73: Spiritual Vein Resonance and Mimicry of Suzaku

The pure energy contained within the third-tier Yao Beast core was instantly refined and absorbed by the World Tree Sapling's roots.

The World Tree Sapling grew taller by about six or seven inches.

The sapling suddenly erupted with emerald green light, and its branches and leaves visibly soared upwards at a speed discernible to the naked eye, releasing ripple-like Spiritual Qi waves with every inch it grew.

Ancient patterns emerged on the sapling's main trunk. These patterns seemed to be a form of ancient script, yet they also appeared to contain infinite power.

When its branches and leaves unfurled, they automatically condensed into miniature Spiritual Qi vortices, greedily devouring the Spiritual Qi overflowing from the Thousand-Year Purple Jade Fruit Tree and the Thousand-Year Cloud Mist Tea Tree.

At this moment, under Lin Yongmao's control,

the World Tree had already become the Formation hub of the entire Grass and Trees as Soldiers Formation. The light purple energy shield was covered with a layer of emerald green radiance, and its defensive strength increased several times over.

If the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's spiritual body combined with its Yao Beast core had a chance to break the Formation before, now there was no hope, even if they combined.

The most miraculous aspect was the World Tree's leaves.

The World Tree Sapling originally had only three tender leaves, shaped like the nascent forms of a Qilin, an Azure Dragon, and a Vermilion Bird. Now, a new tender leaf had grown.

This new tender leaf was shaped like the Divine Beast Black Tortoise, with the faint outline of a tortoise and snake intertwined.

Among them, the Vermilion Bird-shaped leaf's patterns became even clearer.

The leaf's color also changed to vermilion, and a scorching aura could be felt by approaching it slightly.

"System notification: The World Tree (Sapling Stage) has been nourished by a third-tier Yao Beast core, gaining +35 growth points and Awakening the attribute [Spiritual Vein Resonance]."

Lin Yongmao quickly checked his Attribute Panel:

Even in its sapling stage, the World Tree already possessed five innate attributes: [Space Barrier], [Law of Time], [Heaven and Earth Longevity], [spiritual plant Perception], and [Grass and Wood Have Spirits].

Now, [Spiritual Vein Resonance] had been added.

[Spiritual Vein Resonance]:

The World Tree's root System connects to the underground Spiritual Vein. Within its covered range, Spiritual Qi recovery and condensation speed increase by 50% (can be applied to Cultivators under the host's control).

This innate attribute was equivalent to a miniature [Spirit Gathering Formation], capable of condensing the Spiritual Qi of the earth veins, thereby improving the Spiritual Qi environment of the entire Thousand-Pinnacle Cliff.

Moreover, the Cultivation speed within this range would also increase by fifty percent.

In combat, the increase in combat power was also very significant.

Imagine, in a battle of the same tier, if your Spiritual power recovery speed is 0.5 times faster than others, how much advantage will you have?

Spiritual Wood Art

Lin Yongmao formed hand seals, and the incantation entered the Vermilion Bird-shaped leaf on the World Tree Sapling.

He and the World Tree were connected by consciousness, and he already knew that the World Tree had also begun to possess preliminary combat capabilities.

A fiery red Vermilion Bird phantom leaped from the World Tree, circled in the sky for a while, and then flew towards the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's spiritual body.

Above the swirling mists of Thousand-Pinnacle Cliff, a crimson phantom materialized from the World Tree—this was the mimetic manifestation activated by the Spiritual Wood Art.

The World Tree's leaf, empowered by the Formation, transformed into a Vermilion Bird phantom. When its wings spread, it seemed to draw forth surging earthfire.

The Vermilion Bird phantom let out a clear cry and spat out flames from its mouth. This was the ultimate Yang fire, specifically designed to counter Yin-attributed soul bodies.

The ash python opened its mouth and spewed out soul-corroding poisonous mist, but upon contact with the flames, it emitted a "hissing" sound, and the poisonous mist was instantly burned into wisps of green smoke.

It was precisely an attribute counter!

If Lin Yongmao had faced this soul-corroding poisonous mist with his Physical Body, he would have been easily defeated.

This was a poison-attribute + mental-attribute attack, and it was the full-power attack of a third-tier Yao Beast.

The collision between the ultimate Yang fire and the soul-corroding poisonous mist immediately triggered a Spiritual Qi riot, and the purple energy shield was even plated with a layer of crimson light.

The Soul-Seizing Ash Python once again unleashed a mental attack, attempting to shatter the mimetic Vermilion Bird.

Mental Pierce

The crimson flames spewed by the mimetic Vermilion Bird also possessed a mental scorching effect.

Upon collision, the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's Mental Pierce was directly nullified, and the crimson flames continued to attack, causing the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's spiritual body to emit painful hisses.

The Vermilion Bird phantom's attack was equally effective against the spiritual body. The Soul-Seizing Ash Python was now firmly gripped by the Vermilion Bird's sharp talons, struggling even to move.

Lin Yongmao folded his arms, completely relieved. The mimetic Vermilion Bird's combat power was very impressive, not inferior to a third-tier Yao Beast, and it hardly required any commands from him.

As the World Tree Sapling grew, the combat power of the mimetic Divine Beasts would continue to increase.

The Vermilion Bird phantom erupted with crimson flames all over its body, suddenly transforming into a furnace-like form, intending to completely refine the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's spiritual body.

The Soul-Seizing Ash Python occasionally let out the hisses of a snake Yao Beast, and at other times, the painful wails of a human.

Finally, it could no longer bear the pressure!

"Human Cultivator inside, please spare me... please let me go!"

There was no response from within the Formation. Facing such a plea for mercy, Lin Yongmao naturally could not respond.

Once he exposed his location, he might also have to endure the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's mental attacks.

The Soul-Seizing Ash Python's spiritual body was in unbearable pain. This torment of its Divine Soul gradually being refined far surpassed physical suffering.

"I am willing to offer a wisp of my sub-soul and obey you from now on."

The Soul-Seizing Ash Python struggled to hold on, its spiritual body becoming somewhat ethereal.

However, there was still no sound responding to it; Thousand-Pinnacle Cliff was as quiet as a chicken.

"I am willing to become your Spirit Pet, is that still not enough?"

The Soul-Seizing Ash Python wailed and begged for mercy.

It was false to say Lin Yongmao was not tempted; there was no reason not to want a third-tier Yao Beast as a henchman.

However, he feared making a rod for his own back. This was a third-tier Yao Beast; once it seized an opportunity, it could bite him back.

To eliminate this hidden danger, he would absolutely not agree to the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's request for surrender. It was better to destroy it.

Moreover, the World Tree also needed the Divine Soul of a third-tier Yao Beast to grow and evolve.

The Vermilion Bird phantom, carrying the Divine Soul of the third-tier Yao Beast Soul-Seizing Ash Python which was being refined, flew towards the World Tree's main body.

It returned to its main body, while the World Tree's branches directly devoured the Soul-Seizing Ash Python's Divine Soul, leaving no trace.

Lin Yongmao finally felt completely at ease; the crisis was at last resolved.

The Soul-Seizing Ash Python was completely annihilated, its Divine Soul gradually absorbed by the World Tree.

Lin Yongrong was also left with only his last breath, lying on the ground like a dead dog, unconscious.

Most of the Yao Beasts outside the Formation had also been killed by Second Uncle Lin Yumo, and Cloud Mist Mountain completely returned to peace.

Lasting for over half a month, this beast tide finally subsided.

Regardless of the situation of other forces now, at least the Cloud Mist Mountain Lin Family would not be disturbed by a beast tide again for a short period.

The Lin Family could once again usher in a long period of development.

Just then, a crisp System notification sound echoed in Lin Yongmao's mind again, and his facial expression showed a few more hints of joy.

"System notification: ..."