Chapter 398: Guardian Spirit Divine Tree

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The Fire Nation Capital was extremely large. It occupied a vast amount of land and had existed for a long time. From the ancient era until now, it had endured the time and had never collapsed.

“What a pity. We’ve been here for so many days, yet we haven’t seen a single outstanding human expert. The so-called great battle between the two Shi brothers, is it real? Otherwise, why couldn’t anyone get close to them?”

Some people were suspicious, and they came from outside this region. They had entered this enormous city for quite some time, yet in the end, they didn’t see a single stunning young expert.

“You can’t say that. Fire Nation’s princess is quite impressive. She seems to have the blood of a Vermillion Bird, and she’s undergoing a continuous transformation. I’ve seen her a few times before, and each time I saw her, she became a bit stronger than last time. You can’t underestimate her.”

On the streets, these people only stopped for a short period of time. They got to know each other. After chatting for a bit, they left.

People came and went, and the flow of people was endless. This majestic ancient city was prosperous, and it was unknown just how many people lived here. It was bustling with activity, and as they walked along the main street, the pedestrians rubbed shoulders with each other.

Of course, the most shocking thing was that there were creatures from all different clans, some of them were never seen before.

Shi Hao saw quite a few races with strange appearances. He had never heard of them before, but the passersby on the road didn’t dare point out or discuss them. It was clear that these creatures were extremely strong. For the people who had lived here for a long time, they knew that disasters came from the wrong choice of words.

There were many shops on both sides of the street, and many of them were old-fashioned. There was no lack of medicinal pill pavilions, weapon stores, and other shops. There were many cultivators coming in and out, and business was quite good.

Shi Hao was extremely relaxed as he wandered about. He had stayed in the great mountains for more than a year, where it was extremely peaceful, to the extent where it was a bit cold and cheerless. Now that he suddenly entered this world of mortals, he felt rather comfortable.

“When one is tired of the noise of the mortal world, entering a land of idyllic beauty is quite enjoyable. However, after staying in this peaceful place for a long time, coming to this bustling capital city gives me a different type of comprehension.”

Shi Hao said to himself. He was deeply moved and even momentarily perplexed. He thought back to cultivation. Ascetic cultivators who cultivated in seclusion and the eccentrics of the free and unfettered mortal world chose two different lives, and this was the case as well.

“What a large tree!” Shi Hao was shocked. When he arrived at the eastern region of this ancient city, he saw an ancient tree that towered into the sky. It really was enormous.

Its entire body was fiery red and was surging with scarlet multicolored light. Its branches and leaves were all red. The treetop was like a heaven-supporting umbrella. It towered within the city and was extremely special.

What kind of tree was this? The trunk was several tens of meters in diameter, and the old bark looked like scales. It looked extremely ancient, and the enormous tree occupied a large area.

This tree was even taller than a mountain. Normal cities wouldn’t be able to hold it at all. Fortunately, the Fire Nation Capital was vast enough to hold many giant peaks, so it wasn’t affected.

“This is the Fire God Tree. Back then, it was also one of the Fire Nation’s Guardian Spirits!” Someone was discussing among themselves. It was clear that Shi Hao wasn’t the only one who was shocked. Many people who had just arrived in this city were the same.

This place seemed to have become a scenic spot. Everyone who came to Fire Nation had to pay this place a visit, or they would regret it in the future.

“This tree has existed since the ancient years and had been growing since then. Unfortunately, its divine flame was extinguished, and the divine senses have dried up. It no longer possesses any great divine abilities,” someone said.

This was previously a Guardian Spirit Divine Tree? When Shi Hao heard this, his eyes shone brilliantly. This was too shocking. He carefully looked at it.

The tree was indeed incomparably large and was ancient beyond belief. Logically speaking, after growing for such a long time, even if its divine flame was extinguished, it could still become a spirit again. There was no way it was an ordinary tree.

However, it didn’t seem to have any divine fluctuations or that type of aura.

What those people said was true. It used to be a deity, but later on, its divine flame was extinguished, and it turned into an ordinary tree.

Shi Hao was quite interested. He asked around for more details.

“During the ancient era, saints fought for supremacy, and deities fought a great battle. That was a glorious era, and it was also a chaotic world. Powerful individuals emerged in large numbers, and heavenly talents soared through the sky. It was during that era that several great ancient countries first took form…”

This tree and the Vermillion Bird both came from the Fire Nation’s ancestral land. Their strengths were similar, and they were both deities that had achieved great enlightenment. They were incomparably powerful and had surpassed all living things.

When the Fire Clan was founded, it accompanied the Fire Clan’s Holy Emperor to all the battles, establishing tremendous contributions. Unfortunately, in that era when heroes fought for supremacy, it suffered a disaster. Its divine flame was destroyed, and it fell off its divine altar. The Vermillion Bird and Holy Emperor were old friends, so they planted it in the Fire Clan’s capital, using great methods to keep it alive.

“Even though it survived, its past will, divine flame, and other things scattered, and it has become an ordinary tree.”

“It’s able to live for so long because the Immortal Spring nourished it back then. However, it’s no longer able to ignite the divine flame, nor can it cultivate again.”

Many people were discussing among themselves, feeling rather emotional. A deity that had witnessed the glory of the ancient era ended up like this.

“Well, you’ve all only spoken of a type of rumor, not everything. There’s another version, but not many people believe it,” said an elder who walked over.

“What other rumors?” Someone asked.

“Rumor has it that this tree didn’t completely lose its divine flame but is undergoing rebirth,” said the elder.

“What?!” When many people heard this, they were practically stupefied. If it was going through rebirth, just how terrifying would it be? It was simply unimaginable.

It was something that had existed from the ancient era until now! If this was true, then who else in this world could be this tree’s match? At the very least, if the ancient divines didn’t appear, no one in the present world could be its opponent.

“Why do you think some great sects from outside this region came to the Fire Nation to cooperate with the Emperor Clan? I heard that they are a bit scared of this legend.”

“That’s impossible!” Many people didn’t believe this.

“All descendants of the founding fathers of the Fire Nation’s capital city have heard this type of rumor, but not many people care about it now.” The elder had his hands behind his back as he shook his head and left.

“Such rumors do exist. In the past, I’ve heard a few elders discussing it here,” someone nearby said, producing even more detailed information.

It was rumored that the entire country was worshiping it. Not only the Guardian Spirit but also the Fire Emperor were bathed in the divine flame. Even a portion of divine force was guided into this place to nourish the ancient tree.

“Let’s go to the Ascension Tower to have a cup of tea and something to eat,” someone said, calling out to his companions.

In the sky, there were many floating palace halls, all of them extremely grand and high above the ground. They were all surrounding this ancient tree.

“I am starting to believe it a bit. What that elder said might not be too ridiculous because every time I ascend this palace, I always feel like it is beneficial for my cultivation.”

When he heard these people’s discussions, Shi Hao was tempted. He looked toward those massive palaces and seemed surprised. He wanted to go up and take a look.

However, when he got there, he was given a fright. The price was ridiculous. Even if he wanted to drink a cup of tea, it would make normal people go bankrupt.

Ordinary people couldn’t come up at all because they were unable to fly into the sky. These were true jade pavilions built in the air, protected by profound formations that prevented them from falling.

The palace hall emitted a sparkling luster. Clouds curled up around it, one after another. It really was like a vast divine court.

Shi Hao stepped on the jade stairs and entered the most magnificent palace hall. He paid an extremely high price to enter and saw just how extraordinary it was.

Those who could visit the place were naturally all cultivators with extraordinary status. The price was too high, and it was enough to make ordinary cultivators avoid the place.

From a certain perspective, this place seemed to have become a gathering place for Stone Country Capital’s cultivators. After arriving at this jade palace, Shi Hao saw even more foreign creatures.

Soon after, he felt like the expenses weren’t in vain because he heard other people’s discussion and obtained some important information.

“Supreme experts can’t be seen anymore. They are in a precarious situation, and the situation is a bit critical. Right now, they are all hiding.”

The information made Shi Hao frown. It could be considered good news. No one of that level jumped out, so even if he revealed his true appearance, it wouldn’t affect much.

“Divine abilities are useless. This is information obtained from the great sects outside this region. It seems like the higher one’s cultivation is, the greater the effects of this great calamity. You and I should be fine, right?”

“Well, I think it’s true. Even the supreme experts of the great sects outside this region tried to think of a way to withdraw, yet their young disciples stayed behind. The great change isn’t far off.”

Shi Hao chose a spot by the window, just enough to see that enormous ancient tree. He tried to cultivate here and discovered that it was indeed a bit easier.

Shi Hao stayed here. Every day, he would ascend the jade pavilion and cultivate there. Comprehending amidst the noise of the mortal world was a different type of experience.

The big red bird cursed silently. Every day, it would feel tired and sleepy, but it had to unwillingly stay by his side.

“Hey, something’s not right. It’s so terrifying!” Several days later, he made a shocking discovery. When he brought out the Vermillion Bird True Feather he obtained from Fire Clan’s Holy Emperor Palace, he comprehended a type of obscure ancient knowledge.

If he didn’t have this true feather, even if he carefully sensed it, he still wouldn’t have obtained anything. However, with the scarlet precious feather in hand, he seemed to have heard an enormous heartbeat.

This ancient tree was extraordinary. It produced a great aura and possessed a type of tremendous life force. Only, outsiders wouldn’t be able to sense it.

At that moment, several groups of creatures from outside this region entered this pavilion and were talking about Shi Hao, but Shi Hao ignored them all.

He hurriedly asked for a private room, and then used the dual-pupils to stare at that giant tree. However, he was disappointed when he was unable to see through it.

In the end, when he held the Vermilion Bird True Feather again, things changed.

Shi Hao was shocked. He saw a few blurry scenes within the tree. Just the dual-pupils alone weren’t enough. He needed the Vermilion Bird Clan’s sacred object, and only then would he be able to discover it.

“A gate made from a pair of Vermilion Bird wings!” Shi Hao was shaken. A pair of Vermilion Bird’s wings were located within the tree roots and flowing with gentle radiance.

Apart from this, there was a golden coffin behind the gate, blocking a cave entrance.

Shi Hao did everything he could. His eyes were in pain and almost dripping with blood. He finally saw a man in the golden coffin. He didn’t move at all.

He immediately trembled, his heart pounding intensely.

That man was extraordinary. His aura was astonishing, and he was actually similar to a damaged stone statue he saw in the Fire Clan’s ancestral land. Huo Ling’er told him that it was the Fire Clan’s ancient Holy Emperor!

The golden coffin blocked a hole. What was inside? Shi Hao was surprised. He never expected to discover such a great secret.