After finishing with Chu Yuan, Ye Ling focused his attention entirely on the Forgetful Soul Tree, his spirit highly concentrated.
Although Ye Ling was confident he could suppress the Spirit Devouring Qi erupting from the Forgetful Soul Tree, it was, after all, an extraterrestrial power, even capable of controlling the supreme. Ye Ling could not be certain if this power harbored any other hidden strengths.
Therefore, even Ye Ling had to be cautious when facing such a force from beyond the domain.
Chu Yuan sensed a powerful aura from Ye Ling and foresaw what was about to happen. He quickly said, "Your Majesty, be careful. The Spirit Devouring Qi is incredibly sinister. Even after coexisting with Wu Xue for an immeasurable period, I still haven't figured out what kind of power the Spirit Devouring Qi truly is."
"I know that better than you," Ye Ling replied calmly before leaping towards the Forgetful Soul Tree.
The Spirit Devouring Qi erupting from the Forgetful Soul Tree seemed to sense the approaching danger. It began to contract, condensing into a human form.
Within the surging Spirit Devouring Qi, a shadowy figure could vaguely be seen.
"Ye Ling..." a cold voice emanated from the Spirit Devouring Qi. Its tone was similar to the Forgetful Soul Tree's, yet subtly different.
Hearing the Spirit Devouring Qi call his name, Ye Ling stopped and asked, "Are you the Forgetful Soul Tree, or something else?"
The ethereal figure formed by the Spirit Devouring Qi did not answer Ye Ling's question and continued, "I have heard your name from my master. As a native of Earth, you dare to thwart the Nether Palace's affairs multiple times. I must admire your courage."
Ye Ling chuckled, "It seems you are not the Forgetful Soul Tree. I am very curious now about where you came from. And what about Wu Xue?"
The Spirit Devouring Qi replied, "Where I come from is not something you are qualified to know yet. As for Wu Xue... she will become my vessel to traverse the world, just like the other Wu clan members."
Hearing the Spirit Devouring Qi's answer, a sharp glint flashed in Ye Ling's eyes. He then asked, "So, the legend that the Wu clan could use Spirit Devouring Qi was actually you controlling those unfortunate beings?"
The Spirit Devouring Qi laughed, "Naturally! For mere Saints of Earth, if we did not bestow them with power, how would they be qualified to use us?"
"It's a pity that those fellows, in the end, were unwilling to be controlled by us and attempted to resist. Ultimately, they could only meet a fate of extinction..."
"Those who challenge my Nether Palace shall perish without a burial place!"
"So that's how it is..." Ye Ling murmured to himself, as if a realization had dawned upon him.
While he did not believe everything the Spirit Devouring Qi said, there was still a considerable amount of useful information.
It was likely true that the Wu clan was controlled by the Spirit Devouring Qi. After all, even powerful beings like Huang could not escape its control. Even if the Wu clan of the Great Desolation period was strong, at most, they would only have one or two Emperor realm cultivators.
For such a race to resist the Spirit Devouring Qi would be akin to wishful thinking.
As for the matter of the Wu clan resisting the Nether Palace and being annihilated, Ye Ling cast a question mark on its veracity.
If the Wu clan was truly wiped out for challenging the Nether Palace's dignity, then the Nether Palace would not have left a survivor like Wu Xue. Even after hundreds of thousands of years, the Nether Palace's Spirit Devouring Qi still remembered to invade Wu Xue's body.
In other words, the members of the Wu clan must hold some special significance to the Nether Palace. This allowed them to survive the Nether Palace's wrath after challenging them, even leaving behind a spark to continue their bloodline.
And the Nether Palace likely protected this descendant of the Wu clan with great care. Otherwise, Wu Xue would not have survived after swallowing the World Tree seed back then, nor would she have separated into two independent entities after her body transformed into the Forgetful Soul Tree.
All of this was surely orchestrated by the Nether Palace from behind the scenes.
They were saving Wu Xue!
With these thoughts, Ye Ling's lips curved slightly. He asked the Spirit Devouring Qi, "You beings, to descend to Earth from beyond the domain, you must rely on the special physique of the Wu clan, right?"
As soon as Ye Ling posed this question, the ethereal figure within the Spirit Devouring Qi fell silent, not answering.
Seeing the figure's silence, the smile in Ye Ling's eyes gradually deepened, further confirming his suspicions. He continued, "It seems I was right. The Wu clan individuals are unique vessels for you. Therefore, you could never have massacred them all, which is why you chose to spare Wu Xue."
"Back then, the Wu clan resisted you, and there must have been something behind it..."
"Enough!" The ethereal figure within the Spirit Devouring Qi roared, sounding somewhat flustered, interrupting Ye Ling. It said sternly, "So what if it's true? You are indeed as difficult to deal with as my master said!"
"Today, I will kill you here. Otherwise, if you are allowed to grow, you will become another Zhang Xiao Ling!"
Boom!
As the ethereal figure within the Spirit Devouring Qi finished speaking, a vast amount of Spirit Devouring Qi surged, pouring towards Ye Ling!
"Here it comes!" Seeing the Spirit Devouring Qi attack, Ye Ling instantly became serious. He subtly condensed runes in his palm, hidden beneath his skin.
Ye Ling was still unsure of the current enemy's strength, and his only means of dealing with the Spirit Devouring Qi at hand was through these runes. Thus, Ye Ling did not wish to reveal his trump card immediately.
By concealing the runes, he could gain the initiative.
The ethereal figure within the Spirit Devouring Qi revealed itself. The immense amount of Spirit Devouring Qi it unleashed transformed into a ferocious giant face in the air, its expression utterly hideous, covering the entire sky.
Even the sunlight filtering down from the sky was devoured by the Spirit Devouring Qi at this moment, plunging the Ten Thousand Nether Mountains into darkness once more.
Chu Yuan, hiding behind, watched the monstrous giant face in the sky with horror, trembling uncontrollably. He exclaimed in disbelief, "So, so strong..."
Although Chu Yuan was still in his soul form, his power had long surpassed his peak after absorbing the Nether Qi from the Ten Thousand Nether Mountains.
To put it immodestly, he now believed he could crush all the gods and Buddhas in the three realms with a single finger if he were to venture out!
Yet, now, just by seeing the ferocious giant face condensed from the Spirit Devouring Qi in the sky, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
He was absolutely no match for the Spirit Devouring Qi!
If he were in Ye Ling's place now, facing the Spirit Devouring Qi's assault, he would likely be devoured without even a trace left before he could retaliate.
"Who... who are they?"
While Chu Yuan was in utter shock, Ye Ling, instead of dodging, charged directly towards the monstrous giant face.
Seeing Ye Ling dare to approach, the Spirit Devouring Qi let out a hearty laugh, "Haha! Ye Ling, I thought you were someone significant! I never expected you to be such a reckless fool, daring to approach me!"
"Since that's the case, then die!"
The Spirit Devouring Qi roared, its giant face opening its cavernous maw, preparing to swallow Ye Ling whole!
Threads of Spirit Devouring Qi transformed into strands, coiling around Ye Ling's limbs, attempting to infiltrate his skin and devour him completely!
Ye Ling glanced at the Spirit Devouring Qi entwined around his arm. Seeing that they were being blocked by the runes hidden beneath his skin and unable to erode his flesh, he finally felt at ease.
"This guy... I can handle it!"
With this certainty, Ye Ling abruptly increased his speed, breaking free from the Spirit Devouring Qi's entanglement and flying towards the trunk of the Forgetful Soul Tree below!
The true intention was not the wine... Ye Ling's initial plan was to rescue Wu Xue!
"What?"
The Spirit Devouring Qi, seeing Ye Ling easily break free from its grasp and turn towards the Forgetful Soul Tree, quickly realized Ye Ling's intention. Its expression changed drastically, and it roared furiously, "Ye Ling, you despicable scoundrel!!! Come back here!!!"