Chapter 532: Again, the Ancient Exotic Species

Along the way, the sights were bizarre and surreal.

There were giant man-eating flowers that sprayed corrosive acid.

There were strange trees wielding thorned vine whips.

There were unicorn thunder leopards dwelling beside spiritual springs, their aura fierce and menacing…

The ancient ruins' ecosystem was extraordinarily rich, with dangers densely packed—far surpassing any perilous land beyond.

After traveling about half an hour, passing through a strange zone woven from countless glowing vines, like a curtain hanging from the heavens, the view suddenly opened up.

A vast forest basin appeared ahead.

At the basin's center was not ordinary land, but a lake spanning several li, shrouded in thick, swirling emerald waters.

The lake water was not ordinary clear water; it glowed with a warm, jade-like green hue, pulsing with energy, shimmering like liquid wood-elemental spiritual energy gathered into one.

In the center of the lake stood a colossal tree, a thousand zhang tall.

This tree was the most majestic Chen Mu had seen since entering the secret realm.

Its trunk exceeded a hundred zhang in diameter, its entire body a deep, heavy dark blue-green color; natural, mysterious runes formed on its bark, clearer and more complex than any ancient tree he had seen before, faintly glowing as if breathing, resonating with heaven and earth.

Its canopy was vast as clouds, branches and leaves luxuriant; each leaf was as large as a door panel, lush and dripping with life, radiating the glow of vitality.

A vast, ancient, solemn, yet slightly weary torrent of life energy emanated from the giant tree, enveloping the entire basin.

"Descendant of Jianmu? Or perhaps an ancient tree that inherited a trace of Jianmu's primordial essence?"

Master Zhuqing gazed at the giant tree, his eyes filled with awe and contemplation, "Though far inferior to the legendary Jianmu that once held up heaven and earth, here it is the absolute sovereign—the source of wood-elemental energy and the breath of growth. The birth of the 'Spring Key' must be tied to this tree."

The "Summer" and "Winter" Keys in Ning Zhixi's arms, along with the stone tablet fragment, now resonated at their peak—a searing heat pulsed toward the giant tree at the lake's center.

She could even feel that the tree's life energy subtly echoed the "Summer" meaning inscribed on the fragment in her hand.

Chen Mu's gaze, however, settled on the shore beside the spiritual lake, at the tree's roots.

There was no empty ground—only countless thick, gnarled roots, naturally forming an ancient altar-like platform.

At the platform's center, a soft, radiant "green aura" pulsed slowly, swirling and coalescing, brimming with boundless vitality and budding hope; within the aura, the faint shape of a token could be discerned.

An ancient character was solidifying from void into form—

"Spring"!

The Spring Key was indeed forming and manifesting here.

And judging by its rate of solidification, it was nearly complete.

Yet how could such a priceless treasure appear without guardians?

At the very moment the three fixed their gazes on the "Spring Key"—

"Roar…"

A terrifying roar, shaking the entire basin, churning the spiritual lake into turbulent waves and rustling the ancient trees' leaves, erupted from the lake's depths.

This horrifying roar brimmed with warning, fury, and a killing intent that overwhelmed the heavens and earth.

Boom!

The lake exploded open as a colossal shadow burst forth from the water.

It was a monstrous beast impossible to describe precisely.

Its body resembled a giant serpent, covered in dark green-black scales as rough and tough as ancient tree bark; its head resembled a dragon's, bearing a pair of curved, metallic-glossed ink-jade horns.

Its vertical pupils, as large as millstones, burned with cold, dark-gold flames.

Its body was so immense that even the portion exposed above water exceeded a hundred zhang, thick as mountain ridges, its pressure palpable as solid mountains crushing each person's heart.

The beast's aura was obscure, ancient, primordial, brimming with pure wild power and absolute dominion over this forest.

Its strength had clearly reached the Heavenly Palace Realm's early stage!

Moreover, its foundation was exceptionally solid—it had cultivated here for countless years, drawing upon the boundless wood spirits and the ancient tree's primordial essence, its power far exceeding that of human cultivators at the same level.

"Ink-Jade Horned Python!"

Master Zhuqing gasped, his face instantly pale, "An ancient exotic species recorded in ancient texts, feeding on wood spirits, especially fond of devouring heavenly treasures rich in vitality, possessing immense longevity, boundless strength, scales impervious to all attacks, and horns capable of shattering all arts…"

"I never imagined such a ferocious beast guarded this place! Judging by its aura, it must have waited here for countless years, guarding the ancient tree and the 'Spring Key' as its exclusive possession!"

The Ink-Jade Horned Python coiled its massive body, its dark-gold vertical pupils coldly sweeping over Chen Mu and the other two on the shore.

It lingered a moment on Chen Mu, sensing a faint threat, emitting a low, warning growl.

It did not attack immediately, but slowly glided through the spiritual lake, its colossal form flickering in and out of view, exerting immense pressure—clearly assessing, waiting for the "Spring Key" to fully form.

Meanwhile, perhaps sensing the guardian beast's fury and the Spring Key's fluctuations, disturbances rippled through the forests surrounding the basin.

Several powerful auras began converging toward this location—though not matching the Ink-Jade Horned Python, they reached the peak of Earth Altar Realm or even quasi-Heavenly Palace level.

These were other powerful beasts of the secret realm drawn by the commotion; though they dared not challenge the Ink-Jade Horned Python, they would not hesitate to pounce if given a chance to claim a share.

The situation instantly became clear—and perilous.

The target—the Spring Key—lay just before them, fiercely guarded by a Heavenly Palace Realm early-stage ancient beast, with wolves circling all around.

And the Spring Key's formation seemed moments away.

Master Zhuqing's brow glistened with sweat; he gripped his bamboo sword and the "Wood Core of Jia."

Ning Zhixi also drew a deep breath, her long sword slanted before her, her true energy flowing ceaselessly.

Facing a Heavenly Palace Realm entity, their strength seemed minuscule—but their eyes held no retreat.

Chen Mu's gaze met the Ink-Jade Horned Python's dark-gold vertical pupils across the void.

The air seemed to freeze; invisible momentum clashed and surged within the basin.

Chen Mu slowly raised his hand, gripping the hilt of the Sunken Dragon Sword; its blade glimmered with cold light amid the swirling aura.

"Looks like to get what we want, we must pass through you first."

Chen Mu's voice was not loud, yet it cut cleanly through the Ink-Jade Horned Python's roars and distant beast cries, carrying a calm declaration.

The Ink-Jade Horned Python seemed to understand the provocation in Chen Mu's words; its dark-gold pupils blazed with fury, it flung open its massive maw, unleashing a deafening roar—a torrent of sonic waves mixed with stench and toxic mist surged toward the three on shore like a tidal wave.

At the same time, its thick, mountain-like tail suddenly whipped out of the lake, sweeping toward Chen Mu with the force of ten thousand tons of water and the power to shatter mountains and split rocks.

This strike was simple and brutal, yet it carried the terrifying physical strength of a beast from the Heavenly Palace Realm, its momentum shocking heaven and earth.

The battle erupted at once!