Chapter 1705: The Dao is One Foot High, the Devil Ten Feet; The Ancestral Tree's Head Bows to the Sword's Head

Chapter 1689: The Dao is One Foot Higher Than the Demon, the Head of the Ancestral Tree Bows to the Sword Head

"Heheheh..."

In Shennong Yaoyuan, the spirit of Longxing, with its claws curled, nervously and excitedly perched on the tree crown.

Beside it, a spot for another Ancestral Tree had long been reserved.

But there was only one.

As long as she came, she would definitely love Xingjie.

Because the soil in Xingjie where one could take root was the soil of Shennong Yaoyuan.

For Ancestral Trees, Yaozu was the most affinity-filled among the Ten Ancestors, without exception.

His medicine garden, needless to say.

"Boom!"

The sky split open.

From the sky, a full scent of Ancestral Tree came rushing down.

"Watch out."

The spirit of Longxing pounced forward, preventing her from getting hurt. "Xu Xiaoshou, you are too rough, be gentler!"

Just as it was about to embrace the Ancestral Tree, attempting to win its affection, the stream of light dissipated, revealing its true form.

—An ugly, broken willow!

"Ah!"

The spirit of Longxing shrieked and retreated, startled.

Shenbai Liu?

What's the point of digging this up? Go dig for Jiujia Gui first!

But Shenbai Liu descended from the sky, and by an unfortunate coincidence, it plunged headfirst into the empty space reserved next to Longxing.

On that spot, colorful jewels were meticulously arranged, there were treasures that could nurture good fortune, and even the scent had been pre-adjusted to what Longxing believed Jiujia Gui would like.

The broken stump of Shenbai Liu plopped down, usurping the nest.

Upon landing, it sensed that this "soil" was a bit off; it was almost too suitable for an Ancestral Tree to take root.

At the same time, it found this "world" to be unusual; the vital spiritual energy was perhaps too abundant, too suitable for the broken willow to heal.

Its consciousness had only shallowly recovered, and Shenbai Liu, which had initially been quite resentful about "moving," didn't even think twice...

Its roots immediately spread downwards!

Intertwining, they instantly hooked onto the roots of various sacred medicines in Shennong Yaoyuan, and the Ancestral Tree's medicinal power flowed through, refusing to be separated.

"Whoosh..."

As the wind blew, the sacred medicines in the medicine garden swayed their heads, as if applauding in welcome. Indeed, no one dared not to welcome the Ancestral Tree's arrival for guidance.

The spirit of Longxing was momentarily stunned.

It hadn't expected that in just this moment of distraction, that ugly Shenbai Liu had fully taken root!

Right next to itself!

"No!"

"Get out!"

The spirit of Longxing collapsed.

Where did you come from, you thing? This spot wasn't prepared for you!

Xu Xiaoshou, didn't I tell you not to get Shenbai Liu, only Jiujia Gui, only Jiujia Gui, only Jiujia Gui!

Do you not understand human language?

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..."

Green shoots emerged one by one, like bamboo shoots after rain.

The ugly broken stump of Shenbai Liu had previously looked like a bald head, even if it had managed to sprout green again after decades of effort.

That green had been plucked.

Even if that green hadn't been plucked, it would have been nothing more than a single hair on a bald head, insignificant.

And now, fortune had turned!

Whether Xu Xiaoshou understood human language, Shenbai Liu didn't know; it only knew that its opportunity had arrived.

The shallow and tangible Dao principles of the new world, combined with the nourishment brought by flourishing vitality, were akin to a baptism of "new life" after it took root.

Green shoots quickly covered the top of the stump.

Under the irrigation of the Great Dao and the nourishment of the land, Shenbai Liu's tree body even began to grow slowly.

Was this perhaps too fast?

"What are you devouring!"

The spirit of Longxing was enraged; it finally realized that the fertility of the land was rapidly vanishing, which was too much.

Moreover, the sacred medicines that had just been bound by Shenbai Liu, its babies that it had nurtured for so long, had also not escaped the demon's tentacles.

Even though they had participated in the welcoming ceremony, they were now forced to provide power to Shenbai Liu.

Shennong Yaoyuan provided life.

The new world provided Dao techniques.

Tens of thousands of sacred medicines nourished it.

Shenbai Liu's thirty years of recuperation in Guiyue Shengshan couldn't compare to a single breath in this world.

Here, it was too extravagant, truly an Ancestral Tree's paradise!

"Shen! Bai! Liu!"

But the paradise for a certain willow clearly touched upon the interests of a certain apricot. The spirit of Longxing could no longer restrain its overflowing rage and roared, wanting to act.

"Hm?"

Inside and outside Yujingcheng, a cold gasp suddenly echoed, and the entire city instantly grew desolate.

Including Longxing, including the spirit refiners of Yujingcheng...

All beings in this heaven and earth, their minds were filled with the image of the Shenbai Tree, which all the Dao methods had bowed to at the dawn of chaos, and which had received sacrifices from the Ancestral God!

That willow soared above the clouds, its branches trailing across myriad worlds, capable of conjuring tricks and mystifying gods, truly miraculous.

Any spirit of heaven and earth that dared to disobey could be plucked and swallowed whole, leaving no trace behind.

"Yikes!"

Everyone shivered.

The spirit of Longxing also slowly regained consciousness, realizing that this was the head of the Ancestral Trees, even if it was currently at the end of its strength...

"Bad!"

"But if it's at the end of its strength, what is there to fear?"

The spirit of Longxing glared with its dragon eyes, realizing it had been played. This was the best time to bully Shenbai Liu, how could it be intimidated?

"Presumptuous!"

But when it looked up again.

Shenbai Liu, which had long sensed Longxing's great hostility and knew that if it didn't integrate into this new world and become one of the world trees, it would be impossible to stand against Longxing, let alone be suppressed by it in the future, had already completed the entire "contract" process after realizing the various benefits of this world!

As the head of the Ancestral Trees.

A lean camel is still bigger than a horse.

Just now, when the world darkened and the spirit of Longxing was frightened, Shenbai Liu in Shennong Yaoyuan had steadily grown, rapidly reaching into the Dao principles of heaven and earth.

Its tree body turned semi-transparent in an instant, taking on a ghostly green hue.

In just a flash, it completed its integration with the Dao principles of this world, officially becoming one of the world trees.

At this time, though the upper part of its tree body was slender, it had already condensed and, though illusory, already bore the雏形 of new life.

Its countless willow branches trailed into the edges of this world, probing into the terrifying chaotic mist.

Xingjie had long been expanded, boundless and vast.

The habitable area was quite large, but at the edges, some chaotic mist still remained.

The closer to the edge, the more unstable the Dao principles, with spatial cracks and storms raging ceaselessly, making it entirely unsuitable for cultivation.

The problems of chaotic mist, spatial cracks, and collapsing Dao principles, which a spontaneously formed Ancestral Tree like Longxing could not solve...

The head of the Ancestral Trees, Shenbai Liu, faced them without fear!

Its willow branches probed into space, and the spatial collapse ceased.

Its willow branches probed into the Dao principles, and the Dao principles flowed smoothly and freely.

Its willow branches probed into the chaotic mist, and the things the spirit of Longxing detested, Shenbai Liu could even devour, absorb, and replenish itself with!

Above Shennong Yaoyuan, the image of the World Tree Shenbai Liu faded, leaving behind a green willow of the same height as Longxing, only a few zhang tall, swaying its branches in the wind.

"You..."

Are you, Shenbai Liu?

The spirit of Longxing could hardly recognize it.

The guy who was only half a stump just now, grew into this all of a sudden?

Where was that ugly, bald tree?

This was clearly a graceful Willow Prince!

But something wasn't right, you just entered Xingjie, and you defected so quickly, you became a World Tree, where's your loyalty?

"No, no, no..."

"It shouldn't be, it can't be, it mustn't be!"

The spirit of Longxing was about to explode.

Shenbai Liu not only occupied the nest it had prepared for Jiujia Gui, but also forcefully took half of its identity as the master of Xingjie.

Even if it didn't want to admit it...

Yet the ability of the head of the Ancestral Trees was just that strong. It was inherently much more powerful, and as long as the timing was right, it could recover most of its power.

At this point, if it wanted to fight again, its situation was similar to that of Aicangsheng:

It had to consider whether Xingjie could withstand the turmoil of a World Tree battle!

"Ah—"

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

"What on earth are you doing!"

The spirit of Longxing cried out in frantic pain, wishing it could grab Xu Xiaoshou and fiercely stab him with its claws a couple of times.

This demonic willow was not a good willow. Even if it weren't for personal reasons, publicly, it shouldn't have been brought here!

"Wait."

Waking from its frenzy, the spirit of Longxing keenly noticed something.

Even if Shenbai Liu had leveraged the power of Xingjie, Shennong Yaoyuan, and various sacred medicines, it was absolutely impossible for it to recover so quickly.

The essence of its entire power had long been condensed by Dao Xuanji into the Heart of Shenbai Liu, which Xu Xiaoshou had previously gifted to itself...

Its heart skipped a beat.

The spirit of Longxing suddenly reached deep into Shennong Yaoyuan, searching for the Heart of Shenbai Liu, which it hadn't wanted to swallow whole but rather to savor its power slowly.

—It was gone!

That trophy, buried deep in Shennong Yaoyuan, treated as nourishment for the medicine garden, and from which it could occasionally sample the power of the Ancestral Tree's head...

Had it been taken back by Shenbai Liu?

"Ah ah ah ah!"

The spirit of Longxing could no longer restrain its soaring murderous intent. This sleeping dragon spirit opened its crimson eyes.

Thief!

Villain!

Scoundrel!

Asking nothing, just taking whatever it wanted, did it really think this Xingjie was its home?

"You demonic willow, come here and face your death..."

Just then, another stream of light broke through the sky.

This time...

It was golden!

The golden light swept across the sky, from a great distance, and the spirit of Longxing distinctly caught the captivating, faint fragrance of Gui.

Its spirit brightened, and it glared at the demonic willow, roaring, "Do you dare to snatch this?!"

With that, it preemptively pounced forward.

It embraced the startled main body and spirit body of Jiujia Gui, held them close, and forcefully planted them beside itself on the other side of Shennong Yaoyuan.

On the left, a beautiful lady, on the right, a Willow Prince.

Happiness and discomfort coexisted, dreams and reality diverged.

"Xu Xiaoshou, you are so despicable!"

Compared to the dazzling array of precious beads and crystals under Shenbai Liu's feet, Jiujia Gui's side looked much shabbier.

There was nothing!

"Don't be afraid, I'll protect you."

The spirit of Longxing had no mood to grumble at a certain Shou. It gently comforted the spirit body of Jiujia Gui, which was as startled as a young deer, and shielded it behind itself.

The spirit of Longxing turned its head and glared at the demonic willow, roaring:

"You scared her!"

Shenbai Liu's green branches hung low, swaying in the wind, its demeanor unmatched.

In fact, its spirit body had already recovered at this time, but it was too lazy to manifest, let alone rush to snatch a mere Jiujia Gui.

As for what happened earlier in Shengshan...

As for Jiujia Gui's imminent arrival...

As for what might happen next...

After Shenbai Liu fully sobered up, all its memories returned, and it foresaw something—it was already confident.

And obtaining the identity of a World Tree in the new world meant it had firmly established itself.

Longxing, also a World Tree, was certainly in a better state than itself at the moment, but talking to it was useless.

Only by talking to the World Lord could there be a turning point.

"Speak!"

The spirit of Longxing couldn't stand Shenbai Liu's condescending, indifferent attitude.

It was as if they were naturally trees of fortune, embodying all favored blessings, yet in reality, they were just demonic willows, dark and creepy, but insisted on putting on such a showy appearance.

Those from Guiyue Shengshan were all show-offs!

Well, of course, except for little Jiujia Gui.

"What..."

"What... happened..."

After Jiujia Gui was forced to take root in Shennong Yaoyuan, its roots felt strangely comfortable, and it instinctively began to draw power.

At the same time, the Dao principles of this new world felt like a gentle breeze, soothing its fragile and wounded heart somewhat.

If only this dragon spirit in front of it wasn't so irritable...

"Longxing..."

Jiujia Gui's spirit body, dressed in a pale yellow palace gown, had slightly disheveled hair and looked delicate and weak.

She knew Longxing.

She hadn't expected Xu Xiaoshou to be telling the truth; this Xingjie already had a World Tree, yet he still forcefully brought her here.

But she and Longxing were only nodding acquaintances!

Between Ancestral Trees, although there were only nine, there were indeed some who were not very familiar with each other.

And here, she was unfamiliar with the place and people, and without reliance, staying here truly made her heart anxious.

"Don't be afraid."

The spirit of Longxing seemed to sense something. After turning around, its dragon face became unusually gentle:

"Xu Xiaoshou won't act recklessly. He treats people very well, and trees too."

"I, I'm also a good tree..."

"I, I'll treat you well..."

As the spirit of Longxing turned, the spirit body of Jiujia Gui just happened to see the green branches swaying in the wind not far away. They looked familiar.

She paused.

Then she remembered something.

After all, a few decades were not that long for the Ancestral Trees' long lifespan; the main impressions in their memory would not be easily forgotten.

The spirit body of Jiujia Gui tightly gripped her skirt, and as she leaned to look, peering past the spirit of Longxing towards the back, revealing her slender swan-like neck, a glint of light suddenly flickered in her beautiful eyes, and she softly exclaimed in surprise:

"Senior Liu, you've recovered?"

The spirit of Longxing, who was still admiring the swan neck, widened its eyes and instantly petrified.

"I'll chop you down!"

"I must chop you down!"

"You demonic willow, you're merely relying on some innate tree talent, a graceful demeanor, a tall and slender appearance, smooth and flowing branches, and having been worshipped by the Ancestral God a few times... that's all! That's all! What else do you have? You have nothing!"

"In terms of power, I am stronger than you now. In terms of time, I arrived earlier than you. This Xingjie is mine, it's mine... Jiujia Gui, don't stop me, I'll pull him out now."

"I'll throw him back to the Holy Divine Continent, I'll definitely protect you, you don't have to..."

"Guier! Jiujia Gui! Why are you standing in front of him? I'm the one who wants to protect you! That tree!"

"Noisy."

"What? What did you say? You dare to call me noisy? I! Wah..."

When Jinren dispatched people into Xingjie, he happened to hear the heartbroken cries of the spirit of Longxing.

Thankfully I came... Jinren chuckled wryly, rubbing his forehead. He was best at handling these messy affairs.

After landing, he didn't see the broken stump of Shenbai Liu, but instead, there was a lush, slender weeping willow standing gracefully in Shennong Yaoyuan.

Compared to Longxing, whose trunk was as thick as a millstone, it was indeed slender, tall, and handsome.

Is the world of trees also this complicated...?

Jinren's eyelids twitched slightly, saying nothing.

He sensed it; at this moment, there was no longer just one World Tree, but two.

"Xu Xiaoshou!"

The spirit of Longxing saw the main person arrive, its anger flaring, and was about to burst out, when it suddenly felt a spiritual warning.

It suddenly realized that if it were to rage at Xu Xiaoshou, the World Lord, at this moment, it would be akin to actively pushing him towards Shenbai Liu's side.

I am merely an Ancestral Tree.

He is the head of the Ancestral Trees.

Even if their current states differ, in the long run, if I were Xu Xiaoshou, who would I choose?

"Shou, oh!"

The spirit of Longxing indignantly rushed before Xu Xiaoshou, its face contorting in pain, and burst into tears: "You cannot be so, you absolutely cannot be so heartless and ungrateful, abandoning the old for the new!"

"Why are you whimpering?" Jinren lowered his voice, pouting slightly. "Your goddess is behind you, I've even brought her to you, and you're still crying?"

"Uh..."

The flood in the spirit of Longxing's eyes abruptly stopped.

From Xu Xiaoshou's words and actions, it was clear that he was on its side. They were all friends, so this matter was easy to handle.

With newfound confidence, the tree naturally exhibited some masculine pride. The spirit of Longxing waved a claw and shouted at the master of Xingjie:

"You should explain this properly, how can this be resolved?"

The spirit body of Jiujia Gui looked panicked, weakly shrinking behind Jiujia Gui. Although it was adjacent to Longxing, it clearly leaned a bit towards Shenbai Liu.

After all, in this Xingjie, Shenbai Liu was familiar to her, which was normal.

No need to pay attention to this one... Jinren instantly saw that with Jiujia Gui's temperament, she couldn't stir up any trouble. She was definitely the type to make the best of a situation, so bringing her here was absolutely correct.

But Shenbai Liu...

He narrowed his eyes, glancing at the weeping willow.

This one, must be the source of the trouble, right?

Before he could speak, a tall, slender figure in a dark green robe materialized behind Shenbai Liu. Its aura was cold, emanating a weakness of someone just recovering from serious injury, somewhat like Xu Gusheng, the sickly young master.

It was evident that he greatly respected himself, but he wasn't bound by etiquette. With one hand resting on a dark pearl embedded in a willow branch against his abdomen, and the other hanging naturally, he nodded slightly to the newly arrived World Lord and said:

"Longxing is fond of sleeping, Jiujia Gui prefers peace, and I am skilled in battle."

The spirit of Longxing widened its eyes, about to retort, but stopped.

Jiujia Gui, on the other hand, blushed, her lips pursed, and shyly bowed her head.

It was, indeed, a fact... Jinren was a bit interested.

To be honest, he had encountered many unusual Ancestral Trees.

But not many were so smart as to know what they wanted, spoke directly to the point, and understood their own situation.

Dao Qiongcang of the Ancestral Tree realm?

And skilled in battle, a Dao-God hybrid?

"Longxing excels at blessings and can bestow power, to people; Jiujia Gui gathers luck and stabilizes Dao methods, to Dao; I can make this realm eternal, comparable to the Holy Divine Continent, to everything."

The spirit of Longxing panted heavily, its dragon whiskers flying wildly.

Jiujia Gui's spirit body gazed sideways at the willow's shadow, her chest heaving, her heart pounding, seeing the subdued madness beneath the Ancestral Tree's calm facade.

The spirit of Longxing glanced out of the corner of its eye, getting even angrier!

Xu Xiaoshou, look at the foolish thing you've done, you really shouldn't have moved this demonic willow into Xingjie, ahhhh!

"I am skilled at licking wounds, capable of assimilating the residual marks of the Dizhu Shengzhu, however faint. Longxing cannot ensure the stability of this realm, nor can Jiujia Gui. I can." Shenbai Liu's words were astonishing.

"Demonic Willow!" Longxing could no longer bear it. "Do you know what time it is? Your demonic words, I... we don't understand a single word, now quickly shut up!"

Shenbai Liu glanced at it, opened its mouth, choked for a long time, and finally said, "Upon your body, there remains... the scent of the Dizhu Shengzhu... The Dao, its power is very weak. I can help you, to bring it over."

Jinren's heart sank. It could even smell that?

But the Dizhu Shengzhu was the World Tree of the God's Remains...

Wait, Longxing couldn't do it, Jiujia Gui couldn't do it, but the Ancestral Tree Shenbai Liu perhaps could?

"You mean, even if the Dizhu is the World Tree of another world, you can uproot it and plant it in Xingjie?"

"...Yes." This "yes" seemed extremely hot on its tongue, but it was clear that Shenbai Liu was extremely serious towards the World Lord of this realm. It didn't retort after Longxing's scolding, truly correcting itself, and finally added: "Yes."

"Even if it's in the God's Remains?"

"Yes."

"Even if the God's Remains is formed by the Heavenly Realm's triangular hook, with a higher status than Xingjie and the Holy Divine Continent?"

"Yes."

Are you lying?

The last question was actually unnecessary.

The information panel didn't react, not because Shenbai Liu's spirit body was mortal, but because he indeed wasn't lying.

He spoke with such certainty, not because he wanted to save himself by boasting wildly, but because of confidence, the confidence stemming from being the head of the Ancestral Trees.

"You're quite interesting..."

Jinren had prepared many questions.

He had also thought about how to subdue Shenbai Liu to ensure that Longxing, Jiujia Gui, and Shenbai Liu could live in harmony.

As is well known, triangles have stability.

Just bringing one Jiujia Gui into Xingjie and not Shenbai Liu, or throwing Shenbai Liu into the God's Remains, neither of those would work.

The late emperor was halfway through his reign when he became arrogant and extravagant—after Longxing embraced Gui, becoming the sole dominant power, people would surely become overly proud. How could it still bless itself? That would become a problem!

So, Shenbai Liu, this unstable factor, must be involved in Xingjie. It was more important than anything for the three of them to live well together.

But now it seemed...

Shenbai Liu was a bit scheming.

Longxing's nickname "demonic willow" was clearly not given lightly, indicating a deep mutual understanding between Ancestral Trees. Shenbai Liu was quite devious.

Such a calculating tree, with ambition, should it really stay in Xingjie?

Jinren narrowed his eyes, still hesitating.

Shenbai Liu waited for a moment, then suddenly spoke, cutting off his thoughts:

"Heaven knows no Holy Emperor, but I know Hua Changdeng."

Jinren looked up at him, a flicker of light in his eyes.

This tree, must not be kept!

This thought, fleeting in his mind for an instant, then vanished like dust. Jinren laughed out loud.

I've even dealt with Dao Qiongcang, why would I be afraid of a tree, afraid that you've figured out why I dug you up?

"What's your name?"

He didn't directly mention Hua Changdeng, as if he cared nothing about those three words, but instead became curious about the name Shenbai Liu.

"The world calls me 'Shenbai Liu,' my name is 'Liu Zhiying,' or, the World Lord may address me as Longxing does, calling me 'Guiliu'." The spirit body of Shenbai Liu said calmly.

"Then I'll call you 'Guiliu'!" Jinren didn't explain why he asked the extra question; he merely wanted to take advantage of the situation to call him little Shenbai Liu.

"Then..."

Shenbai Liu was startled. At this moment, it clearly knew that it had met its match, or rather, it couldn't quite suppress this young man anymore.

Facts proved, he really couldn't suppress him!

Before his hesitant words were finished, Xu Xiaoshou followed up: "You, like them, don't need to be so formal. Just call me 'Master Shou'."

Upon hearing this, Jiujia Gui's spirit body gently covered her red lips, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

In Guiyue Shengshan, Shenbai Liu was certainly not treated this way.

Even young Dao Qiongcang and young Hua Changdeng spoke to him with utmost respect.

Senior Liu, she certainly hadn't called him that casually.

But having come to this Xingjie...

"Master Shou." The spirit of Shenbai Liu, Guiliu, nodded slightly and called out.

"Mm."

Jinren also nodded subtly, more composed than the other side. After nodding, he pointed at the spirit of Longxing:

"Also, this realm is not called 'this world,' and I am not called 'World Lord'."

"This realm is named 'Xingjie,' and I am the 'Lord of Xingjie'."

"I asked Senior Jiujia Gui before, and she said there was no need to change the name. So it was in the past, it is today, and in the future, the name 'Xingjie' shall remain so."

Jinren said, smiling gently at Jiujia Gui's spirit body.

The latter quickly nodded, indicating that it should be so, and there was no need to consult her on every matter, as she was not worthy.

Seeing this, the spirit of Longxing held its head high.

Satisfied!

It had not misjudged Xu Xiaoshou!

Indeed, this Shenbai Liu could stay, but to keep him in check, it still needed Xu Xiaoshou, it still needed Master Shou!

"May." Shenbai Liu's expression clearly showed a trace of astonishment, then it realized the tone was off and added: "It can be."

"I have one more question."

Master Shou looked over with squinted eyes.

Shenbai Liu rarely felt such deep contemplation. The last person with such squinted eyes and such terrifying thoughts was that Palace Master Dao.

Just as he thought Master Shou would lose his patience and press him about "Hua Changdeng."

Jinren's lips curled into a smile, and he said playfully, "Why did you surrender so quickly?"

"Hua..." Guiliu's voice suddenly stopped, then he shook his head helplessly, admitting his inferiority with a bowed hand, and respectfully said:

"It was not my will, but destiny's decree."

"Receiving flattery, Passive Points, +1."

Jinren was amused: "Ancestral Trees also flatter? I am merely Xu Xiaoshou, how can I be worthy?"

Guiliu let out a silent laugh, his expression returning to seriousness, and he said solemnly:

"The nine Ancestral Trees, four of which have entered your sphere of influence, it is destiny's decree, Xingjie is bound to flourish... How could I not surrender?"

"If I did not surrender, how could I have the fortune to settle down and depart safely?"