the reminder to prevent any unnecessary friction or conflict.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao. This kindness shall be repaid in full in the future!" Zhenyuanzi said solemnly, moved by Ling Xiao's thoughtfulness. A Fellow Daoist this reliable was truly rare.
"No need for formalities. If there's nothing else, you may go," Ling Xiao said with a smile.
"Then we shall depart!" Hongyun pulled his friend along, waving goodbye to Ling Xiao.
After watching them leave, Ling Xiao withdrew his gaze and entered a state of meditation.
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun returned to Wuzhuang Temple with the soil. They uprooted the Ginseng Fruit Tree, wrapped its roots in the Breathing Soil, and immediately raced toward the Three Immortals Island.
As they streaked across the Primordial Great Earth, some living beings with poor eyesight thought they were seeing ghosts—a gargantuan tree flying through the sky at incredible speed. A group of Witches attempted to give chase, but once the duo entered the bounds of the Three Immortals Island, the Witches stopped, not daring to follow.
The Three Immortals Island had become something of a taboo for the Wu Clan. Many Ancestral Witches disliked even hearing the name, and Di Jiang had strictly ordered that no one was to attack the island without a direct command.
Upon reaching Penglai Immortal Island, the duo found the Sanxiao sisters and explained their intent. When they learned the sisters' names, they were shocked, not daring to show even a hint of disrespect to these three "weak" Fairies. They chose a pristine area with mountains and water to transplant the tree.
At that moment, above the clouds of the island, a woman in palace attire was watching with curiosity. This was Nuwa, who had wandered here during her quest for enlightenment. She had been pondering her Sainthood Opportunity for some time but always felt she was missing a vital piece of the puzzle.
Seeing the Breathing Soil used to sustain the tree triggered a sudden surge of excitement in her heart—a spiritual whim. She stared at the "living" soil, feeling an inexplicable resonance. She knew this substance well; it was the soil from the Innate Gourd Vine, of which she and Ling Xiao each held half.
"Nine Heavens Breathing Soil..."
Nuwa whispered. The moment she laid eyes on it, she felt a profound touch. Her mind became ethereal, and even the Primordial Violet Qi within her body pulsed in response.
"Is my chance to achieve Sainthood hidden within this?"
Nuwa's brows knitted slightly. She was more confused than before—what could she do with the soil? How was she supposed to use it to become a Saint? She was certain it was the key, but she still lacked a concrete plan. Holding onto this thought, she left the area in a trance, heading out to chase that elusive thread of celestial secret.
Time flew. In the Honghuang World, the Wu Clan expanded with madness, launching massive campaigns to conquer the West and South. War was the best nourishment for the Witches; they cultivated by devouring flesh and blood. Simply put, the more they ate, the faster they progressed.
During their conquest, they frequently clashed with Yao remnants hiding in these regions. These battles were minor to the Witches; even without the Ancestral Witches taking the field, the elite Great Witches were strong enough to suppress entire regions. As long as they didn't encounter a Quasi-Saint, they had almost no rivals.
Great Witches like Chi You, Xing Tian, Hou Yi, and Jiu Feng used war to sustain their growth. The benefits of expansion made them refuse to rest, as they slaughtered their way through millions of miles of territory.
Eventually, the Wu army encountered a Yao Demon God of the Quasi-Saint rank. The enraged Demon God slaughtered millions of Wu warriors, sending Evil Qi (煞气) into the heavens. This provoked the Ancestral Witches, who struck out with force to surround and kill the Demon God.
In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of years passed.
The Wu Clan occupied the primary territories, famous mountains, and great rivers of the West and South. While the Great Desolation was too vast for them to step into every single corner, holding these key locations was equivalent to owning the regions.
Over these millennia, the Witches even clashed with the Dragon Clan. Though the Old Dragon was powerful, he was no match for the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Eventually, he yielded, pulling the Dragon Clan back into the East Sea and refusing to emerge again. The Witches then descended to the Sea of Blood, forcing Styx to submit.
Under immense pressure, Styx chose to lower his head. While he was nearly impossible to kill, facing the Ancestral Witches every day was an unbearable headache. Dignity wasn't a heavy burden for him, so he verbally agreed to submit.
As the Witches conquered one forbidden land after another, their strength grew exponentially. Even the East King Duke was stunned, beginning to question his own reality.
Is it possible that the 'Method of Sainthood' I made up for them... is actually real?
As the Witches purged the Yao remnants, Bai Ze and Ji Meng found themselves on the run. One day, after evading a pursuit, they took refuge in a mountain cave. It was only because the Witches lacked Divine Thought that they were able to stay hidden at all.
"Bai Ze, it's over. There's truly no hope. The Witches have almost conquered the entire Great Desolation," Ji Meng said with a dejected face, feeling utter despair. Over the years, they had never stopped trying, but it had all been in vain. The Wu Clan's momentum was perfected; it could not be shaken.
"No, there is still hope!" Bai Ze shook his head, his face resolute. From beginning to end, he had never wavered. "Currently, the only ones capable of breaking the Wu Clan's momentum are the three on the Sun Star!"
His voice was solemn, his eyes shining like a lamp in the dark.
"But didn't you say the Three Crows don't care about the world? Even if it's possible, how can we get them to intervene?" Ji Meng frowned.
"The situation now is different. I know they ignore the world, but this is the only path left. I even know that petitioning them will cause displeasure and incur a massive Karma." Bai Ze spoke slowly, his face remaining calm.
"Then how..." Ji Meng started to ask.
Bai Ze's expression shifted, his eyes glowing with divine light. He said in a deep voice:
"I shall use my life as the calling card!"