Volume 4, Chapter 204: The Spirit of Wood
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However, at that moment, the sky suddenly lit up, as if a green barrier had been added in an instant, freezing the surrounding space.
In that ethereal space, only a faint green remained, a pale green full of life.
All the flowers and plants are growing rapidly, replenished by powerful life energy, and are showing the world their beautiful and diverse side.
Conversely, the purple lightning power, having lost its reinforcements, could no longer sustain its existence, and the small purple vortex in mid-air gradually began to dissipate.
"A life barrier?" Xiao Wenbing's expression changed, and he exclaimed in surprise.
This is the first time I've seen something like this. I never imagined that even Feng Baiyi's Darkness Power would be ineffective...
"Life Barrier..." Butterfly Fairy cheered, waving her arms and legs, and was about to rush up to enjoy the breath of life. However, after stealing a glance at her master, she noticed that Xiao Wenbing's expression did not seem good. The little guy tilted his head, thought for a while, and finally gave up this tempting plan.
The Life Barrier is the Eastern Barrier among the Five Elements, and it also represents the Divine Wood Barrier, which is full of vitality. Within the green barrier, there is a rich life force everywhere, making it the perfect place for the Butterfly Fairy with the Wood attribute to cultivate.
However, the powerful wood element filled the entire space, and other elements were strongly repelled. Even the chaotic power, which was said to fill the entire universe and be omnipresent, became extremely thin. The meager amount of chaotic power could no longer be gathered enough to summon heavenly lightning.
Feng Baiyi's pretty face paled slightly. She suddenly threw aside the lightning-summoning sword, clasped her hands together in front of her chest, her palms facing each other, her ten delicate fingers forming a strange force. Within her palms, a powerful energy was faintly contained—a terrifyingly destructive force.
This was the first time since her debut that Feng Baiyi had used the power of heavenly lightning to no avail, which was intolerable to her. Therefore, in an instant, she decided to go all out.
"Sister, please wait..." Zhang Yaqi suddenly called out softly.
Feng Baiyi hesitated for a moment, and after a while, she finally slowly withdrew her hand and stood up.
"Yaqi, what's wrong?" Xiao Wenbing was very surprised. Yaqi would actually interfere with Baiyi's actions. That was the young lady's first time getting into a sedan chair.
Zhang Yaqi smiled tactfully and said, "No ill intentions."
"What?" Xiao Wenbing asked, utterly bewildered.
Pointing to the green space, Zhang Yaqi explained, "They didn't mean any harm."
"How do you know?" Xiao Wenbing had a different opinion on this explanation. No malice? Hmph, no malice? Why are you making us go in circles here? If Feng Baiyi hadn't used the power of heavenly lightning, they would probably still be pretending to be deaf and dumb.
Zhang Yaqi smiled and raised her hand, revealing a small ring on her fair and delicate wrist that emitted five-colored light.
"The Universe Ring?" Xiao Wenbing pondered for a moment, then exclaimed, "No way, Yaqi, don't tell me it was the Universe Ring that told you that."
"Yes, that's right." Zhang Yaqi smiled sweetly and gave him an affirmative answer.
Xiao Wenbing stared at the Qiankun Circle, his face filled with astonishment and uncertainty. In his understanding, once such magical artifacts developed their own consciousness, they could no longer be called magical weapons.
Of course, there are different levels of self-awareness. If it is only at the level of choosing a master, then this magical artifact can be called a celestial artifact.
However, if a treasure's self-awareness reaches an extremely high level, enabling it to communicate directly with its owner, then this treasure becomes a divine artifact.
It's a magical artifact, a super treasure like a mirror god.
Although the Qiankun Ring is a top-tier item several levels higher than the Mirror God, it is still too early to reach the level of a divine artifact. Therefore, what Zhang Yaqi was communicating with was definitely not the Qiankun Ring.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Xiao Wenbing, and he thought of a special treasure in the Qiankun Ring. He immediately realized that it was this guy.
Hmm, this guy is also from the Wood element. I wonder what connection he has with the Divine Wood Clan. If they are relatives... that would make things much easier.
Thinking of this, Xiao Wenbing's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he said, "Yaqi, let the Wood Spirit inside come out."
“Okay.” Zhang Yaqi responded, lowered her head and immersed her divine sense into the Qiankun Circle. After a while, she looked up and smiled, stretched out her white hands, and a point of emerald light slowly flew out from the Qiankun Circle, gathering into shape several feet in front of them. Gradually, it grew longer and larger.
When the light faded completely, what lay before them was a massive log, hundreds of feet long, requiring several people to encircle it.
"What a huge thing!" Even though he was mentally prepared, Xiao Wenbing couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Ah..." Butterfly Fairy suddenly cheered and rushed forward, hugging the big log tightly. Her affection was so strong that even Xiao Wenbing was a little jealous.
"Is this... the Spirit of the Wood?"
Although it was the first time Feng Baiyi had seen this thing, she still managed to guess what it was.
“That’s right, this is the Eastern Green Wood Spirit among the Five Elements Spirits.” Xiao Wenbing sighed and said, “However, like the Earth Spirit, this guy is mute. It’s impossible to expect him to speak. Now let’s get ready.”
"What should we prepare?"
"Prepare to communicate with it in sign language." After saying this, Xiao Wenbing grinned fiercely at the large piece of wood and then made two slashing motions with his hand.
"What are you doing?" Zhang Yaqi asked curiously.
“I’m telling it to behave and be a good boy, or I’ll cut it in two.”
"Oh, can it understand?" Zhang Yaqi asked in surprise.
"I don't know, let's see how it reacts," Xiao Wenbing shrugged.
As soon as he finished speaking, the enormous piece of wood suddenly burst forth with a strong green light.
"Look, it's reacting!" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and delight. "I told you so, this guy can understand my gestures."
"Fellow Daoist Xiao is joking." A deep, heavy voice came from the ball of light. The light gradually faded, and a burly man appeared before them.
"Not at all, not at all, you're too kind..." Xiao Wenbing suddenly shouted, "You can speak, and you can even transform into a human!"
"Yes, I have already cultivated to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and I can barely manage to transform my Nascent Soul into a physical form."
Xiao Wenbing sized him up. Although this Wood Spirit had a human appearance, its skin had a strange bluish hue, making it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary person.
A quick glance revealed that Butterfly Fairy was still holding the man's arm, a smile on her face, completely unconcerned, as if it made no difference whether she was holding a person or a piece of wood.
"Butterfly Fairy, come here."
"Mmm." Butterfly Fairy responded and came to Xiao Wenbing's side, then took his hand. One was the master, and the other was the spirit of wood. It was just as comfortable to take either hand.
"May I ask how this gentleman is addressed?" Xiao Wenbing asked with a smile.
"I am Mu Ling," Mu Zhi Ling said calmly.
"Wood... Spirit? Hehe... You're really direct." Xiao Wenwu was taken aback, then chuckled.
What else should the spirit of wood be called but the spirit of wood? However, his ladder must never appear in front of ordinary cultivators, otherwise it will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of others.
"What about the spirit of earth? Let it come out too," Zhang Yaqi said softly.
"Alright." The Wood Spirit emitted a green light towards the Universe Ring, but after a moment, it withdrew and said, "The Earth Spirit doesn't want to come out."
"Why?" Xiao Wenbing asked curiously. Could it be that the guy was afraid that he would make a move on it?
"It said it hates wood."
"Huh?" Xiao Wenbing and the others were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Wood overcomes Earth. This is the territory of the Divine Wood Clan, known as the abode of the Wood Ancestor. It would be strange if the Earth Spirit liked this place.
"Brother Mu, we wish to pay our respects to the current patriarch of the Divine Wood Clan. Do you have a way to do that?" Xiao Wenbing stepped forward and asked directly.
He understood that the best way to talk to these spiritual beings was to get straight to the point; if he tried to beat around the bush with them, he would eventually end up confusing himself.
"If you fellow Daoists wish to pay your respects to the clan leader, why are you circling around outside the door?" Mu Ling asked in return.
"What do you mean by going in circles? Brother Mu, we're not going in circles on purpose, we just can't find the right way in," Xiao Wenbing said with a wry smile.
"That's easy. Fellow Daoists, please follow Mu Ling." After saying that, Mu Ling turned and left.
"Huh, is that all? Sigh, this piece of wood is much easier to talk to," Xiao Wenbing sighed. No wonder it's been hidden in the Qiankun Circle for so many years; after spending so much time together, feelings naturally develop.
As the saying goes, it's easier to get things done when you know someone. This principle applies to wood as well.
Led by the Wood Spirit, they soon arrived at a path. Then, with a gentle touch of the Wood Spirit's hand, just like a scene change on a movie screen, the scenery before them suddenly changed.
It was still a vibrant green, but instead of being lifeless and still, it was brimming with boundless vitality.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, and occasionally one or two birds whose names I didn't know would flit by. The cool, fresh air of the forest soothed my skin, which had been suffocating for days.
The butterfly fairy ran quickly, bathed in the gentle sunlight, and gently stroked the waist-high flowers and grasses with her hand. Suddenly, she turned around, attracting countless butterflies and insects that were freely flitting through the forest to dance around her.
Volume 4: The Divine Artifacts Chapter 205: The Wall of Chaos
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"Master, this place is wonderful!" Butterfly Fairy exclaimed with unrestrained joy.
Her stunningly beautiful face radiated a pure and innocent smile, captivating all who beheld her.
Xiao Wenbing felt a surge of impulse welling up inside him, and he wanted to rush down and laugh and leap with Butterfly Fairy. However, he stopped after lifting his foot an inch.
His gaze swept over Zhang Yaqi and Feng Baiyi's faces. Both women had smiles of satisfaction on their lips, but their eyes clearly held something called envy.
Silently, everyone watched Butterfly Fairy from the sidelines, and no one made a sound at this moment.
After a long while, Feng Baiyi sighed softly and said, "Let her play here for a while."
"Okay." Xiao Wenbing agreed almost without thinking. No one wanted to disturb her; they couldn't bear to break such a harmonious scene.
After passing through a forest, a palace came into view in the distance, its grandeur astounding. Looking into the distance, the walls, engraved with mysterious patterns, stretched endlessly in both directions; Xiao Wenbing strained his eyes, yet still could not see the end. Looking up, the palace seemed to reach into the clouds, seemingly without end.
Only after seeing this palace did they understand the true meaning of the word "majestic" and the origin of the word "grandeur".
Even the Great Wall, stretching for thousands of miles, appears small and humble before it, for this invincible structure was not a product of humankind or the earth, but a creation of the gods.
Whether it was Xiao Wenbing, Zhang Yaqi, or Feng Baiyi, they were all stunned by the indescribable scene before them.
"Where...is this place?" Xiao Wenbing murmured to himself.
Mu Ling's eyes held a deep cunning, and he slowly said, "This is my home."
"Your...home?" Xiao Wenbing snapped out of his shock and asked softly, "Brother Mu, you're from here?"
"Not bad." Mu Ling suddenly turned around and bowed deeply to Xiao Wenbing.
Xiao Wenbing was very busy and hurriedly helped him up, asking, "Brother Mu Ling, what are you doing?" He really didn't understand what Mu Ling was thinking, why he was bowing to him for no reason.
"Many thanks to Fellow Daoist Xiao," Mu Ling said solemnly.
"Thank me?" Xiao Wenbing frowned and thought for a long time, still puzzled. What did he have that made him worthy of thanks?
However, since you've already thanked me, then I'll leave it at that. He smiled slightly and said, "I'm not one to dwell on doing good deeds. If I've unintentionally helped Brother Mu, that's perfectly normal, so there's no need to thank me."