Chapter 149: Ye Xuan

Under such a solemn announcement from the Great Xia Shu Shu Bureau, who wouldn’t look forward to such a future?

Moreover, under the threat of dimensional invasions, even they knew of countless abilities from different worlds capable of resurrecting the dead.

Many of these might be useless, but at least one would work.

They might not trust the Shu Shu Bureau, but they could not help but believe in human imagination.

The death of someone close is heartbreaking; but if it’s only a temporary separation, sorrow is tempered by hope for a future reunion.

This was precisely what the Great Xia Shu Shu Bureau wished to see.

At the end of the video, the screen froze on a towering, ancient tree.

Its trunk was as thick as a mountain, its canopy piercing the clouds, casting a hundred-meter shadow that stretched across the sky; its branches bloomed with countless pink flowers, soft as clouds and mist, light as a dream.

A gentle breeze stirred, and thousands of petals drifted down in swirling dance, showering the air like a tender rain.

Each petal glowed with a faint light, like dewdrops in the morning sun—pure and serene.

The comment section fell silent for a moment, then erupted completely.

“What tree is this? So beautiful!”

“Wait, it feels familiar—is it my imagination? Why does this tree look so familiar?”

“It’s the Tree of Sorrow! The Tree of Sorrow from the Fox Spirits! Has the Tree of Sorrow really appeared in reality?!”

“If the Tree of Sorrow has appeared in reality, then Tu Shan Honghong, Tu Shan Yayya, Tu Shan Rongrong, Tu Shan Susu…”

“Tu Shan Susu and Tu Shan Honghong wouldn’t appear together, and we haven’t even confirmed it’s the Tree of Sorrow.”

“If this isn’t the Tree of Sorrow, I’ll eat it! Don’t you understand how close ‘Fox Spirit Little Matchmaker’ came to becoming the strongest national animation?!”

“You know that was back then, and it didn’t even happen.”

“I fucking—!”

“.”

Although the Shu Shu Bureau included the Tree of Sorrow in the video, it did not confirm whether it was indeed the Tree of Sorrow, leaving it to public speculation.

They are still researching the Tree of Sorrow; the only thing confirmed so far is that it possesses self-awareness—it won’t even let them cut down a single branch for wood.

Until they understand how the Tree of Sorrow has changed in the real world and whether it poses a threat to humans, they will not reveal its location or precise details.

They included it in the video only because it was undeniably beautiful, and the falling petals created a sense of peace.

Imperial Capital, Shu Shu Bureau Headquarters.

“The video footage related to the beast surge in Qingshan County has been publicly released as planned; under the Shu Shu Bureau’s guidance, the public generally holds an optimistic view of the future.”

“Although some initially expressed concern over the rapid evolution of mutated creatures upon seeing Gu Che, Lin Ruoxi, and Shen Mo jointly attack the mutated giant ape that consumed the Thunderfruit…”

“But once footage of Ye Xuan using Liuren Ruohuo was released, all unease vanished, replaced by envy for the heavenly treasures Ye Xuan had obtained.”

“Moreover, the strength and potential Ye Xuan displayed have given them absolute confidence in humanity’s future; they believe that with Ye Xuan’s presence, Great Xia will inevitably witness the return of the living and the dead.”

The reporting Shu Shu Bureau member pulled up a projection displaying trending keywords across major social platforms—#LiurenRuohuo#, #ChildofNewEraFate#, #GreatXiaFuture#, all remained top-ranked.

“Public adoration for Ye Xuan has reached an extreme; his prestige has completely surpassed all other third-rankers in Great Xia—including Gu Che, Shen Mo, Lin Ruoxi, and Lu Jing—even within their own cities, and even…”

The reporter’s voice lowered, hesitating as he glanced at Wang Shouguo seated at the head of the table.

“Even Zhong Lao’s popularity among the people may now be slightly surpassed.”

The conference room fell into brief silence.

After a moment’s hesitation, the member couldn’t help asking:

“Director, won’t Zhong Lao intervene? If he were willing to reveal his power, he would be the most suitable candidate—his image perfectly matches Great Xia’s…”

Before he could finish, Wang Shouguo raised a hand to stop him.

“Zhong Lao’s will is absolute.”

“Say no more.”

Not just Zhong Lao—even Ye Xuan was outside their original plan; he was simply too outstanding, so outstanding that even though they never intended to include him in the plan, his existence forced the plan to bend toward him.

Zhong Lao truly did not wish for Great Xia to produce a god towering above all others.

But reality demands a symbol—a guardian who brings absolute security; a presence whose name alone brings peace.

Imagine this scene: a battlefield littered with corpses, despair thick in the air—then a figure steps down from the sky. Everyone instinctively relaxes, faces breaking into smiles.

Everyone knows the danger is over.

Because he has come.

Their original plan was Zhong Lao, but perhaps due to the template’s influence—or Zhong Lao’s own will—he refused; afterward, they intended to cultivate a supremely trustworthy champion through Great Xia’s strength, to serve as its symbol.

Gu Che, Lin Ruoxi, Shen Mo, Lu Jing, and others were all potential candidates.

Because in Li Lao’s vision of the future, their figures appeared.

Shen Xuan, though unexpected, possessed an heroic will, a knight’s will to fight for human freedom, that aligned more closely with their plan than anyone else’s.

Had Ye Xuan not appeared, they would almost certainly have chosen from among these individuals.

But reality admits no “what ifs.”

Ye Xuan’s emergence was like a blazing sun suddenly rising in a pitch-black night sky.

His light was so brilliant that all other stars paled in comparison.

Can you say Gu Che, Lin Ruoxi, Shen Mo, Lu Jing, and others are not outstanding? As holders of heavenly treasures, their efforts far exceed ordinary imagination.

In the Shu Shu Bureau’s archives, every step of their growth is recorded; no one understands better than they do the sacrifices Gu Che, Shen Mo, Lu Jing, and Lin Ruoxi made to break through to the third rank.

Shen Xuan is no exception.

Though the “Unlicensed Knight” template is ordinary, raising its compatibility demands near-obsessive persistence; gaining the recognition of the Steel Insect Device requires more than mere passion.

“They are all the finest warriors—yet Ye Xuan…”

Wang Shouguo sighed softly, his gaze fixed on the holographic projection filled with the public’s effusive praise of Ye Xuan’s power.

It wasn’t praise—they were merely stating facts—but the fact itself appeared like praise.

(End of Chapter)