Chapter 1185: The Sky Tree is Revived
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
"Why?" Han Sen was surprised by this, and it seemed as if Baby Ghost knew a thing or two about what was going on.
Baby Ghost said, "You don't need to know the specifics. You are going to die, so give me the relic and speak your last words."
"Ah, is this about Immortal Emperor sacrificing the whole tree? That's old news," Han Sen said.
Baby Ghost looked as if he'd swallowed a bug, and in utter shock, he gasped, "How do you know about that!?"
Han Sen smiled and looked coy. He didn't answer him, and instead said, "You don't need to know the specifics, but tell me: what makes you think you and Qing Jun will be spared?"
Baby Ghost was still in shock over the fact Han Sen knew what was going on, and he answered, "Qing Jun is Immortal Emperor's daughter. And me? I'm the one who concocted this scheme!"
"Hmm, I see. So, have you been avoiding the consumption of lifewater?" Han Sen asked.
"What does the lifewater have to do with anything?" Baby Ghost asked, but right after, his mind seemed to get snagged on a sudden, disturbing thought.
"Whoever has been drinking the lifewater will be sacrificed. There's no particular discrimination, as it's a catch-all type of thing." Han Sen was extra smug, rubbing it in. He could tell Baby Ghost had been drinking the lifewater.
Baby Ghost's facial expression was beyond distraught, and so he said, "Impossible! Qing Jun has been using lifewater as well. Who has been feeding you these lies!?"
"Well, let me ask you: have you been told how these sacrifices are to be... well, sacrificed?" Han Sen asked.
Baby Ghost looked clueless. He wished to speak, but he seemed to be struggling to force out words. His face turned green at the sudden turn of events, and all his throat could end up spitting out were the words, "H-have I been tr-tricked!?"
After that Baby Ghost turned to run, but Han Sen stopped him.
"If you're going to consult the emperor with this, you're a dead baby. Tell me about the relationship between Han Jingzhi and Blood Legion," Han Sen told him.
Baby Ghost said, "I don't fully believe your forked tongue. Not yet, leastways. I must go and... confirm something."
"No. You tell me what I want to know now." Han Sen didn't think Baby Ghost would ever come back, once he left.
Baby Ghost then answered, "Gah, but it's a long story! The short version is, something huge happened within the Legion. We needed help. Han Jingzhi was then kidnapped by Blood Legion forces."
Han Sen was shocked. The revelations were coming thick and fast. There was a connection between Han Jingzhi and Blood Legion, but the way it came about was very unexpected. Han Jingzhi had actually been the victim of kidnapping.
Han Sen wished to ask more, but Baby Ghost was already gone.
"Han Jingzhi was kidnapped by Blood Legion forces? That must mean he was there with them for some time, in some way or another. That might also mean he learned much about the organization, including the Nine-Life Cat. But why was he kidnapped? Why did they need to do that? Did they kidnap just anyone? Did it happen before or after he visited that realm with the maybe-a-god-maybe-a-demon being?" Han Sen's mind was now wracked with countless more questions.
Han Sen hoped Baby Ghost wouldn't be killed, so he could ask the spirit a bunch more questions.
Han Sen was not too worried what he might do, though. If Han Sen was attacked and had to make an escape, he believed he could do so with the aid of Little Angel.
A few days later, Qing Jun came looking for Han Sen.
Han Sen was surprised to see her, and when she approached, she asked, "You didn't drink the lifewater you were given?"
"Nope," Han Sen answered simply.
"Good." Qing Jun handed something to Han Sen, turned around, and left as swiftly as she appeared. Han Sen wasn't sure why she had just done what she did, and truthfully, he fancied asking her a few questions.
It seemed like Baby Ghost had told Qing Jun what Han Sen had told him.
She had given Han Sen a small bottle with a piece of paper attached.
The paper said the contract on Qiu Ping had been forfeit. Han Sen had long wondered how he might get Qing Jun to let Qiu Ping go free, and now, it had been done without any effort on his part.
Han Sen was delighted, so he left the worksite. He wanted to visit Qiu Ping and guide him out. Han Sen thought someone might stop him, but no one did. He scanned the nearby area and then realized the king spirits and super creatures were all gone.
Han Sen returned to the fourth floor without issue and escorted Qiu Ping out of the tree. When Han Sen returned to the underground shelter with him, he noticed all the walnut trees in the forest were dying.
"Baby Ghost must have done something to make the Sky Tree revive even sooner!" Dragon King exclaimed.
Han Sen frowned and flew back towards the Sky Tree. As he was returning, he saw countless creatures writhing on the forest floor in agony. You could see their lifeforces being pulled from their bodies, heading for the tree that contained Immortal Shelter.
Green sprouts began to grow from their corpses, becoming vines that absorbed their flesh.
Seeing all the creatures become fertilizer, Han Sen could not help but think, "Dragon King was right. Creatures that have consumed walnuts or lifewater are being absorbed no matter where they are."
Before Han Sen arrived back, though, a scary presence startled him on the approach. A black and red tree was growing incredibly quickly, heading high up into the clouds.
There was this a menacing spire in the land now, surrounded by countless dried up trees and creature corpses. Even the ground and earth were being sucked dry of life, transforming the area into an apocalyptic hellscape.
Chapter 1186: Cruel Bottle
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Han Sen flew towards the Sky Tree as fast as he could. He knew he couldn't stop what was happening, but he hoped he could pick up a few goodies at the very least. Perhaps he'd even be able to kill a few of the super creatures and take their Life Geno Essences from Sky King.
The Sky Tree was growing at an alarming rate. The red and black bark was cracking and beginning to peel. Countless creatures tried to scramble out of the cracks that webbed the tree.
As the tree grew and grew, the creatures started to return to their original size. There were tigers, titans, and birds; every creature imaginable, all trying to make an escape.
But when they made it out, their bodies began to tear apart. Vines shot out from beneath their skin, ravaging their flesh and tangling them up. This happened to those that were airborne as well, and they rained down to the ground in pieces.
The roots of the tree then began to lift themselves up and escape the ground that kept them in place. Like hungry tentacles, the roots grabbed the corpses of fallen creatures and drained them of their lifeforce.
The cracks across the tree began to heal, crushing creatures that sought to escape from them. The tree was slowly being drenched in blood, making for a terrible sight.
A lot of creatures were unable to exit in time. For those that weren't crushed by the devilish lumber, they were instead ripped apart by the phantom vines that had been slumbering inside their bodies.
The place was like a forested depiction of hell, and just as Han Sen thought it would be best if he left, a light appeared. The light was Qing Jun. Her lifeforce was draining, as green sprouts began to pop up over her body.
"Get the Cruel Bottle!" Qing Jun was not doing well, evidently. As she approached Han Sen, she did so with wobbling movements. She was in great pain and suffering, that much was clear.
"Why? What is it?" Han Sen asked, but he did not delay in retrieving the jade bottle she had recently given him.
Qing Jun gritted her teeth and knelt in front of Han Sen. She placed her right hand on her chest and said, "I, Qing Jun, am willing to submit and offer absolute loyalty to a new master. I will become a faithful servant from now until eternity."
After that, her forehead gleamed with a spirit stone. Needless to say, Han Sen was in shock that Qing Jun, of all spirits, was willing to obey him. Han Sen held her spirit stone in his hand. It shone brightly before becoming one with Qing Jun again.
Qing Jun might have become Han Sen's spirit, but the green sprouts were still on her.
"Open the bottle and let me in!" Qing Jun shouted.
"How do I open it?" Han Sen asked.
He had tried to open the Cruel Bottle before, but he was unable to. He thought it was very strange of her to give him a bottle, but at least now it was starting to make sense.
Han Sen touched the bottle to try to open it again, but this time, it opened immediately. Han Sen realized he could only use it once a contract with the spirit that gave it had been signed.
After the bottle was opened, Qing Jun transformed into a pellet of bright light. Then, she tucked herself inside it. As Han Sen wondered why Qing Jun was doing this, another light appeared. This time, it was Water Fairy.
Water Fairy's body was transparent, and you could see the sprouts manifesting inside her watery body. Her body bubbled and boiled, and if this was to continue, it'd only be a matter of time before she evaporated out of existence.
She shouted, "Help!"
Then she raced into the bottle alongside Qing Jun. Han Sen peered at Qing Jun and the Water Fairy inside the bottle, side by side, and noticed now that the sprouts had stopped growing on and within them. They were all gone.
Han Sen was delighted, learning this treasure he had been given could negate the dark powers of the Sky Tree.
"Han Sen, help!" Han Sen heard someone call out his name.
He turned to see a number of vines crawling through the air like a webbed net. A second later, they were cut down to the ground. A mound of bones had given them a shave, and when Han Sen's eyes came to focus, he saw Dry Bone King doing battle.
Han Sen flew over towards him, bottle in hand. As he pointed it at Dry Bone King, he asked, "Can you come inside?"
Dry Bone King spared no time in diving into the purifying comfort of the Cruel Bottle. Then, looking up, Han Sen saw a nine-headed creature soar through the sky, screeching in pain. It was headed straight for him.
But before Han Sen could do anything for it, the heads began to separate from its body as vines ravaged the poor beast. Its lifeforce was all going to the tree.
When the body hit the ground, roots sprang out of the earth and dragged it underground.
Han Sen felt it was a great shame and waste. Turning around again, though, Han Sen saw Ghost Eye becoming consumed by the hungry, lecherous vines. He was going to pull out his Phoenix Sword and do what he could to help. But before Han Sen could do anything, Ghost Eye saw the bottle and dived right into it.
"I'm here to get easy kills! Why am I inadvertently saving these things?" Han Sen thought, but then he noticed something. It didn't seem like anything could exit the bottle without his explicit permission.
The sound of an explosion rang through the forest. A rock giant was headed Han Sen's way, covered in vines like angry moss. The sturdy golem was able to defy their attempts to tear it apart, though.
And as expected, before the vines could do what they wished to, the rock giant jumped inside the Cruel Bottle.