Chapter 525

What was seen along the way was bizarre and strange.

There were huge man-eating flowers that could spray corrosive acid.

There were strange trees waving vine whips covered in barbs.

There were one-horned thunder leopards resting by spiritual springs, their auras fierce...

The richness of the ruins' ecology and the density of the dangers far exceeded any dangerous place in the outside world.

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

A huge forest basin appeared ahead.

In the center of the basin was not ordinary land, but a lake with a radius of several miles, shrouded in dense green lake water.

The lake water was not ordinary clear water, but presented a warm, jade-like luster, energy swirling, sparkling, as if gathered from liquid wood-element spiritual energy.

And in the center of the lake stood a giant tree a thousand yards high.

This giant tree was the most magnificent one Chen Mu had seen since entering the secret realm.

The trunk diameter exceeded a hundred yards, the whole body presenting a deep and solemn pale green color, and the mysterious runes naturally formed on the bark were clearer and more complex than any ancient wood seen before, faintly flowing with micro-light, as if breathing and resonating with heaven and earth.

The canopy was as huge as clouds, lush with branches and leaves, every leaf as large as a door panel, emerald green and dripping, flowing with the brilliance of life.

A vast, ancient, majestic, yet carrying a trace of twilight, majestic life aura emanated from the giant tree, shrouding the entire basin.

"A descendant of Jianmu? Or rather, an ancient wood that inherited a trace of Jianmu's origin?"

Daoist Daoist Zhuqing looked at the giant tree, her eyes filled with shock and thought, "Although far inferior to the true Jianmu that supported the sky and earth in legends, in this place, it is the absolute supreme, the source of wood-element energy and growth aura. The birth of the 'Spring Key' must be related to this tree."

The "Xia" and "Winter" dual keys and stone tablet fragments in Ning Ning Zhixi's bosom reached the peak of resonance at this moment, a scorching heat coming, pointing directly at the giant tree in the center of the lake.

She could even feel the life aura emanating from the giant tree producing a subtle echo with the "Summer" intent on the "Xia" character fragment in her hand.

Chen Mu's gaze fell on the beach near the spiritual lake at the roots of the giant tree.

There, it was not empty ground, but covered with countless thick, gnarled tree roots, naturally forming an ancient altar-like platform.

In the center of the platform, a soft "green light halo" full of endless vitality and sprouting hope was slowly rotating and condensing. Inside the light halo, the prototype of a token could be vaguely seen.

On it, an ancient character was turning from virtual to real—

"Spring"!

The Spring Key was indeed gestating and manifesting in this place.

Moreover, judging by the speed of its solidification, it seemed to be nearing its end.

However, with such a heavy treasure appearing in the world, how could it be without protection?

Just the moment the three people's gazes focused on the "Spring Key"—

"Roar..."

A terrifying roar that shook the entire basin, making the spiritual lake surge and the ancient wood branches and leaves rustle, suddenly came from deep within the lake.

This horrifying roar was full of warning, rage, and mixed killing intent, covering the sky and earth.

Boom!

The lake water exploded, and a huge shadow broke through the water.

It was a giant beast that was difficult to describe accurately.

It resembled a giant python, but its whole body was covered with pitch-black, rough and tough scales like old tree bark, but its head resembled a flood dragon, with a pair of curved, metallic-lustered ink-jade horns.

A pair of vertical pupils as large as millstones burned with cold dark golden flames.

Its body was so huge that just the part exposed above the water surface exceeded a hundred yards, thick like a mountain ridge, and the pressure it emanated was like a solid mountain, pressing heavily on everyone's heart.

The aura of this giant beast was obscure, ancient, wild, full of pure wild power and absolute control over this forest.

Its strength had reached the early stage of the Heavenly Palace Realm!

Moreover, its foundation was extremely solid; it had clearly cultivated in this place for countless years, and with the help of the infinite wood spirit and the ancient wood origin here, its strength far exceeded that of ordinary human martial artists of the same realm.

"Ink-Jade Horned Python!"

Daoist Daoist Zhuqing whispered in shock, her face instantly turning pale, "An ancient exotic species in ancient records, feeding on wood spirits, especially fond of swallowing heavenly materials and earthly treasures containing vitality, with a long lifespan, infinite strength, indestructible scales, and horns that can break all laws..."

"I didn't expect such a fierce beast to guard this place! Looking at its aura, it has probably guarded this ancient wood and the 'Spring Key' here for countless years, regarding them as its exclusive property!"

The Ink-Jade Horned Python coiled its huge body, its dark golden vertical pupils coldly sweeping over the three people on the shore.

It lingered on Chen Mu for a moment, seemingly sensing a trace of threat, and let out a low, warning hiss.

It did not attack immediately, but swam slowly, its huge body appearing and disappearing in the spiritual lake, forming a huge sense of oppression, clearly evaluating, and also waiting for the "Spring Key" to fully form.

At the same time, perhaps sensing the rage of the guardian beast and the fluctuation of the "Spring Key," there were also bursts of commotion in the forest around the basin.

Several powerful auras began to gather here, although not as good as the Ink-Jade Horned Python, they also reached the peak of the Earth Altar Realm or even the quasi-Heavenly Palace level.

Those were other powerful exotic beasts in the secret realm attracted here; they might not dare to fight the Ink-Jade Horned Python, but if there was a chance, they would definitely pounce without hesitation to get a share.

The situation instantly became clear and dangerous.

The target "Spring Key" was right in front of them, but it was guarded to death by an ancient fierce beast at the early stage of the Heavenly Palace Realm, with wolves circling all around.

And the formation of the "Spring Key" seemed to be in the blink of an eye.

Daoist Daoist Zhuqing had sweat on her forehead, gripping the bamboo sword and "Jia Wood Spirit Core" in her hand.

Ning Ning Zhixi also took a deep breath, her long sword pointing diagonally in front of her, her true essence flowing endlessly in her body.

Facing the existence of the Heavenly Palace Realm, their power seemed so insignificant, but there was no intention of retreating in their eyes.

Chen Mu's gaze collided with the dark golden vertical pupils of the Ink-Jade Horned Python across the air.

The air seemed to freeze, and invisible momentum collided and stirred in the basin.

Chen Mu slowly raised his hand, gripping the hilt of the Trap Dragon Sword. The blade glowed with cold luster amidst the swirling brilliance.

"It seems that to get the thing, I have to pass your test first."

Chen Mu's voice was not high, but it clearly penetrated the hiss of the Ink-Jade Horned Python and the distant beast roars, carrying a calm declaration.

The Ink-Jade Horned Python seemed to understand the provocation in Chen Mu's words, the fierce light in its dark golden vertical pupils flourishing, suddenly opening its blood-red mouth, letting out a deafening roar, the majestic sound waves mixed with fishy wind and poison mist, sweeping towards the three people on the shore like a tsunami.

At the same time, its huge tail, thick like a mountain ridge, suddenly whipped out from the lake water, carrying ten thousand tons of lake water and the power to collapse mountains and crack rocks, sweeping towards Chen Mu.

This strike was simple, rough, yet contained the terrifying physical power of a Heavenly Palace Realm fierce beast, its momentum shaking the sky.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out!