609: An ancient city, a star-eating ancient tree

Boom!

The metal rod smashed into the ground, creating a massive, abyss-like crack. Dust flew up, and thick smoke billowed, obscuring vision.

The one holding the metal rod was a Star Giant Ape. Its eyes were blood-red, and ancient Star runes covered its body, which was filled with wild power.

A thousand meters away, on a hill, Xie Weilou gazed at the Star Giant Ape. The giant ape he had seen before was this one, imbued with extremely strong Star power and also Buddhist power.

The Star Giant Ape's strength was terrifying; it should be not much weaker than Qin Honglian, making it a great beast.

"Roar!"

The Star Giant Ape clutched the metal pillar, its eyes ferociously fixed on Xie Weilou.

"..."

Xie Weilou pondered.

The map indicated that this Ancient Temple was a dangerous place, but he hadn't sensed any danger before. Perhaps the real danger wasn't the Ancient Temple itself, but this Star Giant Ape.

The ape also possessed Buddhist power, which was no coincidence. It was likely the great beast guarding the Ancient Temple.

"Roar!"

The Star Giant Ape let out a furious roar, its body erupting with terrifying aura. It swung the massive metal pillar, smashing it towards Xie Weilou again.

"Farewell!"

Xie Weilou moved, flying away directly.

He had no confidence in confronting the Star Giant Ape and saw no need to waste time here.

According to the map, a hundred thousand li past the Ancient Temple lay an ancient city, a dangerous area marked with emphasis.

Beyond the ancient city, an endless, massive Star River could be seen. Crossing the Star River would lead directly to the central region of Star Province.

Boom!

The Star Giant Ape's pillar struck empty air, pulverizing the hill. It roared again but did not pursue Xie Weilou.

It looked at the Ancient Temple before it, and the metal pillar in its hand disappeared as its body rapidly shrunk.

Seven days later, a massive ancient city appeared before Xie Weilou. The city was enormous, blocking the path ahead; to proceed, one had to cross this ancient city.

The ancient city was pitch black, with thick, towering walls covered in a grand formation, exuding an ancient and desolate aura.

However, under the erosion of time, the formation now showed cracks, and the city gates were open. A chilling aura emanated from within, sending shivers down one's spine.

"A Land of Nine Yin Absolute Death."

Xie Weilou gazed at the city ahead.

From a formation master's perspective, this city was located where extreme Yin energy converged, making it a land of absolute death. Such areas were typically suitable for raising zombies or Yin spirits.

Or, they were used to suppress and seal some malevolent entity!

"Ah..."

Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from within the ancient city.

Xie Weilou's eyes narrowed. He formed a hand seal, activated a Dao spell, and his body became transparent as he vanished, quietly rushing towards the ancient city.

He entered the ancient city unimpeded.

Within the ancient city, there were no houses or buildings, only a massive plaza and an ancient tree, entirely star-blue, bearing blue fruits, and exuding an incomparable sanctity.

Xie Weilou concealed himself in a corner and looked ahead. He saw Marquis Chi Cang and Empress Yuan Jue.

At this moment, Marquis Chi Cang held a battle-halberd, his body covered in wounds, his face extremely pale, clearly severely injured. He was surrounded by vines.

Empress Yuan Jue, on the other hand, had her glabella pierced by a Star vine emerging from the ground. Her soul was annihilated, her body shriveled, and she died tragically on the spot.

The plaza was also covered in dense skeletons; all three thousand Red Azure Army soldiers had died tragically here without exception. Each of their glabella had a hideous blood hole, their souls devoured, their bodies shriveled, and their blood drained.

"To have actually killed Empress Yuan Jue, this ancient tree..."

Xie Weilou looked at the Star ancient tree, his pupils shrinking involuntarily.

He immediately took out the alchemy scroll given by Fourth Mr. and carefully read it.

This scroll documented an ancient tree called the Star-Devouring Tree.

This tree was a malevolent tree, born among the stars, growing by devouring the essence of stars. It could also devour the souls and essence of living beings, making it extremely ferocious.

Young ancient trees posed little threat.

However, a mature Star-Devouring Tree could completely devour the essence of an entire star, rendering all life extinct. It was an extremely terrifying existence even across the universe.

The ancient tree before him, though seemingly sacred, was a great evil—a Star-Devouring Tree.

This should only be a young tree, yet it could kill Empress Yuan Jue of the Dongxuan Realm, which was still incredibly terrifying.

The scroll recorded that a Heaven and Earth Exotic Flame, capable of burning all things, could be its bane, or it could be crushed with absolute power.

Xie Weilou put away the scroll, observed his surroundings, and secretly thought, "The establishment of this ancient city was perhaps to suppress and seal this Star-Devouring Tree."

Perhaps in ancient times, what was suppressed in the ancient city was only a seed, but this seed continuously devoured Star power, eventually taking root, sprouting, and becoming a young tree.

Boom!

The surrounding vines continued to attack Marquis Chi Cang.

"Ah..."

Marquis Chi Cang roared, swinging his battle-halberd, chopping frantically.

His battle-halberd was incredibly sharp, destructive, and powerful, but against these vines, it seemed utterly powerless.

No matter how sharp his battle-halberd was, he still couldn't cut a single vine.

Rip!

A few breaths later, Marquis Chi Cang's body was pierced by a vine. He endured the pain, violently pulled out the vine, and then swung his halberd, forcing back the surrounding vines.

He then looked towards Xie Weilou's position, his eyes sharpening, and immediately rushed over, intending to divert the danger.

Clearly, Xie Weilou's invisibility could not escape the soul perception of a Dongxuan Realm expert like him.

"Diverting the danger?"

Xie Weilou's expression was mocking. His invisibility spell disappeared, and he conjured a golden curved bow, directly drawing and firing an arrow that blasted towards Marquis Chi Cang.

"..."

Marquis Chi Cang's face changed. He immediately swung his battle-halberd to block the arrow. The arrow was blasted away by him, but the surrounding vines attacked again, leaving him helpless.

"Heh!"

Xie Weilou's smile was sinister. He drew the bow again, and three arrows appeared, simultaneously shooting towards Marquis Chi Cang.

Originally, to deal with Marquis Chi Cang and Empress Yuan Jue, he had planned to use some trump cards, but now it seemed he didn't need to.

Rip!

Marquis Chi Cang was busy fending off the vines and had no time to dodge. He was instantly pierced by the three arrows, and blood splattered.

"Ah..."

Marquis Chi Cang's body trembled, and he let out a scream, his movements delayed by half a beat.

The vines seized the opportunity, swarming him, directly binding Marquis Chi Cang's limbs and torso.

One of the vines floated up and stabbed towards Marquis Chi Cang's glabella.

"No..."

Marquis Chi Cang's eyes showed terror.

He had originally thought that this trip to Star Province would bring him fortune, allowing him to leave the wilderness, but he never expected this ancient city to become his burial ground.

Rip!

The vine violently pierced Marquis Chi Cang's glabella, frantically devouring his soul and blood.

"No... Ah..."

Marquis Chi Cang's pupils constricted, his body trembled, and he struggled continuously, but it was all in vain. He could only be devoured by the Star-Devouring Tree...