Chapter 2883

Come, this is today's first battle.

But need to keep quotes? The Chinese includes 「」 which are quotation marks. Should we keep them? Usually we can translate as "Come, this is today's first battle." The quotes are not needed. We'll output without the Chinese quotes.

Qin Shan Hai gripped a great blade, his face twisted with madness as he stared at his own tree pet before him.

Qin Shan Hai held a big knife, his face showing madness as he gazed at his own tree pet before him.

No sooner had his words fallen than, in the next second, his whole body was whipped away by a tree branch.

Battling his own tree pet was Qin Shan Hai's own request; according to this madman's view, since the tree pet is so strong, sparring with it offers many benefits.

However, the gap in strength between the two was truly too great; even though the tree pet had withdrawn ninety‑nine percent of its power, Qin Shan Hai still wasn't a match for it in a single exchange.

But Qin Shan Hai also had his own unique advantage: he could take a beating.

Seeing him flung away by a tree branch, Qin Shan Hai vomited a large mouthful of blood midair, yet he forced himself to stand.

And without the slightest intention to retreat, he charged again with his blade, only to be whipped back each time, repeating over and over.

To the side, two Heavenly Palace Celestial Officials concealing their forms watched this one‑person, one‑tree fight with complex expressions.

Qin Shan Hai sparring with a Black Mist Forest Tree Ghost may seem odd, but it's not unacceptable.

What made the two Heavenly Palace Celestial Officials stare wide‑eyed was that, as the battle ended, that Black Mist Forest Tree Ghost directly entered Qin Shan Hai's palm.

Seeing this scene, the two Heavenly Palace Celestial Officials were instantly dumbfounded.

Under what circumstances could this Black Mist Forest Tree Ghost enter a human body? The answer is obvious.

No wonder this Black Mist Forest Tree Ghost has mysteriously disappeared lately.

The Heavenly Palace had searched the entire Immortal City Beyond the Heavens high and low but found no trace of these Black Mist Forest Tree Ghosts; it turned out they had been taken by the Dao One Immortal Sect people.

"Did these guys subdue the Black Mist Forest Tree Ghosts?"

One celestial official stared wide‑eyed and spoke; upon hearing this, the other was equally shocked.

Only after Qin Shan Hai left did the two return to the Heavenly Palace, their hearts full of complex feelings.

Not long after, all the celestial officials still in the city gathered inside a side hall of the Heavenly Palace.

They informed everyone of how the Dao One Immortal Sect had successfully subdued the Black Mist Forest Tree Ghosts.

Hearing this, everyone's reaction was the same, especially those celestial officials who had previously entered the Barbarian God Tribe Divine Realm, who felt even more conflicted.

"Can it still be done this way?"

They were the first to come into contact with those Black Mist Forest Tree Ghosts, yet they had never thought of this before.

Having gotten along with those Black Mist Forest Tree Ghosts for so long, nobody ever considered subduing them.

Faced with their shock, a celestial official spoke irritably.

"What's the point of saying this now? Such an opportunity was snatched right from under our noses—how could we not be resentful?"

"This……"

The strength of the tree ghosts is beyond doubt; even a fool knows that subduing a single tree ghost would mean something tremendous.

Not having thought of this before is forgivable, but now, such a great opportunity was outright snatched right from under our noses by others.

As soon as these words were spoken, many celestial officials on the spot froze, their eyes full of regret, and some couldn't help but speak up.

"A mere small sect—how could they possibly hold onto such an opportunity? In my view, we should just move in and seize it; after all, under heaven, opportunities go to the strong."

Huh???

Just hearing those words, all the celestial officials present looked at him with the expression of looking at a fool.

Sensing the strange looks from the crowd, that celestial official wondered aloud.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with what I said? Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Do you intend to take action against the Dao One Immortal Sect?"

"They can't possibly grasp such an opportunity."

"You don't want to eat anymore?"

"I…… I do want to."

Forcible seizure—it's outrageous that this idiot would dare say such a thing.

Leaving aside the tree pets the Dao One Immortal Sect has now collected, even if you could easily crush them, who would dare make a move?

Ye Zhangqing belongs to the Dao One Immortal Sect—who doesn't know that? Acting against their sect would be to offend Ye Zhangqing to death.

By then, forget about whether you'll get to eat; the Heavenly Palace might become a public enemy of the Human Race.

But don't underestimate Ye Zhangqing's ability to rally people.

Forcible seizure is definitely out of the question; absolutely cannot do such a thing. After a moment of silence, another celestial official spoke up.

"Although we missed the first move, aren't there still a few tree ghosts left in the Fire Room compound? We must fight for those few tree ghosts no matter what."

Earlier, it was their own stupidity for not thinking of this, letting the Dao One Immortal Sect seize the initiative.

Now that they have already successfully subdued them, trying to seize them by force is clearly impossible; we can only accept it.

However, those remaining Black Mist Forest Tree Ghosts have not yet been taken by the Dao One Immortal Sect people, so they are ownerless; everyone can fairly compete—surely that's no problem.

Hearing that, the celestial officials present all nodded in agreement.

"Then let us all act together, each relying on our own abilities; no matter who those few tree ghosts ultimately choose, we shall have no complaints."

"That's only natural."

"Alright, let's go now."

"Go go go."

Without the slightest delay, fearing that even a moment's loss would see those last few tree ghosts taken into the Dao One Immortal Sect's ranks, which would be unbearable.

You eat meat, while we of the Heavenly Palace merely sip soup—is that too much?

As the strongest force of the Human Race, the Heavenly Palace has fallen to the point of only being able to drink soup.

Immediately, many celestial officials rushed to the Fire Room compound; along the way they made a grand show, naturally drawing much attention.

The Heavenly Family, its elders now also knew about the tree pets.

The Heavenly Family Ancestor said with a complex expression.

"Damn it, we Heavenly Family didn't manage to snatch even a single one?"

"Ancestor, we simply didn't notice earlier; those people from the Dao One Immortal Sect are really too sneaky."

Hearing that, the Heavenly Family Grand Elder said with a bitter expression.

After he finished speaking, another Heavenly Family Elder seated lower down cursed angrily.

"They're nothing but white-eyed wolves; they came to Beyond the Heavens, ate our Heavenly Family's food, lived in our Heavenly Family's home, yet when they got an opportunity, they didn't utter a word, leaving our Heavenly Family cluelessly kept in the dark."

The anger is real, especially since those people from the Dao One Immortal Sect happen to live right inside the Heavenly Family's residence.

Living under the same roof, the Heavenly Family simply didn't notice any movement from the Dao One Immortal Sect over the past few days.

Such an opportunity just slipped away right under our noses.

However, facing that Elder's angry scolding, the others present wore strange expressions.

Sneaky? Not uttering a word? You must have just started out in the world.

When an opportunity like this—one that could defy heaven and change fate—is right before us, who would still bother to greet you?

You don't even need to be an outsider; even family members can keep secrets from each other.

Moreover, you don't even know what kind of people populate the Dao One Immortal Sect from top to bottom?

Even a passing dog would get kicked, and geese flying overhead would have their feathers plucked; with such advantages, do you really think you'd get a turn?

While many Heavenly Family Elders were secretly suffering, a clansman hurried in.

"Ancestor, all the heavenly officials of the Heavenly Palace have gone to the Fire Room."