Reincarnated as a Ginkgo Tree: I Create an Eternal Divine Kingdom - Chapter 101

Misty Forbidden Zone.

Before the Qingzhou Sword’s attack, countless beasts, upon realizing the danger, were desperately trying to flee. However, when they witnessed the forbidden existence within the Misty Forbidden Zone blocking the Qingzhou Sword, many of them changed their minds. Even though the area was dangerous, they decided to stay.

The Misty Forbidden Zone was a place that could resist a national treasure; if they could establish themselves here, there would be no safer place in the world for them. For these beasts, Su Mu had no intention of continuing the slaughter.

As his level increased, the Misty Forbidden Zone was constantly expanding, indeed requiring more beasts to fill the space. On the other hand, for those beasts that chose to flee, he killed as many as he could. As a result, when everything settled down, Su Mu gained an additional 90,000 years of lifespan.

As for the original inhabitants of the Misty Forbidden Zone, their sense of belonging to the zone grew even stronger. They now took pride in being part of the Misty Forbidden Zone.

At the core of the Misty Forbidden Zone.

The key subordinates gathered under the ginkgo tree, their gazes fixed on a three-foot-long green sword. Whether human or beast, any intelligent being had heard of the legendary Qingzhou Sword.

It was a crucial weapon of the Great Xia Dynasty, a legendary ultimate killing tool of the human race. None of them had ever expected to see such a thing, especially within the Misty Forbidden Zone. The few humans present found it all surreal, but it was the truth.

“What level of human weapon is this?” Xueling Diao asked curiously.

Lin Che, with a serious expression, replied, “No, this is not just a weapon; it surpasses the level of an ordinary artifact. Only a magic treasure could possess such world-shattering power…” He paused abruptly. As a human, he had always felt a certain pride in the existence of Great Xia’s national treasures. But now, the situation was different.

The Qingzhou Sword had been captured by the Divine Tree. So what if it was a magic treasure? It was still insignificant before the Divine Tree.

Su Mu did not underestimate the Qingzhou Sword. The sword, indeed, was extraordinary. He had managed to capture it solely because there was no powerful figure wielding it. If a Nascent Soul powerhouse had wielded the Qingzhou Sword, it might have posed a real threat to him. In fact, before his recent advancement, he wouldn’t have been able to handle it so easily.

The Qingzhou Sword had no direct use for Su Mu. However, he could keep it and potentially reward one of his subordinates with it in the future. For now, he casually placed the Qingzhou Sword on a branch.

“Divine Tree Lord,” Huang Shuling said at this moment, “Green Hills Mansion dared to use the Qingzhou Sword against the Misty Forbidden Zone. I think they must be insane.”

“Hmph, whether they’re truly insane or not, this matter cannot be left unresolved,” the Purple-Gold Mosquito snorted coldly.

“Should we go and demand an explanation from Green Hills Mansion?” Huang Shuling suggested.

“We can ask for an explanation and demand they hand over the person who ordered the use of the Qingzhou Sword,” Su Mu said, “but there’s no need to wait for their response. Regardless of their reasons, they must pay for this.”

Over the past year, he had been restraining the beasts of the Misty Forbidden Zone from harming Green Hills Mansion’s interests. Because of this mutual restraint, both sides had managed to coexist peacefully until now. But now, regardless of what lay behind Green Hills Mansion’s actions, they had broken this mutual understanding. Once such an understanding is broken, it can never be restored to its original state.

“Divine Tree Lord,” the Ironback Ape said excitedly, “are we going to launch an attack on a human city?”

Before he could finish speaking, his head was smacked by Huang Shuling.

“You fool, what are you thinking?” Huang Shuling scolded. “The closest city to us is Su City, which belongs to Sister Su Yao. Are you planning to massacre Su City?”

The Ironback Ape’s smile froze.

“Human leaders never care about the lives of commoners,” Su Mu remarked. Having been human himself, he was well aware of the darker side of human nature. It wasn’t the common people who had ordered the activation of the Qingzhou Sword, but the human elites.

Therefore, his retaliation should be directed at the human elites, not the common people. Massacring a city and killing ordinary civilians would not significantly impact the interests of the human elites. The nobles of Green Hills Mansion likely wouldn’t care much either.

Huang Shuling and Lin Che were both taken aback. They hadn’t expected the Divine Tree Lord to understand humans so well. However, they didn’t doubt it. After all, they believed the Divine Tree Lord to be a being from ancient times, one who had undoubtedly encountered many humans in the past. It was only natural for him to understand them.

“Humans are indeed as the Divine Tree Lord says,” Lin Che agreed. “Massacring a city would only harm innocent civilians and have little impact on the interests of the human elites. The nobles of Green Hills Mansion are more concerned with their careers and power.”

“Then how can we affect their careers and power?” Mist asked, puzzled.

“Territory,” Lin Che replied. “What determines their power is the Great Xia Empire, and what the empire cares most about is its territory. So, if we seize Green Hills Mansion’s territory, the nobles will certainly be held accountable and could even lose their positions. That is what they fear most.”

“Then let’s do that,” Su Mu said calmly. “Starting from this moment, we will completely unify the Ancient Wilderness Mountain Range and the surrounding mountain regions, driving out all human forces. Also, the Sui River will completely annex the Wushui River. From now on, there will be no Wushui River, only the Sui River!”

Huang Shuling and Lin Che were both secretly shocked. The Wushui River was 189 miles long; if it were completely annexed by the Misty Forbidden Zone, it would be like cutting flesh from the Green Hills Mansion, and even the Great Xia Empire.

Meanwhile, at Green Hills Mansion.

The moment the Qingzhou Sword was launched, the people of Green Hills Mansion noticed the unusual event.

“This is bad!”

“It’s targeting the Misty Forbidden Zone.”

“Who? Who did this? The Empire has clearly ordered that the Qingzhou Sword must not be used.”

Li Tianming and the other high-ranking members of Green Hills Mansion were all furious. In an instant, they rushed back to Green Hills Mansion as quickly as possible.

Inside the Qingzhou Pavilion.

The young guardian’s face was pale as he glared angrily at Fang Zhaodong across from him. Fang Zhaodong had restrained him and then actually used the Qingzhou Sword. He had watched the entire process helplessly, unable to do anything to stop it. This was a disaster. A huge disaster.

“Have you considered that if the forbidden existence within the Misty Forbidden Zone is destroyed, the beasts within will lose their restraint and could cause immense destruction and harm to nearby cities?” the young guardian asked angrily. “Thousands, tens of thousands of people could die because of your actions.”

“So what?” Fang Zhaodong replied indifferently. “What you’re talking about is just temporary chaos, which can be quelled with the deployment of the army. But if the forbidden existence in the Misty Forbidden Zone isn’t eliminated and it eventually becomes a full-fledged monster kingdom, the damage it causes won’t just be a few thousand deaths; it could threaten the entire Great Xia Empire.”

“You…” The young guardian’s eyes burned with rage, but he knew that arguing with Fang Zhaodong was pointless. Fang Zhaodong clearly viewed commoners as expendable.

“Something’s wrong,” the young guardian suddenly said, alarmed.

“What’s wrong?” Fang Zhaodong frowned.

“The Qingzhou Sword hasn’t returned yet,” the young guardian said. The Qingzhou Sword was incredibly fast, capable of reaching its target within moments, even if it were thousands of miles away. By now, it should have returned after destroying the forbidden existence in the Misty Forbidden Zone. But it hadn’t.

Crack!

At that moment, the stand that once held the Qingzhou Sword cracked and shattered. The young guardian’s pupils contracted sharply, and the blood drained from his face.

“Impossible, this is impossible,” he muttered in disbelief.

“What’s going on?” Fang Zhaodong realized something was very wrong.

The air above Green Hills City began to vibrate violently. The ancient Seven Stars Formation started to operate rapidly. Countless messages transmitted via spirit talismans flooded into Green Hills City. Fang Zhaodong and the young guardian both received these messages.

Both of them were struck as if by lightning.

“How is this possible?” Fang Zhaodong could no longer maintain his composure; his expression turned extremely grim.

The Qingzhou Sword had attacked the Misty Forbidden Zone, only to be blocked by a ginkgo tree branch, and then even taken by the branch? If that were true, it would be a disaster for Green Hills Mansion and even for the Great Xia Empire.

Losing a national treasure was a crime that even Fang Zhaodong couldn’t bear. Not to mention, the implications were even more terrifying. The forbidden existence within the Misty Forbidden Zone was powerful enough to resist a national treasure!

Everyone in the Great Xia Empire had underestimated the true power of that forbidden existence.

The young guardian let out a bitter laugh. “Haha, the Qingzhou Sword is lost. Are you satisfied now, Lord Fang?”

Rapid footsteps echoed through the hall as Li Tianming and the other high-ranking members of Green Hills Mansion rushed in. Seeing the empty sword stand, any last hope they had vanished, and they staggered back in shock. Then, they all turned their furious gazes toward Fang Zhaodong.

“Lord Fang,” Li Tianming said, barely able to contain his rage, his voice trembling, “why did you take it upon yourself to use the Qingzhou Sword? Don’t you know the empire has strictly forbidden Green Hills Mansion from using the Qingzhou Sword against the Misty Forbidden Zone?”

Fang Zhaodong no longer had his previous confidence. If the forbidden existence in the Misty Forbidden Zone had been destroyed, he would have been credited with a great achievement, enough to offset his mistake. But now, with the forbidden existence untouched and the Qingzhou Sword lost, he knew he was in deep trouble.

“Guards!” Li Tianming commanded coldly, “Take Lord Fang into custody!”

At this moment, he no longer feared Fang Zhaodong. With this incident, even if Fang Zhaodong didn’t face execution, he would certainly lose his position. With that, Li Tianming had no reason to fear him anymore. However, he couldn’t execute Fang Zhaodong himself; his rank was too high. He would have to be handed over to the court for judgment.

“Li Tianming,” Fang Zhaodong said, his expression dark and sinister, but he did not resist. Inside, he was filled with fear and uncertainty. Things had spiraled completely out of his control.

As Fang Zhaodong was taken away, Li Tianming looked around and said, “What’s done is done. Regret won’t help us now. We must quickly come up with a response plan.”