Chapter 207: Descent of the Divine Tree

207. Chapter 207: Descent of the Divine Tree

The sudden turn of events shocked everyone present.

It wasn't just Ruan Bufan, who stared at Wan Yuexing lying at his feet, spitting copious fresh blood, his mind momentarily unable to process or comprehend.

Even the two Foundation Establishment True Persons of the Giant Wood Sect, True Person Chang Xu and Elder Zhuge, were completely taken aback.

Elder Wan, how could he be so easily manipulated?

It was simply inconceivable.

Even though Xiao Zhangqing's cultivation and strength surpassed others, having reached the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment, he still could not comprehend that scene.

He forcibly broke through Wan Yuexing's protective aura with his mortal body, then smashed the defensive array on the magic robe with a single punch, trampling him like a dead dog.

"What a third‑tier Body Cultivator!"

Having lived four hundred years, well‑versed and broad‑minded, even True Person Chang Xu, who had once sparred with a Nascent Soul True Lord, couldn't help but twitch his eyelids at the sight, his expression turning extremely solemn.

Xiao Zhangqing possessed cultivation and strength comparable to the mid‑stage of Foundation Establishment, making the situation already hard to resolve; he was not a hundred percent certain he could retain it and reclaim the treasure destined for the Giant Wood Sect.

Now, Xiao Zhangqing has also displayed the formidable side of a third‑tier Body Cultivator, making matters even more tricky.

Only that.

Body cultivation had long declined in the Da Yu Cultivation World, or rather, in today's era, the path of Body cultivation has almost been cut off.

The same holds true for other cultivation realms.

A third‑tier Body Cultivator has not appeared in the Da Yu Cultivation World for the past several hundred years.

Where did this Xiao Zhangqing obtain the Body cultivation inheritance, and what opportunity allowed him to elevate his Body cultivation to the third tier?

The difficulty of third‑tier Body cultivation can be said to be on par with forging the highest‑grade flawless Golden Core, not any less demanding.

"What a Zhangqing True Person; no wonder he has the confidence to disregard our Giant Wood Sect. A mere Scattered Cultivator, yet in such a short time he has grown to this level, dual‑cultivating method and body, both reaching the third tier; even the top talents of the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace might not possess such talent."

Supreme Elder True Person Chang Xu's face turned ashen; without further hesitation, his magical power surged, his aura climbed step by step, and in the blink of an eye he far surpassed the pressure displayed when Wan Yuexing and Xiao Zhangqing clashed.

He truly lives up to being an elder cultivator comparable to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

"However, even the most exceptionally gifted young cultivators should hold sufficient awe before the older generation! Today, let Zhangqing True Person know why our Giant Wood Sect has stood unshaken for millennia, being called one of the strongest sects in the Da Yu Cultivation World!"

True Person Chang Xu floated step by step, slowly walking toward Xiao Zhangqing.

He then slowly manifested an ancient, plain bronze mirror Magic Treasure in his hand; as his magical power activated it, even from a great distance Xiao Zhangqing felt as if he were 'locked on', and even sensed the space around him suddenly become 'heavy', as if a thousand‑jin force pressed upon his shoulders.

Xiao Zhangqing instantly realized that this bronze Magic Treasure must be True Person Chang Xu's personal treasure, of a very high grade, possessing a certain spatial property that is almost unattainable at the Foundation Establishment realm.

Only the level of a Nascent Soul True Lord involves such.

After all, not everyone, like Xiao Zhangqing, has 'devoured' a demonic entity comparable to a Nascent Soul True Lord.

"What a treasure!"

Xiao Zhangqing silently praised in his heart, his eyes flashing a bit.

The Giant Wood Sect seems to be offering a buy‑one‑get‑one today!

The preciousness of True Person Chang Xu's personal treasure may not surpass the Fourth‑Grade Spiritual Wood Essence, yet even at the once‑every‑ten‑years auction jointly held by Liyang Immortal City and the Jiulian Trade Association, it would be hard to find.

The Giant Wood Sect's foundation is indeed deep enough! Ordinary late‑stage Foundation Establishment True Persons cannot produce such a treasure.

Xiao Zhangqing dared not be reckless, nor confront Wan Yuexing with his mortal body again; his Body cultivation has not yet reached the later stage of the third tier.

First, using the Second Avatar's spatial control ability, he easily broke free from the bronze treasure mirror's confinement, leapt upward, then the Jade Clear Bright Light Sword flashed before him, starlight flickering, sword qi streaks slashing toward True Person Chang Xu.

"Huh?"

True Person Chang Xu looked at the scene in surprise.

Xiao Zhangqing effortlessly evaded his bronze treasure mirror's control; one must know that this mirror, comparable to a fourth‑grade Magic Treasure, was once used by a genuine Nascent Soul True Lord.

This mirror has accompanied him across the world for over two hundred years; his current great reputation, exerting pressure over the far western lands of the Da Yu Cultivation World, leads many Foundation Establishment True Persons to deem him comparable to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

It can be said that the bronze mirror accounts for at least a third of his achievements.

The confinement ability of the bronze mirror is one of its clever uses.

Although he has faced mid‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, it is not that he cannot break free from its confinement.

But encountering someone as effortless as Xiao Zhangqing, who broke it open like a fish in water, is his first time.

Watching the sword qi surge from behind, True Person Chang Xu remained unflustered; his thoughts shifted, and the bronze ancient mirror suddenly changed from white to red, beams of light shooting from within the mirror, rippling the space, colliding with the sword qi in the void, erupting into clusters of luminous mist that trembled the earth.

Yellow sand filled the sky, and the ground was furrowed with trenches; the sand could not fill them in an instant.

"Bad! How can this one's sword qi reach such a level?" True Person Chang Xu exclaimed in horror.

At this moment he truly realized the severity of the problem.

If the bronze mirror's confinement ability is only exceptionally effective against cultivators weaker and lower in cultivation than him, directly imprisoning them for slaughter, then the ancient mirror's offensive technique is one of his lifelong strongest methods, almost concentrating his utmost killing power.

Do not be deceived by the seemingly easy red beams emitted from the bronze ancient mirror; even a single or half beam would be hard for a peak early‑stage Foundation Establishment True Person like Wan Yuexing to withstand.

Yet Xiao Zhangqing swung his magic sword, annihilating all dozens of light beams released by the ancient mirror! Could it be that this youngster already possesses strength comparable to a late‑stage Foundation Establishment cultivator?

True Person Chang Xu's calm confidence completely vanished, and watching Zhangqing True Person's composed sword swing stirred a storm of turmoil within him.

He had just been thinking how to slay Zhangqing True Person, preventing him from slipping away.

Now he must seriously consider how to achieve victory.

However, no matter how difficult, even if he stakes his old life today, he must keep Zhangqing True Person and seize back the Fourth‑Grade Spiritual Wood Essence.

Because this concerns the Giant Wood Sect's millennial grand plan, tolerating any change is impossible.

If successful, the Giant Wood Sect would instantly become the foremost sect of the Da Yu Cultivation World, surpassing the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace! Even in several nearby cultivation realms, it would become an unassailable menace.

"Zhangqing True Person, I shall ask one final question: do you truly refuse to give face to my Giant Wood Sect by handing over the Fourth‑Grade Spiritual Wood Essence?"

True Person Chang Xu asked with a composed face.

Xiao Zhangqing responded with even more ferocious sword qi.

"Very well! I had no intention of battling a youthful prodigy like you, but since you refuse to yield, even if I stake my old life today, I must slay you here!"

True Person Chang Xu gritted his teeth, first speaking to Elder Zhuge: "Elder Zhuge, let us strike together!"

Another Jie Dan elder of the Giant Wood Sect, without doubt, rose instantly, went to the side of the Eternal Void True Immortal, and activated his original Magic Treasure to prepare to duel Xiao Zhangqing.

Although his cultivation is only early Jie Dan, and he is inferior even to Wan Yuexing, he is still a Jie Dan True Immortal, so his threat is real and he can be of help.

But the subsequent arrangement by the Supreme Elder left Elder Zhuge a little puzzled.

He actually ordered several other Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Giant Wood Sect to all advance, and under his guidance, jointly besiege Xiao Zhangqing.

Using a human wave tactic?

If there are a few more Jie Dan True Immortals, that would indeed have a decent effect.

If there are enough early‑stage Jie Dan True Immortals, even later‑stage Jie Dan cultivators would retreat three houses, choosing to avoid their edge.

But Foundation Establishment cultivators have too weak Qi; even their Magic Treasures are hard to activate, and their spells cannot threaten Jie Dan True Immortals.

Having a few more would simply not affect the battle.

Just as Xiao Zhangqing was puzzled, the Eternal Void True Immortal, with a composed face, clenched his teeth, presented a branch that looked like jade, then a slit opened at his brow, strands of pure blood forced out, dripping onto the branch.

Buzz! The branch instantly turned blood‑red, its light surged, staining the whole sky red as if evening clouds spread.

In the next instant, Elder Zhuge of the Jie Dan Realm and several Giant Wood Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators all cried out in pain.

The branch suddenly sprouted roots in midair, blood‑colored tendrils directly piercing the defenseless bodies of the Giant Wood Sect members.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators were instantly drained of their essence blood, Qi, even souls, becoming desiccated corpses, dead beyond death.

But Elder Zhuge of the Jie Dan Realm, with a strong mortal body, abundant Qi, and three hundred years of longevity left, could not be fully drained by the bizarre sprouting branch, at least not immediately.

"Sup... Supreme Elder... you..."

Elder Zhuge, terrified, turned his head, trying to pull out and cut the branch's roots from his body, but unknown methods employed by the Eternal Void True Immortal left him almost unable to resist, only able to serve as fertilizer for the blood‑red sapling.

"Elder Zhuge, for the sake of the Giant Wood Sect, go peacefully, return to the embrace of the Mother Tree!"

"When the Divine Tree breaks its shackles, the Giant Wood Sect will become a Nascent Soul sect, and future generations will never forget our sacrifice today!"

The Supreme Elder said gravely; at this moment his condition was also poor, already near his end, he grew even older, his white hair turning slightly translucent.

Then he roared loudly; the blood‑red sapling that had sprouted roots in the air stretched toward the wind, its branches like blood‑colored phantoms, wildly expanding in all directions.

The earth shook and mountains trembled, swiftly enveloping Xiao Zhangqing as well.

In a daze, Xiao Zhangqing seemed to sense that the three‑tier top‑grade Divine Tree of the Giant Wood Immortal City, which had existed for countless millennia, had projected its avatar here.

It stared hungrily at him, wishing to devour him and turn him into its fertilizer.

Of course, what it desired even more was the Fourth-Grade Spiritual Wood Essence in his satchel! (End of chapter)