All eyes turned to Zhang Ruochen, eager to see his reaction.
Many gazes were cold, indifferent to straining relations with Zhang Ruochen for the sake of the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree.
Feng Wuxing shook his head silently. He wanted to speak for Zhang Ruochen, but with Xuanyuan Liekong stepping in, his words would likely carry little weight.
Fairy Yuan also frowned slightly, not expecting things to escalate like this.
After some thought, Feng Wuxing spoke, “Historically, treasures are claimed by ability. Since Brother Zhang obtained the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree, it rightfully belongs to him. There’s no reason to divide it among everyone.”
Bi Yunhai shot Feng Wuxing a cold glare. “By ability? Without our help, could Zhang Ruochen have claimed the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree? If you don’t want a share, no one’s forcing you, but don’t obstruct others.”
Feng Wuxing said no more, quietly stepping aside to show his stance.
Following him, Fairy Yuan, Lingkongzi, and a few others also stepped aside, unwilling to get involved.
Only then did Zhang Ruochen speak, “The Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree is right here. Why ask me?”
To everyone, Zhang Ruochen sounded helpless, unable to defy the group’s will, forced to yield the tree.
“You’re sensible. Don’t worry, you’ll get your share,” Bi Yunhai said smugly.
Xuanyuan Liekong also smiled, clearly pleased with Zhang Ruochen’s attitude. He admired those who knew when to yield.
In truth, he wanted to recruit Zhang Ruochen. Were it not for the tree’s immense value, he’d have sided with him.
“Big Brother, are we really giving them the tree?” Xiang Chunan’s eyes widened, filled with reluctance and anger.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t respond, only gently patting Xiang Chunan’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring look.
Xiang Chunan looked puzzled, unable to fathom why Zhang Ruochen remained so calm.
Still, he held back, refraining from acting rashly.
Bi Yunhai approached the tree’s trunk, feeling an overwhelming, terrifying pressure, as if his soul were about to shatter.
He sensed the tree’s rejection, barring him from getting closer.
“Chopped down and withered, yet you still resist me? Thinking pressure can scare me off is naive. Watch me break you,” Bi Yunhai said, eyes gleaming with greed.
He drew a king-grade, sky-blue gourd, activating it fully.
Confident in his strength, especially with a king-grade weapon, he believed cutting the tree, dead for 100,000 years, would be easy.
The gourd’s surface glowed with 200,000 king-grade inscriptions, unleashing a dazzling saint light that struck the tree’s trunk.
The light, capable of shattering extraterrestrial stars, easily pierced the cyan mist of divine tree energy, hitting the trunk.
“Boom.”
The divine tree energy around the trunk quaked violently, gradually dissipating, revealing the trunk further.
Yet, the saint light caused no damage, not even dislodging a single withered leaf.
Bi Yunhai’s brows furrowed deeply, stunned by the outcome.
A full-powered strike with a king-grade weapon failed to harm the tree, leaving him humiliated.
“I don’t believe it.”
Bi Yunhai, enraged, activated the gourd again.
At that moment, Xuanyuan Liekong’s face changed drastically. “Careful, get back!”
Instantly, Bi Yunhai felt a chill, trying to retreat.
But it was too late. A vast divine might erupted from the trunk, striking him.
“Pfft.”
Unable to withstand it, Bi Yunhai’s body shattered instantly.
“No.”
His saint soul struggled to escape but ultimately couldn’t avoid destruction.
Even the sky-blue gourd shattered into scrap, its king-grade inscriptions obliterated.
Witnessing this, everyone was horrified, retreating as if the trunk were a ferocious beast.
Bi Yunhai, a top-tier Near-Path Realm expert capable of defeating Immovable Great Saints, was erased in an instant—terrifying.
Even Xuanyuan Liekong’s eyes filled with dread, wary of the trunk.
Fortunately, the divine might receded after killing Bi Yunhai, not spreading further, or few would have survived.
“What’s going on?” Lei Juexing glared at Zhang Ruochen, demanding coldly.
To him, this was surely tied to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at him faintly. “The Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree is the Kunlun Realm’s spiritual root. All its beings, including gods, were birthed by it. Even felled and withered for 100,000 years, it’s not something to be trifled with, especially by non-Kunlun beings. To offend it is to court death.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Lei Juexing’s gaze grew colder.
Zhang Ruochen sneered. “From start to finish, I did as you all demanded. How is this my fault? Should I have portioned out the tree and handed it to you?”
“Hmph, it’s your own stupidity, nothing to do with my Big Brother. Attacking a god’s body—only fools do that. Bi Yunhai was arrogant and got what he deserved,” Feng Yan scoffed, showing no pity.
He’d long disliked Bi Yunhai, and seeing him meet his end by the trunk’s divine power was satisfying.
Lei Juexing’s face darkened, unable to retort.
After seeing the tree, they’d indeed been blinded by greed, forgetting key details, recklessly attacking it.
Lei Juexing secretly rejoiced he hadn’t acted, or he’d be the one dead.
Xuanyuan Liekong’s expression grew sombre. Even he had been careless, thinking like Bi Yunhai that the tree posed no threat.
Now, it was clear the tree remained dangerous, its divine might undiminished by time.
Zhang Ruochen approached the trunk, scanning the crowd. “Anyone else want the tree?”
Those once eager now stayed silent, not because they didn’t want it, but because they didn’t dare.
With Bi Yunhai’s fate as a warning, who would risk it?
Even Xuanyuan Liekong remained quiet. Though stronger than Bi Yunhai, attacking the tree would likely lead to the same end.
This time, he’d miscalculated entirely, failing to gain the tree and souring relations with Zhang Ruochen.
“Since no one wants it, I’ll take it back,” Zhang Ruochen said.
He opened the Qiankun Realm, a massive suction force pulling the trunk inside.
Without the tree’s sapling, even he might have struggled to claim it.
Turning, Zhang Ruochen cupped his hands. “Brother Zhen Yuan, Brother Lu, Brother Feng, Fairy Yuan, Friend Lingkongzi, I have matters to attend to and must take my leave. Until we meet again.”
“Take care, Brother Zhang,” Feng Wuxing said, cupping his hands.
Fairy Yuan did the same. “Young Master Ruochen, until we meet again.”
“Friend Zhang, take care. We must discuss swordsmanship sometime,” Lingkongzi said with a smile, cupping his hands.
Zhen Yuan sighed softly. “Brother Zhang, contact me if you need anything.”
With such an unpleasant incident, keeping Zhang Ruochen in the North Domain was unlikely, and Zhen Yuan felt some guilt.
Lu Baiming approached, patting Zhang Ruochen’s shoulder. “With the North Domain settled, I’ve nothing left here. I’ll leave with you, Brother Zhang.”
Nodding to Zhen Yuan and the others, Zhang Ruochen said, “Let’s go.”
At once, Zhang Ruochen, Ji Fanxin, Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, Pei Yutian, and Lu Baiming took to the air, their figures turning into six streaks of light, vanishing from the camp.
Some were reluctant but dared not intervene, wary, especially with Lu Baiming accompanying them.
“The celebration ends here. I’m tired. Please leave,” Zhen Yuan said, issuing a dismissal.
With things turning out this way, no one wished to stay, and they began to depart.
Once word of this spread, Zhang Ruochen’s fame would soar, while the Heavenly Court’s top powerhouses might become a laughingstock.
Bi Yunhai’s death would likely cause a stir, especially in the Tianhai Realm, possibly prompting action.
After leaving the camp, Zhang Ruochen’s group headed to the nearest Merit Sub-Station, then directly to the Merit Main Station on Tiangu Star.
Killing so many Death Clan members in Xianji Mountain warranted exchanging for merit points.
“Brother Zhang, I’m heading back to the Five Elements Temple. Come find me there when you have time,” Lu Baiming said upon reaching the Main Station.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Take care, Brother Lu.”
Lu Baiming nodded, mounting his ancient demonic dragon and flying toward the teleportation hall.
The Main Station’s spatial teleportation array made travel to the Heavenly Court’s domains highly convenient.
“Let’s go exchange merit points,” Zhang Ruochen said, turning to the others.
He was eager for this exchange, wondering what surprises awaited after entering the top 10,000 of the Saint King Merit List.
