Chapter 369: Heart-to-Heart Under the Tree

Li Yuqing sat quietly beneath the small, lush green tree, green clothes stained with blood and lips curved into a faint smile.

Despite being in an extremely dire situation, she showed no sign of panic and maintained a truly impressive calmness.

Green leaves filled with rich life energy fell onto her shoulders, withering as the life energy within them seeped away before drifting to the ground.

The little tree worked tirelessly to heal her under Pang Jian's command but her injuries remained severe.

The medicinal properties of the pills she had taken and the pure spiritual power flowing from a white jade token were not enough to restore her to full health in such a short time.

Pang Jian took a deep breath and communicated with the little tree telepathically.

Before long, the little tree drove away all the Wood Race members and Vicious Beasts within a radius of several dozen li.

Only Pang Jian and Li Yuqing remained in the lush, thriving marshland.

Pang Jian asked softly, "Where's your sword?"

"Some foreign race powerhouses are still after me, but I was in no shape to continue after killing two Rank Eight foreign race warriors, so I sent my Heaven-Splitting Sword to distract the pursuers."

Her clear, gem-like eyes rested on Pang Jian's face, lips curled into a slight smile.

Noticing the concern in Pang Jian's eyes, she added, "Once I regain my strength and my divine soul recovers, I'll be able to sense the Heaven-Splitting Sword's general location. The Heaven-Splitting Sword can find me on its own after that.

"The main issue is that I need time to recover my combat prowess, during which I still have to resist the corruption of murky energy.

"Not to mention, an encounter with the foreign races or the two from the Jiang and Zhu Clans would only further drain my strength."

"Don't worry, the foreign races on this fragmented land won't bother you," Pang Jian assured as he pointed to the vibrant green tree. "The Wood Race sees it as their pillar of faith, and I can command it."

Pang Jian's expression darkened.

"Those two from the Jiang and Zhu Clans—they dare to lay their hands on you?"

"Yes, they want to take the Heaven-Splitting Sword from me," Li Yuqing replied.

A hint of color had returned to her cheeks while they were conversing.

Pang Jian's protective shield sheltered her from the murky energy, allowing her to focus the medicinal properties of the pills on healing her injuries instead of resisting the corruption of the murky energy.

The additional boost from the life energy further revitalized her, and she knew she would recover faster than expected.

"The Sword Pavilion is aware of your severe injuries, but they haven't disclosed the information," Pang Jian said.

Li Yuqing mulled over his words. "The Heaven-Splitting Sword likely sent a message. Its communication with the Sword Pavilion can bypass the shroud of murky energy. However, it doesn't know where I've ended up."

While Pang Jian knitted his brows in thought, he took out a jar of wine and handed it to her. "Let me think for a bit."

Li Yuqing looked at him in surprise but made no move to take the wine.

"Aren't you fond of drinking?" he asked.

"I am, but right now..."

Li Yuqing hesitated, then took the wine jar and sipped from it.

Pang Jian comforted earnestly, "You'll be alright."

Li Yuqing gently nodded, a smile appearing in her bright eyes.

"The two from the Jiang and Zhu Clans—what stage are they at in the Soul Wandering Realm?"

"They seem to be in the middle stages."

"Middle stages, and there are two of them..." Pang Jian glanced at the little tree and reached out to sense its connection with all the trees across the marshlands. His confidence grew. "That won't be a problem."

Li Yuqing's eyes widened in surprise. "I remember you were still in the Profound Abode Realm when we were in Spirit Offering. Those two are in the Soul Wandering Realm and even hold noble status in the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom. How are you so confident you can handle them?"

"I'm in the Soul Wandering Realm too."

Li Yuqing playfully stuck out her tongue, then habitually licked the wine from her lips, causing ripples in Pang Jian's heart.

"In just a few years, your advancement speed has almost caught up to mine," Li Yuqing praised.

"Wait here for a bit."

Pang Jian went behind the small tree, and while out of Li Yuqing's sight, used the Gate of the Abyss to teleport back to the Sword Pavilion in the Second World.

Lifting the lid of the copper chest, he pulled out the Abyssal Demon Sword and sent his divine sense into the sword. "There's a tough battle coming up and I'll need your help.

"If you refuse to cooperate or try to sabotage me again, I'll erase all of your consciousnesses after the battle and wipe you from existence.

"A sword that refuses to submit, no matter how powerful, is useless to me. I'd rather destroy it."

Pang Jian had no patience left to deal with the sword's attitude and was unwilling to give the Abyssal Demon any more chances.

The Abyssal Demon fell silent.

Demonic lights, flames, and clouds surged within the sword, feeding off the wicked thoughts of the Sword Pavilion's disciples, growing ever stronger.

The Abyssal Demon's consciousnesses then replied in unison, "Understood."

Whoosh!

Pang Jian emerged from behind the small tree and returned to Li Yuqing's side with the broken Abyssal Demon Sword.

He casually stabbed the broken sword into the ground and asked, "Do you have anything to eat? I remember you always kept some food in your spatial ring..."

"I do."

Li Yuqing glanced at the black crystalline sword in surprise.

She had seen that sword on the first floor of the Sword Pavilion before and had learned about its origin through the Heaven-Splitting Sword.

Though curious, she did not ask Pang Jian about it and instead focused on setting up a table filled with the dried meat, snacks, and fruits she always carried.

The two sat at the table like in the old days, eating meat, drinking wine, and chatting idly.

She would take another healing pill from time to time. The white jade token hanging from her waist also continuously channeled spiritual power into her spiritual sea.

Being from the Li Family of the Divine Treasure Sect, Li Yuqing had access to many rare treasures.

Thus, even when severely injured, she did not need to meditate arduously like ordinary cultivators. All she needed to do was remain still, and the miraculous properties of her pills and treasures would help her recover her strength and heal her wounds.

She only needed time.

"I heard you went to Absolute Heaven for a trial. No one came out for over two years. At that time, I thought..." Li Yuqing frowned, putting down a thoroughly gnawed piece of wing and taking a big gulp of wine. Sadness flashed in her bright eyes. "I thought I might never see you again."

"Absolute Heaven was a strange place, with different fragmented lands originating from different worlds," Pang Jian said absentmindedly. Then, noticing the sorrow on Li Yuqing's delicate face, he blurted out, "Were you worried about me?"

"I was," she answered, lowering her head to tear into another wing.

Pang Jian froze, staring at her in stunned silence.

"I often think back to the dark tunnel in Eight Trigrams City, where you..." Li Yuqing said through muffled bites. "You've always been an interesting person to me."

She could not forget how Pang Jian had repeatedly called for her in the endless darkness outside the City Lord's Mansion, fearing she would be trapped in the terrifying Eight Trigrams City.

After finishing the wine jar, she pulled out her small flask and peered up at the silent Pang Jian.

She found Pang Jian staring at her with a dazed expression.

"Idiot," Li Yuqing muttered under her breath.

Her cheeks grew warm and she ducked her head as she quietly took another sip of wine.

After some time, Pang Jian regained his composure.

Noticing the awkward atmosphere, he tried to change the subject, intending to tell Li Yuqing about the strange things he had encountered deep in the restricted area.

"In Absolute Heaven..."

"I heard about it," Li Yuqing chuckled softly, going along with the change. "By the way, there was a guy named Fu Wangchen. He was one of my defeated opponents and was incredibly troublesome.

"Although not very strong, he kept challenging me and would only give up after I beat him black and blue each time.

"Did you meet him there?" she asked.

"I did."

"I can't believe that useless guy died in there. The Forsaken Expanse Sect kept bragging about him, calling him a rare genius. How laughable." Li Yuqing scoffed, lips curling in disdain.

Pang Jian did not mention that he was responsible for Fu Wangchen's death. Instead, he said, "He was indeed quite formidable. He was the strongest of those who entered from the Abyss."

"But he still died, didn't he?" Li Yuqing sneered.

Pang Jian scratched his head, unsure of what to say.

At that moment, the little tree said softly in Pang Jian's mind,

Father, someone's coming. It's the two she mentioned, the human cultivators in the Soul Wandering Realm.

We'll kill them later,

Pang Jian replied.

Got it.

Many of the most bloodthirsty giant trees quietly shifted under the little tree's command.

The little tree also drew in poisonous plants and the toxic mist drifting above the swamp, causing them to gather toward it.

All the most terrifying plants in Misty Swamp were all under the little tree's control.

"This fragmented land has become completely different," Li Yuqing said when she sensed the changes. "It would've been easy to tear this place apart when I first discovered the World Eater Vine rooted here. The World Eater Vine felt weak then and I could've killed it effortlessly.

"But now..." She sighed. "Even if I were at full strength and it was without the protection of the Wood Race warriors, I'd still need to rely on the Heaven-Splitting Sword to defeat it."

Rustle!

The leaves of the little tree shook violently.

A small girl with delicate features emerged from the leaves.

She looked to be around twelve or thirteen years old, with a gauzy dress covering her small, slender figure.

Long, green hair fell over her shoulders and a crown woven from tree branches adorned her head, giving her the appearance of a forest sprite.

The little girl glared at Li Yuqing.

"You nearly scared me to death back then! And now, you-you!

"I've given you so much life energy, and you ungrateful wretch still thought about killing me!

"You humans are the worst! Father, she's always trying to kill me! She doesn't seem like a good person at all!" she yelled, hands on her hips and eyes wide with anger.