Yun Ya and she strode out with large steps, noticing spider-web-like cracks splitting across the ground to their left front.

Animals frantically fled from the shrubbery, rushing past the two of them. With one glance, she saw a leopard running in front of a moose, not looking back at all. Above them came a sudden fluttering as birds and bats desperately flapped their wings, flying away as fast as possible.

Could this sound be… Feng Miaojun turned back in horror, seeing the horizon stained red with flames and fire.

It was coming from the direction of Cliff Mountain.

The previously clear white sky turned black-gray in an instant. Thick smoke rolled upward into the heavens, and even among the clouds flashed dark red—storm clouds were gathering.

Although she hadn’t witnessed such a scene in her previous life, it was obvious that this was… a volcanic eruption!

“Let’s go,” Yun Ya said after a glance, then turned around. “Volcanic ash will float over soon; we cannot linger here.” The volcanic ash particles were extremely small, capable of invading respiratory systems, and with the help of the impending strong winds and thunderstorms, they would become heavy and sticky.

Feng Miaojun didn’t hesitate. She rushed into the cave, packed up their belongings, and left with Yun Ya. Just then, a herd of deer ran past them. Among them, one stag was particularly tall with impressive, towering antlers. Yun Ya struck its forehead with his palm, leaving it dizzy and disoriented. By the time it regained its senses, a person was already sitting on its back.

The deer was about to throw a tantrum and stomp its hooves when it sensed the terrifying pressure emanating from the creature on its back, scaring it so badly its legs went weak. How could it possibly struggle now?

This deer was quite robust, carrying two people with apparent ease. Yun Ya patted the space behind him and said, “Get on.”

This guy tries to conserve energy at every opportunity, doesn’t he? Feng Miaojun unhesitatingly jumped on behind him. Yun Ya lightly squeezed his legs, and the stag obediently bounded forward, moving with remarkable stability, which made Feng Miaojun marvel, “This deer seems to understand humans so well, actually willing to carry us as we flee.”

Yun Ya smiled without saying a word.

With him handling the direction, Feng Miaojun could safely turn back to look at the volcano. She saw pillars of flame devouring the sky, erupting more violently than before. Blood-red lava gushed from the mountain’s opening, flowing down in all directions like boiling soup. Everything in its path, even the snow-covered forests, turned to ashes in the raging fire.

Thick smoke blotted out the sky, creating an apocalyptic scene.

The might of heaven and earth had reached such extremes. Without witnessing it firsthand, it would be impossible to describe even a fraction of its grandeur with mere words.

And this was from a distance. If they had been standing near Cliff Mountain, the scene would undoubtedly be even more spectacular… and dangerous.

Even twenty li away, large burning rocks fell from the sky, creating deep craters in the ground—she watched in horror as a musk deer was smashed into meat paste right in front of them.

Feng Miaojun was dazed and disoriented before finally finding her voice: “Did the volcano suddenly erupt because we uprooted that tree?”

Yun Ya made a sound of agreement: “Cliff Mountain has always been an active volcano, relying on the Blood Tree’s absorption of geothermal energy to maintain a thousand years of silence. We dug up the tree and damaged the earth’s crust with explosions—it would be strange if it didn’t erupt.”

The one who damaged the earth’s crust wasn’t “we”! She cursed inwardly but expressed surprise outwardly: “The Blood Tree is that powerful!” A creature capable of suppressing the earth’s true fire was indeed extraordinary. “But Master… Ti said it still needed a hundred years to mature. Why did you take it out now, my lord?”

“He miscalculated,” Yun Ya said.

“…” Was the reason really that simple and direct?

He turned his head slightly, giving Feng Miaojun a perfect view of his profile. “You’ve heard of the Blood Tree before?”

“It was mentioned in the ‘Dragon Geographic Records’,” Feng Miaojun replied naturally. “I read that book in the Smoky Sea Tower.”

“You haven’t seen it mentioned elsewhere?”

She thought for quite a while: “No, I haven’t.”

“Only that geographic record mentions the Blood Tree; other rare object records don’t include it. However, there’s a problem with that source.” He gave a light laugh. “It calculated the Blood Tree fruit’s maturation time a hundred years too late.”

Feng Miaojun asked curiously: “If the ‘Dragon Geographic Records’ is the only source documenting it, how did you know it was wrong?”

Yun Ya chuckled: “Do you still want to hear what happens next?”

“…Yes.” Before such overwhelming force, she could only bow her head.

“The Blood Tree takes five hundred years to root and sprout, five hundred years to grow branches and leaves, and five hundred years to flower and bear fruit. Calculating from that, the final stage should be happening right about now.” Yun Ya sneered. “But how could a Blood Tree buried underground possibly bear fruit on its own?”

Bear fruit on its own? Feng Miaojun was initially confused, but after pondering for a while, she finally let out a long “Eh?” with a strange expression: “You mean this tree needs polliKingdom?!”

Yun Ya shrugged in response.

Feng Miaojun never imagined that his reasons for wounding the spider king, excavating the underground palace, single-handedly fighting the fire spirit, and even turning the entire Cliff Mountain back into an active volcano were for such an absurd reason:

The Blood Tree had flowered but hadn’t been pollinated, so it couldn’t bear fruit…

She rubbed her nose, uncertain how to react. Thinking more carefully, the Blood Tree wasn’t originally suited to grow underground. Although it was strong enough to absorb earth fire for its use, that probably wasn’t its preferred nourishment, which is why it remained small and weak. As for bearing fruit, the lava sea was originally sealed off—where would wind and insects come from to pollinate it?

“Besides, do you think its fruit is the most important part?”

If not?

“The Blood Tree’s fruit is extremely poisonous, even…” At this point, Yun Ya paused suddenly and changed his words, “Living beings cannot consume it.”

Feng Miaojun secretly sneered but pretended not to notice. Was he originally going to say that even he couldn’t survive it, but was afraid of her overhearing? Little did he know that she was the person least likely in this world to harm his life, and the one who most hoped he would live long and prosper. “Then why did you go to such lengths to bring it out?”

“The Blood Tree’s fruit cannot be used, but its pollen is greatly nourishing. Especially this one that has lived in the earth’s core for too long, transforming the absorbed true fire essence into gentle spiritual energy. Its pollen is particularly precious—worth not just ten thousand gold, but even ten thousand spirit stones would be considered cheap. Consuming it can strengthen one’s foundation and essence, replenishing deficiencies and losses.” The greatness of plants lies in their ability to transform the sun’s fierce true fire into nourishment that sustains all living things; what the Blood Tree does is simply absorb the even more concentrated and domineering true fire from the earth’s core, condensing it into special and precious nutrients.

“During the process of practicing divine techniques, cultivators try various methods to nurture their foundation, but there’s always some degree of depletion. For example, drawing the sun’s true fire into the body daily will damage the meridians—over the years, this cannot be taken lightly.” After saying this in one breath, he paused briefly before continuing, “This substance, when diluted tenfold through alchemy for ordinary people to use, can extend life and preserve youth.”

She softly responded with an “Oh,” understanding now.

So Yun Ya dug up the tree for its pollen. In plain terms, the Blood Tree’s pollen could help cultivators restore vigorous vitality, while ordinary people could live a bit longer after consuming it.

Thinking of this, something stirred in her heart.