Tree Elder
Hostile elemental demons boxed Mu Yu in.
A wood demon pointed at Mu Yu’s throat with his sharp vine. “Shan, why did you bring a human here? They aren’t allowed here!”
“He can use our ability and control trees. I suspect he is humanity’s secret weapon designed to combat us, so I brought him back for Tree Elder to confirm. We can kill him after.”
Each of the demons sported different appearances. For instances, some had darker skin. Some had patterns on their skin. The leaves grew in different patterns. Shan was the one who brought Mu Yu back. His name had to derive from the smell of cedar leaves.
“What? He can control trees?”
“Yes. He discovered me hiding in the tree. Also, he was hiding in the tree.”
“Call Tree Elder.”
Mu Yu laid sprawled out on the lawn. He detected some sort of energy protecting the lawn, preventing him from fusing with it. The familiar scent gradually approached. His heart thumped faster. He had a feeling something was calling out to him.
“Release him,” instructed an elder, in a refreshing, yet raspy, voice that was rejuvenating.
“Right away.”
Once the wooden restraints were removed, Mu Yu sat up and wriggled his sore arms. He had an escape plan on standby. Having said that, it would be hard with so many elemental demons around. The elder – an assumption he made from the elder’s long, hanging white eyebrows and peculiar white beard – in front of him had yellow leaves instead of green and donned clothing made from leaves. The others used leaves to cover their lower body, but were stark naked up top. Mu Yu didn’t find any issues with their fashion sense, nevertheless. The elder had human eyes instead of green mist. Both the elder’s voice didn’t sound as confrontational as the other’s.
The elder voiced, “I was told you can use our abilities.”
“There’s nothing surprising about that. You can speak humanity’s language, can’t you?” replied Mu Yu.
“You’re mistaken. This isn’t humanity’s exclusive language,” corrected the elder, running his gaze over Mu Yu. “You’re not human. Actually, you are human, but you have our wood demon race’s scent on you.”
“You mean the scent of trees?”
The elder extended a vine from his sleeve and coiled it around Mu Yu’s arm. He transferred his energy through the vine and into Mu Yu’s body.
Mu Yu tugged at the vine. “What are you doing?”
The elder widened his eyes before nodding. “I see.”
“See what?” asked Mu Yu, after being released.
“I see why you can use our abilities now,” the elder answered with the corner of his lips curled up.
“Why?” inquired Mu Yu, surprised the answer he sought for so long was attained at the click of a finger. The elder’s reaction worried him as he interpreted it as validation he was related to elemental demons.
“Follow me,” instructed the elder, turning and limping off.
“Gramps. Elemental Demon Gramps, don’t leave me hanging. Where are you taking me? Can’t we speak about it here?”
The elder kept walking, while the other wood demons glared at Mu Yu. Sitting there didn’t seem to be the wisest idea, so Mu Yu went after the elder. Nonetheless, one of them used a branch to pull him aside.
“Elemental Demon Gramps, tell me what you saw.”
“Stay back!” a wood demon brayed.
“It’s fine. He won’t hurt me,” said the elder, smiling with his eyes narrowed.
“Let go of me, and we’ll see about that.”
“Hmph,” snorted the wood demon, reluctantly releasing Mu Yu.
Mu Yu dusted his clothing. “I’m not a kind individual by any means. We cultivators are your enemies. Respecting elders is a virtue, but it’s one reserved for humans. Don’t get full of yours-”
The elder chuckled and stopped. In front of them was a ginormous sacred fig tree that shrouded the sky. Its tree trunk looked unshakable. Mu Yu could feel a unique scent and strong life force coming from the ancient tree. The tree was the source of the scent he picked up on since entering the forest. He was as excited as if he met an old friend when he saw the tree. The reason it felt so familiar was still a mystery, though.
“Mu Yu, the sacred fig tree feels familiar, doesn’t it?” The elder placed a hand on Mu Yu’s shoulder.
“How do you know my name? How do you know it’s familiar to me?” Mu Yu looked back at the elder.
The elder went over to caress the tree. The other elemental demons seemed to worship said tree.
“Humans and elemental demons have been fighting for ages. We have been unable to get along. Do you want to hear the ancient tale?” The elder questioned, purposely being mysterious.
“You’ll tell me even if I said no. won’t you?”
“Legend has it there will be five individuals who aren’t humans, but they will be the ones to change the status quo between humankind and elemental demons. They’re capable of cultivating and utilising elemental demons’ abilities. Accordingly, humans and elemental demons will be defined differently once they appear. I’m more concerned about what the different definitions are.”
“While I have no idea what you’re talking about, it seems to be hogwash. If I was so incredible, you wouldn’t have been able to capture me in the first place.”
The elder caressed his beard. “I didn’t think you would come through here. Perhaps it is fate’s work. Though there’s no way to validate the legend, I am starting to somewhat believe it after meeting you.”
Mu Yu: Somewhat? Is he messing with me?
“Which side will you take if humans and elemental demons fight?”
“Is that a trick question? I’m human. You tell me.” Mu Yu could hear the sacred fig tree calling him over; however, it would be a risky endeavour.
A smile came to the elder’s lips. “Humans won’t allow you to exist. The real world of cultivation knows all about the legend. Any old sect would have heard it.”
“If everyone knew, why don’t I know anything about it?”
“The current world of cultivation you’re in is not the real world of cultivation. That’s why you’re uninformed. Has it never occurred to you humanity’s current limit is Golden Core Realm? Have you not heard of the world of cultivation beyond this mountain range?”
Stunned, Mu Yu retorted, “Golden Core Realm is amazing as it is.”
“Golden Core Realm cultivators are common to come across in the real world of cultivation. Only those above Primordial Infant Realm are classified as true adepts. Beyond Primordial Infant Realm are Body Severing, Spirit Severing and Body Synthesis.” The elder made the higher levels sound incredible. Additionally, the fact the elder kept emphasising the real world of cultivation puzzled Mu Yu. “You’re not aware Moyun Mountain is actually a cage, are you?”
“A cage?”
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