Inside the secret realm, Ou Yangming could not help but smile as he stared at the bright red bamboo that had slowly grown in front of him.

According to his estimation, a Phoenix Fire Bamboo's growth cycle was around a month. He initially planned that if he failed to grow the bamboo during his first try, he would have 2 more tries or more opportunities.

If he still failed to grow the Phoenix Fire Bamboo after 3 months, he would have to think of another way.

Nonetheless, the Wutong Tree did not disappoint him; it successfully made the bamboo grow in just a few days.

Although only a pointy small bit of the bamboo had broken through the soil, it was filled with vitality.

"Master, this is a Phoenix Fire Bamboo. A Heavenly Phoenix Fire's energy is required for its growth." A faint voice could be heard in the air.

It came from a human-like rattan, which was a new special power performed by the Wutong Tree. The tree entangled its rattans together, then it adopted a secret technique to detach itself from the gigantic tree to stay by Ou Yangming's side.

The wonderful ability was unbelievable. According to the Wutong Tree, it was a type of clone ability.

Even so, since the clone was only formed from rattans, it was not mighty enough to resist legendary clones of powerhouses.

Ou Yangming nodded and reached out his hand to point in front of him.

Next, an intense flame was released from his palm, and it enveloped the bright red bamboo.

The tree person in the form of a rattan had features similar to a human; the Wutong Tree had imitated a human on purpose. At this moment, its eyes gleamed as it naturally yearned for the Heavenly Phoenix Fire.

Needless to say, the tree knew very well the functions of the fire. Therefore, even though it coveted the fire, it still forced itself to restrain its desire so that Ou Yangming would not feel troubled.

Normally, if plants were surrounded by flames, they would be burned into ashes by ordinary flames, let alone the Heavenly Phoenix Fire. Nevertheless, the Phoenix Fire Bamboo was entirely different. When it was being wrapped up by the fire, it began to sway as though it was cheering and dancing because of its situation.

Ou Yangming also sensed that the Phoenix Fire Bamboo was absorbing energy from his fire without an end.

It was as if the fearsome fire, which could burn everything, was a nutrient for its growth.

Of course, this was also because Ou Yangming was constantly paying attention to the Phoenix Fire Bamboo and controlling the intensity of his fire. If he went all-out regardless of the cost, the bamboo would have been burned into nothing without being able to absorb his fire's energy leisurely.

Struck with a thought, Ou Yangming turned to ask the tree person, "Wutong, why does a Phoenix Fire Bamboo need a Heavenly Phoenix Fire?"

The Wutong Tree pondered for a brief moment before it answered, "Master, according to the cycle of the 5 elements, fire could overcome wood. However, nothing is absolute; there's also a margin in the natural law. This is why some wood can not only survive in fires, but can also obtain necessary life energies from them." It looked at the Phoenix Fire Bamboo enviously and said, "Just like it."

Ou Yangming grinned and asked, "What about you?"

The rattan tree person turned around and responded, "Master, I need to be nourished by your fire more than it does, but that'll be in the future instead of now."

Ou Yangming flushed and cleared his throat before he assured the Wutong Tree. "I'll do my best to enhance my abilities so that you won't have to wait for too long."

The Wutong Tree was an old creature that had lived for an unknown period, such that even Ou Yangming could not pry its foundation. Most importantly, he could not keep Feng Xiang's appearance in the Spiritual Realm a secret from the tree. Given that it was a selfish move, the young fellow also felt guilty toward the Wutong Tree.

Upon hearing what he said, the rattan tree person bowed at him and said, "Thank you, Master, but everything in the world is definite. As long as you cultivate step by step, you'll become a top-notch powerhouse one day, so you don't need to be in such a hurry."

Ou Yangming looked deeply at it and nodded. Following that, he focused on the Phoenix Fire Bambo again.

Under the Heavenly Phoenix Fire's nourishment, the Phoenix Fire Bamboo slowly absorbed its power. What more, it was growing at an indescribable speed.

Initially, only a pointy small edge had emerged from the ground; at this moment, the bamboo was growing quickly as it could not stay in slumber anymore.

Ou Yangming twitched his eyelids. He did not know much about plants such as the Phoenix Fire Bamboo, by which his understanding of them was far from that of real alchemists and planting masters. Despite that, he knew the basics well.

The bamboo's growth was simply impossible.

He raised his eyebrow and turned to look at the rattan tree person.

"Hehe, Master, I only want to lend you a helping hand." The rattan tree person cast a flattering smile at the young fellow. "Don't worry, the make-up from my power won't destroy the Phoenix Fire Bamboo's nutrients at all; it'll only become better."

Ou Yangming twitched his mouth as he was taken aback. 'I've already thought highly of the Wutong Tree, but it looks like it's far from enough.

'I wonder how many hidden abilities this old fella has—he always surprises me.'

Ou Yangming nodded and curbed his thought again to focus on the Phoenix Fire Bamboo.

The rattan tree person sighed a breath of relief. It did not lie to Ou Yangming, where he only used one root system during the planting of the Phoenix Fire Bamboo to provide it with plenty of nutrients and abilities. With that, the bamboo could grow faster and broke through the soil successfully.

When the Phoenix Fire Bamboo absorbed the Heavenly Phoenix Fire's energy, the Wutong Tree also benefited covertly.

It obtained a bit of the Heavenly Phoenix Fire's energy, which it had desired for such a long time, from the bamboo.

Of course, the Wutong Tree was experienced and farsighted enough to not offend Ou Yangming at this time, hence it only absorbed an insignificant amount of the Heavenly Phoenix Fire. Moreover, while it absorbed the energy, it fed back a stronger life force to the Phoenix Fire Bamboo.

The Phoenix Fire Bamboo needed the Heavenly Phoenix Fire to grow, but it must not lack a strong life force.

For the Wutong Tree, what it invested and what it received were not proportionate; it was an extravagant move.

Having said that, the Heavenly Phoenix Fire was indescribably attractive to it.

Taking a normal person as an example, one clearly knew that snacks were not one's living necessities; 3 meals a day were the real reason a person could stay alive.

That said, it did not stop people from spending more money on those snacks.

Of course, this would only happen if it was within one's power. If one could not even maintain having 3 meals a day, one would not need to consider buying snacks at all.

After realizing the Ou Yangming neither objected to nor was disgusted by its action, the Wutong Tree was relieved.

It began to absorb a bit more of the Heavenly Phoenix Fire, but it also fed back more life force to the Phoenix Fire Bamboo, causing it to thrive in the fire.

Under the perfect cooperation between Ou Yangming and the Wutong Tree, the Phoenix Fire Bamboo grew faster.

The growth phase was supposed to take a month, but it was evidently reduced.

All of a sudden, a soft "pop" was heard coming from the Phoenix Fire Bamboo as a branch grew out from the middle of it.

Ou Yangming's eyes lit up. Instead of feeling surprised, he was overjoyed, such that he could not help but smile.

It was his first time coming into contact with a Phoenix Fire Bamboo, but he was already familiar with it.

The bamboo's growth was one thing, but what could actually be used to make medicine was not the culm but the branches.

According to Ou Yangming's initial estimation, the Phoenix Fire Bamboo would have to be fully mature before a branch could even be seen. Who knew, how long had it been since the seed was planted? Had the bamboo matured already?

Ou Yangming twitched his mouth and turned to look at the rattan tree person.

The miracle was definitely not created by his Heavenly Phoenix Fire, but the Wutong Tree, which was leading everything behind.

"Master, the Phoenix Fire Bamboo is a unique kind of living thing. As long as one is given sufficient life force, one can grow by continuously drawing energy from a Heavenly Phoenix Fire. I've only provided it with the life force that it needs." The tree person smiled embarrassedly.

Ou Yangming took a deep breath and lamented.

'Only provided it with the life force that it needs?'

Within the short period, the Wutong Tree had instilled into the Phoenix Fire Bamboo the life force that it needed from the second it broke through the soil until it matured. What frightened Ou Yangming more was there were no unforeseen changes nor mishaps throughout the process.

The Wutong Tree's controlling ability was truly appalling.

If the same situation were to happen to a human, it would mean that a baby suddenly grew into his or her thirties within a year. The more one thought about it, the more one would be terrified.

The Wutong Tree's understanding of life force and how it could be used had reached an unimaginable stage. At the very least, they were beyond Ou Yangming's imagination.

Ou Yangming did not know if it was a blessing or a misfortune for him to have such a helper.

He sighed and turned around. As he swayed the fire in his hand, he finally sensed the satiety from the Phoenix Fire Bamboo.

The feeling should have appeared long ago because a newly grown Phoenix Fire Bamboo could not have absorbed so much of a Heavenly Phoenix Fire.

However, Ou Yangming only sensed it when the bamboo had completely matured and even grew a branch.

As he withdrew his hand, the fire around the Phoenix Fire Bamboo disappeared.

At this moment, it was clear through the rattan tree person's eyes that it was reluctant to part with the fire.

Ou Yangming reached out to remove the Phoenix Fire Bamboo's branch.

The tree person rolled its eyes and asked, "Master, do you need more of that?"

"This will do for now. I'll come back if I need more," Ou Yangming answered after some thought.

The rattan tree person nodded regretfully. It wondered when would be the next time it could steal some of the Heavenly Phoenix Fire's energy to satisfy its craving again.