Chapter 174: A Single Branch
Di Tian’s testy voice drifted over from behind him: "Let me warn you right now: don’t get any ideas about the Golden Tree. I won’t let you take it away—not even a single branch!"
Jiang Bai turned around, wearing a harmless, innocent smile: "Just taking a look."
Di Tian stood three meters behind him, clad in a black robe with a stern, cold expression on his face. His eyes—as deep and unfathomable as an abyss—were fixed upon Jiang Bai, as if scrutinizing his every move.
"Just take a look?"
There was a hint of skepticism in his voice: "You’d better make sure that’s all you do—just look."
Jiang Bai shrugged, offering no argument.
Di Tian withdrew his gaze and spoke coolly: "The Soul Beasts are ready. Let’s go."
No sooner had the words left his lips than his figure vanished from the spot.
Jiang Bai cast a glance at the Golden Tree, then flashed forward to follow him.
...
On the clearing beside the Lake of Life.
Several massive figures waited in silence.
They varied greatly in form: some lay prostrate on the ground, some struggled to remain standing, while others were curled up into tight balls. Without exception, every single Soul Beast bore wounds—some light, some severe—and their auras were listless, their life forces dim.
These were the "volunteers" Di Tian had gathered from various corners of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Jiang Bai and Di Tian’s figures materialized out of thin air.
Jiang Bai’s eyes swept over the group.
Red-Flame Demon Tiger, Red-Maned Mad Lion, Golden-Feathered Rift Eagle, Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear...?
Huh?!
A Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear? And a Golden Earth Dragon?
Jiang Bai blinked, confirming that his eyes had not deceived him.
He whipped his head around to look at Di Tian.
Observing the look of utter disbelief on Jiang Bai’s face, Di Tian offered an explanation: "That Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear was careless while undergoing its Heavenly Tribulation."
His voice was calm, betraying no emotion: "As a result, the tribulation lightning struck it down, inflicting severe injuries; its vital essence was damaged, and its cultivation base regressed. You know what Bear Lord is like—he rarely concerns himself with the affairs of his own kin."
"Knowing that it didn’t have long left to live, this Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear chose to come with me."
Jiang Bai nodded.
That certainly fit Bear Lord’s character.
That guy cared about absolutely nothing—except for fighting.
Di Tian then turned his gaze toward the Golden Earth Dragon, his expression now tinged with a hint of complexity: "As for this one..."
He paused briefly. "It had actually already successfully weathered its Heavenly Tribulation."
"But it had the misfortune of being unlucky. It was still extremely weak in the aftermath of the tribulation when it crossed paths with a group of human Soul Masters out hunting for Soul Beasts."
"It fought desperately to escape with its life. Although it managed to make it back here alive, its vital essence was damaged, and its cultivation base suffered a regression of several tens of thousands of years."
Jiang Bai fell silent.
He turned his gaze toward the Golden Earth Dragon. Reflected in the dragon’s eyes was his own figure.
Within that gaze lay weariness, pain, and also... a sense of bitter injustice.
He had clearly already weathered the Heavenly Tribulation; he could have become a true hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast. Yet, due to the greed of human Soul Masters, he had met with such a tragic end.
Jiang Bai fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Then... why didn’t you intervene?"
Di Tian did not answer immediately.
He gazed out at the emerald-green lake, remaining silent for a long time.
Then, he spoke slowly: "Perhaps..."
His voice was very soft, sounding almost like he was speaking to himself: "This, I suppose, is the difference between humans and Soul Beasts."
Jiang Bai asked no further questions.
The two stood in silence, side by side.
The wind swept across the lake’s surface, carrying with it the moist scent of water.
After a long while...
Di Tian spoke up: "How do you intend to deal with them?"
Jiang Bai did not answer immediately.
He walked over to the group of Soul Beasts, his gaze sweeping over each of them in turn.
Five pairs of eyes were fixed upon him.
In them, there was wariness, anticipation, suspicion, and also... despair.
Jiang Bai waved his right hand.
The Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda materialized in the palm of his hand.
The pagoda’s body was small and exquisite, yet it radiated a brilliant, nine-hued radiance. The Heart of the Dragon God, perched atop its spire, shimmered like a distant star, emitting a mysterious and sacred glow.
"Buzz!"
The pagoda gave a gentle tremor.
Nine-colored beams of light shot forth, enveloping each of the five Soul Beasts.
Within these beams of light, the massive bodies of the Soul Beasts began to slowly shrink, drawn inexorably toward the pagoda.
They offered no resistance.
Perhaps they lacked the strength to struggle; or perhaps, they simply had no desire to do so.
A moment later, the five luminous figures vanished into the pagoda, disappearing from sight.
Jiang Bai retracted the small pagoda and turned to face Di Tian: "Thank you."
He paused for a moment, then added: "Before long, I will be able to let Li’er absorb them."
Di Tian gave a slight nod, offering no further words.
His figure flickered, and he vanished from where he stood.
...
Inside the Pagoda World.
Jiang Bai’s figure materialized out of thin air.
He stood upon a grassy meadow, facing the five Soul Beasts that had just entered the realm.
By now, they had reverted to their original forms; they lay prone on the ground, warily surveying this unfamiliar world.
The environment here astonished them.
The air was permeated with a dense concentration of the primal energy of heaven and earth—several times richer than that of the outside world.
What astonished them even more was the presence of a warm, gentle force that was surging in from all directions, flowing into their battered bodies.
Wherever this force passed, their wounds began to slowly heal, and the vitality within them began to flow anew.
All five Soul Beasts were struck dumb with amazement.
They had lived for tens of thousands of years, yet they had never encountered a power such as this.
Jiang Bai stood before them, his hands clasped behind his back.
His voice was calm, yet it rang clearly in the ears of every single Soul Beast: "This is my world."
He paused for a moment. "You may recuperate here, or you may absorb the energy of this place to cultivate."
The eyes of the five Soul Beasts lit up.
However, Jiang Bai’s next words caused their expressions to turn grave.
"In return..."
His gaze swept over them. "Once you reach the hundred-thousand-year cultivation mark—the moment I require you to offer a Sacrifice—you must do so."
As his words fell,
The five Soul Beasts fell silent.
Sacrifice.
It was the act of a Soul Beast voluntarily surrendering its life to become a Soul Ring for a human.
For a Soul Beast, this represented the ultimate death.
It meant the utter scattering of one’s soul—total and absolute oblivion.
Five pairs of eyes fixed upon Jiang Bai.
In them flickered hesitation, internal struggle, and fear.
Jiang Bai offered no pressure.
He simply stood there quietly, awaiting their answer.
A moment later, he spoke again. "I can offer you a choice."
His voice remained calm, devoid of any threat. "If you are unwilling to offer a Sacrifice, I can cast you out of this place right now."
"If you are willing, then stay here to cultivate and heal your wounds. You need not fear the Heavenly Tribulation that awaits a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast; I will personally handle it for you."
He smiled faintly. "Well? What do you say?"
"Wouldn’t you like to experience the thrill of being a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast—even if only for a little while?"
"Make your choice!"
The five Soul Beasts exchanged glances.
Silence. A long, drawn-out silence.
Then...
"ROAR!!!"
An enraged roar shattered the stillness. It was the Red-Maned Mad Lion.
It struggled to its feet; though it swayed unsteadily, its eyes were filled with fury and defiance. It roared at Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai watched it, his expression impassive.
He gave a wave of his right hand.
A nine-colored beam of light shot forth, instantly engulfing the Red-Maned Mad Lion!
"Roar—!!"
The Red-Maned Mad Lion’s roar of aggression turned into a shriek of terror.
It struggled desperately, yet it was utterly powerless to resist that force. Its massive body was drawn along by the beam of light, flying outward—away from the tower.
A moment later, the light flickered.
The Red-Maned Mad Lion vanished.
It had been sent back to the outside world.
The four remaining Soul Beasts stood frozen in shock.
This human... he really would strike.
Jiang Bai withdrew his hand and turned his gaze toward them.
Upon his face, that faint smile still lingered.
Yet his eyes were as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.
"Does anyone else wish to leave?"
The four Soul Beasts simultaneously bowed their heads to the ground.
"Roar—!"
"Howl—!"
Low growls rumbled forth, signifying their submission.
Jiang Bai nodded in satisfaction.
He cast a sweeping glance over the four Soul Beasts: the Red-Flame Demon Tiger, the Golden-Feathered Rift Eagle, the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear, and the Golden Earth Dragon.
Four of them—yet Li’er required only three.
As for this extra one... he would save it to use as a favor later on, depending on the circumstances.
...
His consciousness returned to the outside world.
The Red-Maned Mad Lion had already departed.
All that remained on the ground was a pool of blood and several deep claw marks.
Jiang Bai paid them no mind.
He turned and walked toward the small island where the Golden Tree stood.
He intended to go and haggle a bit with Di Tian.
Just in case... just in case Di Tian actually agreed to let him snap off a single branch?
Just one branch.
Surely... that wouldn’t be asking too much, would it?
...
On the small island, beneath the Golden Tree.
Di Tian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the colossal tree that shimmered with golden light, lost in thoughts unknown.
Behind him, the space rippled.
Jiang Bai’s figure materialized out of thin air. Di Tian did not turn around. "Is it done?"
Jiang Bai walked over to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him. "It is done."
He paused briefly. "Four of them were willing to stay."
Di Tian gave a slight nod. "That is enough."
Jiang Bai smiled, then suddenly spoke.
Then, his tone shifted: "Di Tian."
"Hmm?"
"This Golden Tree... could you give me a branch?"
Di Tian’s body stiffened slightly.
He slowly turned his head to look at Jiang Bai.
Those eyes—as deep and unfathomable as an abyss—were now filled with wariness. "What did you say?"
Jiang Bai wore an expression of utter innocence: "Just a small branch!"
The corner of Di Tian’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
"In your dreams."
His voice was categorical: "As I said, not even a single twig is allowed."
Jiang Bai sighed: "Di Tian, you’re being too much of a stranger. What kind of relationship do we have? You’re Li’er’s uncle, which makes you a senior figure to me. Is it really too much for a junior to ask for a little token of good luck?"
Di Tian sneered: "A token of good luck? Is that what you call this?"
Jiang Bai looked utterly sincere: "It really is just a token. I want to take it back and plant it. If I can get it to take root, we’ll have an extra Golden Tree in the future. When that happens, I’ll give you back ten branches—how does that sound?"
Di Tian stared at him, his gaze seeming to ask: Do you take me for a fool?
"The Golden Tree requires the Lake of Life to grow," his voice was cold. "If you take it back to plant, it won’t survive."
Jiang Bai blinked: "But what if? What if I can get it to grow inside my Tower?"
Di Tian fell silent.
He continued to gaze at Jiang Bai, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his eyes.
"You... do you really just want a single branch?"
Jiang Bai nodded: "I really just want a single branch."
He paused, then added: "A core branch containing its Origin—one holding a trace of the Golden Tree’s fundamental essence. Not a dead twig, but a living offshoot capable of taking root and being reborn."
"I simply want to test whether I can cultivate a Golden Tree inside my own Tower as well."
Di Tian remained silent for a moment before finally speaking: "Go on back for now. Let me think it over."
Jiang Bai patted Di Tian on the shoulder: "Thanks, Uncle Di Tian."
Di Tian expressionlessly brushed his hand away: "Don’t try to act familiar."
Jiang Bai didn’t take offense; he simply smiled, turned around, and walked away.
On the small island, only Di Tian remained. He gazed at the shimmering golden tree, a flicker of complexity crossing his eyes.
A branch imbued with primal essence?
Just a tiny twig... that shouldn’t be a problem... right?
The wind swept through, and golden leaves drifted down.
Like golden snowflakes, they blanketed the entire small island.