Ancient Tree, Priest, and Sacrifice

Branton's face was pale, because Yveta and the others could choose to leave the Baron Territory, but he couldn't.

At a loss, he now only wanted to rush back and tell his father the current situation.

Branton swallowed. "Your Highness, if there are really many enemies, we should notify my father as soon as possible."

"Let him use the name of Baron to summon nearby Knight Territories and peasant soldiers."

"We should quickly gather an army."

Yveta thought for a moment. Moro Baron Territory should currently only have a standing guard, as well as low-level noble apprentices sent by lower-ranking knights to receive knight training.

Indeed, they should quickly summon serf soldiers and feudal armies from all the manors in the Baron's Territory.

Although the combat effectiveness of the serf army and feudal army was questionable, there were still many people, and strength in numbers was also a force.

Yveta was about to speak.

The Old Witch's Mithril Sword was placed on Branton's neck. Branton looked at the Old Witch in disbelief, and just as he was about to ask why she was doing this, he saw the Old Witch's terrifying eyes.

The Old Witch truly had murderous intent. Her eyes widened like copper bells, and she said fiercely, "If you dare to do this, I'll kill you right now."

Branton trembled all over, his legs went soft, and he sat down on the ground. "Your Highness, the witch has revealed her true colors. She's in league with the Children of the Forest."

"Branton, don't talk nonsense." Yveta knew that as long as the Hearthstone Great Witch hadn't discovered that she wasn't a Demon God, she wouldn't betray him.

The Hearthstone Great Witch feared the Demon God.

She feared him.

He looked at the Old Witch. "Can you tell me why you're doing this? Is it related to the content in the Forbidden Book?"

Seeing that Black Wolf, Yveta, and Leili were all looking at her, the Old Witch held the Forbidden Book in her right hand, and in her eyes, the book's pages turned automatically.

"According to the description of one branch of the Children of the Forest in this book, I finally understand why everyone forgot Sharon."

"It wasn't amnesia."

"It was replacement."

Yveta was confused. "Replacement?"

Branton immediately focused upon hearing news about his younger sister.

The Old Witch said, "This book records the characteristics of the Treant People. They naturally possess an ability similar to Druid magic. Born in tree holes and dying in tree holes, they have gained a racial talent—Skin-Changing."

"On the day of their Coming-of-age Ceremony, they replace their own skin with that of their killed target, and their muscles and bones will transform into the corresponding target's form."

"They can achieve almost complete similarity. Only a couple who have lived together intimately for decades might discover the difference."

"From then on, the Treant Person will live on with this human identity, so they also have an alias—Skin-Changer."

For some reason, Yveta thought of the Painted Skin from his past life.

The Old Witch said, "According to the description in this book, Baron Moro has long been a Treant Person."

"If we let this brat go tell that imposter that we've discovered the Children of the Forest's plot, what do you think the Baron will be dealing with after summoning the army—the Children of the Forest, or us?"

Yveta nodded. "So that's how it is."

Everyone looked at Branton with a hint of sympathy in their eyes.

Because of the Old Witch's statement, it was equivalent to saying that Branton's father, Baron Moro, had died long ago, and the current Baron Moro was an imposter who had replaced him, a Skin-Changer.

Branton's shoulders trembled. "No, that's wrong. What you're saying is wrong. Then how do you explain that even the villagers forgot my younger sister?"

"Are all the villagers Skin-Changers—Treants!"

The Old Witch explained, "That's precisely the problem."

"This book records that during the battle between human ancestors and Treant People more than two thousand years ago, they discovered a strange characteristic of the ancient tree they worshipped."

"When the Treant People sacrificed human children to their ancient tree, a phenomenon called Memory Distortion would occur—the captured children would be gradually forgotten by people who were not close to them."

"However, direct relatives and those who had more contact with the child would not."

"The current situation is that almost everyone around your sister has been replaced by Treant People, leaving only you."

"And the villagers have also forgotten your younger sister Sharon due to Memory Distortion."

Branton stood up stiffly and retreated repeatedly, dodging the Mithril Sword. "I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it."

"If that's the case, as you said, the Children of the Forest have long controlled Moro Baron Territory. Then why did they specifically keep me and not kill me?"

"I don't have much combat power!"

The Old Witch sneered, mockingly saying, "What are you? Why would they kill you? You're just a pig waiting to be slaughtered."

"You're only nineteen or twenty years old now, right?"

"Just right. For the Treant People, adulthood requires at least twenty-two years old."

"You are also a sacrifice they have targeted."

"Because the Treant People believe that only noble bloodlines can be sacrificed to the ancient tree."

"However, this sacrificial ritual can only be performed once every three months, so you were spared."

"But as I see it, since your sister disappeared three months ago, your original death date should be the fifteenth of next month."

The Old Witch, devoid of sympathy, continued to rub salt in the wound.

She had always believed that the suffering of the weak was the source of artistic beauty.

This was her understanding of art, which was why many famous artists had a habit of self-harm.

The Old Witch taunted, "It's your good fortune that you can come with us now."

"I advise you to accept the facts."

"I don't accept that," Branton turned to run out of the cave.

But the Old Witch suddenly threw the Mithril Sword in her left hand. The Mithril Sword grazed Branton's ear and then embedded itself in the rock wall in front of him.

The Old Witch said, "I won't let you alert the enemy."

"If you dare take another step forward, my next sword will be thrown at your head."

Branton panted, not daring to move forward or backward.

He even gritted his teeth, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Hearthstone Great Witch, I forbid you from speaking to Branton again," Yveta warned her with a look. "This is my command. If you dare disobey..."

The Old Witch's smug expression froze.

This was a threat from a Demon God.

The Old Witch naturally felt fear. "Your Majesty, in my heart, your command supersedes all laws."

"Of course, I will obey."

Yveta nodded, satisfied.

It wasn't for any other reason.

First, Branton was still their employer. What would happen if you angered your benefactor?

Second, an emotionally unstable teammate was a nightmare.

As someone who would undoubtedly become king in the future, controlling the emotions of his team members was a very important and necessary skill.

Yveta said to Branton, "If you want to cry, just cry."

"But if you rush out recklessly like this, if your father isn't a Treant Person, at most he'll think you're a coward."

"But if he is a Treant Person, you'll lose your life."

"Branton, I know that nothing I say will be of any use to you right now. But I still want to tell you that no matter what, I will stand by your side. If you feel scared, remember, I am on your side."

"Calm down, and let's devise a plan to deal with the Treant Person."

Upon hearing this, Branton's body trembled again.

He turned around, tears streaming down his face.

This era placed particularly high demands on men, especially nobles and knight attendants. They were not allowed to shed tears, and even if they did, it would only invite ridicule.

However, Yveta told him that he could cry here and now.

No one would mock him!

Branton burst into tears, venting his emotions. "Your Highness... I don't know what to do."

"Can even the God of All Things of the Church solve my current predicament?"

"When I was young, I prayed before the statue for a thousand days and nights, but now, why have I brought this misfortune upon myself!"

"Your Highness, I really... don't know what to do..."

"Your Highness, I only have you now. Please give me an order, because I no longer know what to do."

Branton's personality was undoubtedly on the weaker side.

The Old Witch's expression changed slightly. "Your Majesty, the Treant Person has now completely occupied the Baron Territory."

"They have an unknown number of Treant Person warriors and Treant Person priests, and they can also mobilize the human army within the territory using Baron Moro's identity."

"They also have an Ancient Tree that has been sacrificed to for who knows how long."

"To oppose them means we are simultaneously opposing the Treant People and humans within the territory, plus an Ancient Tree."

The Old Witch explained, "The Forbidden Book states that an Ancient Tree of the Treant People will transform into a Treant after receiving sufficient sacrifices. Our ancestors from over two thousand years ago speculated that these Ancient Trees are related to the Treant experiments of the Druids, and the Druids' experiments at that time were closely related to the Children of the Forest."

"Perhaps the Druids were the driving force behind the Children of the Forest's withdrawal from the human evolutionary path."

"But in any case, although you are powerful, you are still trapped within a human body. Look at your right hand."

Yveta raised his right hand and found a faint Lightning Mark on the back of his hand.

The Hearthstone Great Witch said, "You just innovated the spell of Lightning Curse, but the unbalanced energy left a mark on your body."

"If this continues, your mortal body will degenerate into that of a magical creature."

"You cannot exert divine power to the limit anymore."