Finding the Sacred Forest of Life
Two days later, the two were very close to the source of that life energy.
Finally, a path appeared beneath our feet—not a trail made by wild beasts, but a path paved with stone slabs, with moss growing in the cracks.
A stone gate appeared ahead, its grayish-white stone covered with vine-like patterns.
Several wooden houses were built on the giant tree next to them, and there were about a dozen figures moving about in the canopy.
Xiao Wu looked up at the figures, her expression strange. "Xingyu, what are they? They look so weird?"
Wang Xingyu looked closely. The figures had pointed ears, hair in varying shades of green and yellow, and translucent wings that fluttered slightly behind them.
They flitted gracefully among the branches.
"They might be elves, or something like that, but I don't know much about them."
Should we make contact with them?
This place must be very close to the site where the Goddess of Life passed down her legacy. These elves are most likely guardians or guides, not enemies.
The two weren't there to steal; they were bound to meet sooner or later.
"Let's just go straight there and ask for directions. There's no need to hide."
The two emerged from the woods and came into view of the elves.
The sprites in the treetops stopped what they were doing and stared curiously at the two uninvited guests.
Several elves even took out bows and arrows, but they didn't draw them; they just held them warily.
Wang Xingyu raised his hands to indicate that he meant no harm, and said in a soft but clear voice, "Hello, we are here to participate in the Goddess of Life's trial, and we mean no harm. Is this the place?"
Xiao Wu chimed in from the side, "Yes, yes, hello everyone!"
Wang Xingyu noticed that the elves looked at Xiao Wu with significantly gentler eyes. This was probably because Xiao Wu was Soul Beast Transformation.
One of the elves flew down from the treetop and hovered a few steps in front of the two.
Her wings fluttered slightly, creating a gentle breeze that lifted a few strands of green hair.
She sized them up, then spoke in a clear, melodious voice. "Hello, outsiders. May I ask which world you come from? And by what means?"
In the original novel, the Douluo God Realm is connected to and governs 108 lower realms, so it's not surprising that the other party asked this question.
Wang Xingyu said, "We're from the Douluo Continent. We found each other through clues that have been circulating online."
He recounted in detail the ancient poem, the stone statue, and how the two people used their blood to open the spatial rift.
The elf nodded after listening, a look of reminiscence appearing on her face. "It's been a long time since anyone from the Douluo Continent has come. Please follow me."
She turned and flew towards the stone gate. The two followed her through the stone gate, and the moment they stepped inside, an even more intense energy rushed towards them.
The energy here is more abundant than outside; it flows into your meridians without you having to consciously absorb it. Cultivating here is probably more than twice as efficient as outside.
The elf noticed their expressions and explained, "This place is called the Sacred Forest of Life. The power used here isn't Soul Power, but Force. After you absorb it, you can convert it into the power you cultivate."
Wang Xingyu nodded, just as he had guessed.
The elf led the two forward until they stopped under a giant tree.
It was a truly colossal tree, its trunk so thick that its ends were invisible, reaching straight to the sky as if it had pierced through it, and its highest point was nowhere to be seen. The thickest branches could touch the clouds, and its crown was hidden in the mist.
This giant tree is the source of the immense life force that Wang Xingyu sensed earlier; it should be a projection of the Goddess of Life —or rather, the Ancient Tree of Life.
Two young people, a man and a woman, stood beside the giant tree. Their hair, pupils, and eyelashes were all green, but otherwise they were no different from normal people.
The elf bowed with one hand on his chest. "Steward, these two are from the Douluo World, here to participate in the Life Assessment."
The female deacon nodded, indicating that she understood.
After speaking, the elf turned and left; it seemed her duty was to provide assistance and lead the way.
Wang Xingyu and Xiao Wu stood there for a few seconds, but the other party did not speak.
The atmosphere was somewhat quiet.
Wang Xingyu coughed lightly, breaking the silence. "Uh, hello, steward. What should we do?"
Shouldn't the other party explain the rules first? I also lack experience.
The male deacon looked at the two of them and finally spoke.
He first said to Wang Xingyu, "You can't participate."
Then he said to Xiao Wu, "You can barely participate. However, since you don't have the life attribute, you might only be able to reach the Black Level First Trial."
The two looked at each other, both seeing bewilderment in each other's eyes.
What is all this about? Why can Xiao Wu barely manage, but Wang Xingyu can't do it at all?
The two had searched for so long, all the way from Holy Soul Village to the Gulei Kingdom, and finally found the place of inheritance, only to have it rejected with a single sentence?
Why can't I?
The male deacon seemed to think the question was somewhat redundant, and said in a flat but impolite tone, "You carry resentment within you. The Goddess of Life won't pass on her blessings to someone like you."
Resentment. That's something you'd feel if you'd killed someone. And I have indeed killed someone.
"Then—" Wang Xingyu asked, looking bewildered, "If the other party attacks first, can't I fight back?"
"Yes," the male deacon said calmly. "So the woman beside you, though she also harbors resentment, can participate. But you cannot—because you have killed someone who couldn't fight back. When you attack someone who can't fight back, you've already disqualified."
No ability to fight back?
Wang Xingyu's mind raced through every person he had ever killed, finally settling on one image—the sheriff's house in the east of Nuoding City, with two children.
One is eight years old, and the other is six years old.
The eight-year-old was pierced through the chest with Sleeve Arrow, and the six-year-old was killed even after he tested him with an illusion.
"Although they were unable to fight back, they were still beneficiaries. Shouldn't beneficiaries bear joint liability?"
The male deacon shook his head, his brow furrowing slightly, a hint of barely perceptible anger in his voice. "I can see you have the ability to stop it. Their crimes don't deserve this."
"So my parents deserved this punishment?"
Wang Xingyu's voice also carried anger, and he himself didn't realize where this emotion came from. "Aren't my parents innocent?!"
The male deacon looked at him coldly. "Those without great compassion are unworthy. Even if you release them after punishing them, given their strength, you will not be harmed."
"Heh." Wang Xingyu chuckled. "I won't get hurt, but what about the people around me? They don't have my strength. If I let them go, that's gambling. That's irresponsible towards the people around me!"
He stared at the male deacon, speaking slowly and deliberately.
Even knowing that killing them would disqualify them from participating in the test, I would still kill them.
"You!" The male deacon was so angry that his face turned pale, but he didn't know how to retort for a moment.
After saying these words, the anger that had been building up inside Wang Xingyu finally dissipated.
However, now that things have calmed down, the situation is somewhat awkward.
I'm definitely out of the running. Can Xiao Wu still participate? But Xiao Wu's attributes don't match.
Forget it, at worst I'll just go to Sea God Island and take the Sea God's test.
Moreover, this butler acts like a saint; I hope he doesn't lead Xiao Wu astray.
But what about Xiao Wu's attitude?
Xiao Wu snorted from the side, raised her chin, and said in an equally angry voice, "Tch, if you don't want to participate, then don't participate. We don't care anyway!"