In the space brimming with vital energy, everyone’s gaze converged upon Xiao Yan, who was sitting cross-legged within the ancient tree. Their eyes were blazing with fervor. All who had gathered here were well aware of the legendary Treasures of Bodhi. Although the supposed enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree seemed elusive and unproven, the potential it could bestow was enough to drive anyone to madness.
“How did this brat get the upper hand?” Jiufeng’s face was dark with jealousy. Even with his usual composure, he couldn’t suppress the burning envy in his heart. Such a tremendous benefit should never be given to someone he despised.
As Jiufeng’s face darkened, the amiable smile on the nearby Hunyu’s face also faded significantly. His fingers rubbed together restlessly, betraying his inner turmoil. In the face of such potential, no one could remain calm.
“If only I had used the spatial jade tablet earlier to summon the clan’s strong ones,” Hunyu regretted. If not for the presence of the Ancient Clan’s experts, he would have long since shattered the spatial jade tablet to call in reinforcements to kill Xiao Yan. However, Xiao Yan’s association with the Ancient Clan made it inconvenient to forcefully intervene, as he knew that the Ancient Clan also had the means to summon their own strong ones, leading to an entanglement that would only benefit others.
But now, it was too late. The space here was clearly self-contained, and the spatial fluctuations could not escape. Summoning the clan’s experts was impossible.
Hunyu’s gaze flickered, and he suddenly looked at Jiufeng. They exchanged a glance, both seeing a glint of coldness in each other’s eyes. They then nodded slightly, imperceptibly.
“Bang!”
With the nod, Hunyu and Jiufeng’s figures moved, transforming into two black streaks that appeared beneath the Bodhi Tree in the blink of an eye. Gathering their full strength, they struck towards Xiao Yan, who was still sitting cross-legged within the tree. It was clear they intended to forcibly rouse him from his meditative state.
“Hunyu, you dare!” As the two figures shot out, Xun’er and the others noticed instantly. Their expressions changed, and two palm prints of golden flames rapidly formed in front of them, shooting towards Hunyu and Jiufeng.
However, facing Xun’er’s attack, the two chose to ignore it. With terrifying fighting energy in their palms, they slammed into the Bodhi Tree.
“Thump!”
The fierce palm wind struck the Bodhi Tree, creating a muffled sound. Before the smug smiles on Hunyu and Jiufeng’s faces could fully form, they were suddenly hit by an overwhelmingly powerful force. The recoil sent them flying backward, spewing blood and drawing a crimson arc in the air.
Seeing the immediate and complete defeat of Hunyu and Jiufeng, everyone present was stunned. They looked at the Bodhi Tree with a mixture of shock and awe; this thing was truly not to be trifled with…
“Whew…”
Xun’er’s beautiful eyes watched Xiao Yan, who remained undisturbed within the Bodhi Tree. Seeing that he was not awakened, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her icy gaze then turned towards Hunyu and Jiufeng, her eyes blazing with golden flames.
Seeing Xun’er’s aggressive stance, the Soul Clan and Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan’s strong ones were startled. They quickly gathered behind the wounded Hunyu and Jiufeng, ready for a fight if necessary.
“Xun’er, don’t be rash,” Gu Qingyang stopped Xun’er, casting a wary glance at Hunyu and the others. Here, the Soul Clan and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan were already aligned. A full-scale battle would be uncertain, and most importantly, any large disturbance could wake Xiao Yan, leading to a significant loss.
Understanding Gu Qingyang’s concern, Xun’er nodded and slowly retracted her icy gaze, fixing it back on Xiao Yan, who was still sitting cross-legged within the Bodhi Tree.
“Spit.”
Hunyu and Jiufeng wiped the blood from their mouths, glaring at Xiao Yan, who remained motionless. They were frustrated that they could not wake him up.
“It seems the Bodhi Tree is protecting him. This brat must have had some incredible luck,” they thought. The retaliatory force from the Bodhi Tree was unmistakable. Alone, Xiao Yan could never match the combined strength of the two. But there was nothing they could do. After the previous encounter, they knew that even combining all present, they could not budge a single branch of the Bodhi Tree.
Facing the Bodhi Tree’s protection, all they could do was watch enviously…
As Hunyu and Jiufeng quieted down, the atmosphere grew heavy. Neither side liked the other, and the neutral strong ones did not dare to interfere. They stood far away, looking for a way to leave.
“The Bodhi Tree seems to have taken a liking to Xiao Yan. Who knows what happened before? Normally, Xiao Yan should have been trapped in an illusion,” Gu Qingyang glanced at Hunyu and the others, then turned to Xun’er.
“Yes,” Xun’er nodded. “It seems we can’t leave. I’ve tried, but I can’t tear open the slightest space crack. Now, we can only wait for Xiao Yan to awaken.”
Gu Qingyang also nodded. He had tried and found the space here surprisingly resilient. Even his full effort could not create the slightest spatial ripple, let alone tear it open.
“We can only wait. But the life energy here is very strong, so waiting for some time shouldn’t be a problem,” Cai Lin added. She would never abandon Xiao Yan and leave.
“Still, we need to be vigilant about those guys.”
“Yes,” everyone nodded. It was clear that Hunyu and the others would not give up. Though the legend of Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree leading to the potential of a Battle King was just a myth, these people were clearly unwilling to accept it. If Xiao Yan truly achieved that, it would be a disaster for them.
In this strange space, the concept of time became extremely vague. Unable to break through the space and burdened by the real-seeming illusions, no one dared to act recklessly. The space was oppressive, but at least it was real. In the illusion, distinguishing reality from falsehood was impossible, a truly terrifying experience.
As time passed in this space, everyone gradually entered a state of cultivation. The abundant energy here was excellent for replenishment and healing. During this dull waiting period, everyone benefited from their cultivation.
Naturally, Xun’er and the others kept a close watch on Hunyu and the others, preventing them from making any rash moves. Fortunately, after their previous failure, they realized the futility of more attempts.
In this monotonous cultivation, about a month passed. The Bodhi Tree remained still, and Xiao Yan, like an insect in amber, remained motionless. Even his aura disappeared from everyone’s perception. Sometimes, even Xun’er felt a twinge of panic, but they all remained rational.
However, as time dragged on, some people became increasingly restless. Nobody wanted to be trapped in this space forever. It would be no different from being prisoners.
When the agitation reached its peak after seven days, someone finally snapped. As the others, red-eyed and ready to charge at the Bodhi Tree, the figure seated within the tree suddenly trembled. Eyes that had been closed for a month slowly opened, met with astonished gazes…
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