Chapter 394

The actors were singing too loudly; He Lingchuan was standing so close that even the Second Master Shi couldn't hear what he was saying.

Only the black cat's pointed ears were twitching back and forth. Having understood, it jumped onto his shoulder to explain: "It can see. Every tree in Fufeng City is an eye and ear for the Treasure Tree King. Whatever people say or perform near the trees, it knows it all."

He Lingchuan gave a thumbs up—impressive! But thinking about it, many mountain spirits seemed to have this kind of ability. Since the Treasure Tree King was a sovereign of a nation and possessed innate traits, this was probably just a routine matter for it.

"I heard that the Treasure Tree Kingdom is the most peaceful and populous nation in Beijia?"

"Excluding the provinces under the Emperor's direct jurisdiction, you could say that." This time, it was the Second Master Shi who answered. "Among all the demon nations, the Treasure Tree Kingdom has existed the longest—over five hundred years—yet it has had the fewest wars, less than thirty... times?"

The black cat corrected him: "Thirty-two times."

"An average of one war every seventeen or eighteen years." He Lingchuan did the math. "Is that considered few?"

It seemed his definition of "few" was quite different from that of the Beijia people.

"Compared to other demon nations, that's already pitifully few. Look at the Shanyu Kingdom; they're still in the midst of civil strife recently." The black cat explained, "If the Beijia Emperor declares war on an outsider, the Treasure Tree Kingdom must also send troops to follow suit, so those have to be counted too. It's peaceful here, so there are many residents. I migrated here from the Shanyu Kingdom."

"What's going on with the Shanyu Kingdom?" He Lingchuan had heard that the Shanyu Kingdom was rich in birds of prey and could be called the cradle of the Beijia nation's air force.

"The Junior Minister of War was arrested and imprisoned. Everyone thinks he's a good official and must have been framed. Who knew he would die suddenly in prison? Legend has it his appearance in death was miserable. Many high-ranking officials couldn't stand it and wanted the sovereign to deal with the murderer, but the Royal Court just pushed out a scapegoat, and everyone stopped playing along."

"Just because of one Junior Minister of War?"

The black cat licked its paw: "Oh my, there are many other things; you couldn't finish talking about them in a year."

He Lingchuan was very curious: "The Shanyu Kingdom is in civil strife, doesn't Lingxu City care?" It was happening within their own nation, after all.

The black cat was stunned: "Each nation is autonomous; why would Lingxu City care?"

"Aren't they afraid the civil strife will expand?"

The Second Master Shi sighed: "No matter how chaotic the Beijia nations get, they eventually settle down. It's been like this for so many years; Lingxu City is probably already used to it."

The region is in chaos, and Lingxu City actually doesn't care. This is such a strange system; no wonder it's taken by foreign nations as a model for study.

Not long after, the two reunited with the caravan.

After squeezing through Fufeng City for over an hour, the group finally walked out of the Beimen.

The road ahead suddenly became spacious, and the mounts could also trot along.

Flowers bloomed along the way.

It was almost June now, naturally the season for a hundred flowers to bloom. From the Beimen of Fufeng City to Bai Yun Mountain, the path was filled with vibrant colors, with fresh flowers competing to bloom.

Even the most obscure little grasses sprouted delicate white flowers to match the scene. Looking from afar, it seemed as if a patch of white snow had fallen on the green ground.

The mountain road turned into a flower path, and the waterfall almost turned into a flower waterfall.

Just one glance, and one knew spring filled the human world.

This sight also drew gasps of amazement from passersby. He Lingchuan heard the mother and daughter in front exclaim: "We walked this same road when returning to the city yesterday, and we didn't see so many flowers at all!"

"They bloomed in full today; it must be to celebrate the Treasure Tree King's birthday."

He Lingchuan was truly surprised: "At a time when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is waning, can the Treasure Tree King's power still extend this far?"

The Heart-Protecting Mirror spoke up: "The early medieval period doesn't count for much; to still be able to command a hundred flowers now, it really has some tricks up its sleeve."

"However, this also depends on the Treasure Tree King's true form. It has lived for eight hundred years, and its influence on this city can gradually expand. Even if it only grows an inch a day, the accumulation over several hundred years is quite considerable."

The Treasure Tree King had managed its territory for so many years, and Fufeng City was the core area; of course, it had been infiltrated by it in every aspect, without any blind spots.

He Lingchuan followed the bustling crowd to Bai Yun Mountain in the northern suburbs.

This mountain wasn't very high, with an elevation of only about three hundred meters, and the slope was gentle, so even the elderly could climb it.

Of course, Bai Yun Mountain should be renamed Flower Mountain today; wild flowers of all colors were competing for beauty here, with bees flying and butterflies dancing.

Looking down after climbing over the mountain ridge, He Lingchuan couldn't help but let out a long breath.

The long slope on the sunny side of the mountain was still gentle and slow; one could even trot down on horseback.

The long slope ended at the lakeside.

He was startled to realize that the peak of Bai Yun Mountain was actually a volcanic crater.

It had probably been dormant for too long, and the crater had accumulated a large inland lake, also known as the Heavenly Pool, with a water surface as smooth as a mirror, barely rippling at all.

In the center of the lake, there was one and only one large tree, its branches and leaves reaching the sky, its canopy spreading out like a parasol.

The canopy width was at least over one hundred and fifty zhang (five hundred meters); He Lingchuan was so far away, yet he could still feel its incomparable vastness.

Its trunk was unimaginably thick, and it grew aerial roots that took hold, easily forming a forest from a single tree.

Looking from afar, dozens of tree-king-level trunks collectively supported the massive canopy.

"I didn't expect to see a giant of this level today!" The Heart-Protecting Mirror also sighed in admiration. "It must be very popular with the people to have gained such abundant primordial energy for growth!"

If spiritual energy is insufficient, primordial energy makes up for it.

The Second Master Shi didn't dare to point, only turning his head to say to He Lingchuan: "This is the Treasure Tree King, the protagonist of today's celebration!"

It was also a generation of demon kings ruling over vast territories.

He Lingchuan asked: "What species is its true form?"

The Second Master Shi chuckled: "I heard it's a Deep-Sea Wood? Just heard."

"Hmph, half-baked knowledge." The erudite Heart-Protecting Mirror took over the conversation. "This is a Juluo Tree!"

"Is it a Juluo Tree or a Deep-Sea Wood?"

"There are many varieties of Deep-Sea Wood, and the Juluo Tree is the most precious and rare among them." The Heart-Protecting Mirror said proudly, "Even in the ancient times, it wasn't common."

What's there to be proud of knowing this? He Lingchuan asked it: "Deep-Sea Wood, is it the Deep-Sea Wood I know, the one that can house souls?"

"Every kind of Deep-Sea Wood can." The Heart-Protecting Mirror explained, "Legend has it they grow between the Azure Void, which allows souls to reside upon them. Of course, it also grows in the present world."

He Lingchuan had already seen clearly that there was no soil beneath the Treasure Tree King; in other words, it was rooted directly in the lake bottom, truly living up to the name "Deep-Sea Wood."

Looking at it this way, the true height from the roots was even more frightening.

The Heart-Protecting Mirror's tone was full of longing: "If only I could get a branch, even just one."

"What's the use?"

"To experience the laws of the interface between the Azure Void and reality. Just like how I feel the existence of the City of the Dead every day now." The mirror said, "Deep-Sea Wood itself has that characteristic, and this old tree has lived for eight hundred years; it should have even more insights into this. I want to learn from it, just learn from it."

He Lingchuan didn't expect that it, as a mirror, would be so eager to learn.

At this time, most of the commoners stopped at the long slope, finding an empty space to kneel and sit. The pious ones faced the Treasure Tree King and performed the five-body-prostration, silently reciting prayers.

He Lingchuan happened to pass by a devout believer and heard his prayer start with "Infinite Merit, Opening the Era, Suppressing the Ancient, Lingxu Holy Venerable Above," reciting about six or seven divine titles, followed by the Beijia Demon Emperor, and finally the protagonist of today's celebration, the Treasure Tree King.

But seeing this person's solemn expression and dignified appearance, and hearing him recite with such familiarity, these were definitely not words of disrespect; they should be his daily opening.

It's also true; the northern demon nations revere gods, so it's not strange to teach commoners to pray day and night.

Of course, most of the common people treated this trip to Bai Yun Mountain as a family outing. After kneeling, bowing, and chanting, they started chatting and laughing, letting their wild children and little demons run around the mountain, looking like a spring outing picnic.

The black cat on the saddle stared straight at two nests of white and fat hamsters, its two white paws treading milk desperately on the sheep's back, its eyes unable to turn.

He Lingchuan had to remind it: "Hey, your drool is dripping onto the saddle."

If it weren't for the concern that this was the Treasure Tree King's dwelling place, someone might have started flying kites.

What He Lingchuan saw, however, was the Treasure Tree King's tolerance for the people of Fufeng City.

A tree, after all, probably also thinks that enjoying alone is not as good as enjoying with everyone.

Of course, there were many trees on the gentle slope; it was said that these were all the Treasure Tree King's eyes and ears, and no one dared to mess around here.

There were clear springs gurgling in the mountains, converging into more than ten small waterfalls up and down. He Lingchuan and the Second Master Shi continued to walk down along the clear springs, slowly approaching the lakeside.

Two Ape Guards came up to inspect, and after He Lingchuan showed his invitation, they let them pass.

Commoners could only sit on the slope to watch the ceremony; He Lingchuan had an invitation from the Grand Tutor's Mansion and could receive VIP treatment to rest in the corridor. As for the Second Master Shi and the black cat, they were just smuggled in.

A row of buildings unfolded along the lake directly in front, called Bai Yun Abode, with the middle one being the highest at five stories, and long corridors on both sides. But there were too many people today, and the open space in front of the corridors was covered with red carpets, with an area equivalent to a stadium, and now it was also full of people.

Looking at Bai Yun Abode alone, it was magnificent, yet against the background of the towering giant tree behind it, it was instead set off as exquisite and elegant.

The VIP seats were in the corridor, with special personnel to receive them, and one could not walk around at will.

At this time, Bai Yun Abode was full of Treasure Tree Kingdom officials inside and out, all engaged in heated conversation.

The Treasure Tree Kingdom had a vast area, not even comparable to three or four Fu Kingdoms combined, and officials from all over were from all corners of the land, taking advantage of such a grand festival to socialize.

The Second Master Shi sighed: "Just counting the Treasure Tree Kingdom officials present today, I'm afraid there are more than seven thousand... no, no, more than nine thousand people. The prosperity of the nation can be seen from this."

What he said were just officials.

There were also guards, attendants, chefs, and all kinds of service personnel here, and the number was even more massive.

He Lingchuan remembered the banquet Zhu Xiyan held for Zhu Xiuer in Shi Huan; he had felt it was grand at the time, but in fact, the number of dignitaries attending was not even one-tenth of today's scale.

Although the scale of a little girl from the Zhu family certainly couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the Treasure Tree King, according to He Chunhua, seven or eight out of ten dignitaries in Shi Huan City had already gone.

~~~~ Double points from December 29th to 31st, begging for monthly tickets to irrigate fiercely!! By the way, begging for next month's guaranteed monthly tickets.

(End of chapter)