Chen Zhou scrolled through the notifications popping up about the Myriad Herbs Life-Death Realm until he found the message regarding Jing Hui’s successful rebirth.
He nodded slightly and continued scrolling to check the information on the Living Dead Secret Realm; the main force heading to Cangzhou had not yet returned.
Chen Zhou attempted to contact Piao.
As soon as his divine sense reached out, the connection was established.
Piao’s voice sounded cheerful. “My Lord!”
“How are things in Cangzhou?” Chen Zhou asked. “Did you run into any trouble on the way?”
“None at all!” Piao’s voice carried a hint of excitement. “Rest assured, My Lord, our journey was perfectly safe. We didn’t encounter any trouble!”
“I’m following the main force right now and having a grand feast!”
Hearing her tone, Chen Zhou knew the plan to reclaim Cangzhou was proceeding smoothly, and he felt a bit more at ease.
After cutting the connection, Chen Zhou withdrew his divine sense just as he arrived at the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
After not seeing it for a while, the spiritual rhythm of the Gathering Fortune Pavilion had grown considerably denser.
Chen Zhou was surprised to see two newcomers standing next to the unaging pine.
One was a deer that was entirely emerald green.
It was a size larger than an ordinary elk, with long, slender legs and an elegant posture.
Its fur was a deep pond-green that shimmered with a gentle luster amidst the spiritual mist, looking as if it had been carved from the finest jade.
Its pair of antlers was massive with numerous branches, giving it a somewhat ferocious appearance.
The other was a massive old locust tree with a trunk so thick it would take over a dozen adults to encircle it with their arms.
Its bark was cracked with deep furrows, and the crown of the tree was in full bloom with locust flowers.
Clusters and bunches of snow-white blossoms grew in dense layers, weighing down the branches.
The air was filled with the distinct sweet fragrance of locust flowers, which mingled with the spiritual mist of the Gathering Fortune Pavilion to create a refreshing scent.
The old locust tree’s roots were buried deep in the earth right next to the unaging pine; their roots intertwined underground like two old friends holding hands.
After looking over the locust tree, Chen Zhou gazed at the unaging pine’s crown, which was full of pine cones.
It had been a while, and the old pine’s stock had increased quite a bit. Perfect.
Chen Zhou stepped forward and patted the unaging pine’s trunk.
“Old Pine, let’s talk.”
The unaging pine shuddered.
Every needle on the tree stood on end with a loud rustle.
Almost by reflex, it whipped a branch out and slammed it hard against the trunk of the nearby old locust tree.
Thud!
A dull sound echoed.
The old locust tree trembled from the impact, causing locust flowers to rain down from its branches.
Then, as if receiving a signal, the old locust tree began to sway left and right, its branches dancing wildly to shower down even more flowers.
The blossoms drifted down in a flurry, like a fall of fragrant snow.
A few landed in Chen Zhou’s palm.
They felt cool and smooth to the touch, as if he were holding a small fragment of solidified moonlight.
【Qianqiu Sophora Flowers】
【6th-stage heavenly treasure】
【The flowers of a thousand-year-old locust tree, condensing vegetation essence and temporal spiritual rhythm. The fragrance is sweet and long-lasting; they can be used in tea, food, or medicine.】
【Consuming them can calm the mind and soothe the spirit, dispel inner demons and stray thoughts, and slightly increase comprehension. Long-term consumption can nourish the divine soul, divinity, godhead, and even the divine position.】
Chen Zhou looked at the flowers in his palm and then at the old locust tree, which was still twisting wildly and enthusiastically showering flowers.
Was it trying to curry favor with him?
Jiu’er was in the middle of carrying beast eggs into the Gathering Fortune Pavilion. Seeing this, he wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. “My Lord, it says its name is the Qianqiu Locust.”
“It just arrived from Qingzhou and has already heard about the rules here from Old Pine.”
“These flowers are a greeting gift it specially prepared for you!”
The Qianqiu Locust shook its crown vigorously as if nodding emphatically, fully agreeing with what Jiu’er said.
It even lowered a branch, picked up a flower from the ground, and gently tucked it behind Jiu’er’s ear.
Jiu’er was stunned for a moment. He touched the flower on his ear and gave an embarrassed smile.
Chen Zhou looked at Jiu’er, somewhat surprised.
“You can understand what they’re saying?”
Jiu’er scratched his head, also looking a bit puzzled.
“I’m not really sure how it happened.”
“One day when I came back from school and passed by Old Pine and the old crane, I suddenly found myself able to understand their conversation.”
“It’s quite strange. Maybe it’s an ability of the Heavenly Virtue destiny.”
Chen Zhou nodded thoughtfully.
As an Auspicious Noble favored by the virtue of heaven and earth, it wasn’t too far-fetched for him to understand the communication of auspicious beings.
After all, auspicious beings were manifestations of the world’s spiritual rhythm; for Jiu’er, a walking vessel of fortune, to understand their language was a natural talent.
Having said his piece, Jiu’er huffed as he ran back to continue moving the beast eggs into the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
Chen Zhou casually summoned a wisp of netherflame and gave an order.
“Go, collect all the locust flowers on the ground and take them to the Dingnai Hall.”
Since they could be used as ingredients, he would see what the Heavenly Chef could come up with. Perhaps they would have another signature dish.
After that, Chen Zhou tapped the unaging pine’s trunk again.
“Old Pine, don’t change the subject. I’m talking to you. I have something to discuss with you. About your pine cones...”
Before he could finish, the unaging pine whipped out another branch. It was as fast as a lightning bolt, instantly wrapping around the green deer’s neck and binding it tightly.
Then, the tree gave a violent tug, pulling the green deer right next to Chen Zhou.
Having done this, the unaging pine took half a step back.
Its trunk leaned back slightly, like a person shrinking away out of a guilty conscience.
Despite being bound, the green deer remained perfectly calm. It lowered its head slightly and spat out a black plate, holding it in its mouth to present to Chen Zhou.
Chen Zhou looked down. The plate was pitch-black, as if soaked in the darkest ink, but a closer look revealed it was formed from highly concentrated death qi.
It was eerie and permeated with the aura of death.
On the front of the plate, several lines of text were engraved.
The handwriting was elegant and neat, with every stroke written so carefully that it seemed the writer had poured immense patience and sincerity into it.
“To the new god, from an old friend in Qingzhou.”
“I have heard of your rise from humble beginnings—slaying evil, reclaiming Gloomlight, establishing a new city, and protecting all living beings.”
“From the north, I have observed the stars and the qis. I see that your destiny is like an abyss, and your heavenly secrets are chaotic and immeasurable.”
“It brings me great comfort.”
“This world has been mired in suffering for too long, with demons running rampant and false gods usurping the high heavens.”
“I know you have doubts in your heart, and I know you wish to question the heavens.”
“However, heavenly secrets cannot be easily revealed, and words cannot be fully trusted.”
“I remain hidden in Qingzhou, waiting for the opportune time.”
“Should you be inclined, you may take this token and travel north to Qingzhou to find me.”
“Xuan Cai, Four-Direction Envoy of Central Province, respectfully yours.”
Xuan Cai?
Chen Zhou frowned.
A false god from Central Province had found his base and even sent a token?
Chen Zhou’s gaze turned cold.
It was true that his previous actions hadn’t been deliberately concealed.
Slaying the Judge, reclaiming Gloomlight, destroying Qing Lu, and pacifying Tianchi—each of these was a world-shaking event.
It was only a matter of time before he drew the attention of Central Province.
But he hadn’t expected it to happen this quickly.
Moreover, the other party not only knew of his existence but had accurately located the City of the Wrongfully Dead and delivered the token straight to the Gathering Fortune Pavilion.
Rate on N.U.
