Chapter 117: The World Tree
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: The World Tree
"The World Tree? What's that?"
"Is it like the blue trees we grow back home?"
Seeing that Gamie didn't know, Xie Bai didn't press further.
After all, Gamie had spent years cooped up inside the Land of Distortion; it was highly likely she knew nothing of the world outside.
"Anyway, there's something on the World Tree that shares the same source as the Land of Distortion. I can use it to protect you."
Hearing this, the two little ones looked puzzled.
"So, Sister Xiaobai, are you going to find this World Tree now?"
"Aren't you taking us? What if we accidentally get kidnapped while you're gone... mgh."
Facing their worries, Xie Bai gently pinched and rubbed their cheeks.
"Alright, you don't need to worry about that. I'll be back very soon."
With that, Xie Bai hopped off the bench and opened her game map.
The landmark for Heavenly Mountain was incredibly easy to find, situated right in the center of the map.
Just as Xie Bai was about to select Heavenly Mountain as her teleportation destination, she suddenly noticed a hidden landmark layered beneath it.
【World Tree】
"So there was a landmark for the World Tree hidden underneath. They're overlapped so perfectly that you'd miss it if you weren't looking closely."
Switching layers, Xie Bai selected the World Tree as her destination.
Under normal circumstances, the World Tree was a hidden landmark that could only be accessed through special means; the teleportation function wouldn't be available on the map.
But Boundless Floating Light didn't care about such rules.
As long as it was a confirmed landmark, she could click to teleport, completely ignoring any potential hidden requirements.
In the next second, her perspective shifted, and Xie Bai arrived at a new location.
Standing before her was an ethereal, colossal tree, its size comparable to a mountain range.
【World Tree】
【Quality: Divine Artifact】
【Type: Special Equipment】
【Requirement: Main God (Ignored)】
【All Attribute Bonus: Doubled】
【Permanent: Cannot be moved. The space-time it guards cannot be destroyed.】
【Formulation: When a True God dies completely, it can absorb their remains as nourishment to grow a brand-new Rule Branch.】
【Gift: Those who witness its existence may undergo a special trial to receive a gift from the World Tree, with a chance to obtain a branch as a reward.】
【The Tree of Interwoven Rules, the second Divine Artifact created after the Supreme Court. It bears the responsibility of formulating and stabilizing rules. The space-time where it resides is Reality itself.】
The second Divine Artifact?
Xie Bai was somewhat surprised by the description that popped up.
"So even this thing is a Divine Artifact. That means Heavenly Mountain is no simple place either—it has the Supreme Court above its head and the World Tree hidden beneath its feet. It's a pity the Supreme Court hasn't manifested in this era yet."
Thinking of this, Xie Bai drew Funeral Rites.
With the assistance of Boundless Floating Light, she quickly found her target.
A blue branch that had been snapped off partway.
Upon finding it, Xie Bai looked at the blue branch and felt a sense of déjà vu.
"This is the Paradox Branch that shares the same source as the Land of Distortion? It looks a lot like the big blue trees there... Wait, could those have been grown from a piece broken off from here?"
If that were the case, it would explain why the Paradox Branch shared the same source as the Land of Distortion.
Or perhaps it was the other way around: the Land of Distortion shared the same source as the Paradox Branch.
"Only a section was snapped off instead of taking the whole thing. It must have been left behind on purpose."
For some reason, Xie Bai suddenly thought of a certain nameless existence. She had a feeling this had something to do with her.
"Come to think of it, if I take this branch, that Reborn One probably won't be able to be reborn again. Looking at it that way, he certainly has a lot of resolve..."
After a brief moment of reflection, Xie Bai swung Funeral Rites, severing the remainder of the Paradox Branch.
Although the World Tree had more formal ways to obtain branches, Xie Bai had no interest in playing those sorts of games.
In the next instant, a violent tremor rippled through the entire space.
"Such a big reaction... If it weren't for that Permanent affix, I would have taken the whole tree with me."
Sensing the hostility surging from all directions, Xie Bai didn't choose to stand her ground. Instead, she opened her map and teleported away.
Once Xie Bai left, the World Tree lost its target.
Searching blindly, it had no choice but to vent its surging power haphazardly into its surroundings.
A portion of that power surged upward, spreading throughout the entirety of Heavenly Mountain.
*
The Holy Church.
At this moment, Pope Virgilis was sitting in his office, handling daily affairs.
It had been one day since he issued the order to find Elania.
Though not much time had passed, for Virgilis, it felt like an agonizing eternity.
From the moment Elania was born, Virgilis had discovered the Innate Light within her. Without a doubt, Elania was the Child of God chosen by the Lord God. When the Lord God eventually descended, He would have to rely on that Innate Light—but doing so would undoubtedly cause Elania to fade away.
From the perspective of a father, Elania was his beloved daughter.
From the perspective of the Pope, Elania was a necessary sacrifice for the Lord God's descent.
This contradiction had kept him in a state of prolonged struggle; even now, he had not been able to make a final decision.
To this end, he had searched for every possible alternative, but to no avail. He had even neglected spending time with Elania because of it.
And now, Elania had left Heavenly Mountain, her whereabouts unknown.
For the already conflicted Virgilis, this was another heavy blow.
To make matters worse, the Dual Emperor Alliance had emerged at this time, making the already exhausted Virgilis even more anxious.
"My Lord God, what exactly are You planning? Or is the entire Holy Church nothing more than a sacrifice to You..."
The moment the words left his mouth, a violent tremor struck.
Vroom—!!!
The entire mountain suddenly erupted into a fierce shaking.
Virgilis's face turned pale at the sight.
"What is happening now? Could my words just now have angered the Lord God..."
At that thought, Virgilis immediately stood up, channeling Holy power to sweep across the entirety of Heavenly Mountain.
"No... this vibration is coming from the bottom. Could it be that those alchemists from the Aodu Empire have made their move?"
Faced with the anomaly of Heavenly Mountain, this was the only conclusion Virgilis could reach.
Virgilis knew nothing of the secret regarding the World Tree at the base of Heavenly Mountain.
To be precise, he wasn't even aware of the World Tree's existence.
Ever since the True Gods fell into their slumber, the secrets regarding the World Tree had been completely sealed away.
The tremors of Heavenly Mountain lasted only a short while. Once they subsided, Virgilis immediately summoned all the core members of the Church.
"Someone from the Dual Emperor Alliance has already begun to act. We can no longer sit idly by. From this moment on, the Church enters a state of maximum alert. Simultaneously, arrange for personnel to contact the angels."
With the order issued, the Holy Church began to operate at high intensity. Within half a day, more than half of the followers were singled out under suspicion of colluding with the enemy.
Among them were many innocent people who were forcibly framed.
For a time, panic spread throughout the Holy Church.
Meanwhile, a certain person lurking in the shadows was also feeling a bit flustered.
"Wait, you're cranking the intensity up this high right from the start?"