Chapter 297: The Pine Cone Returns

Several months after the chaos in Qingzhou.

A void rift tore open somewhere in Qingzhou.

Immediately after, a Pine Cone emerged from the rift.

“This is the place—”

After exiting the Void Realm, the Divine Pine took a deep breath.

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During the Great Migration event years ago, it had given Lin Jing a leaf that could conceal heavenly secrets.

Aside from helping Lin Jing hide from heaven’s gaze, that resource also had a tracking function, allowing it to determine Lin Jing’s location.

“Could this be Qingzhou—”

Observing the surroundings and realizing Lin Jing might have been teleported to Qingzhou, the Divine Pine thought to itself that things looked bad.

Qingzhou was nothing like the Ancient Kingdom; Yao Beasts ran rampant, and demonic Cultivators gathered in droves. For a Foundation Establishment Stage Longevity Physique like Lin Jing to be sent here, one wrong move could turn him into food for a Yao Beast.

“He should be in that direction!”

Although it could currently sense the position of the leaf it had given away, the Divine Pine was very anxious, because the leaf’s presence didn’t guarantee that Lin Jing was still alive.

“Please don’t be dead.”

The Divine Pine flew rapidly toward the sensed direction. Just as it was approaching the Wood Dragon Clan’s territory, suddenly—Boom!

In the next instant, a terrifying spatial power swept toward it, locking down the area and causing the Divine Pine’s heart to tighten.

“Damn it, where did this Void Profound come from?!”

It was startled; it knew Qingzhou was dangerous, but it had just arrived and was already being targeted by a Void Profound Peak Demon Ancestor!!!

“A tree spirit? It is said that the Wood Dragon Old Ancestor and the Senhai Dragon Emperor are from the same clan. Since His Highness the Saint has taken over the Wood Dragon Clan’s territory,”

“The Senhai Dragon Emperor really did send a subordinate—to dare come even while knowing the Saint’s identity, what courage.”

In the Void Realm, the Qilin Old Ancestor, who was following Xu Qingyao’s suggestion and preparing to visit the Saint to seek the Transformation Method, gave a cold snort.

It intended to capture the Divine Pine and present it to the Demon Court Saint as a greeting gift.

It was familiar with all the Void Profound Realm plant Spirit Monsters in Qingzhou, but it had never seen this pine tree before. Thus, there was only one possibility: it came from the Mist Forest and was a subordinate of the Senhai Dragon Emperor.

“It’s a misunderstanding!”

Jumping out of the Qilin Old Ancestor’s spatial lock, the Divine Pine shouted, not wanting to get into a senseless fight.

“A misunderstanding? What are your intentions in coming to the territory of our Demon Court Saint?”

The Qilin Old Ancestor noticed that while this pine tree’s cultivation wasn’t high, its spatial attainments were not bad. It then revealed its true form, its massive body covering the sky.

“Demon Court? I told you it’s a misunderstanding! I’m one of you, one of you,” the Divine Pine quickly said.

“Does my friend know someone named Xu Qingyao? Is she a Disciple of the Demon Court? I watched her grow up.” The Divine Pine remembered that when it lived at the Beast Taming Sect, a few powerful Yao Beasts had come to take away the Sect Master’s foster daughter.

That group of people were members of the Demon Court!

Although it didn’t know how far the Sect Master’s foster daughter had risen in the Demon Court, this was the only connection the Divine Pine could think of.

The Qilin Old Ancestor frowned and said, “Who exactly are you? Are you not a Cultivator of the Tian Yuan World?”

“Holy crap.” The Divine Pine was startled again. It felt like everyone could tell it wasn’t a Cultivator of the Tian Yuan World.

It shouldn’t be that easy to tell.

However, the Divine Pine didn’t know that the reason the Qilin Old Ancestor said this was because Xu Qingyao becoming the Disciple of the Lord of the Demon Court was something that, while perhaps not known to the entire Immortal Cultivation World, should not be a secret to Void Profound old monsters.

The Divine Pine also reacted quickly, realizing the other party was only curious and hadn’t truly seen through its identity. It couldn’t help but say, “I’ve been in seclusion for too long, isolated from the world. Could it be that the girl Xu Qingyao’s status in the Demon Court is now quite extraordinary?”

“That makes sense. Back then, it was determined that she likely had a faint Yao Race Bloodline, which is why she was taken away—”

“Do you truly know Her Highness the Saintess?” Seeing that the Divine Pine didn’t seem to be lying, the Qilin Old Ancestor pondered and said, “Could you be from the Ancient Kingdom?”

“More than that, I am the guardian Divine Pine of the Beast Taming Sect. I didn’t expect that girl to actually become the Demon Court Saintess!!!” The Divine Pine found it incredible.

The Demon Court—this was the top-tier power among Yao Beasts.

What kind of dumb luck did Xu Xiaoyao’s foster daughter have?

In that case, had the Beast Taming Sect, which had come to Qingzhou to make its way, already sought refuge with Xu Qingyao?

Then what about Lin Jing?

Had he also sought protection from this Senior Sister?

“No, wait, this is bad.” The Divine Pine’s expression changed as it realized something was wrong. If he were desperate, Lin Jing might indeed seek refuge with Xu Qingyao.

But the problem was, the waters of the Demon Court were surely very murky.

For a Longevity Physique like Lin Jing to seek protection in the Demon Court—even if Xu Qingyao were willing to protect him, what if a Yao Beast with a status higher than hers took an interest in the Longevity Physique?

At that time, Xu Qingyao might not be able to protect Lin Jing.

Just now, this Qilin old monster said that the area ahead was the Demon Court Saint’s territory.

And it had sensed the item it left for Lin Jing within that very territory.

The Divine Pine had a bad premonition. This Chang Sheng brat couldn’t have been abducted by the Demon Court Saint and turned into a blood meal, right?

Within the Demon Court, the Demon Court Saint was definitely someone who could rival or even suppress the Saintess.

“Whether you are one of us, I will have to ask His Highness the Saint for instructions first.” The Qilin Old Ancestor took out a token. In the next instant, a phantom appeared above the token, which was exactly Lin Jing’s image.

“Qilin Ancestor?” Lin Jing’s phantom spoke. During this time, he was supposed to be protecting the Ice Soul Gu, but the Senior Sister had suddenly sent word that the Kirin Clan wanted to access the Transformation Method as soon as possible. Considering the Heavenly Thunder Flame sent by the Kirin Clan was crucial, Lin Jing gave them a shortcut, allowing them to take some Transformation Pills, and his Clone would receive them.

However, he hadn’t expected the Kirin Clan to value this so much that the Old Ancestor himself would come.

In that case, having his Clone receive him was a bit impolite.

Regardless, the other party was a Void Profound Peak Demon Ancestor with one foot already in the Dao Inquiry Stage.

“Your Highness the Saint, do you recognize this tree? This tree was acting suspiciously outside Your Highness’s territory. This old man finds it very suspicious.”

The Qilin Old Ancestor looked at the dazed Divine Pine beside him.

At this moment, the Divine Pine was also inwardly bewildered as it looked at Lin Jing, whom the Qilin Old Ancestor respectfully called “His Highness the Saint.”

No, what’s the situation?

The Saint is Lin Jing?

“Divine Pine Senior???” At the same time, Lin Jing finally noticed the Divine Pine not far from the Qilin Old Ancestor and was overjoyed.

“You’ve finally come! I was planning to send someone to look for you after I came out of seclusion. Wait!!! Senior, you… you actually had a Breakthrough to the Void Profound??!” Lin Jing was shocked.

“Why the hell are you so shocked?!” the Divine Pine snapped. “How did you become the Demon Court Saint? I get it, it’s a Heart Tribulation. I haven’t actually finished crossing the Void Profound Tribulation yet.”