In the ancient books of the Dao Academy, there are detailed records about Nature Spirit's "asking for a seal".
This kind of supernatural beings cultivated by plants or animals will often seek recognition from people they meet on the way when they reach a critical point in their practice.
Since human beings are the spirit of all things, possessing national destiny and spirituality, the words they speak are cause and effect.
If Chu Bai resembles a human being, this Sophora japonica Tree Spirit may be able to instantly transform into a human being and travel around the mortal world, but the price is that most of the vegetation it has accumulated over hundreds of years will be destroyed, and it will be riddled with resentment for the rest of its life, turning into a half-man, half-ghost monster.
If Chu Bai is like an immortal, Huai Tree Spirit can reach heaven in one step and become an immortal, but the price of going against heaven needs to be borne by the speaker Chu Bai.
I am afraid that most of his Fortune will be lost in an instant, and may even affect his future Dao Path.
This is a dilemma.
Chu Bai cast [Golden Eye Illusion-Breaker], and his pupils shrank imperceptibly.
In his sharp vision, the spiritual power fluctuations around the old locust tree were like boiling waves, layer upon layer, with a strong sense of oppression.
"Qi Refining Late-Stage... at least Qi Refining Seventh Layer, even an eighth-level master."
Chu Bai quickly assessed the strength comparison between the two sides in his mind.
With his Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation, combined with many perfect Spell Arts, if it were a battle, although it would be difficult to win, but with his Foundation Depth, it would not be difficult to retreat completely, as long as he held on until Hu Hao and Feng Qin led the encirclement. No matter how strong Tree Spirit was, it could not stop War-Slaying Qi from hundreds of Demon-Suppressing Guard.
But he didn't feel any violent and cruel Demon Qi in the old locust tree.
On the contrary, due to being used by nearby people to dry their clothes and enjoy the cool air all year round, this Tree Spirit has a very light Sandalwood Incense smell that is like plant ash, which is the mildness that is cultivated by the fireworks in the city.
In addition, it had just deliberately revealed its body to protect Spirit Fox, instead of taking advantage of the chaos to kill people, Chu Bai already had a plan in mind.
This is definitely not an evil spirit, but a "land spirit" guarding the fireworks in the world.
Chu Bai was silent for about three breaths, and the depressing atmosphere almost reached the critical point.
The white Spirit Fox hid behind the roots of the tree, stretched out half of his head nervously, and stared at Chu Bai with his big, watery eyes.
Finally, Chu Bai raised his head, looked directly at the old face, and spoke with a clear voice, like jade hitting each other:
"You have been cultivating here for many years, receiving the fireworks of the people, and absorbing the righteousness of the world. Although you are a plant, you know the kindness and justice, and do not disturb the common people. If this is the case, why should you chase the ethereal 'immortal' or the cramped 'human'?"
Chu Bai took half a step forward, and a faint golden-red crest flashed across the palm of his right hand - that was his awakened [Golden Edict]Fate Destiny resonating with the cause and effect of heaven and earth.
"You are neither an immortal nor a human being. You are who you are. You are rooted here and protect the peace of this alley. You can call me - Locust Tree Duke!"
Boom!
As soon as the voice fell, the originally gloomy wind in Great Locust Alley instantly subsided, replaced by a warmth like spring returning to the earth.
In the void, traces of golden light emerged from between the bricks and tiles of the alley. It was the people's gratitude and awe for this tree for many years, which was completely ignited and condensed by Chu Bai's edict at this moment.
I saw the old locust tree shake violently, and the yellow leaves all over the sky suddenly turned green.
The old face was stunned for a moment, and then a peaceful glimmer emitted from its hollow eyes.
"Neither an immortal nor a human being... an old man... has learned a lesson."
Following this response, Chu Bai felt Demon-Slaying Iron Token around his waist hum happily. The originally suppressed spiritual pressure disappeared, replaced by an extremely mysterious sense of intimacy.
The white Spirit Fox seemed to have sensed the change in the atmosphere. It no longer ran away, but gracefully walked out from behind the roots of the tree, bowed to Chu Bai, then jumped into the emerald green canopy and disappeared.
Chu Bai stood where he was, looking at the old locust tree that had undergone a dramatic change.
The old locust tree swayed its branches slightly, as if bowing its head to Chu Bai.
Great Locust Alley bottom, warm as spring.
The dead end that was originally cold, damp and smelled of decay seemed to be injected with some indescribable vitality after the Chu Bai said "Locust Tree Duke".
The branches of the old locust tree stopped shaking like ghost hands, and the green buds broke out at a speed visible to the naked eye, squeezing out the old yellow leaves.
Chu Bai stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as tall as a pine tree. He did not look at Spirit Fox who had returned to calmness after being frightened, but looked directly at the face on the locust tree trunk that gradually became kind and solemn.
"You have taken root here for hundreds of years, witnessed the rise and fall of this alley, and received the incense and smoke of the people for hundreds of years.
Now that I have given you a name, will you... come under my command from now on, patrol the shadows of this busy city on my behalf, protect the people in this surrounding area, and suppress all small evil spirits?"
Chu Bai's voice is not high-pitched, but it exudes an unquestionable majesty.
The old locust tree was silent.
Its leaves make a fine rustling sound in the night wind, as if it is thinking and feeling.
It has been practicing for hundreds of years. Since it has no orthodox inheritance, it has been hiding in the middle of this busy city. It is afraid of being trampled by Demon-Suppression Office's cavalry, and it is also afraid of being swallowed by the ferocious monsters outside the city.
It has seen too many of Nature Spirit's kind become dismembered due to momentary greed or exposure.
And now, an opportunity lies in front of it.
An opportunity that is justified and no longer has to hide; an opportunity to have Great Zhou Demon-Suppression Office and this amazing young man in front of him Fortune at his back.
"Good."
The human face on the locust tree trunk slowly opened its mouth and spat out a heavy and firm word.
With this answer, Chu Bai felt as if there was an invisible shackle in the void connecting the two of them.
"Okay."
Chu Bai's eyes were slightly focused, and the index finger of his right hand was suddenly raised, and the fingertips drew a mysterious trajectory in the void.
[Fate Destiny: Golden Edict, Jade Register Bearing Heaven]--
Boom!
A brilliant golden light burst out from Chu Bai's fingertips, instantly illuminating the entire dark alley.
This golden light is not dazzling, but exudes a solemn, sacred and vast atmosphere.
In the void, a looming pale golden jade book slowly unfolded, with countless simple lines flowing on it.
Chu Bai's consciousness was heightened in an instant.
He felt that his Divine Sense followed the pull of the golden light and instantly penetrated the hard bluestone slab, sinking into the ground several feet deep.
He merged with the root system of the old locust tree, which was an extremely wonderful experience - he could feel the thickness of the earth, the moisture of the soil, and the Earth Vein inspiration flowing slowly along the root system.
At the same time, scenes after scenes flashed crazily in Chu Bai's mind like a revolving lantern.
That is the life of the old locust tree for hundreds of years.
Edict Investiture ceremony officially opened.
As "Edict Investiture", Chu Bai must liquidate and witness the past of the ennobled person under the witness of Heavenly Dao.
A hundred years ago, this was not a prosperous downtown area.
In Chu Bai's conscious vision, he saw a desolate wilderness.
At that time, this old locust tree was just an ordinary seedling, crumbling in the violent storm. It was born with nature, and by chance, it got a little inspiration from Earth Vein, and then it took root in that barren soil.
Time flies and the pictures flow rapidly.
Several families fleeing from famine came here. They set up simple huts next to the locust tree and reclaimed the wasteland. The locust tree watched them work at sunrise and rest at sunset, and watched the barefoot children playing in its shadow.
With the migration and growth of the population, the wilderness turned into villages, and the villages were gradually merged into the expanded Anping County city, turning into the intricate "Great Locust Alley" it is today.
The old locust tree grew up unconsciously.
It listens to the people's prayers every day, smells the incense of smoke when they worship their ancestors, and feels the strong smoke of human beings.
It was this peaceful and tenacious power that suddenly gave birth to a trace of ignorant wisdom one morning.
It began to take the initiative to shade the old people in the alley from the sun and protect the pedestrians from the rain. It loved this alley just like the old farmers loved their fields.
However, in the shadow of this prosperity, crisis always follows.
One late night about eighty years ago, it was the coldest scene in Huaishu's memory.
Several evil spirits, exuding a disgusting smell, sneaked in from the mass graves outside the city.
They avoided the rudimentary patrol guards at that time, sniffed the scent of living people, and entered this alley that was still quiet at that time.
The evil spirit wanted to launch a blood sacrifice.
At that desperate moment, the people in the entire alley were sleeping soundly, and no one knew that death had come.
It's this old locust tree.
It revealed its true identity for the first time.
Chu Bai saw that countless roots as hard as iron burst out from the ground, like an earth dragon turning over, and instantly entangled several evil spirits.
The lush branches and leaves of the old locust tree turned into the sharpest arrows, and in the deserted night, a fierce and fierce battle began.
In that battle, the old locust tree won. It protected the lives of the entire alley.
But it also paid a heavy price.
Before one of the evil spirits died, he sprayed a mouthful of rich corpse venom into the core of the old locust tree.
From then on, the inside of the old locust tree began to wither and turn black. In the eyes of the people, the tree seemed less lush than before, and even began to lose its leaves.
No one knew that this tree would endure the heart-wrenching torment of poison every moment for the next hundred years.
It becomes decayed and cautious.
It originally also had some Nature Spirit friends.
There is a swallow spirit that likes to live under the eaves, and there is a little snake lurking at the bottom of the well.
But as the years went by, those friends either died in the war, or fled to the mountains because they could no longer stand the increasingly rare opportunities.
Only it, because it was reluctant to part with the fireworks and because of the heavy damage left by that battle, could only rely on its superb breath control Divine Ability, like a lonely old man, lingering half-dead in the depths of this busy city.
Until a month ago, that Spirit Fox broke into its territory.
The breath of Nature Spirit, who share the same problem, makes them huddle together for warmth.
The old locust tree used its last vitality to cover Spirit Fox's Demon Qi, which was enough to be sensed by Demon-Slaying Token.
The scene ends abruptly.
Chu Bai slowly opened his eyes, with a trace of imperceptible movement in his eyes.
"You have been alone for a hundred years, and your contribution has been in people's livelihood. Your sin is zero, Merit is the best."
Chu Bai opened his mouth and his voice echoed through Divine Soul.
"Edict Investiture starts!"
Chu Bai reached out and made a move, and all the Incense and Fire Prayer Power originally accumulated in [Golden Edict]Fate Destiny came out at this moment.
That was the purest divine power that he had accumulated for a long time after the Three-Bath River killed False God.
This energy originally appeared as a bright golden liquid, but now it turned into drizzle, falling on the crown of the old locust tree.
Originally these Vow Power were messy and carried heavy cause and effect, but under the filtering of Golden Edict, they turned into the most spiritually nourishing nectar.
The whole Great Locust Alley trembled slightly.
In a phenomenon visible to the naked eye, the shriveled, dark bark of the old locust tree began to fall off, revealing the new trunk inside that looked like mutton-fat jade.
The black corpse poison hidden deep in the roots of the tree, which had tortured it for nearly a hundred years, emitted bursts of shrill screams under the wash of this vast divinity, and finally turned into a puff of black smoke and dissipated invisible.
"The foundation of decay... the foundation of decay..."
The old locust tree let out a trembling groan. It felt an unprecedented strength filling its limbs and bones.
The cultivation that had been stagnant at first was loosening crazily at this moment.
Chu Bai looked serious, and the golden light on his fingertips condensed into a palm-sized, light blue and transparent Shinto Talisman in the void.
On the talisman, the four characters Anping Alley God are engraved, and behind it is the standard coat of arms of Demon-Suppression Office Demon-Slaying Token.
"In my name, Edict Investiture, you are Anping County downtown [Alleyhead God]. In charge of the shadows within a three-mile radius, patrolling evil spirits, and protecting living beings. Your merits and demerits will be judged by me alone. Your support will be generated by the fireworks here!"
"Fall!"
Chu Bai shouted loudly, and the green talisman turned into a stream of light, and instantly disappeared into the center of the old locust tree's face and forehead.
Suddenly, a blue pillar of air rose from Great Locust Alley, but due to the intentional cover of Chu Bai, it was limited to this small area.
The lush branches and leaves of the old locust tree completed their final transformation in an instant.
Each leaf is crystal clear, as if carved from jade, and faintly reveals a sacred and inviolable majesty.
The clothes that the common people had hung on the trees to dry were now blowing without any wind, as if they were being held up by a gentle force.
Not only that, the originally noisy and dirty atmosphere around Great Locust Alley was filtered clean in an instant. Those cockroaches and rats hiding in the cracks of the bricks seemed to have sensed the arrival of some kind of natural enemy, and fled into the distance like crazy.
As for the white Spirit Fox, under the bath of this divinity, the snow-white hair became smoother and smoother. Demon Qi, which was originally a bit messy, was actually dyed with a light freshness.
It is the first beneficiary.
At this time, Chu Bai's face was a little pale, but his eyes were brighter than ever.
He planted a pair of eyes in the heart of this busy city.
A pair of eyes that are always awake, always loyal, and able to see through all shadows.
When all the golden light and visions converged, Great Locust Alley returned to silence.
At this time, the big locust tree still looks like it has experienced many vicissitudes of life, but only a true monk can feel that this tree is no longer a tree, but a life form that is completely integrated with this land and this Fortune.
"My lord... is on top."
The old voice sounded again, but this time it was no longer a temptation, but a complete surrender.
The human face on the tree trunk slowly broke away from the wooden confinement, and turned into a phantom old man wearing a simple gown and holding a cane.
The old man faced Chu Bai, knelt down tremblingly on the ground, and performed the most solemn ceremony of master and servant.
"Locust Elder, get up."
Chu Bai retracted his finger. Although his breath was slightly weak, the power of Principal Ninth Rank Demon-Slaying Token was stronger than before, "Since you have been entrusted, you must abide by this duty. If there is another evil spirit that crosses your senses and hurts the people, I will not be lenient."
"This old slave will die to protect the peace of this place."
Locust Elder raised his head, his eyes full of awe and gratitude. He knew very well what had just happened. It not only healed his injury, but also directly gave him a Divine Seat.
In the Great Zhou dynasty, it is difficult for wild spirits to reach the righteous state of cultivation.
And now, he is already the nominal guardian of this land.
Although this Edict Investiture was done by Chu Bai in private and has not been officially documented by the imperial court.
But it is also a priesthood.
While being grateful, the locust tree couldn't help but be surprised.
Such power, such means...
The master's Edict Investiture actually surpassed Great Zhou Celestial Court!
The white Spirit Fox also jumped down from the tree crown.
It no longer ran away, but docilely lay down at Chu Bai's feet, gently rubbing its furry head against Chu Bai's boots.
It is an intelligent creature with spiritual wisdom. After witnessing how Chu Bai conferred the title of god with one finger, how could there be any resistance in its heart?
Chu Bai bent down, stretched out his hand and pressed lightly on the top of Fox Spirit's head.
A wave of Divine Sense entered his mind.
It turns out that Fox Spirit did not escape from Wu Household for no reason.
Spirit Pet After all, he is controlled by others and has developed spiritual intelligence. How can he wish to do this?
Because it had a relationship with the old locust tree in its early years, it hid here.
Chu Bai nodded, thinking about how to handle this matter.
At this moment, rapid footsteps came from the alley.
"Captain! Captain, where are you?"
That was the voice of Hu Hao. They noticed the fluctuation of Spell Power here and were coming in a hurry.
Chu Bai looked back at Locust Elder and thought, "Put away the vision and summon Non-Self from now on. Do not show your holiness in front of outsiders."
"No."
Locust Elder's figure flashed and disappeared into the trunk of the tree again.
The originally lush and lush greenery also began to shrink, returning to the appearance of an ordinary old tree.
"Brother Fox, come with me, this matter still needs to be settled."
Fox Spirit was also picked up by Chu Bai by the back of his neck and casually carried it in his hand.
A moment later, Hu Hao and Feng Qin rushed into the alley with a dozen Demon-Suppressing Guard.
When they saw Chu Bai standing alone under the locust tree, holding the missing white Fox Spirit in his hand, everyone was stunned, and then burst into loud cheers.
"Caught it! As expected of the captain!"
"This beast is really cunning, hiding in the shadow of this tree!"
Feng Qin walked forward and glanced at the big locust tree suspiciously. "Captain, there seemed to be a strong spiritual energy fluctuation here just now. Could it be that Fox Spirit self-destructed Inner Core?"
Chu Bai looked calm and said casually, "This Fox Spirit knows how to hide his presence. I just used a secret method to search for it, and the movement was a little louder. Now that I have caught it, let's stop the team."
"Yes!"
The crowd gathered around Chu Bai and walked out.
No one noticed that after they left, a thin branch of the old locust tree waved quietly in the moonlight, as if to say goodbye.