Chapter Fifty: The Bloodbane Tree

Beyond the doorway, silence reigned. Only the slicing sound of Jiang Feng’s Shadow Dance Soul-Shattering Step echoed in the vast emptiness. He glanced upward, but darkness pressed in from every side, rendering all invisible. Fortunately, he could still discern certain features of the surroundings.

What met his gaze was a tree so colossal as to defy belief. By his estimate, it would take more than seventy people with arms outstretched to encircle its trunk, and perhaps even then, they might not succeed. As he ascended higher, he discovered to his amazement that the trees here continued to thicken, growing so large that new trunks sprouted from within the old, each tree connected to another, an endless chain that left him awestruck.

Even the elder, who had spent the journey boasting of his boundless knowledge and experience, was left stunned and speechless by this sight. Such a scene was utterly beyond anything found in the world of men.

Amidst the ever-deepening, uncanny atmosphere, Jiang Feng’s figure abruptly halted. Though it was likely noon outside, here the mist was thick and persistent, showing no sign of dispersing, as if these ancient vapors had circled the giant tree since time immemorial.

He had reached the very summit of the tree.

Before him stood a wall, carved simply with four bold characters: Bloodfiend Tree. The calligraphy was as vigorous as a dragon in flight, its aura perfectly matching the imposing Bloodfiend Tree.

What left Jiang Feng and the elder absolutely dumbfounded was that this wall was wooden, cut directly from the robust trunk to form a smooth surface, its grain mirror-like with faint cracks, protruding suddenly from the trunk. The wooden wall, three zhang tall, stood strong as a coiled dragon, anchored deep within the Bloodfiend Tree.

Majesty and power were palpable.

“What kind of hero could possibly have the strength to carve a wall and inscribe words here?” The elder stared at the wall, his former arrogance toward Guiyue replaced entirely by humility and admiration. He was right—only someone with earth-shattering cultivation could inscribe words upon this tree.

Once, the combined might of Jiang Feng, Wang Yingying, and their divine beast had managed only to produce a shallow fissure in a small piece of wood, which had long since lost its vitality and separated from the Bloodfiend Tree.

Jiang Feng gazed in stupefaction, motionless, carefully examining the wall. His brow twitched, and slowly, he moved closer, gently caressing it with his hand.

At the moment of contact, a delicate warmth spread beneath his fingers, as if he were touching jade rather than wood. White mist gathered around his palm, forming a protective membrane.

“How mysterious!” Jiang Feng blurted out unconsciously. Instantly, the mist scattered like startled animals, and inadvertently, his hand slipped, leaving a small wound.

A bead of blood seeped into the tree, flashing with a strange light.

“Incredible,” the elder exclaimed, unable to contain his admiration.

Jiang Feng suddenly grew serious, recalling his true purpose here. He asked urgently, “Senior, how can I find the legendary Bloodfiend Fruit?”

He had thought that if he could locate the Bloodfiend Tree, the fruit would be easy to find—after all, trees bear fruit, a commonplace truth. But upon arrival, he realized that his earlier assumption was nonsense. This enormous tree did not even have a single leaf, let alone fruit.

Basic knowledge was overturned, leaving him feeling as if he had swallowed a fly. Yet, after surveying the surroundings, he accepted his disappointment. Here, not only were there no leaves, but even the essential water and sunlight were absent. Without those prerequisites for growth, how could such a grand, awe-inspiring tree exist? The more he pondered, the more surreal it seemed—a waking dream.

The elder, however, saw things differently. His body was frail, surviving only within Jiang Feng’s sea of consciousness, and their minds had become intertwined, allowing easy communication. The elder observed everything thoughtfully and explained, “In legend, the Bloodfiend Tree was a palace built by all those with Nether Soul Power in my era for cultivation. But they suffered a catastrophic disaster. It is said that before their demise, they sealed all their power within this tree. This power guides the Bloodfiend Tree to bear the Bloodfiend Fruit, and whoever consumes this fruit receives the Nether Soul Power’s legacy.”

These words pierced Jiang Feng’s heart like a needle.

Did Yichen want him to retrieve the Bloodfiend Fruit because of the mysterious, formidable Nether Soul Power sealed within? If so, what was his true purpose? Was it simply to grow stronger?

Jiang Feng doubted this explanation. He had always found Yichen’s origins and intentions puzzling, never believing him to be straightforward.

The matter of the Bloodfiend Fruit only confirmed Jiang Feng’s suspicions about Yichen.

Layer upon layer, the mist drifted and swirled. Jiang Feng, anger mounting, breathed heavily, then suddenly raised his head. His gaze followed the light piercing the fog, shooting upward.

Above were overlapping, bare, and gray tree trunks, but he felt no sense of desolation. Unlike those below, these trunks were entirely green.

Within the wood flowed vitality and life.

Jiang Feng was like an ant before the Bloodfiend Tree, utterly insignificant.

If trees could form a world, how terrifying would that be? If the Nether Soul Power wielders had survived, how majestic would the Bloodfiend Tree be? He could not imagine, nor dared to.

He withdrew his gaze, unsure where to begin finding the Bloodfiend Fruit. Just then, the elder murmured in surprise within his consciousness, drawing Jiang Feng’s attention. “Senior, have you discovered something?”

The elder slapped his forehead, as if frustrated with his late realization, making Jiang Feng smile wryly—he had never seen a more endearing old man. After a moment, the elder spoke proudly, “Think about it: since the Bloodfiend Tree was built by Nether Soul Power wielders, who can communicate with the tree?”

The implication was clear, and Jiang Feng replied instinctively, “Wielders of Nether Soul Power!”

It was as if a silent thunderclap struck Jiang Feng’s mind, enlightening him. Excited, he murmured, “I believe I am one of them.”

“Exactly!” The elder clapped joyfully. “Remember, when you touched the wooden wall, the mist gathered to shield you. Doesn’t that prove something? Here, you are the tree’s friend!”

Jiang Feng was deeply shaken. Though he prided himself on his uniqueness—having been reborn and confident in his destiny—he had never anticipated such an exhilarating, unexpected turn. He closed his eyes and, though unskilled, attempted to control the surging Nether Soul Power within. Suddenly, he heard a faint sound from deep within the tree.

It was as if a cork had been pulled, a sudden revelation.

His gaze turned to the densest tangle of tree trunks, and, activating the Shadow Dance Soul-Shattering Step, he darted toward it.

Upon arrival, he was struck dumb, staring ahead blankly, his neck stiff—for he realized he had no idea where to look.

A subtle fragrance drifted in the air.

Here was a sea of flowers! Flowers of every kind, whose names he could not recall, bloomed in profusion. The ground was blanketed with diverse grasses and plants, and what caught his eye most was the gentle rain that fell, creating a dazzling post-rain scene.

“Work of the gods! Work of the gods!” The elder could only repeat those words.

Jiang Feng had no doubt—no other phrase but “work of the gods” could describe this marvel. Petals displayed every color, evoking the sense of beauty overwhelming the senses.

He laughed inwardly, realizing that any man, seeing such splendor, would become a poet.

Yet he was troubled. Amidst this beauty, there were no trees—only flowers and grass. Where had the trees gone?

Without trees, how could there be fruit?

Every new scene he uncovered brought joy, only to end in disappointment. He sought fruit, and no matter how enchanting the flowers, they could not compare to the simple delight of a Bloodfiend Fruit.

“Senior, I still can’t find the Bloodfiend Fruit. What should I do?” Jiang Feng felt disheartened, recalling Wang Yingying and the Divine Beast who had accompanied him. Now, their fate was unknown, and he could not even locate a single fruit.

Since awakening Nether Soul Power, he had become prone to anger. Thinking of Wang Yingying made him resent Yichen bitterly. He swore silently that even if he found the Bloodfiend Fruit, he would not give it to Yichen—instead, he would let Yingying consume it, and moreover, make Yichen watch her do so.

That would be truly satisfying!

The elder was also rather frustrated—he had never been here and sighed softly. “If only we had brought little Ghost along. That girl is clever; she might have found a solution. But here we are, an old man and a foolish youngster—quite useless.”

Jiang Feng could only listen to the elder’s complaints, for he owed him his life.

“By the way, Senior, that jade pendant on your chest,” Jiang Feng said, his gaze falling on the elder’s pendant. Since he could not find the fruit, he might as well resolve his doubts.

The elder glanced down and answered casually, “Nothing much, just commemorating some pets I kept. They all died, so I wear it to remember them.”

“Were they Scarlet Water Tigers?”

“You know of them?” The elder was surprised. “Scarlet Water Tigers are rare, living deep in the sea. I thought a youngster like you wouldn’t know such Nether Beasts.”

Jiang Feng was embarrassed but replied, “I not only know them, but I saw two in the Forest of Mysteries.”

“You’ve seen them!”

The elder’s tone shifted, his expression solemn. “How are they?”

Jiang Feng was frightened by the elder’s demeanor and answered shakily, “Don’t worry, Senior, they are well. When I reached the bronze hall, they nearly captured me, but soon told me about the Bloodfiend Fruit and their master. I want to know, are you their master?”

At this, the elder’s face grew sorrowful, his gaze deep as a dark pool. He was silent for a long time before speaking, “Yes, I am their master. Five hundred years ago, after reconstructing my body, I came here seeking the Bloodfiend Fruit of legend. But at the Bloodfiend Tree, I found endless sandfalls. Even with all my strength, I could not break through. So I left the tigers in the palace within the forest. While I was pondering how to overcome the sandfall, six of them came. Together, we managed only to find a fragment of the Bloodfiend Tree within the sandfall. Five of the six perished. Wait, you said you saw only two Scarlet Water Tigers—does that mean one more has died?”

Jiang Feng forced down his shock and answered gravely, “They said that after returning to the bronze hall, one more died soon after.”

“Ah, my poor little tigers,”

The elder sighed deeply, as if suddenly aged by many years.

Just then, disaster struck.

The ground began to tremble inexplicably, threatening to collapse at any moment. Jiang Feng was forced to exit his sea of consciousness, struggling to hold his balance.

Simultaneously, the Nether Soul Power within him surged, raging through his meridians, threatening to break loose.

“Boy, has the tree formed a new connection with you?”

The elder’s prompt enlightened Jiang Feng. He quickly floated upward, carefully sensing his surroundings. Sure enough, a cool, clear sensation seeped up from beneath. Elated, he drew his Nine Heavens Steel Blade, transformed it into a streak of light, and plunged into the earth.

The ground was unexpectedly soft. After three or four hours, he finally descended and, looking up, nearly wept with joy.

Before him stood a modest little tree, bearing countless bright red fruits, glistening and lovely, inviting delight.