180: nest

The outer periphery of Lesser Qingqiu, the edge of the Peach Blossom Miasma.

Gao De met up with Green Edge and the others, arriving at a relatively hidden, rocky marshland area near the canyon entrance where the miasma was slightly thinner.

A new idea had formed in Gao De's mind.

"Green Edge, divide the Demon Soldiers under your command into three teams. From here, conduct a fan-shaped search to the northwest and northeast along the periphery of the Peach Blossom Miasma." Purple Lightning flickered slightly at Gao De's fingertips as he sketched a simple map of the terrain and directions in the air.

"Focus on investigating whether there are any other abnormal Spiritual Qi nodes, large spiritual trees, and... whether there are any outer nests or traces of activity related to other demon-kind. Avoid the core area. If you sense an aura above the third rank or a strong threat, withdraw immediately. Do not alert them."

"Understood, Master!" Green Edge accepted the order solemnly and quickly dispatched three teams of Demon Soldiers.

These three teams were all elites from Qianjiao Cliff. Each team included one demon skilled in earth-escape and stealth, one demon exceptionally sensitive to the auras of various plants, and one demon with excellent eyesight capable of maintaining observation within the miasma.

The three small teams soon vanished into the pink miasmic fog and jagged rock shadows, pressing close to the edge of that dreamlike yet dangerously potent pink Peach Blossom Miasma to conduct a careful investigation.

Gao De remained behind with Iron Pincer and the rest of the Demon Soldiers. While regulating his breathing, he used a special communication Magical Artifact to receive intermittent safety signals and brief reports from Green Edge and his subordinates.

"Northwest direction, three li. Discovered a small cluster of spiritual fruits with signs of harvesting by spiritual monkeys. No issues..."

"Northeast direction, five li. The miasma has weakened slightly. Suspected seepage point of an underground water vein where a Spiritual Vein converges..."

Time passed bit by bit, with most reports being scattered resource information and safety confirmations.

However, about an hour later, a message personally sent back by Green Edge made Gao De's spirits lift:

"Master! About eighty li to the northeast, at the core of the Peach Blossom Miasma, I've discovered an incredibly massive Ancient Peach Tree! Its age is hard to estimate; it stands over three hundred zhang tall, the trunk would require a thousand people to encircle it, the canopy is like a cloud, and its blossoms are like rosy clouds. The density of Spiritual Qi far exceeds the surrounding peach forest! But... I have sensed carefully, and although this tree is brimming with spirituality, there are no signs of it becoming a demon. There are no fluctuations of autonomous consciousness in the tree's body; it seems more like a simple Spiritual Plant that has grown to its absolute limit."

In an unclaimed spiritual land, the appearance of such a giant Spiritual Plant that had not gained sapience and become a demon was itself somewhat abnormal.

Normally, vegetation of such age and Spiritual Qi, even if it lacked the Opportunity to take human form, should at least have a hazy spiritual consciousness or have birthed companion Essence Spirits.

"Continue observing, stay safe," Gao De replied.

A moment later, Green Edge's second message arrived, carrying obvious surprise: "Master, at a fork in a main branch about a hundred and fifty zhang off the ground on that giant peach tree, I've found a massive bird-nest-like structure! It's woven from flexible spiritual vines and a type of silver thatch. The structure is exquisite, shaped like an inverted lotus seed pod, with a diameter of over a zhang! But the nest... is completely empty. There are no birds or demons living there, nor any signs of recent use. There is only a thick layer of dry, fragrant peach blossoms lining the bottom of the nest."

An empty nest? Such a massive, exquisitely woven nest, yet without an owner?

"Is there anything peculiar about the nest itself?" Gao De pressed.

This time, Green Edge's reply took a bit longer, as if he were investigating more closely: "Master, the weaving Materials of this nest are very special. Besides spiritual vines and silver thatch, there seems to be a type of pale gold grass stalk mixed in that I've never seen before. The stalks themselves emit a gentle warmth and a... strange life-promoting aura. I took the liberty of taking a small fragment of a fallen stalk; it feels as though it could accelerate the process of life gestation or hatching!"

Accelerate hatching?!

The Purple Lightning in Gao De's dragon eyes suddenly flared.

A spiritual item that could accelerate hatching—its value was entirely different! Whether used for breeding Spirit Beasts, hatching precious demon-bird eggs, or even aiding certain special cultivation or Alchemy processes, it was a rare auxiliary treasure!

"Bring a few samples to me. Do not damage the main body of the nest. Carefully check the surroundings for any guardian Restrictions or hidden markers," Gao De ordered decisively.

Since it was an ownerless empty nest and the Materials were special, taking a bit of the peripheral residue for research carried relatively controllable risks.

"Yes!" Green Edge took the order.

After another fifteen minutes, Green Edge's team returned safely, bringing back several fragments of strange grass stalks about the length of a pinky finger. They were pale gold and emitted a warm, fresh scent of vegetation. They also provided a more detailed description: the nest was woven extremely sturdily and contained a natural guardian rhythm, but there were no man-made Formations or residual Demonic Power. Under the giant peach tree, besides the thick accumulation of fallen flowers, there were no signs of fighting, struggling, or any other abnormalities. The entire empty nest was as clean as if it had never been used, or as if its owner had left many years ago.

Gao De took the pale gold grass stalks and sensed them carefully.

Sure enough, they contained a gentle yet vigorous power of "growth." It had a natural nourishing and promoting effect on the Origin of life, especially for beings in the gestation or hatching stages.

This was by no means an ordinary Spiritual Plant. It was very likely unique to this Peach Blossom Spring in Lesser Qingqiu, perhaps even a "lining" material specifically cultivated or found for that massive empty nest!

"A massive, exquisitely woven empty nest... special woven Materials with hatching-acceleration effects... a giant Ancient Peach Tree that is ownerless yet brimming with Spiritual Qi..." Gao De connected the clues, his heart filled with doubts.

Who did this empty nest once belong to? Was it some powerful avian demon cultivator? Or a spiritual bird raised by the original owner of Lesser Qingqiu? Why was the nest abandoned? Had they migrated, or had they fallen? What was this hatching-accelerating weave meant to hatch? And where did the life once gestated in the nest go?

More importantly—the effect of this woven material might have a direct use for Gao De right now! He had a beast egg in his possession that urgently needed hatching, something he had obtained long ago from the hidden treasury of the Hundred Beasts Sect. Even after all these years, it had shown no signs of hatching. Even the life aura within the egg hadn't changed in the slightest. If he hadn't sensed that the beast egg still had vitality, Gao De would have thought it was a dead egg.

"The mysteries here are truly growing."

Gao De put away the grass stalk samples and turned his gaze once more toward the depths of the Peach Blossom Miasma. The Monkey King, the monkey brew, ancient ruins, a mysterious empty nest, special Spiritual Plants... the value and mystery of this Peach Blossom Spring in Lesser Qingqiu far exceeded his initial estimates.