The Temptation of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree
The Temptation of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree
He thought that she was dead.
Little did he expect that he would see her again in such a place, with such an identity, and under such circumstances.
"What's wrong, Big Brother? Are you all right?"
Feng Yan had noticed something off about Zhang Ruochen.
It was dangerous to lose one's concentration while facing enemies like the Deathkin and the God-Eater Bugs.
Hearing Feng Yan's voice, Zhang Ruochen, came out of his thoughts. He eased up his tightly clenched fingers and let out a sigh. "I am okay. Just thought of something."
Feng Yan was relieved. His worst fear was to see something happen to Zhang Ruochen in a moment like this.
Just now, Zhang Ruochen looked as if he was possessed, and that scared the hell out of him.
"She is Pan Ruo. She was the one who ordered the two Deathsworn Guards to kill you," said Ji Fanxin.
Back then, after suppressing the man and woman with the Supreme-Saint elephant and dragon souls, it was Ji Fanxin who had retrieved the intelligence from their souls.
The most valuable intelligence gave them insight into the appearance of Pan Ruo, one of the three candidates for Lady of the Fane of Destiny, on Xianji Mountain. It showed that the Fane of Destiny was behind the installations on the mountain.
"Pan Ruo," Zhang Ruochen muttered her name as he looked again at the familiar yet strange figure on the back of the Nine-Headed Black Tortoise.
After she engaged in a staring match with Zhang Ruochen for a while, Pan Ruo looked away. She appeared calm as if nothing had happened before.
As soon as Pan Ruo appeared, the three white-robed priests immediately stood behind her with respect. Although they were of the Path's Anterior in their self-cultivation, they still revered Pan Ruo.
Even if Pan Ruo did not become the Lady of the Fane of Destiny in the future, her status would still be extremely high. They could not compare to someone like her.
A violent tremor followed by a loud rumble came as a series of forces pounded against the Altar of Death from underneath.
Pounding the altar was none other than the God-Eater Bugs.
A massive number of bugs with blue fire illuminated the underground dimension. It looked like something from a fantasy.
The Death Knights who had been hiding in the dark rushed out and climbed onto the altar for fear of getting attacked by the bugs.
It scared the hell out of them when they witnessed their mate being burned alive into ashes.
They were not afraid of death, but they just did not want to die for nothing.
"The God-Eater Bugs are hitting against the altar, Sir! The altar is not going to hold. What should we do?" A white-robed priest looked nervous.
The Neverwither Supreme Saint-level attack had failed to even make a dent on the Altar of Death, yet these unassuming God-Eater Bugs were posing a grave threat to the altar. By the looks of these bugs, they wanted to eat the altar as lunch.
Even so, Pan Ruo appeared calm. "The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree draws on the Path of Life. It was the Deathkin's nemesis. Since the God-Eater Bugs and the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree are kindred souls, they share the same ability. Don't worry, I will tame them."
The Nine-Headed Black Tortoise roared and swept the Nether River at the God-Eater Bugs.
The Nether River engulfed the God-Eater Bugs that rushed out of the dark hole in the blink of an eye.
Due to the Nether River, the God-Eater Bugs that had thought about flying out were forced to retreat underground.
Without the illumination from the bugs, the underground dimension fell into darkness again. A rich evil air of death started to pervade the air.
Even so, it was apparent that the Altar of Death was experiencing problems after the bug attack. It could no longer extract the power of revival, at least for now.
Pan Ruo suddenly moved, leaving the back of the Nine-Headed Black Tortoise and the altar. She then stormed into the dark hole beneath.
"The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree, the legendary spiritual root of heaven and earth in the Kunlun Realm... I will become a god if I get my hands on it." There was a glint in Bi Yunhai's eyes.
It was a fetish that even the Supreme Saints and gods craved.
Without hesitation, Bi Yunhai utilized one of his techniques, and his body faded in a stream of light as he also lunged toward the pitch-dark hole.
He was now obsessed with the fetish and could not care less about any other things, not even the Fairy of a Hundred Flowers.
"Kill anyone who dares to get close!" a white-robed priest with a vertical eye on his forehead shouted.
As a Shadow of Death reached out, its Will of Death formed into an aggressive, black dragon from hell, which then pounced at Bi Yunhai.
A stern look flashed in Bi Yunhai's eyes as he performed an Azure Sky-Sea Palm Strike. It created a tidal wave to slam into the hellish black dragon.
Boom!
The black dragon from hell crushed the tidal wave and struck Bi Yunhai's chest with its claw.
The blow sent Bi Yunhai flying back and coughing a mouthful of blood. He had obviously been wounded badly.
"You have too much confidence in yourself," the white-robed priest with a vertical eye sneered.
Bi Yunhai put his hand on his chest, nearly coughing up another mouthful of blood. He was furious.
At first, he thought that since the altar was experiencing problems, it would not pose much of a threat. Little did he expect that it could still easily hurt him.
He felt humiliated as Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin were watching.
Many thoughts flashed across his mind, and he suddenly lifted off into the air. "The Kunlun Realm's Divine Sky-Connecting Tree is still alive, right under the Xianji Mountain!" he shouted.
Since he could not get in alone, he thought that he might as well rock the boat and get more people involved.
It would be a free-for-all from now on since each would try to take the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree.
Bi Yunhai's voice traveled as far as 10,000 miles. Everyone in and around Xianji Mountain heard him.
"I can't believe that the spiritual root of heaven and earth of the Kunlun Realm is still alive!"
"The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree is the oldest living being in Kunlun Realm, extremely powerful and possessing countless secrets. We will become gods if we could get your hands on it."
"The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree practices the Path of Life. It is a nemesis of us, the Deathkin. We must not let it fall into the hands of the Celestial Court. We have to get it before them."
"The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree was cut down a hundred thousand years ago and has since gone missing. It turns out it is in Xianji Mountain. It looks like we aren't here for nothing."
...
Everyone—the Celestial Court and Infernal Court cultivators—had lost the will to fight each other when they heard the words 'The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree.'
They stopped fighting tacitly, then performed whatever techniques they could to rush toward the center of Xianji Mountain. No one wanted to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In the underground dimension, Zhang Ruochen frowned at what Bi Yunhai had done. The broadcasting of the finding of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree was a bad idea.
The more fighters there were, the harder it became in retrieving the trunk of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree.
Zhang Ruochen turned his head to look at Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, and Pei Yutian. "The dimension where the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree lies is rigged with dangers. You all had better not go in there. Find a way to destroy the Altar of Death, if can. Run immediately if things get wrong. Don't worry about me."
He thought for a moment, then took out a Dimensional Teleportation Scroll. "Take this. Just in case."
He could not bring himself to risk his brothers' lives. After all, this had got nothing to do with them.
"What are you talking about, Big Brother? Just because it is dangerous, we have more reasons to stick together. We are brothers, remember?" Xiang Chunan said.
Feng Yan took the scroll and pressed his hand on Xiang Chunan's shoulder. "Listen to Big Brother, Brother Xiang. We are no good here. Instead of trying to help, we could be a liability. Why not we stay outside and we might be able to help Big Brother at the critical moment?"
"But..." Xiang Chunan was very reluctant.
"There is no but. Time's a-wastin'. We can't wait anymore. Be careful, Big Brother," said Feng Yan.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Don't worry. I will be fine. Let's move, Fairy."
Ji Fanxin said nothing, just going ahead with Zhang Ruochen at once. She was even more eager than Zhang Ruochen was in getting the trunk of the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin came rapidly toward them, the three white-robed priests made their moves to stop the two. The Shadow of Death waved its black sickle, striking it through the air at an incredible speed at the two.
The black sickle shot past Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin. It missed its target.
Using a Dimensional Shift, Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin reappeared above the dark hole, then lunged into it with no hesitation.
"Damn it!"
The three white-robed priests were outraged after failing to stop Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin.
They could not help it. Zhang Ruochen possessed the elusive dimensional skill, and the Altar of Death had temporarily lost connection with Xianji Mountain, losing control over the surrounding space. All they could do was to watch as Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin intruded into the dimension below.
However, they knew how powerful Pan Ruo was. Even though Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxi had gone inside, they would get nothing out of it.
Bi Yunhai's face was not looking good either. While Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin had gone in, he was forced to stay outside. Xuanyuan Liekong and others would laugh at him when they arrived.
Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, and Pei Yutian were standing on the Evil Spirit's head, their eyes looking up.
"It's coming fast. We have to move aside," said Feng Yan.
The Evil Spirit swayed its massive body and flew into a dark corner to hide. They did not want to be the bull's eye.
It was not that they were scared. With the Evil Spirit and Xiang Chunan's Metal Demonic Crown there, they might not lose if they had to fight any top fighter.
Besides, they had the Dimensional Teleportation Scroll with them. They could leave any time if something went wrong, and no one could stop them.
So they were totally calm like spectators watching events unfolding.
Shadows rapidly descended from the sky. Those powerful forces of Saint Qi, Demonic Qi, evil air of death, and whatnot started to spread in the air.
All eyes were on the pitch-dark hole beneath the Altar of Death.
No God-Eater Bugs were present, but there were traces of the Saint Qi of the wood spirit along with a hint of the Divine Tree's qi that counteracted the evil air of death.
Everyone could sense a rich breath of life rushing out of the dark hole, making a stark contrast with the surroundings.