116: The domineering Lao Tzu, the magical pine cone

"Let's go!"

"We're going in!"

Having understood the situation with the Eye Technique, Laozi stopped asking further questions. With a wave of his large hand, he tore open a gap in the dense mist and stepped into the valley.

Seeing this, Li Yun did not hesitate and quickly followed closely behind.

Not long after, the two arrived inside the valley and stood beneath the massive Five-Needle Pine.

As they approached, the Five-Needle Pine swayed slightly. The squirrels nesting on it suddenly raised their heads, seemingly disturbed, and quickly fled the area.

Once all the squirrels had left, the swaying of the Five-Needle Pine intensified sharply. Immediately, a brilliant grass-green radiance erupted from its trunk area, and then a face slowly emerged: "Fellow Daoist Taiqing, what brings you here this time?"

Although it hadn't taken human form, achieving this level of manifestation meant the cultivation and strength of the Five-Needle Pine were certainly not to be underestimated. At least in Li Yun's view, it had indeed surpassed the realm of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

"Fellow Daoist Five-Needle Pine!"

Cupping his hands in salute, Laozi's expression was quite solemn, but remembering the promise his Three Brothers made to Li Yun, he had to speak: "I have come this time hoping you can abandon your Main Body and manifest a form from your branches!"

"If you are willing, I can offer you protection and allow you to reside here on Kunlun Mountain. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

Hearing this, Li Yun was momentarily stunned.

He never expected Laozi to say something like that.

He had assumed they would directly suppress the Five-Needle Pine and seize its Main Body; now it seemed the matter was somewhat different.

If the Five-Needle Pine agreed, it could survive, though it would remain a future hidden danger for Li Yun.

Despite the surprise, Li Yun knew that Laozi's words were final, and what he had promised was only to give him the innate spiritual root, not to annihilate its Divine Soul.

Thinking this, Li Yun secretly praised: "As expected of Taishang Laozi, finding a solution so quickly!"

"If the Five-Needle Pine agrees, then a Karma will be established between him and me. The specific outcome will depend on our own abilities."

Even so, Li Yun did not object.

With his current strength, if the Five-Needle Pine abandoned its Main Body, it would at most be a Golden Immortal. He might not win against it, but it would be impossible for the entity to attack him.

"Fellow Daoist, why must you make things difficult!"

The Five-Needle Pine's expression darkened. It hadn't expected Laozi to utter such words either.

As one of the ten great innate spiritual roots, how could it not know the value of its Main Body?

Under these circumstances, Laozi asking it to abandon its Main Body, while seemingly preserving its life, essentially cut off its future. This was absolutely unacceptable.

With this thought, the massive body of the Five-Needle Pine shook, and its needles turned sharp and icy, pointing towards Laozi and Li Yun. Its voice was laced with anger: "I refuse this matter, and I will never agree!"

"Taiqing, leave this place, or there will only be a decisive battle between us."

Hearing this, Laozi's expression sank.

He offered it a chance, yet it dared to refuse and even threaten him. Did it truly think he was a saint? Did it truly think he was weak and easily bullied?

The next second, Laozi beckoned, and a long sword of high-grade innate spirit treasure grade, brimming with Killing Intent, appeared in his hand. His Sword Intent, Sword Momentum, and Sword Domain quietly spread out, enveloping the entire valley. His voice was cold: "Fellow Daoist Five-Needle Pine, I fear you have misunderstood!"

"I am merely informing you of the outcome, not negotiating with you!"

As he spoke, his Quasi-Saint pressure swept out. Laozi revealed his sharp edge, and the power surging from him caused the very space within the valley to tremble slightly.

"Quasi-Saint!"

"Attaining the Dao through Strength!"

At this moment, the Five-Needle Pine's expression also changed drastically.

It could clearly sense the immense Killing Intent emanating from the other party, and even more clearly, it sensed that the other party clearly harbored murderous intent towards it.

Most importantly, Laozi at this moment was truly too powerful, completely beyond its ability to contend with.

But abandoning its Main Body like this, the Five-Needle Pine felt unwilling in its heart. For a moment, the atmosphere in the valley became deathly silent, and no one dared to speak rashly.

Although Li Yun hoped Laozi would destroy it, he knew clearly that he was merely an observer in this matter. If he truly intervened and dictated Laozi's actions, it would only create unnecessary conflict and trouble, potentially causing the subtle relationship between them to deteriorate, which was not what he wished to see.

Although he was using the Three Pure Ones previously, they were future top Great Divine Power Holders, and their future was part of his plan. How could he turn them into enemies by tearing ties?

"One move!"

After a long pause, the Five-Needle Pine's dejected voice echoed: "One move to decide the victor!"

"If you can defeat me, I will act according to your will!"

"Conversely, if I win, then you must leave this place and never set foot here again!"

"Not enough!"

Frowning, Laozi did not immediately agree. Instead, he coldly stared at the Five-Needle Pine: "Everything you said is based on a premise where we are equals, but that is not the case now!"

"Most importantly, I gave you a chance and you refused. Annihilating you and seizing your Main Body wouldn't be difficult for me either."

Hearing this, the Five-Needle Pine's face darkened.

Although Laozi's words were factual, this feeling of being coerced was still unpleasant.

But just as Laozi said, the disparity in strength meant it truly had little room to bargain.

With this thought, the Five-Needle Pine's mind moved. Its trunk swayed quietly, and then a Pinecone glowing with golden light fell down.

After doing this, the Five-Needle Pine spoke: "This object is a Pinecone nurtured since the beginning of heaven and earth. It contains twelve innate restrictions and can be used to layer power onto Spirit Treasures!"

"The sword in your hand is a high-grade innate spirit treasure, but it only has 26 innate restrictions. As long as you fuse it with the Pinecone in my hand, it can evolve into the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the ultimate form. Its value doesn't need me to elaborate!"

"I will stake one move against you based on this. Regardless of your success or failure, this object belongs to you, but you must agree to the terms I offered before. What do you think?"

Hiss—

After listening to the Five-Needle Pine, both Li Yun and Laozi couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

Immediately, both stared intently at the Pinecone, never imagining that the fruit nurtured by the Five-Needle Pine possessed such an effect and value.

Subconsciously, Li Yun asked: "Fellow Daoist Five-Needle Pine, can this thing of yours advance to become an innate supreme treasure?"

"If it can, does that mean Fellow Daoist Laozi can later find a high-grade innate spirit treasure-level long sword and absorb it to evolve into an innate supreme treasure?"