Ling Tian stood, his eyes fixed on Lianhua as the demon spirit drained her soul power. His eyes blazed with a golden light as he invoked the Auric Surge, his spirit energy bursting forth like a solar flare.
The air rippled with intense heat, scorching the dark aura surrounding Lianhua. "You dare to sully Lianhua's purity?" Ling Tian's voice thundered, his tone akin to clashing thunderheads.
With a flick of his wrist, the dark spirit summoned tenebrous chains, their eerie black tendrils snapping towards Lianhua like living whips.
Ling Tian's hands glowed with a soft white light as he called out, "Lingjian, manifest!" The air around him distorted, and a magnificent spirit sword materialized in his grasp.
The dark spirit's eyes narrowed, sensing the spirit sword's power. "You dare summon a Foundation Establishment spirit sword against me?" The dark spirit sneered, yet its voice hinted at caution.
"Lingjian, dispel darkness!" Ling Tian thundered. His white blade erupted into a sovereign glow, a brilliant light that repelled the dark spirit's aura. Swift, glowing white strikes seemed almost invisible as they slashed through the air, exploding the dark spirits and leaving the roots smoldering.
The tree's roots recoiled, momentarily stunned. Lianhua stumbled back, gasping for breath. "Ling Tian...thank you."
Rui Li's eyes widened in awe. "Ling Tian, your spirit sword...it's incredible!"
Ling Tian's chest heaved with exhaustion, but his eyes burned with a fierce determination. "We're not done yet. We need to destroy the heart of the tree."
The tree's roots began to stir once more, their twisted forms writhing like living serpents. The air grew thick with malevolent energy, and the tree's heart pounded louder, as if sensing its own demise. " Ling Tian, how did you obtain the Creation's power?" Rui Li asked, his voice laced with concern. "You haven't reached Nascent Soul, yet you can create a mid-level spirit sword."
Ling Tian's eyes locked onto the tree's roots, which were closing in on them. "No time to explain, Rui Li. We need to focus on destroying the heart of the tree."
The three friends stood firm, ready to face the incoming roots. Ling Tian's body was injured, but he stood tall, his spirit unbroken.
Lianhua charged forward, her sword flashing with a level one energy blast. She struck the root, cutting through it with ease.
Rui Li and Ling Tian combined their powers, forming a dual harmony resonance. Their energy manifest element fusion, a blend of fire and fire, creating an inferno essence. Together, they struck the roots with all their might, shattering them into pieces.
The ground shook violently, and the tree's roots recoiled in response. But one root remained, striking Rui Li with deadly precision. It pierced through his heart, and Ling Tian's eyes widened in horror.
With a swift motion, Ling Tian took Lianhua's sword and cut the root into pieces. He knelt beside Rui Li, holding his head and pleading, "Rui Li, please stay with us. We lost Wei Chen, and we can't lose you too."
Rui Li's eyes fluttered open, and he whispered, "Destroy...the heart...Ling."
With those final words, Rui Li's eyes closed, and his body went limp. Ling Tian's face contorted in anguish, and he let out a heart-wrenching cry. "Rui Li!!!"
Tears streamed down his face as he held Rui Li's lifeless body. His spirit sword, still clutched in his hand, seemed to fade into the background as his grief overwhelmed him.
Lianhua approached them, her eyes filled with sadness. She placed a hand on Ling Tian's shoulder, trying to comfort him.
Ling Tian's eyes slowly rose, his gaze locking onto the tree's heart. His fist clenched, and he summoned his spirit sword once more. "Lianhua, distract them. I'm going to destroy the heart."
The roots began to grow again, sensing Ling Tian's intent. Lianhua nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'll hold them off. Go, Ling Tian!"
Ling Tian's eyes fixed straight on the heart, his determination burning brighter with every step. Lianhua fought valiantly, her sword slicing through the roots as she protected Ling Tian's back.
She quickly conjured a level 4 flower shield, its delicate petals blocking the relentless attacks. The heart vibrated with anticipation as Ling Tian approached, and the roots suddenly ceased their assault on Lianhua, turning their attention to Ling Tian.
With mere steps to go, one of the roots ensnared Ling Tian's legs, slowing his pace. The other roots closed in, binding him tightly. Ling Tian strained against the roots, his muscles bulging as he forced himself free.
"Lianhua, quickly! Use your sword to pierce and destroy the heart!" Ling Tian shouted, his voice urgent.
But Lianhua was also entwined by the roots, her struggles futile against their crushing grip. The roots tightened, breaking their bones with sickening cracks.
Just as all seemed lost, the diamond mark on Ling Tian's forehead glowed with a fierce light. A greenish orb emerged, accompanied by the ring, and together they burst forth with incredible energy. The orb illuminated the heart, and its pounding ceased abruptly. The roots began to wither, releasing Ling Tian and Lianhua from their deadly grasp.
Seizing the opportunity, Ling Tian cut through the remaining roots and hurled himself towards the heart. With a mighty cry, he plunged his spirit sword into the heart, its brilliant white light exploding outward as the heart shattered.
The blast sent Ling Tian tumbling backward, his soul energy depleted. Lianhua rushed to his side, supporting him as he struggled to stand.
The orb and ring returned to the diamond mark seal, and Ling Tian felt an intense power coursing through him. As he rose, his eyes locked onto a circle of glassy white light, its surface cracked and worn.
"A cultivator has been here before," Lianhua whispered, her eyes wide with awe.
Ling Tian's gaze fell upon a blue light emanating from the circle. He approached cautiously, his hand extended to punch through the glassy surface. The circle shattered, revealing a hidden compartment containing a high-grade treasure – the Jade Emperor's staff.
As Ling Tian grasped the staff, its power surged through him, and a blast of blue light shot into the sky, signaling the staff's return.
Ling Tian and Lianhua departed, their hearts heavy with the loss of Rui Li and Wei Chen. "We have to look for the rest," Ling Tian said, his voice low and laced with sadness.
As they walked away, the tree's heart began to pound once more, its malevolent energy stirring anew.