The Lord of Void and Real
Chapter 1129

Chapter 1129: Chapter 1126: The Mission of the Shrine Maiden Chapter 1129: Chapter 1126: The Mission of the Shrine Maiden (Second Update)

“Elder Yun is considered a True Immortal Stage powerful person who rose to power after our entire clan relocated. While his strength is formidable, he isn't fully aware of some of the clan's past secrets–far less than those old people stationed at the Martial God Altar,” Wu Kuihu said with a smile.

“Clan Leader, you mean…” Yun Zhongyue vaguely thought of something.

“That's right. When the clan relocated that year, a very small portion of our people did not come with us but instead joined other sects. Presumably, Great Tang State Master Yuan Tiangang is a descendant of that group of people,” Wu Kuihu explained.

With Shen Luo and the other outsiders present, his words merely touched upon the key points without delving into the past secrets.

Upon hearing this, Yun Zhongyue felt puzzled but did not ask further questions.

After she completely concealed her breath, the surrounding atmosphere finally began to relax, and Shen Luo also secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Wu Man'er looked at him, eyes brimming with a hint of apology.

Shen Luo immediately smiled, shook his head gently, indicating it was nothing to worry about.

“Master, you brought us here… to see something?” Wu Man'er asked.

“Silly child, of course it's to see the Divine Tree,” Wu Kuihu said.

Wu Man'er stepped forward with a puzzled face, her gaze landing on the small sapling in the center. At first, she didn't notice anything unusual, but soon she furrowed her brows and exclaimed in panic,

“Master, how come one is missing?”

Shen Luo and Jiang Shentian heard this and were both completely baffled.

“What's missing one? Did the Divine Tree bear fruit?” Yun Xiaonu's eyes lit up as she hastily asked.

“Master, why is there one less leaf on the Divine Tree?” Wu Man'er's eyes reddened, and she spoke urgently.

“It's just one less leaf, it's not a big deal… right?” Jiang Shentian didn't finish his sentence before he received a warning look from Shen Luo.

Shen Luo felt somewhat helpless inside and sighed to himself because Jiang Shentian, this guy, sometimes was just too straightforward. Wu Man'er's expression alone was enough to show that the Divine Tree's leaf shedding was definitely not a trivial matter.

“Not long after you left, the Divine Tree showed abnormalities, one leaf turned yellow, and it fell after forty-nine days,” Yun Zhongyue said.

Hearing this, Wu Man'er's face immediately showed a color of guilt as she murmured, “It's all my fault, all my fault…”

“Tian Xing Girl, what's going on with Man'er…?” Shen Luo was at a loss as to the exact nature of the problem and quickly sent a telepathic message to Man Tianxing to inquire.

After a moment of silence, Man Tianxing telepathically replied,

“Man'er is originally a witch of the Divine Wood Clan. Since she was young, she followed the previous witch, who is also her mother, in guarding and serving the Divine Tree Essence. After the previous witch passed away due to certain reasons, it was she who has always been guarding the Divine Tree. After she left this time, for some unknown reason, the Divine Tree suddenly withered and lost a leaf.”

After hearing this, Shen Luo finally understood why Wu Man'er was so emotional.

At this moment, Wu Kuihu walked over, gently patted his disciple on the shoulder, and revealed a gentle smile, saying,

“Don't cry anymore, it was I who let you go out this time. If anyone is to blame, it should be me.”

Upon his words, the expressions on Wu Man'er and Yun Zhongyue's faces, as well as the others, all changed.

“Silly child, did you think I really didn't know when you escaped? If I really didn't want you to go, you wouldn't have been able to leave the Divine Wood Forest,” Wu Kuihu said affectionately as he ruffled her hair.

“Clan Leader, it was you who helped her conceal her breath all those years ago…” Yun Zhongyue said with some disbelief.

“I am sorry for keeping it from you all along,” Wu Kuihu's eyes flashed a hint of shame.

“Why did you do that?” Yun Zhongyue really didn't understand.

“Ah Lan guarded the Divine Tree all her life, and in the end died for the Divine Tree, for the Divine Wood Clan, never having left the Divine Wood Forest. But there's also Man'er by her side. As for Man'er, she's young and I didn't want her to also wither away guarding the Divine Tree for her entire life. At least let her go out and see the world outside. Moreover, I believe, no matter what, she will definitely return to the Divine Wood Clan,” Wu Kuihu's eyes lost their shame, speaking earnestly.

For his beloved disciple, everything was righteous and there was nothing to feel guilty about.

“But she is the witch, it's her mission to guard the Divine Tree…” Yun Zhongyue still couldn't understand.

If she is the witch, she must guard the Divine Tree forever, faithful to death.

“Mission… Such a mission, isn't it also a cage? And who else is trapped in this cage, if not Man'er?” Wu Kuihu sighed softly and spoke slowly.

His words did not contain self-pity, but rather a spirit of discontent.

Hearing him speak like that, Yun Zhongyue's expression changed, and after a long silence, he finally spoke:

“Clan Leader, your words just now are unbecoming of your status as Clan Leader and fail to uphold the responsibilities. I will bring this up with the Martial God Altar.”

“That is precisely my intention,” Wu Kuihu said.

Yun Zhongyue let out a sigh and asked, “Clan Leader, do you not understand what it signifies when the Divine Tree sheds leaves?”

“The last time the Divine Tree shed leaves, we lost Ah Lan, and Man'er lost her mother. Do you think there's anyone who understands this better than I do?” Wu Kuihu gave a bitter smile as he asked in return.

“But you still…” Yun Zhongyue's words were cut off before he could finish.

“It's precisely because of this that our Divine Wood Clan needs to change. Persisting in the old ways will only repeat the tragedy over and over again,” said Wu Kuihu in a grave voice.

After Wu Kuihu finished speaking, the room fell silent, and for a moment, Yun Zhongyue didn't know what to say.

“Master…”

“Clan Leader, but what about the beliefs and oaths that our clan has defended with our lives and honor, what should we do with them?” Yun Zhongyue asked with a look of struggle on his face.

“The oath of the Divine Wood Clan, I dare not forget for a single day. It's just that over the years, our clan has strictly guarded the Divine Tree and watched over the Martial God Altar, facing Chiyou's Demon Clan's incursions alone. We've had far too many deaths and injuries. It's time for a change,” Wu Kuihu said.

Shen Luo heard this and was filled with doubts, frowning continuously.

“Clan Leader, are you planning to open the doors of our clan and welcome outsiders?” Yun Zhongyue's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this.

“Elder Yun, if there's another upheaval at the Martial God Altar, old folks like us can die in battle, but what about the children? They haven't had the chance to grow up before they have to go to their death, is that fair?” Wu Kuihu asked.

“It's our fate,” Yun Zhongyue insisted.

“Relying solely on the power of our Divine Wood Clan is far too weak. How much longer can we hold out, one generation or two? After all of us elders have died in battle, will it then have to be Man'er, have to be Tian Xing, have to be Xiaonu?” Wu Kuihu sighed deeply.

Yun Zhongyue clenched the walking stick in his hand and glanced at Yun Xiaonu, who was still a child, and his eyes gradually began to change.

“Clan Leader, this matter is too difficult, the other elders will not agree. They have deep suspicions toward other members of the Human Race, even hostility. They won't agree to open the doors of our clan,” Yun Zhongyue finally moved.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.