Chen Zhou remained silent for a moment before stowing the Lingzhi into his system space.
Whether it was truly her or not, he would find out soon enough by asking in the Fallen Dream.
It just so happened that when he had upgraded to the fifth symbiosis contract, he had earned an opportunity to visit that dream realm.
He had far too many questions that needed answers.
Questions like what exactly was hidden in the Central Province, the details of the Battle of Qingtian mentioned by Qing Lu, and how heaven and earth had transformed into this wretched state.
After putting the item away, Chen Zhou turned to the Plague Rat and said, "I cannot give this to you for now. It might be a relic of an old friend of mine."
The Plague Rat was not disappointed. He quickly waved his paws and said, "It is fine, it is fine! If you have a use for it, Milord, then keep it. There is no need to give it to this rat."
"Although this rat wants it, I truly lack the confidence to fully absorb an eighth stage evil spirit."
Having said that, the Plague Rat stood up, patted the dust off himself, and looked up at the giant tree in the distance.
"Milord, there is a massive tree over there. Shall we go take a look?"
Chen Zhou followed his gaze.
With the mushrooms gone, the giant tree’s emerald light grew even more brilliant, like a massive lantern illuminating the entire underground space.
The light filtered down through the canopy, staining the surrounding rock walls in shades of vibrant green.
Chen Zhou began walking toward the giant tree. The Plague Rat hurried to keep up, glancing around as they moved.
"Milord, what do you think those eggs are?"
Chen Zhou shook his head; he did not know either.
The refined Duke Wu had once said that the lineage of the Royal Capital was not yet extinct and that seeds remained beneath the Eternal Scars. Could these eggs be those seeds?
The closer they got to the giant tree, the fresher the air became.
The thick filth energy and the stench of rotting spores were entirely dispelled by the tree's light, replaced by the crisp fragrance of vegetation.
The giant tree sensed the approach of outsiders. Its emerald light flickered slightly, as if in caution or perhaps as a probe.
Chen Zhou reached the light membrane. Now closer to the eggs, he saw they were all nestled within the membrane at the base of the tree, varying in size and color.
They lay there quietly, like a pile of forgotten treasures.
To have maintained their original form after ten thousand years of being targeted by an eighth stage evil spirit, this ancient tree was clearly no ordinary plant.
As for the things it guarded, they were likely just as extraordinary.
Chen Zhou took a tentative step forward.
Hum—
The emerald light of the giant tree shuddered violently. A gentle force surged from the membrane, pushing Chen Zhou back.
The force was mild, showing no intent to harm him, only to prevent him from drawing closer.
Chen Zhou steadied himself. Suddenly, a dragon's roar echoed from behind him.
"Roar—!!!"
The roar was resonant, shaking the surrounding area.
Chen Zhou looked back to see the Golden Dragon of Merit had emerged from his body at some point. It was now circling behind him, its golden scales shimmering brilliantly in the emerald light.
As the golden dragon let out a long cry toward the sky, the emerald light of the giant tree trembled.
Then, the light began to shift, changing from emerald to deep green, then to pale green, before finally returning to emerald.
It was as if it were responding to the dragon's call.
The dragon and the tree began to communicate in a way Chen Zhou could not understand.
Golden and emerald lights intertwined, weaving ancient images in the air.
The images were blurred and difficult to make out, showing only faint silhouettes.
There were dragons, phoenixes, and various unrecognizable exotic beasts, along with many, many people.
They stood together, looking up at the sky as if watching something.
The sky was vast, seemingly without end, and then something appeared to fall from the heavens.
The images flashed and vanished.
The golden dragon ceased its cry and circled behind Chen Zhou. The emerald light of the giant tree also calmed, no longer flickering but becoming soft and warm.
After a long while, the golden dragon’s low voice echoed in Chen Zhou's sea of consciousness.
"My Lord, you may proceed."
Chen Zhou nodded. The emerald light parted like ripples on water, clearing a path for him.
Chen Zhou stepped through the membrane and stood before the roots of the giant tree.
The tree trembled slightly. Chen Zhou could sense a surge of heartfelt joy radiating from the trunk, like a person who had been lonely for a long time finally welcoming an old friend from afar.
Chen Zhou reached out and patted the trunk.
The bark was rough, covered in the marks of ages past.
The golden dragon's voice spoke again in his mind.
"My Lord, this is the divine tree, Jianmu."
"In ancient times, the divine tree Jianmu stood between heaven and earth. Its branches reached the three realms, and its roots were deeply planted in the Nine Underworlds."
"It was born at the dawn of chaos and grew during the harmony of heaven and earth. It is one of the oldest existences in the world."
"Through Jianmu, the gods could travel freely between the heaven, earth, and human realms, unrestrained by space or laws."
"After the Battle of Qingtian broke out, the three realms were shattered. Jianmu was also heavily damaged. Since then, it has been rooted here, never moving again."
Chen Zhou nodded.
Jianmu.
He had heard this name from Qing Lu.
A supreme treasure of heaven and earth, an ancient divine tree. Consuming it could reshape one's true body and allow one to transcend reincarnation.
He had not expected to encounter it here.
Jianmu seemed to sense Chen Zhou's thoughts. A thick branch descended from the canopy, curled around an egg on the ground, and eagerly offered it to Chen Zhou.
Chen Zhou paused for a moment before reaching out to take it.
The egg felt warm to the touch, possessing body heat and even a pulse.
Yet, it felt like a dead object, showing no signs of life whatsoever.
A system notification rang in his mind.
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Life Extinguished]】
【The life force of this egg is nearly exhausted. If activated and hatched using a special method, something might be born from it.】
【Hatching probability: ninth stage beast 0.1%, eighth stage beast 0.5%, seventh stage beast 1%, sixth stage beast 5%, fifth stage beast 10%, fourth stage beast 15%, third stage beast 20%, second stage beast 30%, first stage beast 50%】
Chen Zhou weighed the egg in his hand.
It was light, like holding an empty shell.
Seeing that Chen Zhou did not speak, Jianmu grew worried that he was dissatisfied and quickly offered another egg.
The branch curled around the egg and carefully presented it to him, as if afraid he might reject it.
Chen Zhou took the second egg, and the system notification rang again.
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Dying]】
【The life force of this egg is faint. If activated and hatched using a special method, something might be born from it.】
【Hatching probability: ninth stage beast 0.5%, eighth stage beast 2%, seventh stage beast 5%, sixth stage beast 10%, fifth stage beast 15%, fourth stage beast 20%, third stage beast 25%, second stage beast 20%, first stage beast 30%】
The golden dragon said with a hint of a smile.
"My Lord, Jianmu has guarded these eggs here for tens of thousands of years. Now that it has finally met you, the successor of the orthodox divine path, it is somewhat overexcited. Please do not mind it."
Chen Zhou smiled and shook his head.
"I don't mind."
Seeing Chen Zhou smile, Jianmu assumed he was satisfied and grew even more excited.
Its branches waved frantically, curling around eggs one after another and delivering them to Chen Zhou.
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Dying]】
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Covered in Cracks]】
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Dimmed Radiance]】
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Covered in Cracks]】
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Dying]】
...
Chen Zhou: "..."
He was holding a pile of eggs in his arms, looking very much like an auntie buying groceries at a market.
The Plague Rat leaned in and took a few looks.
"Milord, these eggs don't look like much."
He commented snidely, "They all look lifeless. They probably won't be of much use even if they hatch. It would be better to let this rat stew them for a meal—"
Before he could finish.
Smack!
A branch whipped out, sending the Plague Rat flying.
The Plague Rat screamed as he flew several hundred zhang, crashing into the distant rock wall and leaving a massive crater.
"Damn it..."
He crawled out of the crater, rubbing his swollen face with a bewildered expression.
Chen Zhou looked down at the eggs in his arms. Most of them had faint life force or were completely extinguished.
Only a few still retained a spark of spiritual light.
But even that spark was slowly fading as time passed.
Jianmu seemed to sense Chen Zhou's confusion. Its branches trembled gently, conveying a sense of sorrow.
The golden dragon acted as a translator for Jianmu.
"My Lord, Jianmu wants to tell you that it was born in Tianchi Province and is rooted in the Tianchi Ley Line. It was only through the enlightenment of an old friend that it became a divine tree."
"These eggs are all the offspring of the ancient beasts that participated in the Battle of Qingtian."
"They were heavily damaged while still in their mothers' wombs and have been in a deep sleep since birth, waiting for a chance to recover."
"But as tens of thousands of years passed, their life force grew weaker and weaker. Many have already had their lives completely extinguished."
Chen Zhou asked, "Ask it, what was the Battle of Qingtian?"
The golden dragon was silent for a moment, seemingly communicating with Jianmu, before saying, "Jianmu says it does not know either."
"Its level was not high enough to participate in that great war."
"It only knows that it was a calamity that swept across the heavens, where countless gods, beasts, and powerful experts fell."
"The heavens and earth were shattered, and the three realms collapsed. Since then, the divine path has ceased to exist, and the Way of Humanity has been left struggling for survival."
"It could only stay here, guarding the descendants of its old friends, hoping to one day reunite with them."
"But so many years have passed, and its own end is approaching. It likely won't be able to wait much longer."
The trunk of Jianmu shuddered. Its emerald light grew dim, like a person sighing.
Chen Zhou patted the trunk and asked, "Do you know the origin of those mushrooms?"
The golden dragon relayed the question.
"Jianmu says it does not know."
"Not long after the Battle of Qingtian ended, those mushrooms appeared within the Eternal Scars."
"They were very small at first, only the size of a fingernail. Later, they grew more numerous and larger until they covered the entire underground space."
"Jianmu has been resisting their erosion, but to little effect."
"If you had not stepped in, it might not have lasted much longer. In another few thousand years, it would likely have been completely consumed."
Chen Zhou nodded, then asked, "Do you know A Yao?"
Jianmu froze instantly. It remained still for a long time, so long that Chen Zhou thought it would not answer.
Then, a powerful emotion radiated from the trunk.
It was joy, excitement, and disbelief.
"A Yao?"
The golden dragon’s voice carried a hint of surprise. "Jianmu asks if you know A Yao?"
Chen Zhou nodded. "You could say that."
The branches of Jianmu began to wave frantically. The emerald light surged, illuminating the entire underground space as bright as day.
"It says that of course it knows A Yao."
The golden dragon’s voice also grew softer. "According to your words, Milord, do you also know her?"
Chen Zhou gave an affirmative hum.
Jianmu became joyful, its branches swaying gently as if dancing.
"It says A Yao is the daughter of a certain great lord, but she never put on airs because of her status."
"Back then, it was A Yao who enlightened it, allowing it to gain sentience and become a divine tree."
"In her youth, A Yao was impulsive and brash, a whirlwind of a person, but she had a kind heart and hated evil with a passion."
"She often led a group of beasts running around everywhere. Wherever there was injustice, she would be there."
"Once, to save a group of enslaved mortals, she charged into an evil spirit's lair alone and turned the place upside down."
"She returned covered in wounds, yet she just smiled and said it didn't hurt, and that some things had it much worse than her."
As Jianmu 'spoke', its branches trembled slightly as if it were laughing.
"Later, A Yao followed her master to the Central Province to climb the Sky-Cloud Ladder and head to the battlefield."
"After the Battle of Qingtian, she never returned."
Listening to this, Chen Zhou fell into thought. The A Yao Jianmu described was likely the same person he had seen in the Fallen Dream.
The smiling woman in palace dress, the senior who had given him the Cloud-Hiding Silk.
So, she had been like that in her youth.
Impulsive, brash, a whirlwind, and a hater of evil.
She was a completely different person from the calm and dignified figure he knew now.
But the core of her character had not changed.
Kind, righteous, and willing to risk everything to protect what she cared about.
Chen Zhou asked again, "Then do you know Yuheng and Mo Cang?"
Jianmu thought for a while, its branches swaying gently.
"It says it has no memory of them,"
The golden dragon relayed. "There were many great lords during that period. It was only a small sapling then and did not know many of them."
Chen Zhou sighed and did not ask further.
Seeing that he had stopped speaking, Jianmu’s branches became busy again.
One egg after another was curled up and stuffed into Chen Zhou's arms.
Chen Zhou could no longer hold them all, but Jianmu did not care, stubbornly stuffing them all toward him.
Most of the eggs were [Life Extinguished], a few were [Dying], and there were two each of [Covered in Cracks] and [Dimmed Radiance].
But two of them were different.
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Lingering Radiance]】
【The life force of this egg still remains. If activated and hatched using a special method, something might be born from it.】
【Hatching probability: ninth stage beast 10%, eighth stage beast 20%, seventh stage beast 30%, sixth stage beast 20%, fifth stage beast 10%, fourth stage beast 5%, third stage beast 3%, second stage beast 1%, first stage beast 0.5%】
【You have obtained an ancient beast egg [Vibrant with Life]】
【This egg is brimming with life force. If activated and hatched using a special method, something might be born from it.】
【Hatching probability: ninth stage beast 50%, eighth stage beast 30%, seventh stage beast 15%, sixth stage beast 3%, fifth stage beast 1%, fourth stage beast 0.5%, third stage beast 0.3%, second stage beast 0.1%, first stage beast 0.05%】
Chen Zhou looked at the last egg, somewhat surprised.
A 50% chance to hatch a ninth stage beast. As long as it successfully broke its shell, wouldn't that be equivalent to starting at the end of most living beings' cultivation path?
Just what kind of beast could be so uniquely gifted and favored by heaven and earth?
Rate on N.U.
