Chapter 216: I Am That Tree
If the gap between the Great Sage and the Saint King is like the difference between heaven and earth, then the chasm separating the Saint King and the Quasi-Emperor is akin to the difference between a bug and a dragon—an insurmountable divide, vast and unyielding.
A group of Saint Kings exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"Quasi-Emperors... truly exist in this world?"
"This person must have been unsealed from a previous era," someone speculated.
"It's impossible for a Quasi-Emperor to be born in this era," said the Butterfly Venerable with unwavering certainty. The others nodded in agreement. As ancient overlords, they had studied records of powerful figures who had preserved themselves across epochs.
The Great Venerable Wangshan trembled, his face slick with cold sweat. Despite his fear, as the Saint King Overlord of Wangshan, he refused to bow his head. Clenching his teeth, he forced himself to speak under the crushing pressure emanating from the Quasi-Emperor.
"Senior," he began, his voice steady despite the terror in his heart, "my demon clan also has strong men who have proclaimed themselves. You cannot dominate everything."
A soft, lazy voice replied, laced with an unsettling amusement.
"Hehe... Don't be afraid, little tiger. I won't harm you unless you make the first move against Chu Xiu."
The voice paused before continuing, now edged with subtle menace. "Of course, you can take that as a threat. I am a threat."
The implication was clear—neither the demon clan's ancient powers nor their self-proclaimed strong men were of any concern.
Feeling the mounting chill of the Quasi-Emperor's killing intent, Wangshan's resolve began to waver. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, trailing down his beard like rain. At last, he gave in.
"Since the senior is protecting him," Wangshan said, forcing the words through clenched teeth, "I will not personally take action against Chu Xiu again."
"Good boy," came the mocking reply.
As the voice faded, so too did the suffocating pressure. Wangshan exhaled sharply, relief flooding him as the oppressive killing intent withdrew.
Yunxia Peak
Luo Qingyu let out a breath of laughter, patting her chest as her face lit up with amusement. Her charming features softened, though her words carried a sharp edge.
"Ha! People in this era are so easy to scare."
Qin Yiyi tilted her head curiously, her wide eyes full of innocence. "Sister Luo, are you stronger than that big tiger?"
Luo Qingyu chuckled, reaching out to tousle Qin Yiyi's hair. "Of course, Sister is stronger than that little brain axe. But…" She hesitated, a trace of frustration in her tone. "He has an emperor weapon. Even I can't easily kill him while suppressed by the Heavenly Dao."
Qin Yiyi's eyes widened in awe. "An emperor weapon is that powerful?"
"Of course," Luo Qingyu replied with a smirk. "The emperor's Dao-making weapon is intertwined with the Heavenly Dao itself. It's too complicated for you to understand now."
Shaking off the momentary heaviness, Luo Qingyu brightened and grabbed Qin Yiyi's hand. "Come on! Let's go to the mountains and find some game. I'm craving something with a nice charcoal scent for dinner!"
Laughing, the two women headed toward the back mountain of Yunxia Peak.
The Retreat of the Saint Kings
After witnessing Luo Qingyu's display of power, the Saint Kings had no choice but to retreat. Their plans in disarray, they abandoned the conflict. Before leaving, the Demonic Saint King made sure to gather their wounded, including the battered Thousand Faces True Lord and the Die Emperor's daughter.
"I didn't expect Tai Su to have another Quasi-Emperor hidden away," said the Holy Lord Yaoguang with an ingratiating smile. "Tai Suzi, you've really outdone yourself."
Bowing respectfully, he added, "I'll visit that senior personally."
"What do you all think?" he asked the other human overlords.
Ye Tianhong nodded. "As a fellow human, it's only right for me to visit her first."
Jiang Wudi hummed in agreement, though his expression was unreadable.
Tai Suzi remained calm, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's hard to say if she'll even agree to see you."
The Secret Land of Forgetful River
Chu Xiu pressed forward through the thick white fog that shrouded the Secret Land of Forgetful River. Stepping lightly on the Three Lives Stone Tablet, he followed the flow of the water to maintain his direction. The mist swirled around him, reducing visibility to almost nothing.
After what felt like an eternity, a dark silhouette emerged ahead—a black shadow barely discernible through the dense fog.
Chu Xiu's senses sharpened as he grew alert. As the shadow came into focus, he realized it was a boat. A plain, unassuming vessel, no more than ten meters long, its ends sharp and its middle wide—exactly like the fishing boats used by common folk.
For half an hour, he studied the vessel carefully, his heart pounding as the mystery of the Forgetful River deepened.
After confirming there was no danger above, Chu Xiu carefully stepped onto the fishing boat. He retrieved the stone tablet from the river, hoisting it onto his shoulders, and cautiously made his way into the cabin.
At first glance, the boat seemed ordinary—nothing about it suggested danger. But on closer inspection, it exuded an air of mystery. How long had it floated upon the Forgetful River? How could something so unassuming survive in such a place?
If anyone claims this boat is ordinary, they'd be a fool, Chu Xiu thought to himself.
Maybe there's a treasure here, he mused, scanning the surroundings.
The cabin's interior was simple yet immaculate, as though someone had been meticulously maintaining it. A mahogany coffee table stood at its center, gleaming with polish. On the table sat two teacups. One cup was cold, as if untouched for hours. The other, however, emitted faint wisps of steam, its warmth unmistakable.
Chu Xiu froze, his pupils narrowing. His divine sense had swept the entire boat before boarding. He was certain this table—and the tea—hadn't been there before.
The realization sent a chill down his spine. I've stumbled upon something big.
Without a moment's hesitation, he turned on his heels, ready to leave.
Slip away quietly! Don't look back!
But just as he reached the edge of the cabin, an aged voice drifted from the bow.
"Since you're already here," the voice said, calm yet penetrating, "why not have a cup of tea before you go?"
The suddenness of the voice startled Chu Xiu. He stumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not a ghost," the voice added, a trace of amusement coloring its tone.
Chu Xiu paused, inhaling deeply to steady his nerves. Slowly, he turned toward the source of the voice.
At the bow of the boat sat a hunchbacked old man, his figure silhouetted against the white mist of the Forgetful River. He wore a simple straw raincoat and a wide bamboo hat that obscured much of his face. In his hands, he held a fishing rod, its shaft carved from an unknown wood. The line extended into the misty waters below, motionless yet full of quiet intent.
The old man's presence was uncanny. It felt as though he had always been there, sitting in eternal patience, an ageless figure amidst the endless flow of time.