C16 Sword in the Tree

"Be careful," Chen Yuan cautioned.

But his concern was unwarranted. The massive Sunsetwood Tree, even in its complete withering, chose a subdued departure. It lacked the final dramatic flourish, rendering caution unnecessary.

Cracks spread throughout the Sunsetwood, accompanied by the constant crisp sounds of snapping. Having surrendered its essence to Chen Yuan, the tree no longer had a chance to live.

It seemed its fate was sealed from the moment Qiu Changfeng bestowed the essence upon Chen Yuan.

The noise ceased suddenly, yet destruction continued. The branches, once laden with millions of golden leaves, were the first to break. The wind passing through Sunsetwood Grove gently carried them away, transforming them into fine sand.

Then came the trunk, and finally, the entire Sunsetwood Tree.

The transformation of the Sunsetwood into sand was not explosive, but it was nonetheless spectacular.

Chen Yuan and Liu Xiaoxiao watched, moved by the scene.

"If it weren't for this tree, we might not have survived today," Liu Xiaoxiao reflected, her heart filled with gratitude. She offered a silent prayer for the departed plant, hoping it would reunite with Qiu Changfeng.

"If it weren't for it, I might not have made it through that day," Chen Yuan mused quietly, recalling the day he succumbed to the Frostbreath's poison and his Tidewatcher's Grimoire was sealed.

They owed their thanks to the Sunsetwood, Qiu Changfeng, and Sunsetwood Grove. They owed it to the memories of those who and that which had passed.

They should strive to live well, to honor those who and that which had gone before them, to live a life full of wonder and interest. This was Qiu Changfeng's hope, resonating once more in their hearts.

"With its passing, I fear the green light has also vanished," Chen Yuan remarked.

"The green light stemmed from the Sunsetwood Tree. With the tree gone, the light ceases to be. Consequently, your remarkable healing ability might be lost as well."

"It's been more than enough. The advantages gained from the green light were plentiful. One mustn't be overly avaricious."

Chen Yuan gently shook his head, feeling neither regret nor dissatisfaction at the vanishing green light.

From being an ordinary person unable to cultivate, to using the green light and evil wind to temper his body into a Body Cultivator, and finally defeating the formidable Shadowmancer Yu Bai with the green light's aid, Chen Yuan considered himself very fortunate and content.

"Moreover, it seems my body has made a breakthrough while in Yu Bai's Profound Water Slaughtering Formation just now?"

Chen Yuan mused, flexing his hands in wonder. His perception of strength was infallible; his body had indeed grown stronger!

"The old must be broken to establish the new. The growth of a Body Cultivator is inseparable from the tempering and refining of the body. Enduring injuries and recovering is also a form of tempering. The advantages brought by the green light far exceed what we see before us," Liu Xiaoxiao elaborated.

"Look!" Suddenly, Liu Xiaoxiao, with her keen eyes, spotted something not far behind them.

Where the Sunsetwood once stood, now only an empty space remained after it had turned to sand. It was in this void that Liu Xiaoxiao noticed a lengthy black shadow.

A black longsword was thrust into the earth.

Where the Sunsetwood had stood, a massive sword now took its place, centered in the barren space.

The longsword stood as tall as half of Chen Yuan's body. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was a colossal sword that had never been sharpened.

"How did this sword come to be here?" Chen Yuan instinctively asked Liu Xiaoxiao.

Even the usually omniscient Liu Xiaoxiao was puzzled by this enigma.

She truly had no idea, nor had she noticed when the sword had been planted there.

Could it have been at the instant the Sunsetwood disintegrated into sand? Or perhaps, was this giant black sword a transformation of the Sunsetwood itself?

Seeing that Liu Xiaoxiao had no answer, Chen Yuan stepped forward and grasped the hilt of the sword with his right hand. The sword's mysterious emergence suggested it posed no danger.

It was incredibly heavy.

That was Chen Yuan's immediate impression as he gripped the hilt.

A chill sensation spread from his palm, not one of coldness but rather a tranquilizing effect that steadied his heart.

It felt incredibly comfortable to the touch. That was Chen Yuan's assessment as he attempted to lift the massive black sword from the ground with considerable effort. In doing so, he nearly threw out his back.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Liu Xiaoxiao approached with concern when she noticed Chen Yuan's peculiar expression.

Chen Yuan shook his head with conviction. The last thing he wanted was for Liu Xiaoxiao to find out he had almost injured himself trying to lift a sword—she'd never let him live it down.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Yuan steadied himself, planting his feet firmly on the ground. He channeled his strength into his hands, gripping the sword's hilt tightly, and with a determined shout, he heaved it upward.

The sword came free from the earth. Once it was out, Chen Yuan felt as though it was somewhat lighter than before, though it was still quite heavy. He swung it a few times, the whooshing sound constant by his ear.

Before Liu Xiaoxiao could comment, the Gloomwraith, which they had been ignoring in the Sunsetwood Grove, suddenly slithered out, making a beeline for the sword.

"Hungry... Hungry..." It seemed fixated on finding sustenance. The sight of the large black "bone" had the Gloomwraith salivating with hunger, and it lunged for what it saw as a meal.

Its speed was so great that Chen Yuan was caught off guard. The black sword in his hands flickered with a dark glow. The Gloomwraith came to an abrupt halt in mid-air, its hollow eyes betraying a sense of panic.

But then, an overwhelming force of suction pulled it from the air, and the Gloomwraith was absorbed into the black sword, vanishing without a trace.

Both Chen Yuan and Liu Xiaoxiao were taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.

"Could it have been... consumed?" Chen Yuan was slow to grasp what had happened. The Gloomwraith, which had been clamoring with hunger, was now devoured by the very "food" it had coveted?

Liu Xiaoxiao shook her head, just as puzzled. The day's events had thoroughly surpassed her understanding, reminding her profoundly that learning truly has no end.

The black sword's fleeting glow reappeared, revealing an intricate and ornate pattern on the hilt. Simultaneously, a corresponding enlarged pattern emerged on the ground before them, hinting at mysteries yet to be unraveled.

A flicker of black light revealed a tiny figure before them. Clad in an exquisite black robe, her slender, pale arms peeked out from beneath the garment. Her tidy white hair framed a pair of gleaming deep purple eyes, and her round face was accented by a small mouth, slightly upturned, giving her the appearance of a delicate porcelain doll. She gazed curiously at Chen Yuan and Liu Xiaoxiao, who stood a short distance away. Was this a little girl?

A little girl?

"Daddy! Mommy!" The crisp voice emanated from the mouth of the petite girl in black.