Sage of Humanity

Lu Ye focused his gaze and saw that the phantom figure was extremely tall, about several zhang in height, with arms and legs, but both the hands and feet seemed to be gnarled branches of trees. Atop the head was a circle of emerald green saplings, full of vitality, with a trunk straight as an arrow, and clear facial features were present at the head position.

What kind of race is this? Lu Ye was puzzled, at first glance, it seemed the wood had become a spirit.

"Wood Spirit Race?" Yuk Yaorao immediately recognized the identity of the figure.

Lu Ye didn't recognize any Wood Spirit Race, but he had seen the Fire Spirit Race!

Back then, under a volcano located between Cangyan Mountain Pass and Gushan City Pass, a group of Fire Spirit Race members was trapped. Lu accidentally broke their seal, causing quite a commotion at the time.

Seemingly realizing Lu Ye's ignorance, Yuk Yaorao communicated via audio transmission: "In the stellar space, there are Five Elements Spirit Races corresponding to gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, all extremely rare races. Since a Wood Spirit has appeared before us, this must be the Wood Spirit Tree World. The Wood Spirit Race is gentle by nature, leading a life detached from worldly struggles, yet each one is a natural healing cultivator, skilled in various healing techniques, and inherently powerful. It's said that the Wood Spirit's Crystal Core has the power to resurrect, so they are often targeted by stronger races."

Lu Ye silently nodded. A race possessing unique abilities, with precious treasures within, that doesn't seem very strong, is naturally going to attract attention.

"However..."

"However, what?" Lu Ye asked.

Yuk Yaorao shook her head: "It's nothing." It wasn't anything unspeakable, but while she recognized the being before them as a Wood Spirit, it didn't quite match the legendary descriptions?

She's only at the Divine Sea stage, and her knowledge of the myriad stellar races is limited to the accounts from the journeys of her sect elders, never having personally interacted before.

"Indeed!" The voice of the Wood Spirit was incredibly loud, like rumbling thunder, "I am Kin... no, Mu Shanshan, the clan leader of the Wood Spirit Race. Thank you both for coming. Recently, our Wood Spirit Race's Tree World has been encountering some trouble and we hope you two can help resolve it!"

Yuk Yaorao bowed: "That is the very purpose of our presence here. Please, Clan Leader, tell us what we need to do."

Since the Reincarnation Tree had sent both her and Lu Ye into this realm, the qualification test had already begun. How they would ultimately pass this test depended on their actions from here on and the judgment of the Reincarnation Tree.

Clan Leader Mu Shanshan said, "The Wood Spirit Tree World has long suffered from invasions by the Insect Race. Those detestable insects have been encroaching from the Insect Race Tree World and have already built a massive insect hive in our Wood Spirit Tree World. In recent years, the living space of the Wood Spirit Race has been severely compressed, and the children's safety heavily threatened. Therefore, I wish for you two to help us eradicate that insect hive and eliminate all those despicable insects!"

Lu Ye listened from the side, frowning. Why are there Insect Races everywhere? It seems the Insect Race is indeed a great scourge throughout the stellar space.

However, recalling Yuk Yaorao's earlier descriptions of the Reincarnation Tree's embracing of all highlights, he was somewhat relieved.

The Reincarnation Tree here is akin to a miniature stellar space, gathering many races, many of which are extremely rare, yet they naturally possess peculiar powers. Given this, they easily attract malice.

Insect Races, being notorious marauders in the universe, appearing here doesn't seem so surprising.

"We need detailed intelligence!" Yuk Yaorao spoke. With only the two of them, they were quite vulnerable, and even if they could garner support from the Wood Spirit Race, it was uncertain how much aid that would provide, so intelligence was crucial.

She had confidence in her own strength but not so much in Lu Ye's, given his Divine Sea Level 8 cultivation, which, though significant, had its limits. No disregard intended, just the simple truth.

"This is no issue, I will provide you with comprehensive details shortly," Clan Leader Mu Shanshan nodded, "If you two can help us solve our current trouble, the Wood Spirit Race will confer rich rewards."

Yuk Yaorao smiled slightly, without committing, while Lu Ye got interested: "What kind of rich rewards?"

Clan Leader Mu Shanshan scratched his head in embarrassment. It was just mentioned casually as, until now, humans he'd interacted with displayed noble dispositions, regardless of their inner thoughts, at least outwardly they wouldn't ask directly. Normally, trivial things could settle matters post-action.

Who knew someone would actually ask him directly, and this was indeed a first.

After a rolling eye motion: "Crystal Core! The most precious Crystal Core of our Wood Spirit Race! With it, no matter how severe your injuries in the future, even if you are left with just a breath, it can bring you back to life. With this, it's equivalent to having an extra life! The Crystal Core of the Wood Spirit Race, both of you deserve it!"

Lu Ye nodded slightly; if this is the kind of rich reward, it certainly is satisfying. Cultivators out in the world always face danger, and if life is truly hanging by a thread, a Crystal Core from the Wood Spirit Race can genuinely save lives.

Yuk Yaorao was momentarily stunned, then her bright eyes slightly narrowed.

The Clan Leader Mu Shanshan seemed about to say something else when Yuk Yaorao suddenly raised her hand with a quick gesture. Although it was unclear what treasure she activated, strands of fine lines instantly appeared in the space before them, visible to the naked eye, crisscrossing to tightly encircle Clan Leader Mu Shanshan.

Lu Ye raised his hand to grip the handle of the Boulder Mountain Saber, his aura concentrated but unleashing nothing.

Clan Leader Mu Shanshan was paralyzed with fear, trembling as he stood in place, looking around at the countless shimmering lines with terror and apprehension: "What... what is this for?"

Lu Ye turned his head to look at Yuk Yaorao.

Yuk Yaorao let out a light hum: "He's not a wood spirit; we were nearly deceived by him!"

"What do you mean?" Lu Ye asked.

"The Wood Spirit Race would never give away their crystal core, because it is the source of life for the Wood Spirit Race. Even if a wood spirit dies, as long as the crystal core remains, a new wood spirit can be born. Therefore, the crystal core is a taboo that outsiders cannot touch, and the Wood Spirit Race holds it in extremely high regard. How could a true member of the Wood Spirit Race give away their crystal core? That would be like sending away their own kin! Also, although I told you earlier that the crystal core of the Wood Spirit Race has the effect of resurrection, in truth I was exaggerating. Perhaps it has some healing effect, but it absolutely cannot achieve resurrection. He claims to be the Clan Leader of the Wood Spirit Race, how could he not understand the difference?"

"So he's an impostor?" Lu Ye clicked his tongue in wonder, raising his eyes to look at Mu Shanshan, his gaze enhanced with Insight Spirit Runes, but no matter how he looked, he found no flaws.

"Fortunately, Junior Brother Lu asked one more question, otherwise we would truly have been deceived!"

When Lu Ye asked that question earlier, Yuk Yaorao had thought this cultivator from the Nine Heavens was a bit greedy. He hadn't even done any work and was already thinking about benefits. Truly realistic! But now, it seems they owe him thanks.

"Speak, why are you trying to deceive us!" Yuk Yaorao stared at Mu Shanshan, and as she pushed her spirit force, the sharp lines surrounding him contracted inward slightly.

Mu Shanshan continued to argue, looking dejected as he said: "I'm not deceiving you, I truly am the Clan Leader of the Wood Spirit Race, you have to believe me!" As he shouted his grievances, he watched the expressions of the two humans before him but saw they were completely unmoved.

Especially the combat cultivator, who not only remained unmoved but seemed eager to try, fingers tracing the handle of his saber, as if he might a moment later perform a Drawn Saber Slash.

"I swear, I swear before the Reincarnation Tree, I'm not deceiving you!"

The combat cultivator really unsheathed his saber, stepping forward toward him, and Mu Shanshan grew instantly flustered, his eyes darting even more frequently than before, as if contemplating how to convince the two humans before him, but such a short time with preconceived notions made it much harder to persuade them.

"Hold on, Junior Brother!" At the critical moment, it was Yuk Yaorao who called out.

Lu Ye halted.

Yuk Yaorao wore a faint smile at the corner of her mouth: "To dare play such tricks under the nose of the Reincarnation Tree, and with countless mistakes full of contradictions, and not only possessing such amazing shape-changing abilities that leave us unable to spot any flaws, but talking nonsense and refusing to reveal your true form... I have a rough idea of what race you belong to."

Mu Shanshan still stubbornly claimed: "I am the Clan Leader... of the Wood Spirit Race!"

But the conviction in his voice had weakened considerably.

"A group of fairies! Reveal your true form quickly!" Yuk Yaorao called out sharply as the lines encircling Mu Shanshan swiftly contracted.

These seemingly unremarkable lines were actually extremely sharp, crafted from treasures taken from a dire place in Jiuxuan World, and their quality was already at the limit of spirit treasures. Even when she advances to the Constellation Realm, this spirit treasure will suffice for her combat needs.

The lines crisscrossed, and Clan Leader Mu Shanshan let out a cry of pain: "I'm dying!"

As he shouted, green blood spurted from his body, the whole form shattered into pieces, scattering upon the ground.

Lu Ye was astounded by Yuk Yaorao's divine-like actions. This was the Tree World of the Reincarnation Tree, and they had come to assist, yet they had slain the primary figure? What kind of situation was this?

Although he had drawn his saber earlier, he had merely intended it as a gesture and didn't truly plan to strike anyone.

Yuk Yaorao, however, showed not a hint of panic for having killed the wrong person, instead appearing perfectly composed: "Junior Brother Lu, you probably don't know this world houses a very rare race, even rarer than the Five Elements Spirit Race, called the Fairy Race. They are born with a very peculiar shape-changing ability, able to transform into any form they desire, and it appears so naturally that even if one's cultivation surpasses them by one or two realms, it may not be possible to see through it."