Xu Chunniang ignored the Sky-Gazing Hound. Seeing that the time was about right, she rose from the treehouse where she had been staying and headed toward the ancient white tree.
The King was not surprised to see her. "You came."
Xu Chunniang swept her gaze over the ancient white tree and frowned slightly.
The branches and leaves she had healed before had reverted to their former withered state.
She inspected the trunk and roots again and found that the injuries had worsened somewhat as well.
The King seemed to have expected this outcome long ago and merely said calmly,
"I told you already. Those methods of yours can only let me linger on a few more days at most."
Yet Xu Chunniang gave a soft laugh and shook her head. "What a pity."
The King paused slightly. "What are you laughing at? And what is there to pity?"
"I am laughing at you, a Tribulation Passage stage cultivator in name only."
The aura of the ancient white tree abruptly changed, turning cold and murderous.
After a long while, the King's calm voice finally emerged.
"Do you know what you are saying? Even if I have only one breath left, killing you would be as easy as turning over my hand."
"Am I wrong?"
As though she could not sense her anger at all, Xu Chunniang met the ancient white tree's gaze and spoke slowly.
"Cultivators contend against people and contend against Heaven. Even if only a wisp of remnant soul remains, as long as their minds are still intact, they will find every possible way to live.
"And you? Your soul and body are both still here, yet you put on an air of accepting your fate. You have already lost your fighting spirit!"
As if stunned by those words,