Little Cold Mountain might carry the word "little" in its na, but it was anything but small. The mountain soared tens of thousands of feet high. Halfway up, it was cut off by a layer of clouds. Above them, a vast expanse of white snow created a boundless, wintry vista.
At the summit, several peaks converged to form a massive depression in the center. For years on end, lting snow had trickled down into it, gradually creating a vast, azure lake. This place had long been devoid of human presence, and the lake water was exceptionally clear, untainted by a single speck of dust.
In the heart of the lake lay a small island.
A treasure tree grew there, its entire form radiating a lustrous, glaze-like brilliance.
The tree was roughly several tens of feet tall with a luxuriant canopy. A misty radiance shimred on each branch, swaying with the wind and showering down waves of pure light.
Rich Life Essence flowed there, a white expanse filled to the brim with Immortal Qi.
"Is that the Azure Sky Tree of Ten Thousand Years?" Wang Xiu asked, looking at the distant treasure tree.
Wu Daozong nodded. "Indeed, that is it."
Wang Xiu stared at it for a good while, then remarked with so surprise, "This tree is actually still ownerless!"
Surrounding the treasure tree, white vapors swirled. They seed like ordinary mist but were, in truth, a form of natural barrier that would provoke the tree's resistance if anyone approached.
Wu Daozong nodded in agreent and lanted, "Your Excellency has a discerning eye. When I first traveled here in the old days, this treasure tree was just a sapling. It was not yet mature, and its sentience had not yet ford. Thus, I settled here, preaching the Dao under it day and night to nurture its sentience!"
So that's how Little Cold Mountain ca to be, Wang Xiu realized.
"Later on, the tree finally matured, and its sentience developed, but it was unwilling to be subdued by . Instead, it gifted a sapling infused with divinity…" Wu Daozong said this with a wry smile.
Wang Xiu expressed his astonishnt. "Even after the treasure tree matured and developed sentience, with your capabilities, Senior, forcefully subduing it shouldn't have been difficult, right?"
Wu Daozong nodded and said, "I originally stayed in this land with the intent of using this treasure tree to break through my bottleneck! But later, during the thousands of years I spent cultivating and seeking enlightennt under the tree, I inadvertently broke through that barrier and achieved the rank of Quasi-Emperor!"
"After that, Brother Qing and I began to address each other as fellow Daoists. I would co and visit it from ti to ti."
Wang Xiu had a sudden realization. Now that Wu Daozong was a Quasi-Emperor, subduing the treasure tree was no longer important. Although powerful, the tree could not help him complete the final step in perfecting his Dao of Painting. It was of little significance to him now. In fact, their karmic connection was far more interesting.
Wu Daozong took a step forward and laughed heartily. "Brother Qing, I've brought a fellow Daoist to visit you! Quickly now, open the barrier!"
Upon hearing Wu Daozong's words, the treasure tree shook gently. Its branches swayed, casting down starlight.
The mist above the water's surface parted to both sides, revealing a pathway paved with ancient runes.
The two of them quickly arrived beneath the ancient tree.
Only when Wang Xiu looked up did he truly perceive the deeper marvels of the Azure Sky Tree of Ten Thousand Years.
Chaotic Qi perated the branches, which looked like a vast, pitch-black cosmos. Each tender leaf glowed like an ancient star, while the branches themselves resembled rivers of stars, containing an indescribable Dao Yun.
He gazed at the tender leaves. Within the flickering light, he could see many reflected images. They showed all walks of life—birth, aging, sickness, and death—all of it so incredibly real, as if these scenes had always existed.
Wang Xiu, who had long since reached the Realm of All Laws Unified Path, peered through the Chaotic Qi and perceived the treasure tree's true essence.
Causality and Reincarnation.
It had been nourished by two primordial laws of the highest order. No wonder it had beco such a treasure.
"It's just a pity…" Wang Xiu sighed softly. "Its origin has withered. There is no turning back the heavens now."
Hearing this, Wu Daozong's body trembled slightly. He looked at Wang Xiu with a complex expression and, after a long mont, sighed. "Fellow Daoist, your vision is indeed exceptional!"
For an innately extraordinary divine object like the Azure Sky Tree of Ten Thousand Years, if it could continue to grow, it would one day successfully transform into an innate Quasi-Emperor Supre. Furthermore, its path to becoming a Great Emperor would be far simpler than that of ordinary beings!
But… that step was not so easily taken.
It required an eternity of accumulation. This was true for all beings born of mountains, rocks, grass, and wood that wished to attain the Dao. The higher the tier of a natural treasure, the more difficult its transformation. All things have their boons and banes; such is the way of the Heavenly Dao.
The treasure tree before them stood majestic and inscrutable, with a vast canopy brimming with vitality. But Wang Xiu's gaze could now pierce straight to the essence of all things. With a single glance, he saw the deep decay hidden beneath all that vitality.
The life force of this ancient tree was constantly ebbing away. It was approaching its end.
This was clearly the result of a failed transformation attempt, which had depleted its origin.
As if it had heard their conversation, the surrounding Chaotic Qi suddenly dissipated. The branches and leaves, once rich with Life Essence, withered and dimd in an instant, becoming like an old man in his twilight years, suffused with an aura of death.
Wu Daozong sighed. "Brother Qing attempted to transform three tis, and all three tis, it failed… This has damaged its very origin!"
A tinge of sorrow appeared in his eyes. This treasure tree had accompanied him through a vast stretch of ti, becoming closer to him than his own children or disciples.
"I wonder if it can still be of any help to you?" he asked, turning to look at Wang Xiu.
Wang Xiu pondered for a mont before replying, "The treasure tree is depleted, and the power of its laws has dimd. With ninety percent of its efficacy gone, it will be difficult."
A look of apology appeared in Wu Daozong's eyes.
But unexpectedly, Wang Xiu spoke again. "However, it's not without a chance for redy!"
Wu Daozong's eyes brightened slightly. "Oh?"
Wang Xiu slowly stepped forward and raised his palm. A great amount of green light began to dance as streams of rich Life Essence gathered in the form of runes and surged toward the ancient tree's trunk.
BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!
At this mont, the treasure tree seed to co alive. Countless branches swayed, once again emitting light, and the withered yellow leaves regained so of their green vitality.
Life Essence filled the space between heaven and earth.
Wu Daozong stared at this scene and cried out in shock, "The Qing Emperor's Longevity Scripture? Could Your Excellency be a descendant of the Qing Emperor?"
Wang Xiu glanced at Wu Daozong with so surprise. The man had recognized the source of the divine ability he had just unleashed at a single glance.
Qing, Bai, Hei, Chi, and Huang—these were the five ancient emperors of the Human Race, figures from an era incomparably distant from the present. They had once been incredibly glorious, representing an extrely dazzling age for the Human Race. But with the passage of ti, they had gradually declined and vanished without a trace, superseded by the other Emperor Clans that ca later. Only one or two lineages had shown any signs of activity in the Nine Heavens over the years, but they were all extrely mysterious, and ordinary people never had the chance to et them.
But the Qing Emperor… that lineage had completely vanished during the ancient era. Their whereabouts were unknown, and they had not been seen for countless years. Only a few ancient texts contained scarce ntions of them.
Seemingly noticing Wang Xiu's surprise, Wu Daozong explained, "Over the years, I have searched through countless ancient texts to find a cure for Brother Qing. Only then did I co to understand so ancient secrets! It is said that the Qing Emperor's inheritance contains the Law of Creation, which holds the power to nd the heavens! It can fully repair even a calamity of the Heavenly Dao or a depleted origin… I never expected to witness it today. Truly extraordinary!"
Wang Xiu nodded in understanding. "I am not a descendant of the Qing Emperor. I was just lucky enough to have stumbled upon this inheritance."
Of course, Wu Daozong didn't believe his explanation. A Great Emperor's heritage was priceless. The slightest leak of information could shake the entire Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. How could it possibly be obtained so easily?
At this mont, Wu Daozong grew even more certain of Wang Xiu's mysterious and extraordinary nature. A hint of hope appeared in his eyes. "In that case, Your Excellency has a way to save Brother Qing?"
Wang Xiu nodded and looked up at the treasure tree's vast canopy, which resembled a starry sky. "I do, but… it will not be a short process! During this ti, no one must disturb !"
Wu Daozong nodded. "On this point, you can rest assured!"
Wu Daozong left.
The treasure tree showered down its light, and a green branch drooped down before Wang Xiu, moving as lithely as a snake. It seed very docile, as if expressing its gratitude.
Wang Xiu smiled calmly. "I save your life, you help attain the Dao. It's a fair trade. No thanks are necessary."
Divine radiance flickered. The area was bathed in a sea of green light, incredibly dense and dazzling. Life Essence surged as if tangible, flowing freely.
Thick mist once again enveloped the island.
「anwhile, in the Demon Realm.」
An ordinary-looking young man sat on the edge of a pitch-black cliff, gazing down at the fiery red river of lava below. The dark red light reflected in his eyes but could not stir his gaze, which was as placid as an ancient well.
He sat on the cliff's edge, barefoot, his feet dangling casually. With one hand propping up his cheek, he looked just like an innocent boy.
Behind him, several figures with powerful auras knelt on the ground. They would occasionally glance up timidly at the youth's back, their eyes filled with reverence.
One of them was a captivating woman with large patches of smooth, white skin exposed, exuding an irresistible charm. She was the very sa woman who had led the attack on Cold Mountain City. She was the current ruler of the Charming Demon clan, and her strength had reached the peak of the Sky Demon Emperor Realm, making her comparable to a peak Heavenly Immortal. She was only one step away from the rank of Supre.
Yet at this mont, her eyes were filled with fear.
"So, you don't even know why you lost?" the youth asked slowly. His voice was pleasant, bright, and cheerful.
The Heavenly Enchantress Emperor swallowed nervously and said in a trembling voice, "This ti… there were too many unexpected variables. That human boy who appeared out of nowhere repeatedly foiled our plans…"
The youth said indifferently, "Including the two from Skytrap Mountain, a total of six Supres acted in concert, all to create an opportunity for you… And now you're telling it was because of unexpected variables?"
Fear tinged the Heavenly Enchantress Emperor's voice. "This subordinate was incompetent. Please punish , Teacher!"
The youth, still resting his cheek on his hand, yawned and said, "If I weren't in dire need of manpower right now, you wouldn't be alive to see here today."
The Heavenly Enchantress Emperor quickly kowtowed. "Thank you, Teacher, for sparing my life!"
At her side, a towering, mountain-like dark figure spoke in a deep, booming voice, "Teacher, now that we've failed to capture Wu Daozong, what should we do?"
The Teacher's voice was calm as he replied, "The Nine Heavens Star Chart has a total of thirty-two main stars. Wu Daozong is just one of them. Without him, there are others!"
The dark figure hesitated. "But this ti, our actions were too bold. The arrangents over at Yaoguang…"
"Withdraw for now," the Teacher said after a mont of silence. "Tell them that before they leave, they should give those Holy Lands sothing to keep them busy."
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