Chapter 2425: Banyan Tree

“My Lord, all the Demon Kings have already…”

The long-bearded elder, who had just swept to the mountain peak to report to Great Sage Meteor Frost, suddenly felt a jolt of alarm and horror. He turned his gaze northward, trembling as he asked, “What happened in the Icefield?”

Great Sage Meteor Frost naturally also sensed the aura emanating from the Northern Icefield, her mind filled with doubt and surprise. The Northern Icefield and Lotus Lake, one in the north and one in the south, both exhibited abnormalities, as if shrouded in two masses of mist. Besides the chilling killing intent that made even her skin crawl, there were several familiar auras within the Icefield, all belonging to Demon Saints from the ‘High Immortal’ faction. The two strongest forces in this realm, one in Lotus Lake and the other in the Northern Icefield, had simultaneously appeared in two different, distant locations. Where exactly did the problem lie?

“Could it be…” Great Sage Meteor Frost gazed southward. She had already received news that the turmoil was caused by the emergence of the Black Tortoise Sacred Palace in Lotus Lake, and the source pointed to two Demon Saints from the ‘High Immortal’ faction: Great Sage Jin Qing and Great Sage Mo Luo. The Demon Saints coveting that supreme treasure, led by Great Sage Bei Heng, had all been drawn to the Black Tortoise Sacred Palace, appearing one after another in Lotus Lake. Yet, Demon Saints from the ‘High Immortal’ faction appeared in the Northern Icefield. Could this be a trap set by the ‘High Immortals’? Was the true supreme treasure actually in the Northern Icefield?

Now, as clues gradually surfaced, Great Sage Meteor Frost’s speculation was very close to the truth. A thought stirred within her. Great Sage Bei Heng and the other demons were all in Lotus Lake, and they might even be trapped inside the Black Tortoise Sacred Palace. Even if they could get out immediately, it would take time to rush to the Northern Icefield. On the other hand, although it was just a fleeting glance, it wasn’t hard to tell that the Demon Saints from the ‘High Immortal’ faction must have encountered trouble and were not faring well. Not all Demon Saints had joined the two major factions; there were also neutral Demon Saints, including herself! If they were to act now…

Great Sage Meteor Frost’s expression suddenly turned stern. She immediately suppressed that flicker of greed, her eyes regaining clarity, and remained standing still. Searching her heart, her original intention for choosing neutrality was not to stand by and watch others fight it out, but to weigh the pros and cons and restrain her greed. How could she now be swayed by greed? That supreme treasure might contain an opportunity for enlightenment, but it was not something she could covet. Trying to seize it by force would only cost her life. However, while she could resist temptation, other Demon Saints might not.

As she pondered, the winds and clouds high in the sky suddenly shifted. “Coo, coo, coo…” A black messenger pigeon descended from the sky, landing on a stone platform in front of Great Sage Meteor Frost. It spat out a yellow talisman, looking around. Great Sage Meteor Frost took the talisman, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her red lips parted as she silently spoke something. The pigeon’s gaze suddenly sharpened, staring at Great Sage Meteor Frost for a moment before nodding and flapping its wings to fly away. After the pigeon left, the long-bearded elder cautiously asked, “Was that him?” Great Sage Meteor Frost shook her head, preventing him from continuing, and simply said, “Ignore it!” “Understood!”

***

**Lotus Lake.**

With the activation of the Dipper Mansion, the Demon Saints entered the fray, and the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions finally emerged. Star gates opened wide, and the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions gradually surfaced. The original reed marsh had been utterly transformed into a vast lake, now churning violently. A huge dark shadow appeared beneath the water’s surface.

*Splash!*

The lake surface was suddenly ripped apart by gusts of fierce wind as the Nine Heavens Profound Gale burst forth from underground. The tangible gale raged at the center of the lake. The terrifying sight scared away even the last remaining demon cultivators who had held out until now. If they didn’t flee at this moment, what awaited them was likely not opportunity but a scythe to harvest their lives. The gale tore through the lake, its qi stirring heaven and earth, causing strong winds to blow in all directions.

The sky abruptly darkened. The raging winds destroyed the last surviving reeds and continued to expand, ravaging everything in their vicinity. The winds triggered a storm so dreadful that, in the history of Lotus Lake, nothing comparable had ever occurred outside of battles between Demon Saints. Figures fleeing for their lives appeared everywhere. Demon cultivators, including the Demon Kings, abandoned their cave dwellings and desperately fled this terrifying place. Only the common creatures suffered; countless birds, beasts, fish, and insects were torn to shreds by the winds, leaving no trace of their remains.

Lotus Lake was boundless, but the influence of the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions spread increasingly far. This reed marsh was located in the northern part of Lotus Lake, and even demon cultivators in the southern part of Lotus Lake felt its effects, filled with alarm and unease. As time passed, more and more gusts of Profound Gale surged forth, each like a dancing spirit serpent. Under the gale’s devastation, everything here ceased to exist, including the lake water. A bottomless void appeared on the ground, while the Nine Heavens Profound Gale surged towards the sky, seemingly connecting with the celestial winds, as if to punch a hole through the heavens!

The storm’s center had become utterly dark, so black that one could not see one's hand in front of their face. Within this darkness, a few scattered points of light emerged. The points of light multiplied. Although it was still daytime, a starry sky appeared, albeit an incomplete one—only a part of the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions. The starlight was dim, with only the stars in the direction of the Dipper Mansion shining the brightest! At this moment, demon cultivators on the northern shore of Lotus Lake could faintly see this starry sky, its light almost reaching the northern bank of Lotus Lake!

***

Just then, a purple streak of light shot skyward, ignoring the Profound Gale as if it were nothing, disappearing into the starry sky in the blink of an eye.

*Swish!*

Sword energy ripped through the air, utterly domineering. The Nine Heavens Profound Gale instinctively gave way, and a figure with a sword on their back ascended to the heavens in a single step! As these powerful beings entered the Black Tortoise Seven Mansions, a star gate suddenly appeared in the darkness, flashing with starlight.

*Bang!*

The star gate trembled violently, unstable. Following this, more than a dozen disheveled figures flew out from within. They were all the Demon Kings who had entered earlier, many of them subordinates of Demon Saints. They fled as if their lives depended on it, scrambling to rush out of the star gate. With the true bodies of Demon Saints descending, who would be so foolish as to remain? Even the trusted aides of Demon Saints dared not linger; when Demon Saints clashed with their techniques, they could not possibly protect them.

Mei Shan Yuan Jun flew out of the star gate with several other Demon Kings, letting out a silent sigh of relief. She had used the chaos to separate from Demon King Hei Ji and was now on her own. She glanced around, not finding Qin Sang. Seeing the stars of the Dipper Mansion growing ever brighter, with faint, unusual phenomena emerging within their light, a chill ran through her heart. She struggled to make her way through the chaotic Profound Gale. Demon Saints had entered the fray; Demon Kings fled for their lives!

Finally, a sudden anomaly occurred in the Northern Icefield. Even across the entire northern realm, the killing intent emanating from the General’s Tomb was still terrifying! In an instant, the phenomena in the Dipper Mansion all subsided.

*Clang!*

Great Sage Bei Heng suddenly turned around. The spirit sword on his back unsheathed, its鳴resembling a dragon’s roar, drowning out all other sounds.

*Whoosh!*

A flash of purple light, and Great Sage Jialou landed beside Great Sage Bei Heng. Immediately after, a clear spring surged from the void. The spring water gurgled, and a graceful figure slowly emerged—it was the Palace Mistress of Xianlin Palace! Great Sage Jialou’s expression was puzzled and surprised. He opened his mouth, about to say something, when he heard the Palace Mistress of Xianlin Palace let out a cold snort. Her jade finger pointed deep into the Dipper Mansion. The air twisted, and another clear spring appeared, but its source was inverted. The spring water continuously flowed out, transforming into sweet dew that sprinkled into the Dipper Mansion.

*Pitter-patter…*

A misty rain descended, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the Dipper Mansion.

Despite the beautiful scene, Great Sage Bei Heng suddenly erupted with earth-shattering killing intent. Great Sage Jialou and the Palace Mistress of Xianlin Palace’s expressions also darkened. Through the rain curtain, several figures gradually appeared. These were their old adversaries: Jin Qing, Mo Luo, Ying Lian, Dao Dan, and others. Though powerful, they were willing to be lackeys for the ‘High Immortals,’ which they found despicable. At this moment, those figures were all laughing at them with wide-open mouths.

Great Sage Dao Dan and his cohorts had set up this trap using the Black Tortoise Sacred Palace. To make it convincing, they naturally had to create the illusion of their true bodies arriving. By utilizing the power of the Black Tortoise Sacred Palace, they could even deceive Demon Saints. Originally, these avatars could have held out for a while longer, but since the situation in the Icefield had already been exposed, there was no longer any need for them.

“Heh heh, as expected of the ‘High Immortals,’ what a clever tactic!”

*Thunk,* went the spirit sword back into its sheath. Great Sage Bei Heng laughed in extreme anger. The Palace Mistress of Xianlin Palace’s expression also returned to normal. Anger was useless; it was just a lost round. They would get it back in the next one!

“Be careful, that might also be fake!” Great Sage Jialou warned.

At this moment, another figure appeared beside the Palace Mistress of Xianlin Palace. It was a whimsical young woman whose round face still bore a hint of a smile, even though she knew they had been tricked. The young woman looked north, then at the Dipper Mansion, and chuckled, “Are you all heading north? Then I’ll stay here, just in case it’s a tactic to lure the tiger out of its den!”

Great Sage Bei Heng’s gaze sharpened. “Are you willing to stay, Immortaless?” It was too late to rush there now, but it wasn’t entirely without options. Great Sage Bei Heng lightly stroked his sword.

The young woman giggled charmingly, “Even if I were to seize that supreme treasure, I wouldn’t be able to compete with you all. But here… I smell something peculiar, and I don’t want to run that far again!” She took a deep breath, her face showing a look of intoxication.

These Demon Saints were both collaborators and competitors. They had allied, originally intending to exclude the ‘High Immortals’ before vying for the treasure themselves. Since the ‘High Immortals’ had still gained the upper hand, it was only natural for some Demon Saints to develop other intentions. A minority of Demon Saints stayed behind, while the majority chose to go north with Great Sage Bei Heng to compete for the opportunity. The Demon Saints who stayed behind were ostensibly there to guard against any further tricks from the ‘High Immortals.’ However, everyone understood that since Great Sage Dao Dan and the others’ true bodies had already appeared in the north, the supreme treasure was surely there. Those who stayed had their sights set on the Black Tortoise Sacred Palace.

***

The Demon Saints headed north. Their powerful auras swept across the northern realm, completely undisguised in their urgency, immediately shaking the entire world! Countless demon cultivators were roused from their cave dwellings, rushing out to gaze up at the sky in a daze. They saw a streak of sword light cleave through the sky first, followed by meteoric streaks, and dazzling clouds that split the heavens in two.

“This is the presence of a Demon Saint! These are the movement techniques of a Demon Saint!”

The demon cultivators were filled with shock and terror. What they saw were merely the phenomena caused by the movement techniques; they couldn’t see the true bodies of the Demon Saints themselves, but they could feel that incredibly terrifying presence. Even from thousands of miles away, it made them tremble. What on earth was happening in the north to make the Demon Saints so urgent?

***

**Among the Mountains.**

Here stood a mountain, its slopes relatively gentle, its surface covered in jagged edges. Upon closer inspection, it looked like tangled roots clinging to the mountainside, rough like coiled dragons, extending all the way to the foot of the mountain. In fact, the entire mountain was composed of roots, gnarled and knotted, having endured countless ages. Dirt and broken stones were entwined by the roots, solidified together to form a mountain.

Despite such a colossal root system, the mountain was covered in green grass, with scattered small saplings, yet the main trunk of the tree could not be found. However, nearby demon cultivators all knew that a tree spirit resided here, one with unfathomable power and a benevolent nature. Regardless of cultivation level, anyone could exchange needed treasures with the tree spirit. Though the prices were a bit high, the tree spirit never resorted to extortion, thus everyone held it in great respect.

At this moment, several mountain foxes were prostrating before the mountain. An old fox held up a wooden tray, presenting the treasure it had brought. As they prayed, the fox demons suddenly heard a cracking sound and watched in shock as the mountain before them began to split apart! The roots sprang up, dirt and stones splattered, and the mountain seemed to come alive. The fox demons, thinking they had somehow offended the tree spirit, showed expressions of terror, huddling together and trembling. At this moment, a fissure opened at the mountain peak, revealing its dark interior. A hint of green emerged between the roots, and a small banyan tree actually grew forth. Its crown transformed into an aged face, its deep eyes fixed on the distant phenomena in the sky.

***

**Lotus Lake.**

An unnamed cliff. The cliff face was tall and sheer, with an endless expanse of water before it. On the cliff grew a single banyan tree. This banyan tree was enormous, its trunk leaning towards the water. Its colossal canopy, like a sea of clouds, obscured the sky, and aerial roots dangled densely from its crown—some clung to the sheer cliff, others rooted themselves in the lakebed. From afar, it truly looked like a jungle, a genuine "forest from a single tree"!

Though it appeared to be just one massive banyan tree, only a few Demon Kings knew that this was the Banyan King’s dojo. At this moment, a face also appeared on the banyan tree’s crown, gazing northward.

“It’s time to stretch my limbs…” A slightly muffled sigh, tinged with emotion, suddenly echoed.

*Crack!*

The cliff shattered. The banyan tree suddenly grew much taller, as if a sleeping elder had risen, crushing the cliff with a single stomp. Its aerial roots trembled, its crown soared into the clouds, swaying gently. Simultaneously, a profound aura gradually awakened.

*Bang!*

Behind the cliff, countless mountain ranges collapsed in response. Amidst the fragments of the mountains, a root sprang up. The root was gnarled and powerful, resembling a green dragon, its boundless body extending all the way to the end of the mountain range.

*Boom!*

Within the Crystal Palace, countless halls suddenly collapsed. A root extended from outside the palace into the hall built of red agate. Nearby demon cultivators all heard a sigh and watched in shock as a banyan tree grew from within the Crystal Palace.

The White Dragon King’s dojo was just the tip of the iceberg. At the same moment, banyan trees grew from one Demon King dojo after another, their root systems intertwining into a network that spread across the entire Lotus Lake! This was not all. The dragon-like roots continued to extend outward from Lotus Lake, whether into the northern or southern realms, deep within the mountains, and between lakes, banyan trees grew one after another. Without exception, their root systems were incredibly thick, capable of tearing apart mountains and river valleys with just a slight movement. The Demon Kings watched in horror as their cave dwellings were consumed. No matter what methods they used, they could not sever the roots or stop the banyan trees from growing. The places occupied by the banyan trees even included a number of Demon Saint dojos!