Gazing at the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree in the distance, everyone felt a great deal of curiosity. They all had a feeling there was more to it than met the eye.

The Dragon Cat also glanced over, its crafty eyes darting about as a thoughtful expression appeared on its face.

"Do you know something about that tree?"

Ye Wushuang’s eyes narrowed as he asked again. Looking at the map, the most prominent mark was precisely the location of the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree.

Moreover, the place where the Wood Essence was said to appear was also in the vicinity of the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree.

The others shifted their gazes from the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree to the Dragon Cat, their expressions also filled with curiosity.

"It’s too far away. Lord Cat’s eyesight isn’t what it used to be. Let’s talk after we get closer."

The Dragon Cat waved a paw uncertainly and said to Ye Wushuang, "Get a little closer. Lord Cat wants to see if it’s really that thing!"

Ye Wushuang thought for a moment, then turned to the person beside him. "Brother Feng, the location where the Wood Essence will appear should be over by the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree. Shall we go take a look together?"

Feng Yang smiled. "I have no objections. I was just thinking I’d like to see for myself what kind of Divine Object that Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree is."

However.

But just as Ye Wushuang and Feng Yang were speaking, Qianling’s brow furrowed deeply. Her body trembled slightly, and her pretty face was already covered in beads of sweat.

Beside her, Yangg Qing’er seemed to notice something was wrong and turned to ask, "Senior Sister Qianling, what’s the matter?"

Ye Wushuang turned his head and strode forward. Seeing Qianling’s strange condition, his heart sank. It was as if she were enduring some kind of torment.

Her body was trembling, as if she was about to collapse.

Ye Wushuang stepped forward and supported one of her delicate arms. Through it, he could feel her body trembling violently.

"What’s happening?" Ye Wushuang asked with concern.

Qianling looked up and forced a smile.

Dii Qingxue, Feng Yang, Ye Rou, and Yuann Qingmeng also gathered around, watching with confused expressions.

"Before, when we first stepped into this Primordial Forest, I felt a mysterious voice ringing in my ears. I thought it was a hallucination, so I didn’t tell anyone."

"But as we went deeper and got closer to the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree, that voice became clearer and clearer. It’s a constant buzzing, bombarding my Divine Court."

Qianling spoke with difficulty, her face growing pale.

The Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree!

Everyone frowned, not understanding the connection.

"Have any of the rest of you heard this sound?"

Ye Wushuang asked the others thoughtfully.

However, everyone shook their heads. Along the way, aside from encountering the Thousand Demon Tree, they hadn’t faced any other dangers.

The Dragon Cat, on the other hand, had its eyes darting about rapidly, as if it had guessed something. It shouted, "Kid, take her to the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree."

"No!" Yangg Qing’er objected. "The closer Senior Sister Qianling gets to that Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree, the worse her pain becomes. Won’t going there just be harming her?"

"Don’t worry. Lord Cat won’t harm her. Going there won’t necessarily hurt her. In fact, there might be something unexpected waiting for her," the Dragon Cat said, leaving them in suspense.

No one else spoke, waiting for Ye Wushuang’s decision.

"Junior Brother, let’s go take a look!" Qianling said through gritted teeth. "Although the voice is indistinct and it’s disrupting my Divine Sense, it’s getting clearer as we go deeper. I want to find out what it’s saying."

Ye Wushuang pondered for a moment before nodding.

Looking at Qianling, who was trembling so much she could barely stand, Ye Wushuang hesitated for a moment before sweeping her up into his arms.

Huh?

Watching this scene, Meng Fanx and the others exchanged suggestive glances.

Ye Wushuang turned his head and glanced at Dii Qingxue.

Dii Qingxue didn’t seem to mind, but she was unaware of the pairs of slightly resentful eyes that were fixed on him.

Ye Wushuang’s expression didn’t change much. Given Qianling’s condition, this was the only way; otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to walk at all.

Of course.

Qianling, however, was not as thick-skinned as he was. A dozen pairs of eyes were staring at them, many with a hint of suggestiveness. Anyone could understand the meaning behind their looks.

Because of this, a faint blush appeared on Qianling’s pale face.

This was the second time she had been in Ye Wushuang’s arms. That familiar sense of security washed over her again, making her feel at ease.

"Let’s go."

Ye Wushuang continued forward, with Yangg Qing’er following close behind. A trace of sadness flickered in Ye Rou’s eyes, but she concealed it well.

As for Yuann Qingmeng, her face was a picture of envy and resentment!

"The Captain seems to have good fortune with the ladies wherever he goes," Meng Fanx and the others remarked, looking at the figures ahead. They exchanged smiles and prepared to move.

But a voice piped up from behind them, "What do you guys know? That’s the Captain, caring for his teammate. He’s a good person, understand? You’re so ignorant."

When Meng Fanx turned around, he saw the Dragon Cat, who had been pushed aside, glaring at them irritably.

At that, the men all looked at each other and burst into laughter. "Right, our mistake. It’s the Captain, caring for his teammate."

Up ahead, hearing the Dragon Cat’s words, Ye Wushuang paused. The corner of his mouth twitched, and a blush crept onto his face. The originally innocent statement sounded completely different coming from that creature.

He looked down at Qianling. Their eyes met, and she instantly turned her head away, her gaze flustered.

Ye Wushuang smiled faintly. ’This woman smells rather nice!’

"Hey, kid, was Lord Cat right or not?"

the Dragon Cat asked Meng Fanx.

Meng Fanx turned with a smile and nodded in agreement.

The Dragon Cat said, "Since I’m right, can Lord Cat borrow your shoulder?"

"Borrow my shoulder?" Meng Fanx was taken aback, not understanding what the Dragon Cat wanted. But, remembering it was the Captain’s pet, he nodded.

Seeing this, the Dragon Cat grinned, leaped onto Meng Fanx’s shoulder, and said, "Lord Cat hasn’t eaten in days and has no energy to walk. I’ll just rest on your shoulder. Let’s keep moving."

With that, the Dragon Cat lay down and closed its eyes.

At this, the corner of Meng Fanx’s mouth twitched. He was utterly defeated by this shameless cat. He glanced at Chengg Tao and saw that his face was dark as well.

Leaving the hill, Ye Wushuang’s party headed toward the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree.

As they drew closer to the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree, the voice in Qianling’s ears became increasingly clear.

「About an hour later.」

The group approached the Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree. Seen up close, it was even more spectacular. The tree before them was thick beyond imagination.

"How are you feeling now?"

Ye Wushuang stopped and asked Qianling.

"I’m much better."

Qianling glanced at Ye Wushuang and stepped out of his embrace.

In truth, she had already been fine for the past half an hour.

But for some reason, she hadn’t wanted to leave that familiar, safe embrace.

"That voice... what did it say?"

Ye Wushuang asked. The others beside them also turned to look, clearly curious.

Qianling didn’t answer immediately. Staring at the sky-piercing giant tree not far away, she said with a puzzled expression, "The voice... it told me to come up."

"It seems Lord Cat’s guess was correct. This Heaven-Reaching Ancient Tree is the legendary Life Tree, the Guardian Divine Tree of the Elf Clan."

The Dragon Cat leaped joyfully from Meng Fanx’s shoulder and landed beside Ye Wushuang.