Chapter 1150 Arrogance
The reason is simple: luckily this person was trying to sneak in. If he had been malicious, Jiang Bai and his group would probably all be dead by last night.
Sensing the presence of the other party, Jiang Bai and his companions were shocked and quickly retreated inside, as the silver fox guards had also begun to flee, rushing into the palace to close the gates.
Jiang Bai and the others weren't stupid. This guy's aura was so terrifying that he clearly belonged to the Tai Tian level. In fact, Jiang Bai felt that he was even more dreadful than the ruling prince. Only an idiot would stay here.
You know, when gods fight, mortals suffer; when the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat also get caught in the crossfire.
Neither the old tree nor the demon before them are easy to deal with. If the two of them fight, Jiang Bai and the others are likely to be caught in the crossfire.
No sooner said than done, one root was destroyed, and in an instant, the houses in front of the palace were all destroyed. More than a dozen roots, as graceful as dragons, soared into the air and attacked the demon.
The opponent did not back down and began to resist directly, surprisingly holding its own as its roots were severed one by one.
Although he struggled to walk, he continued toward the palace gate, almost rushing through several times, only to be stopped each time.
The battle there tore apart the surrounding land, leaving houses and ancient cities severely damaged.
The aftershocks stirred up clouds of dust and shattered everything. Fortunately, Jiang Bai and his group had already rushed in by then. Silver light appeared on the palace walls, which actually blocked the attack from the outside.
Jiang Bai knew that this palace was no ordinary place. It seemed that what that expert from the Southern Border Witch God Sect said about the great saint of the demon race helping to forge the formation might not be false.
He might not be some great saint of the demon race, but he is at least a top expert.
"Damn it!" the demon roared, and black flames soared into the air, turning the surrounding roots and houses to ashes, and even burning the stones.
They then charged toward the palace.
With a "boom," the silver light shield above the palace shook, as if the entire earth was trembling.
"Die!" Just then, an old voice appeared out of nowhere, melodious and vast, and a huge tree branch swung down.
Head straight for the demon.
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, the demon was sent flying, crashing outside the city.
His voice came from afar: "You damned old tree! You will die a horrible death. Let's see how long you can guard this place. Don't forget, you already damaged your source three thousand years ago!"
"I have been guarding this place for three thousand years, and I will continue to do so, but you will not live much longer."
"One day, I will break down this place, burn your body, and kill all those lowly foxes!"
Despite this, he didn't hesitate at all, retreating directly and disappearing into the distance.
This situation left Jiang Bai and the expert from the Southern Border Witch God Sect looking at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what to say.
Three thousand years? This demon has actually lived for three thousand years?
No, it should be said that he was already here three thousand years ago?
So how old is he exactly?
Could he be even older than that old fellow, Emperor Wansheng?
However, since the other party is a different species and not human, it's normal for them to have lived for so long. If a normal human had lived this long, that would be truly astonishing.
The longest-lived human being Jiang Bai has ever seen is the First Emperor.
Yes, it's over two thousand years old.
As for the level of horror...
Well, I'd better not say anything; it would hurt people's feelings.
Anyway, if that guy who was just shouting dares to go to the Lishan Mausoleum and shout, the First Emperor will teach him a lesson in no time.
"What's going on?" Jiang Bai asked the silver fox guard beside him in astonishment.
At the same time, he felt a little worried. He didn't know when that thing had followed them or where it came from, but it seemed to have been waiting here for three thousand years.
He didn't pay any attention when Jiang Bai and his group first entered, assuming they were trying to sneak in, but now...
How will Jiang Bai and the others get out?
Jiang Bai didn't believe they could just swagger out like that.
"For specific questions, you can go see Her Majesty the Holy Maiden, and she will explain it to you in detail," the leading silver fox guard said to Jiang Bai and the others in a deep voice.
Not much was explained.
After exchanging a glance, Jiang Bai and the peak expert of the Southern Border Witch God Sect, along with the remaining three or four people, walked towards the central altar.
Upon arriving at the foot of the altar, in a palace, Jiang Bai found Hu Jiaojiao smiling and posing, dressed in a magnificent gown, standing there with an even more elegant and charming demeanor than before.
He even became more handsome, and his every smile and gesture was enough to bewitch everyone. When he saw Jiang Bai and the others arrive, he smiled slightly. Jiang Bai felt that the experts from the Southern Border Witch God Sect behind him were already captivated.
This made Jiang Bai glare at the vixen.
Startled, Hu Jiaojiao quickly suppressed her smile; this was a subconscious reaction, indicating that she was genuinely frightened by Jiang Bai.
However, she quickly realized that she was no longer in Tiandu, and she was no longer the person she used to be.
Now that Jiang Bai is on her turf, what does she have to be afraid of?
So it quickly took hold, and she even gave Jiang Bai a provocative look and flirted with the people behind him, but Jiang Bai ignored her.
He walked straight over to her and asked, "What exactly happened? How did you get taken away by the green light yesterday? And how did you become a saintess?"
"Give me an explanation!"
Hearing this, Hu Jiaojiao's smile remained unchanged, but the Silver Fox guards around her were not happy. One by one, they took out their weapons and aimed them at Jiang Bai. Jiang Bai clearly sensed that two of them were stronger than ordinary people, and they were standing behind Hu Jiaojiao.
Wearing golden armor and golden masks, exuding a terrifying aura, Jiang Bai judged that these two people were definitely at the peak of the Great Heaven Realm.
"To dare to be disrespectful to the Holy Maiden is simply courting death!"
Actions speak louder than words.
However, Hu Jiaojiao waved her hand arrogantly and said indifferently, "You can all go down first."
It's as if she's really become some kind of important person.
Unexpectedly, these people were quite obedient. They glared at Jiang Bai fiercely, bowed, and then slowly retreated, scattering in all directions.
However, Hu Jiaojiao remained silent. She glanced at the group from the Southern Border Witch God Sect and said lazily, "Why don't you gentlemen go and rest as well?"
Clearly, she was trying to get rid of them, and there were some things she didn't want these people to hear. This caused the faces of the people from the Southern Border Witch God Sect to change, and they were somewhat unwilling.
If it were before, they might have turned on her and taught her a lesson. However, now that they were on her territory, they really didn't dare to do so. Not to mention that the two golden fox guards in golden armor and the silver fox guard were not people they could handle.
Just the sight of those towering trees in front of them was enough to deter them from any recklessness.
Chapter 1151 The Most Cowardly Saintess in History
As a result, everyone turned their attention to Jiang Bai.
Including that peak Grand Celestial.
Their meaning was clear: an agreement had already been made, and now Jiang Bai should abide by it; it was his turn to speak.
Jiang Bai chuckled and said something that almost made them furious: "Since the host has said so, I think you should all go and rest."
"Jiang Bai, we have an agreement, you…"
"protocol?"
"I know there was an agreement that once we entered the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom, you would get 70% of the goods and I would get 30%. I know all of that. But that was before. You can see the current situation. It's not that I, Jiang Bai, am unwilling to give."
"These things don't belong to me at all. They seem to belong to this saintess in front of you. Why don't you kill her and then we can divide the spoils?"
Blinking, Jiang Bai shrugged helplessly and said this.
Can't these people from the Southern Frontier Witch God Sect see the situation clearly? Everything here belongs to Hu Jiaojiao now, who can take it away?
If you want to steal it, first ask those dozens of silver fox guards and two gold fox guards outside if they agree, and first ask that towering beast if it agrees.
What's the point of talking to him?
"Uh." The words left the group speechless. They weren't out of their minds. The strength shown by the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom had made them somewhat alarmed. Now that two Golden Fox Guardians had appeared, they were already difficult to deal with. Who knew if there were others?
After all, this palace stretches for more than ten kilometers, making it practically a small kingdom.
It's the fox clan's stronghold again; who knows what other tricks they have up their sleeves or what powerful experts they might be hiding there?
Hu Jiaojiao is clearly of extraordinary status; anyone who lays a hand on her here is courting death.
Helpless, the group glanced at Jiang Bai and Hu Jiaojiao with considerable resentment, then turned and left. Before leaving, the one who had overturned the Great Heavenly Position said to Jiang Bai, "Jiang Bai, remember our agreement. Even if you don't care about us, you should at least consider Tian Gang's feelings and not make things difficult for him."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Jiang Bai shrugged at this. It wasn't that he didn't respect Cheng Tiangang, but it seemed that he, Jiang Bai, had no say in this matter now.
"What happened? Can you tell me now?" After they left, Jiang Bai frowned and said fiercely to Hu Jiaojiao.
"The green light yesterday was emitted by the sacred tree. It was a guiding green light. When the gate opened, it discovered me and brought me here to prevent me from being harmed and to allow me to receive the inheritance."
"here..."
"Wait a minute! Jiang Bai, this isn't Tiandu. Why should I listen to you? You're used to bullying me, aren't you? Let me tell you, I'm the Holy Maiden here now, and I'm telling you..."
Jiang Bai's question startled Hu Jiaojiao, who hurriedly tried to explain to him. However, she realized her mistake halfway through her explanation, put her hands on her hips, raised her head, and, without a trace of coquetry, began to shout at Jiang Bai with arrogance.
The serfs yearn to rise up and sing!
"What, you want to turn the world upside down!" Jiang Bai said angrily. Hu Jiaojiao's identity had changed, but Jiang Bai had been suppressing her for so long that it had become a habit. Upon hearing this, his expression changed, and he said this fiercely.
Hu Jiaojiao immediately chickened out at those words. Startled, she hurriedly said to Jiang Bai, "No, I wouldn't dare. Boss, how could I dare? I was just... just joking with you. Please don't be angry."
"Let's talk inside."
She then hurriedly pulled Jiang Bai inside, and while pulling him, she intentionally or unintentionally rubbed her chest against Jiang Bai's arm.
Jiang Bai rolled his eyes at her, too lazy to pay her any attention, and followed her inside.
Once inside, Hu Jiaojiao helped Jiang Bai sit in the center, then instinctively knelt down to massage his legs, saying, "Boss, don't be angry, I didn't mean to."
It seems that even after becoming the Holy Maiden of the Fox Clan, this girl's servile nature remains unchanged. She cowered at the mere mention of Jiang Bai's words, showing no bottom line whatsoever. Her arrogant attitude vanished in an instant.
She can be considered the most cowardly saintess in history.
"Stop talking nonsense and get to the point!"
Jiang Bai replied impatiently.
In fact, Hu Jiaojiao was quite beautiful, charming and alluring. Now that her bloodline has been passed down, she is even more stunning, with a captivating beauty that could bring ruin to a country. She is no match for Bao Si or Daji, and is definitely the kind of woman who could make a king neglect his morning court.
For some reason, Jiang Bai couldn't help but get angry whenever he saw her, and he always wanted to teach her a lesson. Moreover, she was incredibly timid in front of Jiang Bai, and a single word from her could terrify her.
He never dared to resist Jiang Bai, a typical pushover, and he still is now.
However, the more Jiang Bai acted this way, the more obedient she became; otherwise, if she wasn't disciplined for three days, she would be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles.
"Boss, didn't I already say that the Sacred Tree took me here before and let me receive its inheritance?"
"Don't be fooled by the large number of Silver Fox Guards and Golden Fox Guards here. None of them are purebloods. A major event occurred back then, and most of the high-bloodline members of the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom perished in battle."
"Only some low-grade fox bloodlines remained, along with a small number of humans. Over the years, humans and foxes have interbred and produced so many Silver Fox Guardians."
"None of them are purebloods!"
"Nowadays, even the demon race can no longer transform their true form. They can only appear in this form. Except when a battle breaks out, they will show one or two tails. Otherwise, they are no different from humans."
"Guarding a mountain of treasures but unable to obtain them."
"It just so happens that you helped me purify my bloodline. Six-tailed foxes are considered a high-level bloodline in the fox clan, and since I also possess the Qingqiu Map, I am naturally regarded as the successor of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, so I was brought here."
"Just yesterday, I obtained the complete inheritance of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, and my own bloodline also received its essence, making me a nine-tailed fox!"
As she spoke, Hu Jiaojiao stood up, winked at Jiang Bai, and swayed her graceful figure. The next second, nine snow-white tails appeared out of thin air in front of Jiang Bai, swaying continuously.
She herself swayed her body as her tail danced, throwing seductive glances at Jiang Bai, igniting his lust.
Instead of feeling apprehensive, Hu Jiaojiao was filled with excitement.
However, Hu Jiaojiao's expression made Jiang Bai lose his appetite immediately. He glared at her fiercely, and she quickly and wisely withdrew her tail.
Looking pitifully at Jiang Bai, head bowed, waiting for his instructions.
"You just said something big happened? What kind of big thing? Why are all these silver fox guards and gold fox guards women? Aren't there any men here?" Jiang Bai asked, frowning.
From the moment he entered, he noticed a problem: the place was full of women, not a single man.
How do they reproduce?
Chapter 1152 A Lump of Rotten Iron
"Men? Pshaw, fox clan men have no status whatsoever. They're only fit to serve women foot-washing water. Not only are they ugly, but they also have no talent whatsoever. If it weren't for maintaining the purity of their bloodline, who would choose them?"
"Moreover, all the superior bloodlines died in battle back then, leaving only some mixed-breed male foxes. Their status was even lower. After so many years of crossbreeding, they are now even more useless. They are all cultivating fields and raising animals behind the palace. They are not qualified to come to the front hall."
"What right do those stinky men have to compare themselves to us?"
When the male foxes were mentioned, Hu Jiaojiao looked on with disdain.
This is a classic example of gender inequality.
Just like humans.
However, in the past, it was men who discriminated against women, while in the fox clan it was women who discriminated against men. To put it bluntly, productivity determines status.
It's not surprising that these male foxes have no status.
It's because women are in charge of their race.
After speaking these words with arrogance and disdain, Hu Jiaojiao glanced at Jiang Bai and suddenly remembered that Jiang Bai in front of her was also a male. She immediately cowered and hurriedly ran to Jiang Bai, saying in a coquettish voice, "Of course, I'm talking about those stinky men. Boss, you are definitely not in this category."
"You are handsome and dashing, with an outstanding demeanor, and your looks rival those of Pan An..."
Jiang Bai blushed and couldn't listen anymore. He quickly waved his hand to stop the other person from flattering him: "You're talking about a major event that happened many years ago?"
"Could it be related to those corpses outside? When we arrived, we saw corpses all over the ground, as if there had been a great battle. What exactly happened?"
"Didn't they say that without the Qingqiu Map, you couldn't even enter the ancient Qingqiu Kingdom? How did those guys get in?"
"This..." Upon hearing this, Hu Jiaojiao quickly looked around, as if afraid that others would hear.
Then, realizing that she had done something completely unnecessary, she whispered to Jiang Bai, "There are rumors that the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom was closed down by the Nine-Tailed Fox after the Nine-Tailed Fox led the fox clan to fight against the demons and suffered heavy losses. In order to protect the fox clan's lineage from extinction, the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed off the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom. But this is a complete misunderstanding!"
"misinformation?"
Jiang Bai was taken aback. This matter was generally acknowledged by the outside world and was even recorded in many ancient books. Even the ancient Southern Xinjiang Witch God Sect was certain of this.
Now Hu Jiaojiao says it's a misrepresentation?
Could there be some hidden story behind this incident back then?
"It is indeed a misconception. This time I have received the inheritance, which includes not only the fox clan's techniques and bloodline essence, but also some memories left behind by the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox."
"Although many things are unclear due to the passage of time and fragmentation, some things are clear."
"Moreover, there are complete records here."
"Back then, there was no major war between humans and demons!"
"At least, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox doesn't have this part in her memory. Her decision to close off the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom wasn't a desperate measure due to the heavy losses and impending defeat in the war between the human race and the demon race."
Seeing Hu Jiaojiao's confident expression, Jiang Bai was stunned for a moment. No big battle?
Why did the rumors outside become like that?
And many people believe this, whether they are transgender or not.
What exactly happened?
Jiang Bai gave Hu Jiaojiao a strange look. After a pause, she continued, "You saw the altar when you came in. There was a corpse enshrined on it, which was the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox!"
"She didn't go out at all back then; instead, she was besieged and died in the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu."
"Not only her, but all the high-level fox clan bloodlines perished in that battle three thousand years ago. If it weren't for her desperate fight to the death and the help of the sacred tree, the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom would have fallen long ago."
"In that battle, countless high-ranking members of the Fox Clan were killed or wounded. Only some of the bloodlines that were outside were scattered. So she created the Qingqiu Map and threw it out. Then, with her last breath, she sealed this place together with the Sacred Tree."
"Trap the last enemy here and prevent their reinforcements from arriving."
"We hope that one day, the bloodline of the fox clan will revitalize the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu."
"I just don't know why, but the rumors changed later. Not only did humans believe that strange legend, but even the demon race believed it."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai raised his eyebrows.
"Preventing reinforcements? Does that mean the enemy still has more people, and the force that attacked the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom was only a portion of their troops?"
"Yes, that's how it is." Hu Jiaojiao nodded.
"Oh no! The front door has been open!" Hu Jiaojiao nodded, and Jiang Bai suddenly remembered something, his expression changing drastically.
The portal opened by the Qingqiu Map remains open to this day!
That guy outside is even more ferocious than the Prince of Regent. If he were to break out, Old Cheng and his group would be the first to be hit. Moreover, he is an ancient monster from three thousand years ago and has no knowledge of the outside world whatsoever.
He is a complete barbarian. If he were to break out, he might cause catastrophic destruction. Who would take responsibility for that?
"The gate? The gate is already closed. The Qingqiu Map was back in my hands last night." Hu Jiaojiao said blankly, which made Jiang Bai breathe a sigh of relief.
After carefully examining Hu Jiaojiao, Jiang Bai said noncommittally, "These people are all Western characters, some of them are legendary monsters, and there are even demons. I even met a vampire prince during that time."
"That demon must be an even more terrifying character."
"These people traveled thousands of miles, disregarding the strength of the East at the time, to attack the ancient Qingqiu Kingdom. Don't tell me it was simply out of revenge!"
"They shouldn't be that bored. Even if you have some hatred, it's not worth going to such great lengths to come all the way here and wait here for thousands of years."
"Of course not, they came for something." Hu Jiaojiao immediately shook her head, not hiding anything from Jiang Bai, which surprised Jiang Bai somewhat.
He originally thought that Hu Jiaojiao would evade the question, refuse to answer his question, or try to cover it up. He didn't expect her to be so straightforward, which was unexpected.
"What is that?!"
Jiang Bai was extremely curious about this.
"I don't know. It was just a piece of junk. The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox doesn't have this memory. I don't know what it is. Anyway, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox almost caused the entire fox clan to perish because of this thing."
"As for those people outside, they came in a grand procession back then, with countless experts. Now it seems like only one person is left outside, but they refuse to leave."
"It's all for that piece of junk. If you're interested, I can take you to see it."
Hu Jiaojiao frowned, her face full of confusion, and said something to Jiang Bai that was quite unexpected.
A piece of junk iron? Fighting tooth and nail over a piece of junk iron?
Chapter 1153 The Sacred Tree Blossoms
For a piece of junk iron, the fox clan was almost wiped out, and the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox herself died in battle.
For a piece of junk, those legendary monsters from Western mythology, and this demon, traveled thousands of miles, risking great danger and suffering countless deaths.
For a piece of junk, the demon waited outside for three thousand years.
If I told that, who the hell would believe me?!
Jiang Bai also knew that Hu Jiaojiao probably wouldn't lie to him. She was going to take him to see it anyway, so why would she lie?
Whether it's true or false, you'll know for sure at a glance.
Of course, Jiang Bai didn't have that kind of insight, but don't forget, he had the system with him, so there really wasn't anything he couldn't see through.
Of course, right now, his prestige points are... severely lacking.
"Let's go now."
Jiang Bai gave this instruction, and Hu Jiaojiao nodded. Then she led Jiang Bai away, bypassing the experts from the Southern Frontier Witch God Sect who were waiting in the garden. Led by two silver fox guards, they headed straight for the altar.
Passing through uniquely decorated pavilions and magnificent palaces, Jiang Bai continued on his way and arrived at the altar he had seen outside earlier.
From the outside, it appears to tower into the clouds, but once inside, one discovers that this altar is extremely magnificent, at least two hundred meters high, constructed of piled-up blue boulders, covering an area of tens of thousands of square meters, forming a spire shape from bottom to top.
It gets narrower as you go up.
While it's not exactly a place with guards every ten steps or sentries every five, there are ten silver fox guards at the entrance.
As Jiang Bai walked upwards, he discovered that there were at least forty or fifty silver fox guards watching over the place, and naturally, they couldn't all be at the Heavenly Rank.
Most of them are Star Rank experts. Although there are some Heaven Rank experts, there are not many, only about a dozen.
Those who rushed out earlier must have been the best among the Silver Fox Guards.
"Greetings, Holy Maiden." Just as they were about to reach the top, a golden fox guard in golden armor appeared and bowed to Hu Jiaojiao.
Hu Jiaojiao nodded and said, "I'll take my friends up to take a look. You don't need to go up and disturb us."
"yes."
The two then walked up to the altar, which, as observed from the outside, was a huge platform. A snow-white fox with a bunch of tails lay there, having been dead for who knows how many years.
Yet there was no putrid smell on its body; it remained lifelike, as if it were asleep.
In front of it was an altar, and on the altar was a lump of black iron.
It was unclear what it was; it had no special aura or anything extraordinary about it, just like an ordinary large iron block.
It doesn't even have a special shape; it's oval, two meters long, and one meter wide—just a lump of iron.
Hu Jiaojiao really wasn't lying!
But this thing has nothing special about it, so why would the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox risk its life for it, even sacrificing the entire fox clan, and why would people travel thousands of miles to fight the fox clan and suffer heavy losses, yet still refuse to leave and guard this place for thousands of years?
The reason they didn't want to leave before was probably because this place was isolated and they couldn't leave.
But even though the gate was open yesterday, the other party refused to leave and even mingled among Jiang Bai and his group, trying to break in. Wasn't it all for this thing?
What exactly is this thing?
"Wow, this is great stuff!" The system's voice suddenly rang out, leaving Jiang Bai stunned.
"What is this?" Others may not know, but the system certainly does. After all, this thing is known as omniscient and omnipotent, and as it stands, there really is nothing it doesn't know or can't do.
I won't tell you!
That bitch, she's so hateful, she said something that makes you want to vomit blood.
"How much prestige do you need?" Jiang Bai asked, frowning.
"Oh... no more than ten million."
One sentence made Jiang Bai want to vomit blood, and he stopped paying attention to this guy.
He just walked in and started to explore this thing, but unfortunately, Jiang Bai was neither a chosen one nor a god or monster. Without the protagonist's blessing, it was impossible for him to reveal anything extraordinary just by touching it.
Therefore, the search yielded no results.
"Young man, here's a suggestion: try to get your hands on this later; it'll do you good!"
Just then, the system's voice sounded again, saying something that greatly surprised Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes, having made up his mind, but he didn't say much. Now was not the time to talk about this, nor was this the place to talk about it. He would talk to Hu Jiaojiao later, sound her out, and then discuss this matter.
Just then, the towering tree behind the altar suddenly emitted starlight, and the next second, in front of Jiang Bai and the others, this giant tree, which had existed for an unknown period of time, suddenly... blossomed.
Yes, it's blooming!
Many bright flowers are in bloom, so beautiful under the sunlight.
"This...this...good heavens! Someone told me that the sacred tree hasn't bloomed for three thousand years, how could it suddenly bloom! This is abnormal, could it be..."
At this point, Hu Jiaojiao's expression changed. She turned to look down and saw that the people around her were stunned. Some were celebrating, while others' expressions changed drastically.
The golden fox guard who had been waiting for Jiang Bai and Hu Jiaojiao below suddenly leaped up and knelt down in front of them, saying to Hu Jiaojiao, "Holy Maiden, something terrible has happened! The sacred tree has blossomed!"
"I already know even if you don't say it. What's wrong with the sacred tree blooming? Is there a problem?" Hu Jiaojiao replied with dissatisfaction. Isn't that obvious?
This giant tree is three thousand feet tall and several hundred meters in diameter. It is an absolute behemoth. Its lush foliage covers half of the city. When it blooms, it can be seen from a hundred miles away. Why would anyone need to report it?
"Holy Maiden, you do not know, the sacred tree once said that when it blooms again, it will fall."
"The lifespan of the sacred tree... has come to an end."
One sentence caused Hu Jiaojiao and Jiang Bai's expressions to change drastically, turning them extremely ugly.
They are able to stand here peacefully, chatting and laughing, without worrying about the demon outside, entirely thanks to the protection of this ancient tree.
Without this towering tree, who could possibly stand up against the demons outside?
No one expected that the towering ancient tree, which had just driven away the demon, would wither and fall in an instant.
This came way too fast!
That's not the point. Whether this sacred tree lives or dies has little to do with Jiang Bai. It's a sacred tree of the fox clan, not Jiang Bai's family's.
So what if he's dead! What business is it of his?
The crucial point is, now that the tree is dead, what should Jiang Bai and the others do? That fierce-looking guy outside could break in at any moment.
As long-time adversaries, they couldn't possibly be unaware of what the blossoming of the sacred tree signifies; they might already be on high alert.
They're just waiting for this sacred tree to die so they can start a massacre right away.
Chapter 1154 The Old Tree
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. Jiang Bai and his group are caught in the middle. Do they think they can escape? Dream on.
That's a demon, not some kind of benevolent person.
I've been holding this grudge for who knows how long. If I get the chance, it would be strange if I didn't go on a bloodbath!
That's why their expressions turned very unpleasant.
Because their lives were connected to this sacred tree.
"Why did you have to come at all of these times? Why did you have to come right now? Do you have a grudge against me?" Jiang Bai couldn't help but mutter to himself.
This sacred tree thing is just a complete rip-off.
"Holy Maiden, the sacred tree once gave instructions that if it blossoms, everyone should be summoned to enter the sacred tree. If the Holy Maiden appears, then you should enter alone."
"Now..."
Seeing Hu Jiaojiao's unpleasant expression, the golden fox guard couldn't help but continue speaking.
This startled Hu Jiaojiao for a moment. Then, she nodded solemnly and dismissed the other person. With a bitter expression, she said to Jiang Bai, "Boss, what do we do now? I was just thinking that after evolving my bloodline into a nine-tailed fox and becoming a saintess, I could finally hold my head high."
"Now look what's happened! I've only been a saintess for a day, and this bad luck has already struck. They've been fine for three thousand years, and I've only been here for one day. How come I'm supposed to live and die with them?"
"How about we send the things out and talk to the person outside, let him take them away and not hold it against us?"
"If he has any grievances, let him kill some people at will. It's not you and me who are against him, it's these foxes."
Seeing that things were going wrong, Hu Jiaojiao came up with a terrible idea with a bitter face. She had no integrity whatsoever and was prepared to betray the fox clan and give away what the fox clan had risked their lives to protect.
Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow but didn't say much. If it really didn't work, they would have no choice but to give it a try.
Just then, a thunderous voice rang in Jiang Bai and Hu Jiaojiao's ears: "As the Holy Maiden of the Fox Clan, how could you have such thoughts! You have utterly disappointed me! If you weren't the only one of high-ranking bloodlines left in the Fox Clan, and if I weren't on the verge of death, I would have killed you immediately!"
One sentence startled Hu Jiaojiao, who subconsciously looked left and right, looking at the silver fox guards of the fox clan.
Finding that these people were not acting strangely and had not heard anything, she breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, "You think I wanted to be this saintess? I haven't even had a chance to sit down before you want me to die. Of course I don't want to!"
"Hmph!" the voice snorted coldly.
Although the words were few, both Jiang Bai and Hu Jiaojiao were familiar with them, because this voice had been heard once before when the demon was being dealt with, uttering the word "die".
This is the voice of the sacred tree.
After a cold snort, the voice rang out again: "Fine, fine, who told fate to choose you?"
"It's been three thousand years. The Qingqiu Map has been out for three thousand years. Only you have obtained it. Only you have come here. But when you came here, I was already almost exhausted."
"Perhaps this is destiny."
"Come, come into my body, I have something to tell you."
After saying that, he said to Jiang Bai, "Young man, and you too, young man with the spirit of Jianmu."
The scent of Jianmu wood?
What is that? Jiang Bai said he didn't know.
However, no one around could hear the sacred tree speaking, but only Jiang Bai could hear it clearly. Even if Jiang Bai was stupid, he knew that the tree was talking about him.
So he nodded silently and then followed Hu Jiaojiao away from the altar. Led by the golden fox guard, they arrived at the back of the palace.
Entering the base of this towering tree, we followed the narrow path formed by the winding bark upwards, eventually reaching a tree hollow after a long walk.
The golden fox guard slowly retreated, and Jiang Bai and Hu Jiaojiao entered the tree hole. According to the golden fox guard, this was the heartwood of the tree.
To be honest, even now Jiang Bai can't tell what kind of tree this is. Frankly speaking, this kind of plant is definitely a different species. However, to be able to grow to this extent, he doesn't know how many years this sacred tree has been around.
It's worth noting that the world's largest tree, the General Sherman Tree, is in Country A. It's only 82 meters tall, which seems enormous to most people, and it has been growing for nearly three thousand years.
Compared to the tree in front of me, it doesn't even have as many branches as the tree in front of me.
The age of this sacred tree is truly impossible to estimate.
It's too old.
I don't know what it came from that allowed it to grow for so long.
It is as tall as the sky.
Upon entering the heart of the tree, the pitch-black space suddenly lit up, covered by green light, and an aged face appeared before Jiang Bai and Hu Jiaojiao.
The area behind them was covered in green light.
They blocked their way out, though it might not have been to stop them, but rather to prevent others from entering. Nevertheless, this action still made Jiang Bai tense and wary.
If things don't go well, charge out immediately.
"Young people, don't be nervous. I have no ill intentions towards you. I promised the first Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox to protect the Fox Clan. How many years have passed since then? Ten thousand years? Or twenty thousand years?"
"It's been too long, I can't remember clearly anymore."
"Although I am not very talented and my strength has been limited over the years, I have managed to live up to expectations and protect the area until today."
"Unfortunately, in that battle three thousand years ago, although I killed their strongest one, I also injured my own essence. I have barely managed to hold on until now, which is the best I can do."
"Over the past three thousand years, I have killed a few who escaped the net, but unfortunately, I have not killed them all. There is still one cunning fellow left. I think that after I die, he will definitely rush over and destroy the fox clan."
The sacred tree spoke with a touch of desolation, its words revealing its terrifying age—tens of thousands of years old! No wonder it has grown into its current form.
However, there are also giant trees that are tens of thousands of years old. The fact that they have grown to this extent is still a testament to their extraordinary talent.
"Yeah, you're going to die, what are we going to do now? Once you're dead, we definitely won't be a match for that thing outside, so I'm saying we should take this opportunity to talk to him, maybe he'll take the stuff and leave?" Hu Jiaojiao pouted and muttered.
Then, as if seeking support, he said to Jiang Bai, "Boss, do you think what I said is right?"
Jiang Bai didn't respond to this; he really didn't want to bother with her.
She is the Holy Maiden of the Fox Clan and speaks with integrity, but Jiang Bai is not.
What if the old tree suddenly turns on you and destroys you? Who will you turn to for justice then?
"Giving it to him won't help. He won't let anyone know about him, or even if they get that thing, you'll all be in the same boat," the old tree's voice rang out again.
Chapter 1155 Damn, Su Daji?
"Uh." Hu Jiaojiao was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
She felt a deep sense of despair, her head drooping listlessly, without any of the demeanor a saint should have.
Instead, Jiang Bai asked with great curiosity, "What is this thing? Why are they so desperate for it? Also, who are they? I know they are Western species, many of them are legendary creatures. To be honest, these things should have gone extinct long ago."
How could this have happened?
"Besides, according to legend, they shouldn't be on good terms, so how could they be colluding with each other?"
Jiang Bai had too many questions about this, and asking others in the past would not have yielded any results.
However, as an ancient tree that had fought against them for thousands of years, Jiang Bai believed that this sacred tree must have some answers. Even if it didn't know everything, it could at least know a little bit about it.
"I don't know who they are, I only know they come from the West!"
"They should belong to an organization, be members of that organization, or be subordinates of some powerful entity; I don't know for sure."
"They came here led by a powerful figure, but that figure was killed by me and the previous Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox. It was he who severely injured me and the previous Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox in his dying moments."
"The previous Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox died, and I am now barely clinging to life."
"All I know is that they have someone even more powerful behind them, and that's why the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox risked her last breath to seal off this place!"
"To make them impossible to find, so that our fox clan may have a chance to survive."
"As for what this thing is, we don't know, but it must be very important, otherwise they wouldn't have paid such a high price. This thing is a token of love that the human king, Di Xin, gave to the previous Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox."
"It is said to be of great importance. Although it is a bit ugly, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox still treasures it."
"She even paid for it with her life. I don't know what it was. She didn't say, and I guess she didn't know either."
"However, back then, because of this thing, the immortal sects and martial cultivators went through a war."
The old tree spoke slowly.
One sentence left Jiang Bai stunned on the spot.
Damn, Di Xin? As a well-read person, Jiang Bai was very familiar with this name.
Di Xin is... King Zhou of Shang?
It is said, it seems, that King Zhou of Shang had a relationship with the nine-tailed fox. Could this nine-tailed fox be the previous nine-tailed celestial fox?
Damn it, don't tell me the previous Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox was named Su Daji?
"Um, the previous Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox was called Su Daji?" Jiang Bai couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, she did use that name before."
Jiang Bai's face fell at those words. Not only him, but Hu Jiaojiao was also shocked. Then her face lit up and a look of admiration flashed in her eyes.
That's her idol.
"So, you've been through a war, the legendary War of the Gods?" Jiang Bai asked again, his lips twitching.
"The War of the Gods? Hmm, I don't know about that. I've always been in Qingqiu, rooted here for countless years without ever leaving. I don't know anything about the outside world."
"She didn't tell me about this. When she came back, she only told me that although Di Xin, as a martial arts cultivator, had the support of the immortal sects behind him, he was still defeated, and the immortal sects that supported him were also severely damaged."
"Hmm, I don't know if we're talking about the same thing. I heard that the immortal sect that supports him is on some kind of island, um... Jin'ao Island."
"It seems to be called something like Biyou Palace!"
Hearing this, Jiang Bai was stunned for a moment. It really was the Investiture of the Gods, just a little different from the mythological stories. However, Jiang Bai was no longer the novice he used to be, and he had some understanding of the Ten Great Immortal Sects.
Jin'ao Island does exist, but I've never heard of Biyou Palace or anything like that.
Are we going to see someone like the Tongtian Cult Leader suddenly appear? That's just ridiculous!
However, it's really hard to say for sure.
To find out, one needs to peel back the layers of historical mystery, but Jiang Bai clearly doesn't have that ability right now.
In just a few words, he had already realized the value of this thing.
It's one thing for the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox to fight with the Westerners, but this thing has even drawn into a war between the immortal sects and martial arts practitioners, and even the War of the Gods has come into play.
This is rather unusual.
This is enough to prove that this thing is outrageously precious. Jiang Bai doesn't know what it is, but that's not important. What's important is...
This thing is extremely precious, and that's enough!
Jiang Bai has made up his mind that as long as he, Jiang Bai, is alive, no one can take this thing away from him.
"Why say such useless things? You're about to die, what should we do? That's the most important thing."
"If you die, even if we don't want it, this thing will still belong to that demon, and we can't protect it at all!" Hu Jiaojiao said angrily to the old tree in front of her.
She was extremely pessimistic about the future.
"You don't need to worry about these things. I'm about to die now. I'm one with Qingqiu. This little world has long been connected to me. In fact, it's supported by me."
"After I die, this place will be destroyed, and you will reach the outside."
"As for that demon, before I die, I will use my last strength to perish together with him and the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu."
Old Tree said in a deep voice, and then added, "However, if I can send people away without him noticing, the number is limited, at most no more than a hundred."
"You need to carefully select them. Young man, you're one of them. The other ninety-nine must be the best of the fox clan."
One sentence sealed everyone else's fate.
Those experts from the Southern Frontier Witch God Sect were the first to be affected.
Jiang Bai felt helpless about this and wanted to say something. After all, those people had come in with him. Although they weren't close, his relationship with Lao Cheng was there, and he couldn't just ignore them.
Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to explain it to Cheng Tiangang when I got out, although he wouldn't blame me, since I didn't cause this.
But Jiang Bai still wanted to make an effort.
Before he could speak, the other party said, "Young man, don't speak up for those people. Even though you came together, I won't help you. There are thousands of foxes here."
"They will all perish here. As the guardian sacred tree of the fox clan, I cannot help humans without helping them!"
"You are already an exception. If it weren't for the presence of the Jianmu tree aura on you, I wouldn't have helped you."
This was the second time the old tree had told Jiang Bai that he possessed the aura of the Jianmu tree, but Jiang Bai was still somewhat confused, not knowing what the old tree meant by the Jianmu tree.
Chapter 1156 A Step Away
Suddenly, Jiang Bai remembered something and took out a piece of rotten wood from his spatial ring.
This is the only thing on his body that's made of wood.
They got it from those aliens, claiming it was a treasure of the Republic.
The reason they were sent to search for this thing was because Jiang Bai evolved from it, and it was also because of this thing that those guys who were no different from humans, but were actually Westerners who called themselves aliens, crashed on the Blue Planet.
After thinking it over, Jiang Bai took this thing out.
"I don't know anything about the Jianmu tree you mentioned. Is it related to it?"
"Fragments of the Jianmu tree! My God, I never imagined there would still be fragments of the Jianmu tree remaining. In my lifetime, I can't believe I can still see it..."
The old tree seemed very excited. Before this, it had always spoken slowly and calmly, even when talking about Su Daji, the first nine-tailed celestial fox, or its impending death, it remained the same.
The tone of voice remained unchanged, gentle and lingering.
But when it saw the piece of rotten wood that Jiang Bai had taken out, it was horrified, and even its tone of voice changed.
"What exactly is Jianmu?!" Jiang Bai couldn't help but ask.
"Mother of all trees, father of all trees."
"My father's father was a seed that fell from the Jianmu tree."
"It has many names and many names, such as Tianzhu, Jianmu, and some people call it the World Tree."
"There are many legends as well. Some say it is a passage between the realm of gods and the human world, while others say it is the core of this world."
"However, I don't know the specifics."
"That happened many, many years ago. It's impossible to trace back to the past. My father's father might know something about it, but I don't know anything about it."
"It's too far back. All I know is that the Jianmu tree was later cut down. I don't know who or why. Anyway, the Jianmu tree disappeared from that time onwards."
"I never expected that you would still have a fragment of it, and more importantly, it still has vitality."
"I can feel the life force within it."
The old tree spoke in a mystical tone.
This thing must be really important, otherwise it wouldn't be able to excite this ancient tree that has lived for tens of thousands of years or even longer.
However, its father's father...
Damn, how long ago was that?
You must know it's a tree! It's a giant, exotic tree.
Their lifespans are all measured in tens of thousands of years. If this thing hadn't been damaged, it's unknown how many more tens of thousands of years it could have survived. The fact that it has no children means that it hasn't reached the point where it can reproduce.
According to Jiang Bai's understanding, any plant species, especially trees, will only do so when they are about to die out.
It's really hard to say about the shoulder strap of this Jianmu tree.
"The current Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, the current Holy Maiden of the Fox Clan, I am about to break my promise."
"Originally, I planned to sacrifice my offspring and cease the continuation of my race to help you improve your cultivation, while also relocating a group of fox clan members away."
"But once we saw the Jianmu tree, there was nothing we could do. Although it still had a breath of life, it was far too weak."
"This level is simply insufficient for it to sprout and grow again."
"The strength I want to dedicate to it."
"Therefore, the fox clan can only send a maximum of ten people. That's the limit. I want to save my strength so that while I perish together with that demon, I can transfer that strength to the Jianmu tree to help it grow."
"This is my highest mission and my ultimate responsibility."
No one expected the old tree to say such a thing, which was quite unexpected, but Hu Jiaojiao did not object to it.
What does the life or death of the fox clan have to do with her? If she really takes so many people out, Hu Jiaojiao will have to worry about how to feed these unproductive guys.
She would be more than happy to bring less.
So no objections were raised at all.
The old tree then revealed some secrets, and the next second, green light enveloped the entire palace.
It transmitted its thoughts, and the next moment, Jiang Bai and Hu Jiaojiao walked out and stood at the heart of the tree, where they saw nine beams of light rise into the air.
The golden fox guard beside them was also enveloped by the light, and then the two of them were also enveloped and gathered together, along with Jiang Bai and 11 others, making a total of ten fox clans and one human.
As for the people below, some prostrated themselves on the ground and wailed, while others silently knelt and worshipped.
Jiang Bai saw that the people from the Southern Frontier Witch God Sect looked bewildered and were almost going crazy, but unfortunately he couldn't get involved in this matter and could only remain silent.
The next second, the earth began to tremble, and the huge tree trunk rose from the ground.
A surge of energy transported them from the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu, landing them directly on the surface of Dongting Lake.
The next moment, an explosion came from above Jiang Bai and the others. The sound was loud, space was distorted, and the entire sky seemed to change color, with thunderclouds covering the sky and dark clouds covering the heavens.
Space itself distorted, and the next second a blinding light flashed, as if the universe had exploded. The fleeting light distorted the entire space before disappearing.
Everything around them was unharmed, but Jiang Bai and the others knew in their hearts that the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu had vanished forever.
They perished in some space along with that old tree.
In addition, a green light entered Jiang Bai's arms at the moment of the explosion, heading straight for the rotten wood... no, the Jianmu tree, nourishing the entire Jianmu tree.
Jiang Bai clearly noticed that the piece of wood in his arms had become heavier and larger, and the withered green buds on it had blossomed again, appearing one, two, and then three in total...
Then it began to change, growing directly into a sapling. It started as tall as a person, and later grew to the size of a palm, but it was full of vitality.
A surge of energy flowed from above into Jiang Bai's body, and Jiang Bai instantly felt that energy cleanse his entire body.
He had experienced this feeling once before, when he was in the absolute forbidden zone, area 51. That time, he underwent an evolution, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and he entered the advanced Great Heavenly Realm.
Only a little over ten days have passed, but he will never forget this feeling.
Although he didn't know why the Jianmu tree was feeding him energy again, he accepted it without hesitation. As the energy entered his body, his body began to strengthen again, with his internal organs and inner energy cultivation all growing rapidly.
Finally, with a loud boom, Jiang Bai felt his mind tremble. The Imperial Extreme World-Shaking Technique broke through again, directly reaching the sixteenth level. Jiang Bai's cultivation level broke through to the peak of the Great Heaven Realm.
He is only one step away from becoming a giant in the Supreme Heavenly Realm.
Chapter 1157 Those with Virtue Occupy the Land
Jiang Bai didn't have time to feel the changes in himself, because the surroundings were in a strange state.
At least a hundred people were floating in mid-air, watching them intently.
At first glance, many familiar faces were among them, including Xiahou Zhongde from Yuxu Palace and Feng Feifei from Jin'ao Island.
Although Jiang Bai didn't recognize all the others, some of them looked familiar. Judging from their clothing, major sects such as Shushan Sword Sect, Five Elements Sect, Supreme Dao, Kunlun Immortal Sect, and Kongtong Immortal Sect were all present. Even Zhaixing Tower, which had previously dealt with Jiang Bai and presented him with their sect's secret manual "Star-Picking Hand," was also there.
There were over a hundred people in total, all of whom were experts above the Heavenly Realm, with six or seven of them being at the peak of the Great Heavenly Realm.
At this moment, they all took to the air and looked at Jiang Bai and the others from the surface of the lake.
"Jiang Bai, what benefits did you gain from entering the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom?!"
"The ancient kingdom of Qingqiu is a treasure of our Chinese civilization. It shouldn't be yours to keep all to yourself. You must hand over the treasures! These things belong to everyone!"
Xiahou Zhongde spoke, his attitude extremely arrogant.
No one else present spoke, but even Tai Shangdao, who had been standing with Jiang Bai, narrowed his eyes and tacitly approved of the matter.
In their hearts, the ancient kingdom of Qingqiu was extremely important. It was a place of distant legends, and it must contain unimaginable treasures. They would not allow Jiang Bai to keep them all to himself!
"That's right. The treasures of the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom should belong to the virtuous. Jiang Bai, you lack virtue, so hand them over as soon as possible!" A master from the Shushan Sword Sect coldly said this to Jiang Bai.
After he said this, many people spoke up and expressed their support for the matter.
"Yes, Jiang Bai, you're not virtuous enough! Hand over the treasure!"
"It's not just a lack of virtue; he's utterly infamous. The treasures of the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom must never fall into Jiang Bai's hands, or he will surely become a great scourge in the future!"
"We must take precautions to prevent problems from occurring."
"We only let Jiang Bai off the hook last time because of the support from the Supreme Dao and the Southern Border Witch God Sect. If you know what's good for you and know when to back down, hand over the treasure, and then you'll be able to do what you're supposed to do!"
"Otherwise..."
These words were spoken by Feng Feifei. As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Bai snorted coldly: "Otherwise what?"
His cultivation has now made a great breakthrough, reaching the peak of the Great Heaven Realm. His strength is comparable to the top few present, and he is only one step away from becoming a giant.
With his own exceptional combat prowess, he naturally wouldn't allow the other party to shout and yell in front of him. After all, Jiang Bai was an immortal man with numerous magical treasures, endless tricks, and the unparalleled divine power of the Heavenly Emperor's Great Handprint.
Although there were quite a few people present, he wasn't intimidated by them at all.
Nowadays, apart from a few giants, Jiang Bai fears no one.
"Otherwise, you will pay the price! You'd better not challenge us, or the consequences will be unbearable. You've already used up your Supreme Dao Token, and the Supreme Dao may not help you this time either."
"You think you can monopolize the treasures of the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom? You're dreaming!"
"Take it all for yourself? Who can take it all for themselves? This belongs to my demon race. The Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom belongs to our demon race, and everything inside belongs to the demon race. You cultivators would be better off leaving. This is our property!"
A loud shout rang out, and the next second a figure appeared. It was a demon expert, a great demon transformed from a roc, who attacked from afar, speaking in human language. When he spoke, he transformed into a huge roc with a wingspan of about a hundred meters, circling in the sky.
A giant carp, about twenty meters long, was circling in the lake; it was also a powerful demon.
In addition, there was a giant ape, over thirty meters tall and resembling a small mountain, gazing from afar.
The number of demons who came was not large, but they were all top-tier experts, all at the peak of the Great Heaven Realm.
However, they have declined after all, and the demon race is now extremely rare. It is already very difficult to gather three of them.
However, this also shows their determination to succeed.
It's amazing that three races that are not under each other's jurisdiction have come together.
"We martial artists can't be left out of this kind of thing, can we?" The experts from the Human Emperor Family arrived, along with people from Martial Saint's Abode, Wilderness Martial Plains, and several other martial arts holy lands.
Jiang Bai's acquaintance, Xuan Yuanpo, was among them, but he was not the leader; he was just a follower. This time, it was an old man who spoke, strong and full of energy.
Anyway, everyone who could come has come now. I don't know where these guys got the news from. Apart from Jiang Bai himself, only the people of the Southern Border Witch God Sect know about this.
Without a doubt, something must have gone wrong at the Southern Border Witch God Sect.
Jiang Bai glanced at Old Cheng, then slowly approached Cheng Tiangang, with several silver fox guards and several gold fox guards also gathering around.
"I've already sent someone to inform my grandfather. What's the situation inside?"
"Something terrible happened inside. Countless people were killed or injured. All the experts from the Southern Border Witch God Sect were wiped out. We didn't get anything. I'll tell you the details later," Jiang Bai said thoughtfully.
It would be a lie to say that he got nothing. The piece of junk that had been sitting on the altar had been transferred to Hu Jiaojiao before it left, and Jiang Bai took it in. It was now lying quietly in the space ring in Jiang Bai's hand.
Cheng Tiangang nodded in agreement, saying nothing more, indicating his understanding.
Now is definitely not the time to talk. Even if he had any doubts or dissatisfaction, Cheng Tiangang would not say these things to Jiang Bai at this time.
Now is not the time.
"I'm not lying to Lao Cheng. We didn't get anything inside! And even if we did, it has nothing to do with you. These people around me are all from the fox clan."
"They live inside the ancient Qingqiu Kingdom, so whatever is inside belongs to them!"
As he spoke, Jiang Bai looked up and around, then pointed to a group of fox spirits beside him.
His words caused those around him to exchange bewildered glances, and then they all frowned.
Xiahou Zhongde sneered and pointed at Jiang Bai, saying, "Jiang Bai, do you think we're fools? What's that in your hand! Don't think we can't see that the wood is definitely a treasure!"
"Hand it over!"
"As for those foxes? Hmph, the things of the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom were all plundered from our human race back then, and should have been returned long ago. Naturally, they do not belong to them!"
"These monsters, we're already being lenient by not killing them, considering they're not within the scope of our agreement with the Ten Thousand Saints Sect."
One sentence made the eyes of the people around light up. The original agreement with the Wansheng Sect and the demon race stipulated that monsters could not be killed at will, but these fox spirits were not included in this agreement, because these declining fox clans were not involved when the agreement was made.
Chapter 1158 I'm not qualified, are you?
If that's the case, then it's not necessarily a bad thing to take action against these vixens.
Although the opponents appear strong, all being at the Heavenly Rank and including three peak experts, the Fox Clan is still outnumbered.
If these people were to truly join forces, they might very well be able to win the battle.
"What do you want to do! Although you didn't sign a treaty with the fox clan, they are still a demon race. Do you want to start a war?"
At that moment, the roc in the sky roared angrily, having discerned the meaning behind Xiahou Zhongde's words, and became enraged.
Although the demon race is constantly embroiled in internal strife, they remain very united when facing external threats.
It's not that these monsters have abandoned their primitive way of life, but that the various tribes have begun to love and care for each other.
The main issue is that their numbers are much smaller than before, but they still understand the basic principle that if one part is gone, the other part will be vulnerable.
These fox clan members are all experts, each at the Heavenly Rank, and include three peak Great Heavenly Rank fox clan members. This is a vital force that will greatly benefit the strength of the demon race, and they will not allow anyone to attack them.
One sentence caused the surrounding immortal sect experts to change their expressions and become wary. If these three demons joined, the other side would have six peak experts. In a real fight, they might not be able to win easily, after all, these demons were not easy to deal with.
Especially that roc, with its fearsome reputation, is practically invincible among its peers.
Moreover, if a fight breaks out here, it will mean war with the demon race. Just thinking about that old guy, Emperor Wansheng, made everyone present feel a chill.
That old guy is no pushover; he's one of the giants. Going to war with a giant would be a disaster for any sect.
Unfortunately, that guy was also the leader of the demon race, and he was extremely protective of his own.
Those present immediately dared not act recklessly.
Instead of targeting the fox clan, they focused all their attention on Jiang Bai.
"Jiang Bai, hand over what you have, or you'll regret it!"
"You are not worthy of possessing such a treasure!"
Xiahou Zhongde stared coldly at Jiang Bai, his eyes greedily fixed on the Jianmu wood in Jiang Bai's hand.
Although he couldn't identify what it was, that didn't stop him from wanting to get it.
Because he could tell it was a treasure.
"I'm not qualified? You fucking are qualified? Xiahou Zhongde, do you want to die?"
Jiang Bai had been planning to deal with Xiahou Zhongde since before he arrived in the Qingqiu Ancient Kingdom. Now, he dared to come to his doorstep.
It would be strange if Jiang Bai were to be polite to him!
"What did you say! Jiang Bai, you're practically asking for death!" Xiahou Zhongde flew into a rage upon hearing this.
As the Supreme Elder of Jade Void Palace, although he is not a giant, he is a person who has one foot in the Supreme Heaven position.
If Xu Changsheng hadn't stopped him back then, he might have already reached the Tai Tian position.
How could he tolerate Jiang Bai's insults?
Last time they wanted to deal with Jiang Bai, but they were attacked by the Supreme Dao Master. Now... there's no one to protect Jiang Bai!
Is this kid still so arrogant?
Therefore, Xiahou Zhongde immediately made his move, throwing a punch at Jiang Bai with a shimmering white light, aiming straight for Jiang Bai's chest.
"I'll kill you today, then you'll know who's courting death!"
Since Xiahou Zhongde dared to jump out, Jiang Bai was ready to make an example of him. He rushed straight at Xiahou Zhongde, threw a punch that shattered the opponent's fist, and then aimed directly at Xiahou Zhongde's chest.
"What! How is this possible!" Everyone present changed their expressions, realizing that something was wrong.
Jiang Bai actually blocked Xiahou Zhongde? And he's even going to counterattack?
Isn't he... isn't he a high-ranking Grand Celestial?
They were observing us carefully when we came out, so why are they acting so aggressively now?
"He...has reached the peak!" Someone stammered, and the others' expressions changed drastically.
Utterly horrified.
Advancing to the Great Celestial Realm is no easier than advancing from the Middle Celestial Realm to the Great Celestial Realm; otherwise, it wouldn't be divided into four levels of cultivation methods.
But for Jiang Bai, it's as simple as eating and drinking.
How long has it been?
If those present remember correctly, Jiang Bai only advanced to the Heavenly Realm a few months ago.
Have we already reached the peak?
If he were given more time, wouldn't he become a giant?
Upon realizing this, everyone present changed their expressions and felt a chill in their hearts. Making an enemy of a future giant was definitely not something a smart person should do.
What's the difference between that and courting death?
"You really are a menace, I can't let you live!" Xiahou Zhongde's expression changed, and a mirror appeared in front of his chest, emitting light as it rushed towards Jiang Bai.
The expressions of those around them changed, and someone exclaimed in surprise, "Yin Yang Realm!"
This is also a treasure of the Jade Void Palace, an extremely powerful magic weapon that once shone brightly in the Investiture of the Gods and was subsequently passed down as a myth.
While it may not be as powerful as depicted in myths and novels, capable of determining life and death with a single glance, it does possess a destructive light and is indestructible.
He harbored murderous intent. Jiang Bai was too young and had already reached the pinnacle. Yu Xu Palace had a grudge against him. Xiahou Zhongde was truly afraid that if Jiang Bai grew stronger, he would be difficult to control.
When he becomes a powerful figure in the highest realm, who can do anything to him?
"Trying to play with magic weapons with me? You think you're the only one who has them?" Jiang Bai sneered, and the Xuan Yuan Water Control Flag appeared.
It blocked the light of the Yin-Yang Realm, then rushed out and headed straight for Xiahou Zhongde.
In an instant, fists rained down on the opponent's body. However, Xiahou Zhongde was a person with a very high status in the Jade Void Palace, and his whole body was full of treasures. When Jiang Bai attacked, purple light appeared out of thin air.
He was wearing a purple Taoist robe underneath, which protected his body from any harm.
"The Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe! They even brought this treasure. It seems that Jade Void Palace is determined to win this time, giving Xiahou Zhongde two treasures at once!" someone exclaimed.
"Jiang Bai is in danger!" some people commented.
"Star-Picking Hand!" Jiang Bai snorted coldly and unleashed the Star-Picking Hand. The Star-Picking Hand, carrying specks of starlight, attacked Xiahou Zhongde. Although it was blocked by the purple light, reducing most of its power, it still struck Xiahou Zhongde.
Xiahou Zhongde coughed up blood and flew hundreds of meters backward, exclaiming in shock, "Star-Picking Hand?"
Then he roared fiercely at Sikong Zhaixing of Zhaixing Tower: "Sikong Zhaixing, you actually handed this over to Jiang Bai! Zhaixing Tower, you've really done a good deed!"
This caused everyone present to look at Sikong Zhaixing with strange expressions. They all knew that Jiang Bai had clashed with Zhaixing Tower back then, relying on the Supreme Dao Order and the support of Xu Changsheng and others.
The situation put Zhaixinglou in a very passive position. In desperation, they sent people to Jiang Bai with promises of great benefits in order to settle the matter.
I never expected that I would hand over the sect's ultimate technique, the Star-Picking Hand, to the other party.
Sikong Zhaixing blushed slightly and remained silent. The situation was somewhat awkward, so he could only remain silent.
Chapter 1159 Killing Xiahou Zhongde
Seeing the gleam constantly flashing in Jiang Bai's eyes, he was considering whether to take the opportunity to kill Jiang Bai and retrieve the Star-Picking Hand. However, considering how terrifying Jiang Bai was, if he failed to make a move, the consequences would be troublesome.
He reached his peak level in his twenties. This is another Xu Changsheng!
It's okay to make things difficult for him today, it's okay to take action, and it would be best if we could kill him.
But the problem is that if they can't kill them, it could cause endless harm.
If this thing becomes a giant in the future, then we'll be in trouble.
The people from Jade Void Palace dared to take action because they had a deep foundation and a master like Daoist Yuanyuan in charge, so they were naturally not afraid of anything.
Even if Jiang Bai becomes a giant, he may not be a match for Yuan Yuan Dao Ren.
The Jade Void Palace can withstand it.
But his Star-Picking Tower couldn't withstand it.
After being repelled by Jiang Bai, Xiahou Zhongde leaped up again, unleashing the Yin-Yang Realm and shooting out destructive light as he attacked once more.
This was a repeat of the same old trick. Jiang Bai snorted coldly and blocked the opponent's attack. Just as he was about to make another move, the opponent reached out and a beam of light shot out from Xiahou Zhongde's hand.
The ultimate martial art of Jade Void Palace: Void Finger.
It is rumored to have the ability to block and shatter the void, and is a kind of spatial immortal technique.
With a flick of his finger, the space in front of Jiang Bai instantly distorted, and countless violent spatial energies surged toward Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai frowned coldly at this, trying to block the surrounding energy, but he still couldn't completely stop it. This kind of energy was practically everywhere, and in an instant, Jiang Bai's body was attacked several times, causing him some wounds.
However, he recovered in an instant; he was immortal, and his regenerative ability was truly astonishing.
This damage is nothing to him.
"Star-Picking Hand!" This move struck Xiahou Zhongde again, sending him flying. His Void Finger technique was interrupted, and Jiang Bai rushed over, seizing the opportunity to unleash a barrage of attacks.
The beating continued relentlessly, each punch landing with tremendous force. Although each blow was blocked by the purple light, the purple light was gradually diminishing and was on the verge of shattering.
Although the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe is powerful and its energy can protect the body, it is not omnipotent and cannot block all attacks. Even the faint defense can be breached.
"Feng Feifei, aren't you going to help? Although we don't get along, you share the same grudge against him, and you absolutely cannot let him grow stronger!"
"If you don't help me deal with him today, given his vengeful nature, he'll definitely come after your Jin'ao Island in the future, and then it will be too late for you to regret it!"
One sentence made everyone present change color on the spot. Feng Feifei was the first to be affected. Her expression changed, and the next second, she gritted her teeth. The Golden Dragon Scissors appeared out of thin air and transformed into two dragons, attacking Jiang Bai.
He attacked Jiang Bai from behind.
Xiahou Zhongde persuaded her with just a few words. It wasn't that Xiahou Zhongde was good at bewitching people, but rather because of the fact that many people present knew Jiang Bai was a vengeful person.
Last time, they chased Jiang Bai on Jin'ao Island for a month but failed to kill him, although the matter was later settled by the Southern Frontier Witch God Sect and the Supreme Dao.
But everyone knows that no one is willing to give up.
Jiang Bai didn't retaliate because he wasn't strong enough, but once he was strong enough, he would definitely get his revenge.
Jiang Bai is now at the peak of the Great Heaven Realm, only one step away from the Supreme Heaven Realm and becoming a giant. Given Jiang Bai's talent, he is very likely to break through to the Supreme Heaven Realm and become a giant, which would be troublesome.
Because Jiang Bai will retaliate. When Jiang Bai becomes a powerful figure, Jin'ao Island will never have peace again.
So Feng Feifei took action.
"Mysterious Origin Water Control Flag!" Jiang Bai shouted, releasing the flag to block the opponent's attack.
He then roared at Feng Feifei, "Feng Feifei, you're courting death!"
"Heavenly Emperor's Great Handprint!" Jiang Bai kicked Xiahou Zhongde away and then immediately used this move.
With a deafening roar, the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe's defenses were breached instantly, and violent energy swept over Xiahou Zhongde's entire body.
The Heavenly Emperor's Great Handprint is not what it used to be. With the improvement of Jiang Bai's cultivation, its power has increased by more than one level, and it can be described as having infinite power.
Enveloped in raging flames, it instantly tore Xiahou Zhongde to pieces.
"Now!" Jiang Bai aimed at the other party's spatial bag. He had held back when he made his move, but now he seized the opportunity and snatched it away. As for the owner of the spatial bag, Xiahou Zhongde had already perished on the spot.
Taking the opportunity to open it, Jiang Bai found the Buddhist beads he was looking for and quickly stuffed them into his spatial ring.
Then he rushed towards Feng Feifei.
Xiahou Zhongde is already dead, so Feng Feifei is the first to be affected.
Jiang Bai decided to win her over too!
Of course, before making a move, Jiang Bai took the opportunity to strip the other party of the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe and the Yin-Yang Realm. These were all valuable items, and Jiang Bai would not let them go.
"Boom!"
A punch came flying at her, and Feng Feifei was so frightened that she quickly dodged. Unlike Xiahou Zhongde, she didn't have the Purple Ribbon Immortal Robe for defense.
Although she had some self-defense methods, they were far inferior to Xiahou Zhongde's, so she naturally dared not confront him head-on.
Unfortunately, her speed was far inferior to Jiang Bai's. After all, she was just a cultivator, not a martial artist. She had many techniques and magical treasures, but her physical speed and natural reflexes were far behind.
"Heaven-Severing Finger!" Feng Feifei shouted, then unleashed the Heaven-Severing Finger, the signature technique of Jin'ao Island.
Xu Changsheng also knows this technique, and its power is far greater than Feng Feifei's. Jiang Bai has seen it before, and as soon as the opponent made a move, he immediately reacted and dodged it with a leap.
Then she suddenly threw a punch. In that instant, Feng Feifei formed dozens of hand seals, and the protective shield formed by the seals blocked Jiang Bai's way.
The protective shield formed by these handprints was actually quite strong, capable of blocking immense force. However, Jiang Bai's strength was too great, like a tyrannosaurus rex, and a single punch from him broke through the shield layer by layer.
He punched the other person directly in the chest, sending him flying.
Without any mercy, Jiang Bai unleashed a barrage of attacks in quick succession.
Feng Feifei screamed in agony as she was struck. The Golden Dragon Scissors retaliated, but were blocked. Jiang Bai then grabbed her neck, rendering her completely immobile.
"If you move again, I'll kill you!" Jiang Bai said coldly, gripping the other man's neck.
"Jiang Bai, you have already killed Xiahou Zhongde of Yuxu Palace. If you kill me too, I guarantee that you will have nowhere to hide in this vast world."
"Not only you, but everyone connected to you will suffer! Jin'ao Island will never let you go!"
With a cold snort, Feng Feifei issued this threat, believing that Jiang Bai wouldn't dare to kill her, even though Jiang Bai had already killed Xiahou Zhongde before this.