Chapter 351: Kneeling Down in Worship

Lin Fan sincerely invited the Dao Tree.

He could sense the Dao Tree's exceptional nature. Although just a tree, its essence was pure. If it could become human, it might become a great friend.

Dao Tree: Are you sure this is a good idea?

Anyone hearing this would hesitate, understanding it as a refusal. The Dao Tree was about to be disappointed, however. It hadn't encountered a normal person, but someone with pure thoughts, genuine emotions, and friendly demeanor, someone others might call mentally ill.

Their conversation was private.

No one else knew what they were discussing.

But Lin Fan was sincere.

Without a trace of falsehood.

Lin Fan: Of course! Everyone where we live is incredibly friendly. Old Zhang and I have made many friends there, and they take special care of us. No one would ever bully you there.

He completely missed the Dao Tree's meaning.

The Dao Tree felt danger everywhere. It had thought this place was safe, as not just anyone could reach it.

The ancient aura alone could repel or even kill countless powerful beings.

Not to mention its own considerable strength.

Of those present, it was confident it could kill anyone except the one standing before it.

Dao Tree: Are you really sure this is a good idea?

The Dao Tree was bewildered by Lin Fan. It didn't know whether to believe him. It wanted to, but the problem was…agreeing so readily felt wrong.

A long time passed.

The one-eyed man wanted several times to talk to Lin Fan. What are you doing standing there? If you have something to say, say it. Don't just sulk.

But he thought better of it.

He patiently waited.

Finally, he saw Lin Fan walking towards him.

"I've talked it over with him. He's in danger here and is willing to come back with us. I noticed the empty patch in the flowerbed outside our department. I offered him that spot to settle down. Do you agree?" Lin Fan asked.

"Huh?" The one-eyed man stared at Lin Fan, dumbfounded. "What are you saying?"

He wasn't to blame for his reaction. Lin Fan's words were quite shocking.

Lin Fan said, "He's willing to come back with us. Do you disagree?"

A brief silence.

Then,

The one-eyed man practically jumped. "Agree! Of course, I agree! He can live wherever he wants!"

Damn!

Honestly, the one-eyed man had never imagined things would turn out this way.

So domineering, my brother! If he weren't older than Lin Fan, he would have sworn brotherhood right there. Going out with Lin Fan meant never experiencing failure.

Lin Fan nodded and returned to the Dao Tree. "It's settled. He agrees. You can come back with us. I can guarantee it's a great place. My friends and I will water you every day and make sure you grow strong."

The Dao Tree understood: discretion is the better part of valor. While the human seemed friendly, that might be because they could still communicate. If communication became impossible, the situation could change drastically.

There was no other way. Things had come to this point; further discussion was pointless.

The Dao Tree trusted its instincts.

It chose to trust this human.

Its golden leaves trembled. As Lin Fan watched in astonishment, the Dao Tree shrank, its roots pulling free from the earth. It became the size of a hand, vibrant and alive. Its surface seemed to have features, almost resembling a human face.

In a blink, it hid in Lin Fan's arms.

Vanishing without a trace.

It refused to be seen by others. Perhaps it felt less majestic in its smaller form, fearing a loss of respect.

Witnessing this, the one-eyed man was elated. Another treasure had been coaxed home by their Lin Fan.

Fantastic.

The elder whispered, "Leader Xu, we get half of this, right?"

The one-eyed man looked at the elder in surprise, then chuckled wryly. "Well, that's not really possible. You saw it yourself. How can we divide it? It's a living being. We can't just chop it in half, can we? However, we keep our word. It will be placed in the special department, and you'll have the right to observe it."

"You must understand, such an important treasure will be heavily guarded, and no one will be allowed near it. But you're different. We're partners, and we won't break our promise. You can observe it freely."

What the hell!

The elder thought these people were truly despicable.

How could they even say such things?

This was their idea of half?

Scoundrels!

So insidious.

But there was nothing he could do. Things had reached this stage.

"Let's continue," the elder said.

He only hoped for tangible objects later, not more living things. It was too much to handle.

"Wait," Lin Fan called out.

Everyone looked at him curiously, wondering what was the matter. Although he was somewhat out of sync with them, they had to admit they needed him to lead the way. They couldn't manage without him.

Lin Fan said, "The Dao Tree just told me it's dangerous ahead, that people will die. It asked me to leave, or it wouldn't come with me. I agreed, so…let's go back now."

"This trip ends here. We'll come back another time."

The elder's jaw dropped… Too hasty.

They had thought it was dangerous and were ready to give up, but Lin Fan had reassured them. Now, he was the one suggesting retreat. He was the one who decided whether to advance or retreat.

Indeed, being weak and reliant on others meant obedience.

The one-eyed man pondered. The trip hadn't been a loss; they had profited. Ending here wasn't a problem. The Dao Tree was crucial; sending it back was the right move.

"I agree," the one-eyed man said.

What could the elder say? Even if he disagreed, what could he do? Charge in alone? Without Lin Fan's protection, he'd probably die without knowing how.

Wu Sheng whispered, "Elder, leaving is good. The Dao Tree has lived here for so long; it must know many things. Even it says it's dangerous, it must be very dangerous. There's no need to risk further exploration. What we can't obtain, others may not be able to either."

"Young Master, that's true, but we've achieved…" The elder spread his hands, the meaning clear: they were empty-handed, a pathetic sight.

If they could get something…

Even leaving now, he wouldn't complain.

Wu Sheng smiled. "Not necessarily. With the Dao Tree planted there, we can meditate and perhaps gain something different."

The elder considered this. It wasn't unreasonable. Finally, he agreed to leave.

Xiao Bao, having acquired the two-tailed squirrel as a pet, was no longer interested in staying.

Old Zhang always listened to Lin Fan. If Lin Fan wanted to leave, he'd agree.

Sun Xiao was conflicted.

He didn't want to leave. He had gained immensely during this time. Not just in terms of his livestream, but personally. He had transformed from an ordinary person into a powerful being, something he never imagined possible.

In the end…

Sun Xiao decided to return.

He would come back prepared next time.

Following Lin Fan, he had realized the true danger, far exceeding his initial experience on Changbai Mountain. He could be lucky for a while, but not forever.

Enough was enough.

No need to be greedy.

After their departure, many flocked to the mountain range.

Experts from various countries.

And experts from the starry sky.

They dreamed of finding treasures, but the terrifying reality cost some their lives. They faced not only hidden, unknown creatures, but also the lingering power of the past expert, a deadly force.

July 31st!

Yanhai City!

Special Department!

A crowd gathered in the small garden. The most excited was Liu Haichan, a Daoist expert. The leader had brought back a Dao Tree, an endless treasure trove for him.

"Look at that creepy smile. Anyone would think you just crawled out of some pervert's lair," Lin Daoming grumbled. Damn it, why did anything they found have to be related to him? So infuriating.

Liu Haichan chuckled. "Don't be jealous. You can't envy this. Your Maoshan sect's foundation isn't as deep as Daoism's. Haven't you noticed? History tells you what the true orthodox sect is." Liu Haichan was thrilled. Anything found in ancient ruins must be closely related to ancient mythology.

"Perhaps I can comprehend the true Daoist cultivation method from this."

"If I succeed, I'll leave you far behind."

In the past, Liu Haichan might have competed with Lin Daoming, but not anymore. What was the point? The path to success lay before him. Wasting time with Lin Daoming was pointless.

"You…you…" Lin Daoming gritted his teeth, wanting to punch Liu Haichan. So infuriating! But then an idea struck him.

Maoshan originated from Daoism. He acknowledged this privately, but admitting it publicly was impossible.

"If he can comprehend it, so can I."

"No…I must study the Daoist archives when I get back and accumulate knowledge."

With this thought, Lin Daoming grinned, his missing front teeth making his smile even creepier than Liu Haichan's, his wrinkles bunching together.

"Dao Tree, you'll stay here from now on," Lin Fan said.

The Dao Tree emerged from Lin Fan's arms.

It surveyed its surroundings.

Then it landed on the ground, its roots sinking into the soil.

Instantly!

Everyone from the Special Department's Daoist Academy felt a tremor in their hearts.

A sense of pilgrimage, of being drawn towards a sacred place.

As if they had found their home.

"Such powerful Dao intent."

Liu Haichan was stunned. To others, the Dao Tree was just a tree, but to him, it was like the Dao Ancestor sitting there.

He approached the Dao Tree.

Thud!

He knelt.

Worshipping the Dao Tree before him.