Crossing the Cultivation Realm: Two Souls Coexist

Just as Hu Qing was still marveling at the incredible ability, a slight sound came from the entrance above his head.

Two thick and flexible green vines, like the most loyal servants, carefully lifted the wooden wheelchair and slowly lowered it from the spiral staircase.

Old Shu was still curled up in his wheelchair, covered with a thick blanket.

He looked even more tired than before, his eyelids drooped, and he couldn't help but yawn loudly.

"You two brats..."

The old tree's voice was filled with sleepiness and a hint of helpless pampering, "It's so noisy, I can't sleep no matter how much I toss and turn.

My old bones need a rest, and you guys are chatting away here."

Hu Qing and Gu Yang quickly stood up, chuckled sheepishly, and scratched their heads.

The old tree looked at them, especially at Gu Yang's face which was glowing with radiance and vitality. A gratified smile appeared in his cloudy eyes, and he jokingly said:

"Tsk tsk, a few days ago a certain little fellow was lifeless, like an eggplant hit by frost, and he was unwilling to guard such a good spirit gathering array and holy fruit.

Now, when my friends come, I immediately become lively and energetic, and I look much more cheerful than before."

Gu Yang felt a little embarrassed and was about to speak when Shu Lao's face suddenly changed and he started coughing violently!

"Cough cough cough... vomit... cough cough..." The coughing sound was heart-wrenching, as if the entire lungs were coughed out.

The old body curled up and trembled in pain in the wheelchair, and his face turned pale in an instant.

Gu Yang's face changed drastically. He rushed forward, gently supported Shu Lao's thin shoulders, and patted his back carefully and rhythmically with his palms.

Hu Qing also reacted immediately, quickly picked up the wooden kettle on the table, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Shu Lao's mouth.

After a long while, the old tree's violent cough slowly subsided.

He waved his hand weakly, took the water cup, took a sip, and took a deep breath. His breathing was still a little rapid, but his complexion looked slightly better.

After a brief pause, the old man raised his eyes, his gaze becoming unusually serious. He looked at Gu Yang, his voice weak but very clear:

"Haizi, what have you thought about the thing I told you before?

If you were alone, I, an old man, would have forced you to cultivate to the point where you could at least protect yourself on this Meteorite Continent, even at the cost of my own mortal bones. But now..."

He turned his gaze to Hu Qing, with a strange glint in his eyes: “Your partner is here, and… he is definitely not an ordinary person.

With him by your side, I can feel a little more at ease."

Gu Yang was silent for a moment, with a look of deep apology on his face. He took a deep breath and said frankly, "Old Shu, I will never forget your kindness and trust.

But... we left the Central Region this time with a very important mission. We need to find what we lost. The alien demon invasion on the eastern front of the continent is becoming increasingly serious, and the alien demon king behind them is eyeing the entire world.

I… I’m worried that with our current strength, we’re not enough to complete our mission while also fully protecting the entire elf race…” His voice was filled with powerlessness.

Hu Qing hesitated for a moment and suggested, "Old Tree, if you don't mind, perhaps... we can try to lead the elves to migrate to the Central Region?

It's just that... the situation in the Central Region is special, and spiritual energy is thin. I'm worried that it will have a negative impact on the elves who rely on natural spiritual energy."

After listening to this, Shu Lao's cloudy eyeballs moved slightly, and his skinny fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest of the wheelchair, as if he was weighing something.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse but with a clear understanding of the world:

"Xiao Xia...sent you out, right?"

He directly mentioned Old Xia's name, and it was obvious that he was well aware of the situation on the continent and the top powerhouses.

Hu Qing and Gu Yang were not surprised by this and nodded.

"The Central Region... forget it." The old tree shook his head and said decisively, "The causal relationship there is too great. It is the key place to fight against the alien demons in the future and one of the last barriers.

We can’t let the elves get rashly involved; they can’t afford the turmoil there.”

This proposal was rejected, and the room fell silent again. It seemed that there was no way to have the best of both worlds.

The old tree was silent for a long time, so long that it seemed as if it was about to fall asleep again.

Finally, as if he had made a difficult decision, he slowly exhaled, his voice becoming even deeper: "In that case... old man, I will take a step back."

He raised his eyes and glanced at the young and resolute faces of Hu Qing and Gu Yang: "I don't want you to stay now. I only ask you to agree to one request:

In the future, after I pass away, no matter where you are or what you are doing, you must rush back to the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Trees as soon as possible and take away all the elves... without leaving a single one behind!

Take them to a place where they can survive, anywhere!"

"And I," the old tree said with a resolute calmness.

"From today on, I will enter the deepest state of hibernation, slowing down my vital activities to the maximum extent possible, reducing my energy consumption, and trying my best to buy you... more time.

Until you... have the ability to resolve the demonic threat, or... find a way to settle them."

Hu Qing and Gu Yang felt a pang in their hearts when they heard this.

This benevolent elder has made the greatest concessions and sacrifices for his people.

They felt a deep sense of guilt and responsibility.

The two looked at each other and no longer hesitated.

They simultaneously stepped forward, facing the old tree, their expressions solemn and dignified. They raised their right hands and swore with a righteous heart. Their voices were sonorous and powerful, echoing throughout the secret room:

"I, Hu Qing (I, Gu Yang), swear on this with my soul!

As long as we are still alive, we will do our utmost to protect the elves!

We must find a pure land for them to continue their racial heritage!

If you break this oath, heaven and earth will forsake you, your soul will be annihilated, and you will never be able to be reborn!"

The moment the oath was made, it seemed as if an invisible and vast force descended from the darkness, penetrating the barrier of the giant tree and recognizing this heavy contract.

A dull rumble of thunder echoed faintly from the sky, a response from the laws of heaven. If violated, the punishment enshrined in the oath would surely be fulfilled.

The old tree felt that the oath had been fulfilled, and his tense expression finally relaxed. He let out a long, long sigh, as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

A glimmer of relief seemed to flash across his cloudy eyes.

After resting for a while, the old tree seemed to remember something and said quickly in a very soft voice, as if afraid of being heard:

"What you're looking for... is to the west of Wanshu Country, about three hundred miles in a straight line... There... is a dormant volcano..."