Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 648: Crisis

Crises arose not only from natural disasters but also from the deeds of men.

The Guardian, Ancient Verdant Banyan, was a creature of profound insight and experience.

Despite its tens of thousands of years, the guardian had never encountered an otherworldly creature.

However, its predecessor—the guardian who entrusted it with this role three thousand years ago—had indeed encountered such beings and passed down this critical knowledge through a form of life inheritance.

For the first half of its existence, the Ancient Verdant Banyan lived in blissful ignorance.

Plant creatures, excluding certain exceptional species, lacked natural intelligence.

Originating from a seed in a mountain gorge, this banyan tree did not gain sentience or the capacity for judgment until it reached the age of two thousand years, marking its evolution from a mere tree into an intelligent entity.

This type of plant creature differed significantly from the ones Sein had previously encountered in the Magus World.

In the Verdant Leaf World, ancient giant trees like the Verdant Banyan were common, yet they were slow to develop intelligence.

This signified that the Verdant Leaf World was merely a typical dendro microplane, unlike the Activator Fairy World, which had achieved significant growth within the Magus Alliance.

The native inhabitants of the Activator Fairy World, once a microplane, displayed exceptional innate talent when they first interacted with the Magus World.

The activator plasma produced there became one of the Magus Alliance’s top-selling potion ingredients, utilized in many rare concoctions that could enhance constitution, extend longevity, and accelerate the healing process.

Having lived for nearly fourteen thousand years, the Ancient Verdant Banyan was still considered comparatively young.

Judging by its current physical condition, it believed it could easily thrive for another ten thousand years.

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This longevity was also a deciding factor for the previous guardian in choosing it as the successor. The Verdant Banyan not only harbored a profound affection for its homeplane but its extended lifespan also allowed it to make many contributions throughout its lifetime.

From the mouth of its predecessor, Ancient Verdant Banyan learned about the sinister nature of the Astral Realm, including the existence of foreign planes and otherworldly beings.

On its deathbed, the former guardian solemnly told the Ancient Verdant Banyan that someone with ill intentions had made contact with their world thousands of years earlier and managed to summon away a Rank Two plant.

Although this individual hid her intention very well, the former guardian had the unique ability to see into the hearts of others.

It saw the surprise and excitement underneath the sweet, courteous demeanor of the otherworldly creature.

What exactly had surprised her? Was it the discovery of their plane?

Regrettably, the guardian was too old and feeble to act. Furthermore, the otherworldly creature was cunning and had never deigned to visit the Verdant Leaf World, leaving the guardian powerless to confront her.

It could only leave this secret to its successor, the Ancient Verdant Banyan.

Over the years, Ancient Verdant Banyan had occasionally recalled this story. Yet, the last time it revisited these memories, it was struck by a strong premonition—a feeling it had not experienced before.

Not even the meteor strike that devastated the Verdant Leaf World two hundred years ago, causing widespread catastrophe, had instilled such fear in it.

However, the growing unease and vague warnings from the planar will compelled it to summon the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King.

The integrity of a world’s laws and the potency of its powers were often correlated with the planar will.

In the Magus World, a top-tier civilization, the planar will had evolved to the point where it could directly alert the leadership and express its needs.

In contrast, Verdant Leaf World, merely a microplane, had a nascent and barely conscious planar will.

Struggling to take form or communicate effectively, she could only provide the guardian with cryptic hints.

Perhaps the Verdant Leaf World’s planar will didn’t fully comprehend the impending threat; she merely sensed danger and sought to warn the guardian.

The indifferent demeanor of the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King caused Ancient Verdant Banyan to sigh inwardly.

Then again, how could it expect any action from someone without providing concrete evidence?

Not knowing the source of the danger, this sense of helplessness and the fear of looming threats could drive any creature to madness.

Fortunately, the Ancient Verdant Banyan had a strong mental fortitude. Instead of succumbing to despair, it contemplated how to convey the seriousness of the threat to the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King and mobilize the full might of Verdant Leaf World, just as it had done two hundred years ago.

Observing the confident, somewhat conceited Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King before him, the Ancient Verdant Banyan was reminded of many things.

The Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan had not risen to power under its watch but had been nurtured by the former guardian.

Their ascent to the dominant race in Verdant Leaf World was largely due to that guardian’s support, combined with the clan’s aversion to violence and ability to coexist with over seventy percent of the green plants in this world.

Moreover, their substantial population enabled them to eliminate other insect races in several local wars, cementing their dominance.

Instead of discussing the impending crisis further, the Ancient Verdant Banyan shifted the conversation.

“Ever since Emerald’s attempt, your Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan has seen three demigods fail to break through to Rank Four, correct?” it asked.

The statement drained the color from the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King’s green cheeks.

“Ancestor Emerald isn’t dead yet!” it protested.

“And just a few hundred years ago, my grandfather, Lantz, has grasped the Verdant Truth. Our Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan will surely bring forth its own god and usher in a new era for our world!”

The king’s voice rose shrilly.

At its words, the thousands of guards and servants behind him prostrated themselves, their bodies quivering slightly.

Unperturbed by the king’s outburst, Ancient Verdant Banyan continued calmly, “Even the demigods of the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan rarely live beyond two thousand years. Emerald had the best chance a millennium ago, but, unfortunately, it failed.”

“I am willing to offer a drop of my heart essence to your clan, but only if you rally all your strength and prepare to confront this unknown crisis with me,” the guardian declared.

Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King seemed oblivious to the gravity of the crisis the guardian had mentioned three times.

At the mention of the tree’s heart essence, however, its cheeks flushed a deeper red, and its body trembled with excitement.

The heart essence of Ancient Verdant Banyan was undeniably one of the most valuable treasures in this world, primarily known for its ability to extend the lifespan of the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly Clan.

This single drop of essence, bestowed upon anyone, would significantly enhance the clan’s chances of breaking through to Rank Four.

The Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King, currently a Rank Three, could not help but harbor hopes that the essence might be destined for him, given its potential to ascend to demigod status.

Its internal excitement was starkly at odds with his pretentious exterior, causing the Ancient Verdant Banyan to sigh inwardly.

If ascending to Rank Four were so simple, the guardian would willingly dig its own core out and offer it to the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King.

Such a sacrifice would be worthwhile if it led to the emergence of the first Rank Four being in their homeplane, potentially elevating this microplane into a low-level plane.

However, the harsh reality was that the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly realm would unlikely produce a Rank Four creature any time soon.

The Ancient Verdant Banyan knew it would not live to see their world evolve; such a significant transformation might only be witnessed by future guardians.

Having reached an understanding with the Bamboo Leaf Dragonfly King, the Ancient Verdant Banyan raised its head to gaze at the bright azure sky.

“Where exactly is the crisis?” it murmured.

***

Meanwhile in the dark starry sky beyond the Verdant Leaf World...

A vast teleportation array stood on a demiplane, believed to be the closest plane to the Verdant Leaf World.

While small in size, this demiplane could accommodate tens of millions of troops and contained modest quantities of low-grade resources, such as Phosphate Lumenstone.

The Divine Tower of Verdant Spring’s advance troops had been busy constructing simple fortifications and directing the minotaurlings to mine the demiplane’s resources methodically.

Although these resources paled in comparison to the wealth of Verdant Leaf World, it was still useful to have.

There were no wealthy individuals among those participating in the attack on Verdant Leaf World this time; everyone was desperate for resources.

“I think this demiplane looks like a moon to the native inhabitants of the Verdant Leaf World. They may have already noticed us. I sense a faint whisper of fear and dread emanating from that microplane’s will,” Lorianne remarked to Sein and the others inside the magic tower near the large teleportation array.