I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 305 The Ancient Pact
It was impossible to describe how big the tree was, because Chen Ming couldn't see its entirety; he could only see a huge section of its trunk, and beyond that, it was obscured by clouds and mist.

One of its leaves is as big as half a basketball court.

A single branch extends for who knows how many miles.

The folds between the bark of the tree are large enough to accommodate a person.

"Could this be the legendary World Tree?"

Such a thought flashed through Chen Ming's mind as the vine pulled him upwards. In the blink of an eye, they had entered the clouds, and all he could see was a vast expanse of white.

He dared not look at it from the perspective of a Yin spirit, but he could still feel the magnificent vitality of the giant tree, as if it had merged with the whole world.

Whoosh!
Finally, he passed through the clouds, and a huge tree canopy came into view.

He was pulled onto one of the leaves, where an incredibly strong vine bound him tightly, rendering him unable to move.

He tried to circulate his inner energy to break free from the vine, but as soon as he did, it would vanish into thin air. He couldn't budge the vine at all.

"Kid, stop struggling, it's no use."

Suddenly, an old voice reached my ears.

Chen Ming tried to turn his head, but found himself completely frozen. "Who?"

The aged voice said, "Just like you, someone trapped here."

"Senior, where is this place? And what kind of tree is this?"

"You have so many questions."

"I apologize, it was my rudeness."

The aged voice muttered to itself, "Strange, you're only a first-grade cultivator, yet you were sent here? Could it be that that mixed-blood wild chicken finally couldn't suppress its two conflicting bloodlines and is about to die?"

"Hey kid, I'm asking you a question."

Chen Ming said, "Yes and no."

"What do you mean by that? Don't try to be mysterious."

“Something has happened outside.”

Chen Ming gave a general account of what was happening outside, but omitted some key details.

The aged voice burst into wild laughter, "Hahaha, that pheasant has finally met its match! Having suffered such a severe blow, its bloodline power will soon be unbalanced, and it's not far from death, hahaha..."

After he finished laughing, Chen Ming asked, "May I ask how you should be addressed, senior?"

"My surname is Wang, but I've long forgotten my given name."

"Please tell me, senior, where is this place?"

"You've brought good news, and I'm in a good mood, so I'll tell you. This place is a secret realm within Bliss Island. As for this tree, you can understand it as the embodiment of the Dao of this secret realm."

"So it really is the World Tree."

"World Tree? That name is quite fitting."

Chen Ming asked, "Senior, do you have a way to break free from these constraints and leave this place?"

Old Man Wang sneered, "If I had a way, I would have left long ago. Why would I be trapped here for over a hundred years?"

"What I mean is, in your experience, is there any way to leave?"

"Hahaha, you've got quite the big mouth, kid. You think you, a mere rank one, can accomplish what even I can't do?"

"That's not what I meant. One person's opinion is limited. Perhaps I can offer some humble suggestions."

"You're certainly no ordinary lad. You speak modestly, but you're actually extremely confident. I'm quite curious, where does your confidence come from? Well then—"

Old Man Wang said, "This giant tree has merged with the core of this secret realm and become the embodiment of the laws. Unless a powerhouse at the Life Palace Realm makes a move, once trapped under the Divine Treasury, one's magical power will be continuously absorbed and become nourishment for this giant tree."

"The more you struggle, the faster your magic power will be absorbed. With your strength, trying to forcefully break through this vine is simply a pipe dream."

"There is only one way to escape: awaken the consciousness of this giant tree and make it release us on its own."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming asked curiously, "Has this giant tree developed consciousness?"

"This was originally a demon tree, belonging to the category of demons. Otherwise, how could it have eroded the entire secret realm and completely become its nourishment? It and that mixed-blood pheasant belong to the same demon race, which is why it obeys its orders and traps all living beings that enter this secret realm."

"A demon?"

Chen Ming's heart skipped a beat.

Old Man Wang continued, "This tree spirit usually falls into a deep sleep and rarely wakes up. I've been imprisoned here for over a hundred years, and it has only woken up once."

Chen Ming tentatively asked, "Why were you imprisoned here, senior?"

Old Man Wang had probably not talked to anyone for a long time, and once he started talking, he couldn't stop. "Telling you won't hurt. I come from the number one city in the world. I accidentally learned that there was an unclaimed immortal mansion on this paradise island, so I wanted to explore it. Who knew that I was ambushed and trapped here."

The number one city under heaven?
Chen Ming was a little surprised. If he remembered correctly, the powerful figure who created the number one city in the world had some connection with Paradise Island.

This city, which single-handedly resisted two countries and still managed to maintain its independence, is a household name.

"Senior, you are actually from the number one city in the world. I have long heard of your reputation."

"More than a hundred years have passed, what is the number one city under heaven like now?"

"Although I have never been there, the reputation of the number one city under heaven remains."

"That's good. Alright, kid, have you come up with any foolish ideas?" The old man's tone changed abruptly, becoming sarcastic.

Chen Ming said, "Perhaps, I can give it a try."

Then, he closed his eyes, activated the "Beast Taming Technique," and attempted to communicate with the "World Tree."

The "Beast Taming Technique" originates from the "Demon Transformation Technique." Theoretically, it can control all kinds of demons. Tree demons are also demons, so it should be possible, right?
"Hello... Hello... Hello..."

He vaguely sensed an immense and colossal consciousness; before this vast being, he felt as insignificant as an insect.

He kept calling out.

Suddenly, that vast consciousness reacted, "Hmm?"

A single response nearly annihilated his consciousness.

……

Boom!

The enormous tree suddenly trembled.

"what's the situation?"

Old Man Wang was somewhat surprised and doubtful. The tree had really moved; was it a coincidence, or—

Whoosh!
Just as Chen Ming felt his consciousness was about to be extinguished, like a candle flickering in the wind, a gentle force surged over him, stabilizing his consciousness once again.

"You—finally—have—come—"

A powerful thought resounded in his consciousness, and before his eyes appeared an enormous, wrinkled, and grotesque face.

The face was enormous; one of its eyes was bigger than the entire person.

finally come?

What does it mean?
Chen Ming was somewhat puzzled. "What do you mean, senior? Did you know I was coming?"

"According to the ancient agreement," the giant tree's face said, enunciating each word clearly, "I will give you that thing."

Then, a huge circular object fell from above, seemingly containing a powerful life force.

Chen Ming looked at the object that resembled a fruit in front of him, swallowed hard, and asked, "Please enlighten me, senior, what is the agreement?"

"The ancient covenant from eight thousand years ago" Eight thousand years ago?

Chen Ming felt a chill run down his spine, and couldn't help but think of one person: the Immortal Emperor!
Could it be the "Five Elements True Skill"?
His only connection to the Immortal Emperor is this divine skill.

"The agreement is now fulfilled. You may leave."

……

Chen Ming's consciousness returned to his body, and he was pleasantly surprised to find that the vines binding him had disappeared, and the huge "fruit" had also vanished.

Where did it go?
Just as he was wondering what was going on, he suddenly heard a surprised voice, "Kid, how did you do that?"

Then, in a flash, a gaunt old man appeared, his clothes tattered and his body thin and bony, like a dried corpse.

Seeing his miserable state, Chen Ming quickly said, "Senior Wang, let's leave this place first."

"Yes, let's get out of this awful place first."

Then, the two of them stared at each other.

Old Wang urged, "Let's go."

Chen Ming smiled wryly, "I don't know how to leave either. Never mind, I'll ask around."

He tried to communicate with the consciousness of the "World Tree" again, "Senior, how do I leave this secret realm?"

A gust of wind blew by, and a whisper reached my ear.

Chen Ming suddenly realized and said, "Senior Wang, let's go."

Old Man Wang was still wondering who he was going to ask, but when he saw him close his eyes and after a few breaths seemed to know how to leave, his doubts deepened.

"Kid, can you really communicate with the consciousness of this tree? It let you leave so easily?"

"correct."

Chen Ming led the extremely weak old man to the very center of the tree canopy.

"what?"

Suddenly, he noticed a sword stuck in one of the branches, its blade gleaming coldly. A thought struck him, and he went over and pulled it out.

This is actually an unparalleled divine weapon!
Chen Ming was pleasantly surprised to find a divine weapon with the words "Emperor Moon" engraved on the hilt.

Old Man Wang glanced at it and said in surprise, "The Emperor Moon Sword? I never thought that this divine weapon would be left here."

Chen Ming humbly inquired, "Is this sword very famous?"

"The former imperial family possessed three divine weapons: the Emperor Sun Blade, the Emperor Moon Sword, and the Emperor Star Spear. It is said that they were personally forged by the founding emperor of the former dynasty and enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple after he established his rule over the world. After the fall of the former dynasty, the whereabouts of these three divine weapons became unknown."

So those were the three imperial weapons!
Chen Ming suddenly realized that he had heard of those three divine weapons, but he didn't know their names. It was said that these three imperial weapons all contained the fortune of the previous dynasty, and were destroyed with the fall of the previous dynasty.

In retrospect, this claim is clearly a later fabrication.

Old Wang looked him up and down and said, "Your luck is indeed extraordinary."

"Let's go."

Chen Ming didn't say much and continued on his way. He was just missing a weapon; his original one was long gone.

With this divine weapon, his strength increased by 20%. His chances of winning against a Divine Realm expert are now much greater.

Old Man Wang seemed to have no interest in the divine weapon and tacitly agreed that it belonged to him.

……

Before long, the two arrived at the very center of the tree canopy, where they saw a bottomless hole.

This World Tree is actually hollow?

"If I jump, I can get away from here."

Chen Ming said something, and without hesitation, jumped down.

Old Man Wang jumped down after him.

The sound of the wind grew louder and louder in my ears.

When the speed reached a certain limit, his body seemed to pass through a thin membrane, and his vision suddenly brightened.

He opened his eyes and found himself in a cave.

In the blink of an eye, Old Man Wang appeared beside him.

"Finally, we're leaving that awful place!" Old Wang said, his voice choked with emotion, a mixture of laughter and tears.

Chen Ming could understand his feelings. After being trapped for more than a hundred years, he was finally able to escape. No one could remain calm.

He asked, "What are your plans next, senior?"

Old Man Wang quickly calmed down and suddenly said, "You don't seem like someone from Paradise Island."

"Senior, you have keen insight. I am from the Great Jin Dynasty. My purpose in venturing into Paradise Island is to save people."

"Well, I'm going to cause trouble for that pheasant. You can take this opportunity to save people." Old Man Wang clearly hated the island's guardian beast to the core, and as soon as he was freed, he wanted to go and cause it trouble.

Chen Ming advised, "Senior has been trapped for over a hundred years. Why not find a place to recuperate and wait until your cultivation is restored before seeking revenge?"

"Now is its weakest moment, so seize the opportunity. Boy, here you go. If you ever run into trouble in the future, come find me at the Azure Dragon Gate of the Number One City Under Heaven."

Chen Ming caught something that Old Man Wang threw to him. Looking down, he saw it was a token with the character "青" (qing, meaning green) engraved on one side and the character "龙" (long, meaning dragon) engraved on the other.

When I looked up again, Old Man Wang had vanished.

She has a really fiery temper.

He shook his head and left.

……

Inside an uninhabited cave.

Chen Ming sat cross-legged on the ground, placed the "Emperor Moon Sword" across his lap, and activated the "Weapon Control Technique" to try to communicate with the sword spirit.

After a long time.

He opened his eyes, somewhat regretfully.

It seems the sword spirit of this sword has dissipated. It's unclear whether this is because it was overexerted by its previous owner, or because the previous dynasty has fallen and its fortune has dissipated.

However, its inherent strength remains, and the sword contains a powerful force.

This power is far stronger than the "Mingfeng Sword," "Taiyue Sword," and "Hanchi Sword." It truly deserves to be one of the most famous divine weapons of the previous dynasty's royal family.

If used properly, the power within the sword is enough to kill a Divine Realm expert.

Chen Ming nurtured the sword and then began searching for the trace of the enormous fruit.

"not--"

He focused his mind on his body and indeed found that there was something new in his Yin spirit, which was the huge fruit.

This fruit, like the Jade Book of the Purple Mansion, exists between reality and illusion, and can even be hidden within the Yin God.

What's even more amazing is that he himself couldn't feel it, and he wouldn't have been able to discover its existence if he hadn't used internal vision.

"What exactly is this fruit? And what is this so-called ancient covenant?"

Thinking of this, Chen Ming couldn't help but sigh.

It seems that he has inevitably become entangled in this enormous cause and effect.

(End of this chapter)