Chapter 896: Master Uncle

## Mortal Realm

After their figures disappeared.

Zhao Songqiao's gaze deepened, revealing a hint of mockery. He thought to himself, "It's better if they don't follow. It saves me the trouble of silencing them."

His figure moved, weaving through the shadows as he circled towards the side of the low hill.

The Sky-Eyed Butterfly's wings vibrated slightly, easily keeping pace with him.

"Who goes there!"

Soon after the avatar and Fang Ting had walked a short distance, a low shout suddenly reached their ears. Looking up, they saw a streak of azure light flying down from the mountaintop. In an instant, it landed before them, revealing the figure of a slender Daoist.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle! This disciple has been ordered by Martial Uncle Jinyan to come here and collect Dark Thunderwood and other spiritual materials."

The avatar and Fang Ting quickly bowed in greeting, explained their purpose, and presented the token.

"It is indeed Martial Brother Jinyan's token."

After inspecting it, the Daoist returned the token to the avatar, then turned his gaze to Fang Ting. "You were brought by Martial Brother Yang. Who is this woman? I seem to recall her being a disciple of the Misty Pavilion."

This person had seen Fang Ting when entering Dongming Island.

"Martial Uncle's insight is keen. Fang Ting is indeed a disciple of Senior Chen from the Misty Pavilion. She is my friend and, upon hearing that I was coming here to collect herbs, wished to come and see for herself," the avatar replied, using his usual tactic.

"Senior Chen?"

The Daoist understood, and his tone softened. "Since she is Senior Chen's disciple, it's fine. However, I have several precious spiritual herbs planted on the mountain, so you must not wander around carelessly, lest you damage the herb garden. Collect your spiritual materials and leave quickly."

Seeing the Daoist turn to leave, the avatar quickly called out to him.

"Martial Uncle, Senior Jinyan instructed me to dig up six hundred-year-old Azure Hatred Fruit spiritual roots. This junior is inexperienced and fears accidentally harming the spiritual tree. Could Martial Uncle perhaps offer some guidance?"

The spiritual fruits produced by Azure Hatred Fruit trees can be used to refine elixirs that restore spiritual energy.

Roots over a hundred years old are rich in wood spirit power, making them excellent spiritual materials for artifact refining.

"We just took some last time, and now he wants six more? Does Jinyan truly believe these spiritual trees are inexhaustible?"

The Daoist grumbled upon hearing this but readily agreed without suspicion. "I'll take you to dig them. Azure Hatred Fruit trees are quite delicate. Improper extraction of their spiritual roots can damage the tree, significantly reducing the potency of future fruits, and in severe cases, even causing the tree to die. I wouldn't trust you to do it yourself."

The avatar and Fang Ting followed the Daoist, flying a short distance until they arrived at an herb garden.

The area had clearly just been tended to by the Daoist. The spiritual trees in the garden were remarkably vibrant, their leaves emerald green like jade, freshly nourished. All the spiritual fruits had already been harvested.

The Daoist landed before the largest spiritual trees, observed them carefully, and finally selected one. He activated his spiritual power and, using an unknown secret art, lightly pointed at the tree. A green light landed on its trunk.

The spiritual tree trembled slightly, its vitality remarkably robust. The Daoist then channeled his spiritual power into a blade of light and carefully cut off a hundred-year-old spiritual root.

He repeated the process, cutting off six spiritual roots, which he handed to the avatar. "Remember, when taking similar spiritual items in the future, do not act rashly on your own."

"This disciple obeys!"

The avatar bid farewell to the Daoist and flew with Fang Ting towards the back of the mountain.

Not until the Daoist was out of sight did Fang Ting dare to transmit her voice, asking, "Senior Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Zhao should have infiltrated by now, right?"

She saw the avatar's face full of solemnity and was taken aback.

The avatar flashed to a high vantage point, from where he could see a large expanse of black shadow in the innermost area, which was the Dark Thunderwood Forest.

After a moment of thought, he led Fang Ting to a secluded spot near an exit and said gravely, "Wait here. Don't go anywhere. If anything happens later, just run."

"Senior Brother, what are you saying? What could happen? Aren't you coming with me?"

Fang Ting was startled by the avatar's words.

"I can't explain it clearly, but I just feel that Senior Brother Zhao is acting strangely, so it's better to be safe. I have my own way of escaping, so I'll be fine. You need to be clever; later, I might need your help to cover me..."

The avatar gave Fang Ting a deep look and left alone.

Fang Ting looked flustered. For some reason, the moment Senior Brother Zhang disappeared from her sight, a large emptiness seemed to suddenly open up in her heart. She covered her chest with one hand, while the other instinctively reached out but grasped nothing.

The avatar concealed his figure, tracking a faint sensation connected to the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, and headed directly for the Dark Thunderwood Forest.

Before long, a pitch-black forest, resembling a land of death, appeared in his sight.

Among these Dark Thunderwood trees, faint wisps of shadowy lightning power drifted. Aside from some special spiritual herbs, ordinary plants could not survive here.

At this moment, Zhao Songqiao had infiltrated deep into the black jungle, completely unaware of the Sky-Eyed Butterfly closely following him.

Upon reaching the densest concentration of shadowy lightning, Zhao Songqiao's figure suddenly stopped. After observing his surroundings, he abruptly opened his mouth and spat out a white pill.

The surface of the pill appeared to be coated with a waxy layer.

The moment the pill appeared, the drifting shadowy lightning power was rapidly devoured as if encountering a giant beast. In the blink of an eye, the surrounding shadowy lightning power was completely consumed.

Zhao Songqiao retreated, watching this scene unfold.

The next moment, the nearest Dark Thunderwood trees also began to wither and die. This place was about to become a true dead zone.

Shadowy lightning power from afar was also drawn in, forming a conical vortex centered around the pill.

Everything was happening silently.

After absorbing an unknown amount of shadowy lightning power, there was a 'pop' sound as the pill cracked open, and a dragonfly-shaped spiritual insect emerged from the shell.

At this moment, the avatar, hidden in the distance and witnessing this scene through the Sky-Eyed Butterfly, was filled with shock.

The Witch race's insect-controlling techniques were completely different from those of the human race, yet he was proficient in both.

"A Gu worm!"

***

Outside Dongming Island.

Three streaks of light sped across the sea, heading directly towards the entrance of Dongming Island.

These three made no attempt to conceal their powerful auras. Their streaks of light unscrupulously cut through the sea, stirring up large waves. Their menacing demeanor suggested they weren't coming for a Dharma assembly, but rather to confront and demand answers.

The few Landou Sect disciples guarding the entrance paled at the sight.

"Three Core Formation realm masters! Who are they?"

Everyone was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. They looked at each other, unable to discern the origins of these people.

"The other party seems to mean trouble, and we cannot stop them. Quickly report to Chief Lu!"

An elder spoke sagely, then quickly sent a streak of light, which 'whooshed' into Dongming Island.

No sooner had the streak of light vanished into the thin mist than the three individuals arrived before them, their escape speed showing no sign of slowing.

The disciples blocked their path, bowed, and asked, "We are disciples of the Landou Sect, guarding Dongming Island under the orders of Chief Lu. May we ask, Seniors, where are you from, and what is your purpose in coming here? So that we may report accordingly."

"I'm your Martial Uncle! Are you blind, you dogs? How dare you even try to stop me!"

The burly man leading them, his tiger-like eyes wide with fury, cursed loudly and threw a dark iron token into the elder's arms, then immediately prepared to barge inside.