Chapter 1563 - 1098: We Are Friends_2

Chapter 1563: Chapter 1098: We Are Friends_2

"Now, as the Guardian, you must carefully nurture the World Tree and let it regain its lushness. However, you must first remove the pollutants that the World Tree has silently borne and clear them thoroughly from the inside out. Only then can it restore normal connections with various worlds and easily travel between them."

As she spoke, she pointed to the lightning-filled clouds, "While extracting minerals in each layer of the cave, you must also deal with the various monsters inside. These are the malevolent beings that the World Tree has accepted and suppressed, commonly referred to as demons, ghosts, and other spiritual entities.

The higher you go, the stronger and more frightening the suppressed malevolence becomes.

Although they have been significantly weakened over the years by the World Tree’s suppression and refining, they remain a considerable challenge for you.

Originally, the Guardian should grow alongside the World Tree.

Each time you mature and open a new layer of the cave, the experience you gain during the mining process helps you gradually become stronger. When the growth time is sufficient and you have the capability, you can then open the next layer.

This is also why resources required for the World Tree’s growth are difficult to find; the process of searching for resources is a form of training, strengthening not just your body and mana but also requiring a steadfast resolve to withstand various trials.

There have been many Guardians before you, who grew stronger and expanded step by step. Yet, even so, they still failed at different stages due to their inability to suppress inner greed. The World Tree doesn’t have many opportunities to start over, Jiang Yuan, I am really worried. If you also fail... everything will be over!"

So many Guardians?

Does that mean many predecessors as hosts?

"Among the Guardians before me, who went the farthest?" Jiang Yuan also looked up at the unthinkably enormous World Tree, curiously asking, "And why did they fail?"

You Meng sighed softly, "There are some things I shouldn’t tell you. But since we are friends, and you are the first Guardian in history to truly treat me equally as a friend.

In the beginning, previous Guardians were also kind to me, but over time they found me boring. Even when they presented gifts daily, they never chatted with me. To them, I was more like a tool that provided rewards.

I remember clearly the young man named ’Lü Weitong’, who was older than you and quite cautious and steady in his actions.

At that time, he spent a long time cultivating the World Tree, reaching Level Nine, just short of reaching Level Ten. He was powerful with many followers, able to command a response at a single call!

Back then, I naively thought Lü Weitong would be the Savior chosen by the Heavenly Dao, and the entire world would be saved!

He almost rebuilt the Celestial Realm and helped many cultivators ascend. But at the brink of victory, he declared himself the ruler of the Celestial Realm, intending to make all Little Worlds obey him and vowed to have the whole world bear his surname Lü."

As she recounted, it was as if she saw that ambitious and spirited figure again, and You Meng’s wings drooped, "Lü Weitong said that, in another world, he was ostracized and exhausted from hardship.

All the endurance and effort brought him great power, and if he did not become the ruler of the Celestial Court to dominate the entire world, he would be unworthy as a man and squander the rare opportunity.

His cautious and steady nature always led him to success, but that success spawned an unending desire for power. Lü Weitong made all Celestial Gods bow to him, claiming he would ’lead his troops personally’ to obliterate the Outer Heaven Demon from his realm."

"And what happened afterward?" Jiang Yuan listened, finding the arguments matching the belief of many who think might makes right, but then You Meng suddenly stopped explaining, prompting him to pursue further.

After a moment of silence, You Meng asked back, "Do you think what he said makes sense? As long as one’s power matches their ambition, making the Three Realms bow and allowing him to command and enslave in order to protect his interests against the Outer Heaven Demon? Would you think and act in the same way?"

After seriously pondering, Jiang Yuan replied, "Everyone has their own reasoning, and I cannot judge whether he was right or wrong.

If it were me, I wouldn’t think that power supremacy means one must dominate; moreover, opposing the Outer Heaven Demon is the responsibility of all beings in the Three Realms, an inevitable duty under which none can remain intact.

But one cannot use it as leverage, demanding others to bow before resolving the invaders.

Personally, I don’t have large ambitions. Regardless of anything else, even if I became the ruler of the Celestial Court, I would want to be a wise king rather than a tyrant who banishes anyone without reason, leaving a legacy of infamy.

The problem is, being a wise king brings a price—managing the Three Realms and dealing with numerous daily issues? Rising earlier than the rooster and sleeping later than the dog, and yet not necessarily doing everything well.

So my idea is very simple: since the Three Realms are in trouble and have chosen me, enjoying the benefits means giving back as much as I can. To banish the Outer Heaven Demon or rebuild the Celestial Court, let the competent lead.

As for me, I wish to maintain a youthful, healthy physique and live a long, prosperous life, free to do anything or nothing as I please, with my family safe and well throughout life, that’s fulfilling for me."

"I see..." You Meng mused for a moment, no longer continuing the topic, "I don’t know if you can always maintain this mindset, or what outcome it will bring. But Lü Weitong’s end was not good.

When everything was for personal gain, such a mindset cannot achieve immortality, nor divine enthronement.

So, after he spoke those words, the Celestial Gods who initially followed him voluntarily left.

Those who achieve ascension to immortality and formal divine enthronement all have a grand heart willing to sacrifice for the greater good of all beings. How could they tolerate following someone selfish, attempting to enslave the Three Realms and holding themselves superior?

Lü Weitong, once commanding a response at a single call, was left with only those cultivators who hadn’t yet ascended. He wanted to start again by leveraging his opportunity to train these remaining subordinates. But the Heavenly Dao gave him no chance, as strokes of Celestial Thunder cracked down, and he stood there until he was struck into ashes.

The World Tree, without a Guardian, stood alone for a long, long time, eventually found and severely damaged by the Outer Heaven Demon."

She paused, speaking softer, "I didn’t witness the scene personally, but it is said Lü Weitong seemed struck by a Body Immobilization Technique, unable to evade, and his divine artifacts and magical treasures remained inactive, crying out ’don’t leave me’ as he died.

Sigh, the stronger you are, the more temptations arise, and it’s easy to lose one’s nature.

I shouldn’t have told you so much, but the situation is special now, and we are very good friends. As the Companion Spirit of the World Tree, I know every Savior chosen by the Heavenly Dao like you.

Some fake it; others don’t even pretend, becoming arrogant upon touching cultivation techniques. Worse, some with good nature become more ambitious as they gain strength and broaden their horizons, ultimately bringing about their own doom."

Finishing this, You Meng suddenly flew to Jiang Yuan’s shoulder, whispered in his ear, "If one day you feel unable to stick to your true passion, remember to retreat for breadth and clarity. Admit you are unfit for the role, willingly handing everything here over, letting the Heavenly Dao find a more suitable candidate.

Abandon part of it, at least you can return to where you belong with the lifespan and rich rewards you’ve earned.

The Heavenly Dao has given those people opportunities, but none were willing to voluntarily give up. They only wanted more and more—gold, silver, magical treasures, divine artifacts, vast mana—trapped in greed and unable to pull themselves out, leading to their tragic deaths."

Jiang Yuan: !!!

It seems the World Tree’s rise by three levels really frightened the Little Elf.

The fact that she said these things indeed shows she considers him a friend, and the one struck down by lightning—it’s likely due to the system’s departure, leaving no resistance.

"Thank you for your advice. I will strive to maintain my true self, endeavor to revitalize the World Tree and the Tree of Time, and eventually rescue the Tree of Life and drive away the Outer Heaven Demon; or retreat gracefully if unable. But now I have to go up and take a look." He glanced at the increasingly turbulent thunderclouds, feeling an urgent situation needing priority.

Just as he was about to step out and realizing You Meng didn’t stop him, Jiang Yuan asked, "Do I still need to be assessed on various skills?"