What… was this thing…?

Looking at those hundreds of rings, the “conviction” throughout Qinglong’s body nearly collapsed completely.

Countless questions began frantically sweeping through his mind.

Why were “annual rings” called “annual rings”?

Why would a tree of seventy-some years be packed with hundreds of rings?

He had planted this tree with his own hands. He had personally lived through the time.

What could have caused this strange phenomenon…?

If this tree had a lifespan of several hundred years, how could it be this thick and thin as it was now?

These numerous rings coiled on the cross-section like rolled paper. At first glance, even the trunk’s color seemed to have darkened.

A thought that had never surfaced in Qinglong’s mind now leaped to the surface—

Was there something wrong with the time he had experienced?

He seemed to have been deceived by someone, or perhaps controlled by someone.

No… or rather… had someone tampered with this tree?

But who exactly had such heaven-defying abilities to tamper with this tree right under his and Heavenly-Dragon’s noses?

He only felt his mind was in complete chaos. At this moment, not only had “Soul Seizure” vanished without a trace, even the thunderclouds in the sky were gradually fading away.

“This is wrong…” Qinglong murmured. “The situation is completely beyond our control… Heavenly-Dragon… wake up quickly…”

The three people nearby watched Qinglong’s bizarre behavior, once again falling into confusion. The situation was beyond Qinglong’s control… but it was also outside the control of the three of them.

So which direction was things developing toward now?

Although Chu Tianqiu was completely baffled, he felt that Qiao Jiajin’s “trump card” seemed to have actually worked a little. Taking advantage of this moment, he charged toward Heavenly-Dragon again.

Qinglong shouted “wrong” almost like he had gone completely mad. Just as Chu Tianqiu was about to approach the steps, Qinglong raised both hands high and brought them crashing down toward the ground beneath his feet.

*BOOM*!!

Large cracks appeared on the room’s floor. The cracks spread to beneath the three men’s feet, making all of them sway unsteadily. Chu Tianqiu was even tripped by the crack beneath his feet and nearly fell to the ground.

“Heavenly-Dragon…” Qinglong said with wide eyes. “This is wrong… the situation is out of control… Heavenly-Dragon… wake up!!”

As the three watched in shock, Qinglong raised both hands high once more and forcefully pounded the ground.

*BOOM*!!

The room shook violently again. Even Heavenly-Dragon sitting on the steps swayed left and right.

Under this tremendous sound, he furrowed his brow slightly, seeming ready to open his eyes at any moment.

The current situation left Qinglong at a complete loss. He had not only lost all his “immortal techniques,” but could no longer comprehend what exactly his experiences over these decades had been.

This was the first time he felt such panic.

He had once thought he was the supreme ruler commanding all of “Peach Blossom Spring,” but now he felt he knew nothing about “Peach Blossom Spring” at all.

He knew he had to wake Heavenly-Dragon. Something truly seemed about to happen.

“Heavenly-Dragon… wake up!!”

Seeing him about to pound the ground forcefully again, Qiao Jiajin leaped directly in front of Qinglong and extended both arms to catch his hands.

But Qinglong’s strength at this moment was extraordinarily great.

Although his body still had wounds that hadn’t healed, these hands brought Qiao Jiajin’s blocking force down together toward the ground like a falling meteor.

*BOOM*!!

Qiao Jiajin was knocked to the ground by the terrifying force. Only at this moment did he realize that chopping down that tree wasn’t some “trump card”—

It was more like a “death warrant.”

If he had known early on that Qinglong would wake Heavenly-Dragon after seeing that tree… would he still have chosen this plan?

So exactly what attitude should he take when cooperating with Qi Xia…?

When you trusted him, you would inadvertently discover he was deceiving you. When you thought he was a liar, he seemed to be helping you instead.

Amid these countless deceptions and trusts, Qiao Jiajin could only hold fast to his original heart.

He lived in this world to repay gratitude and seek revenge, yet so far he hadn’t done either thing well.

“Heavenly-Dragon!! Wake up!!”

Qiao Jiajin didn’t know how to block this crazed beast at this moment. He could only roll his body and use himself to cushion his fists.

He knew he had always been stupid, but if he could just delay a bit longer at this moment… even just a few seconds would be enough for Tianqiu Boy to touch Heavenly-Dragon, right?

Qinglong paid no attention whatsoever to Qiao Jiajin beneath him and simply brought his fist crashing down on his body.

*BOOM*!!

The fist landed on Qiao Jiajin’s chest, still producing a massive and terrifying sound. Qiao Jiajin spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, dyeing his entire face red.

Chu Tianqiu had already steadied his form as much as possible in the constantly shaking room. His knees were battered bloody and raw as he stumbled up the steps one fall at a time.

“Heavenly-Dragon!!” Qinglong seemed to have gone mad, punching Qiao Jiajin’s chest again. Qiao Jiajin no longer had any ability to resist.

Seeing this, Zhang Shan also hurried over, flying toward Qinglong. But at this moment Qinglong was like a stone pillar—no matter what kind of attack struck him, it couldn’t cause any impact.

His hair was disheveled. He no longer healed any wounds, instead applying all his “conviction” to strength.

*BOOM*!!

Amid the tremendous sound, Chu Tianqiu stumbled again. But he knew he absolutely couldn’t stop.

Perhaps throughout all these years, he was the only “Participant” who could stand on this step—

Heavenly-Dragon was right before him!

He pulled out “Dream Entry” from his pocket and bit down hard, crushing it in his mouth. His entire consciousness approached delirium at this moment.

He had never tried swallowing so many eyeballs at once. Time itself seemed to slow by one second at this moment.

Then he mobilized all his concentration to keep himself rational and extended his right hand toward Heavenly-Dragon. But the room began shaking madly again. The distance between them remained always one palm’s width apart. After seventy years, this final step was more difficult than any other step.

“For the sake of never having done anything bad in my life…” Chu Tianqiu said through gritted teeth. “Can you let my life go smoothly just once…”

Heavenly-Dragon’s brow was tightly furrowed. His form constantly swayed, seeming about to open his eyes at any moment.

In the massive shaking, that palm’s width of distance was finally closed.

Chu Tianqiu lightly touched Heavenly-Dragon’s fingertips.

He instantly showed a delighted expression. Although this step had been more difficult than any other, he had indeed done it.

What a perilous and lengthy step?

As an ordinary person, he had touched the supreme “god” of this place.

Chu Tianqiu instinctively raised his head. All plans had already entered the right track. As long as immediately next—

Before he could finish thinking through the countermeasure, he met Heavenly-Dragon’s eyes, deep as hell itself.

At this moment, Heavenly-Dragon was staring at him with wide-open eyes.