Refining the Mountains and Rivers

A long time ago, there was a scholartree and a peach tree. When their consciousness first arose, they were dug out by someone. They swayed their branches and tried to break free from this unknown force but they were eventually dug out from the earth.

"Stop struggling. I don't have a good temper and I will beat you if you continue to be naughty!" This was a charming voice and there was a hint of playfulness in her tone. She was warm and kind but even in their blurry state of mind, the trees felt fear.

"Alright! From today onwards, you two will be my guards!" The voice rang through their minds again and someone started to clap.

"You guys should work hard and grow!"

There was the sound of footsteps as their new master turned to leave.

Despite the birth of their initial consciousness of the scholartree and peach tree, they did not know what they had just experienced. However, there was one point that stood clear to them. From this day onwards, they had a master and a task of guarding the master's place.

They worked hard to absorb nutrients and the two trees grew taller and sturdier. One clear morning, their consciousness fully awakened. Their eyes opened and they finally had a clear view of the world.

This was also the day that they saw their master. She had a small stature as she stood under a tree. She smiled sweetly as she looked at them but her eyes were deep - evidence of her vast knowledge of the world.

Her smile was charming and she clapped her hands, "Congratulations to the both of you. From today onwards, you will be guard generals." From that day, they had their own names. One was called General Scholartree and the other was called General Peach.

Their master was constantly busy and she was always missing for a good period of time.

Every time she went out and returned, she would greet them warmly and say, "Hey, my guard generals, how are you?"

She was always bright and happy every time she greeted them.

The trees thought that they would continue living this peaceful life as their master's guard generals. However, something unexpected occurred.

Strong, violent, and vicious men invaded and mercilessly killed everyone in the palace.

That was the first time they saw their master battle. An outburst of power came from her tiny stature and she was a terrifying killing machine. Every time she raised her hand, she would unleash so much force the heavens and earth would shake.

However, even their powerful master could not handle being surrounded by the invaders.

They were not afraid of death and they were fearless. Despite large numbers of deaths, they continued streaming in like water, flooding the entire battlefield.

The trees were the guard generals for their master and they fulfilled their duty loyally. However, their branches that were typically as strong as stone became as weak as paper during the battle. They were easily broken and destroyed.

Pain and fear filled their hearts and their giant trunks were lifted out of the earth again. Their branches fell to the ground helplessly and the only reason why they did not die immediately after being uprooted was because they were plants.

Before long, they would die!

General Scholartree and General Peach stared wide-eyed as the place that they protected was destroyed bit by bit. Many people died, some familiar to them and some strangers. The pungent smell of blood in the air grew thicker as time passed.

Their master died in battle and the world was dyed blood red. The battle ended with large cracks in the earth and wild winds howling through the sky, announcing the deaths of thousands of creatures.

The generals thought they would die along with their master. The cruel invaders were forced off the land at the sacrifice of their master's life.

Unexpectedly, a piece of her body landed in front of the trees. Her familiar aura was strong and the trees knew that this piece of flesh belonged to their master.

In the face of death, fear terrorized them and they lost all sense of reasoning. Their roots that were completely uprooted uncontrollably started to move and wrap around their master's body.

General Scholartree and General Peach survived after they consumed the energy from the corpse of their master. With that, their power grew exponentially.

This was the strange and unique beginning of their Saint Path. They were once companions, but after the battle, they became entangled with hatred and they went their separate ways from then on.

Nonetheless, they did not forget their origins. Instead, as they grew stronger and stronger, they learned more things. One of them was that their master was an all-powerful Ruler and the Ruler realm was a dream that they could never fulfill.

If a piece of their Ruler's body contained so much energy that they became True Saints after absorbing it, how strong was her legacy?

As such, after so many years, they never forgot their origins and the treasures that were hidden there.

In fact, both of them tried multiple times to search for her legacy but they ended up empty-handed. They could only wait for the moment her legacy appeared.

Perhaps because they absorbed the energy within the corpse, they had a very strong sense that their master's legacy was left in that place!

Many years went by and just when they started to suspect their own senses…traces of their master's legacy appeared!

……

Back to the present day at the Western Mountain.

This was an ordinary mountain in ancient times. Although it was big and dangerous, there were a few men who could take it on.

After Scholartree Saint appeared, the Western Mountain became one of the strongest places in the Vast Brightness World.

The ancient tree supported the skies as it stood on the mountain. Its thick roots dug deep into the body of the mountain and its lustrous canopy shadowed the light from the earth.

The Scholartree Saint stood beneath the ancient tree with his hands behind his back. There was a strange feeling in the air.

The Spring Master and him lived together for so many years and they absorbed their master to achieve their cultivation realm. They could sense each other.

Not long ago, the Scholartree Saint discovered the Spring Master's secret…his soul was very weak and it was about to break apart.

The arrangement set up in the past was finally going to work. Once the Spring Master died, the Scholartree Saint would possess everything of his.

This might be his chance to break through to become a Ruler!

After so many years of waiting, the Scholartree Saint did not mind waiting just a bit longer. He wanted to strike the Spring Master viciously when the Spring Master had no more choices.

The Scholartree Saint restrained himself and kept as silent as a stone. He had a feeling that the Spring Master would seek him out on the Western Mountain and battle him fiercely right before his death.

In regards to this, the Scholartree Saint had come up with a plan. He would not be dragged down with the Spring Master.

However, things never went according to plan.

As he stood beneath the ancient tree, the Scholartree Saint's expression suddenly changed.

He raised his head and looked upwards; there were small rifts in the space vibrating above him.

He could feel an exciting wave of energy rushing into his soul.

The Ruler's legacy has appeared!

Without hesitation, the Scholartree Saint jumped. His body merged into the ancient tree and in the next moment, a violent earthquake started. The Western Mountain broke apart from the earthquake and numerous thick roots emerged from the earth. The ancient tree lifted into the sky and disappeared without a trace.

The Ruler's legacy also signified the appearance of the Ruler's Great Dao. The Scholartree Saint was determined to get them.

Moreover, the Scholartree Saint would never leave this opportunity to the Spring Master.

If the appearance of the legacy summoned him, the Spring Master must have experienced the same thing.

Was he going to leave the legacy entirely to the Spring Master?

As such, the ancient tree from the Western Mountain uprooted itself from it and took to the skies!

……

The space next to the ball of light shook violently as a giant shadow stepped out. Numerous cracks formed as the space tore apart.

The Scholartree Saint from the Western Mountain was here!

He ignored Qin Yu and placed all his attention on the bright ball of light.

Tree branches swayed and his leaves rustled together.

The Ruler's Great Dao!

This was it, he could not be mistaken about it. If he managed to grab ahold of it, he could break through and become even stronger.

Boom!

The ancient tree that supported the skies rocked from side to side and its branches stretched out like a net that captured everything within it.

Qin Yu frowned and there was fury in his eyes. He did not know why the Scholartree Saint was able to come here. Regardless of that, he could not have the Ruler's Great Dao!

Stepping forward, an outburst of energy exploded from his body. His black hair fluttered in the wind as his robe floated along. Qin Yu let out all his energy and put his full strength into this blow.

He clenched his hand into a fist but just as he was about to attack, a deafening blow shattered space. The ancient peach tree descended.

"Give it to him."

The voice was low and deep as it rang right beside Qin Yu's ear.

Hesitation and reluctance flashed through Qin Yu's eyes. Without any choice left, he gave up his attack and turned to bow, "Your disciple, Qin Yu greets Master!" He revealed himself when he decided to attack. It was no surprise that the Spring Master recognized him.

The Spring Master was silent. Then, in a soft voice, he said, "Qin Yu, you exceeded my expectations. I didn't imagine that you would find my master's legacy."

After a brief pause, he continued, "Also, I have to admit that I was selfish when I informed you of the Inextinguishable Flame."

The Spring Master did not go on to elaborate. However, when the Scholartree Saint and the Spring Master arrived simultaneously with the appearance of the Ruler's Great Dao, Qin Yu came to a realization.

Perhaps the Spring Master had been using Qin Yu to find the Ruler's legacy from the start. He might have thought that he could prolong his life in this way.

Admittedly, Qin Yu was not happy with the Spring Master's dishonesty in using him. But upon second thought, this was the right move by the Spring Master.

This was not the time to bother about all this. The Ruler's Great Dao was right before him and the Scholartree Saint desperately wanted it for himself.

Sighing deeply, Qin Yu asked, "Why?"

The Spring Master chuckled lightly, "Don't worry. He won't be able to obtain it…" There was a brief pause. Then, the Spring Master light-heartedly said, "No wonder Master was so nice to us back then. It was to make up for today. She had planned this from the start.

"The Ruler's Great Dao is real but there isn't a chance for me or Scholartree Saint to take it. You will understand soon enough."