Watching Ding Yun and the others leave,

Ding Bosheng waved his hand and closed the main gate.

"I've made a fool of myself in front of you..."

"As expected, people change. How long has she even been at the Hua Yuan Sect? She's only had a bit of Minor Achievement and already she couldn't wait to come show off in front of me... Sigh, she's no longer that well-behaved little girl from back then!"

Ding Bosheng sighed with a face full of regret.

Li Yun gave a hearty laugh but didn't take the bait.

He could see that Ding Bosheng still had some feelings for that Ding Yun, but this Ding Yun—how should he put it—was a bit too clever for her own good.

Having been away for three years, upon her return, if she had even just brought two pastries along, Ding Bosheng probably would have believed she was visiting out of sincerity.

But she didn't.

Not only did she come empty-handed, but she also got into a conflict with him, her nominal fellow disciple, and wanted to teach him a lesson. When that failed, she even lodged a malicious complaint right in front of Ding Bosheng, saying things she shouldn't have.

If those intentions could be hidden from the nine-hundred-year-old Ding Bosheng, then it would be a miracle.

However, this wasn't anything to be surprised about.

In a large forest, there are all kinds of birds.

A full bucket doesn't slosh, but a half-full one does. It was far too common for some people to obtain a tiny bit of Minor Achievement and then be unable to wait to show off in front of people they knew.

He didn't even bother to comment on it.

On the contrary, he was more curious about what Ding Bosheng had been doing during his hurried three or four-day absence.

Thus, he took the initiative to change the subject, saying, "Brother Ding, why did you suddenly come back? I thought you'd stay at your old friend's place for a few more days."

"Eh, don't mention it... That old friend of mine is also a victim of bad luck. He raised a grandson who's about your age, not even twenty yet... He's also a handful."

"A while back, he got a bunch of fair-weather friends together and went behind my old friend's back to Myriad Green Mountain to search for some fated opportunity. He thought he could use the fated opportunity to reach the heavens in a single step and make my old friend look at him in a new light, but he ended up getting trapped inside."

"He contacted me urgently because he wanted me to go with him to Myriad Green Mountain to fish the boy out!"

"Myriad Green Mountain? What kind of place is that?"

"Is it very dangerous? Your old friend can't handle it alone?"

Li Yun asked curiously.

Ding Bosheng shook his head. "This matter isn't that easy to handle."

"Myriad Green Mountain is north of Jinhe City. It's a vast mountain forest, but it's also a veritable danger zone. Not only are there Spirit Beasts roaming about, but it's said that Spirit Monsters are hidden there as well."

"Spirit Monsters?"

Li Yun's expression immediately became solemn. "Aren't those one of the Four Great Evils? Your old friend is quite brave, actually daring to provoke such existences. Does he not want his life anymore?"

Ding Bosheng shook his head and said, "You don't quite understand that part. Spirit Monsters do indeed belong to the Four Great Evils, but not all Spirit Monsters are ranked among them!"

"There's a difference?"

"Of course there's a difference!"

"The so-called Spirit Monsters are actually some flowers, plants, trees, or heavenly and earthly treasuress that have been nourished by spiritual energy of heaven and earth in certain special environments. Combined with some coincidental Opportunities, they develop intelligence and take form."

"This isn't exclusive to the Four Great Evils. From ancient times to the present, our Heavenly Ancient Continent has also given birth to many."

"Spirit Monsters born on the Heavenly Ancient Continent are, in a sense, the same as the people of our Heavenly Ancient Continent... These Spirit Monsters do not belong to the camp of the Four Great Evils."

Li Yun nodded and asked curiously, "If that's the case, then Myriad Green Mountain really has such powerful Spirit Monsters?"

Ding Bosheng nodded.

"Of course!"

"And not just one, but many. You might not believe it, but there's actually a fairly large Spirit Monster tribe hidden in Myriad Green Mountain. We call them the Treefolk."

"Their leader is transformed from a ten-thousand-year-old banyan tree. His strength is extremely formidable. Even though I have now reached the Dao Seed Realm, I might not necessarily be his match."

"Furthermore, the Treefolk are born with powerful physiques and vigorous vitality. They have very strong self-healing abilities... If an ordinary Martial Artist encounters them at the same Realm, they might not be the Treefolk's match unless three to five people join forces."

"Therefore, the several major cities around Myriad Green Mountain are all extremely wary of them, and they avoid conflict with the Treefolk as much as possible."

"At the same time, it is tacitly accepted that Myriad Green Mountain is the territory of the Treefolk. Under normal circumstances, the cities will order their subordinates to avoid setting foot in Myriad Green Mountain as much as possible."

"Even if they occasionally do, they try to stay within the outer dozens of miles of Myriad Green Mountain."

"Because the Treefolk don't like contact with the Human Race and generally don't appear in the outer regions of Myriad Green Mountain, this has become a long-standing understanding between the Treefolk and the surrounding major cities."

Li Yun couldn't help but sigh, "It's truly an eye-opener. As expected, if one doesn't take the initiative to go out and stays in the Eastern Cloud Continent forever, one can never witness the real world."

"But since that's the situation, what use is it for your old friend to look for you?"

"He can't expect you to charge into the depths of Myriad Green Mountain and forcibly rescue his grandson from the Treefolk, can he? That would be asking too much."

Ding Bosheng also let out a sigh, his expression very helpless.

"The trouble lies right there..."

"That old friend of mine is named Huang Fufeng, and his strength is also at the Peak of the Dharma Manifestation Realm. When I was young, I once owed him a favor, and it wasn't a small one. For many years, he never asked me for anything, until this time when he begged for my help. I can't exactly refuse, can I?"

"The key is that decades ago, when I once ventured deep into Myriad Green Mountain to find a specific heavenly and earthly treasures, I inadvertently befriended a Treefolk Protector."

"My old friend knows about this, which is why he sought me out, hoping I could ask that Treefolk Protector for some face and have the Treefolk release his grandson."

"Since it's not a matter of life and death, I have even less reason to refuse."

Li Yun was speechless.

"To think such a thing happened... It really is... No wonder people say that monetary debts are the easiest to repay, while debts of gratitude are the hardest. It's not a lie at all."

"You're right... But then again, even if it's hard to repay, it must be repaid. If Huang Fufeng hadn't helped me back then, I might not be where I am today."

"This favor must be acknowledged after all."

"In that case, how about I go with you?"

"You go with me? No... no, no, no... That won't do. Absolutely not."

Ding Bosheng was stunned for a moment and immediately refused.

His tone was very firm.

"I don't know what the outcome will be when I go to Myriad Green Mountain this time. I made a special trip back because there were things I wanted to explain to you so you wouldn't worry. How can I let you come with me?"

"No, definitely not."

Li Yun smiled. "Brother Ding, don't panic. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one. Having me accompany you will provide some support. Besides, don't forget, I have the Turning Willow Innate Divine Power. In a place like the Treefolk's territory, it might even provide an advantage at a critical moment."

"Worst-case scenario, if we really encounter a life-threatening crisis, I guarantee I have other means... I guarantee even that Treefolk leader won't be able to do anything to us!"

"Hehe... Mainly, it's my first time hearing about the existence of the Treefolk, and I want to see the world..."

"This... Well, alright then!"