"The little fellow from the Silver Clan, the little fellow from the Blazing Flame Clan, and... Pu Yu, was it?" the Blue-Scaled Immortal murmured, actually recognizing Shi Yi.
"Greetings, Blue-Scaled Immortal One!" Shi Yi and the others bowed to him.
"Mm. What are you three doing here? Don't you know that approaching this place is forbidden?" the Blue-Scaled Immortal asked somewhat sternly.
Yin Lun and Chi Ming felt a little intimidated. Faced with an Immortal One's questioning, one wrong answer could spell disaster.
Shi Yi remained calm, without a ripple in his expression. Even under an Immortal One's reproach, he was perfectly composed. He answered, "This was my idea. Ever since I was born, I have often gazed at the World Tree from afar, hoping that one day I could approach it myself and witness its magnificent, transcendent splendor. Now that I have made some small progress in cultivation, I wanted to fulfill that wish.
"I never expected there to be a rule forbidding anyone from approaching. I was unaware of it. If I have caused any offense, please forgive me, Senior Blue-Scaled."
Seeing that he was neither servile nor arrogant and possessed a measure of courage, the Blue-Scaled Immortal nodded inwardly.
"It isn't entirely out of the question. This prohibition exists because the World Tree is our realm's most important pillar. It orders the myriad Daos and stabilizes the world. Nothing must happen to it.
"Do you know how our realm felled the World Tree of the Primordial Ancient World back then?" Blue-Scaled asked.
The three shook their heads. Shi Yi knew nothing about it at all, while Yin Lun and Chi Ming had heard a little, but their knowledge was vague and uncertain.
"Back then, it was precisely because that realm's inhabitants neglected its protection that our realm's