Chapter 1035: A Higher Limit

Within the grand hall, Xiao Nanfeng had risen to his feet and was looking at the three approaching Qing Grandmasters. The three women had moved to stand beside Xiao Nanfeng, creating a subtle standoff between the two groups.

Although the atmosphere was somewhat tense, the three Qing Grandmasters had no intention of picking a fight. Xiao Nanfeng's achievements were more than enough to have them treat him as equals. Finally, the Yuqing Grandmaster began, "Xiao Nanfeng, we were deeply shocked to hear that you escaped from that secret realm. We came here to inquire about the situation inside."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Please, have a seat."

He treated the three Qing Grandmasters particularly politely because Xia Yu'er, Zhang Lingjun, and Lan Yaoguang were their three successors. Not long ago, the three Qing Grandmasters had even sent the three women into the white life hidden realm on his behalf, and they had done great deeds for the world.

The three Qing Grandmasters took their seats as Xiao Nanfeng sat down beside the three women. Then, he briefly described what had happened in the white life hidden realm.

Upon hearing Xiao Nanfeng's account, the three Qing Grandmasters were taken aback.

"You managed to recreate the giant nine-colored tree?" the Yuqing Grandmaster exclaimed in astonishment.

"Only by chance," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The three Qing Grandmasters fell silent. By chance? By their level of cultivation, who wouldn't have thought about obtaining the ultimate world tree for themselves?

The Darkborn had surely studied the giant nine-colored tree in an attempt to rescue the Superior, as did the three of them. In the end, however, none of that research had born fruit.

Yet Xiao Nanfeng had succeeded.

The Shangqing Grandmaster murmured, "You are truly blessed, Emperor Xiao."

Xiao Nanfeng noticed that, while the three Qing Grandmasters seemed shocked, they weren't particularly envious. Their own world trees might not be inferior to the nine-colored tree—they would surely be tailored to their own cultivation.

"Might I ask what brings all of you here?" Xiao Nanfeng asked directly.

The three Qing Grandmasters eyed each other. Finally, the Yuqing Grandmaster spoke up again. "If you hadn't made it out of the white life hidden realm, we would have had to make other plans, but since you're here, we have a request for you."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng replied curiously.

"We would like the Superior's golden tree—not the entire tree, of course, but just a single branch each. Please assist us."

"Could I ask why?"

The three Qing Grandmasters eyed each other. "We won't hide this from you. Through the Superior's Body of Yin, we each created our own scriptures, manifested our own moons, and even established our worlds of the heart. Our individual world trees derive from that achievement. We have made our own self-contained realms, and we are confident that our future achievements will be no inferior to the Superior's.

"During your previous instance of secluded cultivation, the third wave of the Darkborn arrived, with ten starships in all. Three Darkborn descended, each with a silver world tree. It took us great effort and the help of the supreme cultivators of the world to take them down. In the end, we each claimed one of the Darkborn to study.

"As a result of our investigations, we discovered that a golden world tree reigns supreme among the Darkborn; a silver world tree is inferior. Our world trees are on the same level as the silver tree, and are yet inferior to the golden one."

Xiao Nanfeng raised an eyebrow. "Your red, blue, and purple world trees?"

The Yuqing Grandmaster nodded. "Indeed. We confirmed this fact for ourselves during our battle against the Superior. At the time, his golden tree had yet to reach its peak, allowing us an opportunity. If his golden tree had fully blossomed, ours would have been suppressed."

Xiao Nanfeng thought back to what he knew of the golden tree. "It is indeed remarkable, with the ability to synthesize the powers of the other world trees."

The Yuqing Grandmaster nodded. "Exactly. The golden tree can encompass all things. Even among the Darkborn, it is extraordinarily precious. That said, our own world trees aren't weak, either. We believe we can absorb the attributes of the golden tree and allow our own to undergo a metamorphosis."

Xiao Nanfeng blinked. "Can your world trees evolve to the level of the golden tree?"

The Yuqing Grandmaster nodded. "We are confident that we can develop our paths further. Our world trees can be elevated to the level of the golden tree—or even beyond.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned slightly, deep in thought.

The Yuqing Grandmaster continued, "We believe that the golden tree has been passed down the royal line of the Darkborn. We don't know how many golden trees there are in total, but one alone is astonishing enough. Not only can it help our world trees transform, it may also help Madam Rouge and the others fuse their various branches of the world tree that they now possess."

"Oh?"

The Yuqing Grandmaster explained, "Of course, even if they do so, it will be somewhat different from your giant nine-colored tree. For one, theirs will lack roots—but it would be more than enough to ensure that this planet persists against the Darkborn plight."

Madam Rouge frowned slightly. "Whether or not we fuse our branches of the world tree will be our own business."

She was being protective. In her eyes, Xiao Nanfeng was sure to defeat the Superior and obtain his world tree. Why would he have to share his spoils?

The Yuqing Grandmaster didn't mind Madam Rouge's remark. "Of course, we don't intend to request this favor for nothing. We know that you can absorb Sibyl's energy, and we have three Darkborn corpses in our possession. We've refined the energy within their bodies and can give it to you in exchange for a branch of the golden tree."

The Taiqing and Shangqing Grandmasters nodded as well.

Xiao Nanfeng hummed thoughtfully. "I can agree to your request, but I'll need your assistance."

He had no intention to give up on the golden tree, but he didn't dare to casually integrate it into his cultivation, either. He intended to extract its essence and start researching it from scratch.

"Oh?"

Xiao Nanfeng explained, "In a few days' time, I will re-enter the white life hidden realm for my final battle against the Superior. I will need your assistance at that time."

"Of course," the three Qing Grandmasters replied.

They had previously been unwilling to do so because they feared being trapped for eternity. Now that Xiao Nanfeng had devised a way to enter and exit at will, they had no reason to refuse.

"In that case, I will notify you beforehand," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling.

"Very well." The three Qing Grandmasters got up and bowed.

Then, they each handed him an orb of silver light, the special energy they had refined from the Darkborn.

"My thanks." Xiao Nanfeng accepted the orbs with a smile, then saw the three Qing Grandmasters off.

After they left, Madam Rouge asked somewhat reluctantly, "Nanfeng, are you going to give them each a branch of the golden tree this easily?"

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "There's no conflict of interest between us and them, after all. The upcoming battle will be extremely troublesome, and I'll need their help to obtain the golden tree myself. It's only reasonable that they should receive something for their efforts. Besides, I'll need to do so in order to extract its energy to help all of us grow stronger."

"Oh?"

Xiao Nanfeng continued, "The Superior is exceptionally cunning, and has many tricks up his sleeves. Even if I win this battle against him, he may be able to escape with the golden tree. The three Qing Grandmasters' help will be instrumental in securing it for us."

The three women ultimately agreed with his reasoning.

Xiao Nanfeng added, "Besides, my physical body has suffered grave injuries. It'd have taken me a long time to recover without these three Darkborn orbs."

The three women nodded.

Liu Miaoyin volunteered, "We'll guard you. You should head back into secluded cultivation."

"Very well!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

The three women left the hall and shut its doors, then stood guard outside.

Xiao Nanfeng sat cross-legged as he focused on recuperating the damage that his body had sustained. He absorbed one of the silver orbs, allowing roiling energy to rush through his body. It began to heal at an accelerated rate.

The silver orb contained some energy unique to the Darkborn. The golden tree had absorbed it in the past; now, however, his three moons were able to fill that role to some extent.

He had subdued his three moons, but because they were each melded with a cursed effigy, they were different from the standard mold. As they absorbed the Darkborn's unique energy, they grew even more resplendent than before.

Two days later, he finished absorbing the first silver orb fully. His physical body had largely recovered by then. He continued with the second orb.

With a loud rumble, a surge of energy poured into his body. Three days later, his weakness had vanished without a trace. His body radiated with golden light, fluctuating with energy.

Xiao Nanfeng was taken by surprise.

He decided to continue secluded cultivation and swallow the third silver orb as well. A surge of energy rushed through his limbs and bones. With a loud rumble, his body expanded and then compressed, over and over again.

It took him ten full days in order to absorb the third orb fully.

His eyes opened wide, revealing two beams of golden light. He frowned in surprise. My physical body has yet to reach its limits. The tenth stage of the Boundless Immortal realm isn't my peak—I can grow even stronger."

His thoughts raced. A surge of excitement filled him. Perhaps because his truesoul was from Earth, there were yet greater heights he could reach.

"In that case, I don't have to worry about the primordial advancement just yet. I'll have my body and soul grow stronger first before finally fusing them. I'm sure that will make me even stronger in the end." Xiao Nanfeng's eyes flashed with anticipation.