50: Plants and trees have spirits

The three Ironclad Thunder Apes glared at Lin Yongmao, realizing he was the Cultivator manipulating the Flying Sword, and let out enraged roars.

Lin Yongmao sighed and shook his head; he was confident he could use the [Spirit Binding Contract] to subdue these three Ironclad Thunder Apes, but the cost-effectiveness wasn't very high.

While Little Pine, the Gold-Eating Beast, could mine, these three Ironclad Thunder Apes lacked that ability, making their functionality not very strong.

Contracting Yao Beasts to become Spirit Pets required essence blood and sufficient Divine Sense support; his Divine Sense Realm was sufficient, but his essence blood was relatively lacking.

At this moment, the World Tree Sapling transmitted a faint consciousness, communicating with Lin Yongmao.

Lin Yongmao had signed a [Mind Contract] with the World Tree, a far more Advanced contract than the [Spirit Binding Contract], allowing direct communication between the person and the tree through their minds.

The consciousness transmitted by the World Tree Sapling was a desire to absorb the Souls of the three Yao Beasts, using the power of the demon Souls to grow.

Upon receiving the World Tree's consciousness, Lin Yongmao also showed a look of joy; since the last time the World Tree Sapling absorbed some Low Grade Spirit Springs, there had been no way to make it grow further.

Lin Yongmao even tried watering it with Medium Grade Spirit Springs, but it had no effect.

Lin Yongmao brought the three Ironclad Thunder Apes near the World Tree Sapling, and the sword soul grass leaves pierced their throats, causing them to die unwillingly.

The World Tree released a special energy, which enveloped the bodies of the three Ironclad Thunder Apes, and three hazy gray gases were released from the Yao Beasts' minds.

They were then completely absorbed by the World Tree.

“System notification: World Tree (Sapling Stage) absorbed Yao Beast Souls, gained growth value +3, and awakened the attribute [Grass and Wood Have Spirits].”

The World Tree Sapling grew taller by another section, reaching approximately the height of an adult's knee, and the outline of the Divine Beast on its leaves became clearer.

Especially the leaf that resembled a Vermilion Bird, it seemed as if it would transform and fly out.

Lin Yongmao quickly checked his [Attribute Panel]; the World Tree had originally awakened four attributes: [Space Barrier], [Law of Time], [Coexistence with Heaven and Earth], and [spiritual plant Perception], and now a fifth attribute was added.

Attribute Five:

[Grass and Wood Have Spirits]: spiritual plants within the World Tree’s range will receive its protection, making them more likely to awaken sentience, and also have a chance to undergo beneficial mutations.

This Grass and Wood Have Spirits attribute was truly miraculous; if spiritual plants could awaken sentience, they would naturally evolve towards plant-type Yao Beasts, and now there was also a chance for beneficial mutations.

spiritual plants could mutate under specific circumstances, but such mutations were completely uncontrollable.

In most cases, these were non-beneficial mutations, such as a drastic reduction in medicinal properties or stricter growth environment requirements.

Only in very few cases would beneficial mutations occur.

Of course, it was still unknown what the probability of beneficial mutations from Grass and Wood Have Spirits truly was, so Lin Yongmao could only hold a bit of anticipation.

As the World Tree Sapling absorbed the demon Souls, in addition to its main body becoming more robust, its consciousness also became clearer.

It even transmitted new information: the next nutrient to promote its growth was the Yao Beast’s demon core.

Although Lin Yongmao learned this information, preventing him from trying various methods like a headless fly, the condition of a Yao Beast’s demon core was too strict.

General low-level Yao Beasts simply wouldn't produce demon cores; only when a Yao Beast reached the third stage, equivalent to a Golden Core True Person among immortal cultivators, would a demon core condense.

At this point, the demon core was equivalent to the Yao Beast's energy Origin, and its value was immeasurable.

At least at the current stage, Lin Yongmao had no chance of obtaining a Yao Beast’s demon core.

Even if he had more resources, he couldn't risk trading for a demon core.

This matter could only be put on hold for now.

What was worth noting was that Cloud Mist Mountain was not entirely safe, and Yao Beasts could invade at any time.

Fortunately, only first-tier Yao Beasts came this time; if higher-tier Yao Beasts had appeared, Lin Yongmao would not have handled them so easily.

It was said that sixty years ago, a beast tide erupted near Yang City, which was almost a devastating blow to immortal cultivators.

The beast tide was led by a third-tier Yao Beast, and most Cultivators were unable to resist its invasion; two immortal cultivator Families were even directly annihilated under the beast tide.

The Lin Family was Lin Yongmao's Foundation, and he had to do his best to protect his Family.

Although he currently lacked such strength, he needed to seize every opportunity to develop.

Lin Yongmao temporarily put aside these thoughts and began to clean the Ironclad Thunder Ape’s bodies.

Although the beast Souls were gone, the Yao Beast’s bodies were still very valuable, especially for Yao Beasts with powerful Bloodlines like the Ironclad Thunder Ape.

The unbroken iron scales, fangs, claws, and flesh all had a certain value.

Lin Yongmao collected them by category; although he might not need them temporarily, such precious resources should not be wasted.

...

Lin Yucheng returned to the Family with Lin Yongrong.

In Lin Yuheng's courtyard, Lin Yucheng and Lin Yuheng discussed the gains from their trip to Yang City.

Lin Yucheng: “I did not fail in my mission. I have already traded for the Spirit Treasure Pavilion’s method of freely entering and exiting the Qingyang Mountain Range. This method might even become one of our Lin Family’s life-saving measures.”

Lin Yuheng: “Why do you say that?”

Lin Yucheng continued: “The Demon Saliva Grass can simulate a powerful Yao Beast aura, which even a third-tier Yao Beast will try to avoid as much as possible. If another beast tide erupts like the one sixty years ago, our Lin Family can avoid its impact.”

Lin Yuheng listened with great relief. He said with some shame: “Fourth Brother, you are actually more suitable to be the Lin Family Clan Chief than I am. Now that you have also successfully reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, why don't I hand over the position of Lin Family Clan Chief to you?”

Lin Yuheng’s words were very sincere; this was not a joke, but his heartfelt sentiment.

Compared to Lin Yuheng, Lin Yucheng was more suitable to be the Lin Family Clan Chief.

Lin Yucheng chuckled: “Big Brother, you are joking. I prefer freedom. If I were tied up with Family affairs, I would live very miserably. Leave such troublesome matters to you, Big Brother.”

Lin Yuheng did not continue to dwell on this issue but said: “The Family will hold a promotion banquet for you. Cultivators from various Families will come to attend, so remember to prepare well.”

Lin Yucheng smiled mysteriously and said: “I understand this. I will definitely remember our father’s teaching: to learn to bide our time.”

The Lin Family now openly had two Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, which might disrupt the original balance of power among the various Families, naturally making them a thorn in the side of other Families.

This was not the most fatal aspect; one must know that they also had the Qinglan Sect above them.