Golden wheat fields rippled like golden waves, radiating a dense fluctuation of heaven and earth elemental power.
In the center of the golden wheat field, a circle had been deliberately trampled down, forming a cultivation environment no less than that of the Golden Ancient Tree.
Tang Wulin sat cross-legged within, absorbing the surging elemental power from all directions, circulating the Xuantian Skill, guiding soul power to flow through the grand cycle within his body.
In the fastest way of his life, he advanced his cultivation, as though also awakening some new ability.
In the distance, at the edge of the golden wheat fields, Tang San's divine sense stood firm.
On his palm rested a medicinal herb overflowing with immortal spiritual energy, its form nearly identical to the one Er Ming had given to Di Tian.
It was a brand-new divine herb cultivated by the God Realm, existing in only two types: twin-rooted and mother-child pairs, with a faint yet undeniably existent mystical connection between them.
The only difference was that the herb in Tang San's hand also had soul-guide alloy components made from rare metals embedded into its botanical body.
This soul device, crafted by Dai Yuhao, surpassed the tenth level in power, capable of infinitely amplifying the subtle connection between twin or mother-child herbs.
"Good! Very good!"
A look of unconcealed joy surfaced on Tang San's face.
Through the mother plant on his palm, he could clearly sense the changes happening to the child plant.
The soul device embedded in the mother plant amplified these changes infinitely.
He confirmed that a first-level god had ingested the child plant and was now being deeply affected by its potent toxins.
Just as he was immersed in ecstatic delight, Da Ming returned from the outside world, wearing a grief-stricken expression.
Da Ming and Er Ming had been brothers for many years, sharing a deep bond like marrow to bone.
When Er Ming's blood was drawn by the Yin-Yang Two Form Array, Da Ming had felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if his own lifeblood had been taken.
He had wanted to go to the Star Dou Forest to investigate Er Ming's situation and had received Tang San's approval and support.
Moreover, Da Ming possessed tremendous abilities himself.
Thus, he infiltrated the Star Dou Forest with relative ease.
Of course, he couldn't see or enter the heart of the Lake of Life, where the Tree of Life was planted, and where Di Tian had set up a luxurious structure shielded by a powerful barrier.
He had no choice but to linger outside the barrier with other high-level soul beasts, probing for news indirectly.
Fortunately, many soul beasts knew that Er Ming had gone to visit the Beast God Di Tian, and Di Tian's sudden personality shift had indeed stirred panic. So, Da Ming's inquiries proceeded relatively smoothly.
Thus, Er Ming's terrible fate struck Da Ming like a bolt from the blue, leaving him dazed even now.
He had known that entering the perilous Star Dou Forest might bring danger to Er Ming.
But he never imagined the bad news would come so quickly.
He had originally planned to question Tang San harshly, but after thinking it over, he realized the matter was already done. If there had been any other way, Tang San certainly wouldn't have wanted Er Ming in danger.
More importantly, Tang San had once personally said that if Er Ming were to die, he would find a way to resurrect him when the God Realm returned.
Even Tang Hao and A Yin, who had been dissected and killed, might be able to return again.
With no way to vent his anger at Tang San, there remained only one target for his wrath—Di Tian, who had laid hands on Er Ming.
He muttered darkly, "Tang San, look."
As he spoke, a fluctuation of divine sense blurred the scene before him, and a spiritual projection began to play.
With Tang San's help, Da Ming had successfully separated part of his divine sense and extracted a sliver of his divine beast bloodline to create a clone indistinguishable from an ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beast, which wandered inside the Star Dou Forest.
Thanks to Di Tian's drastic personality shift, Da Ming's clone had not yet been discovered.
The current spiritual projection was being shared in real time from that clone.
In the image...
The barrier surrounding the luxurious buildings blocked all perception—visual, spiritual, and otherwise.
Numerous fierce beasts paced anxiously outside.
Those who originated from the Star Dou Forest were all too familiar with their boss Di Tian's temper and his unyielding nature.
With his newfound cruel disposition, he indulged freely within, and anyone who dared comment risked being buried—either figuratively or literally.
What's more, dragons were innately lustful, and Di Tian had suppressed himself for countless years. Once unleashed, the consequences could last a long, long time.
The original fierce beasts chose to wait patiently outside, giving Di Tian time for his "cooldown."
But not all beasts were so composed.
In the Far North, Ice Empress had been waiting long for Snow Spirit's return. Unable to bear the delay, she traced the ancient path connecting the Icebound Forest to the Star Dou Forest.
Upon learning that Di Tian had forcibly taken Snow Spirit and kept her in the dragon's den for a prolonged time, the Ice Empress became furious.
She was far older than Snow Spirit—when they had first met, she had already survived a two-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation.
She had always looked after Snow Spirit with meticulous care, treating her like a precious younger sister—afraid she'd shatter if held too tight, melt if held too gently.
This was Snow Spirit's first time—how could Ice Empress endure this?!
She immediately resolved to break in and rescue Snow Spirit from the flames and depths.
She also intended to persuade Di Tian to calm down.
Ignoring the warnings of surrounding soul beasts, she charged alone into the barrier surrounding the luxurious buildings.
With flowing green waters and a long skirt, her dark green twin-tails fluttered as Ice Empress stormed inside.
...
Very quickly, Di Tian's angry voice echoed from within:
"I've fought battles north and south for so many years—can't I enjoy myself for once?"
"Huh?!"
After a few vague lines of dialogue, the barrier—rippled from Di Tian's agitation—gradually calmed, and the inner sounds faded.
No one dared enter again and risk triggering Di Tian's fury.
With no further disturbances, the spiritual projection returned to a calm and undisturbed scene.
While nothing eventful was happening there, Tang Wulin completed his cultivation.
Standing tall in the golden wheat fields, he seemed to encompass heaven and earth.
He had awakened a new ability—thick green light rippled outward, harmonizing with the elemental power of the wheat fields.
That green glow, so dense it almost became tangible, wrapped around Tang Wulin like a living force—was a sign of overflowing vitality.
Especially on his forehead, where the green was most concentrated, a kiss mark remained.
This manifestation of life energy traced all the way back to his birth in the God Realm.
(End of Chapter)