Shi Zhu remembered Shi Feiyang's instructions and knew that the Giant Wood God intended to cause trouble, so he should ignore whatever the other party said.

However, the Giant Wood God was truly excessive, directly initiating a fight, and Shi Zhu had no choice but to defend himself.

Both sides had fought before, and not just once; for centuries, one was on the ridge while the other was beneath it, separated by less than a thousand miles. They constantly saw each other and were very familiar with each other.

The Giant Wood God, now with his Immortal Law reaching Great Success, was even more powerful than a typical Golden Immortal. He thought he could capture the opponent with not much effort.

Who would have thought that upon exchanging blows, Shi Zhu's techniques would be so different from the past!

In the past, Old Man Kuzhu used Daoist subsidiary techniques and also practiced Buddhism's "Withered Zen," which in the eyes of the Giant Wood God, were merely peripheral methods. It was only because of unusual encounters over the years that such powerful Mana was cultivated, which was full of flaws.

When the Giant Wood God was first banished, he could see many flaws in Old Man Kuzhu's peripheral Spells and had countless ways to break them in his mind. Old Man Kuzhu was aware of his own flaws and used other methods to cover them up, interweaving them so that those flaws either flashed by too quickly for others to catch or became traps. When the opponent attacked, they would fall into other combined Spells.

The Giant Wood God's Mana now far surpassed that of Old Man Kuzhu back then and even surpassed Shi Zhu's current powers. Even without finding flaws, he could overwhelm Shi Zhu, and the duel would be over in the time it takes to eat a meal. If he searched for flaws, the skill would be like a butcher dissecting an ox, splitting the outcome in moments.

However! The current Shi Zhu was using the orthodox methods of the Mysterious Sect, not only more powerful than before but also without flaws to be found in his advances and retreats!

The Giant Wood God was greatly astonished. The circle of azure light he released was a Magical Treasure he refined, called the Heavenly Wood Seven Killings Ring, consisting of seven in total, specifically prepared for the Great Wilderness Elders. Within the Jia Wood, it soothed the Geng Metal, which was the Seven Killings, also called Seven Sha, drawing the power from the Big Dipper Seven Stars into it and cultivating seven Artifact Spirit Evil Gods.

He knew that Old Man Kuzhu possessed the Taiyin Qiao Ling Bamboo and planned to use the power of the Seven Killings to break it once used. Finally, the seven rings would ensnare the opponent's neck, wrists, ankles, chest, and abdomen, including the Primordial Spirit, leaving the opponent's life or death up to his whim!

But through Shi Feiyang's guidance, Old Man Kuzhu's beads were continuously refined and nurtured with True Water, reverting to the Six Roots Pure Bamboo. The Six Roots Pure kept Inner Demons from arising and Outer Demons from intruding, strictly preventing entry with no loophole to exploit. Although there were only six strands of seemingly weak azure light, they could spawn thousands of strands, standing against the outer ring of azure light without the slightest disadvantage.

Shi Zhu said, "What do you want, Giant Wood God?"

The Giant Wood God's voice echoed in the rolling green light: "I wish to invite Fellow Daoist Kuzhu to my Divine Wood Palace for a visit, hoping you can do me this honor."

Shi Zhu told him, "There's no need for a visit. You want to monopolize this Wuzong Ridge, don't you? I've already found another place of cultivation. I only came back to take my belongings. Once I leave, I won't ever return here. This place is all yours. Even my Spirit Valley Cave Mansion, I'll give it to you."

The Giant Wood God was even more taken aback: "You don't want this cavern abode that you've cleared for a thousand years?"

"I don't want it! From now on, this Wuzong Ridge is all yours!" Shi Zhu said loudly, "Quickly put the Magical Treasure away. I'll gather my Spirit Bamboo and will leave soon."

The Giant Wood God was silent for a moment before speaking again: "Whether you leave or not, I sincerely invite you to the Divine Wood Palace. We've been neighbors for hundreds of years, and since you say you'll never return, you should come to the peak. I'll invite you for a cup of humble wine as a farewell."

"I appreciate your kind intentions, but there's no need for a farewell. It's better not to disturb too much."

Though Shi Zhu insisted on leaving, the Giant Wood God insisted on preventing him, wanting him to visit the Divine Wood Palace.

After a brief standoff, Shi Zhu eventually agreed.

The Giant Wood God was not an enemy, nor was there great enmity between them. Except for the initial two duels, the relationship had been balanced, and as neighbors for several hundreds of years, their relationship had long since calmed. They had even made a transaction; Shi Sheng's Heavenly Heart Ring Yin Ring was exchanged from the Giant Wood God by Old Man Kuzhu with a Treasure Bead.

Although Shi Zhu's past life memories were sealed, he had inquired from many about his past life and asked Shi Feiyang for an approximate situation overview.

He realized that the Giant Wood God was powerful and did not want himself, or even Shi Feiyang or the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, to make such a formidable enemy.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you a little," Shi Zhu decided to observe the situation, his curiosity piqued, wondering what kind of trick the Giant Wood God was playing.

The Giant Wood God was overjoyed, immediately withdrawing the azure light, reverting it into seven Jade Rings which flew back to the summit of Wuzhong Ridge: "I shall await you at the Divine Wood Palace!"

Both were characters of high reputation, and reneging on promises was impossible.

Shi Zhu patiently gathered all the items in the cave, including the rare flowers, spiritual plants, various Immortal Herbs accumulated over the years in the valley, and his beloved bamboo. He pulled them all up, root and all, and stored everything in the Universe Box.

Finally, standing in the bare valley, devoid of scenery or furniture, Shi Zhu felt a sense of desolation and reluctance.

Forget it, the heart of Dao cannot be bound by external things; playing between heaven and earth, like an unmoored boat, is true freedom!

He swept away the negative emotions from his heart, renewed with vigor, sunlight filling him, then a blue light arose beneath his feet, lifting him off the ground, and in an instant, he arrived at the peak.

Qingmu was waiting on the ridge, seeing him, respectfully greeted: "Master has already prepared the banquet and has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me this way..."

Back then, the Giant Wood God was banished to the Lower Realm as Green Emperor's illegitimate child, acting with discretion. This Divine Wood Palace was merely a three-story wooden building, lacking a large courtyard in front, surrounded by many stacked fake mountains planted with giant trees. Through his mana, each grew as big as umbrellas, shading the sky, hidden by arrays. If not informed beforehand, even flying above one would reveal nothing.

Shi Zhu followed Qingmu, twisting left and right among the stones and giant trees, finally arriving at the Divine Wood Palace.

This palace is made entirely of wood, quite ancient, albeit constructed as a palace building, the structure is alive; its walls, beams, railings, and roof are all living, forming an integrated whole.

It's not wrong to call it a treehouse, but it's much larger and far more complex than a treehouse.

A three-zhang high door opened automatically, with the Giant Wood God already waiting inside.

At this time, people were dining, each with their own seat, and a table before each seat, each person eating separately.

Inside the grand hall, there were three tables—Giant Wood God sitting facing south in the main position, with two tables on either side. Someone was already sitting at the table on the west side, a woman appearing to be forty or fifty, long hair coiled together, held by a long hairpin, clad in dark teal attire, sitting there smiling, her gaze toward Shi Zhu was somewhat strange, and somewhat intrigued...

Shi Zhu did not know this woman, nor why she looked at him thus, but he knew she was very strong!

Civilly nodding to her, he accepted the invitation of the Giant Wood God and entered the eastern seat.

The Giant Wood God made small talk, observing expressions, confirming he could not recognize the female fairy across, asked: "Fellow Daoist, do you know who she is?"

Shi Zhu shook his head: "I don't know."

He truly did not know, though subconsciously felt very familiar with this female fairy, likely someone very close in a previous life.

The Giant Wood God laughed heartily, told the female fairy: "Lu Yu Daoist, he doesn't recognize you anymore!"

Indeed, the female fairy was Lu Yu, renowned alongside the elder Withered Bamboo, she smiled: "Shi Daoist's mana is truly mystical, able to seal his memories for so long, and so firmly. I see he has completely regained past lifetimes' mana, even exceeding former skills, yet still, no breakthrough of the seal, unable to recall past events, not even recognizing me now, how impressive!"

Shi Zhu listened, felt somewhat displeased within.

Shi Feiyang had long spoken to him of past life memories, with Shi Zhu's mana, he could break the seal, restore memories himself. Yet he didn't, knowing the purpose of the sealed memories had significance, though he had sought past life's events, it was merely understanding a general storyline in third-person view, vastly different from directly recovering memories.

"My past life was misguided, entering side paths, life's essence degraded to lower levels, every sixty years, the primordial spirit went to reincarnate in Central Earth multiple times, all ending in failure. My master sealed past life's memories this time with great benefit to myself; it's my master's wisdom and kindness. I shall not break the seal myself, one due to betraying master's favor, second seeking trouble myself."

Shi Zhu very directly expressed this, astonishing both the Giant Wood God and Lu Yu.

In the old days, Withered Bamboo's temperament was obsessively eccentric; the Cosmic Six Strange was called "Strange", due to terribly bad temper, whereas Great Wilderness Elders were overtly termed as two old monsters.

Now Shi Zhu is unexpectedly reasonable, utterly different from his past life.

The Giant Wood God knitted his brows: "Fellow Daoist Withered Bamboo has already lost his edge, missing past life's strength and will."

Lu Yu pursed her lips: "His past life was a wolf, now he's become a dog, hahaha."

She contested with Elder Withered Bamboo for over a thousand years, accumulated grudges sizable, helping Shi Feiyang trick Elder Withered Bamboo long ago with a hint of retaliation.

Seeing the present Shi Zhu, she felt a surge of delight, picking up the wine pot, self-poured, drank deeply: "How satisfying!"

Though she said such things about him, Shi Zhu wasn't very angry, only looked toward the Giant Wood God: "Daoist, you've called me here repeatedly, what is the reason?"

The Giant Wood God exclaimed in surprise: "She spoke of you like this, yet you can endure?"

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