Li Fan subconsciously backed away a few paces.
Only when he confirmed through the Heart of the Spirit Wood that he still held the spirit tree's life and death in his hands did he slightly relax.
The Tree Spirit's pressure continued to climb.
Nascent Soul, Soul Formation...
It only slowly came to a halt when it grew comparable to Dao Integration.
*A giant tree birthing a spirit—she is essentially the embodiment of the Spirit Wood Realm's Heavenly Dao.*
*If the Heavenly Dao truly possesses a spirit, a grotto-heaven corresponds to the Nascent Soul realm. A pocket world, depending on its scale, ranges between Soul Formation and Dao Integration.*
*Given the Spirit Wood Realm's original foundation, it would have been virtually impossible to give birth to a Tree Spirit of Dao Integration caliber. But with Shang Tianci ceaselessly transporting wondrous vistas of Xuanhuang into it, she achieved a certain degree of elevation as well.*
*Much like how Mr. Bai previously molded a miniature Xuanhuang Realm with his bare hands. Except Shang Tianci did it through pure replication.*
While Li Fan was lost in thought, the green motes of light gathering from all directions ceased congregating.
A body nearly indistinguishable from that of a human appeared before his eyes.
With graceful curves, she possessed female secondary sexual characteristics, just like the treeman chief.
Li Fan took a glance and, with a slight stir of his mind, used the Heart of the Spirit Wood to clothe her.
The Tree Spirit offered no resistance.
Instead, she looked down in curiosity, examining the garments that had suddenly materialized upon her body.
Though her eyes appeared somewhat innocent, she was by no means ignorant.
As a natural-born spirit who had inherited all the memories of the spirit tree, the only thing she lacked compared to ordinary cultivators was worldly experience in dealing with people.
*Although her strength already exceeds mine, because I refined the Heart of the Spirit Wood long ago, she must still submit to my control.*
As this thought crossed Li Fan's mind, a single thought from him caused the Tree Spirit before him to gracefully kneel down.
A Dao Integration being kneeling to a Golden Core cultivator would be considered a profound humiliation anywhere.
Yet the Tree Spirit showed not the slightest trace of anger.
"Master," she said naturally to Li Fan instead.
Creations of Heaven and Earth were simple by nature. They were not scheming and deceitful like humans.
Especially at the moment of their birth, they had no way to conceal their true emotions.
After probing and confirming that the Tree Spirit's submission was completely sincere, Li Fan nodded inwardly.
"Now that you have taken human form, you should have a name of your own."
"From this day forth, you shall be called Lin Ling."
With that, Li Fan pointed across the empty air, tapping Lin Ling between the brows.
Moments later, a red mark surfaced on her forehead.
"Thank you, Master!" Delighted to have a name of her own, Lin Ling thanked Li Fan again, repeating the name over and over under her breath.
*She has no concept of hierarchy based on strength yet, so even if she calls someone as weak as me 'Master,' she harbors no resentment or rebellious thoughts.*
*Later on, as she grows and experiences more of the world, that may change.*
*Still, breaking the constraints of the Heart of the Spirit Wood won't be an easy feat either.*
Li Fan sensed the faint bond connecting him to Lin Ling, pondering deeply.
Over the days that followed, Lin Ling demonstrated to Li Fan within the Spirit Wood Realm her terrifying prowess as the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao.
She could mobilize all the power of the pocket world at will, and always in the most efficient manner possible.
With her assistance, Shang Tianci's "transportation" process instantly became several times easier.
Nor did Lin Ling find it a chore; on the contrary, she treated it like a game and had immense fun.
That innocent, carefree demeanor instantly captivated the young Shang Tianci.
As an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, Lin Ling's beauty naturally went without saying.
Her flawless face lacked the slightest blemish. Every frown and smile radiated a distinct charm.
Shang Tianci was completely entranced, utterly unable to tear his eyes away.
"S-Senior..." After Lin Ling finished her tasks and Li Fan sent her off to play elsewhere, Shang Tianci approached Li Fan. He stammered, his face flushed red.
"Heh, keep up the good work." Li Fan clapped Shang Tianci firmly on the shoulder and gave him a meaningful smile.
Though Li Fan made no promises, Shang Tianci looked as if he had just been injected with chicken blood.
"Senior, I've almost finished replicating all the wondrous vistas of Xuanhuang contained in my Heavenly Scenery Gourd. So I'd like to return to the Xuanhuang Realm to record more."
"And while I'm at it, I can see if I can persuade some others from the Mountain and River Pavilion to come over," he volunteered eagerly.
Seeing how proactive he was, Li Fan had no reason to refuse.
To be safe, however, he still gave Shang Tianci a jade pendant to serve as a medium for casting the Formless Killing Intent before allowing him to depart.
Calculating the time, Li Fan realized he had left the Five Elders Association hanging for long enough.
He too leisurely made his way out of the Spirit Wood Realm.
To his surprise, when Lin Ling saw him leaving, she wanted to come along.
"You can leave this place?" Li Fan asked, somewhat astonished.
"Don't worry, Master, it's no problem at all!" Lin Ling nodded vigorously.
"Though outside, I might not be quite as free as at home," she added.
A free Dao Integration enforcer? Li Fan naturally agreed without hesitation.
Once the two arrived in the Xuanhuang Realm, Li Fan immediately observed the changes in her.
*She is affected to some extent after all. Her actual combat strength is somewhat inferior to a true Dao Integration cultivator.*
*Even so, she's still significantly stronger than an ordinary Soul Formation cultivator.*
Li Fan nodded inwardly.
Taking Lin Ling with him, he flew in the direction of Jiushan Province.
They had not flown for long when Lin Ling suddenly asked, "Master, why don't we travel underground? Flying in the sky is so slow."
Li Fan froze for a moment.
"Underground? What do you mean?"
Lin Ling's eyes widened as she looked at Li Fan.
Her mouth opened, eager to explain, but for a long time she could not conjure up the right words.
After a while, she slapped her forehead and transmitted an image into Li Fan's mind.
Almost instantaneously, Li Fan understood what she meant.
"The power of earth veins?"
"You can travel through the earth veins?" he couldn't help asking.
"Can't you, Master?" Lin Ling asked in surprise.
Seeing Li Fan fall silent, Lin Ling thought for a moment and comforted him, "It's all right, Master. I think I can take you with me."
Sensing her intent, Li Fan felt she was not lying.
He hesitated for a second, then nodded slowly. "Then let's give it a try."
"All right, Master! Hold on tight!" Seeing Li Fan agree, Lin Ling grew exceedingly excited.
A shroud of green light emerged around her body. Grabbing hold of Li Fan, she plunged abruptly from the sky into the ground.
Li Fan's vision went black at first.
Then it felt as if he had plunged into a raging torrent, surrounded entirely by surging, turbulent ochre energy.
The immense pressure nearly suffocated him.
Lin Ling, however, was like a fish in water. Not only could she move freely, she even seemed capable of drawing upon the endless power of the earth veins to bolster herself.
Whooping and cheering the entire way, she surged along the current of the earth veins.
In less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, the two had already arrived in Jiushan Province.
Chapter 823