Chapter 174: Before the Western Era, There Was Jianmu

In the real world, various research institutes, upon witnessing this sudden development, eagerly sought to have their red-named players contact that Daojun. After all, this individual might very well be our ancestor...

Meanwhile, Meng Mei shivered, understanding the possibilities everyone was hinting at. "I'm rich?" she exclaimed, quickly logging online.

In the vast palace around her, ancient beings turned to look at her again. "Why have you only now awakened?" Her eyes lit up. Though she didn't understand how to communicate, she immediately adopted a solemn expression, sat properly on her prayer mat, and bowed respectfully to everyone, appearing as a serious disciple humbly seeking guidance. The surrounding Heavenly Gods were slightly annoyed but said nothing more once she settled down.

Instead, after a period of silence, with everyone present, the Daojun in the sky began to speak again: "The Hunyuan, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in one place, can condense a Dao Fruit..." The ancient beings seated on their prayer mats listened intently, mesmerized, as if trying to prick up their ears, but Meng Mei was daydreaming because she couldn't understand anything at all.

Meng Mei was a bit overwhelmed, muttering to herself, "Another new language, this is hardcore... It seems to play this game, I'll need to learn multiple languages." She wondered, "Who knows how long this sermon will last? It's not really going to be like those ancient myths, where one sermon lasts hundreds or thousands of years, is it?" Her heart went numb. "I won't just grow old and die in front of these big shots, will I?" She couldn't help but imagine, silently, time flying by, herself turning into a pile of withered bones and vines, while the surrounding big shots were still listening intently, perhaps even picking up her dried vine corpse to floss their teeth when they got excited... "Oh my god, that's horrifying!"

She declared she couldn't stand it, but could only obediently sit cross-legged, slyly peeking around with narrowed eyes. "There's really nothing else to do, I guess I'll just be a tourist..."

Screenshot.Screenshot.Screenshot.

Soon, numerous screenshots of the fifteen ancient beings were sent outside. "Received data on fifteen NPCs! Intelligence department is active! Crowdfunded cheat codes are launching!" "Psychologists and physiognomists, rapid analysis underway!" A group of people began their analysis, trying to figure out who was approachable and who was benevolent.

Akina Speed, having likely caught wind of the situation, popped up to join the fun: "Hehehe, personally, I think those nine suns should be ruled out first! Absolutely do not try to chat or communicate with them. Look, everyone, even though the divine birds are shrouded in golden light, you can still tell that these Golden Crows have considerable... *parts*. They must be licentious, and for Meng Mei's self-protection, they are completely incomparable..." Everyone was dumbfounded. "Those are suns! Can your brain circuit be normal? Your eyesight isn't usually that good; why is it suddenly so sharp now? What are you even looking at? You can see fuzzy divine birds inside a ball of fire that clearly?"

Everyone began to discuss. The thirteen ancient gods of heaven and earth all seemed formidable, and apparently only the moon appeared to have a gentler nature, perhaps someone approachable after the sermon... Of course, the easiest to approach would be that green lotus, being of the same race. As for the furry human, it was less ideal to approach, as Meng Mei was currently a vine. Better safe than sorry.

After everyone's analysis, Meng Mei didn't know if any of it was true or false, but everyone sounded convincing, which at least helped pass the boring sermon time. She didn't have much life experience, being only a young woman in her early twenties. After studying botany for a month or so in the wizarding world, she was kicked out, and now she felt a bit afraid of getting involved in schemes with these seemingly seasoned ancient beings. "Why does this feel like those romance novels where a naive, sweet girl transmigrates to a Xianxia world, and then a domineering CEO appears, declares, 'This woman is damn sweet,' and frantically protects the protagonist, even rebelling against the Heavenly Court?" She shook her head, looking at the big shots around her, wondering who looked like a domineering CEO, her mind completely adrift.

After an unknown period, the Daojun in the sky finished speaking, and the gathering began to disperse. Everyone stood up. "Qinglian, please look after this member of your kin and teach them the language," a faint voice echoed from within the Lingtian Palace. After that voice spoke, silence returned. Qinglian grabbed Meng Mei, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and walked straight away. Meng Mei was quite surprised and couldn't help but murmur, "This fellow also has legs. The way his root-stems walk, completely ignoring everyone, really has the flair of us proper plants."

Three months passed. Meng Mei was, after all, an excellent student, already proficient in several languages, and quickly learned most of the common ones. Qinglian also successfully transformed, taking on the body of a young man with black hair and black eyes, long black hair flowing over his shoulders, very handsome. He asked, "What is your name?" Meng Mei thought for a moment, then said clearly, "I should have my own name. From today, I will be called Qingteng, and my nickname will be Gaoshu."

Qinglian, being a rather rigid plant, had been sitting cross-legged in the Heavenly Realm courtyard ever since taking human form, watching the colorful Heavenly Gods occasionally flying by in the sky, and began to cultivate. Qinglian calmly said, "I don't know how you gained intelligence, but you are the only other demon race member besides me. You should also cultivate... For us demon race to cultivate, we must first inhabit a human body." He continued, "Our true body is hidden within the Sea of Consciousness, constantly cultivating. As the Sea of Consciousness grows richer, it nourishes our true body, making it increasingly powerful." "This is transformation?" Qingteng Meng Mei was a little surprised.

Another half month passed. She became familiar with the world's language, and the Daojun ordered her to have an audience at Lingtian Palace. Inside Lingtian Palace, a tall, slender, shadowy female figure slowly sat on the imperial throne. Phoenix Daojun calmly inquired, "Since you have learned the language of this world, I have a question for you: what abilities do you possess?" Meng Mei was startled. Facing this ancient being of unparalleled antiquity, knowing that she had created heaven and earth and all these ancient gods, she did not hide anything. After all, she had been given a prayer mat, so the Daojun should be well-intentioned... So, she told the truth.

"So, that is it?" Phoenix Daojun fell silent. Suddenly, an inexplicable emotion swelled within her. "I have been thinking, constantly thinking, about how to gather the energy of heaven and earth. I am not Armin, with alchemy arrays spread across the world, nor Medusa with her summons of the dead, unable to collect the energy of heaven and earth. But this tree... now the final link is completely filled!" This tree could not only absorb the energy of heaven and earth and bear fruit, but also allow her to experience the miserable state of being buried alive and unable to move.

Phoenix pondered for a moment, then said, "When heaven and earth were first created, all gods in the world had their duties, nourishing the mortal realm. You, too, should have a divine office." Meng Mei was taken aback. Phoenix stood up, waved her hand, and her voice resonated throughout the entire Heavenly Realm. "From this day forth, Qingteng, the Ancient God, shall be the Earth Mother! You shall preside over spring plowing and the earth, and you shall be a tree, standing between heaven and earth!" "This tree shall penetrate the two realms of heaven and man, connecting heaven and earth to the mortal world, serving as a bridge between gods and humans!" "This tree shall absorb the souls of the departed, draw upon the energy of this heaven and earth, and bear the Dao Fruits of Heaven and Earth!"

Meng Mei paused, then couldn't help but whisper, "If you make me stand between heaven and earth, can I still walk?" Phoenix Emperor calmly said, "Your roots will spread throughout the entire mortal land, your body will support the entire heaven and earth, absorbing the energy of the dead from the mortal realm, bearing fruit in the Heavenly Realm, and thus operate this world." She added, "You cannot move. In your duty, you must not depart without permission." She gently pointed at Meng Mei's body from a distance, and a strange flame brand formed. "This is a divine seal. If you disobey, the flames will consume you, and your soul will be scattered."

"Is this a life-and-death talisman?" Meng Mei's expression stiffened slightly. "Why do the other ancient gods not have this, but I have this thing on my forehead? I'm so honest, why don't you trust me?"

Three months later, she watched herself continuously grow, with new generations of vines constantly rooting themselves on her original tree trunk, twisting and spiraling together, gradually becoming thicker and taller. She was expressionless, even going out for dinner. Another ten years passed. She discovered that she had grown continuously, now piercing straight into the sky, reaching the height of the mortal realm, and beginning to fill the entire hole in the sky. Her expression became even calmer. She went out to binge-watch shows and even opened the fridge for a drink.

Fifty more years passed. When she logged in again, she was colossal, reaching the Heavenly Realm. Countless ancient gods played on her, and colorful clouds encircled her vast, endless body, creating a magnificent sight. She logged off, took a shower, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

One hundred years later. She opened her eyes and found that her enormous tree canopy supported the top of the Heavenly Realm sky, her roots were deeply anchored in the lowest earth, and her vast body pierced through both realms, standing tall in the firmament, covering every inch of land. By this time, her entire massive trunk was immovable. In fact, her trunk had become a spiraling passageway, piercing through both the Heavenly and mortal realms, with people constantly moving up and down the trunk.

"Well done," Qinglian said, sitting cross-legged on her trunk, cultivating diligently. "Qingteng, you are now the most important ancient god in this world, second only to the Sun God of this heaven and earth, linking the two realms."

"What kind of proper plant doesn't move?" At that moment, she finally burst into tears, watching humans walking up and down spiral staircases on her body. "So many men on me! I'm no longer pure!"

*Records of Ancient Gods* state:Before the Western Era, there was a tree, covering the center of heaven and earth, supporting the sky without falling, absorbing the essence of all things to condense into Hunyuan Dao Fruits. Its leaves were like silk, its wood like a bush, and its name was Jianmu.