CHAPTER 922: CHAPTER 694: THE MERCHANT MASTER’S COMPOSURE

At this moment.

City Lord Mansion in Divine Wood City.

This is the closest place to the Divine Tree, the tree that is as splendid as gold, with its enveloping light converging together, illuminating every inch of the land here.

Everything is a sea of gold; the light here is too dazzling, like being close to the sun. Ordinary warriors cannot stay long in the City Lord Mansion as the power of the Divine Tree would overwhelm the weak.

Only those of the Divine Wood Lineage, warriors with Divine Blood like the Divine Tree, can freely walk here, without fear of being harmed by the tree’s radiance. Those warriors bearing patterns like golden leaves are symbols of supreme honor.

Because they belong to the Divine Blood Lineage of the Divine Wood.

Yet today.

A powerful mutant beast pulls a carriage covered in golden leaves, swiftly traveling down the wide roads within the City Lord Mansion.

The golden leaves on the carriage can block the harm of the Divine Tree’s radiance, allowing even ordinary people to traverse this special land, but riding a carriage covered in golden leaves requires an exceptionally noble status.

However, today is an exception.

Because inside the carriage sits only an ordinary merchant from Divine Wood City.

"Do not try to open the cover to look outside; the radiance of the Divine Tree will instantly blind you, burn your body to ashes. This is not merely the City Lord Mansion, but the most sacred place of the Divine Wood Lineage."

There is an elder inside the carriage, wearing a coat sewn from beast hide, stooped, with disheveled hair adorned with a golden leaf, a leaf grown from the Divine Wood, currently used for decoration by this elder.

"Mu Sangong, thank you for your reminder. Without your recommendation, I wouldn’t have been able to enter this sacred and noble City Lord Mansion to witness the wisdom of the Divine Wood Lineage," Xiu Xiang said respectfully.

The elder called Mu Sangong calmly said, "I am also a descendant of the Divine Wood Lineage. Though the golden blood of my ancestors no longer flows in me, anything can be done to aid in the better propagation and inheritance of the Divine Wood Lineage. Although you’re just a small merchant, you have rescued two Mountain Lord Level Divine Blood Warriors of the Divine Wood Lineage, such great kindness, whether from me or the wise ones of the Divine Wood Lineage, will earn you a generous reward."

"With Mu Sangong’s words, my heart is at ease," Xiu Xiang said.

Mu Sangong nodded slightly, "Wait until the carriage stops in the shaded area before you get off, avoid the area illuminated by the Divine Tree’s radiance. I will help you strive for the benefits you deserve, not just because of my promise, but to let other merchants see that rescuing warriors of the Divine Wood Lineage will bring rewarding returns, only this way can the Divine Wood family be better passed down."

"I hope the wise ones of the Divine Wood Lineage understand this too," Xiu Xiang said calmly.

Soon.

The mutant beast pulled the carriage into a grand hall.

This hall shielded from the Divine Tree’s radiance, so one need not worry about being scorched by the light.

And here.

Several elders of the Divine Wood Lineage were already waiting, having heard about the calamity befalling Mu Xi, Mu Tu, and Mu Xu, where nothing remained of their bodies, not even knowing who the enemies were.

Now with Merchant Master bringing the injured Mu Tu and Mu Xu to Divine Wood City, they were eager to meet.

Mu Sangong led Merchant Lord Xiu Xiang off the carriage.

The two of them glanced around and finally focused their gaze at the center of the ancient hall, where a robust but white-haired elder sat. Despite his age, his physique was formidable, with patterns resembling golden leaves on his skin.

Evidently, this was an old warrior, and one of the Divine Blood Lineage.

"Mu Sangong, you should know me, I am the highest-ranking Divine Blood Lineage of the Divine Wood Lineage, you can call me, Mu Witch," the aged Divine Blood Warrior spoke.

"Greetings, High Priest." Mu Sangong’s face turned stern, hastening to show respect.

Mu Witch, the High Priest of the Divine Wood Lineage, whose status is exceedingly noble.

"Greetings, High Priest." The nearby Merchant Lord Xiu Xiang promptly added.

Mu Witch said, "Mu Sangong, I heard the merchant beside you brought two injured Divine Blood Warriors to my Divine Wood Lineage?"

"Yes," Mu Sangong said: "He is Merchant Lord Xiu Xiang, according to his description, they should be the Divine Blood Lineage Mu Tu, and the Divine Blood Warrior Mu Xu."

Mu Witch then shifted his focus to Xiu Xiang, "Your kindness my Divine Wood Lineage will remember, please have the merchant bring Mu Tu and Mu Xu here, they are injured and need healing, I do not wish to see them die from severe injuries, nor do I wish to see them bleed out, never able to become Divine Blood Warriors again."

Xiu Xiang froze for a moment, as this High Priest Mu Witch mentioned nothing of heavy rewards, but rather conveyed an ordering tone, wanting him to hand over the two injured Divine Blood Warriors.

Is this the arrogance of those with Divine Blood?

Yet he had promised Da Yi to bring back enough Divine Tree leaves, and if he couldn’t achieve that, he would rather lay down his life here.

Xiu Xiang immediately said, "High Priest, I am the Merchant Master, and a merchant is all about buying and selling. These two unique goods in my hand are truly exquisite. I wonder what kind of recompense the High Priest is willing to offer for these unique wares of mine?"

As soon as this was said.

A furious roar echoed from behind the great hall: "How dare you, a lowly merchant, speak of our Divine Blood Warriors as goods! Are you insulting our Divine Wood Lineage? Do you not value your head?"

"High Priest, please allow me to kill this Merchant so others know the cost of insulting our Divine Wood Lineage,"

"This merchant is so weak that he couldn’t possibly have saved Mu Tu and Mu Xi. He must be deceiving us, trying to take this chance to gain benefits. Do not trust his words."

Furious voices rose one after another, a murderous aura pervading the air.

The originally dim great hall was now lit up with dazzling golden light.

This was the Divine Blood Warriors of the Divine Wood Lineage expressing their wrath.

The mere fury seemed enough to burn Xiu Xiang to death.

But Xiu Xiang knew the dangers of this journey, so he was not afraid. Instead, he stood tall and looked at the High Priest Mu Witch, saying again, "If the High Priest is unwilling to purchase the two unique wares I have, then I will have to find another buyer. Of course, you can also kill me here, as you said, I am merely a lowly merchant. But those two Divine Blood Warriors will then never be retrieved by you again."

"Are you threatening our Divine Wood Lineage?" A young yet powerful warrior, shirtless with a long spear made of Red Gold, strode over, radiating a scorching aura.

His body, as if cast from Red Gold, revealed a dense pattern like Golden Leaves.

Clearly, this was an extraordinarily mighty Divine Blood Warrior.

"Stop, you cannot kill a Merchant! Do you want the Divine Wood Lineage to be abandoned by the world’s merchants? Do you want the Divine Wood Lineage to lose two Divine Blood Warriors over a bit of money? One of whom is even of the Divine Blood Lineage." Mu Sangong immediately rebuked.

For he sensed the terrifying killing intent emitted by the powerful Divine Blood Warrior.

Fearing that, with a swing of his long spear, he would decapitate Xiu Xiang.

Although it might be satisfying for a moment, it would plunge the Divine Wood Lineage into an eternal abyss, something he could not allow to happen.

"Your ancestors also once had the blood of the Divine Wood Lineage, and now you speak up for a lowly merchant?" The powerful Divine Blood Warrior glared at Mu Sangong, eyes filled with killing intent.

Mu Sangong said, "I am not speaking for this merchant but considering the future of the Divine Wood Lineage. High Priest, as a sage of the Divine Wood Lineage, you should understand what I mean."

He knew that the High Priest didn’t stop all this to intimidate this merchant.

If the merchant could not endure the pressure and threat and surrendered Mu Tu and Mu Xi, it would naturally be the best outcome.

"Mu Yan, return. Mu Sangong is right, don’t kill a merchant without reason. That would invite disaster, especially since he brought back two Divine Blood Warriors of our lineage. We should indeed give recompense." The High Priest Mu Witch spoke slowly at this moment.

"Yes."

Only then did the powerful warrior reluctantly retreat with the Red Gold spear.

But his eyes still radiated Divine Light, fixed firmly on Xiu Xiang, as if ready to burst and kill at any moment.

Xiu Xiang felt immense pressure but, as a Merchant Master, maintained his composure, insisting on negotiating the deal.

"Merchant, since you’ve forsaken the grace of the Divine Wood Lineage for recompense, I naturally won’t refuse. Yet your actions are no doubt like picking up a stone and discarding a Treasure Bead," High Priest Mu Witch said again.

Xiu Xiang replied, "I am merely a merchant; grace is not part of the trade. I hope these two Divine Blood Warriors can bring me enough Divine Tree leaves."

"So you covet the leaves that fall from our Divine Tree? As a merchant, your vision and greed are fitting," Mu Witch said, "I can give you one hundred leaves of the Divine Tree as recompense. How about that?"

"Is one Divine Blood Warrior and one of the Divine Blood Lineage only worth one hundred Divine Tree leaves? If other Mountain Lords heard of such a price, they would never save your Divine Wood Lineage warriors again."

"I would rather sell this Divine Blood Lineage member to another Mountain Lord. I believe they would be very interested in the Divine Blood of the Divine Wood Lineage."

He said bluntly.

The implication was clear: the Divine Blood Lineage could propagate descendants.

If properly utilized.

In the future, it might not be impossible to produce another branch of warriors from the Divine Wood Lineage.