Chapter 960: Chapter 97: Moon Concealment of Days Past (Part 1)

The sky light was as bright as a torch, the long leaves like shuttles, and the towering tree reflected in the tides of the Moon Hidden Realm.

After swallowing the Fetal Light.

Xie Xuanyi looked at the “Immortal Tree” before him, gazing at the flying sword that was nailed into the tree trunk. His expression was dazed, his thoughts drifting back to the fragmented memories of ten years ago.

…

…

[“Brother Xuanyi.”]

The long leaves were like flowing fire, the fiery wind brushing against his cheeks.

Xie Xuanyi snapped back to reality.

Before him was no longer the withered, shattered Phoenix Fire, nor the magnificent Sword Origin River.

But rather, the Moon Hidden Grotto Heaven from ten years ago.

Beside him were neither the Holy Empress nor his Master.

Xie Xuanyi complexly gazed at the young emperor, separated by life and death.

For some reason, even after regaining the Fetal Light, the man’s face remained blurry. At this moment, under the tree’s shade, it transformed into a flickering shadow… yet he could faintly perceive.

The young emperor was smiling: “… Brother Xuanyi, what do you think?”

“What do I think…”

Xie Xuanyi was momentarily stunned.

“The hope of restoring Dachu’s mountains and rivers lies in this.”

The young emperor, with hands behind his back, looked at the massive tree at the end of the tide, his voice light yet exuded a strong ambition: “After the Battle of Poison ended, although the Demon Country retreated, their intention to march south has never ceased… Mr. Yan Xin foretold with his life, that there would be a great disaster in the next sixty years. To avoid repeating the mistakes, we must take a gamble.”

“…”

Xie Xuanyi did not speak.

He merely stared blankly at the scene before him.

He remembered.

Finally… he remembered.

Ten years ago, Emperor Chu invited him under the guise of “admiring the scenery” to enter the Moon Hidden Grotto Heaven, to witness this feng shui forbidden land kept secret by the Dachu Royal Family. It was on that day that Xie Xuanyi first saw the “Immortal Tree,” and the young Emperor Chu passionately outlined his grand plan to revive the nation…

Back then, the Grand Emperor had left the seedling of this Immortal Tree, although the sapling gradually grew in the Moon Hidden Realm, it had never managed to produce fortune, and was at the brink of withering.

Emperor Chu had initially planned to nurture it with four Dragon Veins, but the gamble was just too big… this proposal was eventually buried under Qin Ancestor’s opposition.

Thus.

Emperor Chu came up with a second plan.

“Ugh…”

Xie Xuanyi reached up to cover his face, letting out a pained, muffled cry.

Perhaps due to swallowing the Fetal Light.

His body became extremely heated.

Xie Xuanyi stumbled back two steps.

When he looked up again, the scene before him changed, no longer the Moon Hidden Realm from ten years ago.

Beside him were lotuses formed from condensed Sword Origin.

In front of him was the tall woman pinned to the tree.

The Holy Empress lowered her face, with mocking eyes, staring at him.

Fragmented memories pieced together again—

[“Brother Xuanyi.”]

In a trance, the gentle voice sounded again.

The young Emperor Chu slightly turned his head, looking at the young man in black beside him, asking puzzled: “… What’s wrong with you?”

The heat slightly subsided.

Xie Xuanyi barely stood firm, his face pale as he gazed at the distant Immortal Tree, hoarsely speaking: “Do you truly intend to kill her?”

Ten years ago, the memory became a little more complete.

He could feel the temperature of the blazing wind, and sense its source.

The entire Moon Hidden Realm tide was surging.

On the Immortal Tree, a dying Phoenix was pinned, its long tail feathers scattered, like Divine Radiance, dyeing the tide crimson.

Although the Phoenix hung its head low.

Yet within the crimson radiance, it emitted fierce gaze.

“Back then, Father spared her life because he valued the ‘Nirvana Blood’ of the Phoenix clan.”

The young Emperor Chu looked up, gently saying: “Thanks to her, the Immortal Tree can grow to this extent today…”

“The seal in the Imperial City separates her flesh body and Divine Soul, one town in the deep palace, one town in this realm.”

“Over the years, she suffered, yet she also enjoyed quite a bit.”

“To outsiders, she’s not known to be a demon, just thought to be the Grand Empress… revered by all, peaceful and happy…”

“… To take from Dachu and use it for Dachu, if the Dragon Vein cannot be used for irrigation, then this Phoenix Blood is the best choice to nurture the Immortal Tree.”

Two hundred years ago.

The Grand Emperor brought back this sapling.

Considering the future development of the Da Chu Dynasty… the Grand Emperor did not cut off the Dragon Vein, to directly infuse the Immortal Tree with fortune.

After all, the Immortal Tree was too weak at that time.

Yet… it was ultimately the hope for the dynasty’s future.

There were two ways to allow the Immortal Tree to grow.

Either provide it with abundant fortune, or… offer the blood of a strong person.

The Grand Emperor headed north, striking against the Demon Country multiple times, ending each battle in great victory. After the “Northern Hunt,” each time he would sacrifice the blood of Great Demons under the Immortal Tree, to aid the growth of the sapling… Later, when the Grand Emperor fell ill, Great Chu entered a period of recuperation and silence, the Northern Hunt temporarily shelved, yet the growth of the sapling did not cease.

Only a very few people knew.

The “Immortal Tree” was being sustained by Phoenix Blood.

Zhao Chunyang brought back the pure blood Phoenix from the Da Chu Dynasty, which the Grand Emperor kept in the palace. The Grand Emperor set up layers of formations, countless restrictions… separating the Divine Soul and flesh body of the pure blood Phoenix. He imprisoned the Phoenix’s Divine Soul in the Moon Hidden Realm, using this method to maintain balance.

Every few periods, Yuan Huang had to offer blood to feed the “Immortal Tree.”

The great formation of the Moon Hidden Realm.

Only “Emperor Chu” could control.

As for Yuan Huang, a pure blood Phoenix naturally possessed Nirvana Blood, and after being kept by the Grand Emperor for many years, the Phoenix had ascended to the Yang God Realm, despite continuously being drained of blood by the “Immortal Tree,” she would not die from this.

Back then, Yuan Huang had no choice.

Yet… this was actually the best choice.

The greatest disaster often turns out to be the greatest blessing.

Brought to the Moon Hidden Realm by the Grand Emperor, she saw this legendary Divine Artifact.

She knew clearly, that even without the “Immortal Tree,” her fate would probably be locked in the palace. Since this is the case, it would be better to gamble on it… Therefore, Yuan Huang “willingly” offered her blood to the sapling, seeking a slim chance, by feeding the sapling with Phoenix Blood, gradually merging this tree, which bore all the future hopes of the Da Chu Dynasty, with herself.

Throughout the long years, as the world fluctuated.

After the Grand Emperor passed away, Emperor Chu ascended the throne, the Battle of Poison broke out.

The fortunes of the Da Chu Dynasty fell to the lowest point.

Yuan Huang kept on waiting, the “sealed shackle” imprisoning her, slowly loosening in the passage of time.

She never revealed her intentions to anyone outside.

She was waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity enough to reverse her own fate.

That day, ten years ago.

The crimson clouds filled the sky in the Moon Hidden Realm, the Phoenix Divine Soul, locked on the tree for hundreds of years, woke from slumber, hearing the young emperor’s words.

She opened her eyes, calmly and coldly gazing upon the two young men before her through the Divine Radiance.

She knew…

She could no longer wait.

Then.

The tides surged, heaven and earth collapsed.

Ten thousand-floating-clouds poured down as waterfalls.

The Moon Hidden Realm returned to tranquility.