Li Yunjing smiled and placed the storage bags into Zhu Wanyunâs hands.
"Then Iâll accept them! Thank you, National Preceptor!"
Seeing that Li Yunjing was truly willing to give her resources, Zhu Wanyun happily put away the storage bags.
"Wanyun, letâs go! Weâll explore âLingxiu Islandâ for a while. After finishing this, I need to return to the sect and report to the elders."
Having decided to accept Zhu Wanyun, Li Yunjing graciously put his arm around Princess Wanyunâs shoulder, smiling as he spoke.
"National Preceptor, are you leaving already? What about me?"
Princess Wanyun was shocked and clung tightly to Li Yunjingâs arm, feigning displeasure.
Despite all the things Li Yunjing had said, Zhu Wanyun only caught the phrase "return to the sect," which frightened her immensely, making her panic uncontrollably.
These days, she had been completely enchanted by Li Yunjing. Their relationship was still unclear. If Li Yunjing left, all her efforts would be in vain, and she wouldnât be able to climb up to become a true disciple of the Shenxiao Dao Sect. Wouldnât that be a huge loss?
After all, someone of his immortal stature was far beyond an ordinary junior cultivatorâs reach.
Seeing Zhu Wanyunâs anxiety, Li Yunjing couldnât help but shake his head.
He looked at Princess Wanyun with a smile and said, "Do you wish to follow me forever?"
"Yes! I want to follow the National Preceptor, playing the lute for him all my life, to be by his side!"
Seeing that Li Yunjing had already made things clear, Zhu Wanyun did not shrink back, her big eyes fixed on Li Yunjing, afraid he would reject her affections.
"Alright!"
This single word from Li Yunjing was enough to elate Zhu Wanyun. The princess immediately threw herself into Li Yunjingâs embrace.
Li Yunjing then smiled and, using his mana, condensed a cultivation technique onto a jade scroll, handing it to Princess Wanyun.
"This is the cultivation technique Iâve prepared for you. Switching to this technique will be far better than the one youâre currently practicing," Li Yunjing said with a smile.
"Ah! Thank you so much, National Preceptor!"
Princess Wanyun said coyly, her face full of joy. With a true disciple to cover her, her future cultivation would surely be smooth sailing.
Now, she had both resources and a new cultivation technique.
What more could Princess Wanyun ask for?
"Alright, Iâll take you to search for the treasure left by the âSoul-Controlling Sectâ!"
Li Yunjing nodded, rose into the air, holding Zhu Wanyun as they transformed into a swift stream of light, surveying the entire âLingxiu Islandâ.
As for cultivating Zhu Wanyun, it was just a pawn that Li Yunjing casually laid down. Whether she had a promising future was none of his concern.
In the end, everyone has to rely on themselves!
Li Yunjing couldnât indefinitely provide resources to support Zhu Wanyunâs cultivation.
Soon, Li Yunjing discovered a cave at a cliffside on the island.
Entering the cave, Li Yunjingâs face became extremely grim. The thick, bloody stench was nauseating. How many people had been killed here?
"Urgh..."
Zhu Wanyun fared worse, even retching.
The smell here was terrible!
"Block your sense of smell!"
Seeing Zhu Wanyunâs discomfort, Li Yunjing ordered her, while he took the lead walking deeper into the passage.
Zhu Wanyun obediently blocked her sense of smell, following closely behind Li Yunjing with a pale face.
The strong smell of blood made it clear that countless beings had been slaughtered to create this.
The sensation was overwhelmingly foul!
The caveâs structure wasnât complex; it was a man-made passage.
The straight passage led all the way downward.
After three miles, they finally reached the end.
Before Li Yunjing and Zhu Wanyun was a stone chamber, roughly ten feet across.
Standing at the entrance, Li Yunjingâs eyes were chillingly cold.
Zhu Wanyunâs large eyes were filled with terror, her slender figure trembling with fear.
The stone chamber before Li Yunjing was almost entirely covered with bodies, every corpse impaled by tubes. These bodies, belonging to various races, were draining their blood towards a central blood pool about ten feet wide...
"Drip... drip..."
The blood dripped into the pool.
At the center of the blood pool was a vibrant blossom.
No!
Perhaps it was a tree!
"Blood Bodhi Tree!"
This âBlood Bodhi Treeâ was lush and vibrant, its twisted roots intertwined like a crimson canopy!
At the crown of the âBlood Bodhi Treeâ, a bead resembling a âSariputraâ had formed!
In the Buddhist sect, the âBodhi Treeâ is revered as a sacred tree!
According to legend, the Buddha attained enlightenment and liberation under a âBodhi Treeâ.
However, this âBlood Bodhi Treeâ was completely different from the Buddhist sectâs description.
It was filled with a sinister and malevolent aura!
Could it be that the people of the Buddhist sect cultivated this wicked tree using the blood of countless beings?
Li Yunjingâs face grew even more unsightly as he remembered Zhuang Yangmingâs words about a treasure here. Would he dare to use it?
Staring at the evil tree before him, a flame of anger arose within Li Yunjing. He was about to wave his hand to utterly destroy this sinister âBodhi Treeâ.
However, on second thought, he suppressed his rage.
The âBlood Bodhi Treeâ was nearly fully formed and might bear its malevolent fruit in another ten or so years!
This Heaven and Earth Spirit Root, cultivated by evil techniques, seemed to hold extremely potent powers and could yield something significant!
Li Yunjing couldnât believe that the Buddhists would instruct the âSoul-Controlling Sectâ to spend a century growing this vile thing without some major intent!
"Hehe! Never mind! Iâll cut off its roots in advance! Iâll take this tree and burn this place to ashes!"
Finally, Li Yunjing made his decision.