Just in the blink of an eye.

Under the astonished gaze of everyone, the small tree, which looked like a dead branch, began to breathe new life and quickly grew strong. In just a few breaths, what was once a dead wood had become exceedingly robust.

The trunk reached a height of a thousand meters, with its long branches and green leaves covering the entire Stone Chamber. A vigorous vitality immediately filled the entire Stone Chamber.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the trunk at the center of the Stone Chamber, as if their minds had been captivated by this Divine Tree.

"Is this the Divine Tree I need to find?" Lin Mo’s breathing grew heavy. After leaving the Mystic Realm Sect and coming to the Demon Domain, several years had passed, and his ultimate goal was to obtain the Heavenly Dao Laws from the ’Heaven Tree’ inheritance.

Seeing the Divine Tree in the Stone Chamber, Lin Mo felt a bit flustered for a moment. Even the calm heart in his chest was pounding intensely at this moment.

The rich green light was like seawater, flooding the entire Stone Chamber. Everyone inside felt the abundance of vitality, and taking a deep breath, they found their spirits becoming more invigorated.

After the initial shock, greedy glimmers gathered on the Divine Tree.

"The treasures here belong to the Netherworld Sect. If the Hexagram Sect can show us some respect, there will be a generous reward in the future." At this moment, the Netherworld Sect Great Elder stepped out, glanced around, and finally landed his gaze on Guo Lu, speaking faintly.

Guo Lu smiled and said, "If it were normal times, I, Guo Lu, being a mere junior of the Hexagram Sect, would definitely give the Netherworld Sect Great Elder some face. However, this Divine Tree is also a Treasure my Hexagram Sect has sought through great difficulty. If the Netherworld Sect Great Elder expects Guo Lu to give up such a Treasure with just a word, I’m afraid it would be hard for me to explain to the Sect Master when I return."

The Netherworld Sect Great Elder frowned; he didn’t expect Guo Lu to give up with just a word.

"Everyone here has lost their power. If you want the treasures within this Divine Tree, you must rely on your own abilities!" Li Ling licked her lips, her sharp gaze sweeping over Lin Mo.

Rumble!

At this moment, the Divine Tree suddenly trembled violently, thousands of branches quivering along with it. Afterward, the rich green gas gathered in front of the Divine Tree, slowly forming a humanoid shape. An old man stood with his hands behind his back, floating in the air, his long hair fluttering, exuding an ethereal, Daoist aura.

This transformation once again focused everyone’s gaze in the Stone Chamber onto him.

"You’re here seeking the Divine Tree’s inheritance, right?" the old man said slowly, "I am the Divine Tree. What you see is just a wisp of Divine Thought I’ve left behind."

Could this kindly-looking old man be a remnant thought of the Divine Tree?

Even a mere wisp of a remnant thought could make everyone in the Stone Chamber lose their combat capabilities. One can only imagine the power of the Divine Tree in its peak state.

It’s truly beyond imagination.

"I’ve sealed your powers. If you want the treasures I’ve left, let your souls enter the Divine Tree. Only by passing the trial can you obtain the treasures," the old man continued slowly, "If you pass completely, you will receive my inheritance and guidance!"

After speaking, the old man smiled, then his figure gradually faded away until it completely disappeared.

Souls entering the Divine Tree?

After a moment of stupefaction, everyone’s gaze turned fiery. The most qualified ones in this Stone Chamber to compete for the treasures were Lin Mo, Guo Lu, Li Ling, and the Netherworld Sect Great Elder. The others could only look on eagerly.

But now the situation was different!

Everyone’s powers were suppressed; they only needed to let their souls undergo the trial. In this way, everyone had a chance to obtain the treasures left behind by the Divine Tree’s inheritance.

Thus, those who initially thought they had no chance to get the treasures now exhibited a bit of greedy light in their eyes.

Meanwhile, Guo Lu, Li Ling, and the Netherworld Sect Great Elder’s expressions grew solemn.

This meant that the number of competitors grew as well.

"I’ll go first."

A loose cultivator called out, then closed his eyes, and his soul directly entered the Divine Tree.

This loose cultivator was one with Star Sea Level High Realm Cultivation, indeed a master.

The instant his soul entered the Divine Tree, his body became like a stone. At this time, a young man stood up, holding a sharp blade in his hand, and said, "Everyone, this guy has enmity with me. Today, I must kill him to avenge my brother!"

With that, the blade in his hand gleamed coldly as he slashed towards the head of the meditating loose cultivator.

Swoosh!

Simultaneously, a green leaf broke away from the branch, transforming into a verdant streak of light, piercing directly through the young man’s head, leaving a bloody hole in his forehead, killing him on the spot.

Spectators realized that as long as their souls were in the Divine Tree, their bodies would be protected.

Seeing this, everyone calmed down, sat cross-legged in place, and entered their souls into the Divine Tree.

Lin Mo did the same, then released the Devil Cold Flame Soul, entering the trunk of the Divine Tree. The others followed suit, sending their souls into the Divine Tree.

Once inside the Divine Tree, Lin Mo saw a verdant space, empty around him, suggesting others saw a similar scene upon entering.

"Ahead lies the Soul Bridge. Cross it, and you will meet me and obtain the treasure!"

An ethereal, ancient voice echoed abruptly within the space.

Indeed, Lin Mo saw a bridge about a hundred meters wide with no end in sight. His eyes could see only about a hundred meters; beyond that was a verdant mist, the bridge’s end unknown.

"Can you really get the treasure by crossing the bridge?" Lin Mo furrowed his brow.

He didn’t believe that such a test would be that simple!

Taking a deep breath, Lin Mo stepped forward towards the bridge. As soon as he set foot on it, immense pressure surged in from all directions, like tidal waves.

"So, it’s this kind of test?"

Lin Mo instantly understood; it was a test of the soul. The soul is the root of life; if a person’s soul is destroyed, only their body remains, with no consciousness, becoming a puppet.

The soul is profound; even the libraries of some Super Sects fail to explain what a soul truly is.

However, for cultivators, the stronger they are, the stronger their souls become, though there are exceptions. Some people with resilient and powerful wills also have incredibly strong souls. Awareness, willpower, resolute determination, and strength all determine the soul’s strength.

With each step, Lin Mo’s brow furrowed deeper as the external pressure gradually increased. After about eighty meters, the pressure suddenly multiplied, almost overwhelming his soul.

The pain of this soul oppression was tens of thousands of times greater than physical injury—not only testing the soul’s strength but also testing willpower. Those unable to withstand such pain would retreat even if their soul was strong.

Having been looked down upon since childhood, Lin Mo endured countless hardships in his quest for strength, possessing a willpower far beyond ordinary people. Objectively speaking, as long as his soul wasn’t crushed, he could endure the pain.

Twenty meters ahead of him lay a high platform.

Indeed, as Lin Mo reached the platform, the tidal pressure vanished cleanly, and his soul felt relieved. Though the hundred-meter journey would typically take him mere seconds, walking those hundred meters was more painful and lengthy than traversing millions of miles on Thunder Mountain.