CHAPTER 24: ANCIENT QICHUN TREE

After his grand massacre, Qi Yuan dug a pit and buried himself again.

"I should be able to reach level 90 in another ten or so days. I wonder what great skill I will awaken." Full of anticipation, he let his thoughts wander. "Once I reach level 90, clearing the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone should be easy! Will I awaken a special ability then?"

Not long after entering the gaming jade for the first time, his eyes mutated, allowing him to see hidden information. Would he gain further mutations if he managed to clear the game?

"Will I gain something like super sonic ears? Able to hear indescribable whispers? Or maybe I'll grow a dog's nose?"

Lying in the dirt pit, he still couldn't see the moon.

Then, a message from Jin Li popped up.

Jin Li: Qi Yuan, thank you. Today, Aunt Qin defeated the State Preceptor of Southern Feng! When Aunt Qin revealed that she was at the Emperor realm, Sima Ting's gloomy face was priceless!!

She seemed really happy, judging from the several exclamations in her message.

Qi Yuan replied with whatever came to mind.

Qi Yuan: Not bad. You've also completed quite a few of your tasks. Hurry up and finish them, then we can finally meet in person. By the way, should we pick a location for our meeting?

There was no response for a long while. Until at last, a message came through.

Jin Li: How about beneath the Ancient Qichun Tree?

The Ancient Qichun Tree was the most legendary tree on the Moonwatch Continent. No one knew its true height, only that it towered so high it was said one could touch the stars from its branches. According to legend, it had been planted by a celestial god.

Before said god set out to battle the Celestial Demons, he planted the sapling in his courtyard.

The god told his wife, "When the Qichun tree grows to three zhang tall, I shall return."

Year after year, his wife waited beneath the tree, never knowing how long had passed. Even after the Qichun tree had grown to three zhang tall, her beloved never returned.

In the end, the Qichun tree grew to thirty zhang, then three hundred zhang, and then thirty thousand zhang. Though it grew without end, the god's wife never witnessed her husband's victorious return. Thus, the Ancient Qichun Tree became the most legendary tree on the Moonwatch Continent.

Qi Yuan was startled. "Ancient Qichun Tree?"

He'd heard of it. There was one at the summit of Seven-Colored Peak. Still, where would one actually find such a tree in this game?

Qi Yuan: Where is this Ancient Qichun Tree?

Jin Li paused for a moment. Walking out of her house, she stared into the distance. A colossal tree's silhouette filled her sight. No matter where one was on the Moonwatch Continent, if they lifted their head and gazed far enough, they'd see the Ancient Qichun Tree. The great tree pierced the heavens, its leaves adorned with starlight, twinkling like scattered jewels.

Jin Li: Look up and face the southwest. That great tree there—that is the Ancient Qichun Tree.

Qi Yuan blinked. Climbing out of his pit, he gazed southwest. Indeed, a towering ancient tree stood in the distance, so massive it seemed to touch the heavens. Its crown glittered with stars, as if they lay within reach.

Qi Yuan: Is that the Ancient Qichun Tree you mentioned? It's enormous... just a little taller and it looks like it'll poke right into the stars. When the time comes, I'll prepare some barbecue. You bring fine wine, and we'll camp beneath the Ancient Qichun Tree. That'll be a special day.

Qi Yuan then burrowed back into his dirt pit.

Jin Li: Alright!

Jin Li's expression was unreadable. Today, Aunt Qin had won a great victory. She intended to press the advantage and sweep away Sima Ting's remaining wings of influence. Still, she knew full well she hadn't truly won.

Many dangers were lurking from all directions.

***

At Divine Radiance Sect.

Qi Yuan strolled about with his vegetable knife.

Just then, a disciple from Myriad Arts Peak greeted him, "Senior Brother, tomorrow's the Foundation Establishment Event and you're still out walking your pet?"

Qi Yuan didn't stop walking. "My pet is about to awaken spiritual wisdom. Of course I can't be laid back!"

The disciple chuckled. "Senior Brother, you are truly an extraordinary person."

Qi Yuan led his knife along, walking with great seriousness.

Behind him, several Divine Radiance Sect's disciples lowered their heads, whispering among themselves, "The senior of Seven-Colored Peak is really calm. Even though the Foundation Establishment Event is literally tomorrow, he still has time to walk a pet. A vegetable knife, at that!"

"The emperor's not in a hurry, but the eunuchs are... if you are so leisurely, why aren't you representing the Divine Radiance Sect?"

"Cough, cough... my cultivation's lacking..."

"They say the prize for first place in this year's Foundation Establishment Event is a level 1 spirit item—the Yellow Blossom Fruit!"

"That's a level 1 spirit item! Whoever wins it will surely be able to form a Nascent Soul. They'd dominate Great Shang and count among the top experts anywhere."

"If a level 1 spirit item is that powerful, then how awe-inspiring must the Earth-class or Immortal-class Foundation Establishment be?"

"Don't dream. People like that are beyond what we'll ever encounter."

Everyone sighed, feeling the universe vast and themselves small. Then, one male disciple gritted his teeth. "I heard Black Mountain Sect's Chu Tianxiong will also be coming!"

"He dares show his face here?!"

"Damn it! Didn't a Black Mountain Sect's elder injure Zheng Jianghe not long ago?! Yet, they still dare to come here?"

Some female disciples went pale, clearly fearful of Chu Tianxiong. "Our female disciples must be careful, otherwise, t-they might..."

One disciple declared, "Hmph! This is the Divine Radiance Sect, one of Great Shang's three strongest sects! How would the Black Mountain Sect dare to act wantonly here?"

The disciples were united in hatred against the Black Mountain Sect. Yet, despite seething with anger, they were powerless to do anything. After all, that Black Chicken Ancestor was like a mountain pressing down on the three great sects.

Qi Yuan, of course, didn't hear any of this. He simply led his knife and slowly returned to the Seven-Colored Peak.

Qi Yuan wanted to pat the knife, but feared cutting his hand. "Hey, how come you still haven't gained sentience?"

Even worse, what if he smacked the knife stupid and once it awakened intelligence, it became a fool? What then?

Well, it should only be a day or two more. Maybe even tonight.

Back at his courtyard, he tied the knife to a wooden stake. "Damn it, the Foundation Establishment Event is tomorrow. I need to hurry up, finish grinding, and get to bed early. What a pain."

As if that wasn't enough, he'd have to represent the Divine Radiance Sect and welcome guests from other sects. Socializing... just the thought made him irritable. Qi Yuan felt immense social pressure. He much preferred interacting with the mute garment beasts, even voicing them himself.

"If only I were a star in the vast cosmos, just hanging in the sky, never needing to say a word."

Qi Yuan then entered the game, completely oblivious to what'd happen that night.

***

Later that night...

Suddenly, the vegetable knife sprang up and sliced apart the rope that bound it. After rummaging anxiously around the straw hut, it gnawed on a few blades of grass. Seemingly starving, it turned its gaze toward a nearby hut, then snuck under the moonlight.

It stared greedily at the hut. If it had eyes, they'd surely be glowing. Still, in the end, it hesitated and instead began rummaging through a garbage heap. About an hour later, it tiptoed back, and tied itself up again with the rope.