The three-petaled golden eye sigil behind the golden-masked man slowly faded.
Aside from his torn clothes, every wound on his body had completely healed, and his strength had returned to its peak.
He spoke to the white-masked figure beside him.
"Wu, I will continue with the real task. Do not let anyone interfere."
"Yes."
Blinding white light suddenly erupted from the white-masked man. His entire body shot forward like a blazing comet, streaking toward the roots of the sacred tree—where the middle-aged guard stood beside the unmoving Ninth Lin.
The white streak tore through the air and struck the target with explosive force.
When the dust settled, only two shattered wooden puppets remained on the ground.
The middle-aged guard had already appeared on a branch high above, holding the Ninth Lin in his arms. A Yin-Yang talisman necklace hung from his mouth, while his free hand formed seals at blinding speed, fingers weaving through the air.
The white-masked man looked up without hesitation and chased after him.
Three figures darted through the vast canopy of the sacred tree—twisting, leaping, and pursuing one another, a deadly battle ready to erupt at any moment.
Below the tree, however, the golden-masked man paid them no attention.
He leapt before the trunk of the sacred tree. Golden light blazed from his eyes as his ocular power surged outward. Drawn by that power, the essence of the sacred tree slowly seeped from deep within the trunk.
At first it flowed like a thin stream.
Soon it surged like a roaring river.
Threads of ghostly green light were drawn into his eyes.
As the essence drained away, the sacred tree began to tremble. Its leaves shook violently before falling one after another, like a silent funeral.
Then—
The sky suddenly changed.
ROOOOAR—
A dragon's cry split the night sky.
"Master!"
The white-masked man halted mid-air.
Without warning, a bolt of lightning—white with a trace of eerie blue—tore open the night and struck beside the sacred tree.
BOOM!
Thunder followed instantly.
A silver dragon spear wrapped in lightning slammed into the tree trunk.
The golden-masked man was blasted backward. Black smoke rose from his body, and a crack appeared across his Asura mask, faintly revealing the face beneath.
He looked up sharply.
High above the canopy, a massive azure dragon coiled around the sacred tree. Its head was raised proudly, scales gleaming like steel.
Standing upon the dragon's head was a tall man.
His upper body was bare, muscles sculpted like chiseled stone and filled with explosive power. Long hair danced wildly in the night wind, framing a cold, angular face.
He looked down upon everything below, fury burning in his eyes as though heaven and earth themselves were beneath his contempt.
Yet this god-like figure seemed strangely unreal.
His form flickered faintly, edges nearly transparent—as if a single gust of wind might scatter him into stardust.
"The Tenth Lin… Lin Feng."
The golden-masked man turned toward the branch where the middle-aged guard stood beside the Ninth Lin's corpse.
In the guard's hand was a Yin-Yang necklace.
The talisman attached to it had already split into two halves.
"So the old man summoned your spirit body before he died?"
Lin Feng reached out through the air.
The silver dragon spear flashed back into his grasp like lightning.
He pointed it at the golden-masked man.
"Who are you? Why do you wear the robes of the Star Palace? Why do you make an enemy of Giantwood?"
The golden-masked man chuckled.
"I am not from the Star Palace."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"I am Wan Tian, the Evil King. I hear that your physical body is currently imprisoned within the Star Palace. If your spirit does not return soon… you will only lose your life in vain."
Lin Feng remained silent, staring coldly at him.
"You broke through the Heavenly Realm and stepped into the Divine Transformation stage. That is why the Star Palace 'invited' you away, isn't it?"
A faint flicker passed through Lin Feng's eyes.
But he said nothing.
The golden-masked man caught that tiny reaction and slowly smiled.
"Have you never wondered… why the Star Palace is so terrified of cultivators who reach the Divine Transformation realm?"
He deliberately emphasized the final word.
"Help me," he continued softly, his voice spreading like a web of temptation, "and I will share with you the greatest secret in this world."
"When the time comes, we take what we each desire. I obtain what I seek—and I help you escape the Star Palace."
Lin Feng's voice was low and rough.
"You want… my help?"
"Yes."
The golden-masked man pointed toward the glowing fissure in the sacred tree's trunk.
"I only need the sacred tree's essence. Once my strength returns, I will help you shatter the Star Palace and reclaim your justice."
"And I will share with you the greatest secret of this world."
Lin Feng followed his gaze.
Silence lingered.
Then slowly, he looked down.
Upon a branch below lay the corpse of the Ninth Lin.
The old man's chest had been pierced open, blood soaking his robes. Life had long since left him.
He lay there like a leaf fallen in autumn.
Lin Feng's phantom figure trembled faintly.
Grief surged across his face like a tidal wave before he forced it down.
Then he spoke, word by word.
"Whether you are the Evil King or a Star Lord…"
"So long as you set foot upon Giantwood…"
"…destroy our sacred tree…"
"…and slaughter without restraint—"
He raised his spear and pointed it directly at the golden-masked man.
Even his fading spirit now stood like an immovable mountain.
"—you must die."
The glowing canopy of the sacred tree suddenly shook violently.
A vast green barrier burst forth like a raging ocean, crashing toward the two masked men.
"Forbidden Technique—Forest of Myriad Manifestations."
The barrier arrived too quickly to evade.
In an instant it swallowed them both.
Inside the green light, countless glowing vines twisted and lashed like a swarm of devouring insects.
Crackling sounds filled the air like rain striking dead leaves.
Suddenly—
A streak of white burst out of the barrier like a shooting star.
But before it could escape, green vines shot after it, wrapping around it tightly. The two forces tangled violently in midair.
Elsewhere within the barrier, blazing fire suddenly erupted.
A flaming blade tore open the green curtain.
The golden-masked man burst out wielding a crimson sword. His clothes were shredded and blood seeped from several wounds, yet his killing intent remained undiminished.
Before he could breathe—
Another wave of green vines surged toward him.
At that moment—
The azure dragon raised its head.
Lightning descended from the heavens and fused with the green barrier.
In an instant it spread into a dense net of thunder, trapping the golden-masked man inside.
Flames roared as they struggled to break free—
But the moment they touched the lightning net, they shattered into sparks.
Inside the barrier, a golden domain suddenly appeared.
Within it, the vines withered and the lightning faded.
The golden-masked man stepped out.
His left eye burned with golden light, the pupil forming a five-petaled golden flower.
Behind him appeared a giant eye sigil bearing the same five golden petals.
He threw his head back and laughed.
"As expected of the Tenth Lin! I acknowledge your strength."
"But are you truly unwilling to cooperate?"
"No more words."
Lin Feng raised his spear.
"Take this!"
The silver dragon spear shot forward.
Lightning split the night sky.
CLANG!
The golden-masked man blocked with his sword. Thunder and flame exploded as their weapons collided.
Shockwaves swept through the canopy.
Leaves scattered like rain.
The golden-masked man was forced back several steps.
The spear returned instantly to Lin Feng's hand.
He did not pause.
Another throw.
Another thunder strike.
Again.
And again.
Lightning rained down like a storm.
Each spear strike carried the might of heaven itself.
The golden-masked man was forced backward step by step—until he crashed to the ground below.
There was nowhere left to retreat.
His flames had weakened.
His cloak had long since been torn apart.
Blackened lightning scars covered his body.
Yet suddenly—
He lifted his head.
Golden light blazed from his right eye.
Five golden flowers erupted behind him as a massive golden domain expanded outward.
Within the light, his wounds began healing at visible speed.
Even the ground beneath him turned green with fresh grass.
"Attacks like this cannot kill me, Tenth Lin."
He smiled upward.
His left eye flashed.
Behind Lin Feng—
A three-petaled golden eye slowly formed.
"You've lost," the golden-masked man said.
But at that instant—
The azure dragon roared.
The sound echoed like something ancient and primordial.
The golden eye shattered instantly like fragile glass.
"You lost."
Lin Feng looked down coldly.
"Your evil eye… has no effect on me."
"Impossible!"
The golden-masked man roared.
His left eye blazed again—
Even brighter than before.
A five-petaled golden eye appeared behind Lin Feng.
The dragon roared again.
The eye shattered once more.
Blood slowly seeped from the golden-masked man's eye.
Lin Feng raised the silver dragon spear toward the sky.
Thunder rolled across the heavens like war drums.
Lightning gathered above the spear, forming a blinding sphere of energy.
His fading spirit flickered in the lightning glow.
His eyes were as cold as ancient ice.
"Die."