Nie Ming said quietly, "That Yun Jin's strongest in the Primordial Flame, but lucky me, I've got the Primordial Water. These dark clouds can shift the weather, so for a short while, I can suppress her force."
He Xi nodded. She muttered a strange incantation to the clouds, and immediately, a torrential rain poured down.
This was no ordinary rain—it was pitch black.
As it fell, the grass and trees of the forest turned black wherever the rain touched.
Bang!
The golden bowl instantly cracked. The next moment, it crumbled into dust.
Yun Jin glanced at the black clouds overhead, her expression shifting slightly. Rain nourishes all life. But this rain was saturated with dense demonic energy. For the plants of this mountain forest, it was far from a blessing.
Super Law: Spirit of Flora.
Yun Jin activated the third of her Wood-attribute super Laws.
In an instant, everything on Luoyun Mountain changed before her eyes. The forest and plants, under the onslaught of the demonic rain, began to wither. Most of the plants had not yet gained sentience, but Yun Jin could see the green vitality points on them fading.
A few sentient plants cried out in agony. The loudest was an ancient thousand-year-old tree on the mountaintop. As Yun Jin assessed the state of Luoyun Mountain, countless needles suddenly shot toward her from behind.
"Careful!" the old tree cried out in warning.
Yun Jin leapt aside.
Nie Ming and He Xi, however, attacked relentlessly.
"Ouch! Watch your feet!"
"Ah… my back! Look out above!"
The old tree wailed like a spirit, continuing to warn her ceaselessly.
Yun Jin sighed. Using the Spirit of Flora Law, she communicated with the tree. "I've got this. No need to warn me."
In Spirit of Flora mode, she could sense all plants, every plant acting as her eyes.
Nie Ming and He Xi's attacks were tricky. But they had chosen the wrong battlefield. With so many living plants around, Yun Jin held the advantage.
"All right, all right," the old tree muttered instinctively. Then it realized something, eyes widening in disbelief. "You… can speak to me?"
Yun Jin sighed. "Of course I can."
The old tree trembled. "Spirit of Flora?"
As far as it knew, only a cultivator mastering the super Law Spirit of Flora could communicate so smoothly.
"So don't warn me," Yun Jin said.
The old tree saw what she saw.
"I'm in so much pain, I can't help speaking," the tree said, slightly aggrieved.
Yun Jin smiled faintly. "And I'm trying my best to help."
"You're strong, but your spiritual power is still lacking," the old tree said. "If only you mastered the Absorption Law too. Absorbing all the forest's energy, you could defeat these two."
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow.
She already knew the Absorption Law.
But…
She frowned slightly.
The Absorption Law was extreme. Once used, it would Absorption all life from the mountain's plants.
The old tree, seeing her expression, brightened. "Could it be… you truly mastered the Absorption Law?"
Yun Jin nodded imperceptibly.
"Use it quickly," the tree urged. "I will give all my spiritual energy to you. If we delay, this rain will corrode everything."
Yun Jin spoke calmly. "If I use Absorption, all the plants—including you—will perish. That would make me no different from a demon."
Several other sentient plants dotted the mountain. Since they were alive, she could not destroy them recklessly.
The Absorption Law, the most domineering Primordial Wood, could strip life from everything within ten miles, transforming it into energy for the user. Yun Jin did not want to do this.
The old tree paused, surprised. This girl cared about them?
Despite the urgency, the old tree spoke. "I have a talent called Protection. In extreme cases, it preserves the last bit of life in the plants. If you use Absorption and kill the two of them within the time of one incense stick, the life force can be returned. No plant will be harmed."
Protection?
Yun Jin frowned slightly.
Worried she might doubt him, the old tree quickly demonstrated the talent.
Yun Jin instantly sensed a peculiar pulse of life.
"I won't gamble with my life, nor that of all these plants. Use Absorption!"
The old tree expanded the range of Protection, enveloping all of Luoyun Mountain.
Yun Jin no longer hesitated.
With Protection in place, she unleashed Absorption.
Normally, the Absorption Law would not stop until all plant life was absorbed.
But thanks to the tree's talent, a sliver of life remained for every plant.
Countless plant energies poured into Yun Jin.
Her aura surged visibly.
Though temporary, in that moment, Yun Jin shattered the ceiling of the Soul Realm.
Her cultivation soared through Tribulation stages: early, mid, late, and peak. She leapt a full major stage.
Yun Jin stared, stunned. She had underestimated Absorption's potency. Most of this energy came from the thousand-year-old tree.
Incredible.
"Quick!" the tree urged.
Yun Jin launched herself, vines weaving with force.
This time, the binding was far stronger.
He Xi and Nie Ming were ensnared instantly.
Next, the blazing Tai'a Sword descended.
Yun Jin's first target was He Xi.
He Xi struggled but could not free herself. Her third eye glowed ominously. She tried to self-detonate her Evil Eye.
Yun Jin had already anticipated this. Before the Tai'a Sword struck, thorns sprouted from the vines, piercing He Xi's third eye.
"Ah!" He Xi screamed.
The Tai'a Sword fell, flames engulfing her. Her screams were horrific.
"He Xi! He Xi!" Nie Ming roared, frantic.
The black clouds could not sustain themselves. The dark rain ceased, and the clouds dispersed. Vines bound Nie Ming, but he crawled desperately toward He Xi. The scene was heartrending. As he neared her, Yun Jin kicked him away.
"Let her go! Let her go!" Nie Ming's eyes were red. "You cold-blooded monster! I only want to stay with He Xi. Why must you separate us? Can't humans and demons love? Why are you so cruel?"
He shouted in anguish.
Yun Jin's face remained unmoved. She said flatly, "In a moment, it will be your turn. Since you love each other so much, perhaps you'll reunite in the afterlife."
Then, as if remembering something, she added, "Ah, I forgot. I intend to obliterate both your body and soul. Not even the afterlife will hold you."
Nie Ming screamed in agony. Yun Jin resembled the ultimate villain, destroying lovers without mercy.