623 Just One Step Away! (2/2)

”Fellow Daoist Osmanthus, do you know why I'm the fourth Grand Supreme Elder in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace?” Wang Baole had what seemed like a smile on his face. His eyes fell on the giant tree as he asked softly.

The giant tree fretted. He finally understood how Wang Baole must have felt during their first meeting on Mars. He had asked a similar question then. He knew Wang Baole wanted him to play along. He also knew that he wasn't in any position to refuse Wang Baole, so he braced himself and whispered.

”Why…”

”Why? You're asking me why?” Lightning flickered in Wang Baole's eyes, and electricity erupted outside his body. He stared at the giant tree as he said slowly.

”That is because I was just one step away from the Core Formation realm on the moon. One step away. Just one! With my level of cultivation and battle prowess, if I had reached the Core Formation realm then, I could've attained the Soul Conduit realm by now. I wouldn't be just the fourth Grand Supreme Elder!”

Wang Baole narrowed his eyes. His words rang across the hall, sending the entire palace shaking. An overpowering force weighed down on the giant tree, causing his knees to turn to jelly. He almost fell to his knees.

The giant tree grimaced. He was overly familiar with those four words. He had frightened Wang Baole with them in the past. If he had a choice, he would try and find some way to leave this place and return to Mars immediately.

This ancient greenish-bronze sword was simply too dangerous a place for him to be.

The sense of danger and unease hadn't passed. A stormy-faced Wang Baole walked to his seat and sat down slowly. He stared coldly at the giant tree and spoke again.

”I've been thinking. If I try eating some rare fruits now, would I be able to break through to the Nascent Soul realm… like that half of one fruit you swallowed back on the moon.”

The giant tree's head buzzed when he heard that. He began heaving as he retreated subconsciously. An overpowering force erupted around him, immobilizing him and holding him in place.

The giant tree shook violently as terror surged inside him. This was why Wang Baole had him transferred to the Dao Palace!

He couldn't accept this, but his struggles were to no avail. Wang Baole wasn't the only one giving him immense pressure. His status and this palace had rendered the giant tree completely helpless. He still had his cunning though. Even though he was panicking, he could tell that something was going on here. If Wang Baole truly intended to eat him alive, there was no need for him to waste so much time talking. This gave the giant tree hope.

”Elder Wang… I…”

”I know what you want to say. I also know you can tell that I have no intentions of eating you at this moment. But Fellow Daoist Osmanthus, set aside your devious thoughts and guesses and just remember this one thing. You… owe me a fruit!” Wang Baole cut the giant tree off and said calmly. The unfathomable look in his eyes sent the giant tree shaking. He finally reached a realization after a long bout of silence.

Even though Wang Baole hadn't said anything explicitly, he could tell that Wang Baole had something he required the giant tree to help him carry out in the Vast Expanse Dao Palace. That was why he had been summoned here. The giant tree took a deep breath and bowed again.

This round, he was more serious and showed more respect.

”Your humble servant will do his best to fulfill your wishes!”

Wang Baole nodded. He liked talking to smart people. There was a reason why the giant tree had been able to get to where he was now. He hadn't summoned the giant tree for some fruit. He had summoned him… for the burial mound that he had found in the hexed area near the Worship Palace Pavilion!

Based on Zhao Yameng's analysis, there was a possibility that only pure wood-based entities could enter the burial mound. Wang Baole had begun considering potential candidates then. In his opinion, if the giant tree couldn't fulfill the requirements for entry, there was really no one else he could find for the job.

That was why he had asked for the giant tree to be included in the third batch of Federation Seedlings.

”Fellow Daoist Osmanthus, I have something for you. Do this one thing for me, and I'll not only forget everything that has happened between us, but I'll even give you a chance to attain the Nascent Soul realm!”

Wang Baole said softly, in a low voice. Amplified by the palace's array formation, it echoed and shook one to the core!