This was a mysterious space.

At the center stood a magnificent ancient tree. Its trunk was as imposing as a mountain. Looking up, the tree seemed to pierce the heavens, connecting earth and sky.

Shu Han marveled inwardly, deducing that this must be the ancestral tree of the Forest Clan. Its grandeur was truly breathtaking!

Countless small white flowers floated down from the ancient tree, like an endless flurry of soft, downy snowflakes, embellishing the space. It was breathtakingly beautiful, resembling a fairyland.

Shu Han couldn't help but scan his surroundings, realizing that he was still amidst a vast forest. It was as if he had never left Southern Forest.

Overwhelmed by the sight, Shu Han remarked, "Our ancestral land truly resembles a boundless fairy realm. No matter how many times you behold it, it remains magnificently majestic."

Su Wanyi smiled, her eyes filled with devout fondness as she gazed at the central ancestral tree. "Indeed, this is the sacred land of our Forest Clan. Every member of our tribe is born here, and it's where we return to the ancestral tree upon death."

Switching gears, Shu Han quickly asked a crucial question, "The ancestral land seems vast and endless. How do we exit this space?"

Su Wanyi laughed, "Sir, have you forgotten? Though the ancestral land appears vast, it only spans twenty miles around the ancestral tree."

Twenty miles around the ancestral tree?

Using his Clear Bright Spiritual Eye, Shu Han observed his surroundings and found that, just as Su Wanyi had mentioned, everything beyond the twenty miles was just a repeated illusion of the existing scenery, giving it the appearance of being vast and boundless.

"To leave the ancestral land, one simply needs to fly across the boundary to naturally return to Southern Forest."

So that's how it is!

Shu Han thought to himself that it would be easy for him and Wei Haolong to cover a distance of twenty li in just a few breaths.

Shu Han then asked, "I recall that a unique flower blooms atop the ancestral tree, said to stabilize the soul. Are these the small flowers fluttering about?"

Su Wanyi replied, "No, the flower you speak of blooms from the heart of the ancestral tree. These white flowers drifting around are the tree's seeds. They cross the boundary, sprinkling over Southern Forest, giving birth to new sacred trees."

The heart of the ancestral tree!

Shu Han inquired, "Can you take me to see it?"

"No."

Su Wanyi's refusal was swift and decisive. "To ascend the ancestral tree, one must communicate with the spirit of the tree through the Spirit Altar. Otherwise, anyone would be blocked by the space surrounding the tree, making it impossible to approach."

So there was such a thing!

Suddenly, Su Wanyi knelt before Shu Han, pleadingly saying, "Sir, our tribe is now at a life-and-death juncture. The ancestral tree has manifested its spirit upon you. Please communicate with the spirit of the tree and help our tribe find a way to continue thriving."

Then, she glanced at Wei Haolong, whose clothes were disheveled, and bit her lip, "If you can connect with the ancestral spirit and find a way to save our tribe, I am willing to serve by your side forever!"

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Shu Han was taken aback: This doesn't sound right! Do they see me as some kind of lecher?

He quickly helped Su Wanyi to her feet, comforting her, "You're being too formal. I am also a member of the Forest Clan and will surely do my utmost to help our tribe. Given the urgency, let's not waste time. Quickly take me to the Spirit Altar, and I'll see if I can commune with the ancestral spirit again."

Su Wanyi nodded, looking at Shu Han with trusting and reliant eyes. She led him towards the Spirit Altar beneath the ancestral tree. Shu Han felt uneasy under her gaze, knowing that his earlier claims of being devoted to the Forest Clan were mere bluff.

All he could think about now was obtaining the heart of the ancestral tree and the Heart-Seeker Holy Petal, then finding an excuse to flee.

Saving the Forest Clan? The task was monumental, and he wasn't up for it. Besides, he wasn't truly a member of the Forest Clan.

Internally, Shu Han felt guilty, thinking, "I'm sorry to disappoint you. If the Forest Clan really faces extinction, I, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, won't be able to turn things around."

Flying over a sea of flowers, led by Su Wanyi, Shu Han arrived at the base of the ancestral tree.

There stood a tall platform constructed of green jade, with stairways leading upwards for hundreds of meters. Yet, even this towering platform seemed insignificant at the foot of the monumental ancestral tree.

Beneath the platform, hundreds of young members of the Forest Clan were praying devoutly. The younger children, mere toddlers, played joyously around the area. Upon seeing Su Wanyi return, they ran over to her, surrounding her with excitement.

Su Wanyi showed a gentle smile, taking out handfuls of fruits she had gathered from the Southern Forest and handing them to the children. She tenderly stroked their little heads one by one.

Shu Han inquired, "Do all Forest Clan children live in this ancestral tree space?"

Su Wanyi replied, "Yes, all the underage members of the Forest Clan live here. The Southern Forest is filled with dangers for them, especially with the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect cultivators hunting everywhere."

Shu Han couldn't help but ask, "Wouldn't this ancestral tree space be discovered by the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect cultivators?"

"No!"

Su Wanyi confidently said, "Outsiders are unaware of the space-time coordinates of the ancestral tree space. Furthermore, the space periodically changes its temporal information. Unless it's a Nascent Soul stage cultivator from the human race, they cannot pinpoint our ancestral tree space."

Su Wanyi looked up at the ancestral tree where white flowers danced in the air and sighed, "If only all our tribe could live in the space of the ancestral tree, we wouldn't have to struggle for survival in the Southern Forest."

After sharing her sentiments, she led Shu Han toward the Spirit Altar.

Reaching the stone steps at the base of the altar, Su Wanyi halted and said, "Normally, only the priests are allowed to ascend the Spirit Altar. I cannot accompany you further. Please climb by yourself. But remember, ascend slowly, step by step, and be receptive to the presence of the ancestral spirit throughout your ascent."

Sounds mysterious.

Shu Han nodded, mentally preparing himself to ascend the altar and seek the legendary ancestral spirit.

Being an outsider to the Forest Clan, in theory, he shouldn't be able to invoke the Forest Clan's ancestral spirit. However, Shu Han had a plan.

The time he released the aura of the Earth Goddess Celestial Soil, the divine tree flowers had protected him. This ancestral tree surely coveted his Celestial Soil. As long as he revealed the aura of the Celestial Soil at the top of the altar, he wasn't worried about whether the spirit of the ancestral tree would descend or not.

Just as Shu Han set foot on the altar, two streaks of green light shot towards him. Startled, he quickly retreated, leaping off the steps of the Spirit Altar.

Su Wanyi was alarmed and caught Shu Han. At this moment, two robust Forest Clan warriors holding divine tree spears blocked Shu Han's path.

"Sacred ground of the Spirit Altar! No trespassing!"

Supporting Shu Han, Su Wanyi shouted angrily, "What are you doing? He is the one who has received the blessing of the ancestral tree. Step aside at once!"

Hearing this, the two guards looked at each other, their expressions showing hesitation.

At this moment, a Forest Clan man approached with a group. He eyed Shu Han with a sinister gaze, sneering, "Wanyi, you claim he received the ancestral tree's blessing? Nonsense! The ancestral tree hasn't manifested its spirit in hundreds of years. How could it choose this unknown individual?"

"Zhuo Chun, move aside! We've known each other for so many years. Would I joke about the fate of our tribe with you?"

Shu Han secretly used the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye to observe this Forest Clan individual. Suddenly, under the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye, he noticed a pulsating red glow within Zhuo Chun's body.

The Mark of the Earth Dragon Fire!