: The Pillar Giant Trees

Sun Lingtong kept recalling, searching for a way to help Ning Zhuo.

Then he realized—

It was the countless times he had been injured, many times life-threatening!

It was the countless sleepless nights over more than a decade!

It was the long periods of pain and suffering.

It was... Ning Zhuo!

That's right, Sun Lingtong had also once been reckless, trying every means to boost his cultivation regardless of the consequences, wanting to enhance his combat power despite the drawbacks, all to make it easier to find his master.

Sometimes, the physical pain and injuries gave him a sliver of comfort.

The many times he had to interrupt his cultivation due to injuries, lying idle on a sickbed all day, turned out to be rare opportunities for rest and recovery.

If a person's heartstrings are stretched too taut, they will eventually snap completely.

Sun Lingtong knew well that physical pain could sometimes serve as an outlet for emotional anguish.

"Little Zhuo, he's been suppressing himself too harshly, for too long."

"If his mother had died completely, it might have been better, a clean break. But Meng Yaoyin survives in the form of a mechanical construct."

"Ah, a mother, for her son, didn't hesitate to transform herself into a mechanical construct. Now, the son, for his mother, throws caution to the wind, rushing to cultivate other techniques, so irrational!"

"But if it were me and my master, I would do the same."

"Sigh... Actually, it was Little Zhuo who saved me."

Upon reflection, Sun Lingtong suddenly realized that it was the constant growth of those around him, occupying his life and diverting his attention to Ning Zhuo, that prevented him from heading down a dead end.

Over these more than ten years, Sun Lingtong gradually adjusted, bit by bit, becoming less extreme. On the scales in his heart, through Ning Zhuo, he gradually balanced out the side occupied by his master.

From Ning Zhuo's perspective, Sun Lingtong provided immense help.

From Sun Lingtong's perspective, Ning Zhuo's very existence prevented him from going astray or becoming possessed!

Because of this, after the competition at the Lava Immortal Palace concluded and Meng Kui became the palace master, Sun Lingtong could calmly accept that his master's whereabouts remained undiscovered.

Seeing Ning Zhuo like this, Sun Lingtong empathized deeply, which is why he punished Ning Zhuo with confinement, forbidding any cultivation.

In doing so, mimicking his own past experiences of being injured and bedridden, he hoped to force Ning Zhuo to rest and eventually understand Sun Lingtong's well-intentioned efforts.

"Little Zhuo has suffered for too long. He is both luckier and unluckier than me!"

"Because there is still hope for his mother."

"But in this damn thing called life, hope can sometimes make the suffering even more intense."

"As the boss, I can't just stand by and watch."

Sun Lingtong left a part of his mind to monitor the progress of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon, then took out a jade slip to study the "Heaven-Born Earth-Nurtured Embryonic Breath Great Method" recorded within.

Soon, Sun Lingtong raised his eyebrows slightly: "This technique is truly excellent!"

Ning Zhuo, back in his solitary cabin, also reflected on the issues he had encountered.

Sun Lingtong's earlier scolding and the punishment of confinement felt like a return to the past.

In Fire Persimmon Immortal City, over the past decade or more, he had made mistakes before. Whenever the errors were serious, Sun Lingtong would reprimand him harshly like this.

Through each scolding, Ning Zhuo felt Sun Lingtong's care for him.

This time was no exception.

"I went too far," Ning Zhuo sighed deeply.

"Once the dantian is established, one cannot cultivate other methods... This is the most basic common sense, yet I stubbornly ignored it."

Recalling his state at the time, Ning Zhuo also felt he had erred severely!

"My mindset was wrong."

"The trip to the Valley of Ten Thousand Medicines benefited me greatly; my close-combat weaknesses were largely remedied, reaching the standard for my peers."

"My ability in long-range spell combat soared, increasing immeasurably."

"I even developed two sets of mechanical fist and foot techniques as new trump cards."

"The encounter with the Luminous Reflecting Wall gave my Five Elements realm an unbelievable, astonishing growth! This greatly enhances my combat, research, and refinement abilities."

"I also learned that I indeed possess a second innate talent, and it's an immortal-grade talent at that!"

"So, I became arrogant and prideful, developing a stubborn streak. That's why, when studying the 'Heaven-Born Earth-Nurtured Embryonic Breath Great Method,' I immediately thought of the Hidden Spirit Willow."

"This thought itself contained my impatience and restlessness."

"By the time I was studying the 'Heaven-Born Earth-Nurtured Embryonic Breath Great Method,' my haste disturbed me, causing me to lose reason and actually attempt to cultivate it myself."

"Utterly foolish to the extreme!"

Ning Zhuo reflected deeply and concluded: "I got carried away! I forgot Boss Sun's constant care for me."

"What am I?"

"What have I done to be proud of?"

"Even if I have an immortal-grade talent, do others not? Meng Chong has it, Yuan Dasheng has it, but what happened to them? An immortal-grade talent isn't everything."

"Even if I have a profound Five Elements realm, so what? It wasn't built up step by step through my own efforts. I was lifted by the guidance of ancient sages and boosted by the Hidden Spirit Willow. What is there to be proud of?"

"Be humble, be cautious!"

A few days later.

The silver threads in the void gradually thinned, and a light suddenly appeared in the darkness ahead.

"We're about to arrive," Sun Lingtong saw this and quickly put away the jade slip, focusing intently ahead.

The light rapidly expanded, almost instantly engulfing the Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon.

Sun Lingtong's vision abruptly changed; he was high in the air, overlooking an entire forest.

Here, giant trees stood like peaks, known as the Pillar Giant Trees. Each colossal tree rose from the earth, towering into the clouds, their trunks stacked with rocks like mountains.

Thousands of these Pillar Giant Trees formed a vast forest. Dense and sun-blocking, dark and gloomy, the eerie atmosphere was heart-palpitating.

"The Thousand Peaks Forest, we've arrived!" Sun Lingtong murmured to himself, his expression turning cautious.

The Pillar Giant Trees originate from the Jianmu.

The latter is a famously renowned wood-element virtue treasure. Born in the center of heaven and earth, a hundred ren tall, without branches for a hundred ren, with nine zhu above and nine gou below, its fruit like hemp, its leaves like awn, deities used it to ascend to heaven.

Jianmu is even taller than the Pillar Giant Trees, connecting heaven and earth, serving as the ladder between them; climbing it led from earth to heaven.

The source of the Pillar Giant Trees is the Jianmu. Jianmu is sacred, and the Pillar Giant Trees share this characteristic.

Thus, these giant trees are excellent places for nurturing deities.

Additionally, since the establishment of the Two Zhu States was relatively late, the Thousand Peaks Forest had long been inhabited by indigenous tribes. Natural nurturing combined with public worship led to a multitude of deities here, as numerous as stars in the night sky.

The tribes are divided into over a hundred branches, competing with each other. Deities, supported by them, also lead wars, attacking each other and contending for faith.

Therefore, the Thousand Peaks Forest has historically been in a state of constant conflict.

Today you fight me, tomorrow I fight you.

In such a state, it's naturally very chaotic. Thus, it has become the first choice for many serious criminals evading capture and a lawless land where evil cults and heretics linger.

"There are people below." Sun Lingtong, piloting the Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon, noticed a group of cultivators active on the nearest Pillar Giant Tree.

These cultivators, all clad in black robes with their faces hidden in hoods, moved about with a sinister, ghostly aura, giving off a chilling sensation.

"Let's take a closer look." Sun Lingtong's curiosity was piqued.

The Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon, already in its small, inconspicuous form, descended directly and began to follow them.

(End of )