Chapter 1253: Tree Brother

Next, everyone’s gaze refocused on Venerable Wutong, appraising her greedily.

She was a Human Sovereign afflicted by the Five Signs of Decay! In an era when sages were absent, she was the one who ruled the world. How could such a supreme powerhouse not possess one or two peerless divine artifacts?

A demonic venerable's eyes flashed, and he was the first to act. He raised his hand, and a chain shot out, wrapping around Venerable Wutong's aged remains from a distance, intending to seize them and flee.

Venerable Wuyu and Venerable Hongchen's eyes subtly glinted. Instead of scrambling for it, they retreated swiftly. Jiang Fan also cautiously kept his distance.

This thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, capable of becoming the master of the forbidden zone, could also manipulate Venerable Wutong's body to fulfill her dying wish. It even allowed her to briefly regain her youthful appearance. All these methods were nothing short of miraculous. Tampering with Venerable Wutong's remains in front of it was definitely not a good idea.

And sure enough!

Before the chain could even touch Venerable Wutong's remains, the ground suddenly cracked open. An extraordinarily thick tree root shot out like a tentacle, lashing fiercely at the chain.

*Snap!*

The demonic venerable's chain was certainly no ordinary item. Yet, with a single strike from the tree root tentacle, it instantly shattered into countless fragments, scattering like raindrops in all directions.

Venerable Lianjing and the six demonic venerables were all enveloped by the fragments. While the others were fine, the demonic venerable who had acted had his body riddled with holes by the fragments, like a beehive. Divine blood splattered, and flesh and bone flew. Even the black divine halo behind him flickered erratically.

"Hiss!"

In just an instant, the demonic venerable who had attacked was nearly pulverized! His face showed horror as he realized he had caused great trouble, and he turned to flee.

With a rumble, several tree roots suddenly shot out from the ground beneath his feet, coiling around his limbs. Before he could activate his domain, another root fiercely struck his divine halo.

*Crack!*

The divine halo shattered on the spot. With his divine halo destroyed, the demonic venerable, whose mind was intrinsically linked to it, spat out a mouthful of blood, and his face quickly turned golden. Then he tilted his head and fainted on the spot.

As the five demonic venerables somewhat disheveledly repelled the rain-like fragments, they happened to witness this scene. Their scalps tingled with dread! A Transcendent Venerable had actually had his divine halo shattered so effortlessly by this ginkgo tree!

*Creak!*

A grating sound echoed. The ginkgo tree's trunk slowly split open, revealing a human-eye-shaped slit. In the center, an elixir orb radiating monstrous demonic energy was embedded.

Venerable Lianjing narrowed her eyes: "It's Venerable Wutong's Hundred Flowers Origin. Before her death, she left her origin to the ginkgo tree. No wonder this ginkgo tree became sentient, and its cultivation is so profound."

At this moment, the elixir orb rotated. Only then did everyone realize that this slit was the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree's eye! It scanned everyone, emitting a dry, hoarse voice, like the sound of a wooden door creaking on a broken hinge.

"What a group of insatiable beings. My master shouldn't have pitied the beings of the Great Barren Continent and given up on absorbing the destiny of heaven and earth. If she had entered the Grand Sage realm, she would still be alive now. Why would she have ended up with her remains being coveted?"

It turned out that Venerable Wutong had once considered seizing the destiny of the Great Barren Continent. However, seeing the pitiful beings outside the forbidden zone who sought her protection, she ultimately couldn't bear to harm them. Thus, she peacefully passed away during her last slumber.

The five demonic venerables, however, felt no guilt; as demonic cultivators, they had no sense of shame. They only cared about their own safety.

Venerable Wuyu said, "The one who acted was a venerable from the White Bone Demonic Cave; it has nothing to do with us."

The ginkgo tree said indifferently, "There is no difference. Before her last slumber, my master instructed that if she didn't awaken, no one outside should know. Because if the news of her demise spread, the beings around the forbidden zone would lose their last piece of peaceful sanctuary. Therefore, none of you will leave."

*Rumble!*

While its voice was still echoing, the entire bird's nest began to shake. The misty demonic liquid, which had formed into strips, converged and merged together. It formed an airtight black sphere, sealing off an entire area, making it impossible for them to escape.

Venerable Wuyu's expression drastically changed, and he shouted, "Everyone, attack together and break through the misty demonic liquid!"

Venerable Hongchen and the other three venerables also looked aghast. Without hesitation, they jointly struck a corner of the sphere. What kind of world-destroying power did the combined efforts of five individuals possess? Even the powerful misty demonic liquid couldn't withstand a single blow and was immediately breached, creating a hole.

However, before they could escape, the sphere suddenly contracted, and the hole was instantly sealed. As it contracted, the misty demonic liquid condensed several times, making the sphere's barrier incredibly thick. When they launched another combined attack, they could no longer break through. What made them even more despairing was that the sphere was still rapidly shrinking. It would eventually form a solidified, viscous sphere, trapping everyone permanently within it.

Venerable Hongchen's face turned pale, and she cast her last hope towards Venerable Lianjing, saying, "Senior Lianjing, if you don't act now, when will you?"

Compared to them, Venerable Lianjing was remarkably composed. Hearing this, she calmly raised her eyes and said, "Before you kill us, I will kill this young man."

Among those present, Jiang Fan was the only young man. It was obvious who she was referring to. Jiang Fan had originally been watching from the sidelines. Hearing this, he couldn't help but blink his innocent eyes: "Why would you kill me?"

Venerable Lianjing glanced sidelong at the unharmed Jiang Fan and said, "Just now, the chain fragments shot towards everyone, yet they all avoided you. This ginkgo tree seems to be protecting you."

Venerable Wuyu and the others suddenly realized. That's right! Everyone else was affected, but only Jiang Fan remained untouched. Clearly, the ginkgo tree was protecting him, unwilling for him to be harmed.

Thinking of this, Venerable Wuyu's eyes turned sinister: "You little brat, how dare you deceive me? You claimed to be Venerable Wutong's junior nephew! And you were going to plead for us! What's the result?"

Damn it! Jiang Fan took the gifts, but not only did they fail to secure a path to survival, they were instead being annihilated by the ginkgo tree! Had he known this, he would have been better off slowly searching for a way out of the bird's nest.

Jiang Fan shrugged: "I didn't lie to you. I am indeed considered Venerable Wutong's junior nephew. As for the gifts, you insisted on forcing them into my hands. What could I do?"

As he spoke, he swiftly retreated to Venerable Wutong's side. He turned his head and said to the ginkgo tree behind him: "Tree Brother, my junior aunt and I are completely relying on you."

"Calling me what? Tree Brother?" The ginkgo tree couldn't help but shift its eye, looking at Jiang Fan with confusion. *Is this fellow a bit too smooth?* Venerable Wutong said that Lu Jiulin was a very serious man. How could his successor be like this?

Well, regardless, he was still considered Venerable Wutong's junior nephew. He must be protected.

The ginkgo tree looked at Venerable Lianjing, a flicker of apprehension in its eye: "I know why you're here. But I won't hand it over to you. Nor will I let you leave!"

The milky-white divine halo behind Venerable Lianjing's head emitted a dazzling glow. Her eyes showed a calm expression: "You have no say in this!"

A terrifying wave of qi suddenly rippled out from around her. The five demonic venerables were flung away like fallen leaves in a hurricane, slamming hard into the misty demonic liquid around them, which immediately ensnared them! The thousand-year-old ginkgo tree also swayed violently, its leaves rustling rapidly. The ground, to which its roots were tightly anchored, cracked intensely. It looked as if it was about to be uprooted!