Cultivation begins with planting techniques

"Originally, I just wanted to capture a Xiantian cultivator to complete the final replenishment of my cultivation, but now a Yuan Dan has been delivered to my door..."

Li Ye looked at the human-shaped cocoon in front of him and a smile appeared on his lips.

At this moment, Elder Zheng was completely enveloped by branches and vines. The intertwined branches formed a sealing barrier, completely suppressing his cultivation and magical power, preventing even the slightest trace of his aura from escaping.

They have already fallen into a situation where they are at the mercy of Li and Ye!
This outcome was naturally intentional on Li Ye's part.

If he were solely focused on killing enemies, the tree spirit form he could transform into could be a Pure Willow or even a Burning Yang Wood, which are more effective at suppressing evil spirits.

Once he makes his move, this guy won't even have a chance to struggle.

The Foundation Seizing Technique does indeed have an upper limit and cannot be used on cultivators above the Yuan Dan level.

After all, the true essence formed after achieving the Golden Core is more deeply integrated with the cultivator than magical power. Even among those who cultivate the same technique, their true essence is completely different and difficult to merge with each other.

Only some quickly acquired demonic arts, or those suppressed by a higher realm, can allow some demonic arts to feed on Golden Core and Nascent Soul to replenish their own deficiencies.

However, the impurities caused by the process still need to be dealt with afterwards.

If such true essence is rashly seized and absorbed, even if Li Ye possesses the Purification and Turbidity Transformation, problems will likely remain.

After all, the Pure and Turbid Willow he transformed into was only at the third level, not an omnipotent entity, and might not be able to eliminate all hidden dangers of this level.

Once one's own cultivation essence is tainted, one's path of cultivation will be greatly affected, and others will easily notice the problem.

It has many drawbacks!

However, if that's the case, then when he seizes the spirit, he just needs to avoid touching the cultivator's core golden core essence!

The golden core power derived from the dan yuan is far stronger than that of a primordial cultivator. Even if only a portion of the power is taken, it is enough to steadily push Li Ye to the peak of the primordial realm!
Trying it this way will be no problem at all!

After dealing with the refined corpse and Yue Sheng's body, Li Ye grabbed Elder Zheng and flew away.

The remaining traces of the original site were completely erased as the power of the boundary was withdrawn, making it impossible to discern what had happened.

………………

Elder Zheng barely regained consciousness amidst the emptiness and pain of losing his magical power.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a willow tree standing in front of him, with willow branches falling on him, thus draining his magical power and life force.

Elder Zheng was startled and subconsciously used his divine sense and magical power.

But he found himself completely wrapped up and firmly sealed, unable to move even his hands and feet, let alone his consciousness or magic power!

Only by exposing a small part of their face could they breathe, lest they suffocate in the large cocoon formed by countless vines.

He looked at this willow tree, which resembled the legendary Pure Spirit Willow in appearance, but whose supernatural powers seemed to be even more astonishing than the rumors suggested.

Although the spiritual energy around him was purer than ever before, without a trace of impurity, he could not feel any joy.

He could only utter a hoarse voice, "The true disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect have actually resorted to the methods of our demonic sects..."

"If that's the case, Fellow Daoist Li, why are you so wary of my Demonic Sect?"

"If you are willing to join my Xuan Yin Cave, I guarantee that the treatment I will receive will be no worse than what the Heavenly Sword Sect will give you!"

The willow tree seemed to be engrossed in cultivation, paying no attention to him whatsoever, while its speed in seizing his magical power, life force, and even his foundation and lifespan increased even faster.

Elder Zheng's face showed struggle and fear.

As a demonic cultivator from the Xuan Yin Cave, he has done a lot of work in processing corpses to achieve his current level of cultivation. In order to make the resentment of the corpses more intense and enhance their combat power, he has even transformed living people into corpse refiners.

Compared to his methods, Li Ye's act of extracting all of his magical power seemed much gentler.

However, continuing in this way, with the loss of all magical power, the shattering of the golden core, and the painful fall back to the mortal realm, dying in the midst of extinguished life force, would be an extremely terrifying torment. He had never heard of Li Ye possessing such methods before, whether it was his transformation abilities or this clandestine method of secretly stealing a cultivator's life force with evil magic.

I know in my heart that I am probably doomed today.

He begged for mercy repeatedly and tried to struggle in secret, but he could only remain trapped in place and unable to move.

After a while, the energy within the willow tree changed, as if it had made a breakthrough and reached its peak.

However, under the cover of the third-tier aura of the Purifying Willow, such changes were indeed very subtle.

Elder Zheng felt a slight surge of joy.

Li Ye then stopped, and since the damage to his Golden Core True Essence was limited, he wouldn't even lose too much cultivation.

The only major loss might be that his vitality and lifespan were shortened by about ten years!

But Li Ye stopped there. Was it because he didn't want to continue and wanted to avoid having his magic power tainted by the Yuan Dan's true essence, or was he intentionally sparing his life...? That's another question.

If Li Ye still insists on killing him, Elder Zheng believes he has no chance of surviving!

Only then did Li Ye, who had transformed into a tree spirit, slowly open her eyes, glancing at Elder Zheng with a half-smile.
"Thank you for coming to my aid, fellow Daoist. Otherwise, I'm afraid I really wouldn't have been able to cultivate to the peak of the Innate Realm in such a short time..."

"In gratitude for your kindness, I, Li, can give you a chance to live."

"What are your orders, Fellow Daoist Li? I, Zheng, will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Elder Zheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly agreed.

Even though his posture was somewhat obsequious and quite unlike the demeanor of a Yuan Dan cultivator, he didn't care about that anymore.

"There is a tree seed in your dantian now, which possesses the power of the void. No matter where you are, I can make it absorb your magical power, cultivation, and even life force with a single thought, causing it to rapidly increase and burst your physical body!"

Li Ye spoke calmly. Elder Zheng was taken aback upon hearing this. He subconsciously looked inward and found a seed with cyan and silver runes swirling around it that had been planted in his dantian at some point, giving him an extremely dangerous feeling.

"Do not act rashly! If you try to destroy it, you will also trigger this thing and commit suicide!"

Elder Zheng was startled and quickly composed himself, not daring to do anything more.

Having witnessed Li Ye's many methods, he no longer dared to underestimate this junior's abilities and risk his life.

Seeing his reaction, Li Ye nodded in satisfaction.

"It seems you already have a plan in mind..."

"I am quite interested in the matter of the Demon Abyss. I need you to gather as much information about the Demon Abyss as possible from within the Demon Sect. If you satisfy me, I will remove this seed and spare your life..."

"The Abyss of Demons?"

Elder Zheng was taken aback, a multitude of guesses quickly flashing through his mind, but he agreed without hesitation.

"However, I will certainly satisfy Fellow Daoist Li in gathering intelligence!"

He was initially worried that Li Ye would ask him to do something that would lead to his death.

However, if gathering some information that doesn't involve any danger can save one's life, then it's well worth it!

There's absolutely no need to hesitate!
"Very well! You can go now!"

Li Ye casually waved his hand, breaking the underground spirit-seizing formation. Elder Zheng's large cocoon of vines shattered, and the restraints were completely removed.

Elder Zheng, having regained his freedom, immediately bowed deeply to Li Ye.
"Thank you for sparing my life, fellow Daoist!" (End of Chapter)