Death... and me

"Rean, didn't you say this continent was supposed to be a huge desert and nothing more?" Kentucky asked as he kept flying forward.

"It was..." Rean nodded. "But then again, information about this continent is quite sparse. I couldn't even get a map of this place before arriving on this continent. That said, it wouldn't be impossible to actually have a few places with some green life, but only a few know about it."

Kentucky found it strange. "That's weird. If the World Swallowing Cedar is truly here, then there shouldn't be any plant life alive anymore. Celis said it himself. If not because he always had plenty of Divine Energy and Divine Origin Energy, he would have gone out to look for some isolated places where he could call the Divine Energy too. The result is that everything around him would die."

A shrug of his shoulder was all Rean could do. "Well, I know that. However, what do you expect from me? We just arrived here, so I obviously don't have an answer to your question... or so I wanted to say. Yet, don't forget that it was also because of Celis that the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm is so green today."

"Absorbing all life energy and killing everything in his surroundings is indeed one of Celis's abilities. But at the same time, he can do exactly the opposite and share Divine Energy and Life Force through his roots and even his saplings. I don't want to imagine how annoying it would be to grow all that plant life in the Realm of Gods without Celis's help."

"So you are saying that this World Swallowing Tree we came to visit is the one making plant life thrive in this place?" Kentucky asked.

"Exactly," Rean confirmed. "After all, we can still feel the energy absorption effect in this area. Since all the plant life around is thriving, he must not be absorbing anything from them but giving away instead."

Kentucky had to admit Rean's words made sense. "Well, we will find out soo- hm?"

Suddenly, Rean and Kentucky's expressions changed a little as they looked in a certain direction. Just now, they entered someone's Divine Sense Range. The other side still hasn't noticed Rean and Kentucky because of Rean's Divine Sense Bending skill. However, as long as they got closer, they would eventually enter the other part's Natural Spatial Perception. "Seems like we are close to Futuxei. Keep going, Kentucky."

Kentucky could also feel the Divine Sense and just followed it. Sure enough, it didn't take long for Rean and Kentucky to see a towering cedar in the distance. It wasn't any smaller than Celis, as both were in the Space-Time Realm. If anything, it was a little taller instead.

A moment later, Rean and Kentucky's Spatial Perception picked up the huge tree's existence as a black hole appeared in there. The same went for the World Swallowing Cedar in the distance as many roots began to move as if preparing to battle.

Rean quickly deactivated his Divine Sense Bending Skill and spread his Divine Sense, reaching the Cedar and sending a message. 'Don't worry, friend. We aren't here to cause trouble. We got to know about you through senior Lahalan.'

'Lahalan?' The World Swallowing Cedar's roots then stopped as the Cedar talked back through Divine Sense. 'He did mention someone was coming to see me, but I thought it was Flinyu, a Divinity Realm expert, not you.'

Rean quickly nodded and got closer to the Cedar with Kentucky. The two then landed on the top of a mound not far away before Rean changed to a normal conversation. "That's correct, friend Futuxei. We talked to Flinyu, and he sought information about you from Lahalan. That's why we are the ones who came. I hope you don't mind."

Futuxei was still skeptical but didn't attack Rean and Kentucky. Instead, he changed into his human form and flew near to Rean and Kentucky. "Well, it's not like I get a lot of visits anyway. The area I control kills pretty much anything I don't consider part of my territory, after all."

Kentucky nodded. "That we noticed. Our Life Forces and Divine Energy began to get taken away as soon as we entered your territory. Of course, with our cultivation, it wasn't that hard to stop it since you were not focusing on us on purpose either."

Rean noticed something, though. "From what we heard, you were a Middle Stage Space-Time Realm World Swallowing Cedar. Yet, my Divine Sense says you are in the Late Stage instead."

"Your information wasn't wrong... until four decades ago. I had just succeeded in a breakthrough. That's why I'm Late Stage Cedar now," Futuxei explained. "I haven't seen Lahalan for more than 300 years, so it is normal that he thought I was still in the Middle Stage."

Finally, Futuxei decided to end the pleasantries and went to the main topic. "Alright, tell me. What did you come here for? I'll tell you ahead. I won't leave this place regardless of what you have to say."

Rean quickly shook his head. "Don't worry, friend. We didn't come here to take you out, nor is it anything that requires friend to put in any effort. We came here because we need your help regarding the Absorption Laws... or whatever it might be called. As a World Swallowing Cedar, you were forced to comprehend these laws together with the Wood Laws, right?"

Futuxei narrowed his eyes. Only World Swallwong Cedars would usually know about it. Of course, Lahalan definitely knew it, too. "Was it Nahalan who told you about me?"

Rean shook his head. "Not quite... although it was a Demon Plant who told us that. Friend Futuxei, how many World Swallowing Cedars do you know other than yourself?"

Futuxei's killing intent instantly spread around Rean and Kentucky. "Was it another one from my race who asked you to come? You will need a lot more than just you two if you want to take my core."

Rean was taken aback. Didn't he just say he didn't come here to cause any trouble? 'Short tempered just like Celis... Perhaps it is genetic.'