“Bailey, you said the Spirit Snake controls the Abyssal Fruit Tree? Then how is it that the tree is capable of using spiritual attacks?” Linley couldn’t help but bark. He had already retreated a hundred meters, while Bailey had also retreated to a distance of a hundred meters. Shaking his head, Bailey replied, “Back then, when I first encountered the Abyssal Fruit Tree… there were simply too many green snakes, so I couldn’t draw near at all. I didn’t know the Abyssal Fruit Tree was capable of spiritual attacks. Now, it seems, the Abyssal Fruit Tree itself possesses sentience!”
Linley suddenly realized…
What the ‘tree’ and ‘snake’ the red-haired beauty was referring to.
“The ‘snake’ should be this sort of large snake, while the ‘tree’ should be this Abyssal Fruit Tree.” Linley was now aware of the power of this Abyssal Fruit Tree. A single branch… was actually able to endure his full-force sword blow. Despite using a godspark sword, he was only able to chop to the center of the branch.
“Eh? It already repaired the damage?” Linley discovered to his surprise that the damage he had done by chopping down against the branch was already repaired.
“This Abyssal Fruit Tree is just like normal Deities; its body can easily repair itself when damaged.” Linley felt a headache oncoming.
“Haha… nothing left? Then it’s my turn!” Bebe’s voice suddenly rang out.
Linley couldn’t help but to turn and look…
Bebe was currently still being constricted by the giant green snake, which seemed to want to crush Bebe. But suddenly…
“SHKREEEEEEEEEE!”
With an ear-piercing, savage sound ringing out, Bebe opened his mouth, while at the same time, around his body an enormous illusion of a Godeater Rat appeared, which stared coldly at the giant green snake.
The giant green snake was stunned. It couldn’t help but have a bad feeling!
A cold look flashed through Bebe’s eyes.
“Aaaaaah!” A miserable scream rang out, and from the head of the giant green snake, a black divine spark flew out, entering Bebe’s mouth. As for the giant green snake, it fell down lifelessly, dead!
Innate divine ability – Godeater!
In the same instant of the giant green snake’s death, the surviving little green snakes that had remained on the leaves of the Abyssal Fruit Tree all transformed into green energy, then disappeared from the world. They, too, had died!
“Oh?” Linley suddenly understood.
Those little green snakes should have been a part of the giant green snake. Or perhaps their lives were linked to the giant green snake’s soul. Now that the Spirit Snake was dead, the little snakes perished as well.
“How dare you be arrogant in front of me!” Bebe snorted.
The distant Bailey and Bloan both stared towards Bebe in disbelief. Just now, they had both seen Bebe use the ‘Godeater’ divine ability. This innate divine ability didn’t belong to any sort of Law or Edict. It surpassed them, and once it was used…Bailey and Bloan were completely stunned.
In the face of this technique, what could they do against it?
This technique acted directly against one’s divine spark. Most likely, even if you had incredibly deep understandings of the Laws, you still wouldn’t have any chance to use your techniques!
“The Abyssal Fruit is mine!” Bebe once more charged towards the Abyssal Fruit Tree.
“Rustle, rustle…” The Abyssal Fruit Tree seemed to have gone mad, and many of its branches began to swing about, encircling and wrapping towards Bebe. Linley, seeing the situation, activated his Blackstone Space with a thought, instantly spreading it out to a circumference of hundreds of meters.
Gravity, downwards!
Those branches couldn’t help but drop downwards, but they all strove to rise up and go snatch Bebe.
“Swish.” Linley charged forward as well.
“Swoosh.” Bailey didn’t hesitate either, hurriedly seizing the chance to charge forward.
The Abyssal Fruit Tree’s movements were indeed now much slower, and it found it hard to catch Bebe and Linley, but… the tree branches didn’t try to seize Linley. Many of the branches actually easily began to twist and distort, completely wrapping up the Abyssal Fruit.
Linley, Bebe, and Bailey were stupefied.
Now that the Abyssal Fruit was wrapped up in branches, how would they acquire it?
“Last time, the Abyssal Fruit Tree just casually blocked for a time. It wasn’t as savage as this!” Bailey said uncomprehendingly.
Linley and Bebe floated in the air, staring at the Abyssal Fruit Tree.
“Boss, what should we do?” Bebe asked.
“This is rather tricky.” Linley frowned, and then immediately launched Mirage against the Abyssal Fruit Tree. Mirage was already translucent, and as the sword ripples lashed out, one tear in space after another appeared. Mirage struck at the trunks multiple times, but each sword blow found it hard to break through.
Hundreds of consecutive blows! But after each blow, the branches immediately healed.
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, many branches exploded forward, attacking the nearby Linley.
Linley’s face changed, and the direction of his Blackstone Space suddenly changed to be… repulsive!
The branches couldn’t help but slow down, and Linley flew back, retreating.
“Bebe, these branches are simply too tough, and there are too many of them. As soon as I launch one blow with my sword, the branch has already healed the damage before my second blow arrives. And it is also capable of a powerful soul attack. I’m not afraid of a blow from a single branch, but if hundreds of them strike me with the great power they possess… or if they constrict me, it’ll be even tougher to deal with than the constriction of that giant green snake,” Linley sent mentally.
“Looks like there’s only one option.” Bebe flew forwards.
Suddenly…
The illusion of a Godeater Rat that was tens of meters tall appeared before Bebe. That powerful aura caused Bloan and Bailey to both feel shock in their hearts, and a unique energy was applied to the Abyssal Fruit Tree.
“Yet again. After using it this second time, Bebe will need some rest,” Linley couldn’t help but say to himself.
Linley was very confident in Bebe, but the result caused Linley to feel astonished. “How is that possible?” No divine spark flew out from the Abyssal Fruit Tree, and it wasn’t damaged at all. As for Bebe, he landed back on the ground, looking puzzled. “Boss, I… I can’t sense its divine spark!”
“Can’t sense it?” Linley was stunned.
“This Abyssal Fruit Tree has no divine spark.” Bebe was completely certain.
“If that’s the case, then this will be troublesome. This Abyssal Fruit Tree… no wonder it is capable of nurturing and creating a holy object such as the Abyssal Fruit. It is indeed hard to deal with.” Linley frowned. “But from what Bailey said, last time the Abyssal Fruit appeared, the Abyssal Fruit Tree didn’t prove to be such an obstacle. It just went through the motions of defending before allowing someone to harvest the fruit. Why is it that this time…?”
Right at this moment…
“Swoosh!” Bailey transformed into a blur, once more charging towards the Abyssal Fruit Tree. Linley and Bebe were in no rush, allowing Bailey to go make the attempt.
“There’s no way he’ll be able to deal with the Abyssal Fruit Tree,” Linley said to himself.
He didn’t believe that Bailey had any hope!
“Whoosh!” Those protective branches surrounding the Abyssal Fruit suddenly opened up, while at the same time reached out towards Bailey in an embrace… and Bailey suddenly struck hard against a nearby branch, relying on the counter-force to propel himself forward towards the Abyssal Fruit. As for those surrounding branches, their speed seemed to have been lowered significantly…
Bailey managed to just barely escape the embrace of those branches, and immediately plucked the translucent, crystalline Abyssal Fruit.
“It is mine!” Bailey was wildly overjoyed.
At the same time, without hesitating at all, Bailey chomped down, swallowing it into his stomach in a matter of seconds.
Linley and Bebe seemed to have been thunderstruck.
“What’s going on?” Bebe didn’t dare to believe it.
“Why didn’t the Abyssal Fruit Tree try to block it?” Linley couldn’t understand it either. Given how many branches the Abyssal Fruit Tree had, it was completely capable of blocking Bailey. Even if it didn’t block him… it could do the same thing it had done to Linley and Bebe, just wrap up the Abyssal Fruit Tree. Bailey naturally wouldn’t be able to acquire it.
But…
The Abyssal Fruit Tree had voluntarily opened its branches, just blocking him slightly.
“It seems as though the Abyssal Fruit Tree was partial towards Bailey,” Linley said, not understanding.
“Rustle…” Suddenly, the entire Abyssal Fruit Tree began to tremble. The main trunk of the Abyssal Fruit Tree sank downwards into the ground, and then its many branches sank into the ground as well. It also pulled the corpse of the giant green snake into the ground. In but the amount of time necessary for a few breaths, the Abyssal Fruit Tree had completely gone underground.
The Abyssal Fruit Tree had departed!
“Haha…” Sudden, excited laughter rang out. Bailey once more opened his eyes.
“Eh?” Linley had the feeling as though Bailey’s very aura had changed.
“Thank you, you two.” Bailey looked towards Linley and Bebe, while Bloan excitedly ran over as well. “Big Brother, you succeeded?” Bloan knew exactly how much suffering his elder brother had endured for the sake of this Abyssal Fruit. The first time he entered the Abyssal Mountain, although he had seen it, he hadn’t acquired it.
And then, he had waited resolutely while training, preparing for the next time.
Countless years of loneliness. He had successfully endured and also succeeded.
“Gentlemen, last time, the Abyssal Fruit Tree just did some cursory blocks as well. This time, it clearly acted with intent against you two.” Bailey laughed as he looked at Linley and Bebe. “I think… it should be because Bebe killed that Spirit Snake!”
“Spirit Snake?” Linley and Bebe both felt shock in their hearts.
“This Spirit Snake and the Abyssal Fruit Tree were always together. After countless years, they definitely must have formed an extremely strong emotional bond. Tell me… how could the Abyssal Fruit Tree possibly be willing to give you the Abyssal Fruit which it nurtured?” Bailey said, laughing.
27
SOVEREIGN’S EMISSARY
Because they had killed the Spirit Snake, the Abyssal Fruit Tree felt enmity towards them?
Linley and Bebe couldn’t help but look at each other, not knowing what to say.
“Haha,” Bailey laughed as he spoke. “But of course, that’s just my deduction! Otherwise, I have no other explanation for why the Abyssal Fruit Tree would act in such a manner towards you two, while differently towards me. But no matter what… this matter is at an end, and I need to thank both of you for me being able to acquire the Abyssal Fruit.”
Linley laughed calmly.
Linley still felt a hint of goodwill towards Bailey. No matter what, Bailey had at least informed him of the appearance of the Abyssal Fruit. If Bailey didn’t want for Linley to know… he didn’t have to tell Linley at all. In addition, Bailey had toiled for countless millions of years for the sake of this Abyssal Fruit.
Such perseverance made him worthy of acquiring this most precious of treasures, the Abyssal Fruit.
“Wasn’t it said that after acquiring the Abyssal Fruit, one would be received by the Sovereign and become a Sovereign’s Emissary?” Bebe muttered. “So where’s the Sovereign?”
Linley’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly swept the surrounding area with his gaze.
If the Sovereign appeared, his goal would be accomplished.
“Whoooosh.”
Because of the departure of the Abyssal Fruit Tree, the gray fog once more filled this region. Suddenly, not too far away, a humanoid figure suddenly appeared, causing Linley and Bebe’s eyes to light up. “Could it be that the Sovereign has come??” Linley and Bebe were both very eager.
In but an instant, that figure appeared before them.
The person was very skinny but very tall, and he had a head of unbound, long silver hair. His eyes swept past Linley’s group like the eyes of a hawk, finally halting on Bailey’s body. Laughing calmly, he said, “Bailey, congratulations on acquiring the Abyssal Fruit! Come with me now to the Sovereign’s palace and await the Sovereign’s summons.”
“It’s you!” A look of astonishment appeared on Bailey’s face. “Arthurs!”
“Right.”
The silver-haired man laughed calmly. “It’s been so many years, but you still remember me. You’ve remained at the Abyssal Mountain all these years. I know all these things. I, too, was surprised… that you actually managed to endure all these years of loneliness and the countless years of waiting. I have to say, I admire you!”
Bailey began to laugh loudly. “That year, when we entered the Abyssal Mountain together, I swore an oath as we entered! That I, Bailey, would either die in the Abyssal Mountain or emerge as the Sovereign’s Emissary!”
Linley and Bebe now completely understood.
So this person wasn’t a Sovereign; rather, it was the person who had acquired the Abyssal Fruit on Bailey’s first trip to the Abyssal Mountain.
“So this person is a Sovereign’s Emissary!” Linley had a thought. “Since he lives at the Abyssal Mountain, his relationship to the Sovereign should be fairly close. Perhaps through him…”
The goal of Linley’s trip to Abyssal Mountain was to meet the Sovereign.
“Big Brother, congratulations,” the violet-haired youth, Bloan said with whole-hearted sincerity.
Bailey beamed towards his little brother as well.
“Bailey, let’s go. Come with me to the Sovereign’s palace,” Arthurs urged.
“Arthurs,” Bailey said. “How about this. Let me send my little brother out of the gray fog region, and then I’ll accompany you.”
“No rush.” Arthurs laughed calmly. “Come with me, and bring your little brother as well. He can first wait at the border region between the gray fog region and the violet fog region. He’ll just wait there a day or so. After you see the Sovereign and have the arrangements made for you, you can send your little brother away at that point. Your little brother is in no particular rush, right?”
“Big Brother, it’s just a day,” Bloan said very excitedly. “The next time we meet, you’ll be a Sovereign’s Emissary.”
“Actually, the power your big brother now wields after having eaten the Abyssal Fruit is already comparable to that of ordinary Sovereign’s Emissaries,” Arthurs said calmly. “However, the reason why your big brother is so powerful is because of the Abyssal Fruit. After having acquired the Abyssal Fruit, he has already, naturally become the Emissary of the Netherworld Sovereign.”
Bailey laughed and nodded. “Then Arthurs, let’s go.”
“Wait a moment,” Only now did Linley speak.
“Eh?” Arthurs and Bailey both looked over, and Bailey hurriedly introduced, “Arthurs, this is Linley, who came alongside me. The two of them are reputedly from the Infernal Realm, and also exceedingly powerful.”
“The two of them, even without Abyssal Fruit, are already quite powerful.” Arthurs had a calm look on his face, and he said unhurriedly, “I know exactly what happened in that grand battle. Linley, you are an expert of the Four Divine Beasts clan, and yet you came to the Netherworld for this Abyssal Fruit? I rather don’t believe it. What other business do you have?” Linley’s Dragonformed appearance already caused quite a few experts to easily guess his status.
Linley’s heart clenched.
This Arthurs seemed to have a rather poor attitude towards him.
“Mr.
Arthurs,” Linley said hurriedly. “It is indeed true that the purpose of my visit to the Abyssal Mountain was not for the sake of the Abyssal Fruit. I have an important matter that I wish to ask the Netherworld Sovereign regarding. I would like to ask for your help… to lead me forward to see the Sovereign! I have something extremely, extremely important to discuss!”
Linley’s attitude, appearance, and manner of speech all gave voice to his sincerity.
“Arthurs.” Bailey looked towards Arthurs. Clearly, he too wished for Arthurs to help.
Arthurs just let out a calm laugh, then said casually, “You’ve come an unimaginable distance from the Infernal Realm to the Netherworld, and charged into the Abyssal Mountain without any care for your own life. To do this… of course I know that you must have an important matter to discuss with the Sovereign. However, over the countless planes, there are also many people who wish to see the Sovereign! Can it be that just because you wish to see the Sovereign, that I must lead you? What sort of status does the Sovereign have? Why would the Sovereign be willing to see all of you? In addition, I’m not qualified to lead you there!”
Linley couldn’t help but say frantically, “Ar…”
“Enough.”
Arthurs said calmly, “I’m simply a Sovereign’s Emissary. Don’t make things hard for me. If you truly have made up your mind to meet the Sovereign, then continue adventuring forward. After exiting the gray fog region, enter the violet fog region! After you reach the violet fog region, you’ll be able to reach the Sovereign’s palace. By then, whether or not you will see the Sovereign is a decision for the Sovereign to make.”
Linley understood now as well. Arthurs was just a Sovereign’s Emissary; in other words, a servant. How could he be qualified to lead Linley over?
When he understood this, he no longer tried to persuade Arthurs.
Arthurs glanced at Linley, then shook his head and said, “Linley, I’ll offer you one more word of advice. Just give it up and leave the mountain! The path up ahead isn’t so easily walked. Bailey, let’s go.” As he spoke, Arthurs, Bailey, and Bloan all flew away at high speed.
Linley and Bebe didn’t follow. They just stayed there.
The Planar Wars: Book 7 of the Coiling Dragon Saga Page 22
