Myriad Rivers to the Sea

Chapter 880: The Fallen Canopy

The clash between the two Tribulation realm entities reached a terrifying crescendo. The sky above the valley flashed with blinding alternations of emerald light and oppressive shades of earth yellow. The scale of the destruction forced the minor beasts on the distant ridge to press themselves flat against the ground and were trembling as shockwaves repeatedly battered the cliffside.Down in the ruined valley, Gorr the Mountain Ape roared. His silver fur was stained dark with his own blood. He had exhausted his patience and realized that engaging in a battle of attrition against an ancient tree rooted in its own domain was a losing strategy.

He gathered the remaining strength of his foundation and the air around him warped so violently that light itself seemed to bend inward. He concentrated the Law of Gravity into a single, devastating sphere of localized collapse between his massive hands.

Elder Mu recognized the lethal threat and the colossal willow tree did not attempt to absorb this final strike. Instead, the ancient ruler made a brutal sacrifice. Thousands of his thick, whip-like branches detached from the main canopy and wove together into a massive and spiraling drill of hardened wood.

Gorr thrust the gravity sphere forward just as Elder Mu launched the wooden construct.

The collision did not create a sound. Instead, it created a vacuum that sucked the breath from the lungs of every living thing for miles. The gravity sphere crushed the outer layers of the wooden drill into fine dust but the volume of the wood and the surging Life and Wood Qi pushing it forward was too much. The drill pierced through the collapsing space and slammed directly into Gorr's chest.

The silver backed ape let out a roar of absolute agony as the hardened wood tore through his natural earth armor, burying deep into his flesh and cracking his ribs. Knowing that a second strike would pierce his heart, Gorr made a desperate choice.

He unleashed a burst of blood essence, detonating the blood and Qi in his own veins to blast himself backward and tear free from the wooden drill. He did not take a second look back at his invading army. Grievously wounded and leaking a massive amount of vital essence, the ape ruler turned into a streak of silver light and fled toward the northern mountains, abandoning the conquest altogether.

With their ruler broken and fleeing, the morale of the mountain ape army shattered.

The remaining ent guards, bolstered by the victory, surged forward. What followed was not a battle but a systematic slaughter. The towering wooden soldiers crushed the fleeing giant apes, showing no mercy as they wiped out the invading forces down to the last beast. None of the apes left behind were able to escape.

In the center of the valley, Elder Mu stood victorious but the cost was staggering.

The ancient willow was a ruined shadow of its former glory. Half of the massive canopy had been obliterated by the gravity strikes. The trunk which was thick as a fortress was marred by deep, crushing craters that oozed glowing golden sap. The effort of the defense had drained the forest of its vibrant energy.

With a slow and agonizing groan that echoed for miles, the colossal tree began to sink. The earth opened up to receive its master, allowing the severely wounded Elder Mu to retract deep underground to protect his vulnerable core while his ent forces cleaned the battlefield above.

On the high ridge, the chaotic winds finally died down. The heavy and suffocating pressure of the Tribulation realm lifted, allowing the gathered minor beasts to breathe again.

Li Yu slowly stood up from behind his rock as he dusted the dirt from his robes and looked down at the devastated landscape. The once beautiful woodland was now a graveyard of splintered timber and crushed stone.

Around him, the other beasts were emerging from their hiding spots. They did not immediately scatter. Instead, a collective murmur of anxiety rippled through the gathering. Li Yu could feel the raw emotions and the simple intent being projected by the beasts.

A massive shadow panther paced nervously along the edge of the cliff. It looked toward a herd of six legged deer standing nearby.

"The Great Canopy is broken." The panther spoke, its usual predatory nature suppressed by genuine fear. "The Ancient One bled golden sap today. The earth weeps for him."

An older deer, its antlers glowing with a faint spiritual light, stepped forward to answer. "He stood against the mountain crusher to shield us. If he had not rooted himself in the valley, the apes would have leveled the entire forest and devoured our young. His kindness is the only thing that keeps the shadows at bay all this time."

Some of the other beasts that were powerful enough began to speak as well. A flock of massive wind eagles circled above the ridge and were dropping feathers as a sign of mourning.

"His roots are deep but the wounds were grievous." An eagle projected downward. "I saw the attack eating at his bark before he sank. If he falls into a long sleep, the sanctuary dies with him."

"If the sanctuary dies, we are lost." The shadow panther replied. "The other rulers will smell his blood. Perhaps others will come here to challenge him now in his weakened state."

Li Yu listened to the exchange with deep focus. To hear beasts that were normally natural enemies in this realm speaking of a ruler with such reverence and shared sorrow was a thing he did not expect to hear. In the Ferine Realm, where territory was blood and strength dictated the law, Elder Mu had managed to create a true haven for these creatures. The beasts did not fear his tyranny; they feared his absence. They genuinely believed in his benevolence.

"He must be a truly great leader." Li Yu whispered to himself.

Zhan was standing nearby but was busy analyzing the lingering laws and attacks he had seen. He was trying to mimic them and see if there was any value in taking in what he saw and adding them to his sword techniques in his own way. He looked up at Li Yu’s words.

"He is strong." Zhan corrected Li Yu. "That is all that matters. His strength provided a shield and now that shield is cracked. It is a bad day for those who cannot defend themselves without that shield."

Li Yu looked down at the valley and the silent doctor within his soul flared to life with undeniable intensity. This was not a random hunting dispute between two minor beasts. This was the pillar of a massive community, a sovereign who protected the weak and he was currently suffering from catastrophic injuries.

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"We are going down there." Li Yu said to Zhan.

Zhan paused his mental training and tilted his triangular head. "Why? The battle is over. The scavengers are about to begin their work. Stepping into that valley right now is an invitation for the wooden guards to crush us."

"I know healing techniques." Li Yu explained and was already walking toward the path leading down the ridge. "I possess a decent affinity for the laws of life. Elder Mu is suffering from lingering law wounds. If I can help stabilize him a bit more, I can repay the hospitality of passing through his borders. Furthermore, a ruler in debt is the best source of information we could ever ask for."

Zhan considered the logic that Li Yu was presenting. It was a massive risk but the potential reward of gaining favor with a Tribulation realm entity was immeasurable. The mantis gave a sharp nod and followed close behind.

They descended into the ruined valley and the ground was saturated with blood and covered in debris. Ent soldiers were moving methodically through the wreckage, harvesting the cores from the fallen mountain apes and dragging their heavy stone armor into piles.

As Li Yu and Zhan approached the massive and sunken crater where Elder Mu had retracted, a squad of heavily damaged ent guards stepped into their path. Their wooden bodies were scorched and missing limbs but the glowing green light in their eyes burned with hostile vigilance.

"Halt." A towering ent rumbled while crossing its remaining arm over its chest. "The domain is closed. The Ancient One rests. Turn back, fleshlings, or join the crushed stone."

"I am not here to scavenge." Li Yu said while keeping his hands visible and his aura calm. "I am a healer. I wield the laws of life. I saw the battle from the ridge and I know your ruler is suffering from the lingering effects of the battle. I wish to offer my assistance to see if I can help in any way."

The ent guards let out a low and grinding sound of anger.

"You dare insult the Ancient One?" The guard stepped forward and raised its club like fist. "He is the master of vitality. He does not need the meager tricks of a wandering fool. You are a spy sent to gauge his weakness. I will bury you."

Li Yu prepared to defend himself as he realized the guards were too fiercely loyal and agitated to listen to reason.

"Stand down, my children."

A voice drifted up from the depths of the massive crater. It was the same ancient and sorrowful voice that had spoken to Gorr but it was now faint, trembling with a deep and heavy weariness. The ent guards froze instantly. They lowered their fists and bowed their heads in deep reverence.

"Let the travelers approach." Elder Mu’s voice echoed softly from the dark earth. "My roots ache for solace and the air carries the scent of pure life from the boy. Bring them down to the hollow."

The guards parted in silence, though their glowing green eyes watched Li Yu and Zhan with intense suspicion. Li Yu walked past them and was stepping onto a thick, spiraling root that served as a ramp leading deep underground. Zhan followed and was keeping his scythes ready just in case the mood of the den changed.

They descended for several minutes and were surrounded by the rich smell of damp soil and ancient sap. The tunnel eventually opened into a massive and cavernous space illuminated by pools of glowing golden liquid.

Sitting in the center of the cavern and resting on a throne of woven roots was Elder Mu.

He was no longer a colossal tree. To conserve his failing energy, he had compressed his form into a humanoid shape roughly ten feet tall. His body was composed of braided white wood and was resembling the muscles of a man.

However, his condition was horrific. His left arm was completely missing, ending in a jagged stump of charred timber. A gaping hole had been blasted through the right side of his chest, exposing a glowing green core that pulsed erratically. Surrounding the wound were dark and twisting rings of distorted space, the lingering remnant of Gorr's gravity attacks crushing the wood inward.

"Welcome, travelers." Elder Mu said. His face was a mask of smooth bark but his voice was warm and inviting. "Forgive the state of my hall. It has been a trying day."

Li Yu bowed respectfully. "I am Li Yu and this is Zhan. We were passing through your territory when the battle occurred. Your defense of the forest was incredible, Senior. I came because I possess some skill in the healing arts and I hoped to offer my aid."

Elder Mu looked at Li Yu and the ancient ruler felt a sharp thrill of anticipation. As Li Yu drew near, Elder Mu felt the astonishing quality of the boy's foundation. The human's soul strength was vast and the purity of his Qi was staggering. On top of it all, the boy was in tune with the Laws of Life. It was a rare alignment with his own elemental nature.

"You are kind to offer, young Li Yu." Elder Mu sighed as his wooden chest heaved. "My mastery over wood and life is strong but the mountain ape left his vile laws embedded in my trunk. They are fighting against my natural regeneration. If you possess an understanding of life that differs from my own, perhaps a fresh perspective can ease the burden. Please, approach."

Li Yu stepped forward while Zhan stayed back near the entrance of the hollow, watching the interaction quietly. Li Yu stood before the ancient ruler and gently placed his hands near the gaping wound on Elder Mu's chest. He closed his eyes and extended his spiritual sense to analyze the damage.

It was a complex mess of destructive forces. The primary issue was the heavy and suffocating rings of gravity. They were actively compressing the pathways of Elder Mu's Qi, preventing the golden sap from flowing to the damaged areas.

But beneath the gravity, Li Yu sensed something else. It was a dark and insidious rot that felt cold and clinging. It was eating away at the edges of the ruler's soul and draining his vitality from the inside out. Li Yu assumed this sinister decay was the result of an evil and underhanded technique used by Gorr during the chaotic melee. He had no idea what truly fueled that internal rot.

"The gravity law is crushing your meridians." Li Yu diagnosed aloud. "And there is a lingering decay eating at your foundation. I will try to neutralize the crushing force so your own healing can take over."

"Proceed, child." Elder Mu whispered.

Li Yu channeled the laws of life he had comprehended. A soft and brilliant green light bloomed from his palms as he pushed the Life Qi directly into the wound. He focused on the concept of expansion and growth, countering the restrictive and collapsing nature of the gravity rings.

As his energy flowed into the ancient tree, Li Yu felt a sense of inadequacy. Elder Mu's internal reserves were like a vast ocean, while Li Yu's input was a mere stream. His cultivation was simply too low compared to a Tribulation realm entity to make any meaningful difference. He felt he was doing little more than placing a small bandage on a gaping canyon.

However, the addition of his pure Qi seemed to have acted as a catalyst. It seemed to have provided just enough counter pressure to loosen the grip of the gravity rings.

Elder Mu gasped as the sound echoed loudly in the hollow cavern. The golden sap within his chest surged forward, rushing into the loosened pathways and beginning the slow process of knitting the braided white wood back together.

Li Yu maintained the flow of energy for an hour and was sweating from the concentration required to battle the residual laws of a supreme expert. Finally, the dark gravity rings faded away, leaving only the massive physical wound and the lingering rot.

Li Yu stepped back, lowered his hands and was exhausted

"That is all I can do, Senior." Li Yu said while wiping his brow in defeat. "My cultivation is too low to fully erase the damage but the crushing pressure has been lifted. Your own vitality has been able to handle the rest."

Elder Mu looked down at his chest and then back up at the young man. The ancient tree radiated an aura of gratitude and warmth.

"Do not diminish your efforts, Li Yu." Elder Mu said softly. "You have done more for me today than most could. You have my deepest thanks and the friendship of this sanctuary."

Li Yu smiled and was glad that his heroic impulse had resulted in a positive outcome. He had helped a benevolent ruler and possibly an ally in a dangerous world. Li Yu was feeling a quiet satisfaction in the good deed he had performed.