Geng Qi was taken aback, and suddenly understood something.
Ji Rong sighed and said, "To protect the barrier, the Holy Maiden must sacrifice her holy body. Before she disappears, the Holy Maiden must personally select the next Holy Maiden."
"..."
Sacrifice oneself? Wouldn't that just send someone to their death?!
Geng Qi frowned slightly.
He knew that different ethnic groups had their own way of life, and that sacrificing one person to ensure peace for millions of others was an inevitable sacrifice.
Ji Rong added, "The Holy Maiden has protected the barrier for a thousand years, and her cultivation level has long since declined. Leaving the barrier would mean certain death."
"Because she is of no use to you, you knowingly stand by and watch her die?"
Geng Qi's voice deepened as he stared at the woman kneeling before the ancient tree.
She became the younger sister of the Holy Maiden, and they were sisters. Yet, even sisters could be so indifferent and heartless!
Ji Rong said, "That's not the case. By the time the clan received news of the Holy Maiden's death, it was too late to send reinforcements..."
"Rong Ji," Wan Yue interrupted him, "no need to say more."
Geng Qi sneered, "I wonder what kind of question Chief Wan Yue is referring to when she asks 'Question the Emperor'?"
The saintess did not have a sacrificial barrier, so the son has to pay for the mother's debt?
Just as he was thinking this, a wooden spike suddenly came from behind, accompanied by a stern shout: "Let him atone with his death!"
The powerful spiritual energy surged, sharp enough to pierce through the body of a Nascent Soul cultivator and head straight for Rong Yu's chest and lungs. Geng Qi was startled and was about to make a move, but Rong Yu pulled him back and blocked him.
The person in front blocked the incoming wooden spikes with one hand. The black thorns met the attack, knocking down the dense, fine spikes one by one, and still had the strength to redirect the attack towards the direction of someone else. Seeing that the situation was not right, that person immediately dodged and appeared in front of the person.
In his haste, Geng Qi saw her true form, which appeared to be... a thorny cassia tree!
It's an ornamental plant that he once bought and placed in his living room as a decorative potted plant.
Originally intending to intimidate someone, she instead lost face. The woman with the thorn in her hair said angrily, "Clan Chief, since he refuses to inquire about the matter, he is not a member of my Yiling clan. An outsider has trespassed into the clan. According to the clan rules, you must handle this matter impartially!"
The sarcastic, unpleasant voice made people feel uncomfortable.
Before Geng Qi could make a move, the woman kneeling before the ancient tree suddenly stirred. Wan Yue slowly rose, turned around, and said, "Who gave you the audacity to act so presumptuously in front of the elders!"
The pressure of the Void Rejuvenation stage suddenly descended, targeting only one person. Everyone present was unharmed except for the Thorn Cinnamon, whose face turned pale and he knelt down.
The arrogance of moments before vanished instantly, and the woman, supporting herself, said, "I am sorry for Gui Ruo's rudeness, please forgive me, Elder!"
The ancient tree sighed helplessly, "Go back."
Gui Ruo said unwillingly, "But they..."
Those who came in with Tong Rongyu were all genuine outsiders. According to clan rules, the clan leader should be punished for letting outsiders in without permission!
The old tree said, "Go back."
"……yes."
Wan Yue removed the barrier, and Gui Ruo stood up, glared at Rong Yu resentfully, before turning and leaving.
Geng Qi originally thought that such a closed-off clan, being a spirit transformed from a plant, would be as simple as an elf, with honest and simple customs. After all, Ji Rong had always given him the impression of being a kind old man. Now, seeing Ci Gui, he couldn't help but feel somewhat disillusioned.
Indeed, whether it's animals or plants, once they develop intelligence, they will have desires, and with desires come all sorts of troubles!
That thorny osmanthus tree was clearly eyeing the position of clan leader!
He suddenly understood why Clan Chief Wan Yue had brought Rong Yu to ask Que so urgently.
Seeing that the man was still standing there, Wan Yue said coldly, "He is not a holy son, so sacrificing him to the barrier will be useless. Since you are unwilling to ask the question, you are not fit to be a member of my Yi Ling sect. Rong Ji, take the guests to rest!"
"..."
Decisive and efficient, making clean and decisive decisions.
That makes sense. If the son of the Holy Maiden is indeed the Holy Son, then why would the Yi Ling Sect forbid the Holy Maiden from marrying someone else, and why would the Yi Ling Clan's barrier gradually weaken and be broken through?
Ji Rong turned around and walked up to them, saying in a low voice, "Please come with me."
Geng Qi glanced again at the ancient tree that clearly had no eyes. He felt that the ancient tree's gaze was always on him. After wondering for a while, he pulled Rong Yu and followed behind Ji Rong.
Ji Rong... Rong Ji!
These two people are actually the same person.
As for why he changed his name, it was probably due to clan rules.
Thinking back to the woman with the thorny laurel tree who kept talking about clan rules, seemingly forbidding outsiders from entering, and how Chief Wan Yue could tell at a glance that he was from the Demon Realm, why did she bring him in? And even take him to see the elders!
Before I could figure it out, the scenery changed, and I walked out of the forest path and arrived at a place to stay.
"arrive."
"..."
The residence of Yi Lingmen is quite different from the outside world. It looks simple and is made of wood, like a naturally formed cave. There is a wooden door, and when you go in, you can smell the fragrance of soil. It is a real fragrance!
The most fertile soil with abundant spiritual energy, the long-lived trees that can calm the mind and soothe the spirit, and a simple spirit-gathering array made of tree branches—the spiritual energy is so intense that it can be condensed into water mist using magic.
In such a place, one's cultivation level will continuously improve even without deliberate practice.
After Ji Rong dropped them off, he left. There were two bedrooms. Geng Qi knew that Qing Han hadn't come alone. The scorpion hidden in his sleeve was fast asleep. He sent the man to the next room before entering his own.
The curtains, woven from jade bamboo, obscured the view outside. When Rong Yu entered, he was lifting a corner of the bamboo curtain, gazing at the barrier in the sky.
Geng Qi walked over and hugged him, saying, "Even if you really are a Holy Son, you can't activate the barrier now!"
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