Chapter 825: The Heavenly Dao of the Spirit Wood Realm
Chapter 825: The Heavenly Dao of the Spirit Wood Realm
Li Fan subconsciously took a small step back, putting a little more distance between them.
He only relaxed slightly after confirming through the Spirit Wood's Heart that he still held the power of life and death over the Spirit Tree.
The Tree Spirit's aura continued to surge, rising from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation...
It finally slowed to a halt when it reached a level comparable to the Dao Integration stage.
"A spirit born from the giant tree... she is essentially the Heavenly Dao of the Spirit Wood Realm," Li Fan mused.
"If the Heavenly Dao truly possessed a spirit, a grotto-heaven's would be equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage. A small world's would range from Soul Transformation to Dao Integration, depending on its scale."
"Ordinarily, given the Spirit Wood Realm's foundation, it would have been nearly impossible for it to birth a Tree Spirit at the Dao Integration level. However, with Shang Tianci continuously transporting the wonders of the Xuanhuang Realm here, it has, in a sense, undergone an upgrade."
"It's similar to how Mr. Bai once created a miniature Xuanhuang Realm from scratch, though Shang Tianci is doing it through pure replication."
A figure, almost indistinguishable from a human, materialized before his eyes.
Her form was an elegant silhouette of graceful curves. Like the Treefolk Matriarch, her external features were female.
Li Fan glanced at her, and with a mere thought, he used the Spirit Wood's Heart to clothe her.
The Tree Spirit offered no resistance.
Instead, she curiously examined the garments that had suddenly appeared on her body.
Although her eyes held a look of simplicity, it was far from ignorance.
As a spirit born of nature and inheritor of all the Spirit Tree's memories, the only thing she lacked compared to an ordinary cultivator was experience in social interactions.
"Her power has already surpassed mine, yet because I refined the Spirit Wood's Heart long ago, she remains under my control."
As this thought crossed Li Fan's mind, the Tree Spirit before him gracefully knelt at his command.
A Dao Integration cultivator kneeling to a Golden Core cultivator would be considered an act of profound humiliation anywhere else.
The Tree Spirit, however, showed no trace of anger.
"Master," she addressed Li Fan, her voice natural and without hesitation.
A creation of heaven and earth, her nature was pure, unlike the cunning and devious ways of humankind.
Especially at birth, such a being would be incapable of hiding its true emotions.
After discerning that the Tree Spirit's submission was genuine, Li Fan gave a subtle nod of approval.
"Since you have taken human form, you should have a name of your own."
"From this day forward, you shall be called Lin Ling."
As he spoke, Li Fan pointed a finger through the air, touching the space between Lin Ling's brows.
A moment later, a red mark bloomed on her forehead.
"Thank you, Master." Lin Ling was overjoyed to have a name. She bowed in gratitude to Li Fan, repeating her new name over and over.
"She doesn't yet grasp the concept of hierarchy based on power, so she feels no discontent or rebelliousness in calling someone weaker like me 'Master'."
"That might change in the future as she grows and experiences more of the world."
"Still, breaking the bond of the Spirit Wood's Heart will be no easy task."
Li Fan reflected on this, carefully sensing the faint connection between himself and Lin Ling.
Over the next period, Lin Ling demonstrated to Li Fan the awesome power she wielded as the personification of the realm's Heavenly Dao.
She could command all the forces within the small world at will, always in the most efficient manner possible.
With her help, Shang Tianci's "transportation" process suddenly became several times easier.
Lin Ling didn't see it as a chore either; in fact, she seemed to be having a wonderful time playing.
Her innocent and carefree spirit completely captivated the young Shang Tianci.
As a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao, Lin Ling's beauty was, needless to say, beyond compare.
Her face was flawless, without a single imperfection. Every smile and frown exuded a unique charm.
Shang Tianci was utterly mesmerized, unable to tear his eyes away from her.
"S-Senior..." After Lin Ling finished her work and Li Fan sent her off to play, Shang Tianci approached him, stuttering with a flushed face.
"Heh, keep up the good work." Li Fan clapped him firmly on the shoulder, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
He offered no promises, yet his gesture was enough to instantly invigorate Shang Tianci, as if he'd been given a shot of adrenaline.
"Senior, I've nearly finished replicating all the wonders stored in my Heavenly Scene Treasure Gourd. I was thinking of returning to the Xuanhuang Realm to record some new ones."
"It's also a good opportunity to see if I can persuade a few others from the Mountain River Pavilion to come over," he volunteered eagerly.
Seeing him so motivated, Li Fan saw no reason to refuse.
For safety's sake, however, he gave Shang Tianci a jade pendant to serve as a medium for his Formless Killing Intent.
Only then did he let him depart.
By his calculations, he had kept the Five Elders Council waiting long enough.
Li Fan also made his way out of the Spirit Wood Realm at a leisurely pace.
To his surprise, when she saw him leaving, Lin Ling wanted to come with him.
"You can leave this place?" Li Fan couldn't help but sound astonished.
"Don't worry, Master. It's no problem," Lin Ling affirmed with a vigorous nod.
"But I might not be as free out there as I am at home," she added.
A free Dao Integration bodyguard? Li Fan agreed in a heartbeat.
When the two of them arrived in the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan immediately observed the changes in her.
"She's ultimately affected by the change in environment. Her actual combat strength is a bit weaker than a true Dao Integration cultivator."
"Still, she's significantly stronger than your average Soul Transformation expert."
Li Fan nodded to himself in satisfaction.
With Lin Ling in tow, he began flying toward Nine Mountains Prefecture.
They hadn't been flying for long when Lin Ling suddenly asked, "Master, why don't we go underground? Flying is so slow."
Li Fan paused, taken aback.
"Underground? What do you mean?"
Lin Ling's eyes widened as she looked at him.
She opened her mouth to explain but struggled for a long moment to find the right words.
After a while, she slapped her forehead and transmitted an image directly into Li Fan's mind.
In an instant, Li Fan understood what she meant.
"The power of the earth veins?"
"You can travel through the earth veins?" he asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
"You can't, Master?" Lin Ling seemed surprised.
Seeing Li Fan's silence, Lin Ling thought for a moment before offering comfort. "It's okay, Master."
"I think I can take you with me."
Sensing that Lin Ling wasn't lying, Li Fan hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding. "Alright, let's give it a try."
"Okay, Master! Hold on tight!" Seeing Li Fan agree, Lin Ling became visibly excited.
A layer of green light enveloped her body as she grabbed Li Fan.
Then, she plunged from the sky straight into the earth below.
Li Fan's vision went black for a second.
Then, it was as if he had been thrown into a raging river, surrounded by a torrential surge of earthen-yellow energy.
The immense pressure was almost suffocating.
Lin Ling, however, was like a fish in water. Not only could she move freely, but she also seemed to be able to draw upon the inexhaustible power of the earth veins to strengthen herself.
Whooping and hollering, she raced along the terrestrial currents.
In just a few moments, the two of them had arrived at Nine Mountains Prefecture.
(End of Chapter)
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