The fusion of myriad worlds had brought boundless uncertainty. If one insisted on interpreting the present through the lens of old legends, they would surely suffer grave consequences—perhaps even die without understanding how. This, Yi Tianxing understood all too well.
The location might be the same, but the demons and monsters that now resided within? Entirely unpredictable. No one could say for sure. Only personal investigation could uncover the truth.
Moreover, truly powerful demons and ghosts did not adhere to the notion of being afraid of the daylight. Believing that would only bring one closer to death.
Even ghost races, once they reached a certain level of strength—such as the Life Diagram Realm or even the Dharma Phase Realm—would no longer fear the sun. While the sunlight in this world was harsher and more violent than any other, so too had the monsters and demons grown stronger.
They might dislike the sun instinctively, appearing less frequently in the day like snakes in winter—not because they couldn't survive it, but because they found it unpleasant. It wasn't fatal. Yet, by instinct, they would still choose to hibernate and avoid daylight.
"Darling, you're not seriously here at Lanruo Temple to chase beauties and bring home another sister-wife, are you? And a ghost, no less? I've seen stories about this place in the Scripture Pavilion. This is where the ghost Nie Xiaoqian appears, isn't it?" Cai Yan said, giving Yi Tianxing a playful, skeptical look after reading the temple's name.
It was true. The Scripture Pavilion housed countless unofficial histories and records. Whenever Cai Yan had spare time, she would immerse herself in those ancient tomes. A woman of letters by nature, she read virtually everything she could find. By chance, she had read the tale of Lanruo Temple.
Now, seeing that Yi Tianxing had actually come to the place, she couldn't help but suspect he was hoping to meet that famous female ghost.
Though Nie Xiaoqian had been a person in life and a ghost in death, the thought of her entering the royal palace felt a bit... off.
"Rest assured, no matter how beautiful Nie Xiaoqian is, she couldn't possibly compare to my three beloved wives," Yi Tianxing replied with a wry smile. "We came to Lanruo Temple because I received intelligence reports: something strange is going on here. Several bounty hunters entered and never returned. Their life soul-lamps have gone out. Besides, you can't just overlay old legends onto the current world. With the myriad worlds now fused, anything is possible."
"Hmph. Let's go, then. I want to see for myself what this so-called ghost looks like," Yao Yue said coldly and strode directly into the temple.
"Let's go," Yi Tianxing said, shaking his head and following behind.
One man and three women—each emanating an air of nobility—formed a striking contrast as they stepped into the dilapidated temple, seemingly out of place in its ruins.
Looking around, they saw the temple was indeed in severe disrepair. Both inside and out, cobwebs stretched like curtains. Clearly, it hadn't seen a visitor in ages. The doors had already collapsed into broken pieces on the ground, and the temple plaque was so damaged it was barely recognizable.
Yao Yue frowned slightly at the sight. With a wave of her hand, a strong wind swept away the dust and webs, not clearing it completely but at least making it somewhat presentable.
"In its prime, this temple must have been a world-renowned monastery. Judging by the number of halls, it must have housed many Buddha and Bodhisattva statues," Yi Tianxing commented with a smile.
Upon entering, they discovered that Lanruo Temple was much larger than legend described. It had both front and rear courtyards and several temple halls—now dilapidated, yet still retaining traces of former grandeur. Clearly, it had once enjoyed a steady stream of incense offerings and countless devotees.
"Hmm? Husband, look at that tree. It's so strange!"
"There's someone under the tree. No, not someone—a corpse! They're all shriveled up… But judging by the appearance, these are recent deaths."
As they entered the front courtyard, a small forest came into view. A chilling aura swept over them, as if they had stepped into an entirely different world. The front yard was vast, and above it, the sky swirled with eerie black clouds forming a massive vortex, though the ground remained strangely calm.
In the courtyard stood a cluster of bizarre trees, their trunks twisting like coiled dragons. Each trunk was as thick as an adult's thigh and reached heights of up to four meters. Their bark was pitch black, and their leaves were extremely tiny—no bigger than corn kernels and a vibrant red hue. The sight was uncanny.
Yi Tianxing immediately noticed the strangeness. A forest growing in a temple courtyard was odd enough. At first glance, the trees seemed ordinary, but his instincts whispered otherwise. He subconsciously activated the Wordless Heavenly Tome to investigate.
When he did, a flash of shock crossed his face, quickly replaced by joy and disbelief.
"How could this be? So many of them?!" he exclaimed.
"What kind of tree is it, husband?" Cai Yan asked curiously.
"They're Vajra Dragon-Subduing Trees—and not just ordinary ones. They've mutated. These are now Blood Vajra Dragon Trees," he said, taking a deep breath.
"Vajra Dragon-Subduing Trees?" the women echoed, visibly startled.
Even if they weren't scholars of botany, they had heard of the Vajra Dragon-Subduing Wood and knew how precious it was.
"Yes, the Vajra Dragon-Subduing Tree, also called Six-Path Wood, is said to bear six natural patterns on its trunk. It's incredibly hard—tougher than iron—and possesses Vajra Indestructibility. Even if cut down, it won't rot for a thousand years and remains unyielding. It's a sacred tree unique to Buddhist sects," Yi Tianxing explained.
"These trees are planted and nourished daily by monks chanting the Diamond Sutra, drawing strength from the scripture itself. Once mature, they become prime materials for crafting Buddhist artifacts—extremely durable and capable of subduing demons and monsters. Some even develop natural dragon patterns, and ancient ones may give birth to True Dragon Spirits that can protect the bearer or suppress evil. The benefits are endless."
Many temples were known to cultivate Vajra Dragon Trees, considering them sacred treasures. Though they were called trees, they were as tough as metal and essential for Buddhist relic crafting. Their value was measured in inches, not even by the tree—proof of how precious they were.
"It's raining!"
At that moment, Lian Xing held out her hand and looked at the red droplets landing on her palm. "Is this blood rain? It smells like blood."
Looking up, they saw the vortex clouds in the sky were now releasing a crimson drizzle.
This blood rain was confined to the front courtyard and fell gently over the Vajra Dragon Trees, lasting no more than a cup of tea's time before dispersing.
Yi Tianxing caught a droplet and sniffed it, frowning. "This isn't ordinary blood. It contains vital energy—drawn from living beasts. There's vitality in it that can't be found in dead blood. This came from living beings."
Strangely, the trees responded with obvious delight, stretching their tiny leaves and soaking in the rain like dry sponges absorbing water.
"That's not Vajra Dragon Wood. If it's a Buddhist sacred tree, how could it absorb blood energy?" Yao Yue said, frowning.
"According to records, Lanruo Temple once centered its teachings on the Diamond Sutra, so it's not impossible they cultivated Vajra Dragon Trees. But now, these have mutated. Without the nourishment of Buddhist scripture, they've transformed into Blood Vajra Dragon Trees—also known as Evil Vajra Trees. They feed on blood and vital essence."
Yi Tianxing paused for a breath before continuing. "According to what I've learned, Blood Vajra Dragon Trees can be used to craft soul-bound treasures."
The women all paled slightly at the implication.
These trees were now a form of sinister wood—perfect for soul artifacts, but highly dangerous. Such treasures would influence the user's temperament, making them bloodthirsty and malicious. They could drag a person into darkness, corrupting even their very soul.
"Even carrying the wood is risky. It's heavy—denser than gold or steel. Most cultivators can't even bear the weight," Yi Tianxing added.
"A single tree would be considered priceless… and now there's an entire forest. What's going on here?" Cai Yan said in astonishment.
It was a treasure trove beyond imagination. Yet the sudden appearance of so many of these rare trees—trees that shouldn't exist in such numbers—made her feel deeply uneasy.
"Don't worry, they're real. I'd know immediately if they were fake," Yi Tianxing assured her with confidence.
"So what now? Do we try to move them all?" Lian Xing blinked as she posed the question.
Everyone fell silent. After all, transplanting Blood Vajra Dragon Trees, with roots embedded deep into Vajra Earth, would be no simple task.