Chapter 874 - 873: Clear Skies and the Giant Tree

Chapter 874: Chapter 873: Clear Skies and the Giant Tree

The projection device set in the center of the room lit up, and the holographic projection in mid-air displayed the appearance of the towering giant tree on the plain.

The treetop, towering into the clouds, appeared solemn and magnificent, almost brushing against a branch of a sky river. Vaguely, one could see a shimmer like runes floating in the sky near the treetop, with a magnificent and dreamy color.

The giant tree and the entire plain merged into one, with the terrain around its roots presenting a naturally transitioning topography — as if this giant tree, descended from beyond the world, had been a part of this floating island from the very beginning.

"The images were taken from afar by a reconnaissance drone, and out of caution, we have not yet sent any personnel or unmanned devices near this big tree," Baili Qing said beside the projection, "Moreover, this big tree itself has not made any... gestures, and because we can’t establish communication, we aren’t sure if it can perceive our observation."

"So you just took a couple of looks from afar, and apart from that, you know nothing," Erin said casually, then turned her head to Zheng Zhi, "Nephew, do you know what condition the old tree is in now?"

Zheng Zhi was initially nervous seeing Baili Qing, shrinking honestly in the corner of the table pretending to be a bonsai plant, not expecting to have a chance to speak in this setting, only when Erin called his name did he look up blankly: "Huh?"

"She was asking if you can still hear the voice of the Tree Angel," Yu Sheng said casually, "Or if you can actively contact it, that works too."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhi’s expression suddenly turned serious, making a face of focused concentration as if he was straining to listen to something (Yu Sheng didn’t have the heart to say his expression looked a bit constipated), after straining for three to five seconds he shook his head blankly: "I can’t hear anything..."

"Alright then, seems like we still have to go personally.... Hope the old tree’s mental state has really stabilized now," Erin murmured, "Anyway, from the outside it looks dignified at least..."

Hu Li hurriedly reminded beside her, "That’s not how you use that word!"

Erin: "Is it, is it oh?"

Yu Sheng had been pondering something since earlier, suddenly asking Baili Qing: "Have you discovered any other ’Dark Moon Royal Court’-like... space rifts or entries?"

As soon as he said this, before Baili Qing could speak, Erin was taken aback, followed by the Little Puppet realizing: "Ah, right! More than just one Dark Moon Royal Court leaked through the fault..."

"Haven’t discovered any currently," Baili Qing shook her head, obviously already focused on this matter, "Without the influence of Forest Sea, our exploration of the whole Sky Island is much easier than before. At least in the observable areas on the surface of Sky Island, similar ’erosion’ marks like the previous Mirror Rift have not been found."

Yu Sheng exchanged a glance with Hu Li.

...Mainly because he didn’t have anyone else to exchange with, his nephew turned into a bonsai plant when meeting his superior, Luna seemed to crash all the time if she didn’t speak, and Erin had such astonishing wisdom that if you exchanged a glance with her, she’d probably just dumbly ask you what you’re looking at. The whole travel agency only had Hu Li, considered a strategist, albeit with a dog’s head...

The only good news is that a strategist with a dog’s head is still a strategist, and the furry girl has quite the brain.

"The teacher said that information does not disappear into thin air," the demon fox girl’s big tail swayed behind her, "Given that the information from Red’s hometown formed that rift after leaking through the fault here, any other time shadows leaking over here would definitely take root in some form.

"It’s just as it seems now, the situation is different from our initial judgment, not all the time shadows have been ’received’ by the Tree Angel after leaking here. If this Sky Island really doesn’t have them, it means they’re elsewhere..."

Hu Li paused while speaking, looking at Baili Qing across the table.

"Didn’t you just say that you indeed scanned potential other Sky Islands beyond this one?"

Baili Qing nodded.

"Seems like it’s going to be a massive project," Yu Sheng remarked with a tinge of emotion in his voice, "This place is wider than we imagined."

Lucrecia, who had been silent till now, broke her silence: "In any case, we must determine where the other ’time shadows’ are, at least ensure harmless processing. The calibrator needs to be positioned in this world, all uncontrollable factors must be addressed in advance."

...

After leaving the barracks, Yu Sheng took a deep breath of fresh air outside.

There’s still a lot to do, other than the "Dark Moon Royal Court," the status of other time shadows remains uncertain. This unfamiliar world is filled with secrets, yet at this moment, Yu Sheng felt an inexplicable... lightness and anticipation stirring in his heart.

Perhaps because of the clear sky above, or the fresh air here, or maybe because of the spectacular scenery of the Illusion streaming through the sky and the Suspended River cutting through the clouds.

But more likely, this whole "world," everything here, was conveying to him an inexplicable, unexpressable familiarity.

"I like this place," Yu Sheng suddenly said.

"Hmm, then I like it too," the fox girl squinted her eyes, swaying her large tail happily.

Erin blinked standing on the ground amid the two, looked around with her head tilted, although not quite understanding why Yu Sheng suddenly came up with this statement, she still nodded: "The scenery’s indeed not bad in this place."

Luna pondered for a moment and shared her view: "Feels like a good place to cultivate and farm..."

Erin: "Isn’t the huge piece of land in the valley already enough for you to farm?"

Luna: "Just an, objective, assessment."

Yu Sheng rubbed his chin, seemingly contemplating something seriously.

Hu Li quickly noticed, curiously asked, "Savior, what are you thinking about?"

Yu Sheng raised his hand and rubbed the fox girl’s ears.

"I’ll find a suitable place here to build a huge gate leading to the valley," Yu Sheng said happily, "Little Red Riding Hood and the others should like this place, and the Special Service Bureau will have more ways to send people here. Plus, I have many big projects in mind; after all, such a large area..."

Erin listened in amazement, not quite understanding what new idea was brewing in Yu Sheng’s mind, but she immediately gave her opinion: "...Why does it sound like you’ve already claimed this place as yours?"

Yu Sheng was taken aback for a moment, seriously pondering his thoughts before softly muttering to himself: "Does this place have property rights..."

Erin quickly climbed onto his shoulder, chattering as she climbed up: "Alright, alright, anyway the Boundary Land is all communal land on your tomb—let’s first check on the old tree. Up until now, there’s been no sign of it; don’t let you, this half-baked psychiatrist, turn it into a vegetable with one cut..."

Beside them, Lucrecia summoned the flying carpet smoothly.

This time, however, Yu Sheng decided not to ride the flying carpet.

"Let’s walk on the ground," he ruffled the fox girl’s head twice, clearly noticing her eagerness to go, "The Forest Sea has become such an open place, let’s run a couple of laps, Hu Li."

Moments later, the huge Nine-tailed Silver Fox was running across the ground.

Behind the Nine-tailed Fox followed the low-flying Witch’s Magic Carpet and the tricycle with nitrogen boosters driven by Zheng Zhi’s grandfather.

The expansive plain was breathtaking, the rushing wind transformed into a refreshing breeze thanks to the buffering of Protective Spirit Qi.

Hu Li ran past an ancient ruin standing on the plain—it seemed to have once been a huge church, with a solemn spire and deep-colored high walls, but now only a portion remained. Its mottled, dilapidated exterior walls were entwined with vines, and the wave-marked door was covered in moss.

The wind blew through the church ruins, echoing wondrously like the rising tide of the sea.

Lucrecia’s flying carpet accelerated to reach Hu Li.

"Uncle Yu, Fan Na would probably be very nostalgic seeing this!" Miss Witch said happily.

Yu Sheng asked loudly, "What is this place?"

"Her old workplace!"

Erin raised her head in Yu Sheng’s arms: "Can someone truly be nostalgic about their workplace?"

Yu Sheng: "Depends on the benefits..."

Erin thought for a moment: "Sister Fan Na said she used to be a Judge in the Deep Sea Church, and she was the boss’s confidante."

"Well, that must have been quite memorable indeed..."

Yu Sheng and the others leisurely chatted about those ancient past times as the Nine-tailed Fox raced across (and the elder’s nitro-powered tricycle accelerated) past the Deep Sea Church, now a ruin. Some animals hiding near the church ruins were startled; Yu Sheng saw several small creatures resembling rabbits with blue-green fur suddenly leap out from nearby bushes, frantically disappearing into the church ruins. There were also some unknown bird species flapping their wings, rising from the church roof and gliding through the sky.

"There are still little animals here!"

Hu Li suddenly turned her head, a face full of surprise (though it’s hard to tell her expression from her furry face), and said.

Without waiting for Yu Sheng to respond, she continued muttering, "I wonder if they’re tasty..."

Yu Sheng laughed, patting the big fox’s back: "Let’s catch a couple and try them later."

Erin: "...Oh, no, you’re thinking about this at a time like this?"

Yu Sheng only laughed, ruffling the Little Puppet’s head as Erin grumbled, messing up her hair.

And that amazing giant tree already stood ahead.

Truly towering into the clouds, truly blocking out the sun.

Upon nearing the giant tree, everyone distinctly sensed a... tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

The environment around seemed to change quietly; the wind blowing across the plains softened, a faint earthy smell lingered as plants swayed, and unknown little creatures darted anxiously through nearby berry bushes, their tiny feet crunching against grass stems and fallen leaves. The calls of birds echoed from high branches; Yu Sheng followed the sound but couldn’t find its source.

These small and trivial sounds instead made the whole environment feel more serene.

"It’s so quiet," the giant Nine-tailed Silver Fox gently marveled, strolling under dappled leafy shadows, "The atmosphere feels different from elsewhere, like stepping into... another realm."

Yu Sheng also sensed the subtle change in "region."

Along with the change in ambiance came a faint feeling... as if being watched by someone.