186: The tragedy of the tree spirit race: they cannot reproduce!
World Tree Canyon.
This is a secluded paradise.
The massive World Tree stands quietly, its lush branches and leaves obscuring the sky.
Each leaf is as large as a cattail fan, with pale golden radiance flowing through its veins, scattering bits of divine dawn that nourish the village built against the tree.
There is no clamor of the outside Cangwu here, only the rustling of wind through the leaves and the roar of a distant waterfall.
In the center of the village, within a grand hall woven entirely from vines.
"Cough, cough..."
A bout of suppressed coughing broke the silence.
Gui Rui leaned against a soft vine chair, her face as pale as paper, and those emerald eyes that were originally full of Spiritual Qi now appeared somewhat dim.
She wore a simple emerald-green dress, yet it could not hide her mature figure.
Time seemed to treat this elf Clan Chief with extra kindness, leaving only charm upon her without taking away her youth.
"Mother, did you use your Origin again?"
A cold voice rang out.
A tall woman walked into the hall's entrance; she was Gui Rui's eldest daughter, Gui Zhaoye.
She carried an ancient longbow on her back, her silver-white hair tied in a ponytail, her pointed ears twitching slightly as she moved, her delicate face filled with worry and reproach.
Gui Rui waved her hand, forcing a faint smile:
"It's nothing, just a routine reinforcement of the barrier. The Heavenly Dao's warnings are becoming more frequent; I always feel... that something major is about to happen."
"What else could happen?"
A small head popped out from behind Gui Zhaoye; it was the younger daughter, Gui Zhaoxing.
Still clutching a half-eaten spiritual fruit, she said indistinctly:
"It must be that crazy woman coming again. How long has it been since she retreated last time? She's truly persistent."
Hearing the words 'crazy woman,' a flash of deep wariness and hatred crossed Gui Rui's eyes.
Cangwu Empress, Han Yueyi.
That tyrant who, in order to control everything, did not hesitate to force her way in several times, attempting to exterminate their race.
If she hadn't been wary of the then-powerful Heavenly Dao, the Tree Spirit race would likely have been wiped out long ago.
"This time is different."
Gui Rui sat up straight, her expression solemn.
"In the past, although the World Tree would issue warnings, it has never... trembled like it has these past few days. That is a fear born of instinct. It's as if something is stripping away its Foundation for existence."
"Fear?"
Gui Zhaoye's brow furrowed.
"The World Tree is one of the Foundations of this realm. Even if Han Yueyi came in person, it shouldn't be possible for her to make it feel fear, unless..."
"Unless Cangwu's heavens have changed."
Gui Rui sighed, her gaze passing through the window toward the canopy that blotted out the sun above.
The leaves, which were originally a dripping emerald green, had actually shown some signs of withering and yellowing these past few days.
That was a sign of Luck draining away.
"The heavens have changed? Could it be that the crazy woman is finally dead?"
Gui Zhaoxing's eyes lit up, and she stuffed the spiritual fruit into her mouth.
"Then can we go out? I've heard that the outside Cangwu is huge, and there's so much delicious food!"
"Shut up."
Gui Zhaoye glared at her sister, "Do you think that if Han Yueyi falls, a new Empress will be a good person who lets us go?"
We are a race born from the will of this realm's Heavenly Dao, naturally sharing the Luck of the Cangwu. We are destined to achieve the great emperor fruit position in the future. To any Great Emperor who wishes to rule the universe alone, we are a thorn in their side."
Gui Zhaoxing shrank her neck, not daring to speak further.
Silence fell within the hall.
This was the sorrow of the Tree Spirit race.
They were nurtured by the Heavenly Dao and possessed unique Aptitude; achieving the great emperor fruit position was only a matter of time.
Of course, the premise was that there were still vacant great emperor fruit positions in this realm.
Yet, even if they achieved the great emperor fruit position, so what?
They would only be trapped in this tiny space, and due to the unique Bloodline of the Tree Spirits, they lacked the ability to reproduce or conceive, making it impossible for them to ever truly become a race.
They were more like toys manipulated by the Heavenly Dao.
One could say they succeeded because of the Heavenly Dao, and failed because of it.
"In any case, be prepared."
Gui Rui stood up.
Her aura was unstable, but the majesty of being a Clan Chief still remained.
"Pass down the order: the entire clan is on alert. If a new Empress truly arrives, I'm afraid it won't be easily resolved."
"Mother, your injury..."
Gui Zhaoye hesitated.
"I won't die."
Gui Rui gave a bitter smile; she had been heavily injured by a Great Emperor's Divine Thought sent by Han Yueyi from across space, making it nearly impossible for her to step into the 14th Realm.
Once a situation arises that truly cannot be stopped.
Before she died, she would use the World Tree technique to pass her Saint Body Origin to Zhaoye.
Normally, a Saint Body Origin cannot be transferred.
But the Tree Spirit race's Origins are essentially the same, making such a transfer possible.
Without the shackles of the Heavenly Dao, perhaps her daughter could go further.
Boom—!!!
Just as the mother and daughters were conversing in sorrow, a Cangwu-shaking explosion erupted without warning above the canyon.
The entire ground trembled violently, and the vine walls of the hall made cracking sounds.
"What's happening?!"
Gui Zhaoxing was so startled that the fruit pit in her hand fell.
"Enemy attack!"
Gui Zhaoye reacted the fastest; with a flash, she rushed out of the hall, her longbow instantly drawn to its full extent, with three arrows flowing with moonlight already notched.
Gui Rui followed closely behind, her expression extremely grim.
They rushed out of the hall and looked up.
They saw the mist that shrouded the canyon all year round.
It was now being forcibly torn open, creating a massive rift.
The World Tree, which was originally responsible for guarding the clan, was now letting out a shrill wail.
Countless branches danced wildly, no longer possessing their usual gentleness.
Instead, they were filled with aggression, as if sensing some kind of catastrophic disaster.
"This is..."
Gui Rui's face changed drastically, "The World Tree is issuing a warning! There is a powerful enemy! And it's... a natural predator!"
"Buzz—"
A vast, ancient will, carrying endless rage, descended into the minds of every Tree Spirit.
That was the will of the World Tree, and also the last remaining Heavenly Dao will of this Cangwu.
"Kill... kill... invaders... kill!!!"
That voice was roaring, issuing a death order.
"It's that crazy woman! She really came!"
Gui Zhaoxing's face was pale, and her legs were trembling.
Gui Rui took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood and Qi within her body, and shouted sternly:
"Form the array! All clansmen, rely on the World Tree and prepare to face the enemy! Even if we fight to the last person, we must not allow that crazy woman to step half a foot into the Holy Land!"
"Yes!"
Dozens of agile figures leaped from various tree houses; though few in number, each had an impressive aura.
They stood in certain ancient positions, green divine light flowing through them, sharing the same Origin as the World Tree.
However.
When the rift fully opened and several figures slowly walked out from the Void Realm.
A terrifying pressure that made all the Tree Spirits feel suffocated poured down like the Heavenly River overflowing.
It was not Han Yueyi's bone-chilling Emperors Might.
But a more domineering, more arrogant, extreme destruction that seemed intent on trampling all things in heaven and earth underfoot!