A figure, face contorted in terror, fled in disarray.
Left behind at the scene was a bloody, severed arm.
Who would believe that such an unremarkable little stone, hurled from miles away, could sever the arm of a Spirit Venerable realm expert.
It was a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the bait. He intended to ambush and kill, but instead ran into a tough opponent, nearly losing his life.
The fleeing man, however, did not escape his fate.
The Ginseng King pursued, seizing an opportunity to drag him underground and tear him to shreds.
"Hmph, how dare you attempt to ambush our Mr. Ji and expect to live."
The Ginseng King considered himself a loyal lackey, believing that by serving Ji Mo, he could win the latter's favor.
Ji Mo reached the mountainside, and danger struck again.
In a patch of forest, numerous green spears pierced through rocks, hurtling towards him.
Vast swathes of stone were pulverized, the stone forest collapsed, and everything within a hundred-meter radius was shredded into dust by these unyielding green spears.
"What the hell is this!"
Ji Mo weaved left and right, as light as a feather, darting through the flying debris to escape the area.
With lingering fear, he narrowed his eyes, catching sight of the hidden creature.
It was a strange plant, resembling a cactus but standing nearly three meters tall, its body covered in over a hundred writhing vines.
The vines that had attacked Ji Mo were the very ones capable of easily splitting rocks.
"It seems my chance to shine has arrived."
The Ginseng King burst from the earth, charging towards the peculiar plant, eager to prove itself.
But as it ascended into the air, a cold glint whizzed past its face, narrowly missing cleaving it in two.
It turned out Ji Mo had directly flung his wood-chopping knife, which transformed into a streak of light, slashing towards the strange plant.
*Bang!*
The struck plant exploded on the spot, scattering green sap everywhere. The sap sizzled on the stones, possessing a potent corrosive property.
"Fortunately, I was smart enough to choose a ranged attack."
Ji Mo felt a chill of apprehension, retrieved his wood-chopping knife, and then stared at the Ginseng King on the ground with ill intent.
He immediately recognized it as the ginseng that had escaped from him a few days prior, a smile spreading across his face. A transformed ginseng spirit, how nourishing would it be if simmered into a rich broth.
"Esteemed master, spare my life!"
The Ginseng King, terrified, prostrated itself on the ground and kowtowed. If that blade had swung his way, his life would surely have been forfeit.
Ji Mo blinked in surprise. This ginseng had indeed become sentient, capable of speaking human language?
He walked over curiously and poked the Ginseng King's plump, white body with his finger. Seeing its limbs, now almost identical to a human's, he found it quite amusing.
The Ginseng King seized the opportunity, "Mr. Ji, this humble one is willing to follow you. I beg you not to disdain me."
"No."
Ji Mo flatly refused. Who would dare keep a sentient ginseng around? Who knew what its intentions were.
Moreover, although the Ginseng King had an infant's body, it sported an old man's face, which Ji Mo found deeply unsettling.
Its appearance was truly hideous.
"Not wanted?"
The Ginseng King felt as if struck by lightning. It had expected that by humbling itself so much, the other party would joyfully accept it. Instead, it received such a response.
Furthermore, it clearly saw Ji Mo's face filled with disdain.
"The master disdains me?"
The Ginseng King was deeply disheartened. Its warm overture had been met with a cold reception; it had never imagined being looked down upon.
It, a ginseng that had cultivated for ten thousand years, could aid a hundred days of arduous training with a mere sniff. A single bite could elevate someone to sainthood.
Yet, the outcome was that Ji Mo simply didn't care for it.
Seeing the Ginseng King kneeling and begging for mercy, Ji Mo felt awkward about striking. Besides, he couldn't bring himself to eat a ginseng that could speak. He had to reluctantly give up.
The Ginseng King was still dwelling on its perceived inadequacy when it noticed Ji Mo walking away.
"Wait, I am very useful. Keeping me by your side can help your cultivation advance by leaps and bounds."
The Ginseng King scurried after him on its short legs, vigorously promoting itself.
"Cultivation?"
Ji Mo's forehead was immediately covered in dark lines. Wasn't this hitting a sore spot?
He turned back and glared, "What use are you, damn it!"
The Ginseng King's heart leaped. Even Spirit Emperors coveted it; could it be that the master's true cultivation surpassed that of Spirit Emperors!
Indeed, none of the abilities Ji Mo had displayed were within the reach of a Spirit Emperor level expert.
At this moment, the Ginseng King felt it had seen through Ji Mo's background, becoming even more certain that it had to cling to this powerful figure, no matter what.
"Mr. Ji, I know you are looking for that Bodhi Tree. I can lead the way," the Ginseng King offered.
"Do I need you to lead? Isn't it on that high platform south of the mountain peak."
Ji Mo said dismissively.
It wasn't his first time here; why would he need a guide.
Moreover, he was filled with caution. This Ginseng King's unsolicited kindness must have ulterior motives.
"Ah, how could you possibly know?"
The Ginseng King was stunned. Although the entire world knew of the innate Bodhi Tree in the Tongtian Mountain Range, no one had ever known its precise location.
Even those fortunate enough to discover traces of the Bodhi Tree rarely survived.
The Ginseng King, due to its status and long lifespan, had finally managed to learn the Bodhi Tree's exact location.
"Why couldn't I know? It's such a large tree; once you climb to the summit, you can see it at a glance."
Ji Mo found it inexplicable.
It was just a tea tree, why all the mystery. If one didn't know, they'd truly think it was some supreme treasure of heaven and earth.
This little ginseng was simply unworldly, prone to theatrics.
"You're not human?"
The Ginseng King cried out. Anyone who encountered the Bodhi Tree was unlikely to survive, even Spirit Emperors could not escape death.
"Are you insulting me? Believe it or not, I'll stew you."
Ji Mo's face contorted with anger. A single glare sent shivers through the Ginseng King.
Sensing carefully, Ji Mo was indeed human. The Ginseng King was bewildered.
Since Ji Mo could see the Bodhi Tree, he must have entered the killing formation. Could it be that the formation was also powerless against him?
Thinking this, the Ginseng King couldn't help but gasp.
It was said to be a formation capable of slaying immortals, yet it couldn't kill Ji Mo. Could Ji Mo's cultivation be beyond that of immortals?
But such a powerful expert should not exist in the Xuanling Realm.
Looking at Ji Mo, he didn't seem like he was bragging; he must have genuinely seen the Bodhi Tree.
The Ginseng King gazed at Ji Mo, growing increasingly fearful. What kind of being was this?
*Rumble...*
Just then, at the summit of Tongtian Peak, for reasons unknown, a violent sound erupted.
A mushroom cloud billowed from the peak, accompanied by a powerful explosion, causing the entire mountain to shake violently.
The earth trembled, countless forests collapsed, massive rocks rolled down, and fire raged into the sky, resembling an apocalyptic scene.
"What's happening?"
The Ginseng King trembled, sensing a destructive power unleashing itself.