Chapter 580 - Ancient Tree Guardian
Louise looked at Uncle Mu with hesitation in her eyes. This matter was greatly major and she didn't know if this was the right thing to do. Uncle Mu, on the other hand, nodded. He was holding for that little hope that the young master might have a solution for their problem.
"It's because our Ancient Tree Guardian is nearing its death." Louise said with a great heavy tone, "The Guardian is what keeps our Mortal Disaster Palace safe from being devoured by other super powerhouses."
The Ancient Tree Guardian was the most important figure of the palace. After all, it was the sole reason why other powerhouses were not yet attacking them. The tree had lived for so long now, and in fact, it was here since the creation of the palace.
"So it will spell disaster when your guardian die." Jin Rou now understood why Louise was trying to understand the ancient tree below the Ash Volcano.
"Yes." Uncle Mu sighed, it was his turn to answer, "We have been keeping its disease for so long now, however, I doubt that we can still be able to hide it for so long."
"That is really bad." Jin Rou could somehow understand their situation. It would be very disadvantageous for them once the public knew their current predicament, "Have you tried consulting great alchemists? Or physicians?"
"We wanted to." Louise sighed and wryly smiled, "But because we're afraid our problem would be let out to the world with some naughty mouths, we can only trust our people. Unfortunately, everything was deemed useless."
This was a very serious matter that could decide the survival of the Mortal Disaster Palace. Everyone thought highly of them. After all, they were the governing powerhouse of this region and on par with the other governing powerhouses of other regions.
If in the off chance that someone leaked this problem to the whole world, it wouldn't be an exaggeration if various clans and sects would try to devour them. After all, Mortal Disaster Palace had lived for countless millions of years now and for sure, their resources and treasuries were abundant.
Who wouldn't want this? Not to mention, it had many secret techniques hidden from the world.
"Can you do something about it, Young Master?" Louise asked with hope in her eyes.
"I can only try, let's see what can I do." Jin Rou didn't dare to claim anything. It was a serious problem that he needed to examine carefully before giving an answer. Even as universal law, he wasn't that confident to solve this matter easily.
Louise smiled and said, "Please follow me. I will take you there immediately."
---
In the deepest and most hidden part of Mortal Disaster Palace. There was a white void with a towering tree in the middle. It looked very huge that eyes couldn't contain everything.
Ancient Tree Guardian. Anyone who heard this name would surely tremble in fear. After all, it killed so many cultivators in the past, be it Quasies or Halfs. It was so strong that no matter how many storms it went through, it still survived.
Unfortunately, it developed a disease due to long passage of time. And now, the disease was getting severe, aiming to take the whole life force of the tree.
Jin Rou observed the tree in his eyes and couldn't help but sympathize with it. Millions of replays passed through his mind. It was the life of tree after all these years protecting the palace.
"You have suffered too much." Jin Rou touched the tree and caressed it. He had a warm smile on his face as if he was comforting the tree.
The Ancient Tree Guardian wiggled in response, clearly happy that Jin Rou touched and cared for it.
Louise and Uncle Mu were surprised to see this. The guardian had never appreciated anyone, even Louise. It always had a cold shoulder towards everyone in the palace, yet it was giving Jin Rou a warm attitude.
Jin Rou faced the two and informed them, "This tree has done already so much for your palace. And now that it's suffering from a disease and is about to die, don't you think it's already time for it to have its eternal peace?"
Jin Rou have seen the too many hardships this tree had suffered in order to protect the Mortal Disaster Palace. It had done so much now that it deserved peace.
Louise and Uncle Mu felt a lump on their throats, what was Jin Rou saying all of a sudden?
"I'll give this tree two options. Whether to continue living or not. And no matter what it chooses, you have no say in that and you cannot force it to change its mind." Jin Rou said coldly. He wanted the tree to decide for itself.
"This..." Louise knew that Jin Rou was doing this because he might have seen or realized something, "We don't have the authority to decide this, Young Master."
"Let our Guardian Tree decide for itself, then." Suddenly, a person wearing white robe appeared. He appeared middle-aged but still handsome.
"Palace Master!" Louise and Uncle Mu immediately knelt down. They thought that the Palace Master was still in seclusion, yet he showed himself here.
"Hello, Young Friend." The Palace Master nodded to the two and looked at Jin Rou, "I am called Uri. I'm giving my permission and signing your unwritten deal."
"Very decisive." Jin Rou smiled and praised, "I expected no less from a Half-Immortal."
Palace Master Uri smiled and didn't comment on this. He already expected that Jin Rou could see him though.
Jin Rou then proceeded to ask the Ancient Guardian Tree, giving it two options. Jin Rou wanted the tree to decide for itself. He thought that the tree deserve this much for all its efforts in the past.
Palace Master Uri and the others were growing anxious as time passed by. After more than half an hour, Jin Rou revealed a sigh and spoke, "Your Guardian loves you all that much. It still wants to live longer to protect you."
Hearing this, the Palace Master felt that a heavy boulder had been lifted from his chest.