The God Tree's consciousness seemed to be sensing its own condition.
Only after a moment did it answer:
"It's not enough yet. The fruit... needs more nourishment."
"That little bit of life energy in the body... was too little. It still isn't enough to ripen."
"How much more do you need?"
"A lot. More... presences like mine, or very, very many lives."
The God Tree's consciousness paused, seemingly considering how to express itself.
"Those little things down below will do too, but I'll need very, very many."
Xuandou understood what it meant.
Sacrificing someone with the Ōtsutsuki Bloodline like Toneri had allowed the God Tree to undergo a "qualitative change," but the "quantitative change" was still insufficient.
Clearly, there was still a huge gap between Toneri's Ōtsutsuki bloodline and that of a pureblood Ōtsutsuki.
The God Tree Fruit required an enormous amount of life energy to form.
He would either have to sacrifice another pureblood Ōtsutsuki or make up the difference with a vast number of ordinary lives.
"Understood."
Xuandou spoke to the God Tree's consciousness.
"Digest these things first."
As he spoke, Xuandou opened the Yomotsu Space.
Inside were both Moryo and Huangquan, whom he had captured in the Land of Demons.
There were also the descendants of the Hamura Clan whom he had just knocked unconscious on the moon.
The unconscious Hamura clansmen were expelled from the space, landing on the ground covered by the God Tree's roots.
The God Tree's roots surged up wildly, wrapping those bodies in layer upon layer and encasing them in pale cocoons.
Moryo was still struggling when he was released from the Yomotsu Space, black mist churning as he tried to escape.
A thick root of the God Tree pierced straight through his core. Moryo screamed, and then his entire body was