Qinglong had clearly extended his hand, yet still didn’t activate any “conviction.”

His opponent’s target was actually the “tree”?

This tree was indeed rare. After all, it didn’t come from “Peach Blossom Spring.”

It came from an apple brought in from outside.

After the apple was eaten, it was casually tossed into the soil. Whether from a botanical perspective or from the perspective of “Peach Blossom Spring,” theoretically it shouldn’t have sprouted at all.

Yet it grew into a seedling and even bore deformed fruit.

Although it would be a pity to destroy such a rare tree, who would use their limited remaining “conviction” to protect a dead object at this moment of life and death?

Thus, under everyone’s gaze, Qinglong made no move. He watched helplessly as Qiao Jiajin moved beside the large tree, then extended his hand in a horizontal chop.

“Heaven’s Vigorous Movement” mixed with Qiao Jiajin’s superb combat techniques—a knife-hand strike cut the large tree clean through at the waist like an axe.

Qiao Jiajin immediately followed with a palm strike on the trunk. The tree’s form swayed, then crashed down in one direction with a thunderous sound.

This tree wasn’t particularly large or small. The momentum of its fall wasn’t even as forceful as several “Heaven’s Vigorous Movement” fists colliding.

Qiao Jiajin took a deep breath and looked at the changes nearby. He had once boldly imagined what would happen after this tree was chopped down.

For instance, perhaps this tree was something Qinglong cherished deeply. If the tree fell, Qinglong would completely collapse.

Or perhaps this tree was some kind of vital point for Qinglong. If the tree fell, Qinglong would be injured.

Or perhaps Qinglong’s true form was hidden inside the tree. If the tree died, Qinglong would die too.

But none of these things happened.

Qinglong remained expressionless throughout. The entire room was terrifyingly quiet. Compared to just moments ago, the only difference was that the tree had fallen.

So what… exactly was this “trump card”?

Qinglong looked coldly at Qiao Jiajin. After a few seconds, he showed a deranged smile and said, “Can’t kill me… so you’re taking it out on a tree?”

Hearing these words, Qiao Jiajin felt he might have been played.

This ace he had been holding in his hand, only using it as a life-saving measure at the critical moment—this “trump card” had very likely been a joke from the beginning.

If possible… he truly hoped he had misunderstood.

Even if it had just a little effect…

Even if Qinglong would feel sad about this tree for just an instant, he would believe the “trump card” had played some small role.

At least then he could confidently say he hadn’t been deceived.

But why was it like this…?

He had still been deceived. Qinglong didn’t care about this tree at all.

An utterly ordinary tree, completely no different from trees in the real world.

Ordinary leaves, ordinary bark, ordinary roots.

Even the tree’s cross-section didn’t reveal a pitch-black color like Xuanwu’s body. It merely showed the yellowish-white color of an ordinary trunk.

No matter from which angle one looked at it, it was just an extraordinarily ordinary tree.

Zhang Shan and Chu Tianqiu exchanged glances, not knowing what Qiao Jiajin’s “trump card” actually was.

Had it not started yet… or was it already over?

“Tattoo Kid…” Zhang Shan called out somewhat uncertainly. “Right now, is…”

“Looks like we’ll have to rely on ourselves,” Qiao Jiajin said with a bitter smile. “Big Guy, I once said I’d take you to see this vast world’s mountains and rivers, but I’m afraid today will be our last look.”

“Is that so?” Zhang Shan also laughed. “It’s fine. ‘Mountain’ is here, ‘Sky’ is here too. Let’s make do with looking.”

The three knew there was no retreat now. The outcome ahead was heading toward its destined direction.

“Laughable…” Qinglong said with his head lowered, as if carrying the entire thundercloud on his back. “Your dying struggles make me feel especially ridiculous…”

Chu Tianqiu took advantage of Qinglong speaking to glance toward Heavenly-Dragon’s direction. Heavenly-Dragon had begun frowning slightly. He would soon awaken.

Was there still one last chance to touch him?

But thinking this, a trace of dejection flashed through Chu Tianqiu’s eyes.

Even if he touched Heavenly-Dragon, that would only be a brand new beginning. Heavenly-Dragon’s dreamscape would definitely be more terrifying than “The End.” What would they do then?

Would Qi Xia truly be waiting for him there?

All current circumstances seemed to point to the opposite answer.

What exactly was Qi Xia…

While observing Qinglong, Chu Tianqiu moved toward Heavenly-Dragon’s direction. He didn’t know what scheme Qi Xia was planning, but he knew he at least had to try once.

This room now had no escape route. Either die at Qinglong’s hands or die at Heavenly-Dragon’s hands.

Since the outcome was already determined, what harm was there in trying?

Taking advantage of Qinglong’s momentary daze, Chu Tianqiu gathered strength in both legs and leaped toward Heavenly-Dragon’s direction.

Qinglong immediately sensed something wrong. He tried to use “Soul Seizure” to stop Chu Tianqiu’s movement, but the “immortal technique” failed again for an instant. So he also shot forward, flying toward Chu Tianqiu’s direction.

Zhang Shan and Qiao Jiajin followed behind like mantis stalking cicada, leaping toward Qinglong.

The three parties collided fiercely in mid-air. They each struck their opponents, then flew toward different positions to land.

Qinglong’s condition was clearly better than the other three. He landed beside the fallen tree, watching as the three before him fell tumbling to the ground.

“Why struggle…” Qinglong muttered while twisting his neck. “Wouldn’t it be better to just wait for ‘Thunderclap’ to fall…”

Chu Tianqiu covered his chest and spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, but still immediately stood up. With “Heaven’s Vigorous Movement,” this level of injury wasn’t fatal at all. No matter what, he needed to try harder.

If he didn’t touch Heavenly-Dragon… how could he claim a clear conscience?

This path hadn’t become difficult starting from now—it had been this difficult from the very beginning.

“Chu Tianqiu, you truly disappoint me,” Qinglong laughed loudly. “I thought you were also the best candidate to become a ‘god’… yet you were knocked to the ground like a dog by my kick. Why do you put mortals’ safety first?”

As Qinglong spoke, all the thunderclouds in the sky had taken on a terrifying purple-red color. Countless lightning serpents radiating brilliant light began flashing. As Qinglong approached complete derangement, he released the most powerful “Thunderclap” in history.

“Now… do you know the gap between mortals and me…” Qinglong walked slowly forward amid the lightning and thunder, like a true deity. “Mortals cannot sanction me… and you actually thought to vent on an ordinary fruit tree… isn’t that laughable?”

Qinglong glanced contemptuously at the fallen tree, then looked toward Qiao Jiajin, laughing loudly as he said, “The ‘trump card’ you kept talking about turned out to be…”

Wait.

Wait a moment.

Qinglong’s words stopped abruptly in mid-air.

His expression also gradually became strange.

During a certain instant just now, he seemed to have seen something odd. Something that looked reasonable but upon careful consideration absolutely couldn’t have appeared.

What was it?

He moved his gaze back to the large tree at an extremely slow speed. What image had just flashed by… making his entire back turn cold for an instant?

Wasn’t this just… the most ordinary tree…?

Ordinary leaves, ordinary bark, ordinary roots.

Exactly where was something not quite right…?

He looked incredulously back and forth at this broken tree.

After several seconds, he stood frozen in place with a stunned expression.

The problem lay in that tree’s cross-section…

A tree planted for at most seventy-some years.

Yet densely packed with hundreds of rings.