“Really?” Duan Ze picked up the tea beside him and took a light sip, his eyes lowered. His phoenix eyes slightly tilted at the corners, sketching a hint of coolness. He didn’t seem affected by the other person’s words.

Jiu Sheng maintained his previous posture, waving his free hand to have someone collect the chess pieces for another round. His gaze remained fixed on Duan Ze’s face as he chuckled, “A hundred years is a long time. Changes are normal, but has the immortal encountered something good recently? Your chess style seems much more gentle than before.”

“Does Jin Zhi count?” Duan Ze replied. It was one of the few good things for him recently, though both sides were just taking what they needed.

After a few exchanges, Jiu Sheng lost each game in a very short time. By the end, he had lost his confident demeanor, sweating profusely and hesitating with a white piece in hand. He looked nothing like an emperor.

Duan Ze slowly sipped his tea, waiting for him to make his next move.

After a while, Jiu Sheng sighed, “I lost…” and placed the white piece on his board. The attendants quickly tidied up the board. Once Jiu Sheng’s attendant had placed all the black pieces in the box, Duan Ze reached over to close the lid.

“Immortal, what is this?” Even through the mask, Duan Ze could feel those eyes looking at him in surprise.

“It’s been a hundred years,” Duan Ze’s fingers moved slightly, and the door that Jiu Sheng’s attendant had closed opened. He looked at Jiu Sheng coldly, “Your chess skills haven’t improved.”

Knowing he couldn’t beat the other, what was the point of playing game after game? Was he looking for a beating?

Jiu Sheng was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, “The immortal’s nature is as straightforward as ever.”

After laughing enough, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and raised his hand, “Since the immortal doesn’t want to play anymore, let’s put it away.”

Then, Jiu Sheng slightly tilted his head towards Duan Ze, “I’ve stayed at the Hunling Sect for some days. Why don’t you join me for a walk?”

Duan Ze looked up. The mask covered most of the other person’s expression, which was quite annoying. He discreetly used his divine sense to penetrate the mask on the other’s face. If he wasn’t mistaken, the mask was a high-grade magical artifact, and ordinary cultivators shouldn’t be able to see the face beneath it.

The person’s appearance seemed to be around twenty, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding a royal aura. However, there was an inexplicable depth to his eyes, carrying a hint of death.

Thinking about how the other was just an ordinary person without a trace of spiritual power, yet had lived an absurdly long life, Duan Ze felt he wasn’t a simple character. The presence of death was something that shouldn’t appear on a living person.

Did the Hunling Sect give people some kind of elixir for immortality?

However, he didn’t sense any malice or reverence from the other, and his smile seemed fake. In the book, when the original protagonist fell from grace, Jiu Sheng didn’t show any hatred or disgust like others. He didn’t express anything at all.

In the end, they were just casual acquaintances who had played a few games of chess.

Duan Ze remained seated, feeling that this distance was just right and there was no need to get closer. “No, it’s getting late.”

The door is already open for you, so please leave.

Jiu Sheng glanced at the darkening sky outside. The smile on his face hadn’t faded since he saw Duan Ze, maintaining a look that revealed nothing of Duan Ze’s intentions. “The Hunling Sect is beautiful at night, with water fireflies by the sea, sparkling like stars in the sky as the waves crash.”

As the human emperor, Duan Ze felt he had given him enough face.

Since the other was lingering, he had to take action.

“No need, it’s late, Your Majesty should rest.” With that, Duan Ze waved his hand, and Jiu Sheng suddenly found himself, along with his chair, moved out of Duan Ze’s room.

With a “bang,” the door closed in front of him.

The attendants waiting outside, seeing their emperor suddenly moved out, quickly approached with concern, “Your Majesty, are you alright?”

Jiu Sheng maintained his previous posture. He had to admit that when his body moved uncontrollably, a long-lost fear welled up from within him. This fear made him feel incredibly real and joyful.

“I’m fine, let’s go.” Jiu Sheng stood up, secretly planning how to meet Duan Ze again next time.

After Jiu Sheng left, Duan Ze turned and sat back on the bed.

For now, regardless of Jiu Sheng’s situation, he needed to solve the current problem first.

He used his divine sense to scan the entire pavilion, ensuring no one was approaching and no spell seals were set before placing a barrier around himself.

Once everything was done, Duan Ze took out the communication token from his storage ring.

Based on the time since Xiao Wuchen’s message, the other should be arriving soon.

Since Xiao Wuchen was coming for him, as long as he wasn’t here, he could lead him elsewhere, preventing harm to others.

However, when he activated the voice transmission talisman to call the other, Xiao Wuchen didn’t respond.

“Hmm? Did something happen?” Duan Ze got off the bed and tried several more times, but still no response.

Holding the communication token, Duan Ze left the pavilion, stepped onto the nearby railing, and leaped into the air, flying on his sword.

There were fewer people outside compared to when they first arrived. To accommodate the entire continent, Du Ling had invited many people, but it was just an invitation. Whether they could come depended on the sects themselves.

Most sects didn’t have flying artifacts capable of crossing the vast ocean, so those who could arrive before the iron tree bloomed were either top sects on the continent or wealthy and powerful ordinary people like the human emperor.

Duan Ze flew high on his sword, protected by a barrier, unseen by anyone.

He activated the communication token again. The forced activation had limited uses, only once a month, and he had already used it last time. Now he could only attach his divine sense to the token, trying to sense the sub-token.

While sensing, Duan Ze also spread part of his divine sense over the nearby mountains and fields.

Before he could sense the sub-token, a surge of extremely dense spiritual qi erupted from below, rushing towards him. Duan Ze dodged just in time, and then heard a commotion. Du Ling stood among the crowd, instructing, “Quickly inform everyone, the Sky-reaching Iron Tree is about to bloom.”

Hunling Sect disciples hurried towards various sects.

Du Ling’s expression was heavy. The iron tree was originally expected to bloom in two or three days, never earlier. What was happening?

He didn’t stay in place for long. After regaining his composure, he flew towards Duan Ze’s room.

Seeing Du Ling’s actions from above, Duan Ze quickly sped back on his sword.

He couldn’t let the other see him wandering around the Hunling Sect.

Just as he returned to his room and closed the door, there was a knock.

He turned and opened the door, seeing Du Ling’s smiling face, “Immortal, the iron tree is about to bloom. Please come with me to watch.”

Duan Ze put away the communication token and nodded, “Alright.”

Du Ling escorted Duan Ze to the array outside the Sky-reaching Iron Tree, not giving Duan Ze any spare time along the way. When they arrived, the other members of the Cangyu Sect were also there.

“Shizun/Shizu.” The newcomers bowed to Duan Ze, each showing varying degrees of excitement.

Duan Ze glanced at them and nodded.

Once everyone was gathered, Du Ling unlocked the hidden array.

With the array gone, what was once empty space now revealed two towering iron trees, so thick it would take hundreds to encircle them. Looking up, they seemed to reach the sky, with silver-gray branches stretching out, stiff and sturdy. On those iron branches were countless iron balls, presumably the tree’s buds.

No wonder they were called Sky-reaching Iron Trees.

Along with the trees appeared three circles of cushions around them, each circle about ten meters apart. The outermost circle had the most cushions, totaling around a thousand, while the innermost had only five.

“Master Du, what’s the deal with these cushions?” Li Qingyuan felt the spiritual qi and fragrance emanating from the iron tree, his spiritual power stirring restlessly.

Du Ling stroked his beard, seeing many people following him, and explained, “Everyone’s ability to withstand the iron tree varies. The closer you are, the more spiritual qi you receive, but the pressure is also greater. Remember not to be greedy, or it could harm your foundation.”

With his words, those behind him became more restrained.

Since Duan Ze hadn’t taken a seat, everyone else had to stand.

Noticing the increasing gazes on him, Duan Ze quickly moved to the innermost area.

There were fewer seats there, with more space.

He wondered if the iron tree would accept cultivators who practiced dark arts.

As Duan Ze settled on the innermost cushion, the iron tree gave him a very accommodating answer.

It seemed the tree didn’t discriminate against those it sheltered, regardless of their path.

As Duan Ze sat, others followed suit, choosing seats according to their maximum capacity.

Once everyone was seated, the innermost five cushions only had Duan Ze.

Before he could think too much, a soft “crack” sounded, and the iron balls on the tree burst open, releasing a white light. Inside, tender white petals bloomed like fireworks.

A strange fragrance wafted out, and Duan Ze felt a warmth envelop him, like soaking in a hot spring. His whole body relaxed, absorbing the spiritual qi, his consciousness growing lazy.

As he immersed himself, feeling his cultivation slowly climbing, a familiar yet faint scent mixed with the floral fragrance caught his attention.

Duan Ze snapped back to reality, instantly summoning the Linglong Fan and swinging it towards the figure beside him. The person caught his wrist, gesturing behind him, indicating that fighting here would endanger everyone.

Xiao Wuchen’s peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, looking cunning like a fox. Dressed in a Hunling Sect disciple’s robe, the light green attire softened his fierce aura.

Duan Ze had no idea when he had infiltrated or how he had approached unnoticed.

He only saw the coldness in Xiao Wuchen’s eyes and heard him say through divine sense, “Found you.”

Author’s Note: Xiao Wuchen: “Compensate me for the tree!”

Thank you to the little angels who voted or provided nutrient solutions between 2020-09-14 20:30:51 and 2020-09-15 20:48:04~

Thanks to the little angels who provided nutrient solutions: Zixi Lingjiu 10 bottles; Qiyuan Yuanyuan 1 bottle;

Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!