C7 When They Signed up in the Dense Forest, a Sudden Change Occurred!

Several people glanced at the surface of the Spirit Gathering Lake, confirming their fears—the spiritual energy within had indeed vanished. Even the spirit vein beneath the lake bore the marks of depletion. It would take at least hundreds, if not thousands, of years for the spiritual energy here to return to its former glory.

With a sense of resignation, Su Wuyou surveyed the grim scene. "The Spirit Gathering Lake is likely beyond saving. Whoever did this was ruthlessly powerful. They didn't just exploit our Devil Sect's spiritual energy for their own cultivation—they left us with nothing."

Elder Chiu Yue and the rest were still scouring the area for the elusive white-robed youth, having called upon a third of the Devil Sect's disciples to assist in the search. As Su Wuyou approached a particular spot, a thought struck her. "Could this young man have ventured into the perilous region behind the mountain?"

Bai Yih, who had been on the lookout, stopped in his tracks at Su Wuyou's suggestion, then turned and said, "A Golden Holy Dragon resides in that treacherous area. Even a powerhouse at the Tribulation Crossing Stage wouldn't survive an encounter. We might as well go there and wait to collect his remains."

Shen Yunqing's face drained of color upon hearing Bai Yih's grim prediction. It couldn't be true—Jiang Su was the most handsome male cultivator in the entire Cultivation World, and she had fallen for his poise and stature at first sight. He couldn't meet his end like this!

The thought of the Golden Dragon sent a shiver down her spine; even the Female Ruler wouldn't dare to provoke the Golden Holy Dragon. Overwhelmed by emotion, tears streamed down Shen Yunqing's face, making her look like a forlorn bride who had lost her groom on their wedding night.

As the group made their way toward the mountain's rear, Su Wuyou confronted Shen Yunqing, "Yunqing, how could you bring a stranger here? With the Spirit Gathering Lake depleted, what will you do if the Female Ruler holds you accountable?"

Shen Yunqing cut her off before she could finish. "Master, I'm sorry. I understand now."

Looking at her master with a mix of sorrow and pleading, Shen Yunqing knew that Su Wuyou, like the Female Ruler Murong Yan, might have a stern exterior, but both harbored a tender heart within.

Whenever she put on a pitiful act, they would inevitably forgive her.

True to form, Su Wuyou remained silent thereafter.

The Four Great Elders, Holy Maiden Yunqing, and numerous Devil Sect disciples were assembled outside the sect's rear mountain.

Elder Chiu Yue silently fumed: If he could catch the scoundrel responsible for draining the Spirit Gathering Lake, he'd lash the corpse even if the Golden Holy Dragon had already slain the culprit, just to satisfy his wrath!

Meanwhile, Jiang Su had made his way to the most secluded part of the back mountain.

The area was peculiar.

Despite the rest of the back mountain being a blossoming utopia, this section was an impenetrable forest stretching as far as the eye could see.

Deep within the woods, an impenetrable darkness reigned, devoid of even a sliver of light.

It brought to mind the adage, "When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

Jiang Su was a once-in-a-millennium prodigy with a Celestial Spiritual Root, capable of harnessing the Five Elements' power. His abilities only grew stronger with his cultivation level.

For instance, those with a Fire Spiritual Root could wield fire and flames as their primary weapons. They could further specialize as Sword Cultivators, Talisman Cultivators, Armament Cultivators, or Medical Cultivators.

But what set someone with a Celestial Spiritual Root apart was not just the fact that they absorbed spiritual energy and cultivated at a rate a hundred times faster than others; they could also freely utilize the Five Elements' power in their Sword, Talisman, Armament, and Medical Cultivation practices.

Thus, Jiang Su rode the wind and ventured into the dense forest's perimeter.

A familiar mechanical voice sounded.

Ding! Registration complete. The Immortal Level Sword Manual "Man and Sword as One" and the Immortal Medical Book "Miracle Working" have been added to your storage space.

He ruefully considered that it was a shame he was only a Qi Sensing Stage Sword Cultivator. Without the necessary training, he was unable to perform Sword-riding Flight.

Sword-riding Flight would have been so much cooler.

Feeling the overwhelming spiritual energy around him, Jiang Su couldn't help but inwardly exclaim, "This is truly a remarkable place."

"System, grant me the Shadowless Step devil technique."

No sooner had the words left his lips than his mind was flooded with memories, as though he had been practicing the Shadowless Step for a century.

His eyes snapped open, and he moved. Beneath his feet, a gust of wind kicked up. His form flickered like a phantom, his movements deft and unpredictable. The wind at his feet roared toward an enormous tree, towering above, and with sheer force, cleaved it in two.

The tree crashed to the ground with a thunderous noise.

Jiang Su was deeply engrossed in mastering the Shadowless Step.

In that moment, the spiritual energy around him seemed to transform from a gaseous form into solid particles, swirling in a dance around him as he moved.