"Don't shout! I remember your scent; you are Chen Hao's companion!"

Upon hearing the words "Chen Hao," Xie Xiaofeng was utterly shocked. He had not expected that someone in this place would recognize Chen Hao.

He stared wide-eyed at the person before him, a face similar in age to his own. However, being an Onmyoji, he could tell at a glance that this person was a demon.

"Who are you?" Xie Xiaofeng asked suspiciously. He wondered if the person before him might have been sent by the Second Generation Nether King to test him.

"My name is Ou Yuanlin." The person replied.

Xie Xiaofeng frowned, feeling the name sounded somewhat familiar.

"Two years ago, Chen Hao and I passed by a wild game restaurant in the mountains, where all the human flesh was sold through visual deception," the boy named Ou Yuanlin explained.

"Oh!" Xie Xiaofeng exclaimed, his memories of that store still vivid.

After a pause, he asked, "I remember that store, but what does it have to do with you?"

"I am the Tree Demon that was hidden in the underground palace beneath that store."

"Oh!" Xie Xiaofeng exclaimed again. Though he had not gone into the underground palace himself, lying asleep in the car instead, he had later heard from Chen Hao about the events that transpired there with Ye Yuqiao.

Now, thinking back carefully, he recalled there indeed was a Tree Demon of a similar age.

However, whether that Tree Demon was named Ou Yuanlin or not, he could not remember clearly.

"You say you are that Tree Demon, but why should I believe you?" Xie Xiaofeng scrutinized Ou Yuanlin with a doubtful gaze.

Ou Yuanlin appeared perplexed.

"Then tell me, how did you become a Tree Demon?" Xie Xiaofeng continued asking. Though he could not remember the Tree Demon's name, he still recalled some details about it.

Ou Yuanlin's expression turned slightly bitter, seemingly troubled. After hesitating for a while, he finally said somberly, "I was pushed off a cliff and killed. My mother then saved me using her tree spirit essence, and so I became a tree person."

A glint flashed through Xie Xiaofeng's eyes, and he nodded slightly, "It looks like you truly are that tree person. But why are you here?"

"Not long after you left, I accidentally obtained some ancient tree spirit essence and Yang Energy from hundreds of meters below, and absorbed it into my body, causing my Yang Energy to skyrocket. Half a year ago, three men suddenly found the underground palace where I resided, knocked me out while I was meditating, and when I woke up, I was already here," Ou Yuanlin explained.

"Three men?" Xie Xiaofeng was startled. He wondered, could these three men be the same brothers who had fought against him in the Eighteen Levels of Hell?

"The Ancient City is not a place ordinary people can reach," Xie Xiaofeng mused, "They brought you here, definitely for some ability of yours."

Ou Yuanlin nodded, "Indeed. I possess the spirit essence of an ancient tree, and they want me to extend my roots deep into the soil to maintain the stability of the ground. There are many tall buildings here, and there's a mysterious force sealed underneath that is restless. If that force loses control, it could trigger vibrations in the ground and cause buildings to collapse."

"Oh." A spark of understanding flashed in Xie Xiaofeng's eyes, "So, you just need to—"

Xie Xiaofeng suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression turning wary. Although it was true that Ou Yuanlin was that Tree Demon, whether he was friend or foe was another question.

He had noticed that anyone who came to the Ancient City would change, influenced by the so-called elite world and high society atmosphere, as if bewitched.

The reason he had not been like those people was that he had previously visited Rainbow Paradise.

Rainbow Paradise tempted people with their longing for beauty and dreams, just like the ancient city promoted its elitist world.

His experience in Rainbow Paradise had immunized him inside. Though he had quickly integrated into the life of the ancient city and seemed to enjoy it, it was all just an act.

"As long as I what?" Ou Yuanlin asked.

"Right," Xie Xiaofeng shifted the topic sharply, "do you like it here?"

Ou Yuanlin looked at Xie Xiaofeng and countered, "Do you like it?"

Xie Xiaofeng was also cautious around him. He harbored the same concerns as Xie Xiaofeng.

Xie Xiaofeng shook his head slightly, then nodded, "Have you thought about leaving this place?"

Ou Yuanlin looked at Xie Xiaofeng, hesitated for a while, and then said, "Yes, all the time. But although I can easily escape the ancient city, beyond its walls lies a vast expanse of icy snowfields and many terrifying giant beasts, I don't even know how to get back."

"Isn't it quite nice here?" Xie Xiaofeng continued, "Staying with a group of geniuses and elites. Look at this city, how incredible it is, it's breathtaking."

"Do you really think so?" Ou Yuanlin looked disappointed, "I don't like it here at all. When I parted with Chen Hao, I promised him that I would become immortal, inherit my mother's mission, and protect the mountains and my companions."

Xie Xiaofeng laughed to himself, thinking that Chen Hao, that bastard, also had his inspirational moments.

Now he fully believed Ou Yuanlin's words without any doubts.

"Ou Yuanlin, do you want to leave here?" Xie Xiaofeng's voice suddenly became very soft.

Ou Yuanlin nodded eagerly, full of anticipation.

"Chen Hao is already on his way to the ancient city, he will arrive in two months at the latest, to take us away from here."

"Really?" Ou Yuanlin became excited.

"Of course, it's true!" Xie Xiaofeng said with a definitive tone.

After speaking, he looked around to make sure no one was watching him and Ou Yuanlin, then continued, "Ou Yuanlin, you've been here for over half a year, are you familiar with the people in the ancient city?"

"Pretty familiar."

"Do you know who the old man living on the first floor of the ice sculpture building in the city center is?"

Ou Yuanlin looked puzzled, then shook his head, "I don't know. But I can find out later. What about this old man interests you?"

"I just saw him confront the Emperor."

"What! Really?" Ou Yuanlin was shocked. From his observations over the past half-year, the Onmyoji Emperor was revered as a god here, the faith of everyone. In this ancient city, no one dared disrespect him.

So when Xie Xiaofeng mentioned someone confronting the Onmyoji Emperor, it was hard for him to believe.

"That old man must possess something that the Emperor deeply fears or values, which is why he dared to confront the Second Generation Nether King and yet the Second Generation Nether King couldn't do anything about him," Xie Xiaofeng said, "So we need to find a way to get closer to that old man, to see if we can get something from him."

"Okay, give me your address, and I'll come to find you tonight after I find out."

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