Chapter 323: Poison Master and Divine Doctor

The strange beast spat out a pearl that glowed green, bathing the surroundings in a verdant light. The radiance wasn't from the pearl itself, but from something within it: a green dragon swimming, its light illuminating the area.

Upon seeing the green light, Xiong Xiyu’s expression shifted slightly. She quickly turned, exclaiming, “That’s my True Heaven Palace’s Green Dragon Pearl!”

Qin Mu looked back, seeing the pearl had expanded to over ten feet in diameter. The green dragon inside became clearer, swimming joyfully. The Flower Maidens, who were rushing towards Yu Bochuan and his group, were hit by the green light. They suddenly petrified, turning into wooden statues, their bodies rigid and suspended in mid-air.

Popping sounds came from their bodies. Green shoots quickly sprouted from these petrified women, then grew into branches, covering them in green foliage.

The tentacles behind them, which were the Root Demon's tendrils, also turned into hard wood and became immobile.

Yu Bochuan led his group forward, while the horned ape-like beast, holding the pearl high with both hands, followed closely behind. Wherever the pearl's light shone, the Flower Maidens were immobilized, each in a unique and varied pose, with no two alike.

“Green Dragon Pearl?”

Qin Mu was slightly taken aback. This pearl could actually restrain a monster like the Root Demon. It was indeed an extraordinary treasure!

“They’ve also stolen my True Heaven Palace’s sacred treasure!”

Xiong Xiyu snorted coldly and reached out from a distance. The strange beast felt the Green Dragon Pearl in its hands instantly lift off. Startled, it quickly leapt onto the pearl, trying to weigh it down.

Several Heaven Human realm experts near Yu Bochuan also unleashed their vital qi, activating the Green Dragon Pearl and competing with Xiong Xiyu for it. The Green Dragon Pearl floated in mid-air, with both sides in a brief standoff, each wanting to control the sacred treasure.

The two white bats immediately changed course and flew over. Their bodies spun in mid-air, firing countless hairs towards Yu Bochuan and his group, wanting to help seize the pearl.

In the blink of an eye, the two white bats were completely bald. Their hairs had been refined into extraordinary treasures, acting like needles. If struck, these hairs would become incredibly soft, burrow into the body, and instantly kill.

Simultaneously, the Dragon Qilin shook its body. Its scales, like incredibly sharp large shields, whistled as they spun, cutting towards Yu Bochuan and his group.

The Dragon Qilin instantly became completely smooth-bodied, bare-chested and bare-buttocked. Only the tip of its dragon tail and its large head still had some Qilin fur.

Xiong Xiyu’s face turned pale. She quickly said, “Don’t attack!”

Before she finished speaking, the hairs fired by the two white bats were illuminated by the Green Dragon Pearl's green light. They immediately petrified, falling to the ground with swishing sounds.

The two white bats tried to recall their hairs but lost all sensation. The brothers stood dumbfounded, hugging themselves, at a loss.

The Dragon Qilin's scales also petrified in an instant, turning into wooden shields that clattered to the ground. The plump dragon was dumbfounded, its large belly pressing against the ground. Originally, its scales covered its belly, preventing it from sagging too much. Now, without the scales, the excess fat on its belly sagged uncontrollably.

“Cult Master…”

The Dragon Qilin was completely at a loss. It quickly turned its head to look at Qin Mu, who was standing on its back.

Qin Mu had originally intended to activate his Eight Thousand Swords and attack. Seeing this, he immediately stopped.

The True Heaven Palace’s Green Dragon Pearl was truly mysterious and unpredictable. Although the Dragon Qilin's cultivation hadn't reached the Heaven Human realm, its strength was nearly comparable, being thick-skinned and durable.

During the Battle of Tianbo City, when the avatar of the Dutian Devil King descended and fought fiercely with the Dragon King, the residual attack merely grazed the Dragon Qilin's rear, only breaking its scales, and the Dragon Qilin's injuries were not severe. This showed the strong defense of its scales.

The two white bats were even stronger, definitely reaching the peak of the Heaven Human realm. Their hairs were also not easily used.

Unexpectedly, their treasures, when encountering the Green Dragon Pearl's green light, petrified and became uncontrollable!

If Qin Mu's Eight Thousand Swords had flown over, only the Worry-Free Sword would likely remain unpetrified; all other flying swords would turn into wood.

Xiong Xiyu let out a muffled groan. Her magic power was inferior to Yu Bochuan and his group, so she couldn't seize the pearl. The Green Dragon Pearl flew towards Yu Bochuan's group. Just then, the ground suddenly shook violently. Countless roots surged out from underground, flying everywhere. With swishing sounds, they formed a giant, dark wooden cocoon, enveloping the Green Dragon Pearl, and then pulled it underground.

Xiong Xiyu and Yu Bochuan's group were caught off guard. Neither side had time to retrieve the Green Dragon Pearl before the Root Demon snatched it away!

Yu Bochuan said sternly, “The Green Dragon Pearl is a treasure of my True Heaven Palace! It seals the true soul of the Green Dragon. This old demon won't be able to swallow it!”

Suddenly, the tremors from underground became more violent. Everyone lost their footing. The ground beneath them continuously shook and even began to rise, as if a colossal creature was drilling upwards from below.

Rumble—

Soil and rocks flew everywhere. A wave of green emerged from underground, lifting them higher and higher. The Dragon Qilin quickly jumped to the side. A huge tree, with a canopy covering tens of acres, erupted from the ground beside them, soaring upwards.

The two white bats quickly flew up. Remembering their bare bodies, they immediately covered their lower parts with their hands. Then, they tumbled down, landing headfirst into a dense thicket.

The two white bats were slightly startled. They saw that this massive tree was still growing wildly. Its canopy became larger and larger, and its trunk grew taller and taller. Soon, they saw white clouds drifting past the tree's canopy.

The air also grew colder, and the sunlight became more intense. The two white bats found it difficult to breathe, so they quickly flew up and then descended from the tree's canopy.

Only then did they realize how long the journey was. The tree's canopy was incredibly vast and dense. Despite their speed, it took them a considerable amount of time to fly out of the canopy.

Upon exiting the canopy, they found themselves in a dizzying high altitude. The incredibly thick tree trunk towered far above the surrounding mountains!

The two white bats quickly flew downwards. It was a few more moments before they finally saw the ground.

Meanwhile, the giant tree continuously emitted rumbling vibrations. At regular intervals, countless branches suddenly grew wildly, forming a second canopy, a third, and a fourth.

The two white bats repeatedly dodged. Suddenly, lightning flashed and cracked in the air, striking back and forth. Then, a gentle rain began to fall.

Once they landed, the two white bats quickly shielded their lower bodies. They turned their heads to look around but didn't see Qin Mu or the others. Only the majestic, mountain-like tree trunk blocked their view.

The ground continuously cracked, revealing thick, dragon-like roots. They cracked and popped, extending madly, reaching into the distance. Even several distant mountaintops were tightly entangled by these roots.

And above, the sunlight was completely obscured, leaving little brightness.

The Bat Brothers flew to the tree trunk, rapidly scurrying along it, searching for Qin Mu and the others.

Suddenly, rustling sounds came from the lowest canopy. Tendril-like roots hung down from the canopy, swaying back and forth, each holding large flower buds.

“This must be the Root Demon’s true form, right?”

Qin Mu's voice came. Fu Yuqiu and Fu Yuchun quickly scurried over from the tree. Seeing Qin Mu and the Dragon Qilin, they breathed a sigh of relief, leaped down from the tree, and used their fleshy wings to cover their bodies upon landing, to avoid exposure.

Qin Mu looked up at the colossal tree formed by the Root Demon, his heart filled with inexplicable shock. He stepped forward and peeled open one of the hanging flower buds.

As the flower bud was peeled open, a motionless maiden instantly hung down from inside, her hands hanging limp.

The maiden weakly opened her eyes, glanced at Qin Mu, and whispered with a barely audible breath, “Heavenly Saint Cult Master…”

Qin Mu closed the maiden's eyes, but she opened them again, glaring fiercely at him.

Qin Mu went to open other flower buds. Inside, they all contained inverted girls. These were the strange creations of the Root Demon of Desolate Ridge, not independent lives. These girls were merely a part of the Root Demon's body.

“The Root Demon was originally just a mass of roots. It absorbed the blood of gods and demons to become a great demon. It didn't have a tree body. Now that it has absorbed the Green Dragon Pearl's energy, it has grown a tree body, which will likely make it even more terrifying.”

Qin Mu said with concern, “We should leave this place as quickly as possible!”

The Bat Brothers saw some of their hairs on the ground, no longer petrified. They rejoiced and quickly shook their bodies to retrieve their hairs.

The Dragon Qilin nearby also shook its body, collecting its restored scales.

Xiong Xiyu shook her head. “The Green Dragon Pearl contains the true soul of the Green Dragon. This great demon cannot absorb it. It is most likely controlled by the pearl's energy and rendered immobile. As long as we find the Green Dragon Pearl it swallowed, we can turn the tide and defeat these rebels like Yu Bochuan!”

Xiong Qi'er asked curiously, “Mother, if we take out the Green Dragon Pearl, will this Root Demon come back to life?”

Xiong Xiyu shivered. Currently, the Green Dragon Pearl suppressed the Root Demon. If the Green Dragon Pearl were removed and the Root Demon regained its mobility, they would be in danger again.

Suddenly, a voice called out, “Young Master, the Green Dragon Pearl is here!”

Qin Mu's expression drastically changed. “Oh no! We can't let them dig out the Green Dragon Pearl!”

They quickly followed the sound. They saw Yu Bochuan and other True Heaven Palace experts looking at a section of the tree trunk. Inside the trunk, a luminous green light, like jade, illuminated an area of several acres.

Clearly, the Root Demon of Desolate Ridge had swallowed the Green Dragon Pearl. The terrifying power within the Green Dragon Pearl instantly petrified it, causing its roots to grow into a tree body, pinning it to this spot. Its roots also stiffened, unable to move.

“Do not take out the Green Dragon Pearl! If you do, this great demon will regain its freedom, and no one will survive!”

After saying this, Yu Bochuan looked at Qin Mu and the others, frowning slightly. The people beside him immediately stood ready, guarding him.

Qin Mu smiled faintly. “Esteemed Senior Brothers, greetings. Can your True Heaven Palace's divine abilities still be used here? If not, then we will have to send you on your way.”

Yu Bochuan suddenly flashed, appearing where the green light was. He reached into the tree trunk and sneered, “Heavenly Saint Cult Master, if we're going to die, we'll die together... What a pleasant scent. What is this smell?”

Just as he said this, he suddenly felt the world spin and collapsed with a thud.

“The scent of Bewitching Incense,” Qin Mu said with a smile.

Thud, thud. The True Heaven Palace members fell one by one. Only the three Heaven Human realm experts remained standing, their faces flushed. However, their cultivation was focused on suppressing the Bewitching Incense, leaving them with little magical power to use.

Suddenly, a woman's voice rang out, chuckling, “Bewitching Incense, is it some kind of anesthetic? Let me smell!”

Xiong Xiyu’s expression changed drastically, while the three Heaven Human realm experts were overjoyed.

“Poison Master!”

“Mu Yingxue!”

Qin Mu looked towards the sound. He saw a woman in black, adorned with gold and silver ornaments and wearing a jade-beaded crown, walking past the maidens hanging from the tendril roots. Wherever she walked, the Flower Maidens withered and turned into piles of ash that fell to the ground.

Qin Mu took out a jade bottle, tossed it over, and chuckled, “It's an anesthetic. Go on, have a sniff.”