Ch. 210 - The Celestial Race

Hearing Yao Shengnan’s words, Little Gui froze.

“So direct?”

“If not, then don’t waste my time,” she replied flatly, turning back to gaze at the river.

Seeing Little Gui’s awkward expression, Xu Zimo walked over with a light chuckle.

“Destroying an Imperial Lineage isn’t impossible,” he said, “but… you’re not worth that price.”

Yao Shengnan instantly turned to stare at him for a long moment before replying coldly, “Anyone can talk big.”

“Whether it’s big talk or not, it depends on vision and perspective,” Xu Zimo shook his head with a smile.

“How do you prove you have the strength?” she asked, locking eyes with him.

“I don’t need to prove anything,” Xu Zimo said calmly.

Yao Shengnan was silent for a long time, then slowly said: “If you help me destroy that sect, I’ll tell you something about the Tree of Life.”

Seeing his expression, she quickly added, “Maybe you don’t know what the Tree of Life is. I can explain-”

“No need,” Xu Zimo interrupted. “I know a bit about it.”

At that moment, a voice stirred inside his storage ring, coming from the Leaf of Life: “Impossible! The Tree of Life transcends destiny itself, it’s not even recorded in the River of Fate. Unless… she’s from the Celestial Race.”

“Let me think about it,” Xu Zimo said to Yao Shengnan.

She paused, then nodded and returned to her cabin.

There were thousands of races in the world, and though Xu Zimo had only learned a little about the Celestial Race, he knew they were shrouded in mystery.

According to legend, the Celestial Race were favored by the heavens, born with a Leaf of Life as a companion.

Each member of their race possessed a unique Leaf of Life, which greatly extended their lifespans.

But they never showed themselves publicly. No one knew where they lived, and records of them were incredibly rare.

Xu Zimo turned his thoughts inward and said to the Leaf of Life, “Tell me everything you know about the Celestial Race.”

“First, tell me, when will you let me go?” the leaf’s spirit asked.

“Maybe when I find the Tree of Life and I’m in a good mood,” Xu Zimo smirked. “Besides, you’re safer with me than out there, consider this protective custody.”

“You couldn’t possibly hold on to the Tree of Life even if you found it!” the leaf snapped. “Such a thing is far beyond your grasp.”

“That’s not your concern,” Xu Zimo replied. “Start talking. Once we find the tree, I’ll release you. You don’t really have a choice.”

The Leaf of Life sighed and began: “The Celestial Race is unique. Their race possesses a portal that leads directly to the alternate dimension where the Tree of Life resides. Long ago, before I was separated from the Tree, I once met someone from their race. They may be the only beings in this world truly connected to the Tree of Life. Their lifespans are incredibly long thanks to the Leaves of Life. They could easily surpass humanity and dominate the world, but they can’t reproduce normally. It’s said that when a man and woman of the Celestial Race mate, the woman absorbs all the man’s vital energy, killing him. Then, when she gives birth, her life force is drained by the child, and she dies as well. Every birth results in two children, one male, one female. That rule has never changed.”

“I see,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“With every pair of births, both parents die. Two lives born at the cost of two lives lost. That’s why the Celestial Race will never grow in number.”

……

As night fell, the wide river reflected a quiet twilight. A few scattered stars dotted the sky, moonless and cold.

The Yuan Clan’s guards patrolled the ship as usual. A chilly breeze drifted over the deck.

Suddenly, BOOM!

An explosion rocked the vessel, shaking the entire ship and rousing everyone aboard. Torrential waves rose on all sides.

The ship gradually came to a stop on the river’s surface.

“What’s going on?” the Yuan Clan commander rushed out of the cabin, his voice amplified with spiritforce, echoing through the ship.

“Commander Yuan! It looks like the control room was attacked-”

A scream interrupted the sentence, followed by eerie silence.

A transparent barrier had previously protected the ship, but now, it was fading.

From the control room, a group of black-clad men emerged.

They were the fourth group of passengers who had boarded earlier.

“What do you want?” the commander demanded, his spiritforce flaring.

He barely finished speaking when over a hundred black-robed figures descended from the sky.

Their powerful auras linked together, shaking the entire ship.

“Who are you people?” the commander asked, swallowing hard.

“Dark Primordials,” a calm voice replied, and in that instant, all hell broke loose.

Dozens of the black-robed attackers landed on the ship like wolves among sheep, beginning a bloody massacre.

The rest hovered above, blocking any chance of escape.

……

Screams rang out. In minutes, most of the Yuan Clan crew had been wiped out.

“Senior brother, do you think the Dark Primordial Race came for revenge?” Little Gui asked nervously.

Xu Zimo just smiled.

Beside him stood the Mad Blood Demon, silent like a loyal guardian.

Any black-robed attacker who came close was instantly obliterated by the old demon’s fist.

Nearly a hundred enemies surrounded Xu Zimo, until they parted automatically, opening a path ahead.

A black figure stepped forward from the shadows.

As he emerged, the space around him shattered, unable to withstand the pressure of his aura.

He walked with the weight and presence of a king of shadows.

His footsteps echoed like drums of death, thundering in the hearts of all present.

Step by step, he approached Xu Zimo.

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