I am the sacred tree, evergreen for eternity.

The cave floor was covered with broken bones.

The dense clusters were so numerous that it was impossible to distinguish their species, which was quite unsettling.

Some bones have turned yellow and become brittle, riddled with holes by the erosion of time;

Some of them still have an ivory-like sheen, clearly indicating that they were left recently.

Each skeleton was entangled and sucked by purplish-black roots, which stretched from the entrance all the way to the deepest part of the cave.

"By the Tree God."

Someone whispered a prayer, the sound echoing in the cave for a long time.

A rustling sound came from deep within the cave, like countless claws crawling on the rock wall, or countless mouths chewing in the darkness.

The sounds merged together, growing ever closer.

Finally, darkness emerged.

Hundreds of gray-black sand foxes moved with incredible speed, traversing the pile of broken bones as if it were flat ground.

Their once glossy fur was now dull and lifeless, lying loose like withered grass.

His limbs were disproportionately thick, with purplish-black lumps bulging at the joints, and a sticky liquid splashed out with each landing.

What's most unsettling is their backs—the carefree grass.

These life-devouring, monstrous roots burrow deep into the backs of every sand fox, intertwining with their spines.

The flower buds at the top are slightly open, like sinister mouths hiding sharp teeth.

The flower buds are emitting a sweet fragrance.

Clearly, this cave, and this entire horde of demonic beasts, had been completely devoured and parasitized...

Yu's breath hitched slightly.

He was all too familiar with that scent.

That fragrance that draws you into a dream, makes you forget your pain, and makes you willingly be consumed.

If not for the protection of the tree god...

He dared not think any further.

"Don't just stand there!"

Qi's voice came from the flank, cold as a blade.

"Form ranks! Archers forward, swordsmen and shieldmen protect the flanks!"

Yu took a deep breath, his wrists crossed as he wielded the twin swords, and a burst of spiritual light appeared.

"Brothers, follow me!"

He was the first to rush out.

Seventeen beams of light shone in the darkness, and those young travelers who had committed grave crimes bravely charged to the front lines.

A flash of light, a burst of spiritual energy, and spurting purplish-black pus...

The battle lasted for fifteen minutes.

When the last sand fox fell into the pile of broken bones, the cave finally returned to a brief period of calm.

The group, panting heavily, wiped the pus from the blade.

Yu leaned against a rock wall, looking down at the withering corpses of sand foxes.

Watching the stems of those carefree plants peel off the corpse, curl up, and turn to ashes.

"By the Tree God."

His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself, but the other criminals beside him fell silent.

"Don't think about it."

Xuan's voice came from the front of the group, calm and steady as a mountain.

"To atone for your sins, you must first live."

"As long as you're alive, hold the knife tight."

Yu took a deep breath, straightened up, and was about to speak.

A sharp shriek erupted from the depths of the cave.

The sound was harsh and piercing, with an uncomfortable metallic friction, causing the rocks on the cliff face to fall in a rustling sound.

The carefree grass scattered throughout the cave began to wither at a visible speed.

Those evil energies, those powers that were originally scattered among the carefree young grass, are being reclaimed by something.

Like the receding tide, like a fishing net being pulled in, they converge from all directions into the deepest shadow of the cave.

Xuan's back tensed slightly.

"Step back."

Yu led the team in a backward retreat.

Xuan, Meng, Feng, and Qi, four powerful cultivators in the Seeking the Law stage, stepped forward together, and a sudden burst of spiritual light illuminated the dark cave.

A sand fox strode out from the shadows.

It was ten times larger than the previous ones, with shoulders higher than its head, a body length of several meters, and limbs as thick as stone pillars.

Large patches of grayish-black fur fell off, revealing purplish-red, cracked skin underneath.

Dark purple roots emerge from the cracks in its skin, wriggling like earthworms on its surface, wrapping around its limbs, torso, and even its head.

Its pupils were colorless, a completely murky, deathly white, and its three tails swayed slowly behind it.

The period of seeking the Dharma, even...

The evil energy emanating from this giant fox even showed signs of surpassing the stage of seeking the Dharma.

Xuan's inspiration ignited like a raging flame, and his voice was fast and clear.

"Form ranks in all directions!"

"Suppress it, don't let it break into the line."

With a sudden swing of his arms, the iron axe crackled with lightning-like light.

The wind's ethereal light is as light as a feather, yet each wisp carries a sharp, cutting force.

Qi's spiritual light was the most intense, and the pale golden radiance on the iron greatsword flickered uncertainly.

Four beams of spiritual light intertwined to form a large net, enveloping the giant fox within.

Earthly Fiend Spikes burst forth from the ground beneath their feet, Gale Blades swept in from the flanks, and a raging torrent of flames surged forth...

A barrage of spiritual energy struck the fox-like creature's body, forcing it to prostrate on the ground.

Roots brimming with evil energy swarmed out of the wound, attempting to repair the damaged body, but were instantly burned to ashes by the spiritual light.

The power of the totem pilgrim during the Dharma-seeking period was fully displayed at this moment.

Within the four spiritual realms, the giant fox's aura was rapidly waning.

The amount of evil energy flowing out is increasing, and the speed of repair is increasingly unable to keep up with the speed of destruction.

Its body began to tremble, its limbs began to go weak, and its three tails drooped limply to the ground.

"The final blow."

Xuan's voice rang out from the center where the spiritual light intertwined.

The four beams of spiritual light converged simultaneously, then erupted again in the same instant, unleashing countless spiritual spells towards the fox monster's head.

Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.

The giant fox suddenly raised its head, its mouth wide open to reveal the writhing, malevolent root inside.

A loud roar exploded.

The evil energy surged wildly from that broken body, expanding like burning grease.

A purplish-black mist burst forth from each wound, condensing around the fox-like monster into an ever-expanding, suffocatingly oppressive spherical field.

Those three swaying tails exploded at that moment.

A purplish-black viscous liquid gushed out from within, twisting, coalescing, and taking shape in the air.

Three Faces —

The faces of the Grass and Wood Clan, who had just been wiped out.

Their faces were squeezed out of the mucus, their features distorted, and distorted thoughts echoed throughout the cave.

"A hypocritical race,"

"They should all be eaten."

"Eat it, eat it..."

The giant fox's aura suddenly surged, and its purplish-black evil energy crushed everything in its path with destructive power.

Three faces were sneering.

Its mouth split open, revealing sharp fangs that did not belong to the plant race.

His dark yellow pupils were filled with malice as he stared intently at the four beams of light that were struggling to stay afloat.

The evil energy field is still expanding.

The cave was trembling, bone fragments were leaping, and cracks were spreading on the rock walls.

Xuan and the other three gritted their teeth, their spiritual energy surging wildly from their bodies, causing even their skin to crack.

However, faced with evil power far exceeding the level of seeking the Dharma, the spiritual light was still suppressed inch by inch.

Xuan's face was as solemn as water.

Yu and the others, who were watching from the sidelines, were extremely anxious.

Since the beginning of exploration, the most significant crisis has emerged.