At the summit of the Penglai giant peak, within the majestic great hall, spaces near a several zhang tall grey tree fluctuated continuously as one figure after another emerged. The leader among them was the elder known as San Jue.

Over a dozen figures stood behind Elder San Jue, all of them Nascent Soul cultivators. Among them were Tu Shixiong from Earth Beauty Island and Murong Yanyu from Kongling Island.

Among those Nascent Soul cultivators, there was astonishingly one Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, four Nascent Soul Middle Stage, and the rest were all in the Nascent Soul Early Stage.

The spatial fluctuations beside the grey tree did not settle down but kept flickering; hundreds of figures appeared, turning out to be three hundred and sixty Core Formation Stage cultivators, their expressions wooden.

"Senior San Jue, may I inquire where the enemy is and what our next move will be?" A red-haired elder asked.

Surrounding this person was a layer of gauzelike red light, which seemed to contain an extremely high temperature that caused ripples in the air it touched. He was indeed that Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator.

His eyes were bright and seemed no different from ordinary people, unlike the other Nascent Soul cultivators and Core Formation cultivators whose expressions were wooden. The Nascent Soul cultivators such as Tu Shixiong and Murong Yanyu fared somewhat better in comparison.

"Do not act recklessly; I will scout ahead first," Elder San Jue said as he sat down cross-legged and flicked his fingers onto the ground.

A ball of yellow light emerged at his fingertips, expanding and contracting rapidly and forming waves of yellow ripples that spread out.

Inside the space of the Stealing Heaven Tripod, Yuan Ming's gaze pierced through the tripod and looked toward the top of the Penglai giant peak.

His Divine Sense had always been extended, sensing the situation at the summit of the mountain. The great hall's prohibitions naturally could not block his search.

"So many Nascent Soul Stage and Core Formation Stage cultivators have appeared all at once, and there's even a Returning to Void Stage presence. It seems the Undead Tree Demon plans to wipe us all out in one fell swoop..." Yuan Ming stroked his chin.

...

"One Returning Void, one Late-stage Nascent Soul, one Nascent Soul Middle Stage, seven Nascent Soul Early Stage, two Core Formation Stage. Indeed, it's a force to be reckoned with," Elder San Jue quickly withdrew his finger, speaking slowly.

"To think that there really is a Returning Void presence descending upon the Three Immortals Island. Weren't the cultivators from the Cultivation World outside said to be waning in talent, with Late-stage Nascent Soul individuals being rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns?" The red-haired elder expressed surprise.

"The Yunhuang Continent may seem desolate, but its foundation is quite profound. Many capable individuals are hidden everywhere, and the Overseas World is boundless. Unknown are the numbers of powerful beings in hiding. We should never underestimate them. I will cast an Alcohol Command Spell on you to conceal your auras. You will lie in wait halfway up the mountain, setting up the Wood Emperor Array. When those people reach halfway up the mountain, use the Formation to trap them and eliminate them all in one fell swoop!" Elder San Jue said slowly.

As he spoke, he took a big gulp from the wine gourd at his waist and then sprayed towards the people.

A mist of transparent alcohol enveloped all present in an instant, rapidly merging into their bodies.

The next moment, the bodies of those in the hall suddenly became transparent, and all their auras vanished without a trace.

The bodies of the group lit up with strands of green light as they all burrowed into the ground.

After completing all this, Elder San Jue's figure flickered and he too disappeared from sight.

Yuan Ming sensed the actions of the cultivators led by the Returning to Void elder on the summit and also heard their conversation, his eyebrows knitting together.

With the support of the Stealing Heaven Tripod, no large array or prohibition could obstruct his Divine Sense. He had already experienced the effects of the Wood Emperor Array. No matter how much the power of the Formation increased, it would not be difficult for him to handle.

However, he was not confident that he could deal with that Returning Void elder.

Using the Desire Power within the White Jade Lotus Platform, Yuan Ming's Soul Power had reached the threshold of the Word Witch Realm; his Soul Power might not be stronger than that of the elder. Yuan Ming's eyes moved, and his Divine Sense enveloped the Green-clothed strong man, transmitting a message through Divine Sense, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

"Soul Power at the level of a Word Witch! Who are you?" The Green-clothed strong man's expression changed slightly, and his Sea of Consciousness Soul Power vibrated, forming a voice.

"I am known as the Nether Moon God," Yuan Ming replied with an air of mystery.

"So it's the Nether Moon God who has descended. It's unexpected that beside the Wu Yue God of the Wu Yue Sect, there is another Word Witch presence in the Yunhuang Continent. Fellow Daoist, what brings you here?" the Green-clothed strong man asked without surprise, his tone noncommittal.

Yuan Ming's eyebrow shot up; from the Green-clothed man's words, it seemed he had some connections with the Wu Yue God of the Wu Yue Sect.

"I have a matter to discuss with you, Fellow Daoist. May I know your esteemed name?" he asked, suppressing his curiosity.

"You are a Word Witch yet you ask for my name; isn't that quite impolite?" remarked the Green-clothed strong man coldly.

Yuan Ming was taken aback, then realized that the Green-clothed strong man thought it inappropriate for a Word Witch to ask for his name. Could it be related to the abilities of a Word Witch?

Xi Ying's knowledge about Word Witch abilities was incomplete, so he was even more in the dark.

"I was in a rush. Please do not take offense, Fellow Daoist," Yuan Ming replied vaguely.

"Judging by your articulate tone, you must be from the Human Clan of Yunhuang Continent. We of the Demon Clan are different from your Human Clan; we do not appreciate beating around the bush. Just speak your mind," the Green-clothed strong man said with a cooling tone.

"Since Fellow Daoist prefers straightforwardness, I will just say it. How do you view the current situation on Three Immortals Island?" Yuan Ming asked.

"The situation is grim. The Undead Tree Demon controls most areas of Three Immortals Island and the secret realm space is sealed. We all have been detained and cannot easily leave this place," the Green-clothed strong man replied after a pause.

"You're right. With your divine abilities, you wouldn't have come to Three Immortals Island on a whim. Would you be interested in joining forces with me to slay the Undead Tree Demon and seize all the treasures on the island?" Yuan Ming suggested.

"Although you are a Word Witch, that's quite a boastful claim. Do you have any idea of the Undead Tree Demon's strength? The Undying Tree is an ancient rare tree; its abilities far exceed your imagination," the Green-clothed strong man scoffed.

"So, you seem to have quite a deep understanding of the Undying Tree Demons?" Yuan Ming asked with a moved expression.

"Understanding is a big word, I only know a little," the green-clothed strong man said vaguely, obviously not yet ready to share what he knew with Yuan Ming.

"The Undying Tree is indeed formidable, but I firmly do not believe that something truly undying exists in this world. With your divine skills, you must already know the purpose of the Undying Tree Demon. We and it are destined to only have one survive. Why the hesitation, Fellow Daoist?" Yuan Ming said.

The green-clothed strong man stayed silent.

"Let's put aside the matter of the Undying Tree Demon for now. Haven't you noticed that a group of Undying Tree Puppets has appeared at the top of the giant peak, among which exists a Returning Void presence, lying in ambush below the mountain, preparing to ambush us? What do you plan to do, Fellow Daoist?" Yuan Ming's eyes twinkled as he asked again, not hiding any information.

"A Returning Void Puppet! Who is it? An old man, or a youth?" the green-clothed strong man suddenly changed color and asked urgently through a transmitted message.

"An old man with a red nose," Yuan Ming replied, his eyes moving.

"This man is called Elder San Jue, said to come from Chang Chun Temple in the Central Plains. He is well-versed in Artifact Refining, wine brewing, swordsmanship, and calls himself 'San Jue,' with very formidable strength!" the green-clothed strong man slowly said.

"Elder San Jue is a disciple of Chang Chun Temple!" Yuan Ming's heart was tumultuous, but then he returned to calm.

Chang Chun Temple had stood in the Central Plains for tens of thousands of years; it wasn't strange for one or two Returning to Void cultivators to emerge from there.

However, each existence at the Returning to Void Stage should be well-known throughout Yunhuang, why had he never heard of the name San Jue?

"This person was locked here thousands of years ago, at the time only possessing Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivation. In the last hundred years, he broke through to the Returning to Void Stage," the green-clothed strong man said.

"I see, Fellow Daoist. Have you thought about how to act, or would you be interested in joining me to confront Elder San Jue and eliminate one of the Undying Tree Demon's strong subordinates?" Yuan Ming didn't ask the green-clothed strong man how he knew about Elder San Jue, instead he asked.

"Elder San Jue has formidable divine skills and has the Undying Tree as his backing. Although I have reached Level 5 realm, I am not confident I can handle him. If Fellow Daoist Nether Moon God is willing to take the lead, I would be willing to join hands," the green-clothed strong man said with a sly smile on his face.

"Agreed, I will take the lead, and you just need to find the right opportunity to act," Yuan Ming said without minding the green-clothed strong man's craftiness.

After all, his true body was hidden within the Stealing Heaven Tripod, and Elder San Jue could never attack him no matter what; whether he led the charge or brought up the rear made no difference.

"Really?" the green-clothed strong man asked in surprise.

"Of course, just wait for my signal," Yuan Ming said.

...

While the two were talking, Elder San Jue led a group of Nascent Soul cultivators and Core Formation Tree People, swiftly moving underground, and soon arrived at the mountainside.

The group stopped in a dense forest full of trees.

"Spread out here, everyone heed my command, immediately set up the Wood Emperor Array," Elder San Jue ordered.

More than a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators responded at once, each leading a group of Core Formation Tree People in different directions into the woods, preparing to set up an array with three hundred sixty Core Formation Stage Tree People, powerful enough to trap a Returning to Void cultivator.

Murong Yanyu, leading thirty-six Core Formation Stage Tree People, rushed to the eastern part of the forest. As one of the key Array Eyes in the large-scale Wood Emperor Formation, she had to finish setting up earlier than the others.

Upon reaching the predetermined location, the thirty-six Core Formation Stage Tree People immediately spread out and each merged into an ancient tree, concealing their forms.

Murong Yanyu also sat down cross-legged in the center of these thirty-six people.

The other nine teams, just like her, were led by one or two Nascent Soul cultivators to their designated positions and began setting up the array.

After the whole array was completed, Elder San Jue went behind a large rock, restrained his aura, and quietly awaited the arrival of those from below within the encirclement.

It wasn't long before a noisy commotion came from not too far away.

A group of people hurried along, approaching in this direction, seemingly still arguing about something.

Compared to when they were below the mountain, the number of people who had come up had obviously decreased.

Long Chong, Aunt Wan Hua, and Old Man Hei Zhu were all there, but Hua Zhi, Silver Kong Tree Demon, and the green-clothed man were missing.

Elder San Jue, sensing a discrepancy from his earlier perception, clearly hesitated, but upon hearing the arguing of those people, realized they had disputes on the way and some had left the team.

Seeing that the group had already stepped into the array, he no longer hesitated and immediately gave the order:

"Take action!"

Murong Yanyu, Tu Shixiong, and the other Nascent Soul cultivators did not dare to delay, rapidly leading the Core Formation Stage Tree People to activate the array.

"Boom boom boom!"

Loud explosive sounds erupted all around.

What was activated was not any Wood Emperor Array, but the Eight-direction Fire Element Formation.

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