The old woman was at a sheer cliff face, positioned on a platform suspended in mid-air. A peculiar stone pillar shot up from below, piercing the clouds. While the sight of this platform formed in the sky was strange, her extensive experience meant she didn't find it particularly novel.
The world was full of peculiar sights, and strange stone pillars growing in mid-air were nothing special to her. She had seen stranger. Although there were no other places to stand, making it seem like a dead end, she viewed it as the safest spot precisely because there was no concentration of power.
She only needed to fly to leave this place. Her strength was now less than 10%, and she had to find a safe location to meditate, adjust herself to her optimal state, and then capture that person named Qin Feng to exact her revenge.
Although this was the life gate of the Nine Profound Grand Formation and not inherently dangerous, it was still within the formation's confines. She needed to leave the formation to guarantee her absolute safety.
With this thought, she prepared to leave, but she suddenly found the stone beneath her feet becoming unusually soft, with a peculiar suction force that made walking difficult. She looked down but saw nothing special. It was likely the effect of this unique stone material.
So, she leaped directly into the air and flew towards the distance.
However, shortly after she began flying, a fierce wind suddenly erupted around her, blowing her back onto the stone platform.
Simultaneously, the stone underfoot became stickier and softer than before, clinging to her soles like glue.
This was the first time she had encountered such a bizarre situation.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
She knew that this situation was no accident; it was not simply due to the special nature of the stone. This was definitely a conspiracy.
With this realization, she quickly released her five senses to scan her surroundings.
She wanted to see if there was a powerful expert present.
As her senses expanded outwards, she suddenly discovered that within a thousand meters of the stone platform as the center, there was a strange energy.
This energy was like a person, possessing its own consciousness but lacking a physical form. It could be a hurricane, flying sand and stones, or even lightning and rain—products of nature.
Within this area, it was like a person's life force. She now felt as if she were inside a life, as if swallowed by a monstrous beast.
Sensing such a strange phenomenon, she realized the gravity of the situation.
At the same time, she glanced at the stone beneath her feet, which was becoming increasingly like glue. She felt it carefully and suddenly realized that this stone was the main body of this life force.
This was no ordinary stone; it was more like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast.
With this thought, she spoke, "Who are you? Such a bizarre cultivation technique, such strange methods! Are you perhaps from the demonic path? Our Qing Xuan Sect has always had no dealings with the demonic path. Why are you ambushing me here?"
After the old woman finished speaking, 204 did not reply. His task was to guard this place. If anyone tried to escape, he would capture them. This woman was the only person who had appeared in this space, and her strength was not insignificant. It was clear that this was the person he had been waiting for.
The stone platform was becoming softer and softer, like glue. An eye suddenly opened on the platform, looking at the old witch, like the eye of a demon god opening to closely observe its prey. 204 remained silent because, in his current state, he was unable to speak. His only objective was to trap the woman securely, preventing her escape.
Thus, his body began to change. The tall, slender stone platform slowly descended, and hurricanes swept towards the old woman's location. Their purpose was not to harm her but to ensure that she had no possibility of escaping.
Since waking up from a long sleep, 204's strength had increased significantly. He could now utilize novel techniques. The surrounding winds were converted from his internal energy, and the stone platform was a manifestation of his body's transformation. Now that the prey had entered his range, escaping would require being at least two levels stronger than him.
He altered the shape of the high platform to prevent the old woman from escaping. As its height decreased, the platform transformed from a towering structure into a thick, sturdy one.
Black trees began to grow from the center of the platform. These trees were soft and extremely sticky; once they adhered to a person, they could not be shaken off.
Dozens of large trees grew taller and taller, encircling the old woman. The old woman also realized the seriousness of the situation. She tried to free her feet, which were stuck in the stone platform, but found it incredibly difficult. When she pulled one foot out, the other sank deeper. She would have to use all her strength to lift both feet simultaneously from the stone platform to have any chance of escaping.
With this thought, she let out a fierce shout, channeling all the energy within her, and pulled out her foot, which was stuck in the stone platform. She then rushed outwards. However, the dozens of rapidly growing trees, as if possessing their own life, sensed the old woman's escape direction and quickly extended their branches to pursue her. The branches were as flexible as arms!
Their resilience was extreme, and in the blink of an eye, they had extended over a hundred meters.
The old woman, having just freed her foot from the stone platform, had rushed out a hundred meters when she was restricted by a powerful hurricane. The black branches behind her wrapped around her tightly, like countless tentacles, binding her body securely before pulling her back to the stone platform.
The trees grew more and more numerous and lush, while the stone platform became increasingly dark and sticky.
The old woman had already exerted her full strength but failed to escape. Now, there was even less hope.
The thought of being captured by someone from the demonic path filled her with dread. This was because the demonic path had a myriad of cultivation methods, and some even consumed flesh to increase their cultivation. She did not want to become a delicacy on someone's table. Therefore, she spoke, "Esteemed friend from the demonic path, we have no grievances. If you spare me today, I am willing to obey your commands in the future and follow your every word. My status in the Qing Xuan Sect is quite high. If you agree to release me, I will reward you handsomely. I swear here and now, I will never break my promise."
204 remained silent because he was currently incapable of speaking. All his strength was being used to trap the old woman.
When the old woman attempted to escape, to capture her, he had already expended all his energy. He had increased the power of the hurricane to restrict the old woman's movement speed and made the black branches extend faster to catch up with her. All of this required him to expend immense energy.
Now that he had finally captured the woman, he was completely exhausted.