Chapter 348: Tongling Xin Shu

"Originally, there really are vermin hiding in the shadows."

When those words reached him, You Chang Lao was struck with sudden dread. A cold shiver surged up from his core, shooting straight to the crown of his head.

Without hesitation, he unleashed his movement technique to its absolute limit, blurring into a swarm of illusory afterimages—fleeing forward with desperate speed.

It was only an instant after the illusions appeared that a hand materialized from thin air, tearing through the phantoms, rupturing the air currents.

Had You Chang Lao not dodged in time, he would have been pierced through the back, his fate hanging by a thread.

"Hmph, not bad for a vermin. Your evasion technique is decent."

The Disheveled Figure sounded slightly surprised.

But he didn’t stop. With a single step, he closed the gap, pressing right behind You Chang Lao—and struck again with a claw.

You Chang Lao felt the danger in an instant. His illusionary duplicates had been effortlessly pierced. The truth was clear: the opponent’s martial cultivation realm was far superior to his own.

Then came the memory of the eerie, unnatural Demon Cultivation Technique the figure had used earlier. That was enough.

You Chang Lao had no will to fight.

Instantly, he activated the Unique Treasure hidden in his chest.

In an instant, a ripple of black light erupted from his body, swiftly spreading to envelop him entirely.

The dark aura not only repelled the Disheveled Figure’s hand—but wrapped around You Chang Lao like a glowing cloak—propelling him at high speed downward toward the mountainside.

"A demonic Treasure Artifact?"

The Disheveled Figure froze, startled. He hadn’t expected the sneaky vermin to possess such a rare artifact.

But it was too late.

The artifact’s power was beyond his reach.

All he could do was watch helplessly as You Chang Lao vanished into the night, swallowed by the black light.

"Damn it… the vermin escaped."

The Disheveled Figure gritted his teeth in frustration.

Had he known the man carried a Treasure Artifact—especially a demonic one—he should’ve thrown everything into the attack from the start.

If he’d seized that artifact, it would’ve been a massive boost to his current state of destitution.

"Is my luck getting worse and worse lately? Could it be… the celestial laws of this world are finally turning against me?"

Two consecutive setbacks, both orchestrated by others.

The Disheveled Figure’s instincts screamed danger.

Ever since returning from Zhong Zhou, his fortune had been sour.

His injuries refused to heal completely. And tonight, he’d been humiliated twice in succession.

From a cultivator’s perspective, this was an ill omen.

It was highly likely he had now drawn the attention of the world’s heavenly laws.

"Damn that boy! If not for him forcing me to use the Tenmoxie Ti Da Fa, causing my essence to leak, how could I have attracted the attention of this world’s celestial laws?!"

The memory of his downfall filled him with venomous hatred.

Had it not been for Lu Qing’s attack—had he not been wounded, had he not lost his primordial energy, and had he not been forced to perform that forbidden technique—would he truly be in this pitiful state?

Every time he thought of it, his rage burned like wildfire, unquenchable even by the oceans.

"Wait… I’ll find you one day. I’ll hunt you down. I’ll destroy everything you hold dear. I’ll rip out your soul and burn it for a thousand years. Only then will my hatred be satisfied!"

His figure slowly faded into the night, leaving only the echo of his vengeful vow drifting through the forest.

---

Ten miles away, a streak of black light darted across the moonlit sky, slicing low over the treetops.

It quickly descended into a secluded mountain hollow. The darkness dissipated, revealing You Chang Lao’s pale, exhausted face.

Carefully, he withdrew from his robes a slender, black, spindle-shaped jade talisman.

Staring at the crack running across its surface, he winced in pain.

This treasure, bestowed by the Master, could only be used three times.

And now, after just a few days outside, he’d already used it twice.

One more use, and it would shatter completely—useless forever.

"Even the outside world has grown so dangerous. In just a few days, I’ve faced two life-or-death threats."

You Chang Lao exhaled shakily, glancing back toward the direction of Qingyun Jian Ge.

No hesitation. He activated his movement technique once more, speeding forward into the darkness.

The phantom he’d encountered was even more terrifying than the old man he’d faced at the Wei Family Residence.

Not because the man was stronger—but because his combat technique was utterly unnatural and horrifying.

That pure, unadulterated demonic aura had made even a Wu Jian Lou Elder like himself tremble with fear.

Even now, after fleeing for dozens of miles, he still didn’t feel safe.

"Perhaps it’s time to return. If I fall out here, then no one will be able to bring news back from the outside."

With that resolve, his movements grew even swifter—vanishing into the night.

The storms brewing beyond the mountains, the shifting tides of power and intrigue—none of it touched the quiet serenity of Jiu Li Village.

Since Lu Qing had set up the Array, the village’s environment had steadily improved.

Trees flourished in lush greenery. The air was cool and pleasant, even in the hottest season.

Even under the scorching sun, one could feel a gentle breeze and a refreshing coolness.

With Qi weaving through the air like mist, the village felt like a paradise on earth.

The villagers had also noticed their own bodies growing healthier, stronger, more vibrant with each passing day.

They understood, deep down, that all this was due to Lu Qing’s magic.

Their gratitude toward him only deepened.

"Zhang Ye Ye, you said you had something urgent to tell me. What is it?"

One day, as Lu Qing was casting Spirit Rain Art over the Spirit Fields, Zhang Da Ye and several elders came up the mountain to find him.

"It’s about the Sign Tree at the village entrance," Zhang Da Ye said, watching in awe as Lu Qing summoned clouds and rain with a flick of his fingers.

They’d never seen anything like it—magic watering rice fields.

Not only had they never witnessed such a thing, they’d never even imagined it possible.

Even more astonishing was the rice seedlings.

They grew thick and strong, their tips shimmering with faint golden light—clearly unlike any ordinary rice.

"A Qing, why do your seedlings glow gold?"

One elder couldn’t help but ask.

"I’ve been experimenting with Dao techniques to cultivate a new rice strain," Lu Qing explained with a smile.

"Since you all know I have cultivation abilities, I don’t hide it."

"Then… what kind of grain will come from this magical rice?"

Another elder stared wide-eyed.

"I don’t know yet. We’ll see when harvest comes. You can all come and witness it."

"Good idea," the elders agreed. They were lifelong farmers, and the idea of magical rice stirred their curiosity.

"By the way, Zhang Ye Ye, what happened with the Sign Tree?" Lu Qing asked.

The Sign Tree—the old tree at the village gate where villagers tied red ropes before leaving—held deep meaning for the people of Jiu Li Village.

Lu Qing had always paid close attention to it.

"We’re not sure ourselves," Zhang Da Ye said. "Better come and see for yourself."

"Alright. I’ll go with you."

Lu Qing had just finished irrigating his two mu of Spirit Fields. After sealing the cloud energy away with a gesture, he followed Zhang Da Ye and the elders down the mountain.

At the village gate, a crowd had already gathered.

People stood around the Sign Tree, murmuring in awe, their eyes wide with wonder.

Lu Qing spotted Hu Lao San among them.

In recent days, Hu’s family had slowly integrated into village life.

Hu Lao San, being clever and affable, had won the villagers’ favor easily.

So gradually, they had accepted him.

"Make way! A Qing’s here!"

A villager shouted as Lu Qing and the elders approached.

The crowd parted, making space for them to reach the Sign Tree.

When Lu Qing saw the tree, he was surprised.

It had changed significantly since last time.

Its leaves were greener, of course.

But more striking was its size—the tree had grown taller and broader.

Most notably, the roots at its base—once twisted and knotted—had now fused together, forming a shape resembling a small hut.

And most importantly, Lu Qing sensed a faint, strange energy emanating from the tree.

"Hmm… Xianghuo Li?"

Suddenly, Yan’s voice echoed in Lu Qing’s mind.

"Master, what is Xianghuo Li?"

Lu Qing asked.

The Heritage left by the Lihuo Sect contained no mention of Xianghuo Li.

"You don’t know? Well, that makes sense. The Lihuo Sect never studied Xianghuo ways. It’s natural you wouldn’t know."

"Xianghuo Li is a unique force formed from pure, concentrated belief and will.

Most cultivation sects ignore it. But the Xuan Kong Shan—your enemies—were exceptionally skilled in it during the Ancient Cultivation Era.

I never thought such a humble tree in a remote village could generate Xianghuo Li. Quite extraordinary."

Yan spoke with rare enthusiasm—rarely did Lu Qing surprise him.

"So… what can Xianghuo Li do?" Lu Qing asked.

"I don’t know exactly," Yan admitted, shaking his head.

"It’s a bizarre force. Even in the Ancient Cultivation Era, only a few sects mastered it.

But I’ve heard from the Lihuo Sect elders that Xianghuo Li is unpredictable.

It can manifest different powers based on the believer’s thoughts—shifting and changing, nearly impossible to defend against.

I wonder… what kind of Xianghuo Li has formed on your village’s Sign Tree?"

Lu Qing’s heart stirred.

He activated his Abilities and gazed at the tree.

A few heartbeats later, a soft golden glow emerged from the tree’s trunk.

At the same time, several text fragments floated into the air.

> 【Tongling Xin Shu: A tree nurtured by Qi and the sincere prayers of villagers, now bearing a faint Spiritual Awareness.】

Due to decades of heartfelt devotion from the people of Jiu Li Village, the Sign Tree has condensed a trace of incense.

> 【The Xianghuo Li within the tree was forged by the villagers’ prayers, intrinsically tied to Jiu Li Village, capable of protecting this land.】

> 【This Xianghuo Li embodies protection and peace. When a red rope tied to the tree is worn by a villager, it offers a subtle layer of Qi protection, safeguarding them in unseen ways.】

Lu Qing’s eyes widened with surprise.

Now he understood.

Yan had said Xianghuo Li formed from pure belief.

The Sign Tree was the villagers’ prayer tree—each one, before leaving, tied a red rope to its branches, praying for safety and the return of loved ones.

For decades, this ritual had never changed.

Their prayers—filled with the most sincere hopes for safety and family—had凝聚ed into this protective force.

This meant that from now on, when villagers tied a red rope to the tree before leaving, it wouldn’t just be a prayer.

It would be real protection.

The tree would bestow a faint Qi aura upon them—ensuring smooth journeys, avoiding danger, and guiding them safely home.

"A Qing, is something wrong with the Sign Tree?"

Zhang Da Ye noticed Lu Qing staring intently at the tree, and his voice trembled with worry.

The other villagers watched him with equal concern—children included.

The Sign Tree held a sacred place in their hearts.

Many had spent their childhoods beneath its shade.

And for generations, they’d been taught not to climb it or harm it.

So its sudden change stirred deep anxiety.

Seeing their worried eyes, Lu Qing smiled.

"Everyone, don’t worry. The Sign Tree isn’t damaged. In fact, this change is a good thing."

"A good thing? What kind of good thing?"

An elder asked eagerly.

"Times have changed. After so many years, the tree has absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, and with the constant prayers of our people, it has awakened a faint Spiritual Awareness.

It’s no longer just a tree—it’s a true spirit tree.

If we care for it well, it will protect our village for generations to come."

Lu Qing spoke simply, so everyone could understand.

When they heard the tree had become sentient, everyone gasped in shock.

"The Sign Tree… is alive?"

"It can hear us now?"

"This is wonderful! A great blessing!"

Shock gave way to joy.

Though they didn’t fully grasp what spiritual awareness meant, the idea that the tree could protect them was clear enough.

Suddenly, a villager grabbed his son’s ear.

"Little rascal! Did you hear what A Qing said? No more climbing the Sign Tree! If I see you up there again like this morning, I’ll break your legs!"

"Same for you!" another shouted, pinching his own son’s ear.

"Last time I saw you breaking branches, I’ll whip you till you cry!"

Other villagers followed suit, scolding their children.

In an instant, the hollow echoed with the pitiful cries of little ones begging for mercy.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end