Celestial Fiend Tree
The lush leaves on the tree were as large as a human hand. A white line ran down the centre of the leaves. It looked messy on the gigantic tree, yet it was quite the captivating sight. The sway of the white fruits contradicted the heavy impression their size gave. Below the tree top was a stone tablet with Celestial Fiend Tree written on it.
“There are plenty to go around, so it’s my treat, Xiaoshuai!” exclaimed Mu Yu, fond of the tree he felt friendly with.
Mu Yu excitedly crossed the bridge to check out the door that almost blended in with the tree. He expected to find a large room within due to the size of the tree trunk.
“Grab me one of the fruits first. I’m starving.”
Xiaoshuai vaulted from Mu Yu’s shoulder, caught two fruits and started chomping mid-flight. The corner of Mu Yu’s lips started to turn up when, suddenly, the fruit split open and revealed two rows of sharp teeth. The fruit bit Xiaoshuai’s lower body, prompting him to swing his tail and bounce frantically. The ferocity and speed the celestial fiend fruit exhibited was enough to crush a rock.
“Who’s eating who now, Xiaoshuai? Don’t worry, though, I’m coming to your rescue. They do say, ‘Don’t bite off more than you can chew.’”
Mu Yu withheld his laughter and reached for the tree to control it. All of a sudden, another fruit opened its jaws as it closed in on his arm, forcing him to reactively pull away. He felt stupid for avoiding it when he needed physical contact to take control. Out of nowhere, another branch swung down and sent him reeling.
While Mu Yu was trying to shake his head out, Xiaoshuai was swallowed whole; only his tail remained outside. Irritation kicked in. Mu Yu brayed, “Let go of him” – dodged leaves firing at him – “You can throw darts now, too?!”
Mu Yu refused to believe the tree was almighty and, therefore, took the leaves head on. It backfired painfully. Once the leaves stabbed into his arms, they began to drain his blood. He cursed as he pulled the leaves out and sealed his wounds with spiritual energy. After multiple setbacks, he finally took control of the leaves that struck him.
Mu Yu dodged the next wave of flying leaves. Once they flitted past him, they returned to their branch.
“You must be kidding me.”
A barrage of tree branches kept Mu Yu away from the tree, while waves of leaves encroached upon him. Evade as he may, several leaves were still able to slice his skin. They only dropped on the ground once they cut him, much to his frustration. Noticing the branches begin to build up for a big attack, he realised he would be in pieces if the tree fired every leaf at him.
Mu Yu looked for a way to get in close enough to attack the tree branch, but he was busy running from leaves. He fired his flying sword at the tree branch, leading to the leaves scuttling back to knock the sword down.
Xiaoshuai struggled to get his head out of the fruit and cried, “Mu Yu, are you going to help me or not?!”
“I’m trying!”
“This is no fruit. The flesh is rotten. It would’ve digested me if my good looks didn’t protect me.”
“It’s called having thick skin!”
Mu Yu hurled his sword again, then ran full pelt to the tree branch. The tree caught his sword with a tree branch and whipped him with another. He let it hit him and did his best to reduce the impact. Although his eyes nearly popped out of his head, he managed to clutch the branch, fortunately. Before he could inject his spiritual energy in to take control, though, another energy source within kicked it out.
Is this even a tree? This isn’t making any sense. Don’t tell me that Ageless Ku Mu is controlling it from somewhere. No, it can’t be. I managed to control the leaves. Mayb-
The tentacle wrestled Mu Yu off, plunging him into the water. He couldn’t see the bottom of the river. More importantly, he was worried about the vortex Ol’ Tan mentioned. His worst fear came true. The vortex was too intense for him to beat. Holding his breath wasn’t his forte because, when he was told cultivators could hold their breaths for three days straight, he laughed it off and refused to practice in the past.
A big fiend beast nearby ignored the vortex. Mu Yu reached for the grass he brought with him since there was nothing to grab, but his foot caught something. He wasted no time diving into the big strip of seaweed that his foot got caught in.
“Wait a second. The seaweed is supposed to fear the white mist. There’s no white mist here, though.” Mu Yu asked the seaweed, “Hey, what are you afraid of?”
Mu Yu released the seaweed back to the depths of the waters after reaching the bank. Turning his attention back to the tree, he declared, “I’m back, sucker.”
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