Silver light flashed in Tushan Shanhe’s eyes. Seeing that the other man’s cultivation was on par with his own, he spoke in a seemingly casual and natural manner.
"Heh, this was purely by chance. I recently descended to the lower realm to take care of a few matters. By coincidence, I discovered that this Small Thousand Realm had been damaged and was being eroded by the void, leaving it on the brink of destruction. Its realm membrane couldn’t be repaired either, so I simply brought this piece of land into the Spirit Realm while I was at it."
"Still, carrying such a huge burden is quite different from traveling alone. I couldn’t control my route through the passage with complete precision, and somehow ended up in your Mystic Jade Realm. Sigh, I’ve caused you some trouble. By the way, is Daoist Xing Yuanwu at the sect? Since I’ve come all this way, I should at least greet an old friend."
"Oh! So that’s what happened. Your cultivation is truly unfathomable, Daoist! To transport an entire realm through the passage connecting the upper and lower realms is an extraordinary feat!" The bearded man paused before continuing, "Unfortunately, your timing isn’t ideal. Junior Brother Yuanwu has gone out to carry out a sect mission. He should return before long."
Most cultivators who managed to reach the Tribulation Crossing Stage were old foxes. Naturally, the bearded man understood that Tushan Shanhe’s request to greet an old friend was not merely a casual greeting.
By mentioning Xing Yuanwu, Tushan Shanhe was informing him that he had connections within the Falling Star Gate and hoped they could maintain friendly relations. In other words, he was making it clear that he had no intention of becoming an enemy of the Falling Star Gate.
The bearded man didn’t particularly care about that. Xing Yuanwu was merely one of the descendants of a rogue immortal elder within the sect and had little influence over its major affairs.
What truly interested him was the information Tushan Shanhe had just revealed.
This silver-haired, silver-eyed cultivator had transported an entire damaged Small Thousand Realm into a Major Thousand Realm all by himself. After arriving, he didn’t even appear to have suffered any significant depletion of his strength.
Such a feat would be difficult even for the sect’s elders who had reached at least the Third Tribulation Immortal Stage. Yet this man was only at the Tribulation Crossing Stage. How could he possess such tremendous abilities? Even the bloodline of the Celestial Fox couldn’t possibly explain it.
Thinking this over, the bearded man, who was rough in appearance but shrewd beneath the surface, turned his spiritual perception toward the enormous tree that was clearly no ordinary plant.
It appeared to be a osmanthus tree. The Mystic Jade Realm had no shortage of trees and spirit plants of comparable size, but osmanthus trees were not among them.
What kind of osmanthus tree could possibly grow large enough to encompass an entire realm?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the enormous osmanthus tree suddenly began to wither. Its branches and leaves shriveled, then broke apart and fell to the ground.
In an instant, the tree had become a vast pile of dry, ancient wood scattered across the land. Its towering trunk and enormous roots withered and crumbled as well.
Only after the colossal osmanthus tree, which had been large enough to support an entire realm, had completely dried up and disintegrated did Fu Young’s voice rise from below, thick with regret.
"Lord Shanhe, the hundred thousand year old osmanthus tree you cultivated using a secret technique has withered! What should we do?"
"It was supposed to happen. There’s no need to panic."
That brat actually made me take the blame for him! And I can’t even refute him. Not only can I not contradict him, I have to help him keep up the lie! That little devil is far too quick-witted. He actually dares to play tricks in front of people from another realm, and he does it right to their faces! Even I can’t figure out how that osmanthus tree, which dominated the passage and devoured anything in its path, suddenly withered away.
At that moment, Tushan Shanhe was so furious inside that he felt ready to explode. Yet outwardly, he maintained a cheerful, carefree demeanor and smiled as he explained, "This is a secret technique passed down within our clan. It can release all the vitality accumulated by a life that has evolved into a high-grade spirit plant over its long lifespan, allowing it to reach its peak in a short period. Once the time limit expires, however, the plant withers. Thanks to this secret technique, I was able to bring this entire continent safely here before you, Daoist. Sigh, it’s just a pity to lose such a rare, high-grade spirit tree."
"Daoist, you’re far too modest. It’s only a spirit tree..."
Hearing this, the Falling Star Gate cultivator, who looked like a burly, bearded man, let a flicker of light pass through his eyes.
As expected of the Celestial Fox, renowned throughout the Spirit Fox Realm. They even possess a secret technique like this.
His attitude toward Tushan Shanhe shifted subtly. He was no longer as guarded and cautious as before, and his tone became slightly friendlier.
While Tushan Shanhe was talking with the Falling Star Gate cultivator high above, Xiao Shou gently tapped Fu Young and transmitted a message to him.
"Stop fooling around. Just wait. Great-Granduncle Shanhe will definitely come after you once he gets back."
"Master, you wouldn’t let him bully me!"
Seeing that Xiao Shou didn’t seem angry, Fu Young relaxed.
He had concentrated and maintained the enormous tree for twelve consecutive days. Combined with the seven days and seven nights he had previously spent fighting the so-called gods of the Myriad Gods Realm, he was beginning to feel exhausted.
When Xiao Shou touched him, he simply leaned against his Master, instinctively acting spoiled as he had when he was little.
But the moment he finished speaking, his entire body stiffened.