Crash...

The surrounding water continued to seep into the cave, and Baiyu was no exception.

Under this sudden burst of powerful suction, Baiyu couldn't respond in time and was sucked in.

A dizzying whirl.

Clang.

With the sound of the metal shell of the Forbidden Armament colliding with the floor, Baiyu finally coughed and stood up from the ground.

The large hole in the ceiling had already closed up again.

He had just fallen from there.

Along with him, there were a lot of water plants and several plump fresh fish, all flopping around energetically on the floor.

After coughing a few times, he started to examine his surroundings.

This was a room similar to ruins, with walls overgrown by twisted and winding tree roots.

Each root branch was as thick as an adult's thigh, entwined with each other to form large nodules, and vines grew on the roots, decorating the room in green.

Due to the impact of such dense tree roots.

The stone floor was also lifted by the roots, revealing the sand beneath.

The entire room was very spacious, and below the hole from which Baiyu had fallen was a small wishing pond.

It contained clear flowing water.

Baiyu looked at the pond, placed the lively plump fish flopping on the ground into it.

"Damn it, hurry up."

"Why are you dealing with fish at a time like this? Can't you save me first?"

This time, Oulei's voice didn't appear in his mind.

It rose directly in the room.

Following the voice, Baiyu looked toward the far end of the room, where there was a large tree.

The tree was at least the width of five adult arm spans, with roots anchored in the ground, spread like a spider web filling the entire room.

Its leaves were deep red.

Its branches and leaves were lush, spreading out in all directions, growing wildly like a peacock displaying its tail.

The enormous tree was overwhelmingly stunning.

Although it didn't look much different from an ordinary tree.

However.

It carried an aura of extraordinary intimidation.

Given that the entire room was filled with its roots, it felt even more unique.

Baiyu approached the voice.

Finally.

He discovered Oulei trapped inside the tree's trunk.

This section of the trunk was hollow, and inside, an old man with worn rags hanging from him was entangled by numerous vines, unable to move except for his head.

And the vines continued to draw blood from his body.

So much so that the old man was as thin as a skeleton.

His face was pale.

Without a trace of color.

As weak as a candle in the wind, on the verge of being extinguished.

Due to being imprisoned for so long, Oulei's head was filled with various weeds, leaves, and vines, resembling a bird's nest.

Baiyu and Oulei exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to start a conversation.

"Old man, your style is beyond my expectations."

After a long pause, Baiyu finally uttered these words.

Oulei looked somewhat like a Federation man, not like someone from the East Prosperity Imperial, and indeed, the ruins of the Lion Country were discovered over in the Free Federation.

Oulei was puzzled for a moment, unaware of his hairstyle, not understanding what Baiyu meant.

He thought for a moment, not bothering with the details, and said, "Thank you, young brother."

"No problem."

Baiyu waved his hand and stared at the tree, "How can I get you out?"

"It's very simple.

The first method is to destroy this tree.

This is Rune Technology from the ancients, using a tree species bestowed by the Deity of Dream Realm Forests, the Green Mother.

The Green Mother is the God of All Trees, the God of Life and Blood, the God of Birth and Decay.

The seed given by Her grew into this tree, to destroy it, you have to face the Divine Power of the Green Mother."

Oulei mentioned the first method.

Without a doubt.

This method was directly rejected by Baiyu.

He had personally been to the Forests, and they were full of strange and bizarre things.

And the Divine Spirits in the Forests were incredibly enigmatic.

Let alone the Green Mother.

One of the Three Gods of the Forests.

The Moth of All Beings, the Green Mother, the Velvet King.

The three Divine Spirits ruled the Forests.

The Endless Coiling Serpent wasn't even the strongest in the Forests.

To face the power of the Green Mother?

He'd have to have a death wish to even think of it.

"No, think of another way, this method would just be suicide." Baiyu immediately and unhesitatingly rejected it.

Oulei obviously didn't plan to carry out this plan either.

He just casually mentioned it.

To truly destroy this tree, one would need at least Tier Two strength, and even then, face the risk of severe injury or even near death.

"The second method is to unlock the Rune Lock."

Oulei's gaze fixed, he said slowly, "Rune Technology is ancient technology of the Shelled and Armored species, differing from human technology.

Just as other species cannot use Shelters or Forbidden Armaments.

Humans.

Also cannot use Rune Technology.

In other words, to activate the Rune Lock on this tree, only the Shelled and Armored species can achieve it.

Of course.

In today's world, these two types of beings should have long since disappeared.

Demons and other species are their descendants.

But it is also extremely difficult for demons to activate the Rune Lock.

So unlocking the Rune Lock is basically almost impossible..."

Oulei said a lot.

Baiyu caught two words, difficult.

In other words, it was not feasible at all.

"Oulei, you need to get it straight.

I am supposed to be here saving you, not you saving me, damn it.

Can you be more serious and propose a viable solution?

You talked so much, but it's all useless."

Baiyu spread his hands.

Oulei said, "Don't rush, let me finish.

In the ancient eras.

Back then, humans had no fire, no clothing, no tools for hunting, and could only be food for the Shelled and Armored species.

However.

An Immortal stole fire from Flint, leading humanity out of ignorance.

When Flint discovered this.

He didn't punish the Immortal under his domain but instead taught humanity the ways of learning and crafting.

Since then.

Humanity slowly moved out of the ancient times to the modern era, growing and thriving through history, no longer becoming food for the Shelled and Armored species, until their era ended.

Although countless time and years have passed.

However.

Buried deep within human Spirituality, the ability to learn and craft still exists.

Flint's gift will not disappear.

Now, as long as you awaken this ability, you can use Rune Technology with a human body.

Because this ability comes from Flint.

He is the source of all crafts."

Flint.

One of the Stone Origin Gods.

Yet, he doesn't harbor hatred for humanity, instead providing the initial hope for their survival.

However.

There are only sparse, ambiguous mentions of Flint in the scant literature sourced from ruins that Baiyu found.

Things like what Oulei said.

He listened to them as if they were mythological stories.

"Uncle Oulei, are you sure this is true? Isn't this just ancient myth?"

Baiyu questioned.

Oulei smiled, "It seems that many things were lost between the Era of Darkness and the Era of Bright.

When I heard this story as a child, I also thought it was false.

However.

In our era, there were indeed many Awakened individuals.

They could control Rune Technology, possessing terrifying Abilities and physiques."

Baiyu frowned, suddenly feeling that many things might be different between the two eras.

"Did you have Magic Elixirs in your era?"

"What is a Magic Elixir?"

"Alright, I get it, this might not be what I thought. The current Cultivation System might have some changes compared to the Dark Era.

But it's not easy to clarify right now.

If what you said is true, then I may have a deeper and more groundbreaking understanding of the current Cultivation System.

So, how do I awaken the ability to learn and craft from the depths of Spirituality?"

Oulei didn't understand what Baiyu was saying, but considering they were from different eras, a generation gap was expected.

He continued, "The method is simple, delve into your Sea of Spirit and find them!"