"Who set this up?"
Gu Yue, the Snow Empress, and the Ice Empress all recognized the Bilin Seven Absolutes Flower. Their expressions instantly became very solemn.
Bilin Seven Absolutes Flowers are not gregarious plants. Such a large number gathered here clearly indicated that someone had intentionally transplanted them and provided them with ample nutrients, allowing them to thrive.
"Who else? With such a grand scale, who do you think could accomplish this?" Lu Jingming slightly pursed his lips.
On the Douluo Continent, even with the abilities of a Titled Douluo, it would be impossible to complete such a vast and complex arrangement. No one possessed such strength and means apart from the high and mighty deities.
Gu Yue, the Snow Empress, and the Ice Empress were not foolish. After a brief thought, they quickly connected it to the Sea God Tang San from ten thousand years ago. After all, during that period, only this newly ascended deity had the capability to do all of this. Moreover, the anomaly in the Sunset Forest also began ten thousand years ago, and the chronological match made it easy for them to pinpoint the target.
"Step back!"
Lu Jingming extended his right hand, and the Stigmata instantly glowed red. The phantom of the Great Mercy Tree King slowly appeared behind him. Green light converged into a sacred halo, hovering behind Lu Jingming, emanating a powerful aura of life.
At Lu Jingming's command, the previously quietly arranged Bilin Seven Absolutes Flowers, driven by him, scattered to both sides, clearing a wide path. At the same time, the pervasive greenish poisonous mist in the air was reabsorbed into the petals by these Bilin Seven Absolutes Flowers, and the flowers themselves drooped, signifying their submission to the King of a Thousand Trees.
"Let's go, I'll take you to see something good!" Lu Jingming smiled faintly.
As the King of a Thousand Trees and the God of Life, the Great Mercy Tree King possessed a natural restraining ability over these plant-type soul beasts. Under the deterrent aura of the Great Mercy Tree King, these Bilin Seven Absolutes Flowers dared not act presumptuously.
Gu Yue, the Snow Empress, and the Ice Empress all looked at Lu Jingming with expressions full of surprise.
Especially Gu Yue, who was well-informed, her knowledge and insights inherited from the Dragon God far surpassing those of the Snow Empress and Ice Empress. The phantom that had appeared behind Lu Jingming just now was very likely the projection of a deity, and judging by its aura, it was actually a deity who commanded life.
Gu Yue was very confused. She knew the Goddess of Life, but what about the goddess emanating such a strong life aura behind Lu Jingming just now? She had always been curious about Lu Jingming, yet she could never truly see through him; he remained unfathomable. Lu Jingming clearly harbored many unknown secrets. Although Gu Yue was curious about this, she had no intention of delving into every detail. In her opinion, trying to understand everything was too exhausting. She only needed to confirm that Lu Jingming held no ill will towards her, and that was enough.
The group passed through the poisonous array formed by the Bilin Seven Absolutes Flowers, and before them appeared a downward-sloping valley.
The valley entrance was shrouded in a large amount of green poisonous mist. This mist was like a thick liquid, completely obscuring the view below, making it impossible to see the bottom of the valley.
The Snow Empress gently raised her hand, and with a sweep, extreme cold air surged out. Under the terrifying low temperature of the Ultimate Ice, the green poisonous mist instantly froze, and most of it dissipated into the air.
Using the path opened by the Ultimate Ice, Lu Jingming and the others flew down into the valley without hesitation. As they continuously descended, the surrounding green poisonous mist gradually thinned, and the scenery on the valley cliffs slowly became clear.
They saw that on the valley cliffs, azure blue vines with colorful patterns began to stir, as if awakened by their arrival. These vines, like giant pythons, swiftly swept towards Lu Jingming and the others.
The vines whipped through the air, making crackling sounds. Each swing carried a terrifying whoosh of wind, and in terms of power alone, they were no less than a full-strength attack from an ordinary Soul King.
"Hmph!" The Ice Empress snorted coldly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.
She clenched her five fingers into a claw shape and forcefully swept them out. Five emerald green claw lights streaked across the void like lightning, instantly striking those azure blue vines.
With a crisp snapping sound, the vines broke in response, and blue viscous liquid flowed from the broken ends, emitting a pungent odor. With the Ice Empress taking action, those vines could not even get close to Lu Jingming and the others.
The group smoothly descended over three hundred meters deep, finally escaping the entanglement and harassment of the blue vines, and continued to fall towards the depths of the valley.
Soon, as Lu Jingming and the others gradually approached the valley floor, their bodies suddenly paused, and a dreamlike scene abruptly appeared before them, as if they had stepped into a fairyland on earth.
Since the sky was covered by layers of colorful poisonous mist, sunlight scattered down through the mist, making the entire valley appear as if it were illuminated by a magnificent rainbow. Every inch of space was filled with enchanting colors, so vibrant and moving that it made one hold their breath.
Looking towards the distant cliff face, it was covered with the dark blue vines that had previously attacked them. These vines intertwined with each other, and under the refraction of the sunlight, each one sparkled with colorful light. From a distance, the entire cliff face looked like a giant work of art forged from countless colorful gems.
Although the valley's area was not vast, it was like a vibrant plant kingdom. All sorts of plants grew wantonly here, presenting a kaleidoscope of colors that was dazzling to behold, as if nature had poured all the colors of the world into this small space.
Various delicate and alluring flowers vied for beauty, some red like fire, some pink like rosy clouds, some white like snow. They swayed gently in the breeze, as if participating in a silent beauty pageant. Various vegetations were lush and leafy, their branches laden with plump, round fruits, exuding an enticing aroma.
Even more astonishingly, many plants emitted precious glows of varying strengths. These lights were either soft or dazzling; even just by looking, one could easily perceive the extraordinary and precious nature of these plants.
And in the center of this ocean of plants, all the vegetation seemed to guard a strange lake, like stars revolving around the moon.
This lake, like a masterpiece of nature's uncanny craftsmanship, was distinctly divided into two completely different parts. One side appeared icy white, with faint white mist continuously rising from the surface, as if wisps of cold air were escaping from it, making one feel a chill just by looking from afar. The other side was a fiery red, and the light on the lake surface was slightly distorted, as if scorched by high temperatures, emitting an undeniable scorching aura.
Red and white, two colors intertwined, like two peerless, enormous jade stones perfectly inlaid into this land, breathtakingly beautiful.
The air was filled with a rich, almost materialized aura of life. It was precisely under the fusion of ice and fire and the evaporation of the lake water that this vigorous life force permeated every corner of the valley, making one feel as if they were in the very source of life.
"This is...?" Not to mention the Snow Empress and Ice Empress, even the well-informed Gu Yue couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly, her face showing surprise.
The richness of the life aura contained within this valley was actually no less than that of the Lake of Life where her true body slept. Such terrifying vitality was simply a paradise for plant-type soul beasts. It was hard to imagine how many rare and precious plant-type heavenly treasures would be nurtured here.
What confused Gu Yue even more was that in this mysterious valley, she actually sensed a familiar aura. Especially that lake where ice and fire intertwined, it caused an inexplicable sense of concern to well up in her heart, as if deep within this lake, there was something inextricably linked to her.
Lu Jingming's lips slightly curved upward. His gaze slowly turned to a large pink flower closest to the lake. He recognized it at first glance; it should be the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Product. Then, his gaze swept around, identifying other immortal herbs one by one.
Like a giant cabbage, yet entirely fiery red like flames, the Fierce Flame Apricot Jiaoshu. With eight angles and an icy blue color like a deep glacier, the Eight-Corner Profound Ice Grass. Seemingly ordinary, yet shaped like a peony and exuding a mysterious aura, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.
And then there was the golden, dazzling Qiluo Tulip, emanating an intoxicating and charming fragrance.
These precious immortal herbs were all rare treasures on the Douluo Continent, hard to come by.
At the same time, the power from the World Tree Stigmata allowed Lu Jingming to immediately detect the awakening of four consciousnesses. In this Ice and Fire Well, there were exactly four immortal herbs that had reached the 100,000-year immortal herb level and had gained sentience. Although the other immortal herbs were also of considerable age, most still only had instincts and had not yet awakened their intelligence.
"Humans, how did you get in here?"
Just as Lu Jingming and the three others slowly landed on the ground, the large pink petals gently swayed, and then a clear and melodious female voice, like a yellow oriole emerging from a valley, slowly sounded.
"Hmm? A 100,000-year soul beast!"
The Snow Empress and Ice Empress's expressions instantly solidified. In the common understanding of the Douluo Continent, only soul beasts that had cultivated to the 100,000-year realm could typically speak human words.
"I am not a 100,000-year soul beast. I am only ten thousand years old this year." The large pink flower seemed somewhat displeased. Its petals swayed a few times, and then a dreamlike pink fragrance permeated the air.
This fragrance was sweet and refreshing, instantly invigorating the mind and lifting the spirits.
Lu Jingming and the others naturally wouldn't fear this fragrance being poisonous. Lu Jingming had the Abyssal White Flower and the power of the Great Mercy Tree King; what kind of potent poison could pose a threat to him? The Snow Empress and Ice Empress possessed the power of Ultimate Ice, giving them a natural resistance to toxins, so they also had no fear. As for Gu Yue, as the incarnation of the Silver Dragon King, how could she be troubled by a mere toxin?
"With the life energy here, a plant-type soul beast growing here for one year is equivalent to ten years in the outside world."
Lu Jingming's expression was calm as he explained faintly.
Great Mercy Tree King.