The desolate ancient battlefield, near the first stone grotto, was home to a patch of towering trees that stretched towards the heavens.
They stretched and stood, their branches and leaves lush, emitting golden radiance. Spaced a hundred meters apart, their sharp tops pierced the sky like giant warriors wielding sharp swords.
Xu Mu and Qiongqi gazed at the vast spectacle before them, outwardly silent but with immense turbulence churning within.
After sixteen days of arduous travel, they had arrived at the Sky Tree Tomb without incident.
This place attracted all the Domain Lord powerhouses, so Xu Mu and Qiongqi were mentally prepared to face it calmly. Yet, upon witnessing the scene, he was still profoundly shaken.
Each tree here was like a dark palace sealing a demon god.
Many ancient and cryptic inscriptions adorned their thick trunks.
After a brief moment of shock, they narrowed their eyes, trying to decipher the writings, but could only make out the beginnings and ends.
The middle sections of the trunks were shrouded in a hazy mist.
Just as Yun Miaomiao had said, only those recognized by the Sky Trees could receive their inheritance. Thus, beneath each of these heavenly trees, numerous familiar figures sat in meditation, all Domain Lord realm powerhouses, clearly receiving their inheritances.
Xu Mu scanned his surroundings, gazing at the figures under each Sky Tree. Soon, he located where Yao Huo and others were and then, with Qiongqi, glided downwards.
"Senior Yao Huo, we've arrived!"
Xu Mu transmitted his voice to Yao Huo, who was meditating under a Sky Tree. However, the latter seemed not to hear, offering no response, his brow furrowed in concentration.
The golden figure above his head, a condensed manifestation of his Dharma image, trembled violently, evidently undergoing the inheritance process.
With Yao Huo preoccupied, Xu Mu felt at a loss for what to do.
At that moment, a familiar voice reached his ears:
"Haha, you're finally here."
Xu Mu turned at the sound and was immediately met with a wave of alcoholic scent.
"Senior Wine Immortal!"
Xu Mu's long hair whipped in the strong wind, his face filled with surprise. He recognized the white-bearded old man holding a wine gourd as the Wine Immortal Daoist who had helped him in the first layer.
He was a Boundary List powerhouse at the Half-step Human King realm, his strength comparable to Yao Huo's.
"It seems you've spent quite some time in the second layer, boy. You're rather late."
The Wine Immortal Daoist smiled, his eyes narrowed, and patted Xu Mu's shoulder. He had been waiting for Xu Mu here for a long time, resisting the temptation of the Sky Tree inheritance solely for the latter's safety.
After all, Xu Mu had offended too many people. Without protection, he could easily fall prey to accidents in a space teeming with Domain Lords.
And if Xu Mu met with misfortune, his own senior brother would force him into a similar predicament.
"Uh... it wasn't that long, really. I mainly rushed from the ninth stone grotto, and the journey took many days."
Xu Mu scratched his head, recalling his encounters in the second layer. Then, he suddenly asked with curiosity:
"Senior Wine Immortal, how did you pass that chess game?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist took a swig of wine and replied nonchalantly:
"Chess game? What chess game?"
Xu Mu was taken aback:
"Were you not, in the second layer, forced by two Ghost Immortals to play a game of Go with yourself?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist paused, then seemed to recall something and burst into laughter:
"Ah, I know what you're talking about."
"That chess game, I glanced at it from afar and knew something was amiss. So, I conjured a lightning spell and directly blew up that stone table. It seemed to activate a restriction, tearing apart the entire space, and I almost died in there."
"However, luckily, I was fortunate enough not to be caught in the blast, so I managed to get out and reach the third layer."
The Wine Immortal Daoist spoke, then casually took another sip of wine, revealing a gap in his teeth.
Hearing this, Xu Mu stared at the old man before him, dumbfounded.
The Wine Immortal Daoist had destroyed the stone platform left by Fuxi, and the subsequent restriction had torn the sky apart. He had been lucky to escape unharmed, thus passing that layer?
This was simply absurd!
"He's lying to you," Qiongqi said with a speechless expression, glancing at Xu Mu. He couldn't believe his brother could believe such a tale.
"You jest, senior." Xu Mu forced a wry smile. How could a Boundary List powerhouse from the White Cloud Daoist Temple act so recklessly?
The Wine Immortal Daoist's words were clearly an attempt to conceal the truth, and he hesitated to probe further.
The Wine Immortal Daoist continued with a chuckle:
"Heh heh, past events are unimportant. Let's talk about you. What are your plans now?"
Xu Mu's thoughts turned to the demon god, and his eyes narrowed as he asked:
"I heard that someone leaked the location of this Sky Tree Tomb, which is why all the Domain Lord powerhouses have come. Do you know who spread the news, senior?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist pondered for a moment, then shook his head:
"I don't know."
"This Sky Tree Tomb is actually not far from the first stone grotto, but before the news was released, no one had ever found this place."
"When we arrived, we were all awestruck by the spectacle. After understanding the general rules, everyone threw themselves into seeking opportunities and inheritances. Although I've been idle, I haven't been able to investigate who spread the message."
Xu Mu's unease resurfaced, and he asked:
"Then, senior, what are you doing here? Why aren't you seeking inheritance at the Sky Tree?"
"I'm waiting for you."
The Wine Immortal Daoist stared at Xu Mu with a smile, calculating his own intentions:
"Sigh, waiting so many days in vain. The opportunity is right in front of me, yet I cannot touch it. My good senior brother, if you don't teach me the third section of Gui Cang when we return, I'll curse you..."
Xu Mu was unaware of the Wine Immortal Daoist's inner thoughts. He only remembered suspecting the old man of having homosexual inclinations in the first layer.
At that moment, cold sweat beaded on his back:
"Waiting for me for what... Senior, please don't joke. My orientation is perfectly normal!"
Xu Mu's righteous words left the Wine Immortal Daoist speechless, his face a mask of exasperation. He roared:
"You brat, what are you thinking in that head of yours!"
"I'm waiting for you because my senior brother instructed me to take you as my disciple!"
The Wine Immortal Daoist's tone was displeased, his beard bristling. He continued:
"My senior brother, even from across half the world, foresaw that his successor would appear here. He told me to bring that person back at all costs."
"And when I arrived here, I found you."
"Your talent is exceptional, no, it can even be described as peerless in the world. Moreover, you possess abundant Dao source within your body. Therefore, you must be the successor my senior brother predicted. Naturally, I must protect you well, or I'll face severe consequences!"
Xu Mu was somewhat surprised. A peerless expert from the White Cloud Daoist Temple wanted to take him as a disciple.
And had sent a Boundary List powerhouse from such a distance to find him in the Realm of Eerie Night?
He scratched his head and hesitantly said:
"Senior, forgive my bluntness, but this is too sudden. I can't fully trust you yet. And even if I could, I'm not prepared to leave the Realm of Eerie Night for now, as I hold an official position..."
The Wine Immortal Daoist interrupted Xu Mu, saying:
"Stop, stop, stop, boy. I know you're from the Demon Extermination Division. Once you reveal your talent, they will offer you generous cultivation resources. You might think you don't need to come to our White Cloud Daoist Temple."
"But I must tell you, our White Cloud Daoist Temple has always followed a single lineage, never taking a second disciple. This alone makes us superior to many other forces, because your master will pour all their effort into you."
The Wine Immortal Daoist's expression turned serious. He looked at Xu Mu with genuine sincerity:
"And the one who wishes to take you as a disciple this time is my senior brother."
"Although he is not on the Great Primordial Realm List, I can guarantee that his strength is enough to contend with any of the top ten on the Realm List."
"It's just that he has never left the Daoist Temple since his cultivation began, which is why he is not famous and not recorded on the Realm List. But his strength is definitely not weak; he is a Human King. You will not be at a disadvantage becoming his disciple!"
"Human King?!" Xu Mu's eyes widened, and his heart trembled violently. Domain Lords were already few and far between on the continent, let alone Human Kings.
They were the pillars of major ruling powers, possessing absolute authority, capable of easily establishing a super force with a single individual.
And now, the Wine Immortal Daoist was telling him that a Human King powerhouse wanted to take him as a disciple.
If anyone else had said such a thing, Xu Mu might have dismissed them as insane. But coming from the Wine Immortal Daoist, it held considerable credibility.
After all, the latter was himself a Boundary List powerhouse and a member of the White Cloud Daoist Temple, whose Daoist priests were known for their benevolent healing of the world.
For a moment, Xu Mu was at a loss.
This was a rare opportunity. If he were to apprentice under a Human King, his cultivation speed would undoubtedly soar, potentially surpassing Fuxi's guidance in a short period. Fuxi was a real person in this world and could answer many of his questions regarding the application of his abilities.
But should he truly leave his homeland to become a disciple at the White Cloud Daoist Temple?
Xu Mu felt conflicted and remained silent.
Seeing this, the Wine Immortal Daoist sighed and then patted his shoulder with a smile:
"It's alright, boy. You have plenty of time to think!"
"In short, before I leave the Realm of Eerie Night, you must give me an answer. Of course, it would be best if you could come with me immediately, but I can accept other circumstances and will not force you."
Xu Mu looked at him solemnly and cupped his hands, saying:
"Senior, I promise you, whether this matter succeeds or not, you will always be a respected elder and friend to me."
The Wine Immortal Daoist was stunned for a moment, then smiled happily and said:
"Hahaha, excellent. But I still hope this matter can be resolved."
"So, for now, focus on the task at hand and put everything else aside."
"The Sky Tree's opportunity is very beneficial for your cultivation. You cannot miss it!"
...