The voice of Qinglong echoed leisurely through the room, yet Tianlong remained deeply asleep.
His breathing was steady, his face tranquil, as if he were immersed in a most beautiful dream.
After waiting briefly and seeing no response from the figure on the throne, Qinglong silently turned back and waved his hand toward the thick tree behind him.
A light rain fell from above the tree, moistening the parched soil on the ground.
“You wouldn’t… actually let ‘Tianshe’ take action, would you?”
Qinglong murmured to the tree, “What could be so urgent that we must act now?”
Behind him, Tianlong’s rhythmic breathing continued, his expression unchanged.
Qinglong looked up at the massive tree before him. Its lush leaves were all plump ovals, smooth and glossy, with faint serrations along the edges.
He stared at the dense foliage for a long while, then furrowed his brow slightly, sensing something amiss.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the thick branches began to part, and countless leaves shifted aside as if clearing the way.
Deep within the tree’s dense canopy, something unusual seemed to have appeared.
Qinglong’s eyes slowly widened as he took step after step forward.
Amidst the twisted branches and behind the thick veil of leaves, a tiny, newly formed fruit hung in the shadows.
The fruit was entirely emerald green, wrapped in leaves, shaped like a teardrop, and slowly developing.
Qinglong stared at the small fruit for a long time, his expression shifting through countless emotions before finally settling on a bitter smile, tears welling in his eyes.
“It’s done… we’ve done it…” Qinglong said, his voice trembling. “Even in this desolate wasteland… if the heart is sincere enough… fruit can still grow…”
He turned back, his expression strange as he looked at Tianlong. “Tian… do you see? This land can bear life… We truly are going to have a world of our own! They all said this place was a hopeless hell… but we are grander than ‘hell’—we will have a world!”
Tianlong still did not open his eyes, his breathing steady.
“Ha… haha…” Qinglong’s expression slowly twisted into despair. “Seventy years… seventy years of tending this tree… and only now does it bear its first true fruit… Why didn’t it come sooner?”
Receiving no response, Qinglong turned back and reached out cautiously, hovering his hands around the fruit as if afraid to touch it directly.
“This wasn’t formed through ‘immortal arts’… It’s completely different from last time! There’s no ‘mad growth,’ no ‘soul migration,’ no ‘primordial essence,’ ‘flora manipulation,’ or ‘artificial crafting’… It was born from a seed sown and nurtured, a natural creation of heaven and earth!” Qinglong exclaimed hoarsely. “This is a gift from the Dao of Heaven… something that defies this place!”
Frantic and delirious with joy, Qinglong looked around, as if searching for someone to share his elation. But the vast chamber was empty save for the slumbering Tianlong.
“You don’t understand… how could you possibly understand?” Qinglong murmured, his gaze returning to the small fruit as if entranced. “For the first time in seventy years, a new life has appeared here… It has nothing to do with ‘immortal arts’—it was born through the natural law of heaven and earth… It carries no scent of ‘Paradise,’ and it won’t vanish if taken away from here… It’s miraculous…”
His hands inched closer to the fruit but never dared to touch it.
“So miraculous… If one fruit can grow, then thousands of trees can follow…” Qinglong laughed bitterly through his tears. “Why did you appear only now…?”
Slowly, he withdrew his hands, then lowered his head, his expression deeply despondent.
“Now, just as we’re about to give up… you arrive…”
He stood there for a long while before finally regaining his composure. Steeling himself, he turned and walked toward the iron door.
Tianshe was not in his seat. If the “Hour of Tianshe” had truly been activated, it would mean the beginning of total war—a point of no return.
If he could stop him, there might still be time to reconsider.
Qinglong opened the iron door from within, only to freeze in shock. A woman stood outside—her features dark and striking, her posture tall and robust, nearly matching Qinglong in height.
Seeing her, Qinglong instantly frowned, suspicion flashing across his face.
“My apologies,” the woman hurriedly bowed. “I thought I heard voices inside… I was concerned and came to check…”
“Concerned…?” Qinglong’s gaze turned icy. “You, standing outside this chamber, were worried that Tianlong and I might be in danger…?”
“Y-yes,” she stammered. “Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
Qinglong’s eyes remained filled with doubt. Had he not been so distracted by the fruit’s appearance, he would have noticed someone approaching the door.
“But shouldn’t you be asleep?” Qinglong found the situation increasingly intriguing. “You knew I was here all along?”
“Impossible…” The woman took a step back. “You’re overthinking it… I just woke up…”
“No nightfall, no cycle, yet you woke up on your own.” Qinglong said coldly. “Was the dream he gave you not beautiful enough?”
Only then did the woman realize how furious Qinglong was. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
Qinglong pressed his lips together and stepped outside, locking the iron door behind him before asking in a low voice, “When did he pass you the message?”
“N-no such thing…” The woman shook her head. “You’re truly imagining things…”
“Tianniu… I advise you not to provoke me further.” Qinglong’s voice hardened. “What is his plan?”
“I… I…”
“Did he send you to spy on me?”
Qinglong advanced step by step, forcing Tianniu to retreat.
When she remained silent, Qinglong pressed, “Where is Tianshe? Have you all met Tianlong in your dreams?”
“Yes…” Tianniu admitted. “The ‘Hour of Tianshe’ will begin shortly…”
“To what end?” Qinglong demanded. “If it’s just routine killing, why activate a ‘Celestial Hour’?”
“I don’t know…” Tianniu replied. “I don’t even know if our goal is truly to kill. We’re merely following his instructions, taking turns to initiate the ‘Celestial Hours’…”
Qinglong narrowed his eyes, sensing this didn’t resemble a “Great Cleansing” but rather some kind of trial.
“Are you… aiding Qixia?” Qinglong’s eyes widened in realization. “Have you given up even more thoroughly than I have…?”
“Qinglong…” Tianniu called out. “We don’t know what’s happened between the two of you… but at this point, all we can hope is that none of this drags us down…”
After a brief silence, Qinglong nodded slowly.
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