Chapter 181 The Fox Who Stole the Chicken
Space shifted.
Jiang Bai’s figure reappeared in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
It was still the area shrouded in thick fog, still the emerald-green Lake of Life.
Night had fallen, and the lake water shimmered with a faint emerald light in the darkness, like a jewel embedded in the earth, tranquil and mysterious.
Moonlight filtered through the thick fog, spreading a layer of silver gauze across the lake.
Jiang Bai stood by the lake, taking a deep breath.
The air was filled with a rich life force, a feeling that soothed the soul, each breath seemingly nourishing every cell in his body.
staying in such a place for a long time would indeed be immensely beneficial for cultivation.
But he had no time to ponder such things now.
His gaze crossed the lake and landed on the central island.
There, a golden tree stood silently.
The Golden Tree.
In the night, the tree appeared even more mysterious and solemn.
Its golden leaves emitted a soft glow, like countless tiny lanterns, enveloping the entire island in a warm golden light. The light swayed gently in the night breeze, as if dancing with the moonlight.
Jiang Bai’s lips curled into a slight smile.
The Golden Tree...
This time, he had to get something good back.
He flashed forward.
The next moment, he appeared on the island.
Di Tian stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the golden tree.
He was still wearing that black robe, still had that cold, stern face. Moonlight and golden light intertwined, casting dappled shadows on him.
Hearing the movement behind him, he didn’t turn around.
Jiang Bai stepped forward and stood beside him.
He didn’t rush to speak, but first admired the scene before him.
In the night, the golden tree resembled a golden lighthouse, radiating a sacred and warm light. "Bi Ji said you were looking for me."
Jiang Bai finally spoke, a hint of amusement in his voice: "Have you thought it through? Uncle Di Tian..."
Di Tian’s body stiffened slightly.
The words "Uncle Di Tian" coming from Jiang Bai’s mouth didn’t evoke respect in him; instead, he felt as if he were being watched by something terrifying.
Di Tian remained silent for a moment.
Then, he slowly turned around and looked at Jiang Bai.
His deep, abyss-like eyes flickered with complex emotions—helplessness, reluctance, heartache, and also a kind of...resigned acceptance.
"If you want a branch from the Golden Tree, pick it yourself..."
His voice was soft and faint, as if he had used up all his strength.
After saying this, Di Tian seemed to have lost all his strength and power, his whole being slumped.
He sighed.
That sigh was filled with the weariness and helplessness of someone who had been bullied by the village children. He gave Jiang Bai a deep look.
His eyes held a warning, heartache, and a complex, indescribable emotion.
Then, he vanished in a flash.
Leaving Jiang Bai alone, standing beneath the golden tree.
Jiang Bai grinned, looking in the direction Di Tian had disappeared.
"Hehehe..."
That smile looked exactly like that of a fox who had stolen a chicken.
He turned to look at the golden tree.
The golden tree stood silently, its golden leaves swaying gently in the night breeze, scattering golden leaves like golden snowflakes, fluttering down to the ground.
But Jiang Bai felt that the leaves were swaying faster than before?
As if... trembling?
A gentle breeze blew, and the golden tree’s branches swayed even more violently.
Golden Tree: Don’t come any closer—!!
Jiang Bai stepped forward and reached out to stroke the golden trunk.
The trunk felt smooth and warm to the touch, like jade. He could feel the surging life energy flowing within it, a pure and vast energy, more powerful than anything he had ever seen.
"Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid," he whispered, trying to comfort him.
"Just one, just one."
The Golden Tree: ...
The night wind blew, scattering more golden leaves, as if in silent protest.
Jiang Bai ignored its protest.
He carefully examined the golden tree before him, searching for a suitable target.
Too thin wouldn’t do; its life force wasn’t enough.
Too thick wouldn’t do either; breaking it would likely damage the tree’s essence.
His gaze searched the canopy.
Soon, he locked onto his target.
It was a branch about three feet long, roughly a meter in diameter.
The branch itself wasn’t thick, yet it was vigorous and powerful, as if cast from divine jade, its entire body flowing with a pale golden light.
The branch wasn’t covered in lush leaves, only a few half-open golden buds, each one translucent and seemingly brimming with boundless life force.
This is it!
Jiang Bai reached out.
The moment his fingertips touched the branch, a warm and gentle power surged into his body.
Wherever that power touched, every cell rejoiced, as if parched earth had received sweet rain.
He gently broke it.
"Snap—"
A crisp sound of breaking.
The branch fell with a snap.
In that instant, the golden tree trembled violently, countless golden leaves fluttering down like a golden rainstorm, enveloping Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai held the three-foot-long golden branch, feeling the surging life force within it, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"What a wonderful thing."
He clicked his tongue in amazement, examining it from all angles.
The branch felt slightly heavy, weighing about two or three pounds. It shimmered with a pale golden light, and beneath the light, countless fine lines, like dense veins, were faintly visible.
Within those lines flowed liquid-like golden energy.
Holding it in his hand, he could feel a warm and gentle power slowly flowing into his body.
That feeling was more comfortable than any elixir.
Jiang Bai nodded in satisfaction.
He flipped his right hand, and the Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda appeared in his palm.
The pagoda’s body shimmered with light, nine colors intertwined, and the Dragon God’s Heart at its tip twinkled like stars.
He submerged the golden branch and his consciousness into the pagoda.
...
The world inside the pagoda.
Jiang Bai’s figure appeared out of thin air.
He held the golden branch and flashed to the vicinity of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
There, there was a special area.
The territory of the Blue Silver Emperor.
Since Ah Yin arrived, this area has become a sea of Blue Silver Grass.
Looking out, a vast expanse of blue-green waves swayed gently in the breeze. The Blue Silver Grass was more lush than the grass outside, its leaves larger, faintly tinged with golden veins.
And in the center of this sea, a particularly tall and dazzling Blue Silver Emperor stood silently.
Jiang Bai walked to the Blue Silver Emperor.
His mind stirred.
A soft light of life surged from within the Blue Silver Emperor.
The light gradually coalesced, transforming into a phantom figure.
Ah Yin.
She still wore that blue-gold dress, still had that exquisitely beautiful and gentle face. Her long, deep blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her azure eyes were like the purest sapphires.
But now, her gaze towards Jiang Bai held a complex emotion.
A mix of wariness, curiosity, and...
An indescribable emotion.
She didn’t know how to interact with Jiang Bai.
Should she hate him, or be grateful to him?
She didn’t know.
So every time she faced Jiang Bai, she remained indifferent, aloof, and distant.
"What brings you here?"
Her voice was soft and indifferent, devoid of any emotion.
Jiang Bai didn’t seem to care about her attitude.
"Merge with this."
He offered her the golden branch in his hand.
Ah Yin’s gaze fell on the branch.
Then, her pupils suddenly contracted!
"This is...?!"
She reached out and took the golden branch.
It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and a warm, gentle power flowed from her fingertips into her body. That power resonated strongly with her own Blue Silver Emperor essence, causing her very soul to tremble slightly!
"A branch of the Golden Tree?!"
Ah Yin’s voice, for the first time, lost its composure, trembling with disbelief: "And its essence is so concentrated?!"
She looked up at Jiang Bai.
Her azure eyes were filled with shock and bewilderment.
The Golden Tree!
That was the legendary source of life, a being even higher than the Blue Silver Emperor!
The Blue Silver Emperor’s life force was unparalleled in the Soul Beast World and even the entire Douluo Continent. But before the Golden Tree, the Blue Silver Emperor was merely a weakling.
And now, Jiang Bai was offering her a branch from the heart of the Golden Tree?
He wanted her to merge with the Golden Tree?
Ah Yin’s mind went blank.
What would the Blue Silver Emperor evolve into after merging with the Golden Tree?
She didn’t know.
But she knew it would be a transformation beyond her imagination.
And...
Jiang Bai was actually letting her merge with something so precious?
What was he after?
Ah Yin’s gaze fell on Jiang Bai’s face. She recalled the intense gaze Jiang Bai had given her earlier, and her heart inexplicably quickened.
But she didn’t ask anything, only giving Jiang Bai a deep look.
Then, she began to merge.
Her true form, the tall Blue Silver Emperor, stretched out countless soft tendrils, entwining the heart branch of the Golden Tree and slowly pulling it closer to her body.
The instant the tendrils touched the heart branch!
"Boom—!!!"
A dazzling blue-gold light suddenly erupted!
The light was so intense that it instantly illuminated the entire world inside the tower! The light shot into the sky, piercing the clouds!
On the ground, every Blue Silver Grass began to become crystal clear, growing wildly!
The entire sea of Blue Silver Grass was expanding rapidly!