Chapter 700: Formation of the Ten Yama Kings (1/2)

General shock and awe percolated at the tree’s arrival, the crowd’s blood running cold at Chen Xiao’s warning. The Ancient Tree of Life that could be seen towering in the Endless Desert every so often… had been demonized?

The giant tree hand pierced through space and arrived in front of Lu Yun, its fingers wrapping cruelly around him. It was powerful—too powerful. He could feel his body trapped by layers of space, immobilized like a fly stuck inside amber.

He wasn’t afraid of death.

Indeed, as long as his nascent spirit inside the kingdom of hell lived on, he wouldn’t ever die… But if his body were to be destroyed, the demonized Ancient Tree of Life would certainly make off with the Key of Life.

Boom!

Jet-black light erupted next to Lu Yun. With a ferocious blow, Holy Lord Ashu blasted the giant hand to pieces.

“Lu Yun, this is the last time I’m helping you. The old monsters inside the underworld have come to the world of immortals. They’re currently searching for my trail.” Ashu’s chest heaved up and down, the power of his essence vibrating faintly.

“There’s no need for you to do anything!” The spatial seal around Lu Yun now broken, he was free to move again.

“Woah kid, you’re fraternizing with a holy lord from the underworld? How daring!” Qing Buyi’s astonished voice came down from the Ancient Tree of Life.

“There’s a crystal core inside the tree. Destroy this core and its consciousness will be erased!” Chen Xiao’s shout came from far away. “Tell the holy lord beside you not to attack. Holy lords from the underworld are the very reason this tree became self-aware!”

Ashu shook violently. About to throw another punch, he subconsciously retracted his arm.

“Ahhhhhhh!!” howled the demonized tree howled. Its roots twisted and bunched together into a pair of long legs, while the crown and trunk split apart and transformed into a pair of arms. Now resembling a giant treant, the tree exuded a terrible aura.

Immortal energy and life essence from the garden continued to stream into it without end, giving rise to a demonic aura that billowed from it like a cloud of smoke. In its corrupted form, the Ancient Tree of Life was comparable to the demon god from the Exalted Divine Tomb!

A hint of hesitation appeared in Lu Yun’s eyes, but he decided not to activate the sword formation covering Dusk Province in the end. If he did, the tree would likely be destroyed by the rain of swords as well.

Hum!

In the northern reaches of Dusk Province, a black column of light shot into the sky and pierced through the clouds. Soon after, a giant black willow slowly arose in the crowd’s alarmed gaze, so tall it looked like a giant mountain shouldering the sky.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Dusken soil shook with each of the black willow’s steps as it made its way toward Dusk City.

Creeeaaak!

Along the way, the willow also underwent a transformation. Its roots turned into feet and its branches twisted into arms. Just like the Ancient Tree of Life inside the immortal crystal garden, this willow tree now looked half tree and half human.

The desolate willow!

Master of the sacred land of demonic dao, the Skandha Range!

The desolate willow was merely a peerless immortal, but the aura flaring from it was as vast as the sea, and its titanic figure ensconced the province in its shadow.

Trembling, fear flashed inside the ancient tree’s sculpture-like eyes.

“Demon Willow… Why are you here?!” the Ancient Tree of Life growled furiously. Standing at the center of the crystal garden, it abruptly straightened up and furiously absorbed the immortal energy in its surroundings. As it did so, its foliage shone increasingly brighter and its giant leaves gleamed like green jade.