Volume One: The Infernal Lord's World Chapter 44: The World Tree

Although he had no intention of transporting the World Tree, Chen Gu still did not abandon certain actions. The World Tree, towering over fifty meters high, was impossible for him to climb unaided, so he summoned the Vine Carriage. This time, instead of sitting inside the carriage's compartment, he took the driver's seat, directing the carriage to race up the trunk of the World Tree.

Once atop the World Tree, Chen Gu discovered that beneath its bark there seemed to be a powerful force of holy light. His vine carriage only needed to ascend, and it began to emit light. He paid no mind to this phenomenon, pointing toward the other side of the World Tree.

"Head to the canopy. I want to examine the leaves there, as well as the mussels and barnacles attached to the tree."

At his command, the carriage swiftly raced along the trunk of the World Tree. Seated at the driver's position, Chen Gu felt the gentle breeze brush against him, as if he were on vacation. He took the opportunity to survey his surroundings.

It was then that Chen Gu noticed the Mars was sailing toward them. It seemed Allen had found something. Meanwhile, aboard the Mars, Allen also caught sight of the carriage racing along the trunk of the World Tree. He was speechless at the scene before him.

"My lord, my lord!" Allen waved his hand, trying to alert Chen Gu.

Chen Gu, thinking Allen was simply greeting him, waved back, but the carriage's speed did not slow; in fact, it accelerated.

Soon, the carriage reached the canopy. Here, not a single leaf remained; instead, the branches were covered in aquatic plants, mussels, and barnacles. Upon arrival, Chen Gu jumped down, plucked some water weeds, and beckoned behind him. A corpse-eating vine slithered out from the carriage.

This vine was one Chen Gu had brought specifically. After all, the World Tree was not earth, and corpse-eating vines usually moved underground; on the World Tree, it could not move freely. Thus, the synthesis detector sprang into action again.

[Corpse-eating Vine +3] + [Rotting Waterweed] = [??? (Success Rate: 31.3%)]

Rotting waterweed—clearly not a living thing. Chen Gu examined the situation: it was another waterweed saturated with holy water, devoid of nutrition, and now, having left the water and clung to the World Tree, it could not decay because its internal holy water concentration was too high.

It could only become what it was now.

Chen Gu tried lighting the waterweed on fire.

Unsurprisingly, it was useless. After all, it was called waterweed; it felt damp in his hands. In the end, Chen Gu simply tossed it back into the water.

The mussels and barnacles, however, surprised him. He found that they were still alive. When he pried them open, the flesh inside was fresh and tender. Summoning a Fire Spirit Crow, he fed it directly, and seeing the crow eat happily, Chen Gu knew they were non-toxic.

So he opened several more and ate them raw. With the first bite, he felt a warm current radiate from his abdomen, flowing through his blood to his limbs, heating his body.

"Excellent," he murmured.

Though he had not yet understood what was happening to his body, Chen Gu knew these mussels and barnacles were treasures. It was only natural—they had been cultivated with holy water and had grown on the World Tree. For nearly a thousand years, no one had eaten them.

Chen Gu was among the first. Within them lay the concentrated essence of centuries. Eating them like this was wasteful; if turned into various potions, they could greatly enhance the power of his pets.

As Chen Gu feasted, the Mars arrived at the World Tree's canopy. Allen stood at the bow and called out loudly to Chen Gu.

"My lord, come down quickly!"

"What's the matter? Are you worried about the World Tree? Don't worry—the elves are gone, the World Tree is dead, and no one will care about this," Chen Gu replied, finally hearing Allen's words. Seeing Allen's anxious face, he wondered what had happened.

"No, my lord, I just found something—there's danger in this lake."

At this, Chen Gu's expression became grave. He leaped onto the vine carriage, followed the branch dipping into the water, and drove the carriage onto the Mars.

"What did you find?"

"Take a look at this, my lord," Allen said, handing over something he had found on the island.

"What is it?" Chen Gu took the item—an unfamiliar crystal.

Chen Gu recognized this type of crystal; previously, when Allen was trapped in a dream, he had been imprisoned inside such a crystal.

"Are there elves inside?"

Chen Gu asked seriously.

"No, only a recording. This should be the last words left by an elf after death."

"Play it for me."

Chen Gu knew Allen wouldn't bring this unless it was important.

"I saw... the Sacred Tree... glowing. Don't approach, don't take me beneath the Sacred Tree."

"The Sacred Tree is this one," Allen said, pointing to the fallen World Tree. "According to elven lore, after death, an elf transforms into a point of light that flies into the Sacred Tree, then becomes a new, stronger elf within it."

Allen hesitated. "Of course, that's just legend. I've never been to the Holy City or witnessed such a thing, so I can't say if it's true. But for someone to say, 'Don't take me beneath the Sacred Tree' before dying—that's odd. Everyone living on the island is a noble, guardians of the Sacred Tree. Not wanting to approach it, seeing it glow—something must be wrong."

Hearing Allen's explanation, Chen Gu felt helpless; he had been summoned down just for this? Did Allen think he knew nothing?

"It's fine. I've checked—the World Tree, or Sacred Tree as you call it, is filled with holy water. Its concentration is so high that even the undead dare not approach. For a dead elf, let alone turning into a point of light, even a complete soul couldn't use the Sacred Tree to be reborn. The last words you heard were simply the elf seeing the state of the Sacred Tree before dying and instructing their family to bury them on the island."

Chen Gu quickly deduced the truth.

Since he was already down, he decided to visit the island destroyed by the falling canopy.

Allen realized he had been overly anxious and became silent.

At that moment, Chen Gu began sharing the harvest from earlier. After finishing, he asked, "And you? Did you notice anything else?"

Allen, embarrassed by the question, thought hard until a memory surfaced.

"There is indeed something," he replied.