Supreme Emptiness

Chapter 1255: Chapter 1260: Corrupt Atmosphere

Venerable Lianjing’s eyes flashed with hesitation, but it was quickly replaced with determination.

"This is none of your concern."

"I’ll ask once more: will you hand over the merit or not?"

The Silver Apricot Tree rasped, "I won’t give it to anyone."

"If you try to take it by force, I’d rather destroy it."

Venerable Lianjing gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, as long as you won’t regret it!"

She turned around and sliced through the Mysterious Demon Liquid with her Saw-tooth Sword, then turned away.

Before leaving, she glanced back at Jiang Fan.

The divine blood she left behind on the ground transformed into a lingering shadow as she departed.

Jiang Fan felt a shiver down his spine and some guilt, thinking, "That old woman won’t start eyeing me, will she?"

The Silver Apricot Tree’s tone abruptly weakened, "You’ve ruined her major plan; of course she’ll remember you."

Originally, the merits of Venerate Wutong were within Venerable Lianjing’s grasp.

Because of Jiang Fan’s Life-saving Law, not only did she fail, but she also ended up seriously injured.

Jiang Fan’s scalp tingled slightly.

Venerable Lianjing was not an ordinary Divinity Transformation Realm cultivator.

She was a giant among the Heavenly Person Four Declines!

He decided that once he returned to Taicang State, he would bind himself to the Great Wine Sacrifice there.

Only then could he feel a bit safer.

"Brother Tree, what about you?"

"From what you said, there’s also a being at the Heavenly Human Five Declines behind that old woman?"

The Silver Apricot Tree replied, "Aside from the Supreme of the Heavenly Human Five Declines, no one else needs merit."

"These merits are accumulated over a thousand years from the owner’s invisible protection of the creatures around the Forbidden Land."

"I can’t let anyone else have them."

Jiang Fan recalled the many offerings of pigs, cows, and sheep he saw outside the Forbidden Land.

Venerate Wutong had invisibly protected the weak creatures of a great state, benefiting countless beings, thereby forming these merits.

He couldn’t help but ponder, "Brother Tree, if doing good deeds can accumulate merit, then it doesn’t seem difficult at all."

"Do good for show and then hire people to spread the word far and wide; won’t the merits come that way?"

The Silver Apricot Tree replied, "It’s not that easy."

"Merit requires both contributions and virtues."

"Contribution is judged by the heavens, virtue is determined by human hearts."

"Deception can indeed sway people’s hearts and embellish virtue."

"But contribution, that cannot be faked no matter how much one tries."

"There is an Ancient Saint three feet above one’s head; without enough contribution, merit cannot descend."

Jiang Fan suddenly understood.

It turns out that merit requires both heavenly and human acknowledgment.

Without genuinely contributing to the lives or ensuring the survival of the masses, one cannot gain recognition.

If merit could be gained through deception, Venerable Lianjing wouldn’t need to travel from the Heavenly State to seize merit from afar.

Thinking this, he asked, "Brother Tree, what exactly does one need to enter the Virtuous Realm?"

"I’ve heard people say it requires fortune, but now you say it requires merit."

The Silver Apricot Tree replied, "Both are possible."

"Entering via fortune sacrifices a realm for oneself."

"Entering via merit protects a realm, thus elevating oneself."

"Which method one chooses depends on the individual."

"However, I’ve heard my master say that entering via fortune comes with great restrictions."

"Moreover, entering via fortune isn’t welcomed and might even be forbidden."

Jiang Fan nodded slightly.

Entering via fortune is a practice where one gains at the expense of others.

Unless it’s a matter of life and death in Central Earth, requiring someone to quickly enter the Sage Realm, there’s no choice but to draw upon the fortune of the heavens and earth.

In peaceful times, those who enter via fortune are utterly self-serving!

That Supreme from the Heavenly State is likely already forbidden from entering via fortune in Central Earth.

Helplessly, they have no choice but to seize merit to enter sagehood.

"Following Brother Tree, I’ve gained new insights again," Jiang Fan laughed.

The Silver Apricot Tree looked at Jiang Fan, saying, "It should be said that you’ve made me look at you in a different light."

"To even have a Sage use a law to protect you."

"My Master never managed to form a connection with a Sage."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fan sighed and relayed the story of the Heavenly Eye Sage’s situation in general terms.

Upon learning that those who withstood all trials would have a Sage protecting them, the Silver Apricot Tree relaxed and said, "With that explanation, I’m now at ease."

Jiang Fan couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

The mentality of being unable to see a brother succeed, when did it blow from Taicang State to the Great Wilderness State?

At that moment.

He noticed the five from Wuyu Venerable, along with the one whose Divine Ring had been shattered.

He tentatively asked, "Brother Tree, are you really planning to kill them?"

The Silver Apricot Tree heard the underlying meaning in Jiang Fan’s question and replied, "Do you have a better suggestion?"

Jiang Fan earnestly said, "The Ancient Giants have returned."

"If you kill them, the number of Venerables in the Great Wilderness State will be halved. Who will then protect it?"

The Silver Apricot Tree showed no surprise.

As if it had long known of the Ancient Giants’ return, it asked, "But what about the secret that my master has already fallen, if they leak it out?"

"If the Demon Cultivators of the Great Wilderness find out, they’ll come to harm them."

Jiang Fan sighed helplessly, "There’s no need to keep the secret anymore."

"This time the Ancient Giants are coming with greater momentum than a thousand years ago; even outside the Forbidden Land will become their hunting ground."

"Before the Demon Cultivators bring harm, the Ancient Giants will have devoured them all."

Upon hearing this.

The Silver Apricot Tree thought for a moment, shaking its massive body.

Six golden Gingko Fruits hovered in front of it.

It lifted its gaze towards Wuyu Venerable and the others, who at that moment were straining to listen to their conversation.

Their survival now depended on whether Jiang Fan’s plea would work.

The Silver Apricot Tree said, "Since my brother pleads for you, I’ll spare you."

Wuyu Venerable and his companions felt as if they’d been granted amnesty!

But before they could celebrate, the Silver Apricot Tree added, "However, I don’t want today’s events to spread."

"So, certain preventative measures need to be taken."

"You will swallow the Gingko Fruit."

With a whoosh.

Six Gingko Fruits flew to them individually.

The unconscious Venerate had no choice, as the Gingko Fruit entered his mouth directly.

The remaining five flew to the faces of the five Venerables.

Wuyu Venerable asked with fear, "What will happen if we swallow it?"

The Silver Apricot Tree said, "With a single thought, it will take root and sprout inside you, bursting you from within."

Huh?

Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces changed.

Doesn’t this mean their lives are in the hands of the Silver Apricot Tree?

"You can also choose not to eat it and stay here forever."

Seeing their reluctance, the Silver Apricot Tree spoke with a murderous aura.

Red Dust Venerable looked at the Silver Apricot Tree, gritted her teeth, and said, "Then swallow it!"

"I haven’t experienced the feeling of being oppressed by a tree yet!"

She then promptly swallowed it in one gulp.

Rustle, rustle!

The Silver Apricot Tree’s eyes widened, and its body shuddered violently.

What audacious words are these?

It’s just a pure old tree that’s a thousand years old!

With her taking the lead, Wuyu Venerable also swallowed it after gritting his teeth.

The other three Venerables followed suit and swallowed their Gingko Fruits.

Only then did the Silver Apricot Tree feel assured.

It looked at Jiang Fan, and a green light in the shape of a Silver Apricot Tree emerged from the soul bead in its eyes, entering Jiang Fan’s body.

Immediately, Jiang Fan felt six familiar fluctuations.

They were from Wuyu Venerable and the others.

"What is this..." Jiang Fan thought with a huge question mark on his forehead.

The Silver Apricot Tree rasped with laughter, "Their lives are now yours to command."

"Whoever disobeys you, activate the seeds within them."