If he hadn't refined it while the small tree was still a sapling, refining it now wouldn't be so easy.

But this Nether Tree opportunity wasn't discovered by him first; it was by another presence.

That presence must be continuing to search for traces of the Nether Tree in the surroundings. After all, such a great opportunity isn't something that one would easily give up.

Song Yan could sense that this presence likely hasn't reached the Divine Infant Realm, at least not since their divine sense was suppressed by him, and one who can discern the secrets of the ancient tomb must either be a Celestial Demon or related to the Dragon Tomb Ancient Race.

So, he opened the Yin Mansion Sacrificial Array, emitting Netherworld's Qi, not only to attract the Celestial Calamity Beast and test it but also as bait, trying to lure the hidden coveter and eliminate them to prevent future troubles.

Yet, as many days passed, the other party hasn't shown any sign of action.

Song Yan was never one to harbor wishful thinking. At this moment, he pondered: 'Could it be that they haven't discovered this yet? Then I'll try repeatedly in a short period.'

...

A few days later...

The pitch-black Netherworld's Qi rose again from the depths of the mountains.

The surrounding earth beasts suddenly turned their heads and surged wildly.

At the center, the white-robed Immortal rose with a sword, initiating another massacre.

...

A month later...

Two months later...

On this day, Song Yan once again devoured a new batch of earth beasts with the Nether Tree.

The continuous absorption of life energy caused the Nether Tree sapling to grow roots, long like sea demon tentacles that disregarded the hardness of stones and spread directly downward, simultaneously beginning to actively absorb energy from the earth.

Song Yan focused his mind and looked at this Nether Tree, silently saying: 'Invest one day's lifespan, visualize this tree.'

[You visualized 'Poxusahua', but nothing happened]

'Poxusahua?'

Song Yan immediately knew the mysterious name of this small tree. However, after considering for a while, he felt that this inexplicable "Poxusahua" was not as smooth as 'Nether Tree', so he said: "Let's continue calling you Nether Tree."

He paused for thought, suddenly waved his hand, and took from the storage bag the corpse of the Killing Demon Monk from the Ancient Purple Mansion Realm, then silently said: 'With Poxusahua, the corpse in front, and the incomplete simulated state of the "Netherworld Corpse Demon Corpse Refining Secret Technique" as the target, refine the Netherworld Corpse Demon.'

[A year later, nothing happened, but your understanding of the "Netherworld Corpse Demon Corpse Refining Secret Technique" slightly deepened]

[Two years later, you made no progress]

[Three years later, you still made no progress]

Song Yan temporarily stopped.

Previously, in the ancestral land of the Formless Ancient Race, he gained a hundred years of calming time, which allowed him to store considerable lifespan, but he would not waste it recklessly.

And this time of contemplation made him realize one thing: the Ancient Purple Mansion Realm corpse and Netherworld's Qi are indeed necessary materials for refining the Netherworld Corpse Demon, but still insufficient.

He paused for thought, failing to find an answer, then temporarily set it aside, turning to consider the recently vanished earth beast corpses within the Sacrificial Array and pondered another issue.

Clearly, the life energy provided by the earth beasts of the Crimson Palace Level is exceptionally scarce, or perhaps the energy efficiency he and the Nether Tree can extract from lower leveled life forms is extraordinarily low.

To advance further, sacrifices of stronger life forms are needed.

Song Yan suddenly recalled Demon Mother Su Yao, who had strategized for a thousand years, willing to spend enormous time to deceive numerous cultivators into cultivating the "Demon Infant Sutra," fabricating the lie "Demon Infant as a substitute for Divine Infant, can enter the Divine Infant Realm more steadily" all in order to gain higher life forms for self-sacrifice.

The quantity of sacrifices is necessary, but the quality is more crucial.

Otherwise, the Nine-Child Demon Mother would have descended long ago.

The way he currently employs to devour the Celestial Calamity Beast in a fishing manner appears grand, but without a stronger presence amongst these beasts, his progress is arguably even less than that of the Nine-Child Demon Mother.

Of course, the Nine-Child Demon Mother does not have his Nether Tree.

Song Yan silently analyzed.

At this time, seeing the Nether Tree rooted in the mountains, absorbing life energy from the earth, he scanned the distance with his divine sense.

The mountains lay in silence, many places having become ruins, devoid of birds and beasts, only thin threads of Netherworld Qi lingering, condensing and dispersing, black infinitely diluted into mournful pale grey, resembling a bleak haze.

Compared to the vast terrestrial expanse, this Netherworld Qi is laughably thin indeed. But Song Yan noticed that this Qi is increasing, and the areas from which it emerges are no longer limited to the surroundings of the ancient tomb but extending to broader earth realm territories.

If someday this Netherworld Qi seeps beneath a prosperous inland city, the consequences would be unimaginable.

That day would truly mark the beginning of doomsday.

Cultivators may struggle briefly, mortals would be like fish on a chopping board, with nowhere to escape.

How ruthless this world is.

Song Yan sighed inwardly.

However, his current concern wasn't such distant matters.

His concern was why the "Nether Tree coveter" hasn't made any move yet?

This is not logical.

Dead?

Unlikely.

Song Yan's eyes flickered.

He always contemplates the worst-case scenarios with caution or potential crises and would implement measures immediately upon forming an idea, never indulging in any thinking like "it probably isn't possible," "should be fine," "surely it's not so coincidental," "thinking too much," or similar wishful thoughts.

He would not tire in addressing some unfavorable possibility, even if the consequences haven't erupted, or others haven't noticed it yet, and would willingly act.

'If the opponent is still alive, sees the Netherworld Qi here, yet does not come, then what might they do?'

'With me having annihilated all the earth beasts, plus my divine sense prevailed over them that day, would they think they likely aren't my match?'

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.