The Tree of Life
Guo Youshan led an army of 200,000 on a long and arduous march, and they were finally about to reach Qixia City.
"General Guo, once we cross Eastward-Looking Mountain, we'll reach the border between our Great Wu Kingdom and Qian Kingdom's Qixia City. Where should the army make camp?" Deputy General Yuan Shiji asked.
Eastward-Looking Mountain was the westernmost great mountain in the Wu Kingdom. Its peaks were steep and its rocks jagged. The barren land was mostly stone, making it unsuitable for settlement, so it remained deserted year-round. There was not even a decent footpath, let alone an official road, and even the Wu Kingdom's westernmost fortress was several hundred li away.
Guo Youshan gazed from afar at the strange peaks and rocks, soaring into the clouds as though carved with a blade. "We've reached Eastward-Looking Mountain, have we? Such a barren wasteland truly is a deathtrap standing in the way of our Martial Emperor's conquest of the Qian Kingdom."
"Deputy General Yuan, pass down the order. The entire army is to rest here and cook a meal. We'll cross Eastward-Looking Mountain tomorrow morning."
"Yes, General!" Deputy General Yuan acknowledged the order and rode off.
"The entire army will rest here. We march across Eastward-Looking Mountain tomorrow."
The city lord's manor in Qixia City
"Commander Lu, ever since we received the intelligence from Wuling City, our soldiers have been drilling day and night. Everyone hopes to distinguish themselves and win glory, and they've sworn to bury the Wu soldiers deep in Qixia City. But will the Wu Kingdom really send troops this way? Eastward-Looking Mountain may not compare to the Endless Mountains, but marching an army across it is still fraught with difficulties."
"Commander Fang, we can't afford to let our guard down. Although the Qian and Wu kingdoms rarely sent troops directly against our Qixia City in their past wars, it has happened. The Wu Kingdom's great general, 'Madman Yan Wupi,' forced his way across Eastward-Looking Mountain and attacked our city. He was the culprit behind the previous old city lord's unjust death beneath a volley of arrows.
"Yan Wupi was a man of the previous Martial Emperor's era. He had a lifetime of outstanding military achievements, played by no rules and did as he pleased. When the old Martial Emperor attacked Qian, he merely ordered Yan Wupi to guard Eastward-Looking Mountain against a surprise attack by Qian troops. But the madman forced his army across the mountain and attacked Qixia City, causing the old city lord's unfortunate death and countless casualties in the city. Madman Yan fought his way west, stopping only when his supply of provisions ran out.
"Mention Yan Wupi in Qixia City, and the people all gnash their teeth. They wish they could eat his flesh raw. But from a soldier's perspective, Yan Wupi truly was a great general of a kind rarely found.
"Qixia City is rich in produce and exceptionally blessed with mineral resources. It has long been known as the second most prosperous city in the Qian Kingdom, surpassed only by the capital, and has always been a prize contested by military strategists. Commander Fang, only by being prepared can we keep trouble at bay."
"Yes, Commander. I'll go train the army and add more patrols at once."
Hundred Stars New Village
The new village was essentially ready. Besides the houses that had been built, paths led to every part of the village. There were also designated breeding grounds, ponds and vast stretches of fertile farmland. The grain had already been sown, and the natural river made irrigation very convenient. Ye Fan had secretly diverted the Spring of Life into the farmland to help the crops grow.
Recently, Ye Fan seemed to have noticed something odd about his body. He seemed to have inexhaustible energy, and every day he was full of vigor and knew no fatigue. His hearing and sight had sharpened; he could even see mosquitoes feeding along the riverbed, and his hearing had improved considerably as well. He could make out even the faint rustling of insects and ants.
What's happening? Could the Inner World have transformed my body? Unable to explain it, Ye Fan could only credit the Inner World. I'll go take a look inside the Inner World tonight!
Ever since the village had begun relocating, Ye Fan had not entered the Inner World again. He had spent every day with the villagers and his family, and there had simply been no way. Now that the village was complete, he had a private space of his own. Ye Fan decided that, no matter what, he would take a look inside the Inner World that night.
When night fell, Ye Fan finished dinner with his parents and hurried back to his little house. Of course, he did not rush into the Inner World. If his parents suddenly came in, everything would be exposed. For now, it was better not to tell them.
After a long wait, he finally heard a door close. Ye Fan rose on tiptoe and stood beside the bed. The Inner World opened silently, and a fluctuation of pure Spiritual Qi spread out. Before Ye Fan could think further, he vanished from the room in a flash.
"What an enormous tree!"
Ye Fan had just entered the Inner World when the sight before him made his jaw drop.
At some point, a colossal tree reaching toward the heavens had sprung from the ground. Its straight trunk rose nearly a hundred meters, and its crown spread like a giant umbrella that blotted out the sky. Several people together could not wrap their arms around the trunk. Most importantly, the tree constantly emitted Spiritual Qi. It was lush and verdant, brimming with the breath of life.
Had a mighty expert from the primordial wilderness been present, they would surely have seized it at all costs.
This was a Tree of Life. Rumor had it that the Tree of Life originated from chaos. One represented nothingness, the other new life. The two complemented and restrained each other. Legends recorded that, during the Great Desolate era, a towering giant born before heaven and earth awoke to find endless chaos before him. Displeased, he reached out and seized a Tree of Life, refining it into the shape of a giant axe. Gripping it in both hands, he swung it fiercely at the loathsome chaos. Heaven and earth burst apart, and all things trembled violently... The endless chaos slowly dispersed, and only then did the giant lie down again in the void. After who knew how many more years, the giant died, and his body underwent tremendous changes. His breath became the winds of the four seasons and the drifting clouds; his voice became rumbling thunder; his eyes became the sun and moon; his limbs became the four poles of the earth, east, west, south and north; his skin became the vast land; his blood became the endlessly flowing rivers; his body hair became flourishing flowers, grasses and trees; and his sweat became the rain and dew that nourished all things. As terrifying as the towering giant was, the Tree of Life axe he wielded was equally without peer in the world.
Though the Tree of Life in Ye Fan's Inner World was still growing, it already radiated an endless breath of life.
The Tree of Life accompanied the birth of heaven and earth. Ye Fan's Inner World had already taken on the rudimentary form of a greater world. Given endless time, it would surely grow into one.
Ye Fan walked around the giant tree several times before noticing that liquid was slowly seeping from its buds. As it gathered, it formed drops that fell to the ground.
A tiny channel had already formed underfoot, winding its way into the Spring of Life.
"These drops seem to share the same root and origin as the Spring of Life?" Ye Fan caught a drop on his finger and tasted it, speaking to himself.
I wonder if I can cut off a branch and take it back to the village to grow from a cutting. If I can, it would save a lot of trouble later.
In the end, Ye Fan did not cut off a branch. If anyone recognized such an extraordinary thing, it would bring a devastating calamity upon the village.
After taking a close look at the Primordial Star, which had grown considerably larger, Ye Fan lingered no longer. He opened the Inner World, checked that no one was in the room, and appeared on his bed in a flash.
The Inner World has grown quite a bit again. It seems the changes to my body came from it. That's not a bad thing.
The village is finished too. Is it time for me to go out into the world? With the Inner World, I can at least protect myself. Looks like I need to find an opportunity...
Here I come, bright and colorful world, bringing the Inner World with me...