The Qing Empire was a desolate area of the main world, and it didn't have access to purer, dense Qi due to the Hollow Mountains.
Not to mention, because of such an enormous barrier between them and the outside world, they also had fewer resources, which ultimately resulted in a low ceiling for cultivation.
Even if the people of the Qing Empire tried their hardest with the best talent, they would never break through to the Nascent Soul Realm and achieve the Soul Severing Realm.
So, the presence of Soul Severing Realm Cultivators meant they were from the outside world. This didn't come as a surprise to Shen Yu, as he knew just how much the Major Sects had invested in the Qing Empire.
The occasional uprising from the outsiders could also be resolved quickly because of them.
He rubbed his chin and asked, "How many Soul Severing Realm Cultivators are there in the Empire?"
[Four. There is also an old man who is a Pseudo Soul Severing Realm Cultivator. But his life force is very weak, so his condition is special. I detected strange fluctuations from him, Master.]
Shen Yu didn't reply and thought about the matter. He narrowed his eyes, and a guess formed in his head.
"I see, so that's what's happening. What a bastard."
[Master?]
"Ah, nothing."
Shen Yu put those thoughts aside and focused on his right side, where many influential clans resided. After covering those clans, he saw a small settlement.
It looked like a small village, but there was no way a small village would be located in the capital city. So, that only meant this was a small but powerful sect.
He looked at the settlement for a few seconds and chuckled. He now understood why such a settlement was here in the capital.
"The Devourer...I didn't expect to meet it here. No wonder the Qi in the whole Qing Empire is so low and concentrated here at this plateau. It's all this fucker's fault."
He spat. Perhaps it was because his memories were affecting his emotions, but he felt an instinctive fear and hatred towards this demonic tree.
The previous Shen Yu had once visited one of the most dangerous zones of the outside world to look for a particular treasure. However, instead of finding the treasure, he stumbled upon this demonic tree, which almost resulted in his death.
The Devourer tree had a consciousness and was as intelligent as humans. It was a Tier 8 Spiritual Creature formed in special circumstances, which shaped its soul like that of humans.
It was like the Skinwalker, an anomaly. And every anomaly was a living disaster to humans.
The Devourer tree had only one ability, but that single ability was too horrifying. It could devour anything. Literally. This was what made it such a terrifying opponent.
No matter what you throw at it, it would just devour it and turn it into its own power. This was its ability. Of course, it could also affect vague things like emotions by devouring part of them.
It literally could devour anything as long as its body and soul could sustain it.
Shen Yu lightly knocked on his head and asked, "Are these feelings because I assimilated with his soul?"
[Yes, and since it's probably the most horrifying experience he's gone through, it's engraved on his soul.]
Shen Yu frowned, remembering how the previous Shen Yu had spent a month fighting with this damned tree, only to leave after almost tasting death many times.
He sighed and looked at the crimson tree in front of him. It looked so peaceful, as if it could provide warmth even if the whole world were getting destroyed. But this tree was probably the one who was destroying that world.
However, then Shen Yu noticed something and smiled.
"It's a different one, heh. I didn't think there would be more of such fuckers. Well, at least this guy is sleeping soundly due to its injuries, so I don't need to worry about it for a while."