Gao Tian, bloodied and breathing heavily, took several steps back as the air between the two ancient trees began to thrum with power. Sparks ignited in the air, and the oppressive presence of two titanic forces weighed down on the magma basin like a mountain pressing on his chest. Knowing he could no longer interfere, Gao Tian turned and moved toward the unconscious bodies of Shu Yu and Cai Xian.
He dropped beside them and sat down cross-legged, forming a hand seal. His breathing was ragged, but he forced himself into a meditative state, focusing on recovery. He raised a spiritual barrier again, thin but steady, around the three of them.
Gao Tian, eyes closed in meditation, furrowed his brow.
I thought the Heavenly Flame Tree was just a dormant ancient being… But now it's awakened. Still, why is its cultivation only Rank 4 High-Tier? If it's truly been here since this world's origin, something must have happened… Maybe it was wounded once. Maybe it was sealed. Or maybe… it chose to sleep.
Back at center, a deep rustling broke the silence.
The demonic tree's cold, mocking voice rang out in the cavern.
"You… so you were alive all these years."
Its twisted trunk trembled, and blood-red leaves rustled like daggers in the wind. Black roots pulsed as they drank the heat of the lava, dark mist swirling around its limbs.
But the Heavenly Flame Tree did not respond. Not with sound. Not with words.
It answered with flame.
From its branches, golden-red fire began to pulse, gathering into tendrils of light. Every leaf radiated a sacred brilliance that made the magma below shimmer with fear. It stood tall and still for a moment, like a king rising from slumber, and then moved.
With a sound like thunder rolling through a forest, the Heavenly Flame Tree's roots surged forward. Fire-infused vines launched into the air, colliding head-on with the dark, corrupted branches of the demonic tree.
Their first clash sent a shockwave that shattered nearby stone and made Gao Tian's barrier flicker.
The demonic tree responded with a roar and struck back, casting dark energy in spiraling tendrils toward its radiant opponent. Its black vines were covered with demonic runes, and wherever they struck the ground, the stone melted.
They twisted and whipped toward the Heavenly Flame Tree, but the older tree didn't falter.
It stood rooted in lava, absorbing heat like breath. Then it countered, sending a wave of flame in a perfect arc, engulfing the incoming attack and burning the runes away as though they were dust.
The battle raged.
Flame met corruption. Light met shadow.
The cavern was no longer a basin of silence, but a battlefield between ancient forces. The trees hurled their roots and branches like whips, slamming into each other with enough force to send boulders flying. Lava churned and hissed beneath them as the very ground quaked.
Flaming leaves danced in the air, burning like falling stars, while the demonic tree shrieked with each injury. But it was cunning—it sent out ghostly black roots from beneath the lava, trying to pierce the Heavenly Flame Tree from below.
But the Heavenly Flame Tree had not lived for countless ages without mastering its domain.
With a burst of heat, it sent a ring of flame downward, turning the lava itself into a protective moat of divine fire. The black roots never reached their target—they were incinerated before they emerged.
Back and forth the battle went, a storm of energy and elemental fury.
Eventually, the demonic tree began to falter. Its attacks grew slower. Its aura, once dense with malicious power, began to thin.
The Heavenly Flame Tree gave no mercy.
It raised its central branch high, gathering fire into a single massive orb of energy. The orb grew brighter, burning like a sun, until the cavern itself was awash in gold.
Then, with finality, the Heavenly Flame Tree launched the orb straight into the heart of the demonic tree.
The demonic tree let out one last wailing shriek, its body convulsing as the fire consumed it from within. Its red leaves curled and blackened, its bark split apart, and its twisted branches thrashed wildly before turning to ash.
In a final explosion of crimson and black mist, the demonic tree fell.
Silence returned to the basin.
The lava glowed softly once more. The heat, once oppressive and violent, became warm and steady.
The Heavenly Flame Tree stood motionless now, its flame dimmed but still alive. Its energy was spent—but victorious.
Near the rocky path, Gao Tian slowly opened his eyes. His aura had stabilized, and though his body still ached, his heart was at ease.
He looked toward the smoldering remains of the demonic tree and then up at the Heavenly Flame Tree, standing tall and proud.
"Thank you," he whispered, though he knew the ancient being may not reply.
But perhaps… just perhaps… it heard him.
Gao Tian stood beneath the vast ceiling of the underground palace, the flickering red glow from the fire-jade walls casting shifting shadows across his face. He looked up at the Heavenly Flame Tree one last time and smiled with genuine gratitude.
Then, turning to where Cai Xian and Shu Yu lay unconscious, he carefully lifted both of them—one on each shoulder. Their spiritual energy had been drained to the point of collapse, their bodies limp, their breaths shallow but steady.
Suddenly, a blur of white fur leapt from behind a stone pillar.
With an elegant twist, the Ruler Dog landed squarely atop Gao Tian's head, spun once, and promptly curled up to sleep.
Gao Tian blinked.
"You little coward," he muttered, "you were hiding the entire time while I was out there fighting for my life."
The dog didn't respond. He merely let out a soft snore, content as ever.
Gao Tian sighed and shook his head, then looked toward the silent Heavenly Flame Tree once more.
"Senior," he said solemnly, "I'll return when I've grown stronger—to thank you properly."
The massive tree didn't speak, but in the stillness, its branches swayed ever so slightly, as if nodding in acknowledgment.
With steady steps, Gao Tian carried his unconscious companions up the staircase. When he reached the throne room, he placed one hand on the sealed exit. Instantly, the great fire-jade throne split open once more, revealing the passage back to the palace. Without a word, Gao Tian walked forward, and the exit sealed itself behind him.
Back in the grand hall where thrones lined the chamber, he descended the steps and laid Cai Xian and Shu Yu gently on the cool stone floor.
"Huff... we're back," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
He glanced down at them and frowned.
"Their spiritual energy is completely exhausted."
Checking his spiritual ring, he took quick inventory.
Three spiritual recovery pills and seven healing pills. That should be enough... but... how do I feed them?
He remembered the moment Shu Yu had fed him mouth-to-mouth during his unconscious state. His ears turned slightly red.
I guess I can feed Shu Yu like that… but if I try that on Cai Xian, I don't even want to imagine her reaction if she wakes up halfway!
Resolving quickly, he knelt beside Shu Yu.
"Forgive me," he murmured.
He popped a spiritual recovery pill into his mouth, leaned down, and gently transferred it to her lips. A faint, almost imperceptible breath left her nose. Then he repeated the process with a healing pill.
From atop a gao tian head, the Ruler Dog opened one eye and glared.
This human… such a pervert! How dare he touch my master like that!
Gao Tian stood up, ignoring the burning judgment radiating from the beast.
"I fed her," he muttered. "But what do I do with Cai Xian? There's no way I'm trying that. She might burn me alive the moment she wakes up."
His eyes narrowed in thought. Then he think of the Ruler Dog.
Wait a minute... Am i forgotten something? Yeah beast might be able to help refine the pills into energy form… My cultivation is still low...
Gao Tian looked at the little dog with an innocent smile.
Ruler Dog immediately sensed danger. His fur bristled.
"Ah, dear dog," Gao Tian said sweetly, plucking the creature from his head and holding him up. "Can you help refine these pills into energy form for Sister Cai Xian? You just have to refine it, nothing more."
The Ruler Dog's eyes widened in disbelief.
This brat... is asking for my help? After treating me like a that all day?!
He squirmed in Gao Tian's grip.
Gao Tian studied his expression, then sighed.
"So you're refusing, huh?"
The dog froze.
Wait, wait—what's he going to do?
A slow, wicked grin spread across Gao Tian's face.
"I guess I'll have to convince you."
The Ruler Dog whimpered.