Who let him join the Sword Sect?!-Chapter 805 - 408: That’s How Journey to the West Is

No one cared about the small events in the Floating Mountain cat's den, as Zhang Ze followed Brother Monkey eastward for several miles, arriving beside a small river.

"Be careful."

After Brother Monkey spoke, he jumped over the river and stood on the opposite bank. His raised short stick buzzed, and a point of Spiritual Fire ignited at its tip.

As he shook the short stick, seemingly influenced by the Spiritual Fire, a withered tree covered in moss in front of Brother Monkey suddenly trembled.

Soon after, a fissure appeared before the group.

Moments later, the fissure widened, peeling open layer by layer like a bud, revealing a narrow passage just big enough for people to pass through.

"What's this?" Li, perched atop Zhang Ze's head, asked curiously.

"This is our Chang State's Mother Tree." Brother Monkey extinguished the Spiritual Fire and gestured for Zhang Ze and Li to follow him inside.

But Li didn't move; it sat on Zhang Ze's head, looking around and searching for a plant resembling the Mother Tree.

Yet around this area, aside from those on the Floating Mountain, there wasn't a single tree taller than three meters on the ground.

In Li's impression, a plant that could be called a Mother Tree would be at least as large as the giant tree in Spirit Deer Valley.

"Our Mother Tree grows underground." Brother Monkey's muffled voice came from the entrance of the withered tree.

Zhang Ze and Li exchanged glances and followed him inside.

As soon as they entered the small opening, the space suddenly expanded, the passage constructed from twisted, entwined roots was wide enough to walk several abreast.

Due to the sporadic glow from bioluminescent fungi between the roots, the tunnel was not dim.

"You're aware of the situation here in Chang State. There aren't many good places, so to survive a few more days, we must learn to coexist with other beings."

As he spoke, Brother Monkey tossed an unknown dried fruit into his little brother's mouth. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

According to Brother Monkey, the Mother Tree wasn't a single tree but a collective name for a large group of underground trees; its true name was unknown to Brother Monkey, only that it has existed beneath Chang State since ancient times.

"The Mother Tree's roots are interconnected, enabling one to traverse hundreds of miles instantly within."

"It's an underground labyrinth, and uniquely a teleportation array belonging to Chang State. Stay close, or you'll get lost," Brother Monkey warned.

Following Brother Monkey through the tunnel network resembling an ant colony, Zhang Ze clearly felt the rhythm of Spiritual Qi around them.

The boundary of the space was defined by the root-lined tunnel walls, allowing one to traverse a hundred miles swiftly.

"Why haven't I heard of this before?" Zhang Ze inquired.

"Probably because no one cares," Brother Monkey replied casually, "Most cultivators who come here are seasoned veterans who can easily fly between Floating Mountain and various parts of Chang State, unlike us."

"That reminds me, my grandfather once told me about a cultivator named Qin Lang who visited him hundreds of years ago, wanting to transplant this Mother Tree to Medicine King Valley.

"But for some reason, it never happened," Brother Monkey said.

"Could it be him?" Li whispered at Zhang Ze's ear after hearing Brother Monkey's story.

Zhang Ze replied, "Who else but Valley Master Qin could it be? The whole East Continent knows this guy loves digging everywhere."

Looking at the passage constructed by the Mother Tree's roots, Zhang Ze suspected Valley Master Qin might have some kind of feud with large trees.

His attempts to steal large trees haven't been very successful so far.

Not to mention this Mother Tree.

On the West Continent, signs prohibiting Qin Lang and the Medicine King Valley Master from entering are visible within three thousand miles surrounding the Holy Tree.

In Spirit Deer Valley, Old Sect Leader Li, being an old friend of Valley Master Qin, also guards against him vigilantly, with the giant tree watched twelve two-hour periods a day by both humans and the Sect Guardian Holy Beast.

What a sorrow.

While Zhang Ze mused over Valley Master Qin's tree-stealing ambitions, Li reached out and grabbed a small firefly, gulping it down to taste.

Hmm, flavorless.

"By the way, if someone damages these Mother Trees, what would you do?" Li, after stuffing two more fireflies into its mouth, suddenly asked.

"Nothing... I can't do anything," Brother Monkey didn't turn back, "Besides, no one would do that. My grandfather told me since young, children who hurt the Mother Tree would wet their beds, and adults who destroyed it would be crushed into meat paste by the Floating Mountain."

Listening, Zhang Ze raised his brow, thinking the Mother's curse is intelligent, even differentiating people.

Though is it based on age or height...

If Lily were to harm the tree, would she be considered a child or an adult?

Zhang Ze's thoughts spiraled, while Li quickly retracted its slightly unclean hand.

"Really?" Li asked sneakingly.

"I don't know," Brother Monkey shook his head, "That's just how adults always said it since I was little. Everything has a spirit, and being cautious never hurts."

"In Chang State, even when predators encounter prey within the Mother Tree, they wouldn't attack."

Just as Brother Monkey finished his sentence, a crack appeared in the tree roots ahead of them, and a completely black Cloud Spirit Leopard from Chang State jumped in.

Brother Monkey was about to instinctively reassure the two behind him not to be afraid, but then saw the Cloud Spirit Leopard suddenly shiver.

The Cloud Spirit Leopard folded its ears, crouching on the ground, wanting to hiss but not daring, wanting to meow but fearing losing face.

Brother Monkey turned to follow the Cloud Spirit Leopard's gaze to its source of fear—the Steel Egg Swallowing Sky Pangolin.

Li was busily hissing while poking the Cloud Spirit Leopard's ticklish spot with Dragon Power.

It was bored.

Zhang Ze patted Li's head, "Stop it, it didn't bite you, why are you hissing at it."

Brother Monkey, "..."

Brother Monkey remained silent, only feeling the depths of Steel Egg Swallowing Sky Pangolin.

...