Chapter 63 Five Hundred Years of Waiting
The World Tree continued sobbing.
Its branches drooped pitifully while its emerald leaves quivered like a frightened child admitting its mistake.
Seeing the enormous tree crying so miserably, Zan Yunxiao slowly lowered his sword.
The intimidating aura surrounding him completely disappeared.
However, the astonishment on his face remained.
His mind was in complete disarray.
"How...?"
He looked at the towering World Tree from top to bottom, as if trying to determine whether he was hallucinating.
"How is a tree... speaking?"
No matter how much knowledge he possessed, he had never encountered such a bizarre situation.
But a tree...
A tree talking like a child while crying?
That was completely beyond his understanding.
The World Tree sniffled repeatedly, still apologizing between sobs.
Seeing that the World Tree showed no signs of stopping, Zan Yunxiao let out a helpless sigh.
He slowly sheathed his sword and walked toward the trembling tree.
"Enough."
"I'm not going to cut you down."
Hearing those words, the World Tree's sobbing gradually weakened.
"R-Really...?"
Its leaves stopped shaking as violently, though its voice still carried a trace of fear.
Zan Yunxiao nodded.
"If I truly intended to destroy you, you wouldn't still be standing here."
The World Tree fell silent.
After a moment, one of its branches cautiously lowered itself toward Zan Yunxiao, like a child trying to confirm whether an angry parent had really calmed down.
Zan Yunxiao gently placed his hand on the branch.
"It's alright."
"I was only trying to force the owner of that voice to reveal themselves."
"I didn't know it was you."
The World Tree remained quiet for a few moments before speaking in a timid voice.
"So... Master isn't angry anymore?"
A faint smile appeared on Zan Yunxiao's face.
"No."
"I'm not angry."
The World Tree immediately became cheerful.
"Yay!"
Its branches swayed happily, and the surrounding mana once again became calm and gentle. The earlier tense atmosphere completely disappeared, replaced by a peaceful breeze rustling through its emerald leaves.
Watching the dramatic change, Zan Yunxiao couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.
"It really does behave like a child."
Only after the World Tree had completely calmed down did he look up at it with curiosity.
"Now then..."
"Can you tell me how you're able to speak?"
The World Tree gently swayed its branches before speaking in a soft voice.
"I... don't know exactly when I became like this."
It paused, as if trying to recall a distant memory.
"I only remember that one day, Master poured a strange power into me."
"A warm... gentle power."
"After that, I slowly gained consciousness."
Zan Yunxiao remained silent, quietly listening.
He had already guessed what that "strange power" was.
It was most likely the spiritual energy of him that had awakened the World Tree's consciousness.
The World Tree continued, its voice gradually becoming livelier.
"Then one day, Master took me in another world."
"I was really happy."
"I thought... Master was taking me on a journey."
"When Master planted me here, I discovered that this world was different."
"I could finally absorb energy of this world."
"So much energy!"
"I couldn't absorb anything in the previous world, but here... I could grow stronger every single day."
Its branches swayed excitedly as if reliving that joyful moment.
"I wanted to tell Master how happy I was."
"I wanted Master to know that I was finally growing."
"But when I looked..."
"Master was gone."
Its cheerful voice slowly became quiet.
"I thought Master would come back in a few hours."
"So I waited."
"A few hours became days."
"Days became months."
"Months became years."
The leaves above gently rustled.
"I kept waiting."
"Ten years..."
"Fifty years..."
"A hundred years..."
"Two hundred..."
"Three hundred..."
"Four hundred..."
"Five hundred years..."
The World Tree lowered several branches, looking unusually lonely.
"I thought..."
"Master had abandoned me."
Zan Yunxiao's expression gradually softened.
He never expected that the difference in time between the two worlds had caused the World Tree to spend five centuries alone.
To him, it had only been a short absence.
To the World Tree...
It had been an eternity.
The lonely atmosphere didn't last long before the World Tree suddenly became cheerful again.
"But today..."
"Master came back!"
"I was so happy!"
"When Master touched me, I could finally feel Master's presence again."
Its branches happily circled around Zan Yunxiao.
"And then Master said..."
"It seems planting you on a planet rich in mana was the right choice."
"When I heard those words..."
"I was really touched."
"I knew Master hadn't forgotten me."
"So..."
"I thanked Master."
The World Tree giggled innocently.
"And... that's why we're talking now."
Zan Yunxiao stood there quietly, looking at the towering tree before him.
This innocent World Tree had waited faithfully for five hundred years, believing that the person who planted it would one day return.
He had originally come to Zinnia Planet for only two reasons.
To test the sword intent he had comprehended within that mysterious void.
And to check on the growth of the World Tree.
After that...
He had planned to leave immediately.
But after hearing the World Tree's story, that thought suddenly became difficult to act upon.
A trace of guilt surfaced in his heart.
He looked at the World Tree's swaying branches.
It had patiently waited through countless seasons, believing that one day its master would return.
Now that he had finally come back...
He was already thinking about leaving again and he felt somewhat guilty.
The World Tree, however, knew nothing of his thoughts.
Its branches swayed happily as it spoke.
"Master..."
"Are you going to stay this time?"
Those innocent words caused Zan Yunxiao to shaken his dao heart.
He couldn't immediately answer.
Because he knew...
Sooner or later, he would have to return to the Zan Clan.
The World Tree seemed to notice his hesitation.
Its leaves gradually stopped swaying.
"Master..."
"...you're leaving again, aren't you?"
Its voice was soft, but there wasn't the slightest hint of accusation.
Zan Yunxiao let out a quiet sigh.
"I still have responsibilities in my own world and I can't remain here forever."
The World Tree lowered its branches.
"I understand..."
Although it said those words, its voice sounded lonely.
Seeing that pitiful appearance, Zan Yunxiao couldn't help but smile bitterly.
He reached out and gently patted the World Tree's trunk.
"Don't worry, I won't leave immediately."
The World Tree's drooping branches slowly lifted.
"Really, Master?"
Zan Yunxiao nodded.
"I'll stay here for a while and spend some time with you."
The moment those words fell, the World Tree became overjoyed.
"Yay! I knew Master wouldn't abandon me!"
Its branches swayed happily, causing countless emerald leaves to dance through the air. Even the surrounding mana became noticeably livelier, as if the entire forest were celebrating alongside it.
Originally, he had only planned to test his newly comprehended sword intent before returning to the Zan Clan.
Now, he had changed his mind.
Since time flowed differently between the two worlds, spending a few years on Zinnia Planet would amount to only a short period in his own world.
There was no harm in staying.
After chatting with the World Tree for a while, Zan Yunxiao slowly stood up.
"I'll be back shortly."
The World Tree gently swayed its branches.
"Okay, Master! I'll wait here!"
Zan Yunxiao smiled faintly before his figure disappeared into the distance.
His destination was the territory where he had previously encountered the White Dragon.
Since he had obtained a stronger sword intent from the mysterious void, he wanted to see just how much his combat power had improved.
After arriving, Zan Yunxiao floated high in the air, overlooking the vast forest that stretched endlessly beneath him.
He slowly released his aura.
Boom!
His spiritual energy poured out without restraint, spreading across the vast forest like an invisible tide.
The overwhelming pressure caused countless magical beasts to collapse to the ground in fear, while others fled desperately toward the outer regions of the forest.
Yet...
There was still no response.
No dragon's roar echoed through the mountains.
No overwhelming dragon's might descended from the sky.
Not even the faintest trace of the White Dragon's presence could be found.
Zan Yunxiao frowned slightly.
He swept the area once more with his spiritual sense, carefully searching every corner of the forest.
Nothing.
It was as though every dragon in this region had vanished without a trace.
After a long silence, a strange smile appeared on his face.
"They're either gone..."
"...or they're scared."
Considering how recklessly the White Dragon had attacked him during their first encounter, its current silence was almost amusing.
It seemed that after witnessing his previous strength—or perhaps sensing the terrifying sword intent he now possessed—the dragon had wisely chosen not to reveal itself.
Since his opponent refused to appear...
There was no battle to be fought.