Chapter 1169: Peacock Tree
The Peacock Peak was where the treefather died and turned into a gigantic tree.
It was tall enough to pierce into the white clouds and blue sky, a giant standing and protecting everything on this continent.
Not just anyone could come here. Only cultivators at a particular level who could withstand the power of the peak could climb up.
One would see that the top of the peak was completely flat like a small martial ground. The stone surface seemed to have been polished.
In the past, countless treant disciples came here and meditated when the Peacock Tree was still exuberant with life. They wanted to rely on the tree to understand the grand dao.
Countless people came and went, leaving their footsteps behind which was why the stone surface here was so shiny.
Li Qiye came very early to perform an offering ceremony for the Peacock Tree. In fact, this was him sending away one of the great treefathers to the end of his journey.
The withering of the tree was only a matter of time. Everything would turn into ashes afterward. The world would lose the remaining traces of the treefather.
When they arrived, some people could be seen already worshipping the tree.
The tree itself was not very tall, only around three meters tall. The body was old with hardened bark. The cracked bark resembled dragon scales. Although they had lost their luster, one could still feel their toughness.
There weren't that many branches left, only around three or five with very few leaves growing on them. Although these leaves were still quite green, they gave off a sense of withering.
Plumes of smoke were curling before the tree. People were lighting incense in order to worship him.
There was a young man wearing a hemp robe. Even though he didn't emit a powerful aura, a very majestic power emerged when he blinked.
His whole body exuded the breath of vegetation, making others want to approach him. He was clearly from the Treant Race. Three old men stood behind him, all with vast blood energies. One didn't even need to look at them to know that they were experts. It was easy to infer the young man's status if he had these three old men as his company.
In fact, people besides Li Qiye and this young man came to offer their respects from all over. Everyone knew that in the near future, the Peacock Tree will die.
The human cultivators in this world were grateful for his protection for so many generations. This land gave them a place to live and work.
After offering the incense, the young man stood there and watched the smoke drift away without saying anything.
Once Li Qiye and Kong Qinru made it to the top, the young man finally said: "Let's go."
With that, he and the old men left. As he was walking by, he bowed to greet Li Qiye and Kong Qinru in a very polite manner.
Kong Qinru nodded back to reciprocate the gesture while Li Qiye didn't say anything, he only gave a quick glance.
After that group left, Li Qiye flatly said: "A good pair of wood pupils, it has been awhile since someone like that showed up from the treants."
She was surprised to hear him say this. With a single glance, Li Qiye could discern the person's secret — this was a bit too terrifying.
She stated: "He is one of the descendants of the Heavenvine Citadel, Teng Jiwen. He has reached Virtuous Paragon a few years earlier, a very promising youth."
Because of her concealment, the youth from earlier couldn't recognize her. However, since she was the valley lord, she recognized many famous cultivators in this world.
Li Qiye didn't say anything else and stepped before the Peacock Tree. He placed down his incense sticks and stared at the withering tree in silence for a long time.
Eventually, he gently sighed and said: "Eternal life is too far away. Even a treefather cannot escape death and has to return to the origin in the end."
With that, he lit up the incense and bowed towards the Peacock Tree. In his eyes, the treefather was still an amazing existence. Moreover, he had protected the humans for many generations.
Kong Qinru did the same with reverence straight from the heart.
After the ceremony, Li Qiye gently touched the tree's hard bark. With a buzz, his hand suddenly disappeared into the tree like passing through a portal of water.
He closed his eyes and stood there as if he was sleeping. After a while, he withdrew his hand and concluded: "The Peacock Tree will die within fifty thousand years."
This was shocking to Kong Qinru. She thought the treefather could still hold on for another two or three generations, so this was much faster than she imagined.
She murmured in a daze: "Only fifty thousand years?"
Li Qiye spoke emotionlessly: "To be exact, it could struggle on for another forty thousand years. The rest of the time will depend on how much it is attached to this land. Regardless, that day will come when it has to let everything go."
Suddenly, she became quite dejected. She felt helpless because there was nothing she could do to change the situation. She could only sigh and say: "Even treefathers will die one day. No one can save them. I just hope that it will come slowly."
"Who told you that?" Li Qiye chuckled under the tree: "It depends on the person. Going against the heavens to replenish one's longevity is not an impossible matter."
Such words were like bells ringing in her mind. She immediately looked up to stare at the nonchalant fella in disbelief while trembling.
"You, you mean to say that you can replenish the Peacock Tree's lifespan?" She nervously stared at him while shaking despite being a great valley lord.
He glanced at her then back at the tree and lightly said: "Even though these treefathers take root in the earth, they are still similar to cultivators with a chance to replenish their life. This applies to the Peacock Tree. Moreover, it has never undergone this procedure before, so the probability of success is even higher."
"Are, are you telling the truth?" She suddenly became spirited with hope filling her heart while looking at Li Qiye with excitement.
"My words are a hundred times more precious than pearls." He looked at her and stated: "Besides, this is common knowledge. Going against the heavens to replenish life is the most basic technique of an alchemist."
If any alchemist was present, they would be vomiting blood in anger or be struck with such great insecurity that they would feel the urge to commit suicide by slamming into tofu.
Life replenishment was a very lofty goal for alchemists, only Legendary Alchemists were able to accomplish this. Moreover, success was not certain either. But now, according to Li Qiye, this was the most basic of means.
"So you are saying that you can replenish the tree's life?" Her eyes were bright as she tried to get confirmation.
"It's possible." He said while looking at the tree: "Since it has never done this before, the first life replenishment has very good odds and the length will be quite long. For an existence like this tree, living for another eight or ten generations would not be a problem if the procedure is successful."
She exclaimed: "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry and replenish its life!"
He slowly looked back at her and said: "Why should I replenish its life? It is not my relative or an elder."
"You are a human!" She stated: "The tree has protected the human race so long that it's only right for you to reciprocate the kindness."
Li Qiye chuckled and shook his head in response: "Little girl, why do you think so? There have been many people who have accomplished many things for the human race. Does that mean that I have to do something for them or their descendants as well? Countless wise sages and invincible existences have fought for the survival of the human race; compared to them, the things that the Peacock Tree have done can't reach the apex."
"You…" Her face turned red; she didn't know what to say in this situation.
He glanced over her direction and flatly said: "There are choices in everything and everyone. For example, the old wise sages pushing the human race forward or the Peacock Tree taking root in this place; they have made their decision. They walked on this path not to ask for repayment from the future generations. They simply walked on their own path with great responsibility and perseverance, staying true to their pursuit to the very end."
Chapter 1170: Fate Of The Peacock Tree
Kong Qinru pondered Li Qiye's words. Setting other matters aside, she didn't really know him. Plus, he was not someone from the Heaven Spirit World, so why should he replenish the treefather's life?
Li Qiye continued on with a smile: "There are too many injustices in this world; too many powerless thoughts; too many things that people don't want to do. Even a savior cannot save everyone in this world or satisfy all of their prayers. Moreover, I am not a savior or a charitable person."
She asked: "How do we replenish its life?"
Li Qiye shook his head and said: "It is useless even if you know because only I can do it. Plus, the price is not small."
She took a deep breath and solemnly asked him: "What do you want before you are willing to replenish its life?"
He smilingly shook his head: "Little girl, you can't offer what I want."
She breathed deeply once more before offering: "If you are willing to do so and if it is a success, you can have whatever you want, including marrying me and having a great position in the Exquisite Valley!"
Her eyes directly met his gaze in a natural manner with great persistence and earnest.
He noticed her stare and laughed: "I'm not looking down on you, but I need to make things clear. Let's not talk about treasures, just the proposed marriage and entrance to the Exquisite Valley alone…
"… You are thinking too highly of yourself. First of all, I have an imperial bloodline; countless women in this world want to be my dao companion. For example, the little brat from Golden Isle. Which aspects do you have that are better than her? Beauty, intelligence, sexiness, or maybe talents?
"… Now take a step back and pretend that I don't have an imperial bloodline. Marrying you would be my loss. It would be you taking advantage of me, not the other way around. The truth is always grating to the ears, but you are not qualified to be my wife." He concluded with a smile.
Such words left Kong Qinru speechless. As the Exquisite Valley Master, she wasn't only enchantingly beautiful, she also possessed an excellent bloodline. Countless others at the Heaven Spirit World wanted to marry her. As long as she gave the okay, even the descendant of the most powerful sect would be willing to do so.
But now, this ordinary person that couldn't be more ordinary considered these things that she had been so proud of as things not worth mentioning.
Her demeanor eventually dimmed as she helplessly said: "I have overestimated myself. You are right, how can it be that easy to replenish a treefather's life. The price must be too great."
"You misunderstood me." He smiled and said: "It is not that I want something outrageous, it's just that the process itself is costly."
She didn't know what to say for this was beyond the scope of her abilities. It was just that Li Qiye gave her hope just now.
Li Qiye continued: "Why are you so insistent on this? In fact, this doesn't affect you too much and, to be frank, if Peacock Land ceases to exist, it would make the Exquisite Valley become even more precious, don't you think?"
She looked into his eyes and said: "True, this has no effect on the valley, but it is a different story for the inhabitants here. Without their home, they would no longer have a place in this world."
"For many people, there were only two places at the Heaven Spirit World; the mainland of the Exquisite Valley and Peacock Land. Without one of them, it would be one less home for the human race and half of their hope extinguished. Moreover, countless creatures would perish with the withering of the treefather." She sighed helplessly at this point.
This was not to say that she was overly humane and kind or someone who was too weak to accept death. It was because, as the Exquisite Valley Lord, the most influential person of the human race, she wanted to work for the welfare of her race. She wished for peace and hope for the rest of her kin.
"Life and death are part of nature." Li Qiye faintly smiled: "After millions of years, how many people have died in wars? And how many people are currently living in Peacock Land? I'm sure this number is less than one-tenth of the number of people who will die in a battle for the Heaven's Will. Thus, even if this place collapses, it is insignificant in the grand scheme of things for the human race."
"I know that." She answered: "But it is another beacon of hope for the humans here."
"Hope?" He was amused by this notion: "This hope is a cause for their demise, the death of their future, the death of their descendants. Because Peacock Land and Exquisite Valley are there, more humans will decide to stay at the Heaven Spirit World. Without these two, this amount would be quite negligible."
She contemplated for a moment before replying: "Maybe you are right, my vision is quite short-sighted. I only want to do a few things for the future generations. A little glimmer of hope is the only thing I can offer to our kind here, the hope of a peaceful and happy life."
Li Qiye looked at her in silence for a while before gently shaking his head: "Little girl, this world is not meant for a peaceful and happy life, at least, not for humans. One day, you will understand why it is not their home, but maybe you won't be able to wait until that time."
Kong Qinru replied: "So what if you are right? For experts and real heaven-defying existences, they could leave the moment the nine worlds are connected again. But what about the others? What about the mortals? Even if they wanted to leave, there is nothing they can do."
Li Qiye flatly answered: "Like I said before, if you're really thinking for the sake of the human race, the wisest thing to do is to prepare to move the Exquisite Valley out of the Heaven Spirit World. The nine worlds are vast, there will be a new foothold for you somewhere."
She weakly said: "Maybe, but even if I wanted to, it won't be that easy. Three-meter deep snow isn't formed overnight." 1
Eventually, Li Qiye shook his head and commented: "It seems that I have grown old. I am not a soft-hearted person for my will is made of steel. However, one's heart will soften with time."
After hearing this, Kong Qinru was slightly surprised. After calming down, she happily blurted: "You mean…"
He glanced at her and insipidly said: "Since I'm already here, so be it. I suppose I have to give it a try. As for the fate of the human race in this world, I'll have to leave it to them, or you."
She couldn't believe her own ears and took a deep breath to confirm: "Are, are you serious?"
"Do I need to lie to you?" He answered: "However, you need to be mentally prepared. Defying the heavens for life replenishment is not easy. The price will be quite heavy!"
She solemnly responded while bracing herself: "What do you need? As long as it is within our valley's capabilities, I will definitely get it for you."
He shook his head: "The price I'm referring to isn't treasures or spirit pills or even alchemy ingredients. In short, it isn't something you or your valley can afford."
"Umm…" She was at a loss for words.
He waved his sleeve dismissively: "Such an exchange is required at times. There's no need to think about it any further. As for some other items that I require, you will be responsible for them."
She nodded with great austerity: "Rest assured, just let me know about whatever you need. I will not let you down!"
A fire of hope was ignited within her. If the Peacock Tree could live longer, the other resting place of the human race would continue to exist. With this home, people would continue to have hope.
He didn't say anything else and opened his fate palace. An old tree emerged. There were several green branches growing from it with fresh leaves swaying in the breeze.
Kong Qinru didn't know what this old tree was, but she felt that this inconspicuous-looking tree was not so simple.
It wasn't strange that she didn't know about it; it wasn't due to a lack of knowledge on her part. In fact, outside of Li Qiye's group, those who had seen this tree simply didn't exist. The world had forgotten about its name, let alone recognize its appearance.
At this time, the green branches of the Myriad Age Tree slowly stretched out like tiny serpents. They drilled into the Peacock Tree in an instant.
Rome wasn't built in a day is the equivalent idiom. ↩