Fifteenth Scene: Realm of Myriad Trees

Sang Sang continued to practice the Five Elements Tempering Technique, but this time her focus was on preparing for the trial in the Realm of Ten Thousand Trees. She was learning how to attack, for although Aslan had told her to learn how to take a hit, she could not simply endure blows without striking back.

In the Mulberry Treehouse of the Forest of All Beings, Little Gold sat in a luxurious crib strewn with energy crystals, busily earning money for the household on the Star Net. The last system upgrade, sponsored by Senna, hadn’t brought him an immediate level-up, but the massive influx of data had enriched his database. After digesting it, he rose two ranks and doubled his data processing speed.

“Little Gold, I’ll be entering the Realm of Ten Thousand Trees tomorrow. Want to come with me?” Sang Sang said, running her fingers through the heavy, waist-length hair she had just finished sorting. She picked up an automatic styling device and trimmed her hair to shoulder-length.

Little Gold turned his head a full one hundred and eighty degrees. “I’ve accepted a high-paying commission. It’ll take about five hundred hours to complete. The virtual pod has finished upgrading. Will you be using it tonight?”

“Yes.” Sang Sang twirled her finger, and the hair on the floor was swept up by the wind into her palm, then instantly consumed by flames.

This was one benefit of balanced mastery over all elements—she could manipulate any energy. The offensive power was limited, but it sufficed for daily life.

The upgraded virtual pod was a joy to use, able to replicate even the fluctuations of laws, making Sang Sang nearly lose track of time. When she emerged, she hurried straight to the bathroom.

“Good morning, Little Gold.”

“Good morning. I’ve sent you the latest intelligence on the Realm of Ten Thousand Trees—make sure to review it.” Little Gold clung to the crib’s railing and poked his head out. “Sang Sang, I bought you a magic hair clip. Use it to pin back your bangs. Don’t let anything obstruct your vision.”

“Understood, head of the household.” Dressed in her training attire, Sang Sang came over, kissed Little Gold on the forehead, waved the golden butterfly hair clip, then produced the Token of Ten Thousand Trees. She activated it with her inner energy, and her figure vanished into thin air.

Little Gold pressed a hand to his forehead and waved the other mechanically. Once the door closed automatically, he withdrew his head. “Sang Sang is busy again today. I must work hard to earn our living too.”

“Cadet Sang Hongye, welcome to the Realm of Ten Thousand Trees. Wishing you a rewarding trial.”

Unknown, towering trees soared into the clouds; any one of them would require dozens of people to encircle. The ground was carpeted in lush green grass, unmarred by a single stray color, so pristine it felt unreal.

Sang Sang leapt onto a sturdy tree branch, concealed herself amidst the dense leaves, and opened a light screen to review the information Little Gold had sent.

The Realm of Ten Thousand Trees was a secret domain left behind by a master of the life element at the Prime level, containing the law of life and death and resurrection. It was specifically designed for the training of elementary and middle school students of the Divine Academy; adults were forbidden to enter.

There were five large hunting grounds: Hundred Flowers Valley, Beast Mountain, Thousand Peaks Plain, Yin-Yang Spring, and Giant Tree Forest. In addition, there were a hundred and twenty-seven smaller hunting grounds, each yielding unique spiritual treasures.

From the description, Sang Sang deduced she was in Giant Tree Forest, which produced Wood Marrow Crystals and Fatewood Fruits—life-natured treasures capable of reviving the dead and restoring flesh to bones.

The hunting grounds in the Realm of Ten Thousand Trees were constantly shifting, so Little Gold hadn’t managed to find a map. Sang Sang closed her eyes and sensed the energy in the wind, moving toward the area where the wood element was densest. Along the way, she encountered several groups in various forms—if not for their conversations, she might have mistaken some for mere plants or animals.

Traveling alone, Sang Sang was seen as an easy target. Outnumbered, she could foresee her attackers’ next moves using the Law of Time, but two fists could not ward off so many hands. Her basic martial arts were still raw, and she was quickly restrained, forced to use the Law of Space to escape.

The closer she ventured to the center of Giant Tree Forest, the denser the wood energy became, with spiritual treasures scattered everywhere. She managed to collect several Fatewood Fruits, but their life force was so intense—and the nature of the realm prevented them from being sealed away—that even hiding off to the side, she was found by someone else who commanded the Law of Space. Battle was unavoidable, and her foresight allowed her to reach the forest center unscathed.

Beneath the largest tree ahead stood a dueling platform, where two figures were locked in fierce combat. One, seeing defeat was imminent, transformed into a tiger and lunged with tooth and claw. A crowd of students—humans, beastfolk, waterfolk, and woodfolk all mixed together—ringed the platform. In her shrunken state, Sang Sang blended in unnoticed.

The fight had just ended, and though Sang Sang was still some distance from the stage, the Token of Ten Thousand Trees in her hand suddenly grew hot. She was instantly transported onto the platform as a referee’s voice rang out from above: “Special Class student Sang Hongye, wielding the Token of Ten Thousand Trees, issues a friendly challenge to all classmates.”

She was stunned. She had hoped to observe others’ cultivation and skills first, not to be thrust on stage so quickly. A commotion broke out below.

“I’ve been cut in line again. Another Special Class student—I hate these privileged types.”

“I’m used to it. Sang Hongye is top of the Refining List, isn’t she? Once the selection for Holy Son and Holy Maiden is over next year, these privileged kids will return to their rightful places.”

Sang Sang was startled to hear two trees beside the stage conversing, then realized they were likely the true forms of woodfolk.

Perhaps her skipping the queue had drawn resentment—or perhaps her status as the top of the Refining List still lingered. Very soon, over a hundred students had registered to challenge her, forming a long line.

“Sang Hongye has only practiced martial arts for a month. No matter how effective her refining has been, her combat skill must still be limited. If we don’t seize the chance to challenge her now, we might never get another shot once she’s on a different level.”

The first challenger, a senior human girl with vivid red hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a white miniskirt, did not bother with greetings. She swung her hand in a slap, her inner energy turning into a flaming palm aimed at Sang Sang.

Fire Technique.

Sang Sang spun aside to evade, countering with a basic fireball. The palm and ball collided, bursting in midair into harmless sparks.

“Impressive energy control—worthy of micro-level manipulation. But is that all? Seems rather overrated.” The girl sneered, clenching her fingers as a sword of flame materialized in her right hand. Its heat was nearly white-hot. She dashed forward. “Take this—my next strike!”

Fire Technique: Starlit Sword Rain.

Sang Sang retreated rapidly, instinctively wanting to use a spatial barrier for defense, but reminded herself this was meant to hone her martial skills. She pivoted and countered with a water dragon, but lost initiative by a split second and could only dodge. The water dragon missed its mark as well.

“Not bad for speed. But what if I press harder?”

Sang Sang’s energy control was indeed refined, and her foresight gave her an advantage. Yet her Five Elements Tempering Technique was newly learned and still awkward—far from instinctive. Without using spatial abilities, she was left increasingly beleaguered under the attacks of elementary schoolers from the Divine Academy.

“So this is the so-called once-in-two-centuries prodigy? Candidate for the Holy Maiden? What a joke.”

The girl watched as Sang Sang emerged from the safe zone’s resurrection point, sneered, casually dispelled her flaming sword, and walked away.

The crowd around the platform buzzed with chatter—talk of empty reputation, unearned fame, and even calling her a primitive or a savage.

That seemingly fatal blow just now, she’d had at least three ways to evade. But in that instant, she’d faltered, unable to decide before the attack struck. Yet she’d also sensed a faint mystery in the laws governing the platform.

Resurrection was not a matter of coming back from the dead. Rather, at the moment a killing blow was about to take effect, her body’s time was halted and she was instantly transported to the safe zone, where the resurrection point was infused with the Law of Life. An immense surge of vitality flooded into her, healing her at once.

Shaking her head to dispel thoughts of the Law of Life, Sang Sang turned her attention to the second challenger.