Chapter 1081: White Li Princess
The Yinggema Desert was vast and desolate, with no human presence in sight. As far as the eye could see, there were only yellow sand and Gobi, though there were also some oases brimming with life. Generally speaking, these oases were more likely to give birth to heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
At this moment, a stretch of oasis lay before Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
A winding river meandered through the center of the oasis. Under the setting sun, the water shimmered with golden light, like pieces of golden dragon scales.
At the heart of the oasis grew a hundred-zhang-tall sacred tree, with a black trunk and white leaves. The stark contrast between black and white created an extreme visual impact.
Because the sacred tree was so tall, its spreading branches and leaves shaded nearly half the oasis. After nightfall, the white leaves scattered specks of light, making the oasis appear dreamlike.
This sacred tree had only recently sprouted, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth from the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm over the past few days.
A young woman in white stood beneath the sacred tree, her delicate figure bathed in a rain of light specks, like a celestial maiden treading on waves, exuding an otherworldly aura untouched by mortal dust.
She had jet-black hair, a curvaceous figure that traced breathtaking lines, and skin exposed outside her clothes that emitted a faint glow, as if she possessed a divine body.
At her shapely rear, a white tail dragged along the ground, twitching from time to time.
"Although this sacred tree has only grown for half a month, it is already comparable to a sacred medicine that has grown for thirty thousand years. It should be considered the spiritual root of this region spanning tens of thousands of miles."
Her eyelashes were long, and she was exceedingly beautiful. Her eyes sparkled with lively light as she carefully observed the sacred tree, revealing a captivating smile that could topple kingdoms.
An old man in white and an old woman in white stood behind her, flanking her on the left and right.
The old man in white glanced in a certain direction outside the oasis, stepped forward, and slightly bowed, saying, "Your Highness, there is a human presence."
White Li Princess gently pursed her crimson lips, still observing the sacred tree, and said nonchalantly, "Humans? Didn't the Devouring Demon Dragon trap them all in Yingsha City?"
"Perhaps a few fish slipped through the net and managed to escape," the old man in white replied.
"If they managed to escape, it means they have some strength. I have no interest in human cultivators. If they are wise enough to take a detour, this princess will spare their lives. But if they dare to intrude into the oasis and try anything foolish, you need not show them any mercy."
White Li Princess did not take the few humans outside the oasis seriously. Instead, she extended a snow-white, flawless jade hand and gently stroked the pitch-black trunk.
"Rustle!"
A green vine slithered out from her sleeve.
The green vine was sentient. Its roots, like steel needles, pierced into the sacred tree's trunk and began absorbing its life force.
The light emitted by the sacred tree grew dimmer and dimmer.
But the green vine grew thicker and longer, coiling around the trunk and climbing upward rapidly, making a rustling sound.
Outside the oasis, atop a sand dune.
Zhang Ruochen, Xiao Hei, Great Minister of Works, and Second Minister of Works gathered together, gazing at White Li Princess beneath the black-and-white sacred tree.
Great Minister of Works rubbed his round head, curious, and asked, "What is she doing?"
Zhang Ruochen stared intently at the green vine coiling around the sacred tree, a strange light flickering in his pupils. "Is that a Shi Shenghua?"
"Exactly, it's a Shi Shenghua," Xiao Hei said.
Perched on Zhang Ruochen's shoulder, Xiao Hei also showed a wary expression.
"Shi Shenghua? It's just a green vine—where's the flower?" Great Minister of Works was even more puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen said, "When the vine blooms, it will have the power to devour sacred realm beings. We wouldn't need to fight at all—we should just flee immediately."
Xiao Hei added, "Shi Shenghua is highly aggressive. It can absorb the sacred power of sacred realm beings to continuously strengthen itself. As this emperor knows, the last Shi Shenghua died in the Middle Ages. Where did White Li Princess find a seedling?"
The Shi Shenghua that White Li Princess had was indeed just a seedling, absorbing the sacred tree's power to grow quickly and bloom flowers capable of devouring saints.
According to Xiao Hei, during the Middle Ages, there was a Shi Shenghua that took root atop a pile of sacred corpses and nearly cultivated into a god.
Unfortunately, it failed its tribulation and turned to ashes.
That was the last Shi Shenghua in the Kunlun Realm, and it had since gone extinct.
Based on Xiao Hei's speculation, the seedling of White Li Princess's Shi Shenghua likely grew from the embers of that divine tribulation, inheriting part of the Middle Ages Shi Shenghua's memories. Once it bloomed, it would become a terrifyingly ferocious plant.
Just like the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, even if cut down, a new sprout could grow from its roots.
"Look, a flower bud has formed at the tip of the green vine!" Great Minister of Works exclaimed.
Zhang Ruochen immediately looked over. The vine coiling around the sacred tree was now as thick as an arm. At its tip, among the green leaves, a white light emanated, and a fist-sized flower bud had indeed condensed.
"We can't wait any longer. We must act now."
Zhang Ruochen sensed a bad premonition and immediately used his movement technique, charging into the oasis toward the sacred tree.
Xiao Hei caught up and said, "Zhang Ruochen, don't attack yet. Let this emperor negotiate with them. We're both cat clan—we have a lot in common. Maybe we can resolve this peacefully."
"Can something like this be negotiated?"
Zhang Ruochen thought Xiao Hei was talking nonsense and didn't want to waste time.
"This emperor still has influence in the cat clan, with a status comparable to the Qiangu Nüdi among humans. Once I reveal my identity, it will be enough to intimidate them," Xiao Hei said confidently, patting his chest.
"Master Uncle, let him try. We can still attack if it fails," Great Minister of Works said, also having faith in Xiao Hei.
Just as the trio and the cat charged into the oasis, the old man in white and the old woman in white immediately rushed out to intercept them.
The old man in white stomped his right foot forward, causing the ground to cave in, and shouted, "Leave now, or you will die without a complete corpse!"
The old man in white had profound cultivation, having passed two quasi-saint tribulations. His aura was even fiercer than that of the Blue Eagle Beast King.
Xiao Hei stepped forward, chuckling, "Junior, we're all members of the Nine Li Cat Clan. Let's talk things out nicely—no need for weapons."
The old man in white glared at Xiao Hei, his eyes sharpening. "You dare address me as junior?"
Xiao Hei stood on his hind legs, crossing his front paws over his chest with an air of arrogance. "During the Middle Ages, the Holy Mother of the White Li Cat Clan once wanted to worship this emperor as her master, but this emperor refused. You should be descendants of the White Li Holy Mother, right? If this emperor doesn't call you juniors, what should he call you?"
"How dare you blaspheme the Holy Mother! Your audacity knows no bounds. Even if you are a cat clan member, I will teach you a harsh lesson today."
The old man in white curled his fingers into claws, growing sharp white talons. With a slight wave of his arm, a low rumbling sound echoed.
"This emperor speaks nothing but the truth—why won't you believe me?"
Xiao Hei shrugged helplessly, unwilling to fight his own kind.
Clearly, the so-called negotiation had failed.
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to waste time. He pushed Xiao Hei aside, took a big step forward, and struck out with a palm.
Immediately, a blood-red dragon shadow dozens of zhang long flew from his palm, attacking the old man in white.
"So strong."
The old man in white's expression shifted slightly. He had no choice but to mobilize all his sacred qi and unleash a claw mark, colliding with the blood dragon's shadow.
"Boom!"
The old man in white flew backward over a hundred meters before stabilizing himself, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth—he was injured.
The ground between him and Zhang Ruochen had exploded, all vegetation destroyed, reduced to scorched earth.
Beneath the sacred tree.
White Li Princess's eyes showed a hint of surprise. She turned slightly and fixed her gaze on the young human man, muttering to herself, "So powerful?"
White Li Princess knew very well how strong the old man in white was—definitely more formidable than an average beast king.
Yet he was injured by a single palm strike from a young human man. That meant the opponent's strength was not to be underestimated.
"Whoosh—"
White Li Princess transformed into a streak of light, her bare, delicate jade feet stepping on a layer of ethereal white energy, and flew to stand before the old man in white and the old woman in white.
"Your Highness, that human man is extremely powerful. He should have reached the peak of the second quasi-saint tribulation," the old man in white said gravely, regarding Zhang Ruochen as a major threat.
White Li Princess's pupils were like two bright moons, emitting a trace of chaotic power. She glanced at Zhang Ruochen and immediately saw through his true cultivation level.
Even she felt a ripple in her heart, finding it hard to believe. She asked, "You are a seventh-step half-saint?"
The old man in white was shocked. He looked at Zhang Ruochen again, unable to believe he was only at the seventh-step half-saint level.
After all, the power Zhang Ruochen had just displayed was at least the peak of a second-tribulation quasi-saint, possibly even reaching the level of a third-tribulation quasi-saint.
If he was truly just a seventh-step half-saint, that would be extremely strange.
Zhang Ruochen glanced toward the Shi Shenghua. The flower bud had grown a bit larger. He immediately ordered, "Attack together. Finish this quickly."
Great Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works mobilized their Buddhist qi, condensing a black dragon shadow and a white tiger shadow.
"Roar!"
"Growl!"
The oasis immediately echoed with dragon roars and tiger howls.
White Li Princess glanced at Great Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works, sensing the powerful energy fluctuations from the two monks. Her expression turned serious. "Wait. What exactly are you here for? Are you trying to seize that sacred tree? There's no need for a big fight—I can give it to you."
In White Li Princess's view, most of the sacred tree's power had already been absorbed by the Shi Shenghua. Giving it up was no big deal.
"We have no interest in the sacred tree. We're interested in you. We plan to capture you and have you bear a litter of kittens for this emperor," Xiao Hei said with a sly chuckle.
White Li Princess glared at Xiao Hei, veins bulging on her forehead.
At that moment, she finally realized that this group of people really was after her.