The first three exchanged glances.
At a glance, they estimated this little demon before them had at least several centuries of cultivation.
If it were an ordinary little demon with a few hundred years of cultivation, they wouldn’t dare provoke it so easily. But this one was a plant spirit that had attained enlightenment.
For plant spirits, achieving human form was far more difficult and time-consuming than for other creatures. Typically, beings like them—creatures with inherent life and consciousness, capable of movement—could barely assume human form after just a few decades of cultivation.
But plants originally lacked consciousness. They only gained it by sheer chance, and even then, they had to absorb centuries of solar and lunar essence before they could transform into human shape. Those centuries of cultivation were barely enough for them to take human form, yet still insufficient to grant them any significant power.
If they wished to become true powerhouses, these plant spirits would need at least another five hundred years of cultivation.
Heaven was absolutely fair. It extended the time required for plant spirits to cultivate and made their path far more arduous. But if they could safely cultivate for a few more centuries after assuming human form, they would undoubtedly become formidable demons—ones others wouldn’t dare provoke lightly.
To put it plainly, if they completed their cultivation, their strength would utterly surpass that of other demon races who had cultivated for the same duration—by dozens of times!
In other words, a plant spirit with a thousand years of cultivation could effortlessly defeat an ordinary demon with three thousand years of cultivation.
Across the entire Profound Spirit Continent, if one were to count the races by population, the Flora Clan would be the smallest. Yet, throughout the ages, the Flora Clan had coexisted with the other races on the continent, never swallowed up, never wiped out. The reason lay precisely in this.
At their peak, the Flora Clan could be said to rival even the Divine and Demon Clans in power!
For lesser demons who sought shortcuts to rapidly increase their cultivation, encountering a newly transformed plant spirit and absorbing its power was nothing short of a stroke of immense luck.
A piece of meat already divided into three portions—who would willingly share it further?
The two men and one woman exchanged glances, then suddenly launched a joint attack against the burly newcomer.
Since they refused to split their already divided spoils further, the only solution was to join forces and eliminate this latecomer! And by killing him, they could absorb yet another person’s cultivation!
The burly man seemed to have anticipated their move. The moment they struck, he reacted instantly. Earlier, he had probed their strength with his magic—individually, they were far weaker than him. Even combined, the worst outcome would be a stalemate.
And who knew? He might even defeat all three. Then, not only could he monopolize the little demon’s cultivation, but he could also seize theirs as well!
Fortune favored the bold.
A vicious glint flashed in the man’s eyes.
The frail girl, her face pale, watched as the four fought viciously over her. A deep, indescribable humiliation welled up in her heart.
This was the difference power made! Because she was weak, she was nothing but prey to be fought over!
She regretted it. At this moment, she hated herself for entertaining that foolish hope when the Purple Song Sage had called out earlier.
To become a disciple of a powerful master? Ha! The price for such delusions was paid in blood!
She also hated the Purple Song Sage. If he had no intention of taking disciples, why had he called out, luring weak little demons like them to rush here in droves?
Was toying with them so amusing? Ha…
A wave of desolation rose from the depths of her heart. Perhaps, to those powerful beings, tormenting little demons like her was truly an entertaining pastime…
The four combatants grew increasingly entangled in their struggle.
The frail girl bit her lip. Maybe… maybe she could slip away while they were distracted.
Her mind made up, she began inching backward, step by cautious step.
Night gradually descended, veiling Luo Yun Mountain in mystery. Stars dotted the sky, and the moonlight was hazy.
Yun Qingxue followed the Purple Song Sage deeper into the mountain.
Suddenly, an inexplicable unease struck her without warning. She halted abruptly and turned back—the path she had walked was now shrouded in the dimness of night.
The Purple Song Sage also stopped and instructed Mo Changxing, who had long since caught up, “Changxing, go and investigate.”
“Understood.” Mo Changxing nodded and turned to fly back down the mountain the way they had come.
“Wait!” Yun Qingxue called out abruptly. Her heart was restless, as if disturbed by something.
Mo Changxing paused mid-movement and turned to her. “Is something the matter, Junior Sister?”
Instead, Yun Qingxue looked at the Purple Song Sage. “Has something happened?”
A shadow flickered in the Sage’s eyes. This girl still refused to address him as “Master”—her wariness ran deep. With such heavy distrust, building rapport with her would be no easy task.
He sighed inwardly before replying, “Someone has triggered the barrier at the mountain’s base.”
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