Chapter 571 The Tree Buried in the Earth

"Not good!"

In the blink of an eye, Tengyun the Cloudrider (Person Name) sensed a terrifying killing intent surging toward him.

He swiftly retreated, hurriedly summoning a pale golden treasure ruler to counter the attack. The golden ruler, known as the Primordial Severing Ruler, was a spiritual treasure forged from fifth-grade Primordial Gold, possessing the secret power to cleave through all resistance. Yet when faced with the oncoming sword radiance, the Primordial Severing Ruler was instantly sent flying, its glow dimming in the blink of an eye.

Mid-Grade Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword.

Tengyun the Cloudrider (Person Name) felt his heart drop, realizing the newcomer's combat prowess was at least that of a Nascent Soul, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm) expert. He immediately summoned his divine abilities in a desperate attempt to flee.

But at that very moment, another figure made their move. A stunningly beautiful woman clad in white robes raised her hand with a flourish, casting the resplendent Liangyi Divine Light directly upon him. For a moment, he found himself utterly trapped, unable to break free.

A vast illusory treasure mirror blotted out the skies, enveloping the firmament as strands of spatial force suppressed all existence, sealing the entire realm completely.

2 combatants at the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm).

In an instant, Tengyun the Cloudrider (Person Name) was seized by a surge of despair.

A single Nascent Soul, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm) could easily handle 2 or 3 of him, let alone 2 cultivators who were at least at that level. Overwhelmed by terror, he immediately cried out for mercy.

"Spare my life—"

Unfortunately, Eldrin gave him no chance to say more. The 100 Souls Immortal-Slaying Sword transformed into a blade of light that descended, cleaving him in 2.

With his last breath, Tengyun the Cloudrider sought to erupt his Nascent Soul Qi in a desperate escape, yet before the 100 Spirits Immortal-Slaying Sword, he was instantly paralyzed. Even his Nascent Soul was annihilated, and his very soul devoured by the sword’s spirit.

And at this moment, Lila (Person Name) finally managed to halt the earth vein's detonation at the critical juncture.

"Uncle Eldrin..."

She gazed at Eldrin, her eyes like autumn waters, carrying a hint of enchantment.

"Quiet your heart, steady your thoughts!"

After beheading Tengyun the Cloudrider (Person Name) with a single strike, Eldrin (Person Name) strode to Lila (Person Name) and immediately channeled his magic power to suppress the raging flames within her.

Yet, though he suppressed the 6 Desires and Mortal Dust Qi with his formidable magic power, he felt the bath fire growing ever more intense under the pressure. It seemed determined to ignite his very magic, threatening to surge along his spiritual energy and engulf his entire being.

"This 6 Desires and Mortal Dust Qi embodies the desires of corruption—it is the signature technique of the Desire Demon. Its power originates from the cultivator’s own inner cravings, making it exceptionally difficult to resist or suppress."

Even a powerful Nascent Soul master with profound cultivation would often have no choice but to evade when facing the Desire Demon's ultimate technique.

"The only way to dispel it is to follow the course of human relations and release it through the Dual Cultivation method. Suppressing it with magical power is merely drinking poison to quench thirst."

Lyra strode forth, her expression grave as she spoke.

Eldrin furrowed his brow and forcefully summoned his magic power once more, using his exceptionally pure spiritual energy to suppress the desires within Lila.

Seeing this, Lyra glanced at Lila, took a deep breath, and produced a fourth-stage Clarity Pill to feed her.

This Serenity Pill could slightly suppress the inner desires, but it was far from sufficient against the aura of worldly passions from the 6 Desires. Nevertheless, by employing both methods, Lila (Person Name) managed to temporarily subdue her cravings.

Lila's cheeks flushed slightly, her chest heaving intensely as she rose to her feet. "Thank you, Uncle Eldrin," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "Had it not been for your timely rescue, I fear I might never have laid eyes on any of you again."

"Some days ago, when I performed the Great Deduction Celestial Art, I sensed an impending tribulation befalling you and rushed here without delay."

Eldrin spoke with an air of calm, though his eyes held a trace of gravity. "We rushed here against time, and fortunately, we did not miss the critical moment for rescue."

"The influence of the 6 Desires and Mortal Dust cannot be suppressed for long. We must find a way to resolve it, or it will consume her vital essence and cause irreversible damage."

Lyra spoke, her gaze shifting toward Eldrin.

She knew full well that the best solution now was to have Eldrin and Lila engage in dual cultivation, which would dispel the flames of desire raging within Lila's body.

Moreover, judging by Lila's (Person Name) demeanor, if I weren't here, she'd probably cling to Eldrin (Person Name) like a vine, utterly overjoyed at heart.

However, as Eldrin's Dao Companion, she was deeply reluctant in her heart. Although most high-level male cultivators in this realm would have multiple Dao Companions, her innate pride made it somewhat difficult for her to accept.

In truth, most high-ranking female cultivators blessed with extraordinary talent possessed proud and unyielding temperaments. Few could tolerate their Dao companions taking concubines, unless the other party's strength far surpassed their own—only then would they reluctantly submit.

At this thought, a surge of unwillingness rose in Lyra's heart. With a sweep of her sleeve, she collected several relics left behind by Tengyun the Cloudrider and declared, "Among Tengyun the Cloudrider's treasures, there may yet be a method to lift this curse."

"Then let's give it a try."

Eldrin took the storage pouch from Tengyun the Cloudrider, forcibly channeling his spiritual energy to unlock it.

The only way to forcibly open a storage pouch is to destroy it, though doing so carries a high risk of causing the treasures inside to fall into the void crevices and be lost forever.

However, Eldrin possessed the Yin-Yang Void Mirror, which was sufficient to stabilize the void and retrieve the treasures within.

The 2 joined forces to activate it, even at the cost of damaging a high-grade storage pouch, instantly tearing open the void within.

In an instant, countless spiritual treasures soared into the air, many nearly plunging into the void rifts. Fortunately, the Yin-Yang Void Mirror drew them all to safety.

Eldrin's divine sense swept through the interior, discovering an astonishing clutter of miscellaneous items—many of which turned out to be specialized tools for "disciplining" female cultivators.

"How in the world did this scoundrel cultivate to the rank of True Monarch?"

Lyra's face flushed slightly as she incinerated all those training tools, then continued searching for the antidote.

This 6 Desires of the Mortal Realm Qi was practically an unsolvable affliction. Even a Desire Demon could only purge it through dual cultivation—what means could Tengyun the Cloudrider (Person Name) possibly possess to eradicate it?

"Sigh..."

Lyra sighed inwardly, unable to resist glancing at Lila. She noticed Lila gazing at Eldrin with rapt fascination, her cheeks flushing deeper with a bewitching crimson hue. It was evident the desires raging within her were becoming increasingly irresistible.

"I can no longer suppress it. The only path now is..."

Her heart softening slightly, Lyra could only ask while Lila remained conscious, "Are you willing?"

"I..."

A blush crept across Lila's cheeks as she stole a glance at Eldrin. In her luminous eyes flickered the hazy vestiges of bygone days.

That year, when she first laid eyes on him in the city, a thought blossomed in her heart: How wonderful it would be to stay with such an immortal elder brother day and night, forever and ever.

Yet fate would have it otherwise. The moment she laid eyes on Lyra (Person Name), she knew her admiration could only be buried deep within the earth.

Even if this affection has grown into a towering tree, it must forever remain rooted in the earth. For even a single humble leaf daring to emerge would be nothing but sacrilege.

Only she herself understood that what truly hindered her from breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage might not be the devastating heavenly tribulation, nor those 100 stringent conditions, but him—the 1 who haunted her thoughts day and night.

If this was a demon of the heart taking his form, then she would rather drown in this illusion for all eternity than ever wake again.

"I will!"

At this very moment, Lila finally summoned her courage under Eldrin's guidance. The towering tree long buried in the depths of her heart was breaking through the soil with unstoppable force, reaching toward the intangible sunlight as it grew.