Chapter 832
The Soul Clan's Scheme
Splash—
The ancient Bodhi tree gently swayed its branches, and a lustrous green branch slowly unfurled, its tip gracefully curling like an outstretched hand, gently covering Xiao Ling's head.
A gentle warmth spread through the branches, and Xiao Ling could clearly sense the pure and genuine joy emanating from the ancient tree, as if it were rejoicing at the elimination of evil spirits and filled with gratitude for this assistance.
Suddenly, the ancient tree's green branches twitched slightly, then gently pointed towards the floating ball of light beside it—within that ball of light was Xun'er, who was trapped in the illusion.
Xiao Ling's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the ball of light with a hint of curiosity. He could vaguely glimpse the scene inside: in the illusion, he and Xun'er were together, their eyes full of tenderness. The two were chatting happily and affectionately, a heartwarming sight.
Seeing this, Xiao Ling's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He then looked up at the ancient Bodhi tree and said earnestly,
"Senior, I have helped you cleanse your body of evil spirits. I still have one more request. I hope you will grant it. This is my companion. She has been trapped in an illusion. Please do not make things difficult for her and let her out."
The ancient Bodhi tree seemed to fully understand Xiao Ling's intentions, its green branches trembling slightly without the slightest hesitation.
As the glistening branch tip gently touched the ball of light again, the seemingly solid light membrane suddenly shattered like glass, turning into specks of light that scattered in the air, and Xun'er, who was trapped inside, also appeared.
Suddenly finding herself in this strange space teeming with life, Xun'er's expression changed in a series of ways: at first, her eyes shone with a hint of disorientation, clearly not yet recovered from the beautiful scene in the illusion, with a trace of the illusion's gentleness still lingering in her brows and eyes.
After a moment, she slowly cleared the confusion in her eyes, focused her mind to sort out the chaotic thoughts, and her gaze gradually cleared. She finally understood that all the warmth and entanglement she had experienced before were just an illusion created by the ancient Bodhi tree.
A sense of lingering fear quietly crept into Xun'er's heart. Even though Xiao Ling had warned her earlier and she had been on high alert, she had still fallen for the Bodhi Tree's trick. But she knew in her heart that it wasn't because she wasn't careful enough, but because the illusion was just too real.
In the illusion, she and her brother Xiao Ling were together day and night, living a happy and fulfilling life. The warmth and completeness that were within reach made it impossible for her to resist, and she willingly became deeply immersed in it.
Immediately, Xun'er came to her senses, looked up and saw Xiao Ling's figure, and immediately called out softly, "Brother Xiao Ling."
In a flash, she appeared beside him, looked up at him with a questioning gaze, and asked softly, "Brother Xiao Ling, what's going on?"
Xiao Ling gently stroked Xun'er's hair, his tone gentle, and pointed to the small, ancient Bodhi tree in front of them, explaining,
"This is the inner space of the Bodhi Ancient Tree, which is the manifestation of the tree spirit. I made a deal with the tree before, and the tree spirit asked me to help it solve a problem. Now that the matter has been settled, I saw that you were still trapped in the illusion, so I asked the ancient tree to release you."
Upon hearing this, Xun'er blushed slightly and lowered her eyes, saying softly, "Brother Xiao Ling, it's all Xun'er's fault. Even though you warned me beforehand, I was still trapped in the illusion and couldn't escape on my own."
Seeing this, Xiao Ling raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder, comforting her softly: "It's alright. This Bodhi Ancient Tree is originally a being that can contend with Dou Di. Previously, evil spirits were lurking inside its body, and its situation was somewhat abnormal, which is why the illusion it set up was so powerful. If it were in its normal state, I believe you would definitely be able to break through it on your own."
With Xiao Ling's gentle words of comfort, Xun'er's shyness gradually dissipated, her expression softened, and she nodded obediently, nestling gently against Xiao Ling's side, her eyes regaining their gentleness.
Just then, the trunk of the ancient Bodhi tree trembled slightly, and a ball of lustrous light, about ten feet in size, surged out from the depths of the tree. The light was as solid as carved jade, and its pulsation resembled a vibrant energy heart, flowing with a heart-pounding energy aura.
A verdant branch gently unfurled, carefully cradling the ball of light as it slowly approached Xiao Ling. With its branches drooping slightly, it seemed to be presenting a treasure to Xiao Ling, steadily delivering it before him.
"Bodhi mind! It's actually the legendary Bodhi mind that can instantly make one a saint!"
Xun'er gasped softly beside her, her eyes filled with shock. Although she had never seen its true form, she recognized the extraordinary phenomenon of such a treasure of heaven and earth from ancient records. Now that she saw it, she could not hide her astonishment.
Xiao Ling's gaze also fell on that ball of light, examining it closely without blinking. This was the first time he had ever seen such a rare and wondrous object, and his eyes were filled with curiosity and amazement.
He quietly channeled his soul power to probe, and the moment he touched the Bodhi Heart, he felt an immense and boundless energy rush towards him. This energy was not violent fighting spirit, but rather the purest spiritual essence, mixed with a clear, morning dew-like aura. It cleansed the dust deep within his soul like a spring breeze and gentle rain, even soothing the restlessness in his heart, leaving only a clear and peaceful state, profoundly mysterious.
"Since you have gifted it to me, senior, I would be impolite to refuse."
Xiao Ling bowed slightly to the spirit of the ancient Bodhi tree, and after speaking, he raised his hand and put the lustrous, pulsating Bodhi heart into his storage ring.
Having carefully stored the treasure away, he turned to look at Xun'er beside him, a gentle smile playing on his lips, and said softly,
"Xun'er, I have now broken through to the Dou Sheng realm, so this Bodhi Heart is of little use to me. After we finish dealing with things here and send you back to the ancient clan, I will give you this Bodhi Heart. At that time, you can focus on refining it, and I think it won't be long before your cultivation level will be greatly improved."
Upon hearing this, Xun'er's pretty eyes curved into a smile, and she nodded obediently, her voice soft and gentle: "Xun'er will listen to Brother Xiao Ling."
However, just as the two were talking, the ancient Bodhi tree beside them suddenly moved. Several glossy green branches suddenly stretched out from among the lush leaves, as if carrying the force of breaking through the air, and rushed straight towards Xiao Ling's direction.
Xiao Ling's mind went on alert. He had just sensed an inexplicable aura locking onto him and tried to circulate his battle qi to react, but he was a step too late. The green branch moved faster than he could have imagined, carrying a warm, clear light, and suddenly touched his brow.
In an instant, a dizzying sensation swept over his entire body, his sea of consciousness churned like a tide, and Xiao Ling's consciousness was instantly pulled away, plunging him into boundless silence. He was directly pulled into the cycle of reincarnation illusion by this force.
His body suddenly lost its support and slumped softly to the ground.
Upon seeing this, Xun'er's expression changed drastically, her eyes filled with intense panic. She lunged forward in a flash, firmly embracing Xiao Ling's slumped body, her slender hands gripping his shoulders tightly. Her voice trembled uncontrollably as she called out repeatedly...
"Brother Xiao Ling! Brother Xiao Ling! What's wrong? Don't scare Xun'er..." Seeing that Xiao Ling still didn't respond, Xun'er's face instantly darkened. Her gaze, fixed on the ancient Bodhi tree, surged with a chilling coldness completely at odds with her gentle demeanor. Her usually soft eyes hardened with a fierce intensity as she stared intently at the tree, and she cried out in a delicate voice...
"What exactly did you do to my brother Xiao Ling? Quickly restore him to normal!"
As soon as she finished speaking, her aura began to surge, and a powerful pressure quietly spread out. On her forehead, several strange golden lines were spreading out along her skin. As the lines flowed, they revealed a heart-palpitating power. Clearly, the extreme anxiety and anger at this moment had caused this young lady of the ancient clan to completely lose control of her emotions.
The spirit of the Bodhi tree seemed unaware of Xun'er's overwhelming anger. Its jade-like trunk swayed gently, conveying a sense of bewildered confusion. Before Xun'er could ask any further questions, another glossy vine suddenly shot out, aiming straight for Xun'er's brow.
This time, Xun'er didn't even have time to focus her attention before the vine lightly touched her brow. A gentle yet irresistible force swept over her instantly, and Xun'er's consciousness suddenly went into a daze, then completely fell silent the next second, losing her mind just like Xiao Ling.
The two bodies collapsed one after the other. The ancient Bodhi tree gently swayed its branches, and several supple green branches slowly wrapped around their bodies, the movements gentle yet steady, slowly pulling them towards its smooth and translucent trunk.
At the same time, another emerald green cushion woven from a branch floated over, steadily supporting the two and gently placing them on the cushion.
The futon floated gently beside the ancient tree, with Xiao Ling and Xun'er lying on their sides, their foreheads touching, their hair slightly tangled, their eyes filled with a peaceful tranquility. This way of leaning on each other created a serene and warm scene.
After settling the two, the ancient Bodhi tree's gnarled trunk suddenly rippled, and a profound wave of reincarnation spread from its body, like an invisible vortex, gently enveloping Xiao Ling and Xun'er's souls within it. In an instant, a pure and profound sacred aura emanated from the ancient tree, mixed with a sense of wisdom that had seen through the ages, slowly permeating the entire azure space.
The unique cycle of reincarnation between Xiao Ling and Xun'er begins here.
At the same time, the spirit of the ancestral stone within Xiao Ling's body had already sensed his abnormality, but it did not offer any guidance or attempt to obstruct him.
"This fluctuation is the power of reincarnation." Yan's thoughts rippled gently in Xiao Ling's sea of consciousness, tinged with admiration. "This ancient Bodhi tree is truly a wondrous and spiritual object of heaven and earth. This trial of reincarnation will undoubtedly be of great benefit to Xiao Ling's future path of cultivation."
It's a pity that he wasn't cultivating the orthodox cultivation methods of the Tianyuan Continent; otherwise, with this understanding of reincarnation, he could probably have directly broken through to the peak of the Third Reincarnation Tribulation.
As their thoughts dissipated, the interior of the entire Bodhi tree fell into complete stillness. Only the gentle swaying of the canopy and the rustling of the leaves echoed slowly in the silence, accompanying the two people leaning on the futon as they quietly awaited the end of the cycle of reincarnation.
……
As the inner space of the Bodhi Tree fell into complete silence, the wild and ancient realm outside was already bustling with noise and clamor.
In recent days, the Central Plains have been in turmoil. All the top powers have heard the news that the Bodhi Ancient Tree has appeared in the world and contains an ancient opportunity. They have all dispatched their elite troops to travel day and night, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers to reach the desolate ancient domain.
Above the Central Plains, countless cultivators surged like a tide into the depths of the ancient domain, their goal being the Bodhi Tree, which contained endless mysteries and creation. Everyone longed to get a share of this opportunity, to seize the treasures bestowed by the ancient tree, or to comprehend the true essence of cultivation that was enough to defy fate.
At this moment, the ancient platform closest to the Bodhi tree was already filled with banners and bustling with people.
All forces from various factions were fully prepared and gathered at the edge of the surging beast tide, their eyes fixed intently on the area deep within the ancient domain that faintly shone with emerald light.
At the edge of the beast tide, powerful figures and renowned masters gathered, their immense battle auras intertwining and colliding, making the surrounding air seem to freeze.
However, within this group of hidden talents, the ones who subtly hold a dominant position are several prodigies from ancient races.
Among the crowd, a group of figures dressed in the iconic black robes of the Soul Clan quietly gathered. The eerie patterns embroidered on the robes were faintly visible in the light and shadow of the desolate ancient domain, exuding a sinister aura.
One of them, with a fair complexion like jade and an elegant yet cold demeanor, was none other than Hun Yu, who was hailed as a top candidate for the next patriarch of the Soul Clan.
At this moment, he was bowing respectfully to a dark-eyed man in front of him, his tone somewhat solemn.
“Brother Hunfeng, we did not find any trace of Gu Xun’er among the group from the Ancient Clan. It seems that, as the intelligence indicated, she was traveling with Xiao Ling this time.”
Upon hearing this, the black-eyed man known as Soul Wind's gaze darkened slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he gently shook his head and slowly spoke.
"According to sources, Xiao Ling is now a two-star Dou Sheng, while Gu Xun'er is only at the half-saint level. The two have come together, their target must be the Bodhi Heart, to use its power to help Gu Xun'er break through to Dou Sheng. We just need to keep getting closer to the Bodhi Tree, and we will eventually encounter them. After that, the elders will take action. This operation involves a battle at the Dou Sheng level, so we must proceed cautiously and step by step. As for the Bodhi Heart, we will try to seize it if the opportunity arises."
Hun Yu nodded in agreement, then frowned slightly, his tone filled with disbelief: "However, this Xiao Ling is truly unbelievable. He has only cultivated for a little over twenty years, yet he has managed to break through to the level of a two-star Dou Sheng. It's terrifying! If it weren't for the definite news from the ancient clan's inside source, who would believe such a heaven-defying thing?"
“This person’s talent is indeed extraordinary, and he is a major threat to our Soul Clan.” A cold glint flashed in Soul Wind’s dark eyes, and his tone was as firm as iron. “Previously, he acted with extreme discretion, yet he was able to cultivate to such a level without making a sound. His hidden strength is so deep that it makes him even more troublesome. Now that he has revealed his talent and become an open threat, there is no reason to let him go any longer. With the elders personally taking action this time, we can naturally eradicate this hidden danger completely.”
At that time, the high-ranking members of the Soul Clan were all greatly shocked when they learned that Xiao Ling's cultivation had broken through to the level of a two-star Dou Sheng.
If the messenger hadn't been a Soul Clan spy planted among the Ancient Clan, they would have found it hard to believe.
Even the strongest member of the Soul Clan, the Soul Emperor, was alarmed and personally ordered an operation to deal with the situation.
On the surface, Hun Feng and his group came to the Desolate Ancient Domain seeking opportunities within the Bodhi Tree. Their true purpose, however, was to find Xiao Ling and, upon arrival, immediately summon a Soul Clan Dou Sheng expert using a spatial jade slip to annihilate him completely and eliminate any future threats. (End of Chapter)