Chapter 1441: Ghost Yin Tree in Hand

Zhao Shou's eyes flickered as he said to Qian Yue, "Fairy Qian, let's cooperate to capture the ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine first. The Immortal Relic Market holds many treasures; there's no need for us to fight to the death. We can leave the headaches to our sect elders, don't you agree?"

With Ye Haitang and her companions present, they were an unpredictable factor. If a fight truly broke out, Zhao Shou wasn't very confident.

Qian Yue pondered for a moment before agreeing. Her true thoughts, however, remained unknown.

"The ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine is currently inhabiting a locust tree about five hundred zhang ahead," Zhao Shou transmitted. "We need to set up a formation to trap it; otherwise, it will escape. Once we've secured the spiritual medicine, we can then fell the Ghost-Yin Tree."

Zhao Shou explained via spiritual transmission that the ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine was adept at wood escape techniques and could possess any plant.

Ye Haitang's eyes glimmered with a dark light. Her Yellow Spring Dharma Eyes allowed her to pinpoint the ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine's location within a locust tree.

Zhao Shou produced a set of fourth-tier gold-attribute formation flags, distributing over a hundred of them among Ye Haitang and the others, instructing them to disperse.

"Girl Ye," Zhao Mei'er transmitted, "I'll help you acquire the Ghost-Yin Tree if you promise me one favor. What do you say?"

Zhao Mei'er transmitted her message to Ye Haitang, caring little about the latter's true strength.

"What favor?" Ye Haitang replied. "State it first."

"I haven't thought of it yet; I'll tell you when I do," Zhao Mei'er responded. "However, once I ask, you must fulfill it. Otherwise, I won't help you acquire the Ghost-Yin Tree. With so many people here, you'd be lucky to get even a small piece of Ghost-Yin wood."

Zhao Mei'er's voice was filled with triumph. She wouldn't miss this rare opportunity to have leverage over Ye Haitang.

After a moment of consideration, Ye Haitang said, "As long as it's within my capabilities, I can agree. If it's beyond them, I cannot fulfill it."

"Don't worry, it will certainly be within your ability," Zhao Mei'er assured her. "We'll discuss it later."

They dispersed, intending to secretly deploy the formation.

Just then, a gust of strong wind swept through, causing a specific locust tree to shake violently. A boy in green robes suddenly shot out from the tree, his expression panicked. He instantly transformed into a streak of green light and darted into the distance.

"Damn it, chase! Don't let it escape!" Zhao Shou cursed. He immediately gave chase.

Qian Yue hesitated briefly, then stated, "Let's fell the Ghost-Yin Tree first; I'll pursue it later."

She formed a sword incantation, and twelve gleaming red flying swords sliced towards the Ghost-Yin Tree.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

A series of dull metallic clangs resonated. The Ghost-Yin Tree now bore more than a dozen shallow chop marks, clearly indicating it would not be easy to fell.

"Form a sword array!" Qian Yue declared. "I refuse to believe we can't cut down a single Ghost-Yin Tree!"

Qian Yue's sword incantation shifted. The twelve red flying swords hummed clearly as massive crimson flames erupted from their blades, radiating an immense heatwave. The twelve swords then circled the Ghost-Yin Tree, unleashing a barrage of crimson sword energy that relentlessly hacked at its trunk.

Following a series of thunderous explosions, raging flames engulfed nearly half of the Ghost-Yin Tree.

At that very moment, the Ghost-Yin Tree began to shake violently, an eerie wind howled, and its massive trunk swayed wildly.

"This old one has been sleeping for so long; have visitors finally arrived again?"

A piercingly sharp female voice echoed.

Ye Haitang feigned surprise and exclaimed, "Oh no, the tree has become a demon! Its cultivation is probably no less than that of the ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine."

With a swift swing of its massive trunk, the Ghost-Yin Tree entangled two Myriad Sword Sect disciples. Their protective spiritual barriers shattered instantly, and countless black tendrils shot out, piercing their bodies, rapidly transforming them into withered husks.

The incident occurred so abruptly that no one had time to react.

"This is bad! Run!"

Ye Haitang immediately took flight, with Wang Qingling and Wang Qiuming close behind.

Qian Yue and her companions also quickly reacted, fleeing in various directions.

Eliminating two Core Formation cultivators in a single exchange was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary tree demon.

The ground began to shake violently, and the earth tore open as massive yellow boulders erupted from below, hurtling towards Ye Haitang and the others.

After a series of deafening roars, the yellow boulders shattered into fragments, sending dust swirling into the air.

A short while later, Ye Haitang and her two companions reappeared at the location where they had found the Six Pure Bamboos. Qian Yue had already vanished.

A moment later, a sinister wind swept by, revealing Zhao Mei'er's form. She tossed a string of green storage beads to Ye Haitang and stated, "Remember what you promised me, and leave this place quickly! I am not invincible, and the Immortal Relic Market is teeming with bizarre demonic creatures."

"Senior," Wang Qiuming asked curiously, "could you not capture the ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine?"

Wang Qiuming asked with a hint of curiosity, as it seemed to him that capturing the ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine shouldn't be an issue for someone of Zhao Mei'er's ability.

"I sensed a particular aura on it," Zhao Mei'er replied bluntly. "It's likely already claimed by someone. To plot against it would be seeking death."

Zhao Mei'er spoke without reservation, acknowledging that all things have their natural counterparts and limitations; she certainly did not consider herself invincible.

"She has a point," Ye Haitang agreed. "Let's leave quickly and rendezvous with Cousin Qingqing and the others as soon as possible."

Ye Haitang and her two companions began to retrace their steps. Zhao Mei'er glanced back, then transformed into a gust of shadowy wind and vanished.

Deep within the dense forest, the green-robed boy was ensnared by a large golden net. Countless golden electric arcs erupted from the net, striking the boy.

"Haha, I've finally caught you!"

Zhao Shou burst into maniacal laughter, striding swiftly to stand before the green-robed boy, his eyes gleaming with delight.

His three companions caught up, their faces also alight with joy.

"Fairy Qian of the Myriad Sword Sect is truly foolish," one remarked. "She gave up a ten-thousand-year spiritual medicine, one that has even taken human form, just for a Ghost-Yin Tree!"

"Indeed," another chimed in, "Senior Brother Zhao's plan was far superior."

Hearing the compliments from his fellow disciples, a smug expression involuntarily spread across Zhao Shou's face.

At that moment, an exceedingly cold female voice abruptly rang out: "Brilliant? I'd call it foolish!"

No sooner had the words faded than a golden spiderweb, over a hundred zhang wide, descended from the sky, ensnaring all four of them.

A colossal golden spider, over a hundred zhang in size, descended. Its eyes were silver, and a face of exquisite beauty was etched upon its back.

The golden spider opened its maw, and a web of delicate golden silk shot forth, instantly piercing the protective spiritual barriers of Zhao Shou and his three companions. Their bodies withered into mummified husks at a terrifyingly visible pace.

With a flash of golden light, the spider transformed into a perfectly proportioned young woman in a golden dress, her skin as fair as snow. Her arms were covered in delicate golden hairs, and behind her head was a gruesome, gaping maw.

She retracted the golden net, freeing the green-robed boy.

"I told you not to run around aimlessly," the golden-clad woman scolded. "It's fortunate you only encountered *them*. If any other old monsters had caught you, they would surely have devoured you."

The golden-clad woman reprimanded him without reservation.

The green-robed boy lowered his head in aggrieved silence.

"Let's go! Come back with me," she urged. "A Nascent Soul stage spirit ghost was following you just now. It's fortunate she didn't try to capture you."

The golden-clad woman collected the belongings from Zhao Shou and his companions, then departed with the green-robed boy.