Chapter 19 The Divine Tree Revitalizes the Cultivation World (19% Progress)

While Lin Ming was agonizing over who to give the system to, the axe spirits, caught slacking off, huffed and puffed as they carried the chopped spirit-gathering wood into the mustard seed space.

Their not-so-bright brains came up with a good idea: this way, Lin Ming wouldn't have time to count them and wouldn't know exactly how long they had been slacking off.

The spirits chattered in frustration: It's all because they were too honest when they were first born and started working. They worked their butts off, and now they have to use their brains to slack off compared to the initial workload!

Jun Huilian noticed all their little schemes.

Jun Huilian frowned: "Even if we cut down all the spirit-gathering trees in the Misty Forest, it still won't be enough."

"Let's find a few more places?" Jun Feibai, who was fixing the system bug, came over and rubbed his head against her. "How about we go to the Phoenix's Nest? The phoenix trees there should have grown up by now, even after ten thousand years. Anyway, phoenixes have disappeared from the cultivation world, so we can build houses with phoenix trees."

“Yes.” Jun Huilian’s eyes gleamed. “The paulownia wood from Phoenix is ​​the best. When paired with spirit-gathering wood, it can achieve the best spirit-gathering effect.”

"Let's go, let's take their territory and wipe them all out!" Jun Feibai was so excited that he suddenly remembered something. "We can't wipe them all out. You have a clone that has been mixed with phoenix blood. Let's leave some for him."

Jun Huilian pondered: "No need to keep them. We can just transplant some of the paulownia trees over. The academy is lacking decorative trees and flowers."

Looking at the preliminary model of the academy in her hand, she felt that something was missing: "The details need to be improved. The building itself is magnificent enough, but I feel that it lacks a bit of spirit."

This spiritual energy was not the same as that spiritual energy; she intuitively felt that something was missing in the atmosphere of the building.

"Popularity? The atmosphere will be there once people arrive."

“Hmm, once things get lively…” Jun Huilian hissed, “perhaps we should add a more festive mascot.”

“It’s not like it’s a grand opening sale.” Jun Feibai naturally thought of what Fang Tieyan remembered and silently complained. But when he saw her furrowed brows, he changed the subject. “Cultivation alone is indeed a bit monotonous. Let’s find some lively spirit pets to raise. How about cranes? It’s quite troublesome to go up and down the mountain before they can fly on swords or use spirit artifacts. Cranes are beautiful and practical.”

“Good idea, let’s make some nice mascots.” Jun Huilian examined the prototype with a judgmental eye, and after rotating the 3D model, he said, “Isn’t the surrounding area a bit empty?”

Jun Feibai tilted his head: "It's missing something iconic. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect built a golden pagoda to deter evildoers, the Xuantian Sword Sect dug a sword tomb, the Medicine King Valley cultivated a spirit garden, the Beast Taming City deliberately chose to build its site on the outskirts of the demon race, and even the Joyful Union Sect has a peach grove for its disciples to meet in secret."

Jun Huilian suddenly understood: "I knew it seemed like there was something wrong with the architecture."

"Should we copy their homework? Should we build a tower or a tomb?"

“This isn’t plagiarism,” Jun Huilian said righteously. “We call it the culmination of all knowledge.”

"You want them all?"

"Hmm." Jun Huilian was inspired and casually drew several three-dimensional sketches. "The Heavenly Dao said that the evil spirits in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect have almost dissipated, the cultivation effect of the Golden Pagoda has been greatly reduced, and the good swords of the Xuantian Sword Sect have long been pulled out and there are no new ones to fill them. They have all fallen into decline and I will have to carry them forward again."

Jun Feibai muttered to himself, "That's quite a loud flattery."

Seeing Jun Huilian look over, he cleared his throat and said, "I think it's right. Finally, it's something useful. But in that case, we have to innovate from the old things. Shouldn't we go out and see what's going on in the world? See if there are any new ideas in the structure of the tower after ten thousand years, and what changes have been made to the sword?"

Jun Huilian raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "So you couldn't stay still."

“I’ll also create an avatar, to find inspiration and take a stroll around,” Jun Feibai said, blinking his innocent big eyes.

Playing freely is in the nature of most animals, and the Pixiu is no exception.

“There is some truth to that,” Jun Huilian agreed. “Once the paulownia wood arrives, I will complete the initial construction of the academy.”

With a clear deadline, he felt better.

Jun Huilian activated his internal communication channel, and a certain clone in the demon realm clicked his tongue and lazily got up to work.

Youzhou, the realm of demons.

Feng Wujue's somewhat bewitching face was tinged with a hint of evil due to his irritable morning temper.

"I don't want to get up, it's so annoying."

Despite his complaints, he still sat up and prepared to get out of the hotel.

Just as his feet were 0.00001 centimeters from the ground, the palace door was pushed open, and at the same time, a high-pitched, extremely piercing cry rang out, like a crow wailing desperately, hoarse and broken in voice.

"His Majesty!!!"

Whether it was the blinding sunlight or the startling scream, Feng Wujue paused slightly.

In less than a breath, a colorful "thing" rolled in and slid to his knees with the speed of the wind.

Feng Wujue's bare feet were carefully lifted up, and the ground was covered with fallen paulownia leaves with a "whoosh".

"Phew—I made it!" The newcomer patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief, his ferocious expression turning into a clear stream of water.

"Your Majesty," he said in a hoarse voice, "it's all my fault. I didn't know you woke up so early. I threw away the old paulownia carpet, and the new one is still being made. I can only ask that your delicate feet step on the softened fallen leaves for now."

The tender gaze sent shivers down Feng Wujue's spine.

“Wu Zhan, I can walk without the leaves of the phoenix tree.”

Feng Wujue was completely rejecting it.

Since his phoenix bloodline appeared in the demon realm, all birds sensed it immediately. Before he could even establish his territory, a crow with not particularly high cultivation suddenly rose up, overthrowing a group of demons and pushing the bewildered man onto the throne of the demon emperor.

The crow said, "That's called faith etched into your bones."

Birds have long been weak in the demon realm. Although his cultivation was insufficient, he always harbored the dream of replicating the phoenix's reign over the bird race ten thousand years ago. The appearance of Feng Wujue gave him spiritual strength.

It happened so suddenly.

However, Feng Wujue was originally a hedonist. His original idea was to subdue all the birds and beasts and then command his subordinates to work. Now that he had a capable assistant named Wu Zhan who managed the affairs of the demon realm in an orderly manner, he quickly adapted.

Unexpectedly, Wu Zhan was reliable, but perhaps a little too reliable.

For example, regarding the phoenix tree, he doesn't need to step on the phoenix tree all the time, but Wu Zhan feels that his feet shouldn't be wronged, so he insists that he step on the phoenix tree every step of the way.

He found it troublesome and used the excuse that the paulownia wood was rough and the leaves would scratch him. Wu Zhan immediately wove a blanket out of paulownia leaves, a skill that amazed Feng Wujue.

Later, he thought that if the blanket was burned, Wu Zhan would be helpless. Little did he know that this guy was determined to compete with Wu Tong and had a backup plan.

Wu Zhan had a strange determination: "No, in ancient times, the phoenix would not perch on anything but the parasol tree. You must have everything that others have, and the conditions must be even better. You don't need to feel that we are working hard. We are just preparing your travel supplies in accordance with the treatment of the phoenix in ancient times. Besides, you are still a fragile cub. Cubs need to use the softest and most expensive things. It's a pity that the demon race is not as powerful as before. Otherwise, I would definitely send troops to collect even more precious treasures for you."

He clapped his hands, and a stream of beautiful bird demons came in carrying bamboo baskets full of fallen leaves. Several birds flew in the sky and raised a canopy, which looked like a sacred spiritual artifact. There were also countless attendants at the door, and incense and flower petals were plentiful.

"Would you like to ride in a sedan chair?" Wu Zhan looked at him with bright eyes, expecting praise.

He was considered small and thin among the demons, yet he wore a wild, colorful feather outfit that was as flamboyant as could be.

Blinded by his aesthetic sense once again, Feng Wujue couldn't bear to look at him. He took a deep breath and compromised: "No need, I'll just walk over. Have someone cut some paulownia wood, and then come with me to the sacred tree."

The phoenix tree is everywhere in Phoenix Valley, but there is one divine tree that was born at the same time as the phoenix that is different from others. He plans to transplant this tree to Tianyan Academy, but the divine tree cannot be approached by anyone who is not of phoenix bloodline, so he must do it himself.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The bird demons transformed into their original forms, each carrying a bamboo basket and emptying fallen leaves.

The bamboo basket is similar to the Qiankun bag, with an incredibly spacious interior, filled with an unknown number of leaves.

Even the most extravagant pleasures felt like luxury. Every leaf of the phoenix tree in Phoenix Valley contained spiritual energy, yet he trampled it under his feet and swept it away in just a few steps.

Feng Wujue felt a little ashamed, but the regret he inherited from his original self for wasting treasures was quickly overshadowed by the phoenix's habitual high-profile arrogance.

As a phoenix, he felt great.

"Hmph, I have to move this log myself. It's called a 'divine tree,' can't it just grow legs? What a hassle," he complained casually.

“Exactly, can’t they grow their own legs?” Wu Zhan chimed in with a curse.

He glanced at Wu Zhan and saw him looking at him with an indulgent gaze that seemed to say, "My little one can get the stars for him no matter what he says. It's just cutting down the most precious sacred tree of the bird clan. Why can't the sacred tree dig itself out on its own?"

Feng Wujue remained silent.

Fortunately, he wasn't a real ten-year-old child; if he were a real phoenix from ten thousand years ago, he would have been spoiled rotten.

Spoiling your child is like killing them!

Let him bear this heavy burden!

"Later, I'll create a space within a mustard seed, and you can send the wood inside," he instructed.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly deliver it." Wu Zhan paused for a moment, but still couldn't help asking, "Your Majesty, who are you sending the paulownia wood to?"

My child is only ten years old, which is the age when he is most easily fooled!

Feng Wujue had no idea of ​​the turmoil in Wu Zhan's heart, and replied, "Give it to my master."

"Oh, so you mean that elder who lives in the Immortal Realm?"

"Hmm." He knew he would return to the academy sooner or later, so he said directly, "My master is going to open an academy in the cultivation world, so I should help out. I will also go there after the academy is built, so you must choose the best quality wood to send over. Who knows which piece will be used to build my house."

He paused, glancing at Wu Zhan.

Wu Zhan bent down, trying to be as friendly as he usually was.

"When I go to the academy, you will come with me."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wu Zhan smiled broadly.

His Majesty is so adorable! He seems arrogant on the surface, but he always thinks of his subordinates.

Feng Wujue strolled along the soft paulownia leaves all the way to the Wutong Divine Mountain.

The sacred tree has an unknown history, existing since the birth of the phoenix.

After the phoenix disappeared from the cultivation world, the divine tree withered and died. It was only after he came here that he discovered it and used his own bloodline to stimulate it to come back to life. In just ten years, it grew back to be as lush as the sky.

They had only reached halfway up the mountain when the bird race, suppressed by their bloodline, involuntarily knelt down, and the weaker ones trembled and tried to escape.

Wu Zhan had followed Feng Wujue for a long time and had absorbed some of the phoenix's aura, but he was ultimately not recognized and could only stay at a distance.

Only Feng Wujue could enter the area sheltered by the divine tree without any hindrance; the ground itself had already formed a path of phoenix trees as the wind rose, requiring no paving.

The bells on his ankles jingled softly, and his still-childish body stood out starkly against the enormous sycamore tree.

Feng Wujue stood in front of the sacred tree and looked around; the trunk of the sacred tree seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.

“There are no phoenixes here anymore. If I leave, you will wither and decay again. Why don’t you come with me to the Heavenly Evolution Academy?” he asked the divine tree.

The leaves rustled.

From an outsider's perspective, it looked like he was talking to himself.

"The Phoenix Clan either reproduces and is born or is reborn from ashes. In the cultivation world, not a single egg or ashes were left. The Heavenly Dao has sensed this, and I really can't conjure one up for you out of thin air."

"That won't do. My talent is inherited from my original body. Fully awakening the phoenix bloodline will not benefit me much. I would have to go through the ordeal for nothing."

"It won't work even if it doesn't hurt. The benefits you listed aren't enough to sway me. I'm not a real phoenix. What if my clone goes back to the Immortal Realm after Nirvana and is chased by those phoenixes who want to claim me as their offspring? Before Nirvana, they revered me as their Dao Ancestor, but after Nirvana, they want to be my grandson? I won't do that."

"The Phoenix Clan does cherish its young, and you can make a fortune by robbing them, but I don't care about their meager wealth. You should know that. Your Phoenix Clan has a long history, but you're wasteful. I like to hoard things and don't waste much. Besides, I'm an expert at robbery, so why would I risk my own life?"

"I don't want to force you to do anything difficult. Think again about what requests you have that I can fulfill. I didn't expect you to just take action directly."

When the initial negotiations reached a stalemate, Feng Wujue simply rolled up his sleeves.

The rustling of leaves grew louder, and a very soft sigh seemed to drift on the breeze.

Feng Wujue was taken aback.

"What did you say?"

Before he could decipher the meaning behind the sacred tree's "words," the weather suddenly changed. Dark clouds filled the sky, and an indescribable pressure quietly permeated the sacred tree.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty the Demon Emperor!"

Wu Zhan was so anxious that he paced around in circles, but due to the absolute suppression of his bloodline, he could not get even half a step closer.

A golden beam of light shot up from the roots of the sacred parasol tree and crashed into the dark clouds. In an instant, it vanished into thin air, replaced by rolling thunder.

The purple-gold lightning, like a sharp sword, contained the power to tear the earth apart, and struck straight at the Wutong Divine Tree.

Despite being enveloped in lightning and thunder, Feng Wujue remained expressionless. With a flick of his sleeve, he conjured a hurricane, sending Wu Zhan and the other demons who had followed him to a safe area. He then told them to wait patiently while he sat quietly under a tree.

He appeared to be in danger, but in reality, the lightning completely bypassed him.

The sacred tree silently endured the lightning tribulation, while Feng Wujue pulled up Xiaoqun with a complicated expression.

[Feng Wujue: Did anyone notice me just now? I think I misheard.]

[Jun Huilian: No, I heard it too.]

Rong Ling: You heard me right.

[Feng Wujue: Is that what I meant? ???]

Eighty-one lightning tribulations, each containing the power of rules, struck for a full seven days. Feng Wujue sat under the tree, propping his head up, and spent those seven days doing reading comprehension exercises.

Until the last bolt of lightning struck, the dark clouds dispersed, and the sky returned to its clear blue state, he hesitated before standing up and walking toward the withered trunk of the sacred tree.

The sacred tree itself became dull and lost its former holiness.

Upon entering, he saw a section of charred wood, about the thickness of a wrist, that had separated from the sacred tree. He carefully sensed it and realized that the charred wood contained all the essence of the sacred tree.

From then on, the sacred tree on Wutong Mountain transformed into an ordinary ancient Wutong tree with a little spirituality, while the charred wood in front of us was reborn from the sacrifice, waiting to be planted and grow again.

Reluctantly, he transplanted the charred wood along with its roots, then steeled himself and ventured into the deep crater created by the lightning strike.

"Chirp chirp!"

His keen hearing allowed him to detect the weak cries of the fledgling.

Feng Wujue closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Before Shenmu voluntarily underwent the tribulation of lightning, she said to him:

"Then please do me a favor and help me raise my child."

A creature more terrifying than the phoenix, the most spoiled, capricious, pretentious, bad-tempered, and universally disliked bird in the world, has appeared—

Phoenix cub.

This is really bad.

A note from the author:

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Don't worry, don't worry, the mascot isn't tormenting A-Lian. A-Lian stayed behind to have fun and avoid being tortured by the cubs.