Chapter 899: The Lord of the Divine Tree

If Li Yi were to survive the Tribulation Crossing on Chishan and become a Local God, who would suffer the most?

Undoubtedly, Shenmu City.

Because Chishan is only five hundred li from Shenmu City, and the birth of a Local God would claim at least a thousand li as his domain; no matter whether the Shenmu bloodline warriors agreed or not, Shenmu City would be swallowed.

The Merchant Lords sensed this crisis and decided to relay the news back to Shenmu City, while also planning to temporarily relocate away from Shenmu City, unwilling to be drawn into such a conflict.

Neither the Shenmu bloodline warriors nor the potential Local God of Chishan could be offended.

When this news reached Shenmu City at the fastest possible speed.

Panic instantly spread throughout Shenmu City.

"The Lord of Chishan is about to become a god?" An old man walking through the city was stunned upon hearing the message from the Merchant Lords.

He was Mu Sanggong, a sage of the Shenmu bloodline, but because he was not a bloodline warrior, even his status as a sage earned him little respect; thus, he did not reside in the Lord's mansion but within the city itself.

"Why haven't the Shenmu bloodline warriors been informed of such a critical matter?" Mu Sanggong was furious, then immediately grasped the gravity of the situation and mounted a strange beast headed for the Lord's mansion.

He knew of the Lord of Chishan, Da Yi—Mu Tuo, a direct Shenmu bloodline warrior, had once been defeated by Da Yi on Chishan.

Later, Mu Tuo sought to restore his honor and, together with Mu Shu and Mu Xi, prepared to challenge the Lord of Chishan and seize Chishan; but on the way, they were ambushed, resulting in Mu Xi's death and severe injuries to Mu Tuo and Mu Shu, who were brought back by Merchant Lord Xiang; as a result, the Shenmu bloodline paid a substantial reward.

After that, the Shenmu bloodline temporarily abandoned the idea of seizing Chishan.

Not only because Chishan's power had grown steadily, but because, according to traveling Merchant Lords, Chishan had nearly been stripped bare of its crimson gold—there was little left, not worth sparking a Lord-level war.

Yet the death of the direct bloodline warrior Mu Xi remained a wound for the Shenmu bloodline.

"No matter what, Chishan must not produce a Local God—otherwise, the Shenmu bloodline will surely perish."

Mu Sanggong's withered hand clenched tightly; as a sage, he seemed to already see a day when the Chishan God sat beneath the Divine Tree, surveying his domain, while the Shenmu warriors were wiped out.

"Stop." As the beast-riding messenger neared the Lord's mansion, warriors blocked his path.

"I am Mu Sanggong. I wish to see Grand Priest Mu Wu." Mu Sanggong said, removing a golden leaf from his hair—a decorative ornament.

It was his symbol of status.

Soon.

The warriors let him pass.

Mu Sanggong followed a familiar path toward the Lord's mansion; the closer he got, the brighter and more dazzling the golden glow of the Divine Tree above became, and by the time he neared the mansion, the light was hot enough to burn a man alive.

Only Shenmu bloodline warriors could withstand the searing golden light to enter or leave the mansion; others could only walk in its shadows.

Soon.

Mu Sanggong arrived inside a grand hall.

But no one paid him any attention—they simply left him alone there.

Mu Sanggong didn't care about being ignored; he angrily struck the ground with his staff, making a loud noise: "Grand Priest Mu Wu, come out at once! The Shenmu bloodline is on the verge of extinction, and you still don't know!"

"Chishan is about to birth a Local God—Shenmu bloodline's good days are ending! Mu Wu, come out now!"

As he roared, many warriors soon gathered.

"It's Mu Sanggong. What's wrong with you? Have you gone mad? This is the Lord's mansion—you should show respect!" A young warrior snapped angrily.

Had Mu Sanggong not been a sage, he would have been thrown out already.

But Mu Sanggong ignored them, continuing to shout—these young warriors couldn't handle matters of this gravity; only Grand Priest Mu Wu could address such a crisis.

After a prolonged commotion,

more and more warriors gathered, and the uproar finally stirred Grand Priest Mu Wu.

"Mu Sanggong, if you've come here for a matter truly vital to the Shenmu bloodline, then fine. If not, even as a sage, I will punish you severely."

Grand Priest Mu Wu appeared—he was old but still powerful, holding a staff forged from a branch of the Divine Tree, radiating immense authority.

For Mu Wu was more than just a Grand Priest—he was also a direct bloodline warrior, possessing formidable strength.

"Chishan has manifested an omen: lightning has turned into an ocean, engulfing the entire mountain range—this is the sign that the Lord of Chishan is about to become a Local God!" Mu Sanggong struck the ground, shouting anxiously.

Upon hearing this, Grand Priest Mu Wu's expression changed instantly.

He immediately grasped the gravity of the situation.

Previously, the Lord of Chishan, Da Yi, had led an ambush against Mu Tuo, Mu Shu, and Mu Xi; the strongest warrior, Mu Xi, died in that attack, and the Shenmu bloodline still sought vengeance.

But Chishan had changed too drastically—not only had its crimson gold been exhausted, but dozens of Lord-level warriors had emerged, forcing Mu Wu, as Grand Priest, to weigh the cost of revenge and abandon action.

But this time, the news Mu Sanggong brought was even more shocking.

Chishan was about to birth a Local God.

"Mu Sanggong, where did you get this information?" Grand Priest Mu Wu asked seriously.

Mu Sanggong replied: "It's spread among all the Merchant Lords in Shenmu City—many are packing up and leaving, fearing that the arrival of a Local God will harm Shenmu City, so they're moving their wealth ahead of time."

"Damn it."

Grand Priest Mu Wu instantly grew furious—and believed Mu Sanggong.

These Merchant Lords would never abandon their homes, servants, and property in Shenmu City over a false rumor; the news that Chishan would birth a Local God must be true.

If the Lord of Chishan truly became a Local God, the Shenmu bloodline would be utterly destroyed.

Such a grave matter shook even Grand Priest Mu Wu; he growled: "Mu Yan, ignite the Flame of Summoning and gather every Shenmu bloodline warrior to the mansion."

"Yes, Grand Priest." A bloodline warrior named Mu Yan paused, then sprinted off immediately.

His movements were swift; the ground trembled beneath his feet.

Soon, a golden flame erupted from a high point within the mansion.

The appearance of this golden fire raised the temperature throughout Shenmu City, filling the air with scorching heat.

Upon seeing the blazing golden flame, every Shenmu bloodline warrior was stunned, then immediately abandoned all tasks and rushed toward the mansion.

For the golden Divine Flame was lit only when the Shenmu bloodline faced extinction.

Soon.

One by one, powerful warriors gathered inside the mansion, entering the hall and seeing Grand Priest Mu Wu seated on the main dais; they bowed respectfully to him.

Seeing the array of powerful bloodline warriors before him, Grand Priest Mu Wu's expression eased slightly.

But he said nothing, waiting for the Clan Chief's arrival.

Several hours later,

the Clan Chief of the Shenmu bloodline—the so-called Shenmu Lord—arrived at Shenmu City riding a golden luanniao from afar.

"Grand Priest, what has happened in Shenmu City?" The Shenmu Lord was a towering middle-aged man, over four meters tall, his muscular frame covered in golden patterns resembling leaves, radiating terrifying power.

He strode forward, his crimson-gold armor clanking loudly; warriors of the Shenmu bloodline stepped aside as he passed.

Many noticed bloodstains on his body—he had clearly just fought a fierce battle against a powerful foe.

Seeing the Shenmu Lord return in time, Grand Priest Mu Wu's mood lifted slightly; he said: "Clan Chief, the Lord of Chishan is about to become a Local God before you."

"What?" The Shenmu Lord's eyes widened in shock.

As Clan Chief of the Shenmu bloodline, he had left Shenmu City to fight and kill abroad, all to become a Local God first—only as a Local God could the Shenmu bloodline restore its ancestral glory and flourish for ten thousand years.

"That Lord of Chishan has grown too fast—he barely defeated Fire Disaster, the Thirtieth Lord, and now he's become the Hundredth Lord, and is about to ascend to godhood," Grand Priest Mu Wu sighed deeply. "It's my fault—if I had called you back when Mu Tuo was defeated, and seized Chishan, none of this would have happened."

"Grand Priest, this is not your fault," the Shenmu Lord said. "Our direct bloodline warriors are dwindling. Losing lives over one Chishan is not worth it. Besides, our Shenmu City does not lack gold."

"Now I want to know how long the omen on Chishan has been visible."

"Less than a day," Grand Priest Mu Wu replied.

The Shenmu Lord said: "We still have time. The omen of godhood lasts at least nine days—if the Lord of Chishan dies during this period, the Local God will never emerge."

"The Shenmu bloodline must not perish. I will pay any price to erase that Lord of Chishan from this ancient land."

"Clan Chief, do you plan to lead our warriors to attack Chishan?" Grand Priest Mu Wu asked.

The Shenmu Lord said: "I intend to invite other Lords to join us. I will offer them crimson gold, Divine Wood, and beautiful concubines—anything they cannot refuse. They will act."

"As long as the Divine Tree remains, the Shenmu bloodline will never decline."

Grand Priest Mu Wu's eyes gleamed—he saw the Clan Chief's resolve and boldness.

Indeed, this was the right course now.

If they could secure the aid of other Hundredth Lords, they could prevent the birth of a Local God—even cutting down half the Divine Tree would be worth it.

In the future, once the Clan Chief becomes a Local God, all will have been worth it.