QT- I’m Almost Died
Chapter 274. Demon Tree Or Sacred Tree
Song Rui couldn’t bear to watch Fan Jialuo go to his death, so he ran forward, trying to grab the vines and throw himself into the man-eating tree trunk, only to find his path blocked by an invisible wall. He was trapped in a space, unable to move forward an inch.
Even in this life-or-death situation, Fan Jialuo still reserved the vast majority of his power to protect the people he cared about most.
Song Rui burst into tears, turning to look at the treants who were frozen in their frantic run, unable to understand why they couldn’t get close to the mother tree, while only Fan Jialuo was being devoured.
Just then, Xuan Chengzi arrived menacingly, carrying a sword, followed by the Taoist sects’ members and the special forces team led by Meng Zhong.
Lin Nianci was severely injured, but Xuan Chengzi used all sorts of magical treasures to keep her alive and in a safe place.
Although Xuan Chengzi was hailed as a demigod, he was ultimately just a human and incapable of reviving the dead or restoring flesh to bones. Therefore, he immediately considered abandoning the mission and taking Lin Nianci down the mountain for medical treatment. However, it was too late, thick fog obscured their path, and they were trapped.
Unless the demon tree could be killed, Lin Nianci would have no choice but to wait to die here. Therefore, Xuan Chengzi, his eyes bloodshot, charged back, determined to resolve these troubles as quickly as possible.
Just as Song Rui was about to warn Fan Jialuo to be careful, he saw that the treants surrounding the demon tree had all come to life. They rushed towards Xuan Chengzi one by one, spitting out vines and venom, and their destructive power was surprisingly strong.
Xuan Chengzi simply raised his hand and chopped these treants into charred remains. They are mere evil spirits, always collapsing at the first blow before him.
In fact, he had already killed dozens, even hundreds, of treants along the way. These demons and monsters, which even top experts of the Taoist sects couldn’t handle, couldn’t last even two seconds under his attack. He quickly rushed forward and slashed at Fan Jialuo with his sword, only to see the thick tree trunk suddenly split open with a large gash, swallowing Fan Jialuo up and revealing only a blood-stained face.
The sword blade struck the indestructible tree trunk, leaving not even a mark.
Only then did the arrogant Xuan Chengzi reveal a look of surprise, and then he looked at Song Rui with burning anger. This man was the culprit who had caused Nianci to fall into a near-death state.
He still wanted to kill Song Rui, but Fan Jialuo chuckled and said, “Shifu, so what if you call yourself the number one person in the cultivation world? You can’t deal with this demon tree.”
Xuan Chengzi paused, pointing the tip of his sword at his face.
A Taoist priest standing not far away said gloatingly, “Who doesn’t know that Xuan Chengzi Qianbei’s mystical thunder sword is the nemesis of all demons and monsters? A few bolts of lightning and all problems can be solved. Enjoy this moment, we won’t kill you. We’ll wait until you’re completely devoured before we make a move on this demon tree.”
“Taoist Master Xuan Chengzi, don’t waste your energy killing him. Just stand aside and watch him be eaten by the demon tree.” Someone in the crowd immediately chimed in.
“This is the fate he deserved. Killing him with a single sword was far too lenient!” More people shouted indignantly.
“I want to see if he will finally beg for help, now that he’s reduced to this miserable state.”
“Hahaha, well, I’ll be waiting. Tell me, what do you think it feels like to be eaten alive by this demon tree? Will it be agonizing?”
These sanctimonious so-called experts of the Taoist sects finally revealed their ugliest side at this moment. They stood there, watching the young man being gradually swallowed by the tree trunk with a morbidly joyful gaze, spewing all sorts of ridicule, insults and abuse, then bursting into laughter and clapping their hands repeatedly.
A life is being devoured alive, but they find it amusing.
Song Rui’s eyes were bloodshot, and a sinister gaze was hidden behind his glasses as he scanned everyone’s faces, memorizing them.
Meng Zhong’s eyes also reddened. The gun barrel, aimed at the demon tree, shifted slightly, pointing at these people, but he slowly pulled it back with his strong will. He desperately wanted to run up and pull Teacher Fan out, but stopped short by the other’s steadfast gaze, which burned with absolute refusal.
Xuan Chengzi, who had originally intended to decapitate Fan Jialuo with a single sword strike, stopped in his tracks upon hearing their words. He too chose to stand by and watch. Years of their bond as master and disciple meant absolutely nothing to him. His eyes saw only Song Enci, she was the only one he ever cared about.
He wanted to make this wicked disciple taste the same suffering that Song Enci had endured.
Xuan Chengzi’s choice was entirely within Fan Jialuo’s expectations, so he curled his lips into a nonchalant smile. He had ceased to expect anything from this Shifu of his a very long time ago. The saying ‘a teacher for a day, a father for a lifetime’ seemed to apply only to Song Enci; it would never hold true for him.
After smiling, he raised his eyes slightly, his tone calm yet arrogant, “Shifu, while you still have the chance, I advise you to return to Tianshui Peak and continue your seclusion, and never enter the world again. You cannot complete this mission, you cannot protect the lineage of the Tianshui Sect. In the end, you will only lose face and your reputation will be ruined. Your mystical thunder sword is indeed terrifying, but you absolutely cannot harm this tree in the slightest. If there is anyone in the world who can deal with it, it is only me.”
Xuan Chengzi looked at him with disdain and indifference.
The Taoist sects’ members burst into laughter, “Hahaha, this brat is really something, even on the verge of death he still dares to boast so much. Only you? Who do you think you are?”
“He probably thinks he’s a god.”
“Yet it’s nothing but a petty worm, really. When I return, I’ll be telling this joke for a solid year!”
The jeers of these people shook the branches overhead, and drove Song Rui and Meng Zhong into a frenzy. Top experts of the Taoist sects? The number one cultivator of this era? They’re all a bunch of absolute trash!
Abbot Changjing rushed over, drawn by the sound of laughter. His disciple shielded several low-ranking juniors of the Taoist sects, protecting them.
Upon getting closer and seeing the enormous demon tree and the person trapped within it, they all gasped in shock.
Fan Jialuo nodded slightly to them, then looked at Xuan Chengzi and said in a low voice, “Shifu, look up.”
Xuan Chengzi stood there expressionless, unmoved.
Abbot Changjing looked up at the sky, then his face showed an expression of utter shock, “How could this be!” His staff fell from his hand, as if he had seen something extremely unbelievable.
Fan Jialuo then gave up his last struggle and completely disappeared into the thick tree trunk. Only Song Rui could hear his remaining thoughts, which were saying——Wait for me.
Abbot Changjing’s reaction finally made Xuan Chengzi lift his eyelids, glance upwards, and then his gaze froze. The icy expression on his face instantly melted away, turning into surprise and doubt.
Seeing his reaction, the others also looked up and stared, then let out a chorus of heavy breathing, gasps, and exclamations.
Song Rui braced himself against the invisible wall of air, his head bowed, a slow smile playing on his lips. His bloodshot eyes were filled with a chilling hatred and an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. He knew this tree was far beyond the capabilities of this group, if they couldn’t escape, they would surely die today.
Of all the people present, Meng Zhong was probably the only one who didn’t understand what was going on. He was a rough, uncultured man who didn’t like reading. He looked up for a long time, only to find that the previously withered, gnarled vines and branches were rapidly sprouting new buds, growing into clusters of green leaves, and casting a dense, shady canopy.
Having devoured so many human corpses, it couldn’t grow a single leaf, only maintaining a withered, dying vine state. Yet, just seconds after consuming Fan Jialuo, it suddenly burst forth with such surging greenery and vitality. This demonstrates just how immense the energy within Fan Jialuo truly is.
Song Rui looked up at the tree, a cold laugh echoing in his mind, as he pieced together all the suspicious points. The seed brought by Bai Mu was indeed not Lin Nianci’s scheme, but rather the tree’s arrangement. Fan Jialuo’s body was its most desired fertilizer, it had been lurking in the shadows, coveting him, and gradually drawing him in.
Fan Jialuo must have known this before he set off, right? Yet he still came, because he couldn’t bear the weight on his shoulders, if he hadn’t come, none of them would have survived. He should be able to handle this tree, shouldn’t he? He is Fan Jialuo, everyone who knows him knows he never lies.
Song Rui could only console himself with this thought, but his laughter grew increasingly bitter.
Meng Zhong shouted through the panicked crowd, “Old Song, what’s wrong with them? Is there something wrong with this tree?”
Song Rui braced himself against the wall, motionless. Ever since Fan Jialuo was devoured, he had no desire to deal with anyone or anything.
Abbot Changjing said in a trembling voice, “Benefactor Meng, didn’t you see? This is a Bodhi tree.”
“So what if it’s the Bodhi tree?” Meng Zhong still didn’t understand.
“It was beneath the Bodhi tree that Shakyamuni attained sudden enlightenment and became the Buddha, thus, it has always been revered as a sacred tree. The Bodhi tree bathed in the Buddha’s first beam of divine light was the Sacred Bodhi. It was the absolute pinnacle of sacred artifacts. Legend holds that Emperor Ashoka’s meimei severed several branches from the Sacred Bodhi, carrying them to lands like Sri Lanka and China, where they took root and thrived. In other words, all the Bodhi trees growing in my country are direct descendants of the Sacred Bodhi.”
“So what?” Meng Zhong stared at the demon tree whose green leaves were bursting forth like an explosion, and asked with a pounding heart.
“The lineage of the sacred tree has awakened a spiritual consciousness, it is nothing less than a sacred being. To destroy a sacred being, only a sage can personally intervene.” Abbot Changjing’s eyes were filled with fear, “Why does the world always speak of ‘becoming a God or a Sage,’ putting divinity before sanctity? It is because becoming a Sage is thousands, tens of thousands of times harder than becoming a God. There are no longer any gods left in this world, where then could a Sage ever be found? And without a Sage, who is left to face this tree?”
At this point, Abbot Changjing closed his eyes, displaying a powerless and defeated demeanor. His disciples also looked at the towering, lush tree with utmost awe, not daring to approach.
Hearing this, Meng Zhong finally understood. The tree’s roots were extraordinary, in mythology, even the Three Pure Ones would likely have personally accepted it as a disciple. Although it had committed many evil deeds, it couldn’t be considered an evil spirit at all, rather, it was a sacred object. How could a sacred object fear the mystical thunder sword? Even if a sky full of the mystical thunder sword rained down, it would only give it a bath.
In other words, Xuan Chengzi, who was originally highly anticipated, was indeed no match for the tree, just as Fan Jialuo had predicted. And if even Xuan Chengzi, known as the number one person in the cultivation world, was powerless, then no one else could possibly do anything about it.
Realizing this, Meng Zhong immediately went to look at Xuan Chengzi, only to find the man looking up at the tree in utter astonishment, his handsome face contorted in horror. So he too could feel fear.
“Xuan Chengzi Qianbei, what should we do now?” Everyone in the Taoist sects panicked.
“Thunderbolt Formation.” Xuan Chengzi refused to give up and wanted to try again.
The disciples of the Tianshui Sect immediately set up an array around the tree, but the surrounding treants never came back to life to attack them again. Instead, they melted one by one into putrid water, nourishing the massive roots buried deep underground.
Abbot Changjing pulled Meng Zhong back quickly.
Meng Zhong pointed at Song Rui and shouted, “My XiongDi is still inside!”
“He will be fine. Benefactor Fan has placed the strongest restriction on him.”
As they spoke, the thunderbolt formation was already set up, and Xuan Chengzi plunged his mystical thunder sword into the array’s core, unleashing the power of heaven and earth. Rolling lightning bolts, like fireballs, crashed down from the sky, only to be effortlessly swallowed by the seemingly endless canopy of trees. Purple light flickered among the branches, illuminating the clusters of green leaves like colorful lights adorning a Christmas tree, dazzlingly beautiful, yet utterly devoid of any lethality.
Xuan Chengzi’s spiritual power was instantly drained, while the Bodhi tree grew even more lush and verdant. Such a powerful killing move hadn’t even knocked down a single leaf.
After the thunder, a deathly silence spread through the area.
Only Song Rui let out a few soft laughs and slowly said, “Fan Jialuo said long ago that you can’t deal with this tree. So called number one cultivator of the Taoist sects, a demigod…… in the end, you are nothing but worthless trash who fails to live up to his own name.”
Xuan Chengzi glanced at him with dark eyes, seemingly unmoved, but the muscles on the side of his cheek tensed for a moment.
Seeing him gritting his teeth inwardly, Song Rui laughed even more heartily, “What’s the matter? Is this humiliation already too much for you to bear? For someone who raised someone like Song Enci, your greatest shame is yet to come.”
Xuan Chengzi clenched his fist tightly, his hands hidden in the wide sleeves of his robe.
Several disciples of the Tianshui Sect raised their swords and slashed at Song Rui, though their strength was far insufficient to shatter the space around him. But it didn’t matter, they were determined to wear the man down until he died. Meanwhile, other experts from the Taoist sects stepped forward to join in the hacking and slashing, completely forgetting that they had come to slay demons and banish evil, not to kill a human being out of a desire to vent their rage.
Several younger members stood on the outermost edge, staring blankly at the giant tree, before finally shouting in terror, “It……it has borne fruit!”
Abbot Changjing looked up and saw that the tree canopy was indeed covered with dense clusters of blue fruits, each only the size of an apricot, yet emitting a rich, intoxicating fragrance. Another fruit hung in the middle of the canopy, still growing, and in an instant it became the size of a football, then began to beat rhythmically, like the heart of a living person, or like a uterus nurturing an embryo.
Everyone was stunned.
The apricot-sized fruits fall from the branches automatically after ripening, pattering down like a blue downpour.
Those below quickly raised their hands to protect their heads, fearing they would be hit, but the expected pain did not come, and the ground was not covered with torn, juicy fruit. Some peered through the gaps between their arms and shoulders, only to find that the fruit had vanished as it landed on them, like the legendary ginseng fruit that disappears into the earth.
What in the world is happening?
One by one, people lowered their hands, fully exposing themselves to the blue fruit rain. Even Xuan Chengzi lowered his guard and looked up to take a closer look.
Just then, Abbot Changjing suddenly exclaimed in alarm, “Oh no! Leave quickly! These fruits are far more horrific than any evil spirit…… They are the embodiment of Cause and Effect! It is Karma!”
“What Karma? “
While Meng Zhong was still bewildered, Xuan Chengzi was already horrified. He then used his sword to cut down the layers of treants that stood there, and led his disciples in a frantic escape. The experts from the other sects also fled as if their backsides were on fire, disappearing into the thick black fog in an instant.
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