A Cunning Pervert in the Cultivation World Chapter 587: The Hidden Guardian.

He truly stared in shock.

The being on the throne was clearly not a puppet.

He could tell it was a strange living lifeform.

And worse of all... the pressure coming from it was insane.

Li Feng could even feel that this thing might be even stronger than the False Crown at its peak!

That was just the instinctive feeling he got from this being.

Little Ling’s leaves rustled proudly.

’Master, let me introduce you. This is my other child...!’

The slender branch pointed toward the sleeping giant on the throne and proudly declared its name.

’The Sentinel!’

The moment the name left her, the System interface flashed in front of Li Feng’s eyes.

[Ding!]

[Unknown Lifeform Detected!]

[Emergency Protocol Scan activated!]

[Ding!]

[Name: The Sentinel]

[Title: Divine Tree’s First Protector, Little Ling’s Child, Living War Root, Bound Guardian of the Hidden World]

[Realm: Rank 6]

[Combat Strength: Estimated Peak Stage of Soul Formation Realm]

[Status: Dormant / Receiving Nourishment]

[Note: The ability to grow this existence was given to the new Divine Tree by [???] as a way to protect the new sprout, so that the past mistake will not be repeated.]

[Note: The Sentinel can only exist within the Divine Tree’s effective range and will always possess the same strength as their Mother Tree’s rank.]

[Host... please do not poke it casually.]

Li Feng’s mouth fell open as he stared at the status window.

’Rank 6...’

If Rank 4 was supposed to be Nascent Soul, then this thing was two whole realms above Nascent Soul!?

His eyes slowly lifted toward the sleeping giant on the throne.

The vines continued to pulse with golden light, feeding it in silence.

For a moment, Li Feng could not even speak.

After all, if he wasn’t wrong, he currently stood in front of an existence capable of destroying the entire continent.

Then he finally remembered.

Little Ling did have this kind of skill.

A surge of excitement and happiness rose in him as he realized he had such a powerful trump card.

But then Li Feng paused.

His gaze slowly shifted from the sleeping giant back to the pulsing vines, and the shock in his heart settled just a little.

There was a weakness.

According to the System, this thing could only stay near the Divine Tree as it existed to protect it.

Outside the tree’s effective range... it probably could not even take a single step.

A continent-destroying existence, yet one that could never leave its mother’s side.

Then a strange thought crossed Li Feng’s mind as a wicked smile slowly appeared on his face.

If the situation ever came to the worst... maybe he could just take out the Divine Tree and let the Sentinel take care of those enemies.

A Rank 6 protector that could not leave the tree’s range.

But if he brought the tree itself to the battlefield...

Wouldn’t that mean he could bring a continent-destroying existence with him?

But then he sighed and just shook his head.

It was fun to think that way, but the reality was a lot more complicated.

If he revealed a heavenly treasure like Little Ling and used the Sentinel to wipe out his enemies, it still would not be a clean solution.

The Sentinel’s range was limited.

And there were countless strange methods in this world to escape.

And once those who survived saw it...

They would not simply be afraid.

They would become more cautious, and at the same time, greed would take root in their hearts.

A treasure capable of growing a Rank 6 protector would no longer be something they could ignore.

From that moment on, they would only look for other ways to trouble him after realizing that this protector had a limited range of movement.

And that kind of trouble would be even harder to deal with, as they might try to focus on the people around him instead of him.

Still, that method was not impossible.

It was just something that should only be used as a last resort.

Even so, Li Feng felt a quiet happiness settle in his chest.

At the very least, he had gained another trump card.

For the rest of the entire night, in order to reward her pleasant surprise, Li Feng kept praising Little Ling and gently patted her leaves.

The young Divine Tree spirit grew more and more pleased, rustling against his hand until a strange, delighted voice finally left her.

Only then did he turn away.

’Mhmm~’

_

_

_

And some time later,

Li Feng arrived at another familiar place.

The underground prison.

The air changed the moment he stepped inside.

The warmth of the Divine Tree’s living halls faded, replaced by a cold, damp stillness.

Stone steps led downward, each one worn and quiet, as if even sound itself was reluctant to linger here.

He walked deeper and saw rows of sealed cells lined both sides of the passage.

But most of them were empty, as the original prisoners had already died.

And the further he went, the heavier the darkness became, until only the dim glow from the thick branches along the walls remained.

Li Feng’s footsteps echoed softly through the underground corridor.

He did not stop until he reached a special cell at the very end.

Unlike the others, this one was special.

As thick special branches had grown across the walls and floor, weaving themselves into a living cage.

Soft golden light pulsed faintly through the wood, sealing every gap.

And inside... a beautiful woman sat slumped on the ground.

Her crimson hair spilled across her face like flowing fire, hiding most of her features, yet it could not hide the beauty beneath.

Even in this state, her mature figure remained elegant, her skin pale and delicate, her presence carrying a quiet, mature allure that had not faded even after defeat.

Her robes were slightly torn, and traces of dried blood still clung to the corner of her lips.

Right now, tree branches bound her wrists, ankles, and waist, holding her firmly in place.

Then, as if sensing something, the slumped figure slowly lifted her head.

And Li Feng saw that beautiful mature face once again.

Even in this state, her features remained elegant and striking.

Her skin was pale, her lips faintly red, and her eyes still carried that same quiet, mature beauty that had once made her seem fragile.

But... Li Feng noticed that only her crimson eyes were different.

The light that had once shone so brightly in them was gone.

Now... they were lifeless, as if the owner no longer had the will to live.

It was Zi Yuanling.