Gu Si Na led Xiao Xun into a secret chamber, filled with a magical aura that transported Xiao Xun into a pure world of sorcery.
"Your Highness Svain, did Wikina not tell you what the Tree of Life is?" Gu Si Na's expression was heavy, as if the matter was difficult to handle.
"She has already informed me," Xiao Xun said with a bow. "I know the Tree of Life is Pearson's national treasure. If His Majesty would only lend it to me once... I will agree to any condition."
"This cannot be settled by a mere transaction!" Gu Si Na frowned. "If it were anything else, even His Majesty's crown, I could help you borrow it, but this Tree of Life... alas!"
"Is the Tree of Life very important to the kingdom?" Xiao Xun inquired.
"More than important!" Gu Si Na shook her head and sighed. "You are also a Duke of Saint Tilo Man. If I were to beg you, to ask Empress Celes Pelais to lend you the holy sword and holy shield of the Guangyan family, could you do it?"
Xiao Xun was stunned. It was obvious without even thinking that Empress Celes Pelais would definitely not agree to such a thing.
"Are you saying that your King will definitely not lend me the Tree of Life?" Xiao Xun narrowed his eyes.
"The Tree of Life is the foundation of Pearson's nation," Gu Si Na said with a bitter smile. "Even if I put in a good word for you, His Majesty still wouldn't agree."
In his urgency, Xiao Xun blurted out, "If I were to snatch it, what would be my chances of success?"
Gu Si Na's brows furrowed. "I am the God of Magic of Pearson. If you intend to snatch the Tree of Life, then your first enemy will be me." Although her words were calm, killing intent instantly filled the entire secret chamber.
She then added, "Even if you manage to snatch it, it would be useless, because you don't know the secret art to using it."
Gu Si Na pondered for a moment. "The Tree of Life involves too much, and it is no longer something I can decide... How about this, I will take you to see His Majesty!"
Xiao Xun nodded in agreement. He agreed with Celes Pelais's view that defending Saint Tilo Man was the top priority.
Gu Si Na led Xiao Xun towards the royal city. These four trees were indeed towering giants. When the wind blew, their leaves rustled, bearing no resemblance to winter's chill.
Most importantly, Xiao Xun could clearly feel that these grand trees seemed to possess life. Although they could not speak, they seemed to welcome Xiao Xun, the guest from afar.
The King of Pearson appeared very young; it was hard to imagine he was already over a hundred years old.
After Gu Si Na explained the situation to the King, she silently withdrew.
"You wish to borrow the Tree of Life?" the King asked with a faint smile. "Do you know what the Tree of Life signifies?"
"I know everything," Xiao Xun replied with a smile. "All I wish to ask Your Majesty now is, what price must I pay to borrow the Tree of Life?"
"The price, hehe, my kingdom does indeed have a matter that requires your assistance." The King retrieved a bottle from beneath his throne and handed it to Xiao Xun.
Xiao Xun held up the palm-sized glass bottle and looked at it, not quite understanding the King's intention. "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."
The King waved his hand, his demeanor exceptionally elegant. "I have heard that a certain liquid from Saint Tilo Man is worth as much as a supreme divine artifact. Therefore, if you can fill this bottle with that liquid, you may have the Tree of Life."
"Oh? May I know what liquid Your Majesty refers to?" Xiao Xun's eyes narrowed.
"The tears of the first Empress of the Saint Duo Dynasty."
Xiao Xun smiled. "Does Your Majesty know that I have two armories? One is responsible for producing weapons and equipment, and the other is responsible for producing some immensely powerful devices."
"What do you mean? Are you threatening me?"
Xiao Xun quickly waved his hands. "Absolutely not. My thought is that Your Majesty is unwilling to lend me the Tree of Life because you fear the invasion of the Scourge Legion. If Your Majesty lends me the Tree of Life, I can guarantee that the Scourge Legion will not set foot in Pearson again."
"You guarantee? What basis do you have for that guarantee?" The King gently tapped the table with his finger, staring at Xiao Xun with a smile for a moment, then said, "What if I simply refuse to lend it?"
"If Your Majesty refuses to lend it to me, then there's nothing I can do..."
Xiao Xun shrugged, feigning indifference, but his tone turned cold. "Saint Tilo Man is the only place in the world that was simultaneously invaded by four Demon Kings and did not fall. I believe that even if our strength is not as formidable as the Four Demon Kings, it is sufficient to deal with some small countries."
"Can I interpret that as a threat?" The King's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal. "Heh, however, Saint Tilo Man is indeed qualified!"
"How would I dare to threaten Your Majesty?" Xiao Xun said. "I am merely discussing business. If Your Majesty lends me the Tree of Life, I guarantee Pearson's safety." As he spoke, Xiao Xun looked up at the King. "If Your Majesty is still not satisfied, then... how about I have these ten Zeppelin airships directly help you deal with the surrounding Scourge Legion?"
"Zeppelin airships?" The King looked at Xiao Xun in surprise. "What divine artifact are these Zeppelin airships you speak of?"
Xiao Xun pointed outside. "When I arrived, I brought ten Zeppelin airships equipped with our empire's latest weaponry. I can give them to Your Majesty as a 'welcome gift'."
"Your Highness's conditions are indeed very tempting," the King said with a smile. "However, I will only consider your offer after Your Highness proves you truly possess that strength."
With that, the King made a gesture of invitation.
Xiao Xun left the palace, and Wikina and Bai Yang were waiting outside. "How was it? Did His Majesty agree?"
He shook his head and walked away without a word.
Now he had two paths: the first was to directly have the Zeppelin airships bomb the palace and snatch the Tree of Life; the second was to engage in a hard fight with the surrounding Scourge Legion, but that would only earn him a chance to renegotiate.
Suddenly, he thought of a third method and squinted with a smile. Since the other party refused to lend the Tree of Life, he would find another way.
During the day, Xiao Xun had them form the Zeppelin airships into a circle, guarded by three hundred Imperial Guards. Ordinary people dared not approach, as the Soul Transcenders on the airships were no joke. Even without them, the title of the foremost of the six Dukes of Saint Tilo Man, the future Quasi-Prince, and the peerless strategist was enough to deter them.
As night fell, Xiao Xun looked at the blue moon in the sky and thought, "Excellent, it's tonight."
He then used his spatial ring to directly arrive at the palace. It was not that he couldn't bring Bai Yang, but Bai Yang used magic, and magic produced magical fluctuations that could be easily detected by a God of Magic. The spatial ring, however, effectively concealed this.
The moment Xiao Xun emerged from the space created by the ring, he felt his head spin, and his nose grew hot. He touched it and found he was bleeding from the nose.
He thought it was due to the dry weather and paid it no mind.
"Damn it, can someone tell me what the Tree of Life looks like?"
Xiao Xun hesitated, but since it was called the Tree of Life, it was undoubtedly a tree.