477: Heartbeat

The surroundings were filled with light, and the world spun.

After a moment,

Lin Xiu felt his body stabilize, opened his eyes, and saw a verdant green landscape.

In front, a towering tree that blotted out the sky stood, its emerald light radiating infinite vitality, covering this area.

“Bodhi Ancient Tree.”

Stepping on the soft grass, Lin Xiu came before the great tree.

On the thick trunk, the bark surface twisted, and then a human-shaped face slowly emerged.

“You’re here. Is there something you need me for?”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree spoke.

Lin Xiu said, “Have you ever witnessed the birth of an emperor pill up close?”

The human face on the trunk showed a puzzled expression, “Why do you ask that? Have you already mastered Alchemy to produce an emperor pill?”

“That’s right, I’ve already attempted it twice.”

Lin Xiu nodded.

“How is that possible? How old are you?”

A look of shock flashed across the Bodhi Ancient Tree’s face.

They had a deep understanding of each other, and he knew how strong Lin Xiu’s talent was.

But to be able to produce an emperor pill so quickly was truly unexpected.

Lin Xiu’s visit this time wasn’t to dwell on this matter, “Bodhi, I have something I want to ask you. The first time I produced an emperor pill, I heard a faint heartbeat. At the time, I thought it was just an illusion and didn’t pay it any mind, but not long ago, it appeared again.”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree said, “A heartbeat? How could that be? An emperor pill is just a type of Medicinal Pill; even if it can take human form, it’s only a manifestation of energy.”

“I’m not sure either. That feeling is very strange; it doesn’t seem related to the Medicinal Pill, but rather to Source Energy. When I use a large amount of Source Energy and my Soul connects with the heavens and earth, I can hear it.”

Lin Xiu was also puzzled.

Because an emperor pill requires an enormous amount of energy to form.

Therefore, when he produces an emperor pill, he must be in harmony with the heavens and earth to mobilize the energy from a radius of over a hundred thousand miles.

And during this process, his body and Soul are connected with the heavens and earth.

“In my memory, there are indeed unusual phenomena when an emperor pill emerges, but I have never heard a heartbeat.”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree hesitated for a long time, seemingly after a long period of recollection, and slowly replied.

He suggested, “Why don’t you try it here?”

“Try it?”

Lin Xiu was startled, not quite understanding what the other party meant.

Produce an emperor pill here? He didn’t have enough Materials at all.

“My roots connect to the earth’s core and extend everywhere, almost deeply intertwined with the heavens and earth. Use me as a medium.”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree explained, “After hearing your experience, I vaguely have an idea, but I’m not entirely sure, because that thing hasn’t appeared for over a million years. When I was still a sapling, I vaguely heard it.”

Lin Xiu wasn’t sure if what he was describing was the same as what the Bodhi Ancient Tree was describing.

Because the other party was, after all, a tree.

But he really wanted to figure out what that sound specifically was.

The rhythm of the heartbeat vaguely had a tendency to resonate with him.

If he didn’t understand the reason, and it appeared when he was about to Breakthrough to Dou Di, it would be too late to find a way to deal with it then.

Breaking through to Dou Di is an irreversible process.

“What should I do?”

Lin Xiu looked at the face on the tree trunk.

The ground arched, and the soil churned incessantly, as if something was surging beneath.

The next second, a vibrant green root emerged, as thick as an adult’s thigh, its color resembling blood vessels on a human body.

The enormous energy stored within the root was clearly visible as it flowed when one looked closely.

“Place your hand on it, then gather energy as if you were producing a Medicinal Pill, and simultaneously mobilize Source Energy.”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree said.

That root was one of his main bodies, and there were many similar root systems, extending from the earth’s core to various places.

Only in this way could he obtain enough energy to replenish himself and continuously grow stronger.

Lin Xiu obediently complied, placing his hand on it. After glancing at the Bodhi Ancient Tree, he closed his eyes, his Soul immersed in the root.

Instantly, his vision transformed into an enormous root network, a network divided into many fine branches and ends, spreading across an infinite area.

Was this the true form of the Bodhi Ancient Tree?

Lin Xiu was seeing the world from this perspective for the first time and couldn’t help but be a little surprised. No wonder the Bodhi Ancient Tree was called the Tree of the World.

“The main task is important.”

Gathering his thoughts, Lin Xiu began to use his Cultivation Technique, his Emperor Realm Soul spreading out and merging into these vast root systems.

Buzz!

The heavens and earth seemed to tremble slightly, and those root systems began to actively absorb energy.

At the same time, a surge of Source Energy entered the root system, fusing with that energy.

Thump!

Thump-thump!

Thump-thump-thump!

As time passed, the heartbeat Lin Xiu had heard twice before reappeared.

This time, the sound was clearer than ever.

Although the root couldn’t provide a visual, Lin Xiu could still hear the source of the sound; it seemed to be emanating from deeper within the earth.

Needless to say, the Bodhi Ancient Tree controlled its roots to explore towards where the sound was coming from.

A root, like a living giant python, snaked forward through the soil.

However,

To both their surprise, even though the root had extended a very long distance and had even met other roots, it still hadn’t found the source of the sound.

The heartbeat grew louder as Lin Xiu absorbed more and more energy, and the Source Energy became denser, seeming to grow stronger.

“That’s enough, Lin Xiu, stop for now.”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree suddenly spoke, its tone carrying a hint of disbelief.

Lin Xiu still obediently complied.

Soon, his consciousness returned to his body, his vision came back, falling upon the human face on the tree trunk.

The Bodhi Ancient Tree’s expression was somewhat complex.

“Bodhi, you’ve already figured it out, haven’t you?”

Lin Xiu asked impatiently.

This sound would affect whether he could successfully Breakthrough to Dou Di, making it extremely crucial.

“Yes, I probably know what it is.”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree’s expression was somewhat strange, its eyes revealing a kind of shock, “It’s truly incredible that you can achieve this.”

“Just tell me what that sound is.”

Lin Xiu frowned. He was here to solve a problem, not to be praised.

Besides, the one praising him was a tree.

This was rather uninteresting.

“That sound isn’t coming from anywhere specific, but from these heavens and earth!”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree slowly said.

Lin Xiu showed a look of astonishment, “Heavens and earth? What do you mean? How can the heavens and earth have a heartbeat? Are you joking?”

The Doupo World is just one plane within the Major Thousand Worlds.

“No, I’m serious. A long, long time ago, these heavens and earth did have a heartbeat. It was like an embryo, gestating in time, waiting for the day of its awakening. But everyone’s Cultivation continuously stripped it of its energy, and that embryo gradually fell into a deep sleep, and then that sound disappeared.”

The Bodhi Ancient Tree was very serious. A part of his long existence was spent with this sound, and he was definitely not mistaken.