Then, a silhouette descended from the sky.
The crowd was stunned.
"Activate the formation!"
The Mansion Lord gave the order, and everyone activated the formation. But the opponent's strength was too great. They directly unleashed a devouring force, consuming the formation completely.
The Misty Illusory Mansion faced its most desperate moment.
If Yun Fan were present, he would surely recognize this silhouette, for it was none other than Bi Yao.
At this moment, Bi Yao's eyes held only indifference and bloodlust.
She smiled and said, "With such meager abilities, you think you can trap this Empress?"
Although she had not yet possessed the full power of an Empress, she already considered herself one.
The Mansion Lord said coldly, "Heretic, you dare to call yourself an Empress? Today, I will rid the immortal realm of this scourge!"
"Hahahaha!"
Bi Yao let out a wild laugh. "Overestimating yourself!"
Just then, the Mansion Lord, who had been preparing himself, charged forward. Though he lacked confidence, he had to give his all for the disciples behind him.
However, in the next moment, everyone was dumbfounded. The Mansion Lord, a seventh-realm cultivator, couldn't even last three rounds against Bi Yao.
He was killed instantly, his power absorbed, leaving behind a shriveled corpse.
At this point, tens of thousands of disciples attempted to flee, but Bi Yao would not give them such an opportunity. In a flash, the Misty Illusory Mansion was transformed into a living hell.
Bi Yao sneered and prepared to seek her next target.
"Still only seventh realm?"
Bi Yao was clearly dissatisfied with her own strength. After all, her goal was to break through to the eighth realm and attack first-rate forces.
First-rate forces were her top priority. With abundant resources, she could rival Yao Xi after devouring a few of them.
Thus, she immediately shifted her focus to her next target.
...
In the Nine Heavens Immortal Palace, Yun Fan and Yu Xin arrived in the desolate outer world. Yu Xin rode the Seven-Colored Profound Bird, so neither of them needed to exert their own strength.
After an unknown amount of time, Yu Xin suddenly stopped.
"Why aren't we moving?" Yun Fan asked, puzzled.
Yu Xin replied, "We've traveled far from the Immortal Palace. The wilderness ahead is not peaceful, so we cannot proceed further!"
"Not peaceful?" Yun Fan asked, confused.
"Of course. The wilderness is not just desolate; there are many terrifying dangers within it, dangers that even I might not be able to handle!"
Hearing this, Yun Fan finally understood the peril involved.
However, just as Yu Xin was about to turn back, feeling dejected, an accident occurred.
A withered vine rose from the ground in the wilderness and instantly crushed the Seven-Colored Profound Bird, sending the two of them plummeting from the sky.
"Be careful!" Yu Xin grabbed Yun Fan and tried to fly away, but the withered vine descended like a net.
"Ah!" Yu Xin let out a scream, and then she and Yun Fan were entangled by the vine and pulled into the dense forest below.
After an unknown period, Yun Fan slowly awoke to find himself within a tree of immeasurable size.
It covered the sky and shrouded an area of dozens of miles. Beneath the giant tree, many terrifying auras festered.
On the ground lay piles of white bones, testifying to the countless souls who had become its victims.
He looked around and finally spotted Yu Xin not far away.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, wake up quickly!" Yun Fan tried to rouse Yu Xin.
At that moment, Yu Xin also stirred. Upon seeing their surroundings, her face instantly changed.
"We're finished!"
"What's wrong?" Yun Fan asked, bewildered.
Yu Xin explained, "This is a Pu Mo Tree. It's the most powerful great demon near our Nine Heavens Immortal Palace. Over the years, it has devoured countless disciples of our Nine Heavens Immortal Palace. Whenever our disciples and slaves come to the wilderness to gather spiritual materials, most of them are devoured by this Pu Mo Tree!"
Yun Fan then realized how hard-earned every piece of spiritual material was. It seemed Xuanxuan had not had much herself and had given it all to him.
He felt a surge of emotion in his heart. However, this was not the time for sentimentality. He asked Yu Xin, "Haven't you ever thought of working together to kill it?"
"My father once mobilized several elders to try and kill it together, but in the wilderness, we are at a disadvantage! So, it ended in failure. Furthermore, this Pu Mo Tree is very powerful, at least a sixth-realm existence. How easy could it be to kill it!"
At this moment, Yu Xin was in despair, as they were trapped. Moreover, Yun Fan discovered that the Pu Mo Tree was already melting their bodies.
Even with all her might, Yu Xin couldn't break free.
"I'm sorry, I've harmed you!" Yu Xin said. "If I hadn't been so reckless and come out to play, I wouldn't have caused your death!"
"It's okay, I don't blame you!" Yun Fan replied. "Besides, we might not necessarily lose!"
"Kid, what a bold statement. What right do you, a mere ant in the first realm, have to say such things?" A playful voice echoed. Then, Yun Fan and Yu Xin saw the true form of the Pu Mo Tree descend.
Yun Fan didn't know how to describe it; he only had one adjective: Granny Black Mountain.
At this, Yu Xin said angrily, "You'd better release us, or my father, the Nine Heavens Immortal Venerable, will never forgive you!"
Upon hearing this, the Pu Mo Tree sneered, "That old fellow, although he is slightly stronger than me, he cannot do anything to me! Since you are his daughter, I will devour you even more!"
Clearly, she harbored deep hatred for Yu Xin. Although the Nine Heavens Immortal Venerable had not been able to defeat her in their past battle, he had wounded her. She had long held a grudge against him.
With that, she prepared to completely melt Yu Xin.
Yu Xin let out a scream. At this moment, she was resisting with all her might, but it was not a sustainable plan. Once her strength ran out, she would turn into a pool of blood.
"Granny Black Mountain, bah, Pu Mo Tree! If you have the guts, deal with me first! What kind of ability is it to deal with a girl!" Yun Fan cursed.
Hearing this, the Pu Mo Tree sneered, "I originally disdained you, an ant, and let you live a little longer. But since you've made this request, I'll grant it!"
Thus, she began to melt Yun Fan's divine soul.
"No!" Yu Xin was almost in despair.
"Hiss!" Yun Fan felt the corrosive pain and quickly used his demonic power to resist. At the same time, he integrated his devouring power, allowing the opponent to absorb it.
Clearly, the Pu Mo Tree was unprepared. After all, who would believe that Yun Fan, this ant, could harm the Pu Mo Tree, let alone the stronger Yu Xin?
Seeing that the plan was going smoothly, Yun Fan breathed a sigh of relief. However, he was unsure if his current strength and his control over the devouring power were enough to deal with a sixth-realm Pu Mo Tree.
Just as Yun Fan's divine soul was about to be melted, Yu Xin prepared to fight desperately.
However, at that very moment, Yun Fan, in his desperation, unleashed his devouring power.
Instantly, the devouring power spread and began to erupt within the Pu Mo Tree.
"Ah!" In the next moment, the Pu Mo Tree let out a scream as the devouring power ravaged her body and divine soul.
"What's happening?" Yu Xin was confused, not understanding why the Pu Mo Tree was suddenly in such agony.
At this, Yun Fan said, "Pu Mo Tree, if you want to live, you must release us, or you will be completely devoured!"
"It's your doing, you ant?" The Pu Mo Tree glared at Yun Fan furiously, wanting to tear him to shreds.
Yun Fan quickly said, "You can try to kill me. If you kill me, you won't be able to live either. You should know how terrifying this power is. Your strength cannot suppress it!"
Upon hearing this, the Pu Mo Tree panicked. She had indeed tried many methods before, but they all ended in failure. This invisible devouring power seemed to have imprinted itself on her divine soul, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't suppress it; it only grew stronger.
"Undo your method, or I'll kill you!" The Pu Mo Tree roared at Yun Fan in a fit of rage, nearly going completely insane.
But Yun Fan was unfazed. "You release us first, or you wait to die! Mutual destruction isn't so bad either!"
The Pu Mo Tree would never want to perish with Yun Fan. After all, she was so powerful and hadn't lived enough.
"Fine, I'll release you!" The Pu Mo Tree, full of reluctance, could only release Yun Fan and Yu Xin.
At this, Yu Xin was greatly astonished. She didn't know what method Yun Fan had used that was so peculiar.
She could only say that Yun Fan was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface. Even the Pu Mo Tree, whom her father couldn't defeat, was now like a subordinate in Yun Fan's presence. If not for Yun Fan this time, she would have surely died without any chance of survival.
At this, the Pu Mo Tree berated Yun Fan, "Now, can you undo your method!" She was terrified by Yun Fan's power, for if Yun Fan wished to devour her, he could do so at any time. Moreover, even if Yun Fan died, this power would not stop. Therefore, she dared not make any rash moves.
Yun Fan said, "That's what you think. Now, I want you to submit to me!"
Yes, Yun Fan's ambition had begun to swell again. Although he was weak, he desperately wanted to conquer such a powerful being to serve him. With the Pu Mo Tree, he would not be so passive.
Upon hearing this, the Pu Mo Tree roared, "You're dreaming! How can you, an ant, be worthy of my service!"
Yun Fan said, "Don't forget your predicament. If you don't submit to me, then I will devour you!"
"You dare?" The Pu Mo Tree fumed. "Believe it or not, I'll kill you right now?"
"I don't care! My life is cheap. If you want my life, you can take it anytime! But you are different. You are a powerful being. If you die, won't your tens of thousands of years, or even longer, be wasted?"
Upon hearing this, the Pu Mo Tree fell into despair. She regretted provoking this ant so early, and now she was completely at his mercy. Yu Xin also did not expect Yun Fan to be so audacious as to try and subdue the Pu Mo Tree. At this moment, she trembled inwardly, afraid that if the Pu Mo Tree refused, she would kill them both and perish together.
"Think about it yourself! If I don't stop this power soon, you will die!"
Hearing this, the Pu Mo Tree hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing. "Fine, I submit to you! But there must be a time limit. You can't expect me to submit to you forever, can you?"
"What?" Yu Xin was shocked. She never expected the Pu Mo Tree to actually agree. She didn't know what kind of power it was within Yun Fan! If Yun Fan found an opportunity, wouldn't that mean even powerful beings like her father could be suppressed? It was entirely possible.
Yun Fan said, "Not long, just one hundred years! For you, it's just a blink of an eye, isn't it?"
Hearing this, the Pu Mo Tree was furious. She didn't want to waste even a hundred years, but now she had no choice. Thus, she immediately said, "I promise you, one hundred years!"
"Alright!" Normally, at this point, she would have made Yun Fan swear a blood oath, a promise he couldn't break for at most one hundred years. But in her heart, she was already plotting another plan: to find a way to break free after Yun Fan left and then deal with him. She wanted to tear Yun Fan into pieces. However, Yun Fan seemed to have seen through her intentions and said, "Of course, you can also find a way to break free during this period. As long as you find a solution, you can nullify the one-hundred-year submission agreement!"
"So straightforward?" This time, it was the Pu Mo Tree and Yu Xin who began to question reality. But the simpler it seemed, the less likely it was in their eyes. In fact, Yun Fan was so confident for a reason: this devouring technique could only be dispelled by him. Even Bi Yao, a copy of him, couldn't undo it. Therefore, he was very confident that the Pu Mo Tree would not be able to resolve it within a hundred years, unless she herself didn't want to live anymore. Moreover, Yun Fan did not intend to let the Pu Mo Tree submit to him for just a hundred years. When he no longer needed the Pu Mo Tree's help and could conquer the world, he would then consider whether to let the Pu Mo Tree go.
And so, with their own agendas in mind, they reached an agreement.
At this, Yun Fan said, "Since you submit to me, you must have a name from now on. I've already prepared one for you!"
"Master, please speak!" The Pu Mo Tree stood respectfully before Yun Fan.
Yun Fan said, "From today onwards, you shall be called Granny Black Mountain!"
"What a powerful name!" Yu Xin and the Pu Mo Tree were both stunned. Although the name sounded ordinary, it was indeed very powerful.
The Pu Mo Tree said respectfully, "This name is very powerful, I like it!"
"It's good that you like it!" Yun Fan said. "Granny Black Mountain, your submission to me now doesn't mean you don't have to do anything. From today onwards, you will gather spiritual materials for me. I will check on you every half year, and you must collect enough spiritual materials!"
"No problem!" Granny Black Mountain said, "I will definitely not disappoint Master!"
"Mm!" Yun Fan nodded, very satisfied with Granny Black Mountain's performance. Afterward, he and Yu Xin left.
"You're amazing! How did you do it?" Yu Xin asked Yun Fan excitedly. She never expected Yun Fan to subdue such a powerful being so quietly.
Yun Fan replied calmly, "Low profile, low profile!"
"It's actually very simple. My unique power can restrain her, so it was that easy. Plus, she was unprepared. If she's not unlucky, who is!" Yun Fan cautioned, "But Your Highness must not tell anyone, otherwise, I won't be able to see you again!"
Throughout the vast immortal realm, he was not safe. The super powerful Bi Yao would target him, and the top-tier Yao Xi would do the same. Therefore, he had to be cautious with every step he took and had to lie low to have time to develop.
Yu Xin nodded. "No problem. But it requires a price for me to keep it a secret!"
"What price?" Yun Fan asked, puzzled.
"You must let me see what this power of yours is!" Without a doubt, Yu Xin was now very interested in Yun Fan's power. She wanted to see what kind of power could make such a powerful being submit.
Yun Fan said, "It's very dangerous. Are you sure you want to see?"
"I'm sure!" Yu Xin nodded.
Yun Fan could only nod. "Alright, I'll show you this treasure!" With that, he released a trace of his demonic power. Upon seeing this demonic power, Yu Xin was instantly shocked into stillness.