"Is the true form of the Time Immortal the same as the Shepherd Sky Grass, both being sentient spiritual plants?" Lu Yang was surprised. It was extremely rare for spiritual plants to develop sentience, and even fewer achieved significant growth.

 

As far as he knew, there were two situations in which spiritual plants could develop sentience. One was living long enough to gradually develop sentience, like the little medicine kings in the medicinal garden.

 

The little medicine kings had all lived for at least a hundred thousand years. A spiritual medicine that could survive for a hundred thousand years without being harvested must have been incredibly lucky.

 

The other situation was when a spiritual plant encountered various coincidences, such as living in a top-grade spirit stone vein for a long time, absorbing spiritual energy day and night, or coming into contact with some kind of profound truth of heaven and earth, receiving the favor of the "Dao", or being enlightened by a powerful being, and so on.

 

The number of sentient spiritual plants was too scarce, and people knew very little about them. Even if there were a few little medicine kings in the medicinal garden of the Seek Tao Sect, it was difficult to study them thoroughly.

 

The characteristics of different spiritual plants varied greatly, and without a reference standard, it was impossible to conduct comparative research.

 

However, one thing was certain: sentient spiritual plants were hundreds of times more powerful than those without wisdom.

 

For example, the Shepherd Sky Grass in front of them controlled at least fifty or sixty Golden Elixir cultivators, and it was unknown if there were any hidden ones.

 

"The Time Immortal would be unhappy to hear you say that. How could the Shepherd Sky Grass be compared to it?"

 

"The true form of the Time Immortal is a towering Jianmu tree. Even without sentience, it is a rare and supreme immortal wood. Before it developed sentience, its branches and leaves grew from one planet to another, incredibly vast."

 

"After it developed sentience, it was still very weak and feared being targeted by malicious people. So it split off a branch, transformed into a human form, and walked and cultivated in the world. The results of its cultivation would be reflected in its true form."

 

"When it became an immortal, its momentum was so great that it could not be concealed, nor did it need to be. Only then did people realize that the supreme genius who mastered time was not a human, but a tree."

 

"Perhaps because the Jianmu tree lived long enough, the Time Immortal has a special talent in the aspect of time, and used 'Time' as its Dao fruit to become an immortal."

 

Without the Immortal Maiden saying this, Lu Yang would have thought that the Time Immortal had gained the power of time by eating the meals cooked by the Immortal Maiden.

 

Lu Yang didn't listen to the Immortal Maiden's tales of ancient secrets any longer. The situation in reality was very urgent. As the leader, he needed to make a decision quickly, whether to fight or return to the Demon Suppression Pass.

 

Lu Yang sent a message to Meng Jingzhou and the others: "Prepare your directional teleportation talismans, take the Song family members, and return to the Demon Suppression Pass!"

 

Lu Yang quickly made a decision. In this situation, they had to run.

 

Not to mention the burden of the Song family members, just the sixty Golden Elixir cultivators in the swamp were not something Lu Yang and the others could handle.

 

Four late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators defeating sixty Golden Elixir cultivators?

 

That was impossible. They could be worn down to death.

 

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

 

Excluding Song Wuguo, there were three remaining members of the Song family, plus two bodyguards. There were five people in the Song family camp that needed to be rescued.

 

Lu Yang, holding his Green Edge Sword, stood at the forefront, vigilantly watching the Golden Elixir cultivators emerging from the swamp. While the Shepherd Sky Grass had not yet launched an attack, he signaled Meng Jingzhou to quickly distribute the directional teleportation talismans.

 

Two muddy Golden Elixir cultivators made their move. Both were of the human race, their faces covered in mud, making it impossible to see their original appearances.

 

Lu Yang met them with his sword, severing their arms. These two didn't feel pain and relentlessly attacked Lu Yang.

 

These two were only at the mid-stage of the Golden Elixir, but with their fearless fighting style, they were temporarily able to hold Lu Yang at bay.

 

"Don't get entangled with them, we've finished distributing the talismans, let's run!" Meng Jingzhou communicated through divine sense.

 

"Alright!"

 

Lu Yang swung his sword forcefully, repelling the two, and together with everyone else, took out their directional teleportation talismans.

 

The directional teleportation talismans automatically ignited, and one by one, their figures were teleported to the Demon Suppression Pass.

 

Suddenly, a soft laugh came: "All of you can run, but you, Lu Yang, cannot."

 

Lu Yang's expression changed, sensing something was wrong.

 

The voice came from the center of the swamp. It was the Shepherd Sky Grass speaking!

 

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

 

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

 

"Lu Yang!"

 

"Brother Lu!"

 

"Brother Lu!"

 

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

 

No one had expected that the Shepherd Sky Grass would specifically target Lu Yang, and had even prepared a formation to interrupt the teleportation talisman in advance.

 

The change happened in an instant. By the time everyone realized something was wrong, they had already returned to the Demon Suppression Pass.

 

"What should 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.

 

Without hesitation, Meng Jingzhou rushed to the Demon Suppression Pass, preparing to reveal his identity to the guardian of this place and rescue Lu Yang.

 

……

 

"I didn't expect to be targeted like this." Lu Yang stared at the Shepherd Sky Grass, his mouth devoid of a smile.

 

The Shepherd Sky Grass spoke again, its voice young, like a graceful childe.

 

"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?"

 

A chill ran down Lu Yang's spine. Could it be that he had been targeted by the Shepherd Sky Grass ever since he came to the depths of the dense forest?

 

He thought of the Golden Elixir cultivators he had encountered in the past two months. Could they have been controlled by the Shepherd Sky Grass?

 

"Judging from the power you've shown, you should have a sword spiritual root, right?"

 

"We spiritual plants have plenty of life-saving methods, but not many offensive ones. What I hope most is to absorb cultivators with golden spiritual roots or sword spiritual roots. This can enhance my offensive capabilities. I thought I wouldn't have a chance to encounter these two types of spiritual roots before I matured, but here you are, coming to my door.""Of course, that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is your avatar technique!"

 

"Hand over your avatar technique, and perhaps I might spare your life!"

 

Sky Shepherd Grass, controlling the Golden Elixir cultivator, had been observing Lu Yang from a distance. The wood avatar technique used by Lu Yang was incredibly enticing to it.

 

Without a certain number of years, spiritual plants cannot move. What Sky Shepherd Grass desired most was the avatar technique, so it could control the avatar to do what it wanted.

 

And the avatar technique used by Lu Yang was a wood attribute technique, which was most compatible with spiritual plants.

 

It had to get this avatar technique at all costs!

 

For this, it carefully set up a trap, luring Lu Yang step by step into it. Although Song Wuguo's identity was exposed, it did not affect the overall situation.

 

Once they reached the swamp, Lu Yang would undoubtedly die!

 

"You wouldn't be able to learn it even if I gave it to you." Lu Yang shook his head. Even if he could practice the "Tree Planting Technique" in a twisted way, he didn't believe that Sky Shepherd Grass could also practice the "Tree Planting Technique" in a twisted way.

 

"Why don't we sit down and have a good talk? Come back to the sect with me. The sect has a lot of resources to cultivate you, and you don't have to exhaust yourself collecting nutrients here. It's good for everyone."

 

Sky Shepherd Grass sneered, "I know what you're thinking. You just want to buy time, waiting for your companions to go to the Demon Suppression Pass to call for help. Do you think I'm unprepared?"

 

"Mountain Moving Formation, activate!"

 

The leaves of Sky Shepherd Grass rhythmically swayed, and the Golden Elixir cultivators simultaneously raised their hands, activating another hidden formation.

 

Lu Yang felt a tremor under his feet, and then the ground stabilized.

 

"We've been teleported to another place. The big shots at the Demon Suppression Pass won't be able to find us here."

 

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

 

Lu Yang's expression was solemn. Are you really forcing me to summon my senior sister, you damn grass?

 

(End of Chapter)