That day on Luoyun Mountain, her focus of insight had rested on compassion. Yet it was still one layer away from her true heart. Even back then, she had only a vague sense of it. It was not until that night that the insight became completely clear.
Even within the same Primordial Wood, different practitioners could perceive different True Meanings. Some saw it as protection, some as mercy, and some even leaned toward offense, perceiving self-preservation or retaliation.
But Yun Jin knew herself.
She could never wholeheartedly guard all beings out of pure mercy; she simply did not have that level of compassion. Yet pursuing solely self-preservation or retaliation was not what she truly desired either. What she wanted was coexistence. How others treated her, she would treat others in return.
Old Tree listened quietly as Yun Jin explained, slightly dazed. The Primordial Wood could lead to good or evil. The True Meaning a master perceives can reveal a lot. But Yun Jin…
She was obviously not evil, yet she was not purely benevolent either.
She belonged to… a middle path.
Old Tree watched Yun Jin quietly for a moment, then suddenly laughed. This girl, she claimed she would only show compassion to all beings if they pitied her. Yet in truth…
The greater the power, the heavier the responsibility. Many times, she was the one who acted first, the one who gave first. Those who show mercy to all beings are never let down by the world.
Old Tree's voice was warm as he said, "You are even better than I imagined."
Yun Jin nodded. "Of course."
Old Tree chuckled, "Can you at least be a little modest?"
Yun Jin frowned lightly. "Ordinary geniuses can be modest. A genius at my level? If I'm modest, you would call me false."
Old Tree was momentarily speechless.
Yun Jin's words left him with nothing to retort.
After gathering himself, Old Tree spoke again. "Since you have already mastered the Primordial Wood, there is one thing I wish to earnestly request of you."
Yun Jin nodded. "Please, Elder, just say it."
"It is like this. I have a secret technique that can help you awaken a Beastmaster Space, enabling you to become a full-fledged Beastmaster." Old Tree paused, letting Yun Jin absorb this monumental surprise.
Yun Jin was indeed thrilled.
She looked at Old Tree for a long moment without speaking.
Old Tree, in turn, felt very gratified. So, she was intimidated. Now it was time for Yun Jin to be surprised.
With an expression Old Tree could not decipher, Yun Jin waved her hand. Immediately, on the grass appeared… an egg, a fox cat, and a panda.
Old Tree was stunned.
His lips trembled slightly.
Yun Jin… had already become a Beastmaster?!
Gun Gun and Huan Huan, rarely allowed outside, immediately began rolling and playing with Dan Dan out of habit.
"Eighty Emotional Value hits already…" Yun Jin muttered.
"What did you say?" Old Tree instinctively glanced at her.
Yun Jin blinked. "I mean, thank you for your kind offer, Elder, but I am already a Beastmaster."
Old Tree murmured in a daze, "I can see that…"
"Does Elder have anything else?" Yun Jin asked.
Old Tree hesitated, then said, "Girl, this egg carries a strong Fire Attribute aura. The spirit beast within is extraordinary."
"It's a Super Spirit Beast, a Lava Dragon," Yun Jin said.
Old Tree said, "I have another secret technique. Using my life energy, I can accelerate the birth of this Lava Dragon. This method has no drawbacks. On the contrary, it ensures the beast emerges with immense vitality. With this life energy, it might even evolve sooner."
Life energy?
Yun Jin's gaze sharpened.
The Lava Dragon's combat power was astonishing, yet its flaw was frequent slumber. This was because its life energy could not fully sustain such immense power, requiring sleep to recover strength. If its life energy could be supplemented before hatching…
Could she possibly hatch the first perfect Lava Dragon?
Dan Dan seemed to sense something too. It jumped to Old Tree, bowing and chattering as if pleading.
Old Tree sighed. "This egg is extraordinarily intelligent. With my secret technique, it will surely achieve greatness in the future."
Old Tree's technique would only benefit Dan Dan.
Yet Yun Jin did not immediately respond. She simply said sincerely, "Elder, I consider us friends."
Old Tree paused, his branches swaying. "Of course."
"Then as friends, if you have a request I can fulfill, I will not refuse," Yun Jin said. "Life energy is precious to you. There is no need to offer it as payment. Just tell me what you need."
Old Tree hesitated.
Seeing Yun Jin's sincerity, he finally spoke. "I have been rooted here on Luoyun Mountain for over ten thousand years. I could have cultivated into a human long ago and left. But Luoyun Mountain is special."
Yun Jin nodded, curious.
Old Tree's cultivation, if converted to human terms, would certainly be at the Mahayana level. While plant cultivation is slow, reaching this stage would allow them to assume human form. Yet Old Tree had remained here for ten thousand years without leaving. This was strange.
"Ten thousand years ago, I was still a sapling. I witnessed a treasure fall here. It appeared dull, like a rock, yet its power was incredible. Under its manifestation, the plain became mountains. The treasure lay in the heart of the mountain, unreachable by any."
Old Tree sighed. "Because of this treasure, we beings were bound to this place. No matter our cultivation, we could not assume human form or leave."
His expression showed pain. If one remained ignorant, it would have been tolerable. But he had gained intelligence early and endured ten thousand years here. Ten thousand years confined to a small space. Such loneliness and suffering could only be soothed through sleep.
"A treasure…" Yun Jin's eyes shifted.
A treasure that could trap even a ten-thousand-year-old tree must be of extraordinary level.
Could it be…
Before she could speak, Old Tree nodded. "That is probably an Immortal Artifact."
Yun Jin's eyes flickered.
Thousands of years ago, the founders of the Four Holy Lands had recovered four Immortal Artifacts from a departed Immortal, shaping the current Four Holy Lands. Yet ten thousand years ago, an Immortal Artifact had already fallen, silently buried on Luoyun Mountain.
"With your current cultivation, acquiring this Immortal Artifact is far beyond your reach. Perhaps when you reach the Mahayana stage, you may attempt it," Old Tree said. "For now, even finding its location would be impossible."
Yun Jin nodded.
During her previous demon-slaying on Luoyun Mountain, she had carefully explored the area, yet found nothing.
Clearly, this treasure was beyond her current grasp.
Yun Jin asked, "Elder, do you wish to leave Luoyun Mountain? But with my current ability, I cannot even locate the treasure. It seems the confinement cannot yet be broken."