Chapter 778: A Blessing
Qinglong's voice reverberated leisurely through the room, yet Tianlong continued to slumber soundly.
His breathing was steady, his expression calm, as if he were in the midst of a most beautiful dream.
Qinglong waited a moment. Seeing no reaction from the figure on the throne, he silently turned his head and waved his hand towards the thick tree behind him.
A modest rain fell from above the tree, moistening the parched soil on the ground.
"You're not… going to have the 'Heavenly Serpent' make a move, are you?"
Qinglong murmured to the tree. "What's got us in such a hurry?"
Behind him, Tianlong's breathing was even, his face calm as ever.
Qinglong looked up at the tree before him. Its emerald leaves were all plump and oval-shaped, smooth and reflective, with fine serrations along their edges.
He stared at the dense foliage for a long while, but a slight frown creased his brow. He felt something was amiss.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the thick branches began to part softly, and countless leaves shifted aside, like clouds parting to reveal the sun.
Deep within the innermost part of this lush tree's crown, an unusual scene seemed to appear.
Qinglong's eyes widened slowly as he stepped forward, one step at a time.
There, in the depths of the intertwined branches, in a corner sheltered by dense leaves, hung a single, newly formed fruit.
The fruit was entirely emerald green, wrapped in leaves, shaped like a teardrop, slowly developing.
Qinglong stared at the tiny fruit for a long time, a flurry of emotions shifting in his eyes. Finally, tears welled up, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.
"It's done… We've done it…" Qinglong said, his voice trembling. "Even in this bitter land of despair… as long as the heart is sincere enough… a fruit can still be grown…"
He turned his head, looking at Tianlong with a strange expression. "Tian… did you see that? This place can be cultivated… We are truly going to possess a world! They all say this place is a living hell without any hope… But we are far more magnificent than that 'hell.' We are going to have a world!"
Tianlong still did not open his eyes, his breathing steady.
"Ha… haha…" Qinglong's expression gradually turned to despair. "Seventy years… cultivating a fruit tree for seventy years… and finally the first real fruit appears… Why couldn't it have come sooner?"
Seeing no one responded to him, Qinglong turned back, reached out his hand, and carefully traced the air around the fruit.
As if afraid of damaging it, he only dared to cup it from a distance.
"This wasn't formed by 'Divine Arts'… Completely different from the last time! It has no 'Rampant Growth,' no 'Soul Migration,' no 'Original,' 'Plant,' or 'Artifice'… It was sown as a seed, irrigated, and then born naturally from the heavens and the earth!" Qinglong cried out in a hoarse voice. "This is a gift from the Dao of Heaven… something distinct from everything here!"
Qinglong looked around, confused and ecstatic, as if searching for someone to share his joy with. But this vast room was empty, save for the slumbering Tianlong.
"You wouldn't understand… How could any of you possibly understand…" Qinglong turned back again, looking dazed, his eyes fixed on the tiny fruit. "For the first time in seventy years, a new life has appeared in this place… It has nothing to do with any 'Divine Art.' It was nurtured by the natural Dao of Heaven and Earth… It doesn't carry the scent of 'Peach Blossom Spring.' If it leaves here, it won't disappear… It's too beautiful…"
Qinglong's hands moved closer to the fruit, but still, he dared not touch it.
"Too beautiful… One fruit can be grown, and from that, thousands of trees can come…" Qinglong laughed bitterly, tears streaming. "Why didn't you appear sooner…?"
Qinglong slowly withdrew his hands, then lowered his head, his expression extremely dejected.
"Now, when we are about to give up, you appear…"
He stood there for a long time until he finally calmed down. Then, composing himself, he slowly turned around and walked towards the iron door.
The "Heavenly Serpent" was not in its seat. If the "Heavenly Serpent Moment" were truly initiated, it would mean the beginning of total war. After that, even if they wanted to turn back, it would be too late.
If he could stop him, perhaps they could still make long-term plans.
Qinglong opened the iron door from the inside, only to find a woman standing there. Her face was dark and handsome, her figure tall and strong, nearly matching Qinglong's height.
Seeing this person standing outside the door, Qinglong instantly furrowed his brow, a look of doubt on his face.
"I'm sorry." The woman hastily lowered her head. "I thought I heard someone talking in the room… so I got worried and came to check…"
"Worried…?" Qinglong's eyes gradually turned cold. "You were outside this room, worried that Tianlong and I might be in danger…?"
"Yes, yes." The woman said again, "Sir… why are you looking at me like that?"
Doubt lingered in Qinglong's eyes. Unfortunately, his mind had been disturbed by the appearance of the fruit earlier. Otherwise, he wouldn't have failed to notice someone standing right outside the door.
"But shouldn't you be in slumber?" Qinglong found this situation becoming interesting. "You knew I came in a long time ago?"
"How could that be…" The woman took a step back. "You're overthinking… I just woke up…"
"There's no nightfall, no cycle, yet you woke up." Qinglong said. "Has the dream he bestowed upon you lost its beauty?"
Only then did the woman realize that Qinglong was very angry. She quickly lowered her head deeply.
Qinglong pursed his lips and walked out the door. He turned back to lock the iron door, then asked in a low voice, "When did he send you word?"
"Nothing… nothing of the sort…" The woman shook her head. "You really are overthinking…"
"'Heavenly Ox'… I advise you not to provoke me further." Qinglong said. "What are his plans?"
"I… I…"
"Did he send you to spy on me?"
Qinglong walked forward step by step, while Heavenly Ox kept backing away.
Seeing Heavenly Ox remain silent, Qinglong asked again, "Where did the 'Heavenly Serpent' go? Have all of you seen Tianlong in your dreams?"
"Yes…" Heavenly Ox admitted. "The 'Heavenly Serpent Moment' will be initiated in a few minutes…"
"What is the purpose?" Qinglong said again. "If it's just ordinary killing, why is a 'Heavenly Tier Moment' necessary?"
"I don't know…" Heavenly Ox replied. "I don't even know if our goal is actually killing. In short, we must activate the 'Heavenly Tier Moments' in turn according to his knowledge…"
Upon hearing this, Qinglong narrowed his eyes and glanced at her. This felt unlike a "Great Reshuffling"; instead, it seemed more like a trial.
"Could it be… that you are actually aiding Qixia…?" Qinglong's eyes widened instantly. "Have you given up even more thoroughly than I have…?"
"Qinglong…" Heavenly Ox called out again. "We don't know what happened between the two of you… but since we've come this far, we can only hope that none of what happens will implicate us…"
Qinglong pondered for a moment, then nodded.