The Beggar’s Staff of Lao Ba Chapter 23.2

 

Chapter 23

Part 2

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Lian Wushang looked at the begging staff in Wen Heng’s hand. He had felt it looked familiar before, and now he finally remembered. During the Great Schism, the Heaven-Supporting Giant Tree had been torn into the Divine Realm. Back then, he was just a tiny blue lotus, fortunate enough to have witnessed the roots of that colossal tree.

 

Back then, the roots of the Heaven-Supporting Giant Tree would often sneak into his lotus pond, twining around his own roots. Sometimes they would even cling to his lotus stems…

 

Lian Wushang covered his face. He had assumed the Heaven-Supporting Giant Tree no longer existed in this world. Yet here, one had grown—and more astonishingly, this particular tree seemed to have fused with the Haba. Using the drought demon’s body as a vessel, the sky-piercing giant tree consumed its flesh and blood, purified the malevolent energy coursing through its veins, concealed its aura, and even made the drought demon synonymous with the Dao of Heaven.

 

Indeed, the sky-piercing giant tree—just hearing its name revealed how formidable an existence it was.

 

The Sky-Piercing Giant Tree bore Dao Fruits. Once mature, its canopy would blot out the sun. Every cultivator in the realm had heard of it—obtaining a single Dao Fruit meant ascending to immortality in broad daylight. Thus, the Sky-Piercing Giant Tree became synonymous with the Dao itself. At least, according to ancient texts passed down in the Yuanling and Yuling Realms, whoever claimed a Dao Fruit could become an immortal.

 

Yet this formidable giant tree was starving. Wen Heng clearly had no idea how to cultivate and absorb spiritual energy. The Sky-Piercing Giant Tree had retreated into his body, transforming into a beggar’s staff in his hand. With just a hint of spiritual energy, it could flourish and grow.

 

This manifested in Wen Heng as hunger. The Ding Tian Giant Tree sought to absorb Lian Wushang’s vitality to grow, while Wen Heng painfully suppressed his instincts. What a pity for this spirit beast—clueless and foolish.

 

Lian Wushang withdrew his hand and watched Wen Heng panting heavily. He raised his slender fingers to massage his temples, looking troubled as he regarded Wen Heng. Was Wen Heng fortunate or unfortunate?

 

Wen Heng quickly returned to his normal appearance, his ears flushing crimson. He scratched his hair. “Sorry, did I scare you? My form… probably wasn’t very pleasant to look at.” Though he couldn’t see himself, he had a strong feeling his previous state hadn’t been a pretty sight.

 

Lian Wushang shook his head. “It was fine.”

 

If Wen Heng were an ordinary drought demon, he would have killed him without hesitation right now. But Wen Heng was special—a drought demon protected by the Way of Heaven, one with self-awareness, one capable of discerning right from wrong. What kind of realm could such a drought demon carve out in the Spirit Taming Realm (Yuling Realm)?

 

Lian Wushang smiled: “Sleep now. We have a journey ahead tomorrow.”

 

He had made his decision. He would follow this Bā.

 

Author’s Note:

Lian Wushang: When a Bā appears, chaos ensues. I intended to eliminate it swiftly, but this creature fell for me at first sight. That alone would be bad enough—but it turns out we share the same origin! Bald…

 

Wen Heng: Never imagined my wife followed me just to kill me. Hair loss…

 

Yun Qing: So happy! Turns out everyone sheds hair like me.

 

Senior brothers, drag Yun Qing away: Shut up, you’re the chatterbox.

 

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