After the mysterious root creature completely devoured the fiery red spirit orb, it returned to the hill.

The hill fell silent once more.

Qin Xin and Zhan Qingyue exchanged a glance and then froze on the spot.

Zhan Qingyue frowned slightly and said, "Why don't we go back?"

Seeing that she was considering leaving, Qin Xin had the same thought in mind. He could feel the slight tremor of the mysterious fragment of the map inside the Niwan Palace regarding this unknown and mysterious root creature.

However, now that they had arrived at the location of the spirit pool, Qin Xin was unwilling to give up so easily. Moreover, anything that could make this mysterious fragment of the map resonate with something was certainly no ordinary object.

Qin Xin closed his eyes slightly and sent his spiritual sense flying into the hill.

When Zhan Qingyue saw Qin Xin suddenly close his eyes, she didn't make a sound to disturb him, but instead cautiously surveyed her surroundings.

As his spiritual sense continued to invade, the approximate appearance of the small hill appeared in Qin Xin's mind, and strands of red silk threads converged at the foot of the hill through the surrounding jungle and vegetation.

It seems that these red threads are what provide energy to that mysterious root-like creature.

As his spiritual sense swept upwards again, Qin Xin discovered that many parts of the mysterious root creature had turned black, and that these parts led directly to the top of the hill.

A pool of blood-red spiritual energy emanated powerful spiritual energy fluctuations. Beside the pool, a sturdy willow tree swayed, and the mysterious roots seemed to be the trunk and stem of this willow tree.

After withdrawing his spiritual sense, Qin Xin was overjoyed.

Seeing Qin Xin's appearance, Zhan Qingyue asked softly, "What's wrong? Did you find something?"

Qin Xin smiled and glanced at Zhan Qingyue beside him, then nodded and said, "We've found a passage to the top of the hill."

Qin Xin did not tell about the willow tree he sensed at the top of the hill, otherwise he would have had no way of explaining why he could sense things at the top of the hill.

Let's go.

Qin Xin spoke softly, quietly circulating his true energy. As the nine true acupoints circulated, his body transformed into a veil of true energy.

The true qi gauze covering the black robe was not particularly conspicuous; this was Qin Xin's preparation just in case.

Zhan Qingyue also circulated her true energy, and on her light blue true energy armor, there were wisps of crimson light, and the figure of an ice butterfly could be vaguely seen.

Led by Qin Xin, the two figures carefully made their way up the hill.

Initially, Qin Xin did not discover anything special about the passage leading to the top of the hill through his spiritual sense.

After arriving with Zhan Qingyue, they discovered that the passage leading to the top of the hill seemed to have been artificially created.

The vegetation around the passage looked as if it had been cleaved open by a sword, and even after countless years, a trace of powerful energy still remained on it.

It seems that it is precisely these remaining powerful forces that allow this passage to exist, preventing the willow tree's roots from growing here.

Qin Xin tentatively stepped lightly on the hill with the sole of his foot and was relieved to find that the fire bear had not been attacked by the willow roots as before.

Although Zhan Qingyue was somewhat afraid, Qin Xin was leading the way, so she gritted her teeth and followed closely behind him. If there was any disturbance, she would immediately take Qin Xin away.

The road was desolate. Qin Xin kept scanning his surroundings. Through his spiritual sense, he could sense that the roots of the willow tree had tried to stop them when they stepped onto the hill.

However, due to the residual powerful force, the roots were unable to extend to Qin Xin and Zhan Qingyue's side.

The two soon reached the top of the hill.

Upon seeing the blood-red spirit pool, Zhan Qingyue's face instantly lit up with joy, and she exclaimed, "A spirit pool!"

“This appearance is exactly the same as that described by the Zhan clan elders.”

As Zhan Qingyue spoke, she prepared to step forward.

Qin Xin immediately reached out to stop Zhan Qingyue, saying, "Don't rush, look at the area beside the spirit pool!"

After Qin Xin reminded her, Zhan Qingyue noticed the swaying willows beside the spirit pool and hurriedly stopped walking.

“This willow tree…” Zhan Qingyue seemed to have also noticed the willow tree’s unusual features, her eyes filled with wariness.

As soon as Qin Xin stepped to the top of the hill, he noticed the special features of his surroundings, especially the willow trees growing beside the spirit pool.

This willow tree looks very thin, but its drooping branches are exceptionally sharp. If Qin Xin were to be scratched by these branches, even though he has now reached the third level of the Desolate God Battle Body and his physique is stronger than a level four demon beast, he would probably be dismembered.

After channeling his inner energy, Qin Xin easily lifted a boulder and threw it toward the willow tree.

"Click! Click! Click!"

In the blink of an eye, the boulder was shredded into countless pieces by the willow branches.

Seeing this, Qin Xin was secretly relieved. If the two of them had gone forward directly, they would probably have met the same fate as the willow tree.

Zhan Qingyue clicked her tongue in surprise, her gaze towards Qin Xin filled with curiosity, and she murmured, "This..."

Qin Xin did not answer, but instead focused on sensing the situation around him.

An orange flame instantly appeared in Qin Xin's hand, transforming into a fire blade before being casually tossed out by him.

"Crimson Flame Blade!"

The fire blade flew towards the willow branches, severing the originally sharp branches and causing them to fall slowly to the ground, becoming extremely soft as if they had instantly lost their spiritual power.

"I knew I was right!"

Qin Xin felt a surge of joy and continued to throw out fire blades formed from Yang Fire.

Soon all the drooping branches of that willow tree were cut off.

In the passage leading to the top of the hill, Qin Xin could sense a trace of fire attribute from the remaining powerful energy. He wanted to test it, but unexpectedly, the willow tree was indeed afraid of fire.

Seeing this, Zhan Qingyue understood immediately. Behind her, the Crimson Flame Ice Crystal Butterfly flapped its ice wings, and several streaks of crimson flame swept towards the willow branches.

In no time, all the drooping branches of the willow tree were cut off, leaving the entire tree bare.

After Qin Xin continued his inspection and found no other dangers, he approached the spirit pool.

As soon as Qin Xin stood beside the crimson spirit pool, he felt a powerful sense of oppression rushing through his body. This oppressive feeling came from the vast and pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the spirit pool.

After letting out a long breath, Zhan Qingyue, who was standing next to Qin Xin, also showed some joy on her face.

Instead of immediately starting her cultivation, Zhan Qingyue wanted to bring Zhan Qingqi and the other two who were waiting there. She said to Qin Xin, "I'll go and bring them over first."

Seeing her turn and walk down the hill, Qin Xin wanted to go too, but Zhan Qingyue stopped him. After all, she was familiar with the road leading to the hill, and she had memorized the route they took when they came together.

Before Qin Xin could finish giving any more instructions, Zhan Qingyue had already walked away.

Qin Xin had a deep impression of Zhan Qingyue. Among women, she was always decisive and efficient, completely opposite to her sister Zhan Qingqi.

After leaving a spiritual sense to guard the surroundings, Qin Xin sat down cross-legged and continuously absorbed the pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth emanating from the spirit pool. With the black staff martial spirit in his martial core constantly circulating, the true energy in his body became more and more abundant. As the blue and red true energy swirled, true liquid was also continuously condensed out.