Chu Ming paid a Middle Grade Spirit Stone and swiftly entered Black Moon City. In Chu Ming's eyes, Black Moon City was quite small; with just his Soul Power, he could cover the entire city. However, on Mokong Island, Black Moon City was considered an advanced city. The Wood Profound Sect had experts here, stationed to maintain the city's law and order.

Walking on the streets, Chu Ming glanced around. Most of the martial artists in Black Moon City were in the True Dao Realm, with only twenty percent in the Guiyuan Realm. The Realm of Transcendence was incredibly rare, with scarcely one or two among them.

"Let's gather some information first."

Chu Ming thought to himself. On the street, he occasionally saw martial artists dressed in green, just like the green-clad youth he had seen before; these were the uniforms of Wood Profound Sect disciples.

"You're asking the right person, sir. I've been in Black Moon City for seven or eight years; there's nothing I don't know."

Inside a restaurant, Chu Ming sat at a table, listening to a grinning waiter speak endlessly.

"Just give me the key points."

Chu Ming tossed a bag of Spirit Stones onto the table, speaking calmly.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The waiter picked up the Spirit Stones, weighed them in his hand, and then smiled brightly, divulging everything he knew about Black Moon City.

Half an hour later, Chu Ming emerged from the restaurant, his expression indifferent. According to the waiter, the most powerful person in Black Moon City was Elder Kuto of the Wood Profound Sect, holding an Eighth Layer Transcendence Realm cultivation. He was a notable figure even within the Wood Profound Sect.

As for other experts stationed in the Wood Profound Sect's headquarters, Chu Ming ignored them since those below the Eighth Layer of the Transcendence Realm posed no threat to him.

"How to infiltrate the Wood Profound Sect? That's the problem."

Chu Ming was almost certain that the Wood Profound Sect and the Wood Profound Fruit were intricately connected. Now, the challenge before him was how to sneak into the Wood Profound Sect.

The Wood Profound Sect was the most powerful force on Mokong Island, with very strict regulations. Anyone wanting to join, regardless of their cultivation level, had to go through a three-year examination period.

Not to mention three years, even three months was too long for Chu Ming to wait. There were only three months left until the Battle for the Throne, and he needed to retrieve the Wood Profound Fruit and leave as quickly as possible.

"Perhaps I can find a breakthrough with Elder Kuto, but this is too risky."

An idea flashed through Chu Ming's mind, forming an uncertain plan.

Tap tap tap...

After a brief hesitation, Chu Ming made up his mind, finding a random inn to settle in temporarily.

Night was the best time for action.

The evening glow slowly spread across the sky, gradually enveloping the horizon. Black Moon City fell into darkness. The nights in Black Moon City were extremely quiet, with only occasional dog barks heard in the distance and faint light illuminating the streets.

"It's time."

In the room, Chu Ming slowly opened his eyes, two flashes of sharp light shooting from them, akin to lightning darting through the void.

Whoosh!

The space rippled like water as Chu Ming's figure merged with the surroundings, making his way toward the Wood Profound Sect's headquarters he had previously scouted.

In the southeastern corner of Black Moon City stood a thousand-meter-tall tower, entwined with strands of green vines, glowing with a verdant light.

This was the Wood Profound Sect's headquarters.

At the top of the tower, an elderly figure in green robes sat quietly with closed eyes, deep in cultivation. Weak waves of Spiritual Power integrated from the heavens and earth into his body.

The elder's face was ashen, resembling old tree bark. His temples were green, and his face full, hands slender like knives. This was Elder Kuto, the Third Elder of the Wood Profound Sect, an Eighth Layer Transcendence Realm master.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Suddenly, a fierce gust swept across the tower's peak. Spiritual Power from the heavens and earth rapidly converged toward Elder Kuto, absorbed into his body like a whale gulping water, causing his body to expand before gradually reverting to normal.

"The Breathing Technique taught by the Vice Sect Leader is indeed profound."

Elder Kuto slowly opened his eyes, revealing a green glow like the eyes of a wolf, murmuring softly.

In the entire Wood Profound Sect, only the two Vice Sect Leaders had ever seen the Sect Leader. Even Elder Kuto, the Third Elder, had never seen him. Nonetheless, he held a fearful respect for the Sect Leader.

His breakthrough to the Eighth Layer of the Transcendence Realm was due to the Breathing Technique passed down by the Sect Leader. With its aid, many disciples of the Wood Profound Sect had broken through their current realms.

To Elder Kuto, the Wood Profound Sect's Sect Leader was both mysterious and powerful. His lifelong wish was to meet the Sect Leader.

Eyes half-closed, Elder Kuto was about to continue his cultivation when an inexplicable chill rose in his heart. Having spent years honing his skills on the edge of life and death, he instinctively shifted into the void at an extreme speed.

Whoosh!

Slash!

A cold sword light sliced through the sky at incredible speed, followed by a chill of murderous intent, targeting Elder Kuto. Faced with this secret technique, Elder Kuto's face turned pale, unable to summon any thoughts of resistance, yet he still barked defiantly: "Who are you? How dare you trespass the Wood Profound Sect's headquarters!"

Slash!

The sword light did not hesitate, directly piercing Elder Kuto's body. Despite his defense, half of his body was shredded by the icy sword light.

Boom!

"Blade of Fury!"

Rip!

Retreating, Elder Kuto raised his hands, causing the space to shudder. A sharp green Sword Aura directly slashed at Chu Ming, the devastating power rupturing the space. If Chu Ming hadn't enveloped the area within a thousand meters with his Soul Power, the powerful attack waves would have drawn others' attention.

"Flame of Destruction!"

Chu Ming's left hand clenched into a fist, terrifying power twisting violently. The destructive fist force seemed capable of annihilating everything. The Flame of Destruction, the second move of the Flame Body Fist, would not have been easily deployed if Chu Ming didn't aim for a swift battle.

Boom!

Slice!

Without any suspense, Elder Kuto's attack was instantly broken, the furious sound waves sweeping around madly. Chu Ming's punch turned Elder Kuto into a mist of blood, dispersing into the space.

Whoosh!

Chu Ming grasped the Wood Spirit within Elder Kuto's body and swiftly placed all his belongings into a prepared Storage Ring.

At that moment, Chu Ming's facial muscles quickly transformed, appearing to ripple as if scars darted through them. Within breaths, Chu Ming's visage turned ashen, like tree bark, his eyes gleaming.

Now, his appearance was indistinguishable from the dead Elder Kuto.