A long ti had passed.
Night had fallen.
An Ran, carrying Luo Xiu, left the underground chamber and returned to the surface.
Even with her steadfast Dao Heart, the sight of the surreal landscape before her made An Ran pause in awe.
Under the cover of night, the entire Immortal Grass Forest was aglow. Its rich life force had condensed into a mist that wafted and spread to every corner. Nurous green plants twisted and danced in the luminous fog, while brightly colored birds with ribbon-like tail feathers threaded through the air…
Unfortunately, Luo Xiu had fallen into a deep sleep and could not appreciate this fantastical beauty.
An Ran slowly turned, her eyes gradually moistening as she gazed at the ancient tree, now lush with branches and leaves, its life patterns vibrant and full of energy. It was as if a terminally ill, dying old man had suddenly been returned to his youth, hale and hearty once more.
The little elves were cheering and frolicking, hopping and climbing in groups across the massive leaves, using them as slides.
An Ran couldn't help but choke up as a tear quietly slid from the corner of her eye. It had been a very, very long ti since she had felt such an atmosphere.
"Luo Xiu, thank you… You are a benefactor to our clan," she whispered. "You are the deity sent by the Ancient God to save our people."
Just then, a few little elves in pretty dresses ran up cheerfully and began twirling around the hem of An Ran's dress.
"High Priest, it's wonderful, it's wonderful! The ancient tree is alive again!"
"I'm so happy!"
An Ran looked at the little ones with a gentle gaze. "Alright, alright, you're going to pull my dress off. Go on, go and play."
One of the little elves looked at Luo Xiu in An Ran's arms and asked curiously, "Why are you holding an Elephant Trunk?"
Hearing this, An Ran stiffened. "What Elephant Trunk?"
"That's an Elephant Trunk! I saw it last ti, Miaomiao did! He has an Elephant Trunk growing on him."
An Ran finally understood what the little one was referring to. Her face flushed red as she said sternly, "Nonsense. From now on, Luo Xiu is to be an Offering of our clan."
Suddenly, the sound of tearing air echoed as two figures descended from the sky.
"High Priest, is Chen Shuisheng dead?" Dou Dou's small face was red with anxiety as she rushed over to check on Luo Xiu.
Zhang Yi was also trembling with worry, on the verge of tears. She could feel that Luo Xiu's aura was incredibly weak, like a candle about to be extinguished.
An Ran sighed silently. "Don't worry, he won't die."
"Miaomiao, go prepare the Ten Thousand Woods Divine Liquid."
"Yes, High Priest!"
…
An indeterminate amount of ti passed.
When Luo Xiu regained consciousness and groggily awoke, he found himself soaking in a bathtub made of so unknown material. The tub looked like the husk of a large fruit, which had begun to turn to jade after a long ti. The water was a faint green, emitting the gentle fragrance of grass and wood, a misty essence rising from its surface.
Upon inspecting himself with his Divine Sense, Luo Xiu found that his Essence Blood had begun to regenerate, though the process was very slow.
He quickly took out the Blood Fiend Jade Amulet he had previously seized, holding it in his palm to accelerate the regeneration.
However, with his current physical strength, even the Blood Fiend Jade Amulet had a negligible effect, far less potent than the water he was soaking in.
He put the amulet away and lay weakly in the tub, recalling what had happened before he lost consciousness. Nothing much, really. He had just crushed the Creation Green Lotus and offered it as a sacrifice to the ancient tree.
To impress a girl, I really paid a hefty price… and with actual blood, no less.
Luo Xiu shook his head with a helpless sigh. Then, with so difficulty, he dragged his frail, weak body out of the tub.
He suddenly saw Zhang Yi asleep at a nearby table, and a smile touched his lips.
Looks like she's been keeping company all along.
Not wanting to disturb her, Luo Xiu walked naked to the window and reached out to pull open the curtains, intending to bask in the sun.
But the next mont, he froze.
Outside the window, a little elf was perched on a vine, munching on a fruit. Her cheeks were puffed out, and juice dribbled from the corner of her mouth, looking utterly adorable.
The little elf stared back at Luo Xiu with wide, watery eyes, her expression one of disbelief.
"Crap!" Luo Xiu yelped, yanking the curtains shut.
Outside, the little elf, Tu Tu, scratched her head. She couldn't understand why the Offering was afraid of her. Tu Tu wasn't scary at all.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She dropped the half-eaten fruit and shouted, "Elephant Trunk! The Elephant Trunk Patron is awake! Tu Tu has to go tell Her Majesty the Queen and the High Priest!"
Inside the room.
Luo Xiu looked at the now-awakened Zhang Yi with a strange expression.
Zhang Yi rubbed her sleepy eyes. "Brother Luo Xiu, you're awake! How do you feel?"
Luo Xiu shrugged. "I'm basically fine. I just need to rest for a while."
"That's good."
"Have you been here with this whole ti?" Luo Xiu asked.
Zhang Yi rolled her eyes and suddenly snatched up a book from the table. "I ca here to read and study. Keeping you company was just convenient since I had nothing better to do."
Luo Xiu smiled. This girl is quite the tsundere. "So, what book are you reading?"
Zhang Yi thought for a mont, then suddenly said, "eting You, I Willingly Concede."
Luo Xiu was instantly dumbstruck.
Zhang Yi giggled. "Alright, rest up a bit, then we'll go see the High Priest."
「In the luxurious great hall.」
After the little elves had departed, Luo Xiu looked at An Ran with a peculiar expression. "How long was I out?"
"Counting today, it's been five days."
"That long?" Luo Xiu was surprised.
"That's actually quite good, thanks to your strong constitution," An Ran said.
Luo Xiu looked around. "Speaking of which, where's Dou Dou? Now that the girl is queen, she's getting a big head, is that it? She won't even co to see . Am I not worthy?"
Hearing this, An Ran couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "After the ancient tree absorbed your Creation Green Lotus, the Queen's cultivation naturally advanced as well. She's currently in closed-door cultivation and will probably be for so ti."
She added, "She and Xiao Yi were by your side every day you were unconscious. You should be content with that."
"Oh, is that so? Alright then, I forgive her."
An Ran suddenly added, "Her Majesty the Queen has now reached the Red Emperor Realm."
Luo Xiu was rather surprised. "That fast?"
"Firstly, because the ancient tree has returned to its peak state and can channel a limitless supply of life force back to Her Majesty. Secondly, because she had previously consud a Mysterious Ancient Calamity Pill."
"A Mysterious Ancient Calamity Pill?"
Luo Xiu suddenly recalled that back in the Boundless Heavens, Dou Dou had indeed consud a Heavenly Grade Elixir. He rembered how Kui Dou had desperately tried to snatch it, but Dou Dou defied him and swallowed the elixir on the spot.
As he was lost in thought, An Ran continued, "The marvel of the Mysterious Ancient Calamity Pill is that it allows one to avoid Heavenly Tribulation for any breakthrough within the Emperor Realm. In other words, there's no tribulation to face, allowing for a completely smooth and risk-free advancent."
"When Her Majesty next erges from her cultivation, she will undoubtedly be a White Emperor."
"We really have you to thank for this. From now on, the Queen's cultivation will only progress faster and faster. So you need to pick up your pace too. Don't be lazy, lest you be surpassed by her one day."
Luo Xiu rubbed his nose and muttered, "I've noticed you've beco a lot more talkative."
At his words, An Ran's expression turned stern, her aloof deanor instantly returning.
Luo Xiu laughed. "I've been here long enough. I should be heading back."
An Ran said, "I'll go with you. You're too weak right now. I'm worried people will cause trouble for you in Sky Divine City."
…
「In the endless depths of space.」
「Within the Flowing Thunder River.」
The Goddess of Heaven Moon stood proudly in The Void, her expression indifferent as she looked down upon a desolate, barren planet.
"So this is Yan Huang Star?" she scoffed. "Heh, I've finally found you."
For the past several days, she had been tirelessly seeking the exact location of Yan Huang Star.
"Emperor Shura, you destroyed my Taoism. Today, I shall obliterate your world!"
With a light wave of her jade hand, thunder and lightning surged through Tianhe. Countless teorites, as if summoned, began to pour down like torrential rain, hurtling toward the barren planet.
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