Reborn as a Demonic Tree

Chapter 374: Dead Man Walking

Ashlock used {Eye of the Tree God} to watch from the skies as his adopted daughter strode toward the castle of their greatest foe with two Nascent Soul Realm Ents and Diana in tow. She had a carefree spring in her step and a smile on her face that didnʼt fade even as dozens of members of the Nightrose family, all in the Star Core Realm, flew in from the castle and took up positions on the rooftops of the houses lining the central street.

As if they were living statues, none of the Nightrose family cultivators made a move, even as Hades floated over them, the Entʼs shadowy head almost scraping the blood-red dome shielding the city. Watching a shadow titan following a girl barely the size of one of its fingers was rather comical—or at least Ashlock found it funny. The Nightrose family didnʼt seem to mirror his amusement at the titanʼs presence. Their expressions were tense, and a few had already conjured blood weapons.

The surrounding city was chaos as the titanʼs presence and stature were impossible to miss. Mortals and cultivators alike pointed at the 7th stage Nascent Soul Realm Ent, and like a swarm of ants, they fled through the streets to the outskirts. Warning bells echoed in the distance, and the airships that were like floating cities did their best to get out of Hadesʼs way. They slowly rotated as fierce winds from the Azurecrest wind cultivators on board desperately tried to get the airships moving while the people aboard gathered at the windows and stared at Hades.

Ashlock had never felt this... powerful. He hadnʼt even unleashed everything he and his sect were capable of, yet the tyrants of this land were already showing caution, and their city was in chaos. If he wanted, he could tear the sky apart, envelop everyone in telekinesis, and haul them into his waiting vines to be devoured. The capital city of the Blood Lotus Sect could be brought to ruin by him in a single day.

But he didnʼt plan to or want to do that. Despite his emotions being dulled since becoming a tree, causing mass suffering of mortals for sacrificial credits, and some Qi wasnʼt the route he wanted to go down. ”Thatʼs how you become a tyrant like Vincent Nightrose. You can only push people so far before the world finds a way to bring you down. I doubt Vincent ever foresaw Nightrose City falling to a spirit tree, of all things.”

Speaking of Vincent Nightrose, Ashlock decided to go ahead of Stella to scout for the tyrant. They had killed two of his guardians and made a lot of noise, so if he was still alive, he should be on the move to stop the chaos. Looking into the main hallway of the castle, Ashlock was surprised to see people from the various noble families of the Blood Lotus Sect rushing out of a grandiose meeting room and toward the castleʼs front entrance. By their appearance and the Qi wreathing their bodies, he could tell which families were in attendance.

”I can see people from the Skyrend, Terraforge, Azurecrest, Starweaver, and Silverspire families. All seem to be Grand Elders or at least high-ups in their respective families by their mid to high Star Clore level cultivation.” Ashlock mused. Of course, none were in the Nascent Soul Realm, as that would be a death sentence from Vincent. ”I wonder if they would be willing to switch sides if I tell them they are allowed to ascend, and Iʼll even help them.”

So long as they signed oaths of loyalty and stayed in their cities, Ashlock would accept them all—even the Skyrend family, which he found annoyingly arrogant and generally disliked. Past transgressions could be overlooked if they were willing to be loyal and use their strength to help him repel the beast tide. There only seemed to be a single member representing the Skyrend family, which made sense as Morrigan and Maple had wiped out most of them. However, he couldnʼt see their representativeʼs face due to the cloak they wore.

Ashlock searched the rest of the castle, his gaze sweeping across every room and hallway. But other than many panicking Star Core Elders of the Nightrose family barking orders to each other, he found no signs of Vincent. It should be impossible for a man of Vincentʼs caliber to completely hide his cultivation and presence. Ashlock tried to track his cursed blood but couldnʼt feel it anywhere in the castle. Someone had definitely absorbed and isolated it from his senses.

”Did he really die that night?” Ashlock was on the fence about it. As Stella had discovered, his cursed blood had little effect on blood cultivators. Also, the guardians had managed to start regenerating after being hit by an attack from Hades, who is an entire realm above Stella. It simply didnʼt add up for Vincent to have died that night to someone so beneath his cultivation level.

”Maybe he dissolved into the blood and escaped via the blood channels leading to the coffin?” Ashlock thought as he looked at the empty chamber where Vincent had been on the castleʼs top floor. The maids were gone, and the door was left open. He followed each channel, but they led to empty rooms. With no more leads or ideas, he gave up.

While unable to locate Vincent, Ashlock had learned something new today. His Nascent Soul Realm Ents were capable of speech, but they didnʼt have an ego to form their own complex thoughts. But Ashlock could have them relay his words through Abyssal Whispers, meaning he could now use the mental attack skill away from his trunk.

”If Vincent still wonʼt show himself,” Ashlockʼs vision shifted back to Hades, and he looked down at the group of noble cultivators gathered before the castleʼs entrance, ”Then itʼs about time we make ourselves known.”

***

Stella crested the staircaseʼs final step leading up to the Nightrose castleʼs entrance and was met with a vast courtyard before the doorway decorated with statues of Vincent Nightrose looking far less like a corpse than he had when she stabbed him to death in the coffin and black stone fountains spouting blood. A putrid smell of iron in the air tickled Stellaʼs nose.

But she didnʼt care much for the smell. Her focus was entirely on the group of noble cultivators glaring her down. They all looked on edge, except one. A giant cloaked man stepped forward and pulled back his hood, revealing his face. It was Demetrios Skyrend, Grand Elder of the powerful Skyrend family. At five meters tall, he was almost twice as tall as Anubis. His golden eyes glowed as they flickered between Stella, Diana, the Redclaws, the Silverspires, Morrigan, and Ents. For whatever reason, the man seemed enraged about something as lightning crackled down his arms, and he seemed tense.

”Something isnʼt right,” Morriganʼs cold voice echoed in Stellaʼs ears, ”Demetrios Skyrend is dead. I killed him with my own two hands. He canʼt be here.”

Stella raised a brow, ”What should we do?”

”Play along for now; we have no reason to reveal that we know something is up just yet.” Diana was the one to answer.

”Magnus Redclaw,” Demetrios Skyrend bellowed, his voice shaking the heavens, ”What is the meaning of this?”

”Whatever do you mean, Demetrios?” Magnus said with fake concern.

”What do I mean?! My children, Kassandra and Theron, died in Darklight City during your alchemy tournament.” The titanic man pointed an accusing finger at Magnus, ”You accused the Voidmind family of attacking the tournament and my children dying during the battle. Your evidence was a Voidmind Elder with lightning and metal Qi in their corpse as proof that the Silverspire familyʼs words were to be trusted and that they had stood alongside my children to push back the unlawful invasion.” His golden eyes narrowed angrily, and he gestured to Morrigan and Elaine with his chin, ”Care to explain why you and a Silverspire arrived alongside your supposed enemy?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

”No, not really.”

”What?” Demetrios seemed to be moments away from striking Magnus down where he stood as he could hardly contain his rage.

Magnus shrugged, ”Itʼs not my place to explain.”

A shifty old man with hair that looked like strands of silver, similar to Sebastian and Ryker, stepped forward with a deep frown. ”Magnus Redclaw, Iʼve also been meaning to talk with you. My nephew was in the Tainted Cloud Sect when his soul jade shattered. I gathered some intel and found out he had been fighting against the Redclaws and a blonde-haired girl when he was ambushed by a monster and died.”

The manʼs eyes flickered between Magnus, Sebastian, and Stella. ”I thought this was simply a matter between us and the Redclaw family. But it would appear a branch of my family may have been plotting against mine. Is that right, Sebastian? How can you stand beside a family that worked to kill your nephew?”

Sebastian snorted, ”Nobody needs to plot against your branch, Third Elder.”

”You dare utter such words, you filthy servant of a mere child!” The sly old man spat on the floor, ”My youngest son is already nearing the Star Core Realm at thirteen! What hope can Ryker possibly have to surpass him?”

Sebastian gave the Third Elder a blank stare. ”Star Core Realm at thirteen? Wow... so impressive.” His every word was more sarcastic than the last, which only seemed to anger the Third Elder more.

Stella stood there trying to put faces to names. She remembered Demetrios Skyrend. He had arrived at the end of the alchemy tournament after Ashlock devoured his children. They pinned their deaths on Dante Voidmind, who then lost his arm, blocking an attack from Demetrios Skyrend before escaping. Demetrios then chased after Dante and wasnʼt seen again—likely because he was too busy participating in the war with the Voidmind family that Ash had orchestrated. He was also apparently a dead man, yet stood before them looking alive and well.

But who is this Third Elder? Stella wracked her brain before she realized who he was. During the Nightshade City war, Jade Sentinels and many other Eternal Pursuit Pavilion hunters assisted the Lunarshade family in fighting us. During the battle, a Jade Sentinel from the Silverspire family attacked me. I tried to convince them we had ties to the Silverspire family by saying I knew about their plan for a mutiny. The man then asked me who my connection was, and not wanting to say it was Sebastian and Ryker, I claimed to know the Third Elder. It had been a random guess, but to think I would meet the man one day.

The monster in question was likely Larry, as the spider ultimately killed the Silverspire Jade Sentinel. So this Third Elder thinks Larry killed his nephew? Interestingly, he doesnʼt want to admit that his nephew was a Jade Sentinel and is using vague terms. Is that because Vincent Nightrose banned the Eternal Pursuit Pavilion from the sect?

Demetrios stepped before the Third Elder and glared at him, ”Your matter is of little importance. I have a score to settle with them first.”

”No, hold on.” A man with tanned skin, a bald head, and muscles as hard as rocks interrupted Demetrios. While not as tall as the lightning titan, this man radiated raw strength like an unstoppable mountain. ”One of my children also happened to attend this alchemy tournament at Darklight City. I was in closed-door cultivation until recently, but I was informed upon my exit to attend this summit that my son Roderick Terraforge had also died. However, if the records are accurate, he died shortly after the tournament concluded. Not during this supposed Voidmind attack.” The colossal mountain of a man tilted his head to glare at Douglas, ”Care to explain your cousinʼs death, Douglas?”

Douglas glanced at Magnus Redclaw and Stella before shrugging, ”Not really, Father. Itʼs not my place to explain.”

A smile crept onto Stellaʼs face. Due to the oath of secrecy wrapped around the souls of Magnus and Douglas, they could not disclose anything about that day. Not that Stella would care if they did, but seeing the noble families that had made her life harder, boiling with rage yet unable to do anything, was amusing.

They hadnʼt yet addressed the elephant in the room, but it was hard to ignore the two Nascent Soul Realm Ents looming over her like guardians. All of the noble family Elders had stolen a few glances at the Ents and her—likely wondering who she was. Luckily for them, they would soon get their answer.

”Not that I care too much,” A man with grey hair and a constant breeze around him stepped forward, ”But I learned that one of my children also perished in Darklight City around the same time, and more importantly, one of my pride and joys Kane Azurecrest went missing after heading toward that accursed city.”

The more Stella heard, the more it became increasingly unbelievable how unattentive the noble families in the Blood Lotus Sect were, especially the Nightrose family. So much attention shouldʼve been drawn toward Red Vine Peak and Darklight City while Ash and the Ashfallen sect were still weak, yet because the noble families refuse to work together or share information except at events like this, they simply deemed the vanishing of their children to be unworthy of their immediate attention.

Demetrios Skyrend glared at everyone on Stellaʼs side, ”We are the noble families of the Blood Lotus Sect under the great Vincent Nightrose. We rule over the rogue cultivators and millions of mortals—they fear and worship us. Our children carry our profound names and legacy! They should be able to walk freely between our cities, which has been the case for centuries. So explain to me what is going on! The Winterwrath, Evergreen, and Ravenborne families seemingly vanished. The Redclaw family takes over their land and opens up an alchemy tournament. Our children then start to go missing, wars break out, and the sect starts falling apart...” His voice dropped to a whisper, and realization seemed to strike the man like lightning, ”Itʼs a mutiny.”

Stella stepped forward, clapping her hands. ”Looks like someone finally got it.”

”You.” Demetrios hissed through gritted teeth, ”Who are you?” He took a hesitant step back as Anubis gathered chaotic shadows around his spindly fingers and moved to be beside Stella.

I should be asking you that. Stella thought. How are you still alive? Letʼs see if a little pressure will help peel back that facade of yours.

”You want to know who I am?” Stella let her 7th stage Star Core aether Qi dance across her shoulders, ”Iʼm Stella Crestfallen—Princess of the Ashfallen Sect and Head Priestess of the All-Seeing Eye.” For the first time, she said her full name and titles with her chest and absolute pride. With Ashlock watching over her, she had nothing to fear. At such a declaration, the ultimate form of her bloodline activated on its own. As if her ancestors proudly watched down on her, an immense pressure descended on the courtyard. Most were forced to take a few strained steps back, but Demetrios actually spit blood.

”The Ashfallen Sect?” Demetrios wiped the blood from his mouth, ”Iʼve never heard of it. Have any of you?” He asked the other noble family Grand Elders behind him.

”I have...” the Third Elder paled as he brought out a black and gold pendant, showing he was a member of the Eternal Pursuit Pavilion. He inserted some Qi into the pendant to make words appear on its surface in golden letters.

[Celestial Empire (Divine)]

[Ashfallen Sect (Divine)]

[Frozen Star Sect (Monarch Realm)]

[Blood Lotus Sect (Nascent Soul Realm)]

It was the list of the top sects, and clearly displayed was the Ashfallen Sect, which was one of the only Divine-level sects, behind only the Celestial Empire. The cultivators from the noble families gathered around the pendant, and their eyes widened at what they saw.

”What is a Divine level sect doing here?” Demetrios cursed under his breath, but the man was so tall and loud that it was easily heard by all. ”No... how is a Divine level sect here? Since when did a sect on the level of the Celestial Empire appear?”

”Recently.” The Third Elder muttered, ”I thought it was an error made by the Eternal Pursuit Pavilion at first, but seeing it with my own eyes, now Iʼm not so sure. Maybe there really is a Divine level sect out here in the wilderness.”

Demetriosʼs face twisted so much that he almost seemed inhuman. ”You didnʼt deem this information important enough to tell Vincent Nightrose?”

”No, he would kill me.” The Third Elder said adamantly as he waved around the pendant, ”These are banned from the sect, as is the information I may glean from it.”

”Youʼre right—he probably would.”

The Third Elder exploded. There was no warning, no flash or Qi or grand technique. The man was standing there one moment, and the next, blood caked every surface in a circle. It had been a silent death. Not even time for a scream.

Stella was stunned.

”Stab Diana.”

”What?!” Stella didnʼt even know how to process Ashʼs order. ”Come again?”

”Listen to me, Stella. Stab Diana quickly. Donʼt worry, she is fine.”

Stella didnʼt think twice. If her dad wanted her to do something, she would do it. Summoning daggers, she turned to her best friend and rammed both of them deep into her side. Diana turned to look at her in shock before she collapsed into a pile of nothing but blood. ”Iʼm... so confused,” Stella muttered as she stared at her bloodied daggers and what used to be Diana.