Chapter 392: Treasure Tree King's Joyful Gathering

He Lingchuan had already seen seven theatrical stages along the way; some spacious market entrances even had two. "With so many stages scattered throughout the city, can the Baoshu King truly appreciate them all?"

The sound of the opera was so loud that even at such a close distance, Shi Er, the foreman, couldn't hear what He Lingchuan said.

Only the black cat's pointed ears twitched, understanding the question. It hopped onto He Lingchuan's shoulder to explain:

"Yes, it can. Every tree in Fufeng City is an ear and eye of the Baoshu King. It knows everything that is said or performed by the trees."

He Lingchuan gave a thumbs-up, impressed. However, he mused that many mountain spirits seemed to possess similar abilities. For the Baoshu King, who was a monarch and had inherent characteristics, this was probably commonplace.

"I heard that the Baoshu Kingdom is the most peaceful and populous nation in Beijia?"

"Apart from the prefectures directly under the Emperor's rule, one could say so." This time, Shi Er answered. "Among all demon nations, the Baoshu Kingdom has existed the longest, for over five hundred years. It has also had the fewest wars, fewer than thirty...times?"

The black cat corrected him: "Thirty-two times."

"That averages out to one war every seventeen or eighteen years," He Lingchuan calculated. "Is that considered 'few'?"

It seemed his definition of "few" differed from the people of Beijia.

"Compared to other demon nations, that's remarkably few. Look at the Shan Yu Nation, they're still in civil strife," the black cat explained. "If the Emperor of Beijia declares war abroad, the Baoshu Kingdom must send troops to follow, and that's also counted in the total. This place is peaceful, so the population is large. I myself migrated from the Shan Yu Nation."

"What's going on in the Shan Yu Nation?" He Lingchuan had heard that the Shan Yu Nation was rich in birds of prey, considered the cradle of Beijia's air force.

"The Junior Minister of War was arrested and imprisoned. Everyone believed he was a good official and had surely been wronged. But then, he died violently in prison; it's said his death was horrific. Many high-ranking officials couldn't stand it and wanted the King to punish the culprits, but the Royal Court merely pushed out a scapegoat, and then everyone refused to accept it."

"Just because of one Junior Minister of War?"

The black cat licked its paws. "Oh, there are many other things; it would take a year to tell you all of it."

He Lingchuan was very curious: "If the Shan Yu Nation is in civil unrest, does Lingxu Capital not intervene?" After all, it was happening within its own nation.

The black cat paused. "Each nation is autonomous. Why should Lingxu Capital intervene?"

"Aren't they afraid the civil unrest will spread?"

Shi Er sighed. "No matter how chaotic the nations of Beijia become, they eventually settle down. It's been this way for so many years; Lingxu Capital has probably grown accustomed to it."

He Lingchuan found it strange that Lingxu Capital didn't intervene in local unrest. It was a peculiar system, no wonder it was used as a case study by foreign nations.

Soon after, the two met up with the caravan.

After navigating the crowded Fufeng City for over half an hour, the group finally exited the North Gate.

The path ahead immediately widened, allowing their mounts to trot briskly.

The road was lined with vibrant flowers. It was almost June, naturally a season of blooming. The path from Fufeng City's North Gate to Baiyun Mountain was ablaze with purples and reds, flowers competing in their full glory. Even the most obscure little grasses put out delicate white blossoms to fit the scene. From a distance, it looked as if white snow had fallen upon the green land. The mountain path had become a flower path, and the waterfall almost a flower waterfall. One glance was enough to know that spring was in full bloom.

This sight drew exclamations of wonder from passersby. He Lingchuan heard a mother and daughter ahead exclaim, "We took this same path back to the city yesterday, and there weren't this many flowers at all!"

"They must have bloomed today to celebrate the Baoshu King's birthday."

He Lingchuan was genuinely surprised: "Even with spiritual energy waning, can the Baoshu King's power still extend this far?"

The Heart Mirror chimed in, "The early Middle Ages were nothing; to still command a hundred flowers now, that truly shows immense power." It continued, "However, this also depends on the Baoshu King's true form. It has lived for eight hundred years, and its influence over this city can gradually expand. Even if it advanced just an inch a day, the accumulation over several centuries is considerable." The Baoshu King had managed its territory for so many years, and Fufeng City was its core area, so of course it had permeated it completely and without blind spots.

He Lingchuan followed the flow of traffic to Baiyun Mountain in the northern suburbs. The mountain wasn't high, only about three hundred meters in elevation, with a gentle slope that even the elderly could climb. Of course, Baiyun Mountain should be renamed Flower Mountain today, as various wild flowers competed for beauty, with bees flying and butterflies dancing.

After climbing over the ridge and looking down, He Lingchuan let out a long breath. The long slope on the sunny side was still gradual and gentle, easy to descend on horseback. The slope ended at the lakeside. It was then that he realized Baiyun Mountain's peak was actually a volcano crater. It had probably been dormant for too long, as a large inner lake, also known as the Celestial Lake, had accumulated in the crater, its surface smooth as a mirror, barely stirring a ripple.

In the center of the lake, there was only one enormous tree, its branches reaching into the sky, its canopy majestic. Its crown spread was at least over five hundred meters wide. Even from a distance, He Lingchuan could feel its immense size. Its trunk was unbelievably thick, and with aerial roots growing downwards to take root, it effortlessly formed a forest from a single tree. From afar, dozens of tree-king-level trunks collectively supported the enormous crown.

"I didn't expect to see such a massive entity today!" the Heart Mirror exclaimed in admiration. "It must be deeply loved by the people to receive such abundant primal energy for its growth!" With insufficient spiritual energy, primal energy supplemented it.

Shi Er, the foreman, dared not point, only turning his head to He Lingchuan. "This is the Baoshu King, the star of today's celebration!" It was also the demon king who governed a vast territory.

He Lingchuan asked, "What species is its true form?"

Shi Er chuckled. "I heard it's Seafloor Wood? Just a rumor."

"Hmph, only half-knowing." The knowledgeable Heart Mirror took over. "This is a Juluo Tree!"

"So, is it a Juluo Tree or Seafloor Wood?"

"There are many varieties of Seafloor Wood, and the Juluo Tree is the most precious and rare among them," the Heart Mirror said proudly. "Even in ancient times, it wasn't common."

What was there to be proud of in knowing that? He Lingchuan asked it, "Seafloor Wood, is it the Seafloor Wood I know, the kind that can host souls?"

"All types of Seafloor Wood can," the Heart Mirror explained. "Legend has it they grow between the Netherworld and the mortal realm, which allows souls to reside upon them. Of course, they also grow in the present world."

He Lingchuan could see that there was no soil beneath the Baoshu King; it was rooted directly in the water, truly living up to its name "Seafloor Wood." Viewed this way, its actual height, measured from its roots, was even more astounding.

The Heart Mirror's tone was full of longing: "If only I could get a branch, even just one."

"What for?"

"To experience the interstitial law between the Netherworld and reality. Just like how I feel the existence of the City of the Dead every day." The mirror continued, "Seafloor Wood itself possesses that characteristic, and this ancient tree has lived for eight hundred years, so it should have an even deeper understanding. I want to learn from it, learn from it." He Lingchuan hadn't expected it, as a mirror, to be so studious.

At this time, most commoners stopped on the long slope and found an empty spot to kneel. The truly devout prostrated themselves fully towards the Baoshu King, silently reciting prayers. He Lingchuan happened to pass by a devout worshipper and heard his prayer begin with, "To the Limitless Merit, Founder of the Era, Ancient Suppressor, Holy Venerable Lingxu above," followed by about six or seven other divine titles, then the Beijia Demon Emperor, and finally, the Baoshu King, the protagonist of today's celebration. But seeing the person's solemn and dignified expression, and hearing how smoothly he recited it, this was certainly not disrespectful; it was likely a daily opening. Indeed, it was not strange for the northern demon nations to revere deities and instruct their commoners to pray day and night.

Of course, most people treated this trip to Baiyun Mountain as a family outing. After kneeling and praying with their elders and children, they began chatting and laughing, letting their wild children and little demons run freely across the mountain, resembling a spring picnic. The black cat on the saddle stared intently at two plump, white hamsters, its white paws kneading vigorously on the deer's back, its eyes glued to them. He Lingchuan had to remind it, "Hey, you're drooling on the saddle."

If not for the respect due to the Baoshu King's dwelling place, someone might have flown kites. He Lingchuan, however, saw the Baoshu King's tolerance towards the people of Fufeng City. Perhaps the tree believed that happiness is best shared. Of course, there were also many trees on the gentle slope, said to be the Baoshu King's eyes and ears, so no one dared to misbehave there.

Cool, clear springs flowed down the mountain, forming over a dozen small waterfalls. He Lingchuan and Shi Er followed the springs, gradually approaching the lakeside. Two ape guards came to check, and after He Lingchuan presented his invitation, they were allowed to pass. Commoners could only sit on the slope to observe the ceremony, but He Lingchuan, with the Grand Tutor's mansion's invitation, received the VIP treatment of resting in the promenade. Shi Er and the black cat were brought in with him.

A row of buildings, called Baiyun Residence, extended along the lake directly ahead. The central part was five stories high, flanked by long promenades. However, there were too many people today, and the open area in front of the promenades, equivalent to a football field, was also packed with people standing on red carpets. While Baiyun Residence appeared grand and magnificent, it was accentuated as delicate and elegant by the towering giant tree in the background. VIP seats were located on the promenade, with dedicated escorts to guide guests, preventing them from wandering freely.

At this time, officials of the Baoshu Kingdom filled the inside and outside of Baiyun Residence, engaged in animated conversations. The Baoshu Kingdom was vast; three or four Fu nations combined could not compare. Officials from various regions, coming from north and south, took advantage of such a grand festival to socialize. Shi Er exclaimed, "Just the Baoshu Kingdom officials present today must be over seven thousand... no, over nine thousand people. It truly shows the nation's prosperity." He was referring only to the officials. There were also guards, attendants, chefs, and various service personnel, making the total number even larger. He Lingchuan recalled the banquet Zhu Xiuyan hosted for Zhu Xiuer in Shixuan City; at the time, he thought it was grand, but the number of dignitaries attending was less than one-tenth of today's spectacle. Although a young girl from the Zhu family could not be compared to the Baoshu King, He Chunhua had said that seven or eight out of ten nobles from Shixuan City had attended Zhu's banquet.