Chapter 261: Early Scheme

"Is the Immortal of Time's true form a spiritual plant that gained sentience, just like the Herding Sky Grass?" Lu Yang asked in surprise. Spiritual plants gaining sentience is incredibly rare, and those that achieve anything significant are even fewer.

As far as he knew, there were two ways for spiritual plants to gain sentience. One was simply living long enough to gradually develop intelligence, like the Minor Medicine Kings in the medicinal garden.

The Minor Medicine Kings had lived for at least 100,000 years. For a spiritual herb to survive that long without being harvested, one could imagine how incredibly lucky it must be.

The other way involved a combination of coincidences, such as living for extended periods in a top-grade spirit stone mine, absorbing spiritual energy day and night, or coming into contact with some fundamental universal truth and receiving the favor of the "Dao," or perhaps being enlightened by a powerful being.

The number of sentient spiritual plants was extremely small, and people knew very little about them. Even with a few Minor Medicine Kings in the Dao-Seeking Sect's medicinal garden, it was difficult to study them thoroughly.

The characteristics between different spiritual plants varied greatly, with no standard for comparison, making comparative research impossible.

However, one thing was certain: sentient spiritual plants had their abilities enhanced a hundredfold compared to their non-sentient counterparts.

For example, the Herding Sky Grass currently controlled at least fifty or sixty Core Formation cultivators, and there might be more hidden in secret.

"The Immortal of Time would certainly be displeased to hear you say that. How could the Herding Sky Grass possibly compare to it?"

"The Immortal of Time's true form is the Jianmu, a tree that reaches the heavens and penetrates the earth. Even without sentience, it would be an incredibly rare and supreme immortal tree. Before it gained sentience, its branches and leaves grew from one planet to another, making it immeasurably vast."

"After gaining sentience, it was still very weak and feared being targeted by evildoers. So, it detached a branch, transformed it into a human form, and walked the world, cultivating. The results of this cultivation would then feedback to its main body."

"When it ascended to immortality, the spectacle was immense, impossible to conceal, and there was no longer any need to. Only then did the world realize that the peerless genius proficient in time was not a human, but a tree."

"Perhaps because the Jianmu lived for so long, the Immortal of Time was exceptionally gifted in matters of time, taking 'Time' as its Dao Fruit and thus achieving immortality."

Had the Undying Immortal not said that, Lu Yang might have genuinely believed that the Immortal of Time had understood the power of time simply by eating the Undying Immortal's cooking, causing visions.

Lu Yang stopped listening to the Undying Immortal recount ancient secrets. The current situation was urgent, and as the leader, he needed to quickly decide whether to fight or return to Demon Suppression Pass.

Lu Yang transmitted a message to Meng Jingzhou and the other two: "Prepare your directional teleportation talismans. Take the Song family members and return to Demon Suppression Pass!"

Lu Yang quickly made his decision; in this situation, retreating was the only option.

Even ignoring the Song family members as a burden, the sixty Core Formation cultivators in the swamp alone were more than Lu Yang and his group could handle.

Four late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators defeat sixty Core Formation cultivators?

That was impossible; they would be exhausted to death.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had twelve directional teleportation talismans between them, more than enough to teleport everyone.

Excluding Song Wu'guo, three Song family members remained, plus two bodyguards, meaning five people from the Song family needed to be rescued.

Lu Yang, holding his Azure Edge Sword, stood at the forefront, cautiously watching the Core Formation cultivators emerging from the swamp. Taking advantage of the Herding Sky Grass's inaction, he gestured for Meng Jingzhou to quickly distribute the directional teleportation talismans.

Two mud-covered Core Formation cultivators made their move. Both were human, their faces caked with mud, obscuring their original appearance.

Lu Yang met them with his sword, severing their arms. These two, oblivious to pain, continued to relentlessly attack him.

Though only at the mid-Core Formation stage, their fearless disregard for physical damage allowed them to temporarily hold their own against Lu Yang.

"Don't get entangled with them! Once they're distributed, run!" Meng Jingzhou transmitted via divine sense.

"Understood!"

Lu Yang vigorously swung his sword, repelling the two, and then, along with the others, pulled out a directional teleportation talisman.

The directional teleportation talismans ignited automatically, and figures were instantly teleported to Demon Suppression Pass.

Suddenly, a soft laugh echoed: "Anyone can run, but you, Lu Yang, cannot."

Lu Yang's expression changed; he realized something was wrong.

The voice originated from the center of the swamp—it was the Herding Sky Grass speaking!

The Herding Sky Grass gently swayed, and the buried spirit stones instantly drained of spiritual energy, reverting to transparent crystals.

The hidden formation around them activated, forming spots of light that converged on Lu Yang, interrupting his teleportation.

"Lu Yang!"

"Senior Brother Lu!"

"Brother Lu!"

Meng Jingzhou and the other two, seeing this scene just before teleporting, cried out involuntarily.

No one had expected the Herding Sky Grass to specifically target Lu Yang, and to have prepared a formation to interrupt teleportation talismans in advance.

The change happened in an instant; by the time everyone realized what had occurred, they were already back at Demon Suppression Pass.

"What do we do?" Song Hua and the others were at a loss. Although they had been rescued, Lu Yang was still there and needed to be saved.

Meng Jingzhou didn't hesitate, heading straight for Demon Suppression Pass, ready to reveal his identity to the guardian there and rescue Lu Yang.

"I didn't expect to be targeted so specifically," Lu Yang said, staring at the Herding Sky Grass, a smile absent from his lips.

The Herding Sky Grass spoke again, its voice young, like that of a dashing young master.

"Lu Yang, I've been watching you for two months. You've finally stepped into my trap. How could I let you leave?"

Lu Yang's heart chilled. Could it be that he had been under the Herding Sky Grass's surveillance ever since he ventured deep into the dense forest?

He recalled the Core Formation cultivators he had encountered over the past two months. Were they all controlled by the Herding Sky Grass?

"Judging by the power you've displayed, you should have a Sword Spiritual Root, correct?"

"We spiritual plants have many means of self-preservation, but not many offensive techniques. My greatest desire is to absorb cultivators with Metal Spiritual Roots or Sword Spiritual Roots, as this would enhance my offensive capabilities. I had thought I wouldn't have the chance to encounter either of these spiritual roots before I matured, but here you are, delivered right to my doorstep."

"Of course, that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is your clone spell!"

"Hand over your clone spell, and I might spare your life!"

The Herding Sky Grass had been observing Lu Yang from a distance, controlling Core Formation cultivators. The wood clone spell Lu Yang used had made it incredibly eager to obtain it.

Spiritual plants couldn't move until they reached a certain age. The Herding Sky Grass most yearned for a clone spell, as it would allow it to control a clone's actions and do whatever it wished.

Moreover, the clone spell Lu Yang used was wood-attributed, making it perfectly suited for a spiritual plant.

It was determined to acquire this clone spell at all costs!

To achieve this, it meticulously designed a trap, luring Lu Yang step by step. Although Song Wu'guo's deception was exposed, it didn't hinder the overall plan.

As long as Lu Yang was in the swamp, he was certainly doomed!

"Even if I handed it over, you wouldn't be able to learn it," Lu Yang shook his head. If he could mess up the cultivation of the "Tree Planting Art," he doubted the Herding Sky Grass could master it either.

"Why don't we sit down and talk properly? Come back to the sect with me. The sect has vast resources to cultivate you, and you wouldn't have to painstakingly gather nutrients here. It would be good for everyone."

The Herding Sky Grass sneered, "I know what you're thinking. You merely want to stall for time, waiting for your companions to summon help from Demon Suppression Pass. Do you think I came unprepared?"

"Mountain-Moving Formation, activate!"

The Herding Sky Grass's leaves swayed rhythmically, and the Core Formation cultivators simultaneously raised their hands, activating another hidden grand formation.

Lu Yang felt a sway beneath his feet, and then the ground stabilized.

"We've been teleported to another location. The powerful figures at Demon Suppression Pass won't find this place."

"Now, are you ready to become my nourishment?"

Lu Yang's expression was grim. "Does this damned grass truly intend to force me to summon my Senior Sister?"