Taas World, Lando City.
Lando City, though not the largest city in Taas World, is the oldest and most important.
In a hall within the central mansion of this ancient city, there is a tall bluestone ancient table, on which is enshrined a verdant green branch with a woody texture, and a clearly uneven cross-section is visible.
Buzz!
Suddenly, this enshrined verdant green branch vibrated slightly, as if something resonated with it, or as if it was calling for something.
Within the hall, there were also several Immortals radiating powerful pressure, standing quietly and observing the vibrating verdant green branch.
"How long has it been since the Sacred Object exhibited this phenomenon?" a tall Immortal asked.
Upon hearing this, a World Master standing behind the Immortals respectfully replied, "It's been over ten minutes."
"Over ten minutes…" another Immortal said, "With such a long time, that person should have noticed the Sacred Object's anomaly."
An Immortal nodded, "The time is sufficient."
"No need to rush."
The tall Immortal who spoke first slowly said, "The Sacred Object will bring him to us."
…
"Lando City."
After reading the plaque above the city gate, Ender followed the crowd through the mottled bluestone city walls and entered this ancient city.
"This city, apart from being ancient, doesn't seem to have anything special about it. How could there be an E-grade Laser Gun?"
Looking at the bustling street scene, Ender felt that this city was not much different from other cities in Taas World.
However, when he thought that an E-grade Laser Gun existed in this city, he felt that this ancient city was full of strangeness!
"In this direction."
Feeling the emerald leaf in his hand beating like a heart, Ender looked towards the mansion in the center of the city, which was as tall as a mountain, and then walked towards it amidst the astonished gazes of passersby.
He strode quickly and soon arrived at the main gate of the mansion in the city center.
Before he could even speak, the two Domain Master guards stepped aside.
One Domain Master guard respectfully said, "Esteemed guest, please enter. Several Immortals of my clan have been waiting for a long time."
"Immortals? Waiting for a long time?"
Ender was surprised by these sudden words and asked, "How do you know that I am the person they are waiting for? Could it not be someone else?"
"If the guest did not arrive by the guidance of the Sacred Object, then the guest is not the person the Lords are waiting for," the World Master guard replied.
"Sacred Object?! Guidance…"
Ender slightly lowered his head and glanced at his tightly clenched left hand.
Then, he looked straight at the two Domain Master guards standing on a high platform and said, "I am the person you are waiting for. Lead the way."
"No need to lead the way." The Domain Master guard gently shook his head, "The Sacred Object will guide the guest."
"Again with the guidance…"
Ender felt the emerald leaf in his hand beating more intensely and quickly entered the mansion.
Then, he followed the guidance to a hall, with no one obstructing him along the way.
In front of the several-hundred-meter-high hall, Ender stood at the main door.
The emerald leaf in his left hand was beating fiercely, each beat like a powerful heart!
In a daze, he vaguely saw a verdant, mysterious ancient tree, ethereal and indistinct!
"Welcome, esteemed guest who holds the Sacred Object."
A gentle voice, like a spring breeze, entered Ender's ears.
"Hmm!"
Upon hearing this voice, Ender instantly sobered up.
Then, he saw an black-haired man in dark green battle attire standing with a smile inside the hall's main door, quietly observing him.
Ender bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, Lord Immortal!"
From the faint pressure emanating from the black-haired man before him, he could guess that he was an Immortal.
"Esteemed guest."
That Immortal turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation, "Please."
Ender stepped inside, and even within the hall, the emerald leaf in his hand continued to guide him forward.
The Immortal's gentle voice sounded, "The guest should be a Highness cultivated by one of the five Leviathans of Humanity, correct?"
"Hmm."
Ender nodded gently, admitting it.
This was not a difficult thing to guess. Taas World had already joined the Universe Mercenary Alliance.
These Immortals would undoubtedly be able to learn some secrets, and it was not uncommon for them to know about the Geniuses cultivated by the five Leviathans of Humanity.
The two figures, one large and one small, continued walking. The Immortal smiled and said, "Your Highness being able to obtain our clan's Sacred Object also indicates a connection with our clan."
Ender lowered his head and glanced at his clasped left hand, "Indeed, there's a connection. This Sacred Object has given me no small amount of help in the past."
Mysterious emerald leaf!
This was the first treasure he had obtained, a treasure in the true sense, and it was also the key object that allowed him to comprehend the Wood Origin Law!
The Immortal smiled without answering, only saying softly, "We've arrived…"
Ender looked forward upon hearing this and saw an ancient bluestone table in the hall ahead. On the table was a white jade stand, and on the stand was enshrined a broken, verdant green branch, with its uneven cross-section clearly visible.
Upon seeing that branch, he felt as if he was immersed within it, and the surrounding space seemed to become slightly clearer!
"This branch?! It can actually…"
Shaking his head abruptly, Ender, with the firm will of a World Master Level, forcibly pulled himself out of that strange sensation.
"Your Highness is truly formidable."
The gentle voice of the Immortal came from behind him, "To instantly break free from the Artistic Conception of the Sacred Object."
"Your Highness, could you please take out our clan's Sacred Object for us to see?" another voice sounded.
Ender looked over upon hearing the voice and saw several Immortals radiating faint pressure standing silently to one side.
And the one who had just spoken was the elder-looking Immortal at the forefront.
"Your Highness, rest assured."
The gentle voice sounded again, "We will not forcibly demand that Highness return the Sacred Object. Your Highness can decide after hearing our compensation plan."
"I can assure you, Your Highness will not refuse our compensation plan."
"So confident?"
Ender listened, feeling a slight surprise at the Immortal's confidence.
"This is your Sacred Object."
Ender raised his left hand, palm upwards, slowly opening it. Soon, the pulsating emerald leaf was revealed.
"It's a complete leaf."
"So it's a leaf…"
"I thought…"
Upon seeing that the Sacred Object in Ender's hand was a complete leaf, a hint of disappointment flashed in the eyes of the Immortals.
"A complete leaf contains the essential profoundness of a Wood Origin Law," the gentle voice said. "It's very good for enlightening one's comprehension of the Wood Origin Law."
"Since Your Highness has shown us the Sacred Object, we cannot be partial."
The elder Immortal at the head said, "Lu, take His Highness to see the Venerable."
"Venerable!"
Hearing this title, Ender's pupils slightly widened, and his heart was somewhat shocked. "Taas World actually has a Venerable guarding it!"
"What secret is Taas World hiding that can make a Venerable guard it for such a long time?!"
The gentle voice responded, "Yes!"
The Immortal named Lu smiled and said, "Your Highness, please follow me to meet the Venerable."
"Alright."
Ender nodded and followed the Immortal 'Lu' to pay respects to the Venerable.
…
Leaving the hall where the Sacred Object was enshrined, the two walked towards the largest building in the mansion.
It was a building with a vast footprint, over a thousand meters tall, resembling a tower, with no decorations on its exterior.
"Lu!"
At the entrance of the tower, there was an Immortal radiating terrifying pressure.
He saw Lu and the tall Ender behind him and asked, "Who is behind you?"
"A Highness who holds a Sacred Object. I'm bringing him to pay respects to the Venerable," Lu replied.
"Oh?!"
The Immortal gave Ender a deep look, then gently waved his hand, and the tower door opened.
"Alright, you can go in now."
"Thank you. I'll find you for a drink when I'm free."
Lu smiled, then turned to Ender and said, "Your Highness, let's go in."
"Hmm."
Ender nodded and followed Lu into the tower.
As the two entered, the tower door slammed shut, and the passage became dark.
"Keep quiet in a moment. We are in an important place of our Universe Mercenary Alliance."
Lu transmitted, "When you see the Venerable, be respectful. He is a Universe Venerable."
'Of course I know these things…'
Ender knew he was being underestimated, but he still had to nod and reply, "Understood."
The two walked out of the dark passage while transmitting messages and arrived inside the brightly lit tower.
Upon entering, they saw a giant throne that obscured all other items within the tower.
Lu transmitted, "Lower your head. Follow what I do in a moment."
Hearing this, Ender slightly lowered his head and silently followed Lu.
Lu arrived in front of the throne, then respectfully bowed to the man sitting on the throne and said, "Lu greets the Venerable!"
Ender also respectfully said, "Greetings, Venerable."
"What is it?"
A majestic voice sounded.
Lu respectfully said, "Venerable, this Highness holds our clan's Sacred Object. I specifically brought him to pay respects."
"Oh… Sacred Object?!"
Hearing about the Sacred Object, the majestic voice was clearly interested. "Take it out and let me see."
"Yes, Venerable."
Ender respectfully responded, then held up the emerald leaf in his hand with both hands.
"So it's a complete leaf."
Upon seeing the emerald leaf, the majestic voice was clearly somewhat disappointed.
But the voice still explained, "According to the rules, you can choose to return or keep this Sacred Object. If you choose to keep it, you will not receive any rewards."
"But if you choose to return it, then you will gain the qualification to comprehend the Sacred Tree."
"Sacred Tree?!"
Ender's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. "Is this why Seventh Senior Brother told me to come? What is the relationship between this Sacred Tree and the Sacred Tree?"
"What is your choice?" the majestic voice asked.
"My choice?"
Ender thought to himself, "For me, that emerald leaf has more commemorative significance than practical use. At most, I could send it back to the Family for future generations to comprehend the Wood Origin Law."
'Compared to sending it home, it's better to exchange it for the so-called Sacred Tree comprehension!' thought Ender.
In a very short time, Ender made his decision. "I choose to return the Sacred Object."
"A wise choice."
The majestic voice had a hint of appreciation, then asked, "What is your name, and which power do you come from?"
"My name is Ender, and I am from Virtual Universe Company," Ender respectfully replied.
"Ender!"
The majestic voice sounded a little surprised upon hearing this. He looked at the thirteen-meter-tall youth in front of him and said, "Raise your head."
"Yes."
Ender looked up and saw a square-faced man wearing silver armor, subtly distorting the surrounding space, sitting on the massive throne.
"I am Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest!"
The square-faced man said in a majestic voice, "Ender, I know you. You are a Prodigy Rank Genius that Virtual Universe Company produces once every million epochs."
"What?!"
The Immortal 'Lu' at the side was stunned upon hearing Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest's words. "He is Ender of Virtual Universe Company! Ender, who is a Disciple of an existence even greater than a Universe Venerable!"
"Venerable, you flatter me," Ender humbly said.
"Choosing to comprehend the Sacred Tree, holding the Sacred Object of the Taas clan, and even being able to come to Taas World, he is truly a lucky little fellow."
Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest thought to himself, "And yes, if he didn't have enough talent and Opportunity, how could he be taken as a Disciple by a great Universe Master now?"
An existence like a Universe Master taking Disciples usually requires the Disciple to show sufficient talent.
And the best period to show talent is naturally the World Master Level, followed by the Domain Master, and finally the Universe Level!
Anyone who can be taken as a Disciple by a Universe Master at the Universe Level is absolutely an astonishing Prodigy Rank Genius.
It would not be surprising if their future evaluation rises to one appearing every ten million epochs, or even every hundred million epochs.
"According to the rules set by our Universe Mercenary Alliance, if you return the Sacred Object of the Taas clan after obtaining it, you can comprehend the Sacred Tree once a year, each time lasting seven days, for a maximum of one hundred times in this epoch."
Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest said, "Outside of this epoch, for every epoch that passes thereafter, you can come here to comprehend the Sacred Tree once. This reward will last for ten thousand epochs."
"One hundred comprehensions in this epoch, seven days each time… and then one comprehension per epoch for the next ten thousand epochs."
Ender secretly thought, 'This compensation looks very good, but I haven't seen this so-called Sacred Tree yet, and I don't know what the gains will be from comprehending it…'
"Hmm."
Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest mused, "You should be here in Taas World for a Cultivation mission, correct?"
Ender nodded, "Yes, Venerable."
"Since you are here for a Cultivation mission, I can also grant you an additional reward."
Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest said, "Normally, people who come to Taas World for Cultivation missions need to obtain a recommendation from other cities in Taas World to enter here."
"And obtaining a recommendation grants three opportunities for comprehension."
Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest said, "I will grant you these three opportunities for comprehension."
"Thank you, Venerable," Ender thanked him.
"Hmm."
Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest nodded gently and said, "Perhaps you are wondering what this Sacred Tree is and why the comprehension opportunities are so precious."
Ender nodded; he did have this question.
"Want to know what the Sacred Tree is?"
Venerable Ten-Thousand Forest said, "Just look behind you, and you'll know."
Upon hearing this, Ender looked back, his pupils involuntarily widening a few points, his heart filled with even greater shock!