Ch. 1580 - Hundred-Thousand-Year Leaf of Life

Before this, Xu Zimo had been acknowledged by the True Martial Tribulation Tower.

According to the ancestors’ teachings, he could fully control the tower. But for safety, Wang Hengzhi still asked, when he saw Xiao An’an pushing Xu Zimo over, “Uh... Ancestor, the tower has disappeared?”

“Let’s go,” Xu Zimo said calmly, giving him a single glance.

The meaning was obvious.

I know. I just don’t feel like explaining it to you.

Wang Hengzhi gave an awkward smile, then asked, “Should I call Grandpa Dao to join us? He’s old now. I’m afraid his body might not handle traveling far.”

“No need. Since the Tribulation Tower is gone, he left long ago,” Xu Zimo said with a wave of his hand.

Wang Hengzhi was puzzled, but he asked no further. He finally understood, say too much and you irritate the ancestor; better to be a silent sect master who just follows along. Not a bad deal.

Xu Zimo glanced at the people of the Sage Heaven God-Empire but didn’t bother acknowledging them. Instead, he said, “Find me a stretcher. This wheelchair is uncomfortable.”

Hearing this, Wang Hengzhi hurried to prepare a stretcher. Four disciples lifted Xu Zimo, carrying him slowly toward the Ancient Dragon God-Empire.

The capital of the Ancient Dragon God-Empire was Ancient Dragon City, not far from the True Martial Sacred Ground, since the sect had originally been situated within Ancient Dragon territory.

Xu Zimo was in no hurry, and none of them dared to rush him. The group walked unhurriedly for a month.

During that time, Xu Zimo began tempering the disciples.

One day, they passed a wide valley filled with dense blue mist, within which countless poisonous snakes’ eyes gleamed. This was Serpent Venom Valley. Xu Zimo threw the disciples in and ordered them to fight the snakes to the death. Every time a disciple neared death, Xu Zimo would pull them out, heal them completely, and toss them back in.

Another day, they passed a river inhabited by a tribe of man-eating fish demons. Xu Zimo made the disciples fight the entire tribe underwater. They ended up covered in wounds, not a single spot left uninjured.

This hellish training left the people of the Sage Heaven God-Empire pale with fear and speechless. This wasn’t cultivating, it was torture.

But despite the suffering, the disciples were thrilled by their rapid progress. Their cultivation realms soared daily. And thinking about it, how often could one meet a powerhouse who could heal all injuries instantly and let them fight without fear of death? It was a rare opportunity.

The disciples of the True Martial Sacred Ground had never had such conditions. Now that they had Xu Zimo, they became serious. At first some complained, but later they became like masochists, uncomfortable if they weren’t being beaten half to death. Some even voluntarily asked Xu Zimo to increase the intensity.

Day after day passed.

During the journey, Xu Zimo found Willow Ancestor. He was sealed inside a coffin, preserving the little life he had left, and the disciples had been carrying the coffin the entire way.

Xu Zimo opened it and looked at the old ancestor inside. Willow’s seniority was mid-range within the sect; he had not met the oldest of the old ancestors, but he knew most of the rest. Unlike Xu Zimo, he assumed Xu Zimo was from the same era as his own master, Saint Sovereign San Dao.

“You want to live?” Xu Zimo asked directly.

“If I had a choice, who would choose death?” Willow said with a bitter smile.

“You contributed greatly to the rebuilding of the True Martial Sacred Ground,” Xu Zimo said.

“My master was kind to me. This was my duty,” Willow sighed. “It’s a pity I won’t live to see the sect rise again.”

“You will,” Xu Zimo said. “In recognition of your service, I can extend your life.”

“It’s useless. I’ve taken too many life-extending medicines. My body developed resistance long ago. Forget about me,” Willow said, shaking his head.

Xu Zimo didn’t respond. Instead, he took out a leaf from the Tree of Life.

The moment its vibrant green surface released a surge of life force, Willow froze, stunned, his whole body trembling with emotion.

“This… this is…!”

“A Leaf of Life,” Xu Zimo said. “Even with your resistance, it can still extend your life by a hundred thousand years.”

“One hundred thousand…” National Preceptor Wheel-Sun stood dumbfounded. Life-extending treasures were priceless. Something that added even one thousand years was already heaven-defying. But a hundred thousand years? He had never seen such a thing, never even heard of one.

“This… Ancestor, this is for me?” Willow asked, dazed as if dreaming.

When Xu Zimo nodded, Willow’s hands trembled as he accepted the leaf.

“Thank you, Ancestor, for granting me new life!” He immediately knelt.

“Stand,” Xu Zimo said with a wave. “Absorb the leaf soon. You can finally escape that pitch-dark coffin.”

Willow nodded repeatedly and hurried aside to begin cultivating.

After he left, Wheel-Sun quickly approached with a flattering smile.

“Ancestor… do you have more of those leaves?”

“A whole tree full. Why?” Xu Zimo replied.

“Could you… bestow one upon me?” Wheel-Sun asked. Even he felt embarrassed, shamelessly asking for such a treasure. But a hundred thousand years of life was too tempting.

Xu Zimo didn’t answer. He just looked at him with a faint smile.

Wheel-Sun’s face reddened. Unwilling to give up, he said, “What would you like in return? If it’s within my ability, I’ll agree.”

“To me, the leaf is worthless. Yet, I simply don’t want to give one to you. I’m stubborn like that. What now? Going to cry?” Xu Zimo said.

Wheel-Sun’s expression darkened. The embarrassment felt like humiliation. But he didn’t dare argue and only said, “In that case… I won’t trouble you further.”

Xu Zimo glanced at him coldly and said nothing more.

Time was long, and the Sage Heaven God-Empire was nothing but a group of clownish fools, irrelevant to his true goals.

…

Finally, after half a month of traveling, Xu Zimo led the True Martial Sacred Ground to Ancient Dragon City, capital of the Ancient Dragon God-Empire. Ancient Dragon City had long been famed as the largest city in the region, unmatched in scale.

Xu Zimo looked at a few disciples and instructed, “Go issue a battle challenge.”

“Challenge? To who?” a disciple asked, confused.

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