Chapter 1817: Dao Tree Lineage

It's like a family losing a daughter and, for various reasons, sending an outsider to find her. The outsider not only successfully brought the lost daughter back but also went as far as to marry her!

The crucial point is that this isn't just about a lost daughter; by refining the core, he has directly become the master of the entire Small World!

The Rizhao elders found this unacceptable. No one could tolerate an outsider having such authority over their entire clan, much less entrusting the clan's future to him.

“This is outrageous! How dare that boy, how could he possibly do that?!” Some Rizhao elders pounded their chests in distress, genuinely heartbroken, as if their own daughters had been truly taken by an outsider.

A cacophony erupted within the illusory grand hall. The refining of the core origin had undoubtedly delivered a tremendous blow to the Rizhao elders. As individuals of their rank, their composure and cultivation were usually exceptional; ordinary matters could never provoke such significant emotional reactions from them. However, today's events concerned the very future of their clan, and their distress was understandable.

Chen Xuanhai observed with a detached gaze, unable to suppress a sigh. He had anticipated the situation would unfold precisely this way.

One hot-tempered Rizhao, momentarily overcome with anger, shouted, “Kill that boy, and the core will be without a master!”

Immediately, someone interjected, “That’s not appropriate. He retrieved the core that our clan lost for many years, enabling the three divisions to finally merge. This is a monumental achievement. It would be one thing if we weren't grateful, but how could we possibly resort to murder? What kind of people would that make us? Besides, he isn't entirely unrelated to our clan.”

That Lu Ye is, after all, Su Yuqing’s companion from the Eastern division.

The Rizhao elder who had spoken earlier realized his indiscretion and looked towards Su Yuqing, saying, “Junior Sister, please forgive me; I’m accustomed to speaking without much thought.”

Su Yuqing calmly replied, “Then Senior Brother would do well to change his habits; it’s not good to cause misunderstandings.”

Killing him was not an option, but allowing the situation to progress unchecked left everyone feeling insecure. For a time, the Rizhao elders felt a sense of utter helplessness.

After a long moment, someone calmly spoke. “I am curious about one thing: as far as I know, our Junior Brother Lu only possesses mid-stage Moon Realm cultivation, correct? Even if he received assistance from the core’s consciousness while refining it, it shouldn’t have been so effortless. The core’s consciousness, let alone the Blood Ancestor’s precious blood, is not so easily refined. Even if we Rizhao elders attempted it, who could guarantee success? Furthermore, that drop of the Blood Ancestor’s precious blood… how did he refine it? The Blood Ancestor’s blood has terrifying corrupting power; once inside the core world, even mere contact with the blood rain would gradually transform one into a primordial Bloodkin. How did he, a Moon Realm cultivator, manage to refine it without being affected?”

Upon hearing this, many Rizhao elders instinctively turned to look at Chen Xuanhai.

Chen Xuanhai paused, then slowly shook his head. “That is indeed something I overlooked asking.” Primarily, upon learning that Lu Ye had already refined the core and become its master, he was so profoundly shocked that his only thought was to immediately inform the other Rizhao elders, and these questions simply slipped his mind.

“And furthermore,” the same Rizhao elder continued, “According to Junior Brother Lu’s account, at the final moment, the core’s consciousness actively sought him out and helped him refine it. In other words, no matter how we perceive or interpret this, the core’s consciousness favors him. Why? What is so special about him that would lead the core’s consciousness to entrust the success or failure of its battle against the precious blood to him?”

Although the core’s consciousness is not a living being, its knowledge and experience are in no way inferior to, and perhaps even surpass, those of the Rizhao elders present. This makes the situation very peculiar. Why would the core’s consciousness make such a choice? What exactly did it see in Lu Ye to value him so highly, or was it simply a desperate last stand born of necessity?

But this is clearly illogical. If that were the case, there were many other cultivators with higher cultivation levels than Lu Ye who could have been chosen, such as Yang Ling and Hu Dequan. They had resided in the core world for so many years and undoubtedly held a greater advantage over Lu Ye, being far more likely to gain the core’s recognition.

Yet, the core did not choose them; instead, it chose Lu Ye, who had only recently arrived in the core world.

Therefore, the most likely explanation is that Lu Ye possesses some unique quality that the core found appealing.

“Would it be too much trouble for Junior Brother Chen and Junior Sister Su to bring Junior Brother Lu here, so we may question him thoroughly?” the Rizhao elder asked, suggesting it would be simpler to ask him directly rather than to speculate. After speaking, he turned to Su Yuqing, adding, “Junior Sister Su, rest assured, regardless of the outcome, unless Junior Brother Lu has been corrupted by the precious blood and transformed into a Bloodkin, I personally guarantee his safety.”

The elder who spoke was from the Southern division; he was the most senior among all the Rizhao present, and arguably the most esteemed. This was evident from the way he addressed Chen Xuanhai as ‘Junior Brother.’

His assurance carried considerable weight.

Chen Xuanhai looked to Su Yuqing.

Su Yuqing pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Please wait; I will bring him here.”

As she spoke, her figure faded.

In the core world, Lu Ye had retreated a considerable distance and was waiting silently when suddenly, Su Yuqing’s voice echoed beside him: “Lu Ye, come here!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Ye swiftly flew forward. Simultaneously, Su Yuqing’s divine sense enveloped him, easing the pressure he felt.

A moment later, Lu Ye stood before Su Yuqing. She took his hand and instructed, “Don’t resist. I’m taking you somewhere; some of our clan’s Rizhao elders wish to speak with you.”

“Understood!” Lu Ye nodded.

Still uneasy, Su Yuqing asked, “Have you been corrupted by the power of the Blood Ancestor’s precious blood?”

“No,” he replied.

Su Yuqing gazed directly at him. “You cannot lie to me.”

“Truly not,” Lu Ye reiterated. “Let me put it this way: I possess a unique refining ability. Anything in this world that is harmful to me can be completely refined away.”

Su Yuqing paused, startled. “What kind of ability is that?” Such formidable refining power shouldn’t be something a Moon Realm cultivator could possess.

Lu Ye pondered for a moment. “I can’t quite explain it,” he admitted. He had named his 'Talent Tree' himself and was unsure how to describe it to Su Yuqing. Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind. “When the core’s consciousness interacted with me, it mentioned the Dao Tree lineage. From what it said, it seemed to believe I belonged to that lineage.”

“What?!” Su Yuqing’s pupils abruptly constricted. “The core’s consciousness thinks you are from the Dao Tree lineage?”

“I don’t know if I am,” he replied, “but it mentioned it in passing and didn’t press for details. However, ever since I began cultivating, I’ve refined many things; anything detrimental to me can be completely purified. And when I look within, there truly is a tree inside my body.”

Su Yuqing’s mind reeled. An ability to refine anything harmful… the Dao Tree lineage…

She slowly nodded. “I understand. Please step aside for now.”

There was no longer any need for Lu Ye to be questioned directly by the clan’s Rizhao elders.

Lu Ye retreated as instructed. Moments later, Su Yuqing’s figure reappeared in the illusory grand hall.

Seeing her return alone, the group of Rizhao elders looked at her with confusion.

Su Yuqing’s voice rang out: “Lu Ye is a descendant of the Dao Tree lineage; I have just learned this myself!”

A brief silence fell over the hall, quickly broken by an exclamation: “A descendant of the Dao Tree lineage? Junior Sister, are you certain?”

“Another descendant of the Dao Tree lineage has appeared in the world?”

“So that’s it!”

Many Rizhao elders reacted with continuous exclamations, as if they were unworldly bumpkins. Even Chen Xuanhai stared at Su Yuqing in shock, almost wondering if he had misheard.

“Quiet down, all of you! What is this behavior?!” The most esteemed Rizhao elder from the Southern division spoke with authority, turning to Su Yuqing. “Junior Sister, can this information be confirmed?”

Su Yuqing replied, “Lu Ye told me that during his previous interaction with the core’s consciousness, it mentioned the Dao Tree lineage. Furthermore, Lu Ye stated that ever since he began cultivating, he has refined many things; anything detrimental to him can be completely purified. He also confirmed that when he introspects, there is indeed a tree inside his body, and… he is of the Fire element!”

The Southern Rizhao elder nodded slightly. “The Dao Tree lineage can refine anything in the world. If that is indeed the case, then it all makes sense.”

It became clear that the core’s consciousness, upon interacting with Lu Ye, had recognized him as a descendant of the Dao Tree lineage. This explains why it confidently assisted him in refining the core, as even the Blood Ancestor’s precious blood could be refined by someone of the Dao Tree lineage.

“If the core origin has been refined by a descendant of the Dao Tree lineage…” The Southern Rizhao elder mused thoughtfully, then turned to face the others. “Perhaps it’s not quite so unacceptable, after all?”

The reason the clan’s Rizhao elders reacted so strongly to Lu Ye becoming the core’s master was primarily due to his comparatively weak current cultivation. Even with his evident potential, no one could predict his future growth, and he remained an outsider.

However, a descendant of the Dao Tree lineage is undoubtedly someone with immense promise.

Su Yuqing calmly stated, “When I first met him, he was only in the early Star Constellation Realm. That was merely a little over a decade ago.”

The entire group of Rizhao elders was visibly shaken.

From early Star Constellation Realm a little over a decade ago to mid-Moon Realm now — such terrifying cultivation speed could perhaps only be achieved by a descendant of the Dao Tree lineage in this world.

Indeed, his future holds immense promise!

Amidst the silence, the Southern Rizhao elder spoke. “The core’s refinement is an undeniable fact. Unless we were to abandon our humanity, disregard his monumental achievement, and eliminate Junior Brother Lu Ye before he fully matures, but I believe none of us here could commit such an act. Fortunately, Junior Brother Lu is, in a way, one of us. Since the core has been refined by him, then so be it. And from everything we currently understand, Junior Brother Lu’s character and integrity are trustworthy. My proposal is that we simply observe how things unfold.”

“I second that motion!” another Rizhao elder agreed.

“Seconded!”

“Seconded!”

The Rizhao elders from all three divisions successively voiced their agreement, and with that, the matter of the core’s refinement was conclusively settled.

The Southern Rizhao elder then turned back to Su Yuqing. “Junior Sister, Junior Brother Lu will be entrusted to your care. While it is true that the Dao Tree lineage possesses immense growth potential, we must absolutely ensure he does not stray to an evil path. We need to be vigilant, remembering the cautionary tale of Kyushu from ten millennia ago. I certainly do not wish for our clan to one day repeat Kyushu’s mistakes!”

“I understand. I will ensure he is well cared for,” Su Yuqing affirmed with a grave nod.