Boom!
The youth's words struck like thunder between the Heavenly Tree tomb, the minds of all domain lords buzzing as they doubted their own ears.
Xu Mu actually refused to ally with anyone, intending to hoard the Heavenly Book for himself?
"Unexpected, utterly unexpected, hehe..." The Wang family's old ancestor chuckled heartily, his grin stretching almost to his ears. Since Xu Mu had spoken such words, it meant he was about to be attacked by everyone.
And if that happened, Xu Mu would surely die, and even the Wine Immortal Daoist wouldn't be able to protect him. With so many people joining forces, unless a powerful being at the Human King realm appeared, he couldn't be shielded.
But this space, possessing power comparable to the Human King realm, only had the Heavenly Tree!
And why would the Heavenly Tree protect Xu Mu? It had tried to kill him before!
"Xu Mu is definitely going to die."
The Wang family's old ancestor thought gleefully.
"You... it's truly a shame. It seems geniuses are indeed destined to die young; it's a truth after all."
Biting Fire feigned a sigh, then prepared to pull down the two rivers of flame from the dome. He intended to turn the disobedient Xu Mu to ashes, then capture his soul and subject him to torture.
The other domain lords had the same thought. The moment Xu Mu refused the alliance, they all prepared to unleash their strongest abilities.
Facing such a formidable array, neither Xu Mu nor the Wine Immortal Daoist showed any signs of panic.
Because they had sufficient confidence to deal with the combined assault of everyone present.
"There are many of you, but unfortunately, you cannot kill me today."
As Xu Mu spoke, the Heavenly Tree leader had, at some unknown time, silently appeared behind him. With a wave of its thick trunk, an ancient, verdant domain enveloped everyone.
Biting Fire stared at the Heavenly Tree in horror, his Dharma Image retreating, daring not to approach.
Then, he suddenly realized that Xu Mu was standing in front of the Heavenly Tree, and hadn't been attacked!
"Could it be..."
The Wang family's old ancestor's face instantly turned ashen. He hadn't expected his subsequent mumbled words to actually come true.
Xu Mu had indeed found a helper at the Human King realm to protect him, and that happened to be the Heavenly Tree leader of this Heavenly Tree tomb!
This one being alone could easily intercept all the domain lords present, even chasing them across the land with no power to retaliate, for they were a peak sixth-stage Human King level creature!
"This..."
Biting Fire's expression also stiffened. Even the flames on his Dharma Image ceased to flow. The two rivers of flame clutched in his hand became a laughable sight.
"What, not fighting anymore?"
Xu Mu sheathed his demonic sword at his waist and leaned against Qiong Qi, looking utterly at ease.
The crowd exchanged glances, no one daring to speak.
Xu Mu, with a relaxed and carefree expression, addressed them:
"Whether you believe it or not, the Demon God did not give me the Heavenly Book."
"And I hold no grudges against any of you. Those who had grudges against me have all been killed by me, except for you old fellow."
Xu Mu said this, pointing at the Wang family's old ancestor, who was rapidly retreating.
"Now I'm leaving. Is anyone going to stop me?"
Annie was the first to sigh, pulling the brown bear back into her arms. Then she spoke,
"Boring, I'm not playing anymore!"
With that, she and Malphite slowly walked in the opposite direction, disappearing from the scene.
"Let's go too. It seems the Heavenly Tree here won't accept any more inheritances."
Jin Da Fu shook his head. Although he desired the Heavenly Book, possessing wealth beyond measure, he was merely lacking in cultivation. Now that Xu Mu had the Heavenly Tree's assistance, there was no need for him to risk his life; he could only seek other opportunities.
Thus, the many domain lords present dispersed in a rush.
The Wang family's old ancestor had already retreated thousands of miles. Many domain lords from his retinue also gradually departed, leaving only a scattered few and He He, his face pale, standing there.
"I... what should I do."
He He's face withered, his expression defeated.
He was a traitor to the Demon Extermination Division, and Biting Fire would not let him go!
Some with pity, others with mockery, looked at He He.
This man had betrayed the Demon Extermination Division. Now that the Heavenly Book was not obtained, the Wang family's old ancestor would no longer offend Biting Fire for him.
While healing a domain lord at the cost of blood coral to make them their subordinate was a good thing, the prerequisite for achieving this was their ability to get He He out of here.
And Biting Fire, full of pent-up rage with nowhere to vent, was already controlling his Dharma Image to approach. The Wang family's old ancestor was not foolish enough to exert himself further to protect a defector.
If he accidentally got himself entangled in trouble, he would be laughed to death!
"Where else do you think you can run!"
The other domain lords from the Demon Extermination Division had already quietly sealed off He He's escape routes, leaving only a single open space in the center, which precisely led to Biting Fire.
"Traitor, deserves to die!"
Biting Fire unleashed both rivers of flame he had pulled from the sky, blasting them towards the cornered He He.
The latter desperately opened his domain, trying to struggle. But he was a dying man; facing Biting Fire's ultimate ability, how could he possibly have room to resist?
Rumble!
Biting Fire's ability struck, and the two rivers of flame surged down. Pure crimson fire elements gathered, forming countless elemental spheres larger than rocks.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
Innumerable fire element spheres danced and boiled in the space, the energy contained within them surpassing the fireballs Biting Fire had previously launched from his Dharma Image. They were hurled by Biting Fire against the membrane of the domain. Upon encountering resistance, they exploded.
Crack!
The two rivers broke through the domain and poured down. Countless terrifying elemental spheres of fire exploded, igniting the entire sky. The earth-shattering explosion instantly reduced He He's body to dust.
...
A massive surge of air and heat swept out, almost causing Xu Mu, thousands of miles away, to lose his footing. He stumbled and leaned against the Heavenly Tree.
"So beautiful."
Xu Mu squinted and exclaimed, his body gradually turning red from the hot wind.
He stood there, looking at the distant sky. The two rivers Biting Fire had pulled down resembled two dazzling rainbows, suspended in the air, lingering for a long time.
"It seems he has taken another step forward in the realm of half-Human King," the Wine Immortal Daoist's face was also flushed by the firelight. He spoke with a hint of weariness, "I wonder when he will become a Human King?"
Xu Mu couldn't figure out whether he was asking about Biting Fire or himself, so he simply didn't respond.
He patted the Heavenly Tree's body and then said,
"Thank you."
"Without you, I would have surely turned to ash in this fire."
The Heavenly Tree leader's spirit heard this and replied,
"It's all as we agreed, no need to thank me."
"And if you hadn't held back, I would be dead by now."
Xu Mu heard this, smiled, and then spoke again,
"Brother Tree Spirit, do you know of any places nearby where I can increase my points while remaining relatively safe? My strength is too weak, and I'm not familiar with this area, so I'm hesitant to move around freely."
The Heavenly Tree spirit paused for a moment, then replied,
"Besides the stone caves, there don't seem to be any safe places nearby. Opportunities and traps go hand in hand."
"But if you're afraid of trouble, you can stay in the Heavenly Tree tomb. I have plenty of spiritual medicine, and you can take whatever you need."
"And if you stay here, we can finish what we started earlier!"
The Heavenly Tree spirit said this, and Xu Mu's expression brightened.
Finishing what they started, could it refer to the inheritance?
"Brother Tree Spirit, you're too kind!" Xu Mu chuckled, "In that case, I respectfully accept!"
The Heavenly Tree spirit looked at Xu Mu and said with a smile,
"No need to thank me. Of course, I have conditions."
"If you want the inheritance and spiritual medicine, you must pay a price."
Xu Mu was startled:
"That is only right. Brother Tree Spirit, please speak directly."
The Heavenly Tree spirit:
"That matter is very simple, but for me, it is very difficult."
"I want to go out, so please help me."
The Heavenly Tree leader said, his voice ancient.
He had been in this space for an unknown number of years, like a demon god. He greatly desired to experience the outside world and feel the warmth of the sun.
Xu Mu frowned upon hearing this and spoke hesitantly,
"Brother Tree, it's not that I'm unwilling to take you out, but your body is too enormous. I can't move it out!"
Xu Mu scratched his head. The Heavenly Tree's body was too large, and it was a Human King-level creature. His spatial ring couldn't hold it, nor could his heavenly palace, as his cultivation was insufficient.
"This body can be discarded," the Heavenly Tree spirit shook his head and continued, "I have observed your Sea of Consciousness. It is very suitable for me to reside in, enough to accommodate my soul for many years."
"Most importantly, I trust you implicitly. If it were any other human, I would never dare to reside in their Sea of Consciousness, and they probably wouldn't allow me to."
The Heavenly Tree spirit said this, suddenly feeling a sense of fortune for having met Xu Mu.
"You just need to find a tree in the outside world where I can dwell. Preferably a fairy tree that has awakened spiritual awareness, but no longer possesses it."
"Awakened spiritual awareness, but no longer possesses it..." Xu Mu heard this and suddenly remembered something. He then slapped his thigh with a loud thud, "Isn't that the ancient tree in Fengqing Village!"
Xu Mu's face lit up with excitement. He slapped the Heavenly Tree leader's body, spraying saliva everywhere,
"Oh, Brother Tree, this is too much of a coincidence!"
"Where I come from, there happens to be a tree that perfectly fits your requirements. It once awakened spiritual awareness and blessed the region with favorable weather, but later withered for other reasons. It hasn't completely died yet, and I was wondering how to revive it. Since you want to inhabit it, it's killing two birds with one stone!"
"Such a coincidence!" The Heavenly Tree spirit was stunned, then patted his chest and guaranteed, "Don't worry. Once I inhabit it, there's no tree I can't heal."
"Even if only a withered root remains, I can bring it back to life!"
Xu Mu was overjoyed,
"Then it's settled!"
"So, can we proceed with the inheritance now?"
Xu Mu asked, excited and expectant. The Heavenly Tree spirit, upon hearing this, directly took the initiative to establish a connection with Xu Mu.
"Of course."
"However, my inheritance is about the saber. You use the sword, so it might not be compatible with you."
Xu Mu stood frozen for a few seconds upon hearing this, then burst into laughter,
"Brother Tree Spirit, you might not know, but I originally used the saber."
"From the age of six until now, it's been nearly fourteen years."
...