The siege on the Heavenly Pillar Giant Tree was lifted.
Mo Yuan and two other Nascent Soul Cultivators summoned with a wave of their hands, retracting array flags, array plates, and the like back into their pouches.
The three cultivators transformed into rainbows and soared into the sky, heading back to their Sect's base.
On the way back, Demon Heart Cave Master communicated via Divine Sense, expressing his confusion, "Great Cave Master, with the three of us joining forces, we had an overwhelming advantage. Why did we need to use a treasure like the Western Pure Land and give it to Old Monster in Stone?"
"We could have easily compelled him to sign the Divine Decree of the Ginseng Whisker Dragon King!"
A flicker of cold light passed through Lu Hongtu's eyes.
"Didn't you feel it?"
"On Old Monster in Stone, there was a trace of the aura belonging to the Transforming Spirit Level!"
Demon Heart Cave Master and Blood Shadow Cave Master were both startled.
Demon Heart Cave Master said with uncertain trepidation, "Does that mean Old Monster in Stone has advanced to the Divinity Transformation Stage?"
Lu Hongtu shook his head slightly.
"This cultivator originated from a Ten-Thousand-Year-old Earth Essence, with an extremely solid foundation. However, he once devoured a fragment of the Dividing Treasure Rock."
"While he gained the Divine Skills of a Stone Cast Earth Treasure, this fortunate encounter also had its downsides—it greatly impeded his cultivation speed."
This was a common situation.
During their cultivation journey, cultivators must face this difficult choice:
Whether to increase their Power and Cultivation Level or to master Divine Power Skills?
When cultivation levels go up, the base of a cultivator strengthens, leading to growth in all aspects.
But if a cultivator has only a high Cultivation Level without Divine Power Skills by their side, their combat effectiveness becomes a major concern.
With deep Mana but no battle abilities, facing tribulations would make it hard to survive.
However, if one focuses on Divine Power Skills, spending a lot of time and energy on it, it can also impede the progress of one's Cultivation Level.
If the Cultivation Level advances too slowly, and one reaches the end of their lifespan without breaking through to the next stage...that is as good as seeking one's own death.
Therefore, choosing between Cultivation Level and Divine Power Skills was never a multiple-choice question.
As a normal cultivator, one must consider both.
Who is more important, and what to focus on during which time period, varies from person to person.
After Old Monster in Stone consumed a fragment of the Dividing Treasure Rock, he made a hugely fast progress in Divine Power Skills, undergoing a qualitative change!
But this marvelous Divine Skill also dragged down his cultivation progress.
Lu Hongtu was well aware of this.
He shook his head.
"If Old Monster in Stone had ascended to the Divinity Transformation Stage, he wouldn't have treated us like this."
"We can only say he's on the verge of Divinity Transformation, at a critical juncture for breakthrough."
"Under such circumstances, giving away the Western Pure Land was fitting."
Demon Heart Cave Master and Blood Shadow Cave Master immediately understood.
In the face of the imminent transformation of Old Monster in Stone, Mo Yuan Cave Master needed to show goodwill.
Should Old Monster in Stone ascend to Divinity Transformation in the future, having had conflicts with Mo Yuan would mean facing pressure and gaining no favors.
It was better to give away the Western Pure Land now.
As Old Monster in Stone was originally a Ten-Thousand-Year-old Earth Essence, a treasure such as the Earth Element Merit of the Western Pure Land would greatly assist him, potentially bringing about a qualitative change.
This would significantly increase his chances of ascending to the Divinity Transformation Stage.
The enmity between Lu Hongtu and Old Monster in Stone was not deep-seated. By giving away the treasure, should Old Monster in Stone ascend successfully, it would dissolve past grievances, and he would likely remember the favor from Mo Yuan Cave Master.
Even if Old Monster in Stone failed to ascend, the Western Pure Land would still greatly benefit him.
Mo Yuan Cave Master's favor would still stand.
And spreading the news sounded very good.
Mo Yuan Cave Master didn't pressure other Nascent Soul Cultivators to join the grand alliance of Thousand Peak Forest.
Instead, he took the initiative to offer a treasure like the Western Pure Land to forge cooperation through incentives. In doing so, Mo Yuan Cave Master was seen as self-sacrificing for the future of Thousand Peak Forest, proactively forgoing his own interests—a noble act indeed!
It's worth mentioning that the Six Cave Sect was not purely a force of the Demon Path, but straddled both righteousness and evil.
Lu Hongtu had a profound insight into the bigger picture; he knew that to deal with the indigenous forces of Thousand Peak Ridge, it was necessary to have a tough and overbearing side, hence he recruited Nascent Soul Cultivators like Demon Heart and Blood Shadow.
At the same time, he understood that relentless toughness, tyranny, and cruelty would isolate them from the world; such a Six Cave Sect would have no future.
Therefore, he absorbed two other Cave Masters and actively established good relations with the outside world.
The Six Cave Sect's tyrannical and demonic ways were mostly directed internally, helping them secure their hold in Thousand Peak Forest. Their righteous conduct allowed them to form more connections with the outside world, assisting them in exchanging countless Cultivation Resources.
Having channels for exchange with the outside world, the Six Cave Sect was able to leverage the resources of Thousand Peak Forest to make broad contacts, trade, and foster good relations with external forces. On the other hand, they sold external resources within Thousand Peak Forest, thus earning a fortune and gradually elevating their status.
All of this was thanks to Lu Hongtu's management!
At this moment, Mo Yuan Cave Master was strategizing the future.
"If Old Monster in Stone truly breaks through to Divinity Transformation, then he and the Ginseng Whisker Dragon King are bound to clash!"
The Ginseng Whisker Dragon King, as the only Transforming Spirit Level being in Thousand Peak Ridge, had long been entrenched there, amassing countless years of operation and deep roots, with numerous believers and followers.
A single mountain cannot harbor two tigers.
If Old Monster in Stone wished to continue his cultivation in Thousand Peak Ridge, he would inevitably involve the ley lines of Thousand Peak Forest, greatly infringing upon the Ginseng Whisker Dragon King's base.
"By then, when two tigers fight, one is bound to get hurt!"