A dazzling light suddenly erupted from the maternal tree.
The thick branches shook slightly, making the green fog of the law of life that had materialized around
the trunk ripple.
"Ahhh."
A sound like a sigh came from the tree.
It sounded like a soul had just slowly woken up from a deep slumber.
"Look, the maternal tree has come to life!"
"Good heavens! It's waking up!"
"The legend was true. The maternal tree would really wake up one day!"
The members of the wood puppet race were so excited that tears streamed down their faces as they
looked at the maternal tree.
"Mother! Welcome back!"
"We want to give you our most sincere welcome!"
Countless members of the wood puppet race knelt down on the spot and kept kowtowing to the
maternal tree.
"What happened?"
Even the eight governing gods were shocked at this unexpected development.
"I can't remember a time the maternal tree had ever been awake.
Why is it suddenly awake?"
a governing god exclaimed, shock written all over his face.
Austin was also just as surprised, gazing at the tree.
As he looked, an old face slowly started to emerge from the tree trunk.
Bark-like wrinkles covered its face.
Slowly opening, its eyes beamed with the dazzling green light.
Then it turned to Austin.
"Young man, were you looking for me?"
It was talking now.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the tree spoke, space and time shook violently. A great amount of life energy came from the tree,
spreading out far and wide.
"The maternal tree has shown itself!"
"It truly is awake!"
Clamor filled the air, with the wood puppet race kneeling down and pandering to it in desperation.
"Mother!"
The eight governing gods of the wood puppet race also knelt down.
Even with their lofty stations, they themselves had grown from this very tree.
As their mother, it deserved their utmost respect.
"This consciousness seems to have come down from the top of the tree just now."
Austin was a bit confused.
His spiritual sense was much stronger than that of any creature present.
So he knew that this consciousness had not been awakened from the inside of this tree.
Instead, it was something else that came down from the very top of the tree.
Austin couldn't help but look up.
The top part towered into the depth of the void, making it impossible to see how far it reached.
'It's very likely that this tree is connected to another world or even universe,'
Austin surmised that the tree hadn't woken up, not from inside at least.
'Does that mean that the consciousness have come from another place?'
It seemed that only Austin was able to notice this.
"Mother, you can lay the blame on us!
We weren't able to stop this human boy and allowed him to disturb your cultivation.
Please punish us!"
One of the governing gods stepped forward and apologized to the maternal tree.
"It's not your fault. You were no match for him,"
the maternal tree said slowly.
"Young man, you haven't answered my question yet."
It was still staring at Austin.
"Yes. I was indeed looking for you,"
Austin uttered.
"What do you want from me?"
the maternal tree asked.
"I want to know the secret behind the mind power,"
Austin replied bluntly.
"I see.
No wonder. I can see you have also cultivated the mind power before.
Now you seek to cultivate it further. You haven't been able to get it right,"
the maternal tree guessed.
"That's correct.
Please give me some suggestions on how to fix that."
Austin didn't deny his limitations.
His intuition told him that the maternal tree was not simple.
There was even a faint sense of danger to it.
It also had sharp eyes that seemed to look right through Austin.
"Mind power is an inheritance exclusive to our race. It has never been passed down to outsiders.
So, young man, there is no way to help you with your dilemma,"
the maternal tree answered.
"What can I do for you in exchange for it then?"
To Austin, it didn't appear like the tree was shutting him down outright. That made him confident there
was still room for negotiation.
"Well, I won't beat around the bush.
In this universe, there is a secret land called the Longevity Valley.
If you can enter the valley and fetch something for me, I can teach you something about the mind
power.
I believe that with my help, you will definitely make great progress in your cultivation,"
the maternal tree promptly gave him its demands.
"Oh?
The Longevity Valley?"
Austin was stunned.
"Gnome, what is this Longevity Valley?"
Austin asked the gnome.
"The Longevity Valley is a secret place in this supreme universe.
It's so mysterious that even a governing god wouldn't dare to break into it.
This valley is within the face race's territory,"
the gnome replied.
"I see.
What do you want me to fetch from there?"
Austin asked the tree.
"Actually, you need not know what it is.
You need to enter the valley with the eight governing gods.
Your role is to protect them.
They will be the ones to fetch what I want.
Do you think you can do that, young man? Do we have a deal?"
the maternal tree asked after explaining the plan.
"Okay, you have a deal."
Austin nodded in agreement after mulling it over.
Austin knew that the consciousness in front of him was both powerful and mysterious. Even if he made
a move, he would not be able to control it.
"Great!
I'll wait for you here.
You nine set off right now.
Be sure to bring back what I need!"
The maternal tree looked a little excited when Austin agreed with its plan.
"I have another request.
In addition to the mind power, I also want to learn the secrets of the law of life from you,"
Austin suddenly put in another request.
He could tell that he had something to barter with now. The consciousness seemed to be desperate for
whatever it was it wanted from the Longevity Valley. He could use that.
"Young man, you're overreaching.
This is an excessive demand!"
The maternal tree turned angry.
"Please think it over.
What I am asking for is quite simple, the mind power and the law of life.
If you don't agree, our deal is over,"
Austin said calmly.
"Brat, you've gone too far!
How dare you try to bargain with our maternal tree?"
The eight governing gods were just as furious, now that Austin was disrespecting the maternal tree.
Austin smiled, saying nothing as he stared at the maternal tree.
He was sure that it would definitely grant his request, given its own desperation.
"All right, young man, I agree."
Sure enough, the maternal tree agreed after giving it some thought.
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