“Is the Immemorial Immortal’s true form similar to Mu Tian Grass, both being spiritual plants that have developed intelligence?” Lu Yang was surprised. It was already extremely rare for spiritual plants to gain intelligence, and even fewer achieved notable accomplishments.

From what he knew, there were two ways a spiritual plant could develop intelligence. One way was simply living long enough, gradually gaining intelligence over time, like the small medicinal kings in the Dao Seeking Sect’s herb garden.

The small medicinal kings had lived for at least a hundred thousand years. For a spiritual plant to survive that long without being harvested, its luck had to be extraordinary.

The other way involved various coincidences, such as living in a top-grade spiritual stone vein and absorbing spiritual energy day and night, or coming into contact with certain heavenly principles and receiving the favor of the “Dao,” or even being enlightened by a great master.

The number of intelligent spiritual plants was so rare that the world knew very little about them. Even with a few small medicinal kings in the Dao Seeking Sect’s herb garden, it was challenging to study them thoroughly.

The characteristics of each spiritual plant varied greatly, making it impossible to compare or research them effectively.

However, one thing was certain: a spiritual plant with intelligence would have its abilities grow by hundreds of times compared to those without.

For example, the Mu Tian Grass in front of them controlled at least fifty or sixty Golden Core Stage beings, and who knew if there were more hidden ones?

“If the Immemorial Immortal heard you compare it to Mu Tian Grass, it would be very unhappy. The Mu Tian Grass can’t even begin to compare.”

“The Immemorial Immortal’s true form is a heaven-reaching World Tree. Even without intelligence, it is an exceptionally rare immortal tree. Before gaining intelligence, its branches and leaves could grow from one planet to another, vast and enormous.”

“After gaining intelligence, it was still very weak and worried about being targeted by evil beings. So, it split off a branch, took on a human form, and walked and cultivated in the world. The cultivation results would feed back to its true form.”

“When it became an immortal, the event was so grand it couldn’t be concealed, nor did it need to be. Only then did the world know that the supreme genius proficient in time was not a person, but a tree.”

“Perhaps because the World Tree lived so long, the Immemorial Immortal had a natural talent for time and used [Years] as its ariya-phala, becoming an immortal.”

If Everlasting Fairy hadn’t explained, Lu Yang might have thought that the Immemorial Immortal gained the power of time from eating the food Everlasting Fairy cooked, like a revolving lantern.

Lu Yang stopped listening to Everlasting Fairy’s ancient secrets. The situation at hand was critical, and as the leader, he needed to decide quickly whether to fight or return to the Demon Subjugation Pass.

Lu Yang transmitted a message to Meng Jingzhou and the others: “Prepare the directional teleportation talismans, take the Song family members, and return to the Demon Subjugation Pass!”

Lu Yang made a quick decision. In this situation, they had no choice but to run.

Even without the burden of the Song family, the sixty Golden Core Stage beings in the swamp were beyond their ability to handle.

Four late-stage Foundation Building cultivators defeating sixty Golden Core Stage beings?

That was impossible. They would be exhausted to death.

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

Excluding Song Wuguo, there were three Song family members left, plus two bodyguards, making five people in the Song family’s camp that needed rescuing.

Lu Yang, holding the Qingfeng Sword, stood at the forefront, warily watching the Golden Core Stage beings emerging from the swamp. He signaled Meng Jingzhou to quickly distribute the directional teleportation talismans while the Mu Tian Grass hadn’t yet launched an attack.

Two muddy Golden Core Stage beings made a move. Both were humans, their faces covered in mud, making their original appearance unrecognizable.

Lu Yang met them with his sword, severing their arms. They seemed to feel no pain and continued their relentless attack on Lu Yang.

Though these two were only mid-stage Golden Core, their unrelenting fighting style, unaffected by physical damage, allowed them to temporarily hold their own against Lu Yang.

“Don’t get entangled with them. Once the talismans are distributed, run!” Meng Jingzhou transmitted through his divine sense.

“Alright!”

Lu Yang swung his sword with all his might, forcing the two attackers back. He and the others pulled out their directional teleportation talismans.

The talismans ignited automatically, transporting everyone to the Demon Subjugation Pass.

Suddenly, a light chuckle echoed, “Everyone else can run, but you, Lu Yang, cannot.”

Lu Yang’s expression changed as he realized something was wrong.

The voice came from the center of the swamp—it was the Mu Tian Grass speaking!

The Mu Tian Grass swayed gently, and the spirit stones buried underground were instantly drained of their spiritual energy, turning back into transparent crystals.

A hidden formation around the area was activated, creating light spots that converged on Lu Yang, interrupting his teleportation.

“Lu Yang!”

“Senior Brother Lu!”

“Brother Lu!”

Meng Jingzhou and the others saw this just before they were teleported, and they couldn’t help but shout.

No one had expected the Mu Tian Grass to specifically target Lu Yang and prepare a formation to interrupt the teleportation in advance.

The change happened in an instant, and by the time they realized it, they had already returned to the Demon Subjugation Pass.

“What should we do?” Song Hua and the others were at a loss. Although they were safe, Lu Yang was still there and needed to be rescued.

Meng Jingzhou didn’t hesitate and rushed towards the Demon Subjugation Pass, intending to reveal his identity to the local guard and organize a rescue for Lu Yang.

…

“I didn’t expect to be targeted like this,” Lu Yang said, staring at the Mu Tian Grass, a humorless smile on his lips.

The Mu Tian Grass spoke again, its voice youthful, like a refined young man.

“Lu Yang, I’ve had my eye on you for two months. Now that you’ve stepped into my trap, how could I let you leave?”

Lu Yang’s heart sank. Had the Mu Tian Grass been watching him since he entered the depths of the forest?

He recalled the Golden Core Stage cultivators he encountered over the past two months—were they controlled by the Mu Tian Grass?

“From the power you’ve displayed, you must have a Sword Spirit Root, right?”

“We spiritual plants have various life-preserving methods but lack offensive techniques. I’ve always wanted to absorb a Gold Spirit Root or Sword Spirit Root cultivator to enhance my attack methods. I thought I wouldn’t get the chance before I matured, but here you are.”

“Of course, that’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is your clone technique!”

“If you hand over your clone technique, I might spare your life!”

The Mu Tian Grass had been observing Lu Yang from a distance, and Lu Yang’s wooden clone technique had piqued its interest.

Without reaching a certain age, spiritual plants couldn’t move. The Mu Tian Grass desperately desired a clone technique so it could control a clone to do what it wanted.

Lu Yang’s clone technique was a wood attribute technique, perfectly compatible with spiritual plants.

No matter what, it had to obtain this clone technique!

To that end, it meticulously designed a trap to lure Lu Yang step by step. Although Song Wuguo’s cover was blown, it didn’t affect the overall plan.

Once Lu Yang reached the swamp, he was doomed!

“Even if I gave it to you, you wouldn’t be able to learn it,” Lu Yang shook his head. He had managed to practice the Tree Planting Art incorrectly; he doubted the Mu Tian Grass could master it either.

“How about we sit down and talk? Come back to the sect with me. The sect has plenty of resources to nurture you, and you won’t need to go to such lengths to collect nutrients. It’s beneficial for both of us.”

The Mu Tian Grass sneered, “I know what you’re thinking. You just want to buy time for your companions to call for help from the Demon Subjugation Pass. Do you think I’m unprepared?”

“Mountain Moving Formation, activate!”

The leaves of the Mu Tian Grass swayed rhythmically, and the Golden Core Stage beings raised their hands, activating another hidden formation.

Lu Yang felt the ground shake beneath his feet, then it stabilized.

“We’ve been transported to another location. The big shots at the Demon Subjugation Pass won’t find us here.”

“Now, are you ready to become my nourishment?”

Lu Yang’s expression grew serious. Was this damned grass forcing him to summon Eldest Senior Sister?