Chapter 47: Reshaping the Parasol Sacred Tree

"So that's what this is about."

Inside the room.

Lu Li revealed a look of realization.

Back then, in the midst of that endless wilderness, the situation had been extremely urgent, and those few people were severely wounded; he had only stepped forward out of necessity, never expecting to gain anything from it.

"I know what you're thinking, but you must not underestimate this matter."

Zhao Xuanfeng smiled and offered a reminder.

"The intelligence you all brought back together is extremely important. If we hadn't prepared in advance based on it, who knows how many more innocent casualties Qian City would have suffered, or if the city might even have fallen. The City Lord's Mansion has always rewarded merit; because of this, the Ouyang family might even be able to elevate their status in Qian City to the next level."

"Is it that exaggerated?"

Lu Li found it hard to believe.

Within Qian City, the Ouyang family was already ranked among the first-class martial arts clans, their status revered!

A reward capable of elevating the Ouyang family's status to the next level!

Just how generous would that be?

"For a family like that, resources are secondary; the most important thing is the honor and support from the City Lord's Mansion. But regardless of which it is, it will be of immense benefit to you."

Zhao Xuanfeng glanced at him, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

"After this trip to the City Lord's Mansion, I'm afraid you will become a target for recruitment by every martial arts clan in all of Qian City."

"Surely not!"

Lu Li was left between laughter and tears.

"Although, due to the urgent situation, the Deputy City Lord did not make the news public, the reward the Ouyang family receives will be no less than yours. And since you have no background, if those martial arts clans don't try to recruit you, wouldn't they be blind?"

Zhao Xuanfeng smiled.

Seeming to feel a bit weary, he waved his hand.

"That's enough talk for now. I'm a bit tired. You don't need to go to the library for the next few days; go back and get some good rest first."

"I understand."

Lu Li nodded in agreement.

He turned and left the Dean's office.

Only then.

Did Zhao Xuanfeng slowly stand up from the recliner.

He walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, watching Lu Li's gradually receding figure, his gaze deep and calm.

The facts were not yet clear!

But, from the information gathered from all sides, one could roughly guess.

The sudden departure of the Black Eagle King was because Heishi Cheng had been destroyed and the Parasol Sacred Tree had been stolen.

And as for the one who went deep behind enemy lines during the great war!

In all of Qian City!

He was the only one!

Zhao Xuanfeng had repeatedly speculated in his heart a thousand times.

And he had only arrived at this one possibility!

If he could return safely from the army of fierce beasts, why couldn't he have destroyed Heishi Cheng?

"Heh, the young people of today are becoming more and more interesting. I really want to see just how far he can go in the end, but it's a pity, my time seems to be running out."

He coughed lightly twice.

At the corner of his mouth, fresh blood flowed out again.

……

Leaving the academy.

Lu Li followed Zhao Xuanfeng's arrangement and returned directly to the villa at Mist Ring Mountain Villa.

This villa was quite large!

Although he hadn't lived here for long, he knew it came with a backyard.

Opening the gate.

Lu Li let the Five-Colored Sparrow out.

This Five-Colored Sparrow was quite timid; once it entered Qian City, it hid desperately inside his sleeve, refusing to come out no matter what. Only now, having reached a quiet place, did it dare to peek out slightly.

"Phew, so dangerous."

The Five-Colored Sparrow looked around carefully, and upon discovering no humans, it couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.

In its eyes, apart from Lu Li, all humans were dangerous.

Even at the beginning, Lu Li had been dangerous!

Seeing it in this state, Lu Li just smiled lightly: "This is my private residence; no one dares to enter. Let's plant that Parasol Sacred Tree here."

"Okay!"

The Five-Colored Sparrow answered crisply.

This was something they had agreed upon long ago; as long as the Parasol Sacred Tree could grow again, it would be able to cultivate here forever.

It flapped its wings!

A three-inch-tall emerald green seedling appeared in mid-air.

The Five-Colored Sparrow opened its fiery red little beak and spat out a mouthful of origin essence, wrapping the young Parasol Sacred Tree within it.

Specks of spiritual light!

Continuously merged from the Five-Colored Sparrow's body into the Parasol Sacred Tree.

Gradually.

The Wutong Sacred Tree was surrounded by an inexplicable force.

It caused a resonance between heaven and earth!

Rumble!

The heaven and earth shook violently!

Under the guidance of that inexplicable force, the body of the Wutong Sacred Tree rapidly expanded.

Lu Li waved his hand, bringing the surrounding commotion under control.

A moment later, the Wutong Sacred Tree was lush and leafy, having actually grown to its original size of 3.3 meters.

A vast vitality spread out.

Within this courtyard, the vegetation that had originally been left untended suddenly became full of life, transforming into a scene of lush greenery.

"I'm finished!"

The Five-Colored Sparrow flapped its wings joyfully.

Transforming into a streak of firelight, it dove into the lush branches and leaves of the Parasol Sacred Tree.

Lu Li did not pay it any mind.

In any case, this Parasol Sacred Tree had been obtained for nothing; having one more little bird cultivating here wouldn't affect anything, but just as he was preparing to test the effects of this Parasol Sacred Tree, movement came from outside again.

His figure flashed, and he arrived outside the main gate.

"Who are you?"

Lu Li was somewhat surprised.

This person was nearing middle age, with a high forehead and a large face; he had never seen him before.

"My name is Yun Qianlie, and I am a Grandmaster residing in this Ring Mist Villa. I heard the commotion just now and came over specifically to take a look," the middle-aged man replied with a smile.

"The commotion just now was caused by my cultivation; no accident occurred."

Lu Li's voice was indifferent.

He had no intention of inviting him inside!

That Parasol Sacred Tree was a sacred object of heaven and earth, and its value was even far above that of the Crimson Vermilion Fruit; to avoid unnecessary trouble, it was better not to let it be leaked.

"In that case, I apologize for the disturbance."

Yun Qianlie glanced toward the villa, then turned and left.

Seeing this, Lu Li also returned to the backyard.

Having gone through the previous battle with fierce beasts, many of the experts in this Ring Mist Villa had been killed or injured.

The atmosphere was bleak!

The area around the villa where he lived was even more deserted, with nine out of ten houses empty; although the commotion of the Parasol Sacred Tree reshaping its body had been great, he had controlled it in time so it hadn't spread very far, yet someone had still sensed it and come to his door—clearly, that person's intentions were not simple.

However, Lu Li did not care.

With his current cultivation, no one in this entire Ring Mist Villa could withstand a single blow from him!

Living here, he was as steady as Mount Tai.

Thinking this, he walked toward the Parasol Sacred Tree again.

Not long after.

After several attempts.

Lu Li had roughly figured out the function of this Parasol Sacred Tree.

It was born from the condensation of the power of heaven and earth, and the power of heaven and earth gathered around it at all times.

If one could cultivate beneath it, one could draw closer to the nature of heaven and earth, perceive the power of heaven and earth at any time, and naturally, one's cultivation speed would improve by leaps and bounds.

This effect was even more pronounced in birds!

If an ordinary person cultivated under the tree, their speed might only increase by twofold, but with the Five-Colored Sparrow situated within it, it could be more than ten times faster!

The two could not be mentioned in the same breath!

But even so, there were few sacred objects that could assist cultivation like the Parasol Sacred Tree!

"Perhaps I can arrange for Ouyang Xue and Zhang Chi to come here and try it."

……

(End of this chapter)