"So, have you made up your mind?"
Xiao Wenbing pondered for a moment, then asked, "What are the abilities of those spirits?"
"Very strong, I guarantee it. Although individually they are not as powerful as the Dragon and Phoenix clans, they can definitely win in a ten-on-one fight."
He rolled his eyes. "Ten to one? And you dare say that so openly?" But once you've seen the Divine Tree Ancestor in person, it's not surprising. The pillar of the world, the Tree of Life—with so many resources and manpower, wouldn't it be foolish not to use their strength to bully the weak?
If I had that many men under my command, I could easily take on a hundred or even a thousand men, let alone ten against one.
Although the total population of the spirit race may not be as large as that of the demon race and the human race, they have a powerful backer like the Divine Tree Ancestor, and with their unity, they are indeed a formidable force that cannot be underestimated.
"Alright, I agree." After much deliberation, Xiao Wenbing finally agreed. He only lost a little divine power; he could recover with a good night's sleep and a day of meditation. But this opportunity from the Divine Tree Ancestor was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. (Mi Bing'er)
Sacrificing a little is normal. It's just a matter of whether it's worth it. For example, if you just used a drop of blood to get so much bark, that's a deal you'd absolutely love.
"Okay, then stretch out your hand and place it on the tree trunk."
"Yes," Xiao Wenbing replied, walking back to the tree. A glance at it made him chuckle. A conspicuous patch of bare bark stood out on its enormous trunk. It seemed the piece of bark he had just dug off was far too large.
If it were an ordinary tree with such a large wound, it would likely not survive. But here, on this incomparably massive tree trunk, it still appears insignificant.
He stretched out his palm and placed it flat on the tree trunk, saying, "All done."
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a tremendous suction force suddenly come from his palm. Although he was prepared, he never expected that the suction force would be so earth-shattering.
Almost instantly, all of his supernatural abilities were completely drained. Immediately afterward, a large amount of spiritual energy was continuously converted into supernatural abilities to provide to the Divine Tree Ancestor, while the golden core in his dantian and his natal golden talisman operated at full power. However, no matter how much Xiao Wenbing squeezed, the divine power he provided was far from sufficient.
Suddenly, Xiao Wenbing felt an extreme sense of terror wash over him, a premonition that terrified him to the extreme. It was as if, at that moment, his life, along with his supernatural power, was being drained by the Divine Tree Ancestor.
Inside the Wanbao Hall, the Treasure God, who had been staring blankly at a large pile of broken artifacts, suddenly jumped up. He roared and, through the master-servant contract, could clearly sense that Xiao Wenbing was extremely weak at this moment.
Moreover, it happened in an instant, although the strange master-servant contract they had signed did not allow him to see what kind of environment Xiao Wenbing was in at that moment.
But one thing is certain: he must have encountered a great crisis.
The precious god roared in anger. He had been stuck in this realm for countless years. The only hope that allowed him to escape the entanglements of this realm and reach the realm of gods was Xiao Wenbing. If this nominal servant were to suddenly die, he had no confidence that he could wait for the next person with the power of a creator god to arrive at Wanbaotang.
In that instant, he made up his mind: he would take action no matter what, no matter the cost.
A thick golden light emanated from his bent-over body, and in the blink of an eye, his entire body split in two, with one half becoming completely transparent.
However, just as he was about to risk sending his clone to Xiao Wenbing's side, he sensed a new change. Xiao Wenbing's life force, which had suddenly plummeted to freezing point, suddenly ignited again, radiating vitality.
Baby God was startled, and his movements involuntarily stopped. What was going on? Xiao Wenbing not only didn't seem to be injured at all, but was in an extremely good condition.
He stared at his clone, tilting his head in confusion, wondering whether he should send it out or not.
Xiao Wenbing was speechless. In that instant, he felt as if he were about to turn into a dried-up mummy, with no trace of life left.
He couldn't tell if he felt fear or sorrow; he had still been greedy. For some reason, in his final moments, he kept thinking of the old director of the orphanage, the deceased man who often said, "It's impossible for a person not to be greedy, but excessive greed leads to death."
I hadn't taken that statement to heart before. But thinking about it today, it's truly a profound truth.
All the old sayings spoken by elders are the result of countless setbacks and lessons learned. Young people may not believe them, but when they truly suffer, they will understand the meaning of "too late to regret."
Unfortunately, by the time he realized the meaning of those four words, it was too late. However, just when he thought he was doomed, the suction suddenly stopped, and a powerful life force emanated from the giant tree trunk.
If it took the Divine Tree Ancestor fifteen seconds to absorb every bit of strength and vital energy from Xiao Wenbing, then it only took less than a second to transfer the same amount of life energy back.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Wenbing's foot, which had been on the verge of death, had been withdrawn. From the moment he was on the verge of death to the moment he was full of energy, the entire process took less than a second.
Staring in astonishment at the large tree before him, Xiao Wenbing felt utterly bewildered. What was going on?
"Do you need any help?"
A rumbling sound echoed in his mind, and at the same time, a powerful energy began to gather around him, an irresistible pressure.
Strands of lightning flashed past Xiao Wenbing, the nascent, powerful energy seemingly clashing violently with the vast, boundless tree trunk before him. Perhaps neither the Treasure God nor the Divine Tree Ancestor could tolerate having someone beside them capable of rivaling them.
Xiao Wenbing felt a sense of relief; no matter the reason, the precious god always cared about him. However, he didn't want to see the two of them fight: "It's not necessary for now, Master. Thank you, please go back."
Baby God was taken aback. Although they were master and servant, it was the first time Xiao Wenbing had ever spoken to him in such a gentle tone.
Since it was the first time, he had to give them face. So, after a moment's hesitation, the precious god reluctantly withdrew the energy of his clone. However, he was also deeply surprised. In this realm, there was actually someone who could rival him, and what he found even more unbelievable was that this person's cultivation level seemed extremely low, yet why did they possess a powerful aura that was in no way inferior to his own?
"Haha, young friend, are you alright?" The Divine Tree Ancestor seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He had really faced the only god in the cultivation world. Even he dared not say that he could be sure of victory.
It is highly likely that the final result will be the unleashing of the powerful chaotic force that has been condensed and cannot be dispersed in this realm, leading to the mutual destruction and annihilation of everyone.
"Thank goodness, what just happened?" Xiao Wenbing asked.
"Well, this..." Even the thick-skinned Ancestor of the Divine Tree, who had been around for countless years, felt a little embarrassed at this moment. "This is the first time in countless years that I have absorbed the power of the Creator God, so I couldn't help but absorb a little more than I should have."
Xiao Wenbing's lips twitched slightly as he inhaled a little too much. He was almost sucked dry. How could that be considered inhaling a little too much?
The Divine Tree Ancestor continued, "If that deity hadn't suddenly unleashed such immense hostility, I might not have been able to awaken. It was truly a stroke of luck."
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Xiao Wenbing's forehead. Shenmu Laomi Bing'erzu's bluntness had truly made him feel a little uneasy.
"My precious god, I'm so grateful to have you as my master!" he cried out in his heart. Whether the precious god could receive his message was anyone's guess.
"Although I have given you more abundant life energy in the end, as compensation, you may make a reasonable request to me."
"One request?"
"yes."
The indignation in Xiao Wenbing's eyes vanished. To receive a promise from the Divine Tree Ancestor was an unexpected and tremendous stroke of good fortune. He pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "How about we bring it up later?"
"Of course, but..."
"But what?"
"However, when you come again in the future, may I absorb divine power once more?"
"…………"
Seeing Xiao Wenbing's dejected expression, the Divine Tree Ancestor suddenly laughed and said, "Little friend, don't be so downcast. Since we've met, it must be fate. Come, come, I'll give you something."
"What is it?" Xiao Wenbing was delighted. Since it was given by the Divine Tree Ancestor, it couldn't be too bad, could it? Although he couldn't lure those spirits to the battlefield to fight, obtaining some treasures was always a good thing.
The Divine Tree Ancestor pointed behind him and said, "Go and dig a piece of bark from my body." (Mi Bing'er)
"Tree bark?" Xiao Wenbing was taken aback. What would I need your tree bark for? But then he thought for a moment and immediately understood. He laughed and said, "Alright, thank you very much, sir."
Since this old man represents the Tree of Life in this world, and even a single leaf is a planet, then a piece of bark must also be a priceless treasure.
Although I'm not sure how to use this treasure, the Wood Spirit or the Mirror God should have a clue. I can ask them for advice later.
Lost in thought, he approached the base of the giant tree. The closer he got to the immense trunk of the Divine Tree Ancestor, the more intense the pressure became. It was a feeling completely different from divine power, yet the effects were comparable.
Therefore, it is clear that the old ancestor of the divine tree did not boast that he could defeat the treasure god without any basis.
Of course, this idea must not be known to the Baby God, otherwise if the two of them really start fighting, this realm will probably be doomed.
Xiao Wenbing had absolutely no intention of becoming a casualty in the funeral rites...
Looking up, on the big tree that represented this world, many old bark grew in knots and bumps. It looked no different from ordinary trees, but Xiao Wenbing knew that the two were absolutely not comparable.
He reached out and pressed his hand against the tree trunk, giving it a hard pull, but it wouldn't budge. His face flushed red, and he thought to himself, "Something's fishy here. What's going on?"
Looking back, he saw that the Divine Tree Ancestor was still smiling at him, and a surge of indomitable spirit welled up in his heart. He turned around, gathered all his spiritual power, shouted, and pulled with all his might.
Huh, why is there still no movement? I've used every ounce of my strength, even my last drop of power, but I can't even budge a bit of bark. It seems that, at the very least, this old tree is no less hard than the spirit of the earth.
It truly is a treasure. Although he hasn't yet managed to get a single piece of bark, Xiao Wenbing is already certain that this is a rare gem. However, he wonders if the Divine Tree Ancestor is deliberately making things difficult for him; how is he supposed to dig something this hard?
Turning to look at the Divine Tree Ancestor, who still wore a peaceful smile, he steeled his resolve. "You forced me to do this."
Since we can't dig it out with our hands, then...
Xiao Wenbing extended his consciousness into the Heavenly Void Ring, rummaging around inside for a long time, but found no divine weapons or powerful artifacts. Having no other choice, he casually pulled out a Heavenly Thunder Talisman and decided to try it. With an ancestor as large as the Divine Wood Ancestor, a couple of strikes from heavenly thunder shouldn't harm him, right?
"Hey, hey... wait, what's that in your hand?" Before Xiao Wenbing could even cast a spell, he heard the urgent call of the Divine Tree Ancestor.
"Huh? A Heavenly Thunder Talisman." Xiao Wenbing was taken aback, quite surprised... Could it be that even the Divine Tree Ancestor would be afraid of a Heavenly Thunder Talisman?
He glanced back and explained without changing his expression, "Your skin is too tough; I can't pry it off. So I thought I'd try smashing it with a Heavenly Thunder Talisman. If that doesn't work, there are a few Immortal Spirit Talismans here. I think I can blast off some residue no matter what I do..."
"Heavenly Thunder and Celestial Spirit? How could a child possibly possess these two items?" For the first time, an expression of extreme surprise appeared on the face of the Divine Tree Ancestor. Clearly, even he found these two treasures somewhat strange.
"I refined it myself." Xiao Wenbing told the truth, and then asked, "With your cultivation level, I'm afraid you wouldn't care about this little bit of damage, would you?"
The Divine Tree Ancestor shook his head slightly and said solemnly, "Although such a small amount of energy cannot cause me any harm, if it were to trigger the Chaos Wall outside, this realm would be completely destroyed. Therefore, I think it's best not to use it."
"Really?" Xiao Wenbing was taken aback and asked, "But I want your skin. How can I dig it out without these two treasures?"
The Divine Tree Ancestor sighed and said, "This is originally a test of endurance. As long as you persevere and use all your strength to pull it down, even if you break a little bark and a drop of blood flows onto the tree trunk, a piece will automatically fall off."
"Oh, really? Why didn't you say so earlier? It's just a drop of blood, that's easy to handle." Xiao Wenbing bit his finger hard with his teeth, breaking the skin a little, and carefully squeezed out a little blood, which dripped onto the tree bark.
The Divine Tree Ancestor silently shook his head. If he were to reveal it directly, what kind of test would it be? Although his identity was extremely special, Xiao Wenbing was not the first cultivator to come here and see his true form over countless years. Those who came before either endured the ordeal, obtaining the treasure and leaving, or gave up and left in anger.
But no one has ever been able to produce a Heavenly Thunder Talisman that even he fears. This little guy is truly a strange person. (Mi Bing'er)
Xiao Wenbing dripped a little blood onto the tree bark, and sure enough, a large patch of bark began to loosen. Overjoyed, he casually pulled it off, but then something even more surprising happened.
His single drop of blood suddenly dispersed, like a giant slashing downwards. Wherever the blood-stained blade passed, the bark immediately detached from the trunk, until the blood had completely merged with the tree. A large, almost perfect piece of bark was peeled off. And beneath the bark, several thin roots were faintly visible.
Holding the piece of bark, which was several sizes larger than his own body, Xiao Wenbing beamed with joy. It was worth it, absolutely worth it. Exchanging a drop of blood for such a large piece of precious bark was definitely an extremely worthwhile deal.
He happily collected the bark, then hesitated, wondering if he should drip another drop. Such a good thing was unlikely to come twice.
He turned around, about to ask the Divine Tree Ancestor a question, but then he was taken aback.
At this moment, the Divine Tree Ancestor was squinting his eyes and taking a deep breath, looking as if he were an addict smoking heroin and enjoying extreme pleasure.
Xiao Wenbing's face stiffened, his mind racing. What was wrong with this old man? A vague sense of foreboding rose in his heart, and he considered leaving without saying goodbye. However, faced with the surrounding mist, he was unsure what to do. Without a guide, who knew if he could get out safely?
While he was still hesitating, the Divine Tree Ancestor had already returned to normal. He slowly turned around, looked Xiao Wenbing over again, and his eyes revealed a strange look.
"Hehe... I wonder what instructions the Ancestor has?" Xiao Wenbing was on high alert. Although he knew that with the difference in strength between the two sides, it would be useless for him to be on guard, but waiting to die was not in his nature.
"I misread it."
"What?"
"So the divine power within you wasn't bestowed by that trash god. What flows within you is actually the power of creation."
"Ah!" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed, realizing it must be due to the drop of blood from before. He gave a bitter smile; it was a case of good fortune and misfortune intertwined. Looking at the other person's malicious smile, his good mood from just obtaining a large piece of tree bark vanished instantly.
"How about we discuss something with you, young friend?"
"Please speak, senior." Xiao Wenbing cursed inwardly, "This is your territory, how can I refuse?" At this moment, he was filled with regret. If Zhang Yaqi and the others were still with him, he would have immediately contacted the Treasure God and escaped this place as soon as possible.
But at this moment, not only were Zhang and Feng not by his side, but even Die Xian was playing on the outskirts. It was absolutely impossible for him to abandon them and escape alone.
“The divine power within you comes from the lineage of the Creator God, while I have not replenished my divine power since I left the Creator God. Therefore, I would like to exchange some of the power of creation with you, young friend.”