Sensing Li Xiaotian's killing intent, Qing Lin's eyes narrowed sharply, filled with vigilance. However, she still spoke.
"Everything I've said is true. The power of the Ancient God Tribe is beyond your imagination. If you ever find yourself with nowhere to turn, I will help you, and the risks I take will be no less than losing my life."
After all, Qing Lin was from the Ancient God Tribe. She knew their secrets and the true extent of their terrifying strength. To a behemoth like the Ancient God Tribe, a Golden Body Realm expert was insignificant.
Li Xiaotian sneered. The Ancient God Tribe might be powerful, but he was no pushover. Besides, in this era where Heavenly Realm experts were absent and Overlord Realm cultivators reigned supreme, it was incredibly difficult to kill him. Moreover, he wasn't a reckless fool; if he couldn't win, he would escape.
"Since you're unwilling to say anything else, then help me save someone," Li Xiaotian said. He then produced a small sapling, the Witch Spirit tree where Xiang Xiang's remnant soul was housed. Initially, he had intended to ask the Demon Lord for a way to revive Xiang Xiang upon his awakening. However, in recent days, he noticed the Witch Spirit tree's aura was slowly weakening. Although the change was subtle, he sensed it. He wasn't sure if this change would affect Xiang Xiang's remnant soul.
"The methods of a Spirit Witch?" Qing Lin's eyes flickered as she saw the sapling. She reached out to summon it, but Li Xiaotian stopped her.
"It's very important to me. I hope you won't play any tricks," Li Xiaotian said. He then released his restraint and handed the Witch Spirit tree over. At the same time, he kept his aura locked onto Qing Lin, ready to act if she made any unusual moves.
Qing Lin remained silent, taking the Witch Spirit tree in her hands. After carefully sensing it, her expression changed slightly. She couldn't help but look at Li Xiaotian and ask with a hint of accusation in her tone, "What's going on with her? At such a young age, her soul hasn't fully developed. Using this method to collect her remnant soul isn't saving her; it's harming her!"
"Heh, you people from the Ancient God Tribe have compassion? She ended up like this entirely because of your Ancient God Tribe!" Li Xiaotian snorted mockingly, his expression gradually darkening. If anything happened to Xiang Xiang, he would have to settle the score with the Ancient God Tribe.
Qing Lin's face showed a hint of sadness upon hearing this. She understood Li Xiaotian's sarcasm. The Ancient God Tribe's actions could indeed be rather overbearing at times.
"What is her current condition? Do you have a way to save her?" Li Xiaotian continued to ask.
Qing Lin shook her head, her brow furrowed, and then she spoke. "This is the work of a Spirit Witch, a witch specializing in souls. They are extremely rare. I cannot save her."
"Moreover, she is too young. Integrated with this small tree, if prolonged, her remnant soul will truly merge with the tree's soul. At that point, she will be the tree, and the tree will be her. Even if you gather her complete soul, you won't be able to save her."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiaotian's expression grew colder, and a faint killing intent emanated from him. Thinking of the adorable little girl, his heart ached. If he hadn't left back then, would the outcome have been different?
"No! This small tree's vitality is draining. It can't last much longer," Qing Lin suddenly said, her brow furrowed in thought. After a few breaths, she said to Li Xiaotian, "This small tree is nurturing two souls, which has exceeded its limit. If this continues, it will wither and exhaust its life force before long, and then both souls will dissipate." The two souls were Xiang Xiang's remnant soul and the tree's own soul, both very weak.
"Is there any way to remedy this?" Li Xiaotian asked in a deep voice, his expression grim.
"Unless you provide it with a massive amount of energy at regular intervals, it cannot survive. But doing so will undoubtedly accelerate the fusion of the little girl and the tree spirit," Qing Lin said, her eyes showing a hint of pity. The small tree needed energy to grow, but this would hasten the fusion of the little girl's soul. However, without energy replenishment, the small tree would die, and the little girl's soul would dissipate. Both options were unbearable.
"Buzz!" Li Xiaotian beckoned, and the Witch Spirit tree was recalled into his Dragon King Palace. His expression was terrifyingly grim. Without a doubt, he would choose the second option: to hold on until the Demon Lord awakened. With the Demon Lord's abilities, this problem would be trivial. Yet, a surge of anger welled up within him. He had been too lenient with Gu Chen back then; he shouldn't have killed him so easily.
RUMBLE!!!
Suddenly, the energy in the heavens and earth fluctuated violently. Lightning flashed across the sky, and a colossal figure descended from above.
"How dare you! You killed my Black Robe Alliance members and still dare to wait here? You two, who gave you the audacity?! Hmm?!" A furious roar erupted throughout the heavens and earth. It was a hundred-zhang giant clad in black armor, like a war machine, exuding a chilling killing intent.
"Scram!!!" Li Xiaotian, already annoyed, cursed coldly upon seeing the newcomer.
The black giant's anger intensified. He had come to demand an explanation for the death of his organization's members, but he never expected the culprit to be so arrogant.
"Insolence!!! I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Black Robe Alliance! You killed my people and still dare to be so presumptuous? You're seeking death!!!" The black giant roared and directly threw a punch, his voice filled with killing intent.
"A mid-stage Overlord, and an early-stage Overlord. How dare you two challenge my Black Robe Alliance?! Did your elders not warn you about the might of my Black Robe Alliance?!" Li Xiaotian frowned, his expression grim, his gaze towards the black giant filled with coldness. As the opponent's fist drew closer, he simply threw a punch in place.
"Boom!" The air suddenly exploded, and a fist shadow shot out, fiercely colliding with the black giant's fist. Instantly, a deafening roar echoed through the heavens and earth. Terrifying gusts of wind ravaged the area, snapping countless towering trees in the forest. The black giant was forced to halt. Although he hadn't used his full strength in his punch, this person had matched it with just the wind from his fist, filling him with surprise and caution.
"Who are you, and why did you kill my Black Robe Alliance's people? Do you know the consequences of your actions?" the black giant asked, his eyes vigilant but his face still radiating intense killing intent. Two Overlords, one a Witch cultivator and the other a Body cultivator. When did his Black Robe Alliance offend such powerful individuals? After all, the Black Robe Alliance chose its targets carefully. They never provoked Overlord experts from the top forces in Man Province or those associated with them. Otherwise, the Black Robe Alliance would never have survived in Man Province. But who would have thought that these two Overlords would suddenly appear, kill their people, and instead of fleeing, wait for them? This was completely unexpected.