Chapter 885 Now, I Am Also a Zhuzhou

The star was enveloped.

On the golden, scorching sphere, over 1.4 million kilometers in diameter, the corona, reaching millions of degrees, erupted continuously. Like a fountain, it surged hundreds of thousands of kilometers into space, unleashing immense heat and sparse solar material. If this hurricane were to directly hit a planet at close range, it could instantly melt everything on its surface, turning it into a vast piece of space glass.

But now, such a volatile star was enveloped, pierced and covered by countless dense, bronze-colored roots, painting it with their own hue.

Three-quarters of it had sunk into a dark dimness, with only a few spots of light shining through the sparser areas of the roots.

The wriggling plant roots not only covered but also penetrated deep into the star's interior. It was drawing the star's matter and regulating the nuclear reactions inside this main-sequence star, making it burn more stably and last longer.

And the remaining quarter was not that the roots themselves couldn't cover it, but that He deliberately left it out, allowing light to shine on a star.

Not only that.

Outside the tangled root system enveloping the star, there were many broken spacetime structures resembling jets. Glimmers of cyan light overflowed from them, and a large amount of pure material dust flowed out, forming a vast river of matter.

This river flowed from the other side of spacetime, eventually submerging into the root system, causing it to grow stronger.

The essence of this river of matter was the spirit-state root system that traversed spacetime. The master of the roots was using the energy of a star to fold spacetime, dissolving one planet after another hundreds of light-years away, or drawing rare, high-spirit resources from the vast sea of nebulae.

From a cultivator's perspective, at this moment, the originally faint cyan aura of spiritual energy within the entire planetary system had completely turned cyan-green. Unattributed spiritual energy and the golden Great Sun True Flame had all transformed into Jia Wood essence, spewing out storms and sweeping across the universe's metallic orifices.

It was a tree.

A divine tree named Panrong Undying Tree, inspired by a certain traveler from another world, noticed by a great being, and 'helped' by many explorers of the Pioneer Space before and after, had grown to its limit, extending its life into the 'starry sky'—a genuine starry sky divine tree.

And a man stood in the starry sky, gazing.

A star that could have shone for billions of years was captured and devoured by a divine tree no more than a few hundred years old, causing the light that should have illuminated the surrounding universe to be used entirely for its own benefit.

It was hard to imagine, hard to understand.

It was also hard not to admire, hard not to yearn for.

Zhou Buyi stood in the void. Before him was the Undying Divine Tree, which had already extended its tentacles into other galaxies, flowering, bearing fruit, and expanding its domain in many timelines.

Behind the man was the immensely radiant jet flame of the Seventh Universe Immigration Fleet of the Tianzheng Alliance. The silver-blue flames drew a bright arc in the dark universe, a light even more dazzling than the sun itself, the materialized desire of humans to advance beyond the heavens and earth.

The empty vacuum suddenly erupted with a spacetime tremor. Wormholes were opened. The super-technology of the otherworld explorers allowed the Tianzheng Alliance to develop interstellar colonization ships in less than two hundred years.

Of course, there was also the reason that the Tianzheng Alliance had never wasted any effort or resources on internal strife.

[Why?]

Such a vast voice, accompanied by an incomparably scorching torrent of light, came surging. This ultra-high-intensity energy fluctuation, enough to scorch and melt ordinary planets, could not make the man named Zhou Buyi flinch in the slightest. Even the corners of his clothes were fixed in place, as his name suggested, unmoved by the solar wind.

This was the divine tree's doubt, the divine tree's words, a fluctuation that only another divine tree could hear and sense. Zhou Buyi, as the existence of the Continuing Past Divine Tree, knew the confusion of his own kind: [Why always leave, heading to the distant other side?]

This was indeed worth questioning.

The divine tree had never been an enemy of humans from beginning to end—what killed humans was only their own hearts.

The cyan-green wood-type spiritual energy that filled the entire solar system, while cutting off the cycle of the five elements to a certain extent, was not a kind of expulsion, but a complete embrace—the divine tree would replace the star, becoming the complete source of the entire ecosystem. On the many planets infected by the power of the divine tree, many divine tree dependents would be born.

Humans were dependents of the sun, so why couldn't they be dependents of the divine tree? The Panrong Undying Tree originally thought that humans were so repulsed by the divine tree because of the legend of the ancient Demon Emperor, but in recent years, through exchanges with his fellow kind named 'Continuing Past', he discovered that the truth was not so.

Humans were not repulsed by themselves, so why did they have to leave?

"Eternal divine tree..."

With a light sigh, the man couldn't help but reveal a helpless smile when facing the starry sky divine tree, but this smile was more of a reserved pride than helplessness: "We are not leaving."

Zhou Buyi raised his head, looking up at the universe's starry sky. This infinitely vast and dim spacetime was so vast that even a divine tree capable of enveloping stars would need an extremely long time to explore even a tenth of the Milky Way.

Humans were small, and divine trees were also small. Compared to infinity, any finite thing was small.

But, just like humans were a species that would use their finite lives, finite wisdom, finite cognition, and finite energy to explore infinite knowledge, seek infinite wisdom, recognize the infinite universe, and admit infinite unknowns.

Since the beginning of wisdom, the human species had endowed itself with a kind of innate destiny.

"That is to explore more possibilities."

Zhou Buyi said: "We don't want to escape the shade of your wide branches, Panrong Undying Tree, this is not a question of willingness."

"But we want to have a choice not to live in the shade."

"A possibility."

[...] Understood]

And the divine tree conveyed a fluctuation mixed with realization and relief. This divine tree was born because of human desire, grew because of human desire, opened its wisdom because of human desire, and chose to look forward to the starry sky because of human desire, rather than being like thousands of its kind, secluded in a corner of the world.

He could naturally understand the desire churning in the hearts of the humans before him, and the hundreds of millions of humans behind him who were focusing their gazes on the distant galaxy.

[But it's also hard to understand]

This divine tree that enveloped the star also followed Zhou Buyi's gaze, looking towards the distant stars. He slowly said: [Because they are unwilling to accept the fate of being shaded by my tree; because of the destiny of exploring more possibilities that humans have given themselves]

[Humans choose to resist one destiny, to carry out another destiny—as if from beginning to end, they have always been shrouded in the so-called destiny]

"Indeed."

Lowering his head, Zhou Buyi did not refute. He simply stared at his open palm and said faintly: "Being sheltered by you, and then following your Void Breaking Root to other planets, developing slowly; or being forced to advance under your pressure, actively heading to the distant other side of spacetime."

"These all seem to be choices... and as long as a choice is made, that is destiny."

Facing the distant divine tree, the starry sky divine tree that only enveloped three-quarters of the sun at the moment resembled a scorching, bright eyeball. Zhou Buyi smiled: "And who can make choices? Isn't it still we humans ourselves—and the reason why humans choose is because of personality and belief."

"That is already enough. Acknowledge the choices you make, work hard for the results you want, in the end, what's the point of caring about destiny or not?"

[Truly amazing]

The Panrong Undying Tree exclaimed: [Perhaps in the future, you really have the possibility of becoming a divine tree even more powerful than me]

"If there are no miracles." Zhou Buyi smiled: "I'm afraid it's unlikely—I originally achieved the divine tree by imitating you, and my aptitude is not top-notch. Surpassing you, who has already been ahead for hundreds of years, is still a bit difficult after all."

The two were silent at this moment.

Zhou Buyi turned his head and looked at the Tianzheng Alliance immigration fleet's home port on Mars.

Before him was a port spanning the stars, carrying the future hope of mankind. The eternally surging exploration fleet emerged from it, and even the brilliance of the Tai Xu Star could not obscure its tail flame.

This endless pursuit and advance might be the destiny of mankind.

Ever since the Hundred Families Alliance defeated the Demon Emperor, created the Tianzheng Alliance, and ushered in the subsequent Great Space Exploration Era, and the subsequent 'Pioneer Space Explorer Great Era', such a destiny seemed to have been created.

In order to maintain a piece of self-retained land for mankind from the constantly expanding domain of the divine tree, the Tianzheng Alliance went to the moon, went to Mars, and established a fuel relay station at Jupiter, creating an unprecedented civilization spanning the entire solar system.

Although the price for all of this was the expansion of giant enterprises in various aerospace engineering fields, and even the control of many key departments within the alliance... but surprisingly, these giant enterprises did not truly corrupt and degenerate to the so-called 'cyberpunk' level.

They did have privileges, but these privileges were also obtained through work, technology, and the endless exploration experience.

Some say that all of this was because many knights with extraordinary powers threatened the top leaders of those high-ranking giant enterprises.

Some say that all of this was because of the changes brought about by the Pioneer Space Explorers from another universe, which made many giant enterprises aware of the existence of 'external forces'.

Still others say that behind this peace, there is actually a strong man who has been committed to maintaining peace since the founding of the alliance, secretly suppressing all the big enterprise leaders who have developed different ideas.

In fact, all three are right.

In order to accelerate the development of technology, Zhou Buyi single-handedly created giant enterprises. At the same time, the legacy of the Demon Subduing Bureau of the past also became a knightly force spreading throughout the Tianzheng Alliance.

Humanity's noble moral ideals restrain the barbaric growth of human desire.

And the Pioneer Space Explorers from other worlds, those who intend to obtain resources from giant enterprises, intend to obtain cultivation methods from the Knight Alliance, and want to explore the truth of this world's background.

They will bring the scenery of the distant, superior technology, and a seed called hope.

Now, the seeds have blossomed and borne fruit, the starry sky divine tree has covered the stars, and the immigration fleet that is enough for humans to traverse the stars will also bring the long-lasting foundation of humans to every corner of the universe.

Zhou Buyi, the guardian behind the scenes of the Tianzheng Alliance, who was called 'Shadow Divine Tree', 'Alliance Guardian', and 'Hidden Boss' by many Pioneer Explorers, can finally temporarily put down his responsibilities.

Try... like a real divine tree, together with the Panrong Undying Tree, use his almost eternal life to stare at the twinkling of every star in the starry sky.

Of course.

Zhou Buyi is human.

And as a human, it is difficult to learn to wait as easily as trees.

As a human, it is difficult to refuse other people's invitations, such as invitations like 'go out for a walk' and 'have a meal together'.

Most importantly, Zhou Buyi has a friend who is the number one expert in the heavens and the earth and the multiverse.

With such a friend, it is impossible to live a peaceful life.

So he heard the call.

"I need your help with something!"

Coming from the other side of the unknowable void, the voice seemed to be from before the ancient times, and from after the distant times, with a smile, issued an invitation to Zhou Buyi, who was planning to visit the divine tree Dyson sphere: "I have a group of people here who are troubled by fate and need your help—don't worry, I will block all the other gods for you, and you only need to..."

"Just need to change the world."

Without the slightest hesitation, it seemed that he had known for a long time that he would hear such a voice one day.

The man who was about to rest raised his head, and the light in his eyes shone brightly.

Zhou Buyi looked up at the top of the void, and he laughed loudly: "Su Zhou, it's rare for you to invite me. Your news is everywhere in the Pioneer Space. You've been doing a lot of big things recently."

Without waiting for Su Zhou to reply, the man said firmly: "Your invitation, how can it not be a big deal? In the past, you came and helped us open up a new path, and I will naturally help you."

"I promise."

"... Okay."

Hearing such a straightforward reply, even Su Zhou felt happy, and immediately, supreme divine power ran through time and space, and a silver time and space gate appeared in front of Zhou Buyi with the Celestial God scale as a guide: "Aren't you afraid of danger?"

And Zhou Buyi asked back: "When you decided to fight the Demon Emperor and decide the outcome with me, were you afraid of danger?"

Although it was a question to answer the question, it was indeed a very good answer.

[Goodbye, Zhou Buyi]

Facing this time-space gate, the Panrong Undying Tree said: [And hello, Su Zhou]

He was not surprised at all, but rather, what could surprise the divine tree?

After all, everything that exists and everything that happens is reasonable.

"Hello, Panrong Undying Tree." Su Zhou replied easily: "This time it's a bit hasty. Next time, I will also invite you to go out and play."

"By the way, have you heard of Zhuzhou Tian?"

...

Just when Su Zhou was recommending Zhuzhou Tian to Panrong Undying Tree and hoping that He would help build the Zhuzhou Tian office in the divine tree world.

With a burst of bright light, Zhou Buyi arrived at the time and space that called him.

——Overture Era·Great Cadolan Desert——

A heavily wounded guard, bleeding from his abdomen, was gently panting at the bottom of a sand dune, supported by a princess in a gorgeous long dress.

The guard had exhausted all his energy fighting the assassins who had come to attack before, and in order to stabilize the guard's injuries, the princess took the initiative to tear her long skirt, using the smooth silk to bandage the guard's wounds, and supported her fatigue, chanting healing ballads again and again, hoping to restore some physical strength to the guard.

"I can still fight." After resting for a while, the guard, Alan, stood up strongly, he wanted to hold his sword tightly, even if the princess Eve on the side looked worried.

"You can't." She said, wanting to press the guard back: "Give me the sword, I can still chant miracles, and I still have combat power."

"How can I let the princess go into battle..." Alan naturally didn't want to, but just now using sand and soil to build an altar and chant summoning songs had really exhausted all of his remaining physical strength.

But he still insisted: "You can't let you use miracles—it doesn't matter if I die, Your Highness, you must protect yourself, don't expose yourself, and wait for the king's reinforcements!"

Anyway, it was a desperate situation, so how could he really let the princess show the fluctuations of miracles, expose her position to the Lower Elan Kingdom, and attract a new batch of assassins?

Alan already had the will to die, otherwise, he would not have listened to the suddenly appearing oracle fluctuations in his heart and prayed to heaven.

"Without you, it would be impossible for me to walk out of the desert alone."

Eve did not think so, this strong lady dared to fight, and never felt that her blood had any special value, she had already made up her mind that even if she exposed her position, she must use a great miracle, and could not let this guard who protected her with his life die in front of her.

Just as the two were trying to persuade each other.

A gate of silver light opened.

Alan waited for the 'helper' he hoped for.

He also waited for the person who would change the world, replace fate, and bring new choices.

"What a desolate world."

The man with black hair and green eyes walked out of the gate with a smile, he looked around the entire Chapter World, the ancient Ilotar continent.

He turned his head and looked at the guard and princess who were staring blankly, looking at himself with four eyes.

The man who had saved the world with heroes and led the civilization forward in the long years stretched out his hand to them: "So you are the ones who summoned me? Nice to meet you, my name is Zhou Buyi."

"I..."

The guard Alan nodded blankly, enduring the pain, and stretched out his hand: "My name is Alan..."

"My name is Eve." And the princess on the other side also stretched out her hand generously, and the two took turns shaking hands with Zhou Buyi: "May I ask, who are you..."

"Me?" And the man raised his eyebrows, he thought about it seriously for a while, and then said seriously: "According to that guy, I should be considered..."

"Zhuzhou."

"Now, I am also a Zhuzhou."