Chapter 644 Just a Passing Zhuzhou (5200, Short Chapter)

"Burning Ember Divine Wood?"

The Farces family elder's words, like a morning bell, awakened everyone who seemed to be slumbering in silence.

Instantly, the entire hall erupted in a clamor, and some of the older powerhouses abruptly stood up, their eyes burning as they stared at the green divine wood core before them.

The oldest records of Changsheng Huomu (Eternal Flame Wood) should date back to the beginning of this era, during the time when the various city-states were forming alliances.

Numerous city-states were engaged in conflicts, and they would use any means to find ways to defeat their enemies.

Changsheng Huomu was brought out of the bottomless abyss located in the depths of the Great Rift Valley by an exploration team exploring ancient ruins during that period.

The first Changsheng Huomu discovered was just a branch, but it was still alive after an unknown number of years. When planted in the ground, it could flourish with vitality, making it truly eternal. And on its branches, the purest source energy flowed, forming cyan-green, flame-like leaves, hence the name Changsheng Huomu (Eternal Flame Wood).

Ranxin Shenmu (Burning Ember Divine Wood) is another name, said to be an old name found in ancient ruins, and now considered the official academic name for formal occasions.

And its value… there is no substitute for it on this continent.

It can extend the lifespan of ordinary people, heal practitioners, alleviate the pain of powerhouses, and repair the soul tremors caused by source energy… Even the small figures carved from its branches can be made into substitute puppets, or amulets that can withstand damage, taking the damage in place of the holder.

Having it is like having an extra life, or several lives.

Even simply eating it is enough to bring the dead back to life.

No, it's far more than that.

Although the reason is unknown, holding the Ranxin Shenmu greatly increases one's control and comprehension of source energy. Whether it's comprehension, precise manipulation, or breakthroughs in realms, it can do it all.

Everyone in history who obtained it and held it for a long time eventually achieved the Disaster Realm.

In fact, the first recorded Disaster Realm powerhouse in the history of the Aean continent was a powerhouse who held the Ranxin Shenmu.

But then again—the person who can protect the divine wood from being snatched away by others should have been a genius among geniuses, so becoming a Disaster Realm is not so unacceptable.

But even these overly mythical, temporarily unverified rumors are enough to excite people who have long been suppressing their excitement.

Especially those who have been stuck in the Divine Intent Realm for a long time and are nearing the end of their lifespan; or those whose family powerhouses are seriously injured and facing a critical situation, intending to make one last desperate rush, such a core of Ranxin Shenmu is enough to drive them crazy.

"Good heavens!"

Even Su Zhou couldn't help but exhale at this moment. He seriously stared at the divine wood core in the hall, his expression clear. "As expected, it's the aura of the World Tree! This is the aura of the World Tree!"

The reason why Su Zhou stayed in Coastal Capital was to confirm this point.

The Aean world is the battlefield of Twilight and the World Tree of the past.

And the purpose of his visit this time is, first, to understand the essence of Twilight, and second, to search for clues about the World Tree on behalf of the Great Dao Tree.

Su Zhou believes that since the worlds of the World Tree and Twilight are mixed together, it is highly likely that the places where the two are sealed are not far apart. From the world of Twilight, one can completely deduce the location of the World Tree world cluster.

But before that, it is necessary to find the aura related to the divine wood in the Twilight world cluster, so that it can be retroactively deduced.

But here's the problem—most of the worlds where Twilight was victorious have either already been destroyed, or the divine wood has completely perished. Where would any clues be left? Too many coincidences are needed.

But now.

The coincidence is right in front of him.

"Confirmed."

After a moment of surprise, Su Zhou sat back in his seat, calmed down, and chuckled: "Not bad, now that it's confirmed that there are World Tree dependents, then there's no need to be too nervous—with our funds, it's impossible to buy this divine wood fragment."

"And I don't need this divine wood fragment, I just need to touch it slightly, and use the aura the Great Dao Tree gave me to reverse the deduction, the whole process won't even take ten seconds."

"Starting price, four hundred and fifty million."

At this moment, without continuing to play coy, the elder directly announced the price and closed the crystal cabinet.

This price was just a casual mention, because everyone knew that the price of such a divine object would not reach several billion or even tens of billions.

Sure enough, the representative of the Eastern Sea nobles doubled the price as soon as he opened his mouth: "Ten billion!"

"Twenty!"

"Thirty-five!"

"Amazing! According to the cost of a giant war mobile fortress in this world, this is enough to build one and a half legions of flagships!"

Picking up the fruit next to the table, Su Zhou fed Yala a bite with great interest, and then took a bite himself, feeling his mouth full of fragrance: "Hmm, the taste of this fruit is a bit like a refreshing dragon fruit? Delicious!"

The snake spirit also coiled around Su Zhou's shoulders and head, watching the scene with great interest: "Do you think they will end up fighting?"

"Who cares, let's eat melon seeds!"

Because he didn't intend to buy it from the beginning, Su Zhou's posture was very relaxed. He and Yala were just laughing and pointing at the white-hot atmosphere in the hall, watching the attitudes between the major forces become increasingly intensified.

"Hey Su Zhou, look, he's getting anxious, he's getting anxious!"

"This representative of the Third Army Group has a bad temper, you see, he's been suppressed three times in a row, his face is pale!"

"Oh, ho, the fourth time! Good suppression! Keep suppressing!"

"The fruit is delicious!"

"Haha! They're starting to curse! 'The empire's lowly pack of beasts' 'Eastern sea earthworms' 'Northern mud snowmen' and 'barbarian inferior species,' these people are so racist!"

"Good job, quarrel more fiercely!"

"Wait, something's wrong?"

Watching the excitement, the snake spirit, who was really eating melon seeds in the literal sense, suddenly noticed something was wrong: "Hey, those Twilight dependents seem unable to compete, and they can't curse as well as others, they want to..."

And Su Zhou directly exclaimed: "Damn, they're going to fight!"

Although before, he really wanted to say 'Everyone, stop arguing, listen to my advice, let's have a fight!', but when he really saw this group of people fighting in the auction hall, Su Zhou realized that something was wrong.

"Those northern barbarians, from the beginning, shouldn't have been thinking about auctioning!"

Although he hadn't observed carefully before, Su Zhou had long noticed that the guests from the Winter Dusk Tribe were too calm—and they didn't buy many things at the auction. Although they participated in most of the bids, what they actually paid for was just some odds and ends.

It must be said that most of the guests at this year-end auction in Coastal Capital were of extremely high quality. At the beginning of the verbal exchange, some old foxes noticed something was wrong and began to leave one by one. And now that a fight broke out, there wasn't even a single cry of surprise or pain. Everyone simply got up and retreated, fearing being affected by the aftermath of those Divine Intent Realm powerhouses.

At the same time, Su Zhou also reacted.

Indeed, taking action at the auction in Coastal Capital would result in being blacklisted, and the forces behind them would never be able to join again, and they would also be regarded as enemies by the Farces family… But according to Gasha and Loya's memories, the Winter Dusk Tribe, after more than a hundred years of recuperation, had reached its peak.

More than ten years later, when Loya became the high priest, the new Sky Dusk Great Khan launched a southern conquest, directly crushing the northern province of the empire where the Frost Extension Army was located, almost destroying the entire Asmodeus Empire.

If it hadn't been for that mysterious Sun Emperor who took action, single-handedly beheading the three strongest barbarians, including the Sky Dusk Great Khan, Gasha, and Loya, I'm afraid the northern barbarians could have achieved the conquest of the continent.

—So that's it, because they have already made up their minds to prepare for war, whether they can participate in this auction or not is irrelevant.

Whatever they need, they can just grab it!

And the rarity of the divine wood is enough for them to abandon any pretense and expose their original purpose!

Everything happened in an instant.

"You inferior barbarian beasts, you dare to take action in the auction house!"

The eastern Heavenly Dragon noble, with horns on his head, temporarily unable to discern which dragon he was, saw the barbarian guests directly taking action, tearing apart the barrier of the auction square, preparing to directly snatch the divine wood, and was immediately furious.

This Divine Intent Realm powerhouse drew out the cross-shaped long sword from his waist, and the gale condensed on the sword like a tornado. The soaring wind strands condensed into substance, and the source energy blade, nearly a pillar of light, pierced through one empty seat after another.

And some people who hadn't had time to leave the auction hall were directly blown up by the aftermath of this starting move, and uncontrollably scraped towards the far wall.

The huge wind pressure was like the sky collapsing. The representative of the eastern nobles, Carty of Azure Wind, was a genuine veteran knight. A wyvern heart light body, emitting a striking cyan-white light, appeared behind him, letting out a sharp hiss.

A flash of light, and the violent tornado sword held in his hand began to tilt downwards.

However, he didn't slash at the barbarians who were likely from the Dusk Tribe, but instead slashed at the unprepared representative of the imperial military!

"Carty, are you fucking crazy?!"

The young military representative of the empire was both surprised and angry. He seemed to know the other party, so he was particularly surprised.

Although this strike was immediately blocked by the military's Divine Intent Realm powerhouse, a fully armored knight wielding a long spear, the shock wave scattered in all directions, and the aftermath tore a large crack dozens of meters long in the walls made of source energy steel.

But he had indeed felt the threat of death just now: "What exactly are you doing... Wait?! Are you guys in cahoots?!"

There was no reply, because it was a rhetorical question.

The powerhouses of the Southern Territory nobles and the Light Chasing Order also immediately united, and the Holy Sun Church also immediately united with the Frost Extension Army. In an instant, the original major forces divided and united with each other, becoming four camps.

Only the imperial military was a unified array.

But without a doubt, apart from the imperial military, the other forces all seemed to have come prepared.

These people had probably expected someone to take action to snatch the divine wood, and their formations and actions were straightforward, without a word of nonsense. The violent source energy began to stir the entire hall like the storm vortex in the South Sea.

A full-scale battle was just a few breaths away.

"What's wrong, Su Zhou."

At this moment, having shrunk back into Su Zhou's soul space, Yala asked with a chuckle: "Are you planning to take advantage of the chaos to steal that divine wood?"

Su Zhou rolled his eyes: "Wow, and then be jointly hunted down by everyone? No way, do I lack divine wood? Not to mention there are two plants at home, am I not one myself?"

"If it weren't for the fact that I need information about the World Tree world cluster, I would have gone to the East Sea to fish for meteorites."

That being said, Su Zhou still sat comfortably in his box, preparing to watch this lively show.

Others might be afraid of the seven major forces, but he wasn't. At the beginning of the fight, Su Zhou had already notified Suiguang and Fuxiao, letting them take the children back to the warship to rest first, and leave directly if the situation looked bad.

Compared to the almost non-existent danger, it was better to see the current situation of the forces in this world with his own eyes.

But this world cannot be peaceful.

At least, there are some people who not only cannot be peaceful, but must actively go to the most dangerous place.

"Stop!"

Along with a roar and the sound of uniform footsteps, several teams of fully equipped guards filed in, rushing into the auction hall that had turned into a battlefield.

The muffled voice of the leader of the Divine Intent Realm guards came from his full-coverage helmet, filled with composed anger: "Fighting in public is prohibited. Violators will be arrested and detained by the Coastal Capital Enforcement Team!"

He is a 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized).

These enforcement teams are all 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized).

The major forces that were gathering momentum were all stunned. They looked at the direction of these enforcement teams, revealing mocking smiles.

"The war is about to come, and Coastal Capital still hasn't figured out the situation and remains neutral?"

The representative of the Southern Territory nobles sneered: "Ah, no wonder, they are 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized). Have their brains been eroded by the 魔化病 (Mo Hua Bing, Demonization Disease)? No wonder they are so ignorant."

"This is just a test. If Coastal Capital doesn't choose a side… next time, it won't just be us."

The others did not speak, but their meaning was almost the same—they simply looked down on these 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized), and looked down on the Coastal Capital enforcement team.

What they were waiting for was the attitude of the Farces family, who controlled Coastal Capital.

If not, then they would fight until they destroyed this uncontrolled city.

This was everyone's consensus, and they had no doubt that they could succeed.

After all, there were nearly ten Divine Intent Realm powerhouses, big and small, on the field, and the entire Coastal Capital Farces family had only this many Divine Intent Realm powerhouses combined. What could a 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized) guard captain do?

The answer is to burn his life.

Boom.

There was no rebuttal, no retaliation, and no ridicule.

There was no fear, no hatred, and no anger.

The entire 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized) enforcement team all drew their weapons at the same time. Various colors of source energy burst out on their bodies, and the terrifying erosion power plundered the source energy in the atmosphere, rapidly accelerating the depth of the 魔化症 (Mo Hua Zheng, Demonization) erosion.

Their eyes were bright, filled with unparalleled determination.

—魔化症 (Mo Hua Zheng, Demonization) is a blessing that is almost like a curse.

It can allow an ordinary person to gain power, making a practitioner's control of source energy more sensitive and more powerful.

However, it causes madness, causing people to accelerate their arrival at the place of death.

In contrast, 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized) can also actively accelerate this process, thereby quenching their thirst with poison, exchanging their lives for powerful strength in a short period of time. This is also the most thorough and crazy 'Berserk.'

With the most composed heart, doing the craziest thing.

The enforcement team captain was the same. He had reached the Divine Intent Realm, the erosion of 魔化症 (Mo Hua Zheng, Demonization) had stopped, and it would no longer spread. He had obtained the same lifespan and rights as a normal person. In Coastal Capital, he could even advance to the upper echelons, which was completely different from ordinary 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized).

But now, even if it couldn't be seen, with the outburst of source energy, it could be clearly sensed that black纹路 (wenlu, patterns) were spreading on his body, forming various mysterious and ancient patterns, thereby greatly increasing his strength.

"Are they crazy?! He is a Divine Intent Realm and he still catalyzes the 魔化病 (Mo Hua Bing, Demonization Disease) ?!"

"This guy, does he really not want his life?"

Instantly, everyone present changed their expressions. They simply couldn't understand why these 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized) would not hesitate to burn their lives to exchange for power, just to interrupt their confrontation.

The powerhouses of the Farces family hadn't even arrived yet. Why were these outsiders, these 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized) so excited?

But they will never understand that for some 魔化者 (Mo Hua Zhe, Demonized), sometimes, respect, even if it is only superficial respect, is as important as life, or even more important.

"Not allowed..."

At this moment, a voice that seemed to come from the throat sounded, and red light flashed in the gap of the helmet, piercing the air.

"You are destroying the peace of Coastal Capital… the peace of our home!"

A ferocious three-headed giant dog heart light body appeared behind the man wielding the long spear, and an aura approaching the peak of the Divine Intent Realm began to spread.

"Enforcement team, suppress them!"

He roared, raised his spear, preparing to directly lead his team to launch a charge.

However, just as he took a step, he felt an unparalleled force coming from his shoulder, pinning him in place like a nail hammered by a hammer.

"Cherish your life a little, and use it sparingly."

A voice that sounded somewhat annoyed, or even angry, rang out: "Although I can probably understand why you are desperate, to be honest, it's too rash."

The white-haired man strode out, passed their line, and walked to the front in the captain's dazed gaze, surveying the entire auction hall, and the divine wood core remaining in the center of the square.

"Coming to someone else's house and not trading fairly, not only wanting to rob but also wanting to gather a crowd to fight… As expected, none of you guys are good."

Su Zhou, who couldn't bear to watch any longer, threw the remaining fruit pit in his hand aside. He frowned, staring at those confused, seemingly unfamiliar with him, and didn't understand why an 'Aura Radiance Realm' old man would appear here with those powerful forces.

Then, he sighed: "I originally just wanted to eat melon seeds and watch dogs biting dogs, but I didn't expect it to involve innocent people."

"Since that's the case, I have no choice but to act righteously on behalf of heaven."

"Who are you, and why do you want to be our enemy?"

The military representative, who felt that Su Zhou looked unusually familiar, frowned. His gaze at Su Zhou was suspicious, vaguely holding a sense of unease.

But soon, he reacted: "No, you are Swete…"

Ka… Ka, boom!

But just as he was about to speak, a sharp tearing sound rang out, followed by a muffled thunder.

"I am not your enemy."

The atmosphere rippled like water waves, and the white-haired man stretched out his hand. In an instant, all the metal creations in the entire auction hall began to twist, vibrate, and then, under an inexplicable force, turned into blades, spears, axes, and halberds, flying towards Su Zhou, rapidly rotating around him: "But I am your enemy."

Casually reaching out, Su Zhou grabbed a metal giant bow, longer than a person, from the many weapons surrounding him, and casually drew out a short spear, and then, unreasonably, placed it on the bowstring: "Just an ordinary Zhuzhou (Candlelight) passing by."

Then, he released his hand, and let go of the spear.

A terrifying howl that tore apart the sound, causing the atmosphere and source energy to shatter, echoed in the hall, causing the entire core city to mourn.

"Remember it for me."

5400, a short chapter, asking for monthly tickets!