Chapter 764: True Soul Fruit

Wang Changsheng removed the formation, and the ground returned to its original state. The wood spirit glowed brightly with a green light and then disappeared.

Accustomed to its freedom, how could it easily surrender?

Wang Changsheng smiled slightly, then performed a hand seal. The wood spirit tumbled out from inside a towering tree, its arms flailing uncontrollably, as three blood-red lotus marks appeared on its body.

The Gold-Devouring Ants swarmed forward, biting chunks out of the wood spirit's body until it begged for mercy. Only then did Wang Changsheng release it.

Although Wang Changsheng had killed many third-tier demonic beasts, he had never managed to subdue any of them. The stronger a demonic beast was, the harder it was to subjugate, and there was a high risk of backlash. His decision to subdue the wood spirit was not without reason.

First, the wood spirit's strength was indeed considerable, and it could provide significant assistance to Wang Changsheng in land battles. Second, Wang Changsheng possessed the Profound Nether Black Lotus Flame and Gold-Devouring Ants, both of which countered the wood spirit, making him unafraid of backlash. Third, Wang Changsheng was already at the fifth layer of Core Formation, his power firmly suppressing the wood spirit, so there would be no problem as long as its rank did not surpass his own.

The wood spirit rooted itself into the ground, and a large area of green light emanated from its body. Nearby plants withered at a visible pace, and the wood spirit's injuries slowly healed.

After the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, the wood spirit's injuries were mostly healed.

Wang Changsheng was both surprised and delighted. He had not anticipated that the wood spirit could consume the life force of other plants to restore its own injuries. It was fortunate that he had trapped the wood spirit with a formation, using both the Gold-Devouring Ants and the Profound Nether Black Lotus Flame; otherwise, subduing it would not have been so easy.

What puzzled Wang Changsheng was why the wood spirit, being a plant spirit, would willingly guard the outside instead of claiming spiritual herbs with vast spiritual energy. Was someone deliberately arranging this, or was there a powerful demonic beast guarding the spiritual herbs?

After careful consideration, he believed it was the latter.

Wang Changsheng gave the wood spirit an order to enter the valley.

The wood spirit did not resist and quickly moved towards the valley.

The yellow mist that had previously enveloped the valley vanished, revealing a large estate. Some of the estate walls had collapsed, making it appear somewhat dilapidated.

It seemed that a demonic beast had trespassed into the estate.

The wood spirit led the way, with hundreds of Gold-Devouring Ants scattered around Wang Changsheng. He had retracted the remaining Gold-Devouring Ants into his spirit beast pearl.

The estate was vast. Its flagstones were cracked, and several craters marred the ground. On both sides, the spiritual fields were overgrown with weeds taller than a person.

As the wood spirit led the way, they saw many spiritual fields along their path, but no spiritual herbs. There were clear signs of a struggle on the ground, making it unclear whether cultivators or demonic beasts had been there.

After half a quarter of an hour, Wang Changsheng stopped at the entrance of a secluded courtyard. The wood spirit also stopped, hesitant to enter, as if something terrifying lay within.

The courtyard was several hundred zhang wide, with no paving stones, only yellow dirt. It appeared to have been the site of a major battle.

Wang Changsheng released two small dog-shaped puppet beasts and sent them into the courtyard.

The ground suddenly split open, revealing a gaping maw that swallowed the puppet beasts.

Simultaneously, a thick black bolt of lightning shot out, heading directly for the wood spirit.

The wood spirit twitched its hands, sending countless green thorns flying. The barbs on the thorns rapidly thickened, forming a green wooden shield that blocked the attack.

Boom!

With a loud crash, the wooden shield was shattered by the black lightning. The lightning struck the wood spirit, transforming into a large area of black thunderous light that enveloped its body.

Before the black lightning dissipated, two black lightning bolts, as thick as an adult's arm, shot out without warning, instantly appearing before Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng was already prepared. An dazzling golden light radiated from his body, and he was enveloped by a vast golden aura, looking from afar like a golden Buddha statue.

Boom!

The two black lightning bolts struck the golden aura, and a large expanse of black thunderous light enveloped Wang Changsheng's body.

Before the black lightning dispersed, Wang Changsheng felt something suddenly appear before him.

With two *clang-clang* sounds, two sharp black short blades slashed at the golden aura, causing it to flicker wildly.

Wang Changsheng's figure flickered, and he rapidly retreated, his expression grave as he looked at his opponent.

It was a black centipede over ten zhang long, with a pair of wings on its back and several golden spirit patterns on its head. This was a high-grade, third-tier demonic insect.

The wood spirit had already escaped into the ground. When it returned to Wang Changsheng's side, its body was scorched black, and its aura was somewhat weak.

"No wonder the wood spirit dared not approach this place. It turns out there's a high-grade, third-tier demonic insect here!"

Wang Changsheng realized the truth, his expression somewhat grave.

The black centipede let out a strange cry, spitting out three thick black lightning bolts towards Wang Changsheng. Simultaneously, it flapped its wings and darted directly at him.

Underneath its abdomen was a row of incredibly sharp black blades.

Wang Changsheng dared not be careless. He flipped his hand, taking out a golden mirror, and dozens of golden orbs shot out, fiercely striking towards the black centipede.

Boom!

The golden orbs collided with the black lightning, erupting into a large area of black thunderous light, and a powerful wave of energy rapidly spread out.

With a flash of black light, the black centipede suddenly appeared before Wang Changsheng. Its sharp claws fiercely slashed at him. The black claws struck the golden light, producing a dull thud like metal clashing.

It opened its mouth, and several black lightning orbs the size of watermelons shot out, striking the golden light.

The golden light immediately shattered. Wang Changsheng felt his body go numb, as if his skin was about to tear.

His figure flickered, splitting into ten, and he fled in different directions. The wood spirit burrowed into the ground again and vanished.

The black centipede opened its mouth, spitting out several black lightning bolts that destroyed several of the illusory figures. It did not continue the chase but returned to the courtyard and burrowed into the ground.

Wang Changsheng escaped from the estate. Seeing that the black centipede was not pursuing him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It was a high-grade, third-tier demonic insect that understood wind evasion and lightning elemental spells. Killing this demon with his strength alone would be quite difficult.

It seemed the black centipede was guarding some spiritual herb, which was why it didn't give chase. Direct assault wouldn't work; he could try to outsmart it. Third-tier demonic insects possessed some intelligence, but compared to humans, their wisdom was negligible.

Wang Changsheng set up the Golden Abundance Spirit Restraint Formation outside the estate and instructed the wood spirit to lure the black centipede.

He took out a yellow banner and gently waved it. With a flash of yellow light, Wang Changsheng disappeared.

This magic treasure was called the Spirit Concealing Banner, capable of concealing one's presence and aura.

Before long, a huge roar echoed within the estate. The ground became uneven, and a small mound of earth rapidly moved towards Wang Changsheng's position. The black centipede followed closely behind the mound. It seemed the wood spirit had successfully provoked the black centipede.

The black centipede had not detected Wang Changsheng. It could not tolerate the wood spirit attempting to destroy the spiritual herb it was guarding.

It opened its mouth and spat out several thick black lightning bolts, striking the moving mound.

Boom!

The mound was struck by the black lightning, but it quickly continued to move, with the black centipede in close pursuit.

Just then, countless green thorns suddenly emerged from the ground, quickly entangling the black centipede.

The black centipede casually swiped with the claws beneath its abdomen, easily severing the green thorns.

Seizing this opportunity, Wang Changsheng revealed himself. He cast a spell into the formation plate, and a faint golden light barrier appeared out of nowhere, encompassing an area several hundred zhang in radius. The ground turned golden yellow and became incredibly hard. Caught off guard, the black centipede was trapped by the golden light barrier.

The black centipede knew wind evasion techniques, so killing it would be quite difficult.

Wang Changsheng ignored the black centipede and rushed into the estate with the wood spirit.

The black centipede realized it had been tricked. It let out a strange cry and released black lightning, striking the golden light barrier, but the barrier remained unmoving.

Before long, Wang Changsheng reappeared outside the courtyard where the black centipede had been. He released two puppet beasts to go ahead. The two puppet beasts entered the courtyard, and there was no abnormality.

The wood spirit followed into the courtyard, burrowed into the ground, and after a careful examination, found no abnormalities. Only then did Wang Changsheng confidently enter.

Passing through this courtyard, a spiritual herb garden spanning several mu appeared before Wang Changsheng. Most of the spiritual fields were empty, but a small portion still contained spiritual herbs. The most striking sight was a dazzling golden fruit tree, bearing five pale golden, oval-shaped fruits with some black spirit patterns on their skins.

"True Soul Fruit!"