Chapter 154: Chapter 47: Alienation
South of the Central Plains, along the banks of the Nanjiang River.
Overcast clouds stretched endlessly, and a torrential downpour fell.
The lands of Suzhou, once praised as a land of fish and rice, had been abandoned for nearly eighty years and become a primeval forest overrun with vegetation.
Clouds and mist churned, scattered by the wind and rain. A damp breeze swept over the sea of trees, stirring up the various miasmas that had pooled within, instantly bathing the entire jungle in a multitude of colors.
Faintly visible were countless plants and beasts that had never existed in this world before the appearance of the Divine Wood, breeding and moving within, transforming this land into a strange Otherworld.
A massive river surged forth like a dividing line cleaving heaven and earth. Amidst the pattering rain, it cut through this forest that resembled an Otherworld, flowing from the distant depths of the continent to the ocean at the edge of the horizon.
Su Zhou stood at the very front of a True Qi Airship named ’Changfeng,’ gazing into the distance alongside Li Daoran and another Daoist School Grandmaster. They watched the Hundred Schools’ stronghold, which was slowly coming into view—as well as the incomparably massive ’Banyan Tree’ whose canopy covered an area nearly a thousand li in circumference.
The Immortal Banyan Tree!
The oncoming gale and torrential rain whipped at the young man’s robes, a long spear on his back and a long blade at his hip. The winds also sent the banners on the True Qi Airship snapping loudly. But Su Zhou paid it no mind, as the Fire Spirit Power naturally emanating from the Divine Blade at his waist easily blew away all the rain.
He simply narrowed his eyes, gazing at the Divine Tree ahead, and at the Celestial Palace faintly visible at its peak.
"That is the stronghold where our Hundred Schools confront the Demon Dynasty. If not for this, why would the Demon Dynasty station the vast majority of its Demon Army on the other side of the Nanjiang River?"
Li Daoran explained to Su Zhou, extending a hand wrapped in bandages and pointing to the Celestial Palace at the summit. "And that is the Celestial Palace, the Demon Emperor’s residence. Below it are New Southern Celestial Capital and the Nanjiang Celestial Gate."
Li Daoran’s arm, injured by the National Preceptor, had yet to heal. After all, he was just an ordinary human and didn’t possess the terrifying regenerative abilities of the Divine Wood Clan or Su Zhou. Su Zhou glanced at the walls of the Nanjiang Celestial Gate, which were over thirty zhang high, and couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement. "A world with Martial Artist Dao Skills is really something else. This hundred-meter-high wall is truly terrifying!"
However, Su Zhou wasn’t worried about such a wall. With his current Grandmaster-level Cultivation, scaling it would be as easy as walking on flat ground. He could stomp a crater into the wall with a single kick; gravity hardly constrained him anymore.
More than that, he was a little worried. He turned to the other Daoist Sect Grandmaster at his side. "Grandmaster Liu, do you think I can really fight with this Blade of Annihilation? You all said that because my Inner Strength is of the fire attribute and I have some foundation in Thunder Techniques, I’m the best person to wield this Divine Blade... but this should only be a temporary measure."
"Compared to the Hundred Schools, I’m just an outsider, after all. A Divine Weapon like this should probably be given to another Grandmaster, right?"
’Although I never underestimate myself, I’m also well aware that something like a Divine Weapon wouldn’t be so easily handed over to a ’Hero’ like me... Of course, I protected its forging and defeated the National Preceptor, proving my position and strength, but in the end, the ownership of this blade isn’t mine.’
’But what’s even more unnerving is the attitude of the Hundred Schools’ Righteous Army—they seem happy to see me holding this Divine Weapon. These people are treating me too well. Not to mention anything else, my daily food supply and Spiritual Materials for cultivation are always maxed out. They’ll even go without to ensure I have an unlimited supply, to the point that I’m starting to feel a bit awkward about it.’
At this, Grandmaster Liu of the Daoist Sect paused, surprised that Su Zhou would ask such a worried question. He rubbed his rather round belly and shook his head with a smile. "Grandmaster Su, you’re overthinking it. The Daoist Saint, Buddhist Saint, and Confucian Saint sent word several days ago, entrusting the Blade of Annihilation to you... Please, have no doubt. We are about to arrive at the stronghold. The three leaders are waiting for you."
"Is that really okay?"
"Of course."
Several hours later, in the subterranean Unity Hall at the Hundred Schools’ Righteous Army stronghold, the Daoist School Grandmaster known as the ’Daoist Saint,’ who had come specifically to meet Su Zhou, spoke softly with a somewhat complicated expression. "Why not? Grandmaster Su, you possess Thunderfire Qi. In this entire world, there is likely no one more suitable than you."
"Indeed."
"Correct."
To the side, the Buddhist Saint and the Confucian Saint both nodded slightly, voicing their agreement.
The Daoist Saint, Buddhist Saint, and Confucian Saint were all wizened old men with white hair and beards. Even the youngest-looking among them, the Buddhist Saint, had wrinkles that layered his face like tree bark. Although the three of them spoke with resonant voices, the Inner Qi Cultivation they revealed when exchanging courtesies with Su Zhou earlier was truly shocking. It was not far off from the National Preceptor’s, and one could even say they were his equals. If you discounted his Immortal Body, the National Preceptor would likely need over a hundred rounds to gain the upper hand against any of these three Hundred Schools Grandmasters in a one-on-one fight.
But they were indeed extremely old; even their very life force was sustained by their profound Cultivation.
"In truth, if not for your appearance, Grandmaster Su, we would have had no choice but to select a Grandmaster who cultivates Thunder Techniques to wield the Blade of Annihilation, rather than using it ourselves."
The one speaking now was the current Confucian Saint, a tall, burly-faced old man whose tone was surprisingly humble. He patted the sword at his hip and sighed with a wry smile. "It is shameful to admit, but we cannot personally cut down that Dog Emperor and avenge the tens of millions of wronged souls under this Azure Heaven. We are afraid we can only entrust this matter to you."
"Why..." Hearing this, Su Zhou only grew more confused. "To be honest, the Blade of Annihilation feels very comfortable in my hands, but why don’t you go yourselves? This is a Divine Weapon!"
"Counting me, the Hundred Schools’ Righteous Army now has four Grandmasters! Even if the Demon Emperor has advanced to the Innate realm, with one blade each, we could still cut him down. I’m not kidding. Someone who has just reached the Innate realm can’t be that strong. I have a truly reliable source that can prove it!"
’Yara said it personally, how could it be false? And even if it were, it wouldn’t be about something so minor.’
Then, Su Zhou saw the current Buddhist Saint press his palms together and sigh. "Master Su, we have been fighting for eighty years. Now... we have lost the right to ascend the Divine Tree. Though we are fortunate enough to cling to life, we can no longer face the Demon Emperor."
"Everyone, there’s no need to hide it any longer. Let’s show Master Su."
After speaking, the old monk nonchalantly extended his hand, lifted his kasaya, and showed Su Zhou his arm, which at first glance appeared to be solid and muscular.
Then, Su Zhou gasped, sucking in a cold breath in horror.
"Gods!"
What appeared before Su Zhou’s eyes was not human flesh and blood... but an indescribable, bizarre body composed entirely of various metal levers and parts, along with countless tangled tree roots!
Su Zhou could sense that the flow of Inner Qi within these metal frameworks, parts, and roots was almost identical to that of a human. That was why, even when he observed with his Spiritual Vision, he hadn’t noticed anything wrong with the Buddhist Saint at first glance!
"This... this is just like those Demon Generals..." For a moment, Su Zhou didn’t know how to describe the situation. He turned his head and looked at the arms that the Daoist Saint and Confucian Saint were silently showing him. They were identical to the Buddhist Saint’s—completely transformed, their flesh barely maintaining a human form with the help of metal structures!
