Chapter 596: Chapter 596: You be the mantis, I’ll be the oriole
The other three and the Zi Mansion Holy Son harbored the same thought, launching their attacks almost simultaneously and heading straight for the Life Spring Eye.
Of course, Su Han and the others also had a mission: to draw the attention of the kilometer-high peach tree. After all, this tree was a powerful being at the Third Layer of the Saint Realm. Even though the four Saint Treasures were mighty, killing it was extremely difficult. Furthermore, the life force of plant spirits was far more vigorous than that of other beasts. Since it was rooted here, close to the Life Spring Eye, its injuries also healed very quickly.
"Kill them!"
Forces from five factions, totaling two hundred and twenty-six people, were all powerhouses of the Supreme Realm. They now surged into the area covered by the kilometer-high peach tree, each unleashing their Domains and filling this entire expanse of heaven and earth.
"You deserve to die!"
The kilometer-high peach tree conveyed its rage. Instantly, its intact branches lashed out at the crowd, each one as hard as iron and as sharp as a spear.
PSST!
A single, crystal-clear branch glowed with brilliant Holy Light, swirling with the power of time and Spatial Force. It shot forward, pierced directly through a Domain, and skewered a female disciple from the Jade Cleanse Holy Land through the head from between her eyebrows, killing her instantly.
WHIR!
The remaining leaves, sharp as flying knives, formed a small tempest that entrapped a disciple from the Dragon Elephant Holy Sect. The Dragon Elephant Holy Sect emphasized Body Refinement, and all its disciples possessed formidable physical bodies. However, they were helpless in the face of this leaf storm. Accompanied by a series of chilling screams, this disciple from the Dragon Elephant Holy Sect was sliced into a bloody mess, as if subjected to the gruesome torture of a thousand cuts.
"Ah!"
A scream emanated from a golden eagle of the Earth Demon Holy Sect. A delicate peach blossom had landed on it, causing the power of time to flow rapidly. The golden eagle aged in an instant, its life coming to an abrupt end as it shriveled into a dried corpse. Though severely injured, the kilometer-high peach tree was not something ordinary people could resist. Attacking in a rage, it instantly killed several powerful experts.
WHOOSH!
A branch shot out, carrying a force that could pierce through anything, aiming to kill Su Han. He was with a few others from the Zi Mansion Holy Land, surrounded by fire crows as he wielded the Fourfold True Flame. In the Five Elements, fire overcomes wood. With his enhanced Fourfold True Flame, Su Han could scorch the branch and force it back, even without revealing his true strength.
Su Han did not reveal his true strength. Hiding amidst the crowd, he handled the attacks with ease using the Fourfold True Flame. This kilometer-high peach tree posed no threat to him for the time being, so his gaze went past the crowd toward the very front. The Zi Mansion Holy Son, Vermilion Bird Holy Maiden, and the other two now had their Domains open and were wielding Holy Artifacts. They broke through the encirclement and headed straight for the Life Spring Eye—that was their goal.
However, Su Han was somewhat puzzled. The Zi Mansion Holy Son had always taken special care of him, clearly as part of a larger scheme. Why, then, was he suddenly ignoring him to go after the prize alone? It would be more logical to have another powerhouse at the Eighth or Ninth Layer of the Supreme Realm take my place against the peach tree. Is this a case of the mantis stalking the cicada? I’ve been disguising my strength, but who’s to say the Zi Mansion Holy Son isn’t doing the same? Perhaps he’s deliberately feigning now, lulling the Vermilion Bird Holy Maiden and the other two into a false sense of security. He’s probably waiting for a crucial moment to erupt with his true power and become the final winner.
With this in mind, Su Han decided not to reveal his strength just yet. Since you want to be the mantis, don’t blame me for playing the oriole.
Su Han dealt with the peach tree’s attacks while keeping an eye on the actions of the Zi Mansion Holy Son and the others. At this moment, the four of them each exhibited their Divine Skills, heading straight for the Life Spring Eye from four different directions. They were all incredibly fast. However, the Life Spring Eye was the kilometer-high tree’s very lifeblood; how could it possibly allow anyone to approach?
CRACK!
The ground suddenly split open, and a thick, pitch-black root shot out like a wooden dragon. It carried a strong earthy smell as it lunged toward the Zi Mansion Holy Son.
"Purple Gold Holy Spear!"
The Zi Mansion Holy Son dared not take it lightly. He put all his effort into wielding the Purple Gold Holy Spear in his hand, colliding with the root.
CLANG!
The impact produced a sharp, ear-piercing sound of clashing metal. The pitch-black root seemed to have transformed into something indestructible and extraordinarily sacred.
"Origin Technique: Purple Qi from the East!"
The Zi Mansion Holy Son quickly activated his Purple Qi Emperor Body and deployed his Origin Technique. Suddenly, billowing purple qi surged from the eastern sky. It infused his body, making him shine with a dazzling purple light as if possessed by a deity, greatly enhancing his power.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
With the Purple Gold Holy Spear in hand, the Zi Mansion Holy Son battled the pitch-black root continuously, causing space itself to tremble with violent fluctuations.
WHOOSH!
At that moment, a second root struck silently from behind. The Zi Mansion Holy Son failed to dodge in time and was hit, sent flying backward and coughing up blood. Each of these roots was comparable to a Holy Artifact—indestructible and unmatched in sharpness, capable of piercing through space itself.
"Damn it!"
Grinding his teeth, the Zi Mansion Holy Son quickly consumed a Healing Pill and once more engaged the roots in combat, spear in hand. Elsewhere, the Dragon Elephant Saint Heir and the others had also been ambushed by the roots and were locked in difficult battles. These roots were the kilometer-high peach tree’s most potent weapon. Not even a prodigy on the level of a Saint Heir could withstand them. For the four of them, getting close to the Life Spring Eye was proving to be exceptionally challenging.
GULP.
Just then, a new droplet of Life Spring Water emerged from the spring’s eye, immediately transforming into a surge of vitality that spread out like a tidal wave, continuing to nourish all living beings within the Peach Blossom Paradise. However, the kilometer-high peach tree suddenly intervened, absorbing the entire droplet of Life Spring Water. Instantly, broken branches began sprouting anew, shattered leaves grew back rapidly, and more peach blossoms burst into bloom. Even the wounds on its trunk healed at a visible pace.
Life Spring Water was a healing Supreme Treasure; a single droplet was comparable to a whole Holy Medicine plant. With this droplet fully absorbed, the kilometer-high peach tree’s injuries recovered significantly. It seemed that just two or three more droplets would allow it to recover completely—a terrible prospect for everyone involved.
"Intermediate Grade Divine Power: Vermilion Bird Fierce Flame!"
The Vermilion Bird Holy Maiden couldn’t wait any longer. She feared that if this dragged on, not only would they lose the Life Spring Water, but they might also lose their lives. So she burst forth with all her power, and sacred flames erupted from within her body. Although this was not the true Vermilion Bird Divine Flame, it carried a trace of its essence. The flames roared fiercely, engulfing the pitch-black root before her.
Fire naturally overcomes plant-based spirits, and this was the Vermilion Bird Fierce Flame, no less. The pitch-black root was quickly burned, left withered and weak. Seizing the opportunity, the Vermilion Bird Holy Maiden leaped through the air and arrived before the Life Spring Eye.
It was not just the Vermilion Bird Holy Maiden. The Dragon Elephant Saint Heir and the Jade Cleanse Holy Maiden also employed their trump cards, repelling the pitch-black roots and reaching the Life Spring Eye.
Only the Zi Mansion Holy Son remained entangled by two pitch-black roots, unable to break free.
At this moment, the Life Spring Water was within their grasp.
