Chapter 163: Saving the World

Qiya, a dignified Demon Commander in her own right, had witnessed quite a few lower realms utterly obliterated amidst raging storms and chaotic vortices, completely wiped out down to the last speck.

Such occurrences, however, were exceedingly rare.

Why the Tianwu Realm managed to run into such a catastrophe was anyone's guess.

Feeling somewhat perplexed, she turned her head and sent a voice transmission to Xinjing.

"Your Majesty, shall I go out and take a look?"

Xinjing shook her head. "There is no need. We just wait here!"

Even now, Xinjing remained utterly full of confidence in Zhu Xiaoyuan.

Zhu Xiaoyuan, on the other hand, was currently in a state of extreme shock.

What on earth was going on?

The Tianwu Realm was about to be destroyed?

Was this actually true or false?

If it turned out to be true, wouldn't his wonderfully leisurely days come to an end?

He certainly did not want to die right now!

Zhu Xiaoyuan felt somewhat faint all over.

Nevertheless, he tried his utmost to maintain his composure.

"Everyone, do not be agitated. Nothing has been finalized yet!"

"Changsun Chengluo humbly requests an audience with the Senior!"

Before Zhu Xiaoyuan could finish his sentence, a voice from outside the small courtyard interrupted him.

Changsun Chengluo and his group had arrived.

The situation was now extremely urgent, leaving them no leisure to care about anything else.

"Father!" Changsun Puyu blurted out the moment she saw him.

"Since it is your father, have him come right in," Zhu Xiaoyuan said.

Changsun Puyu immediately dashed to the entrance and pushed open the courtyard gates.

Led by Changsun Chengluo, a crowd of people walked in from outside.

Master Kongling, the Holy Lord of Ziyang...

One after another they filed through.

The moment Xianchen raised his head, he caught sight of Master Kongling and his entourage.

"Abbot..." he called out.

Master Kongling also spotted Xianchen before him, and upon seeing him, he could not help freezing in place.

The aura emanating from Xianchen... had actually become so crystalline and translucent?!

It was even more formidable than his own!

Could it be that he had already attained the realm of a Profound Immortal?

Before Master Kongling could utter a word, he was struck dumb by what he saw before his eyes.

Xianchen was still holding a broom in his hand.

He had not even put it down upon seeing the arrival of the honored guests.

This realization filled Master Kongling with even greater awe. Could it be that the fellow had been sweeping the floor in this little courtyard? And even sweeping floors could lead to becoming a Profound Immortal?

Master Kongling had no idea what to say in his heart.

However, such thoughts lasted merely for a fraction of a second.

Current events were far more critical than how Xianchen had managed to become a Profound Immortal.

That terrifying turbulent vortex was rapidly closing in on the Tianwu Realm!

The panic and despair gripping everyone's hearts grew intensely magnified!

Faced with so many people, Zhu Xiaoyuan felt profoundly uneasy inside.

Yet, now that the Tianwu Realm was facing destruction, what on earth could he do about it?

Zhu Xiaoyuan genuinely wanted to blurt out: I am not a cultivator at all, I cannot help you people...

However, looking at the group before him—men and women, young and old, gazing at him with pleading eyes, every single one of them panicked to the core—

The words stuck in his throat and refused to come out.

Even if one had to die, one had to do so with absolute grace and elegance.

He certainly could not afford to look flustered now.

After all, there were several beauties watching him right beside him!

Not to mention that little maidservant, exceptionally pretty, who was also gazing at him.

With so many eyes upon him, Zhu Xiaoyuan instantly made up his mind. Even if he were destined to die, he would not perish in an ungraceful manner!

At the very least, his death must be carried out with utmost refinement!

"Qiya, serve tea!"

He reached out and beckoned to his little maid.

Qiya was utterly stunned by Zhu Xiaoyuan's words. What time was it, pray tell? How could this man still remain so utterly nonchalant?

Was he truly that indifferent?

One had to bear in mind that while the turbulent vortex might not possess the power to slay the Master of Taboos, it was by no means an ordinary nuisance.

Yet this fellow actually wanted to drink tea at a time like this.

"As expected of Senior Zhu. To remain this calm even in the face of such a moment."

Seeing Zhu Xiaoyuan act in this manner, the Holy Lord of Ziyang could not help feeling a jolt of astonishment.

Changsun Chengluo was likewise exceedingly surprised.

"It seems that since he is this calm, he must be fully capable of ensuring the Tianwu Realm suffers not the slightest harm."

With so many disciples within the small courtyard, Zhu Xiaoyuan's supreme tranquility immediately set all their minds completely at ease.

Qiya filled the teacup for Zhu Xiaoyuan.

Taking the cup from Qiya's hands, Zhu Xiaoyuan walked toward the side, intending to take a sip, only to discover that the tea within was ice-cold.

Everyone was still watching Zhu Xiaoyuan, causing his inner anxiety to flare up once more.

Nevertheless, putting on a brave front, he poured the cold tea onto a tiny sapling nearby.

This tiny sapling happened to be the one he had picked up earlier.

The one he had casually planted right next to the peach tree.

Every single person was watching Zhu Xiaoyuan with eager, expectant eyes!

Now, upon catching sight of that tiny sapling, everyone froze in absolute astonishment.

Without even blinking, their gazes locked straight ahead.

That little sapling made every single one of them drop their jaws in disbelief!

"What on earth is this? Why does it give me such an overwhelming urge to pay homage and worship with utmost reverence?" Master Kongling stared at the sapling and could not help exclaiming.

"I can sense that the spiritual energy within my own body shares an intricate, thousand-fold connection with this tree... Could this possibly be the World Tree of the Tianwu Realm?"

The Holy Lord of Ziyang tentatively voiced his thought.

Upon hearing this, Changsun Chengluo suddenly widened his eyes in shock.

"The World... Tree?"

This was the World Tree?

Impossible!

As soon as these words left his mouth, the Holy Lord of Ziyang and the others were thoroughly terrified!

"The World Tree is actually right here!"

"Wasn't the World Tree being hunted by some unknown entity previously? It fled all the way toward the Southern Barbarians, and it was only because of the assistance of some mysterious existence that the World Tree managed to survive."

"Seen in this light, that mysterious existence must be Senior Zhu!"

"Didn't they say the World Tree cannot survive once separated from its origin? Then what is the story behind this little sapling before us?"

Everyone inside the courtyard remained rooted in profound shock.

They could never have imagined that the World Tree would be located right here, nor could they fathom that Senior Zhu was actually capable of nurturing and sustaining the World Tree!

This World Tree was the very foundation of the Tianwu Realm.

As long as the World Tree endured, the Tianwu Realm would persist; if the World Tree were destroyed, the Tianwu Realm would cease to exist!

"Good heavens, this is terrifying beyond belief. I never expected Senior's capabilities to be this unfathomable!"

"I'm afraid Senior's realm is simply beyond anything we could ever imagine..."

The crowd gasped in utter awe!

Just moments ago, Zhu Xiaoyuan had merely poured a cup of cold tea over the tiny sapling, yet the sapling, which had already looked full of vitality, now radiated an even more exuberant burst of life.

Before their very eyes, a tiny new leaf sprouted in the blink of an eye.

Everyone was struck with an even greater wave of shock!

"A mere cup of tea was actually enough to make the World Tree burst forth with such boundless vitality!"

"Unbelievable! Senior Zhu's abilities are terrifyingly monstrous!"

In that instant, all present could feel various mysterious Dao principles and laws manifesting around them—the very embodiment of the operation of heaven and earth...

Right at this very moment!