Chapter 217: The Secret of the Old Tree
The old man in the straw raincoat turned his head.
His dark face was etched with deep wrinkles, like ravines carved by time.
"Are you surprised?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Chu Xiu nodded. "Yes, senior. The tree is truly enormous."
The old man gestured toward the coffee table, motioning for Chu Xiu to sit. He then rose from his bow, his movements slow but deliberate.
After a moment of hesitation, Chu Xiu stepped into the cabin.
The old man turned to face him, and Chu Xiu could now see his appearance clearly. His face was weathered, covered in deep furrows, and his eyelids drooped heavily, almost closing into a thin line. A snow-white beard cascaded down his chest, contrasting sharply with his dark, leathery skin. He was gaunt, his frame so frail it seemed as though a gust of wind could scatter him like dust.
Hunched over, the old man shuffled to the coffee table and sat down. He pushed a steaming teacup toward Chu Xiu with a trembling hand.
The old man's eyes, slightly open, revealed cloudy pupils.
"Do you know the name of this tree?" he asked, his voice soft but steady.
Chu Xiu wasn't particularly interested, but he played along. "Please enlighten me, senior."
He sensed that the old man hadn't spoken to an outsider in a long time. If he could keep him engaged, there might be some benefit to gain.
The corners of the old man's mouth curled into a faint smile, and a glimmer of nostalgia flickered in his cloudy eyes.
"My name is 'Tree,'" he said.
Chu Xiu blinked, momentarily stunned.
The old man chuckled softly. "Isn't it a funny name?"
Chu Xiu shook his head firmly. He was a professional, after all. He didn't laugh—unless it was absolutely impossible to hold back.
The old man smiled, his dry fingers tracing the rim of the teacup. He sighed softly, his voice carrying the weight of countless years.
"A long, long time ago, when I was still a seed, a powerful human planted me in his backyard. I took root, sprouted, and grew into a sapling. Over the years, influenced by his profound wisdom and strength, I developed spiritual awareness."
Chu Xiu was puzzled. Could it be that the person before him didn't know the realm of those two individuals?
It seemed the old tree saw through his thoughts.
With a solemn expression, Shu said, "It's not that I don't know, nor is it that I don't want to tell you. But reaching their level is already a taboo. You cannot speak of it, nor can you listen to it. Doing so would invite great terror."
"When you become an immortal, you will barely have the qualifications to touch that level..."
Chu Xiu's pupils contracted. "Old Tree, what is an immortal?"
The old tree replied, "Immortals are beings above the Great Emperor."
Chu Xiu was stunned. "Immortals are above the Great Emperor, and becoming an immortal is only barely enough to touch that realm?"
Shu nodded slightly, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.
"You still have a long way to go. Knowing too much may not be a good thing for you."
Chu Xiu's eyes flickered. He felt like a frog in a well, his perspective suddenly expanded by the old tree's words. Today, he had caught a glimpse of a far vaster world.
"Old Tree," he asked cautiously, "have you come from the outer world?"
The old tree nodded. "I cannot tell you more. But I can offer you a suggestion."
Chu Xiu stood up and clasped his fists respectfully. "Please enlighten me, Old Tree."
"After you reach the level of a Minor Saint, go to the Prehistoric World. It is a breeding ground for the strong. There, you can improve yourself more quickly," the old tree said meaningfully.
"I understand. Thank you, Old Tree," Chu Xiu replied sincerely.
"Have some tea," the old tree offered.
Chu Xiu hesitated. The old tree was being unusually kind to him. Was he plotting something? What could he, Chu Xiu, possibly have that would interest such a powerful being?
The only thing of value he possessed was his vibrant Ancient Saint Body.
Could it be that the old tree wanted to take over his body?
As if reading his mind, the old tree smiled. "Don't worry. I have no ill intentions toward you." He pointed to the teacup in front of Chu Xiu. "This is Enlightenment Tea. It will be of great benefit to you at this stage."
Chu Xiu's thoughts had been laid bare, but he felt no embarrassment. He chuckled and shook his head.
"The old man possesses immense cultivation. If he wanted to harm me, he wouldn't beat around the bush. I overthought it."
With that, he picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp.
Instantly, his entire being was enveloped in a strange, profound aura. His consciousness sank into his Dao Palace, entering a state of enlightenment.
Blood-colored stars floated around him, rising and falling rhythmically. A blood-colored throne materialized, its presence overwhelming. It lifted Chu Xiu's consciousness, which began to grow rapidly.
Finally, his consciousness settled onto the throne.
The Five Elements, the Nine Sources, and various Dao rules swirled around him.
In that moment, he understood.
The throne was a manifestation of the Dao Seed.
Chu Xiu realized he could use his system to break through the Dao rules embedded in the blood-colored throne, enhancing the blood-colored star Dao Seeds. This was equivalent to breaking through his realm.
But that wasn't all.
The throne had another function—Resurrection.
It could resurrect cultivators who had been transformed by Chu Xiu.
For example, if Ai Kun were to fall, Chu Xiu could consume blood energy to reshape his body and revive him. His strength and memories would remain intact.
Of course, there were limitations.
The higher the cultivation level and the more powerful the cultivator, the greater the cost of resurrection.
Chu Xiu was delighted.
"This cheat is truly overpowered!" he thought.
It meant he could not only produce more soldiers in the future but also raise an army of undead warriors.
Wait—
Chu Xiu's excitement was tempered as he realized something.
He frowned slightly but soon relaxed.
Each transformed individual could only be resurrected a maximum of nine times.
Nine times would have to be enough.