Reborn as a Demonic Tree-Chapter 417: Mystic Realmwarp

Stella awoke the following day to a voice as her body was being shaken from side to side by two tiny hands.

"Master!"

"Hmm?" Stella groaned as she was pulled out of dreamland. It had been an unpleasant experience sleeping under the nine moons ever since Ashlock took on desolation Qi, but that had changed with the recent addition of harmony dao. Instead of unsettling nightmares, she now experienced dreams that played with the concepts of duality and being on the edge of making big decisions.

It was unsettling and stressful in a different type of way. People meditated to clear their minds of distractions and noise so they could focus on the heavens' whispers. These dreams were much the same, yet the lessons they taught were less about gaining greater power and more about growing as a person and seeing both sides to everything.

"Wake up, Master!" Jasmine said.

"A sea of stars can be drowned out by a blinding light—only in the darkness can we reveal the true light within us," Stella murmured as she tried to hide under the covers.

"Master," Jasmine grumbled, sounding fed up, "What nonsense are you sprouting."

"As your Master, I must pass on words of wisdom," Stella said before yawning and waving Jasmine off, "Give me five more minutes."

"How can you be so lazy?"

"I'm not 'lazy'. I just hate the mornings." Stella retorted and tried to roll away.

"Are all spatial cultivators like this?" Jasmine complained, "I thought Ashlock liked sleeping too much, but I assumed it was because he's a tree. Now I'm having second thoughts."

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"Sleep is good for the soul," Stella said, slothfully stretching her limbs under the cover and enjoying the warmth. "You should try it more."

"Do you know what else is good for the soul, Master?"

"What."

"The Mystic Realm, which opens in five minutes!"

"Huh?" Stella opened her eyes and winced at the sunlight pouring into her room. It was already morning. "Five minutes, you said?"

"Yes!" Jasmine said with a hint of relief.

"Perfect," Stella closed her eyes again, smiling, "That's just how long I need."

"Master, I don't think you understood what I said." Jasmine returned to rocking the bed, "It o-p-e-n-s in five minutes."

"Yeah, so?" Stella tilted her head and finally looked at her annoyed Disciple, "It only takes me five seconds to get ready and go up there."

"Five seconds? I don't believe it." Jasmine crossed her arms and gave her an unimpressed look.

Oh, I'm going to wipe that expression right off your face. Watch this.

Stella's bed rotated until it was standing upright. The duvet fell at her feet, and she simply stepped over it. Raising her hands to either side, spatial rings piled up neatly on her bedside table flew, and there was a satisfying clink as they stacked themselves on her fingers. Silver light enveloped her as the white silk pajamas she had gotten recently were replaced in a flash by her usual getup, including her tattered cult cloak that honestly needed to be washed.

The Phantom Veil Amulet that hid her cultivation materialized on her neck, relieving the room of her ever-present soul pressure. Aether flames flickered across her body, flattening her bed hair and fixing up her clothes as swapping outfits using a spatial ring on a moving body was quite challenging to perfect, and she didn't have the mental energy for those mental calculations right now.

"I'll be heading out now," Stella said casually as the bed fell back to its former position and the duvet and pillow were returned to their rightful places. She glanced over her shoulder at her Disciple while feeling smug.

See that? I got ready in five seconds, as promised. You must be so impressed... Stella's smugness faltered due to her Disciple's expression. Instead of a look of awe, Jasmine seemed amused.

"What's so funny?"

Jasmine smirked, "That was a more effective way to get you out of bed than I thought. You're so easy sometimes, Master."

Stella frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I always knew you could get out of bed in five seconds. That's hardly impressive compared to other things you are capable of. But if I make it a competition or question your abilities, it's crazy how quickly you transition away from being a sloth."

"So you tricked me."

Jasmine shrugged, "It got you out of bed, didn't it?"

Stella glanced at her perfectly made bed, which looked so inviting, and felt a pain in her heart at the blissful five extra minutes of sleep Jasmie had robbed her of. "You..." she said, pointing at her Disciple, "Will regret tricking me."

"How—"

"Take the ethereal root by yourself," Stella snapped her fingers, and she vanished into the aether, leaving Jasmine behind. "That deceitful little menace," she huffed in annoyance but couldn't help but crack a smile, "What a smart girl. If she can do that to me, she will be able to take over my role in meetings sooner than I thought."

Despite respecting Jasmine's abilities, the little girl still needed to be punished for using such techniques on her own Master. Stella used the aether that was present within the ethereal root network to quickly escape Ash's Inner World and reappear at the base of his trunk.

A large gathering of the Ashfallen Sect's inner circle was already waiting in the shade of Ash's vast canopy, which was shielding them from the raging storm. It was a dark winter morning, with the dense clouds overhead blocking what little sunlight there would usually be. So, the mountain peak was illuminated and heated by the fire affinity offspring to the northern flank of the peak. Beautiful orange flames danced across their scarlet canopies, and motes of fire whirled through the air as they were whisked southwards by the fierce gale.

Yet despite the turbulent surroundings, everyone present seemed unfazed by the wind, fire, rain, or cold. They did not shiver, nor were their clothes rustling. The group stood in a vague circle, calmly chatting with their hands behind their backs or to their sides as soul flames of varying colors flickered across their bodies to shield them from the elements.

"Morning Stella, did you sleep well?"

Stella stretched her back and barely managed to contain a monstrous yawn, "Morning Tree, I slept quite well—and you? How are things?"

"The northern border quietened down this morning from that weird rush of monsters over the last few days. It seems like a whole faction of monsters got forced out all at once, and there's now a brief quiet before the storm. It's nice to get a break, but I used my free time last night to start work on Erebus."

"Erebus, the void bastion we are taking to visit the Silverspires?"

"Yeah, overnight, I devoured as many monsters as I could to gather enough credits—ahem, I mean energy that I needed to expand the Bastion to be a hundred meters long. There's now a small team of Mudcloaks working to make it look as intimidating as possible per my design."

"Where is it?" Stella asked, looking around.

"Under the mountain," Ash said, "They had a giant hanger down there where they are working on another large project."

Stella yawned, "Oh, I see. Well, I look forward to it. I assume our outfits are also being made?"

"I think so? Sebastian went to handle that last night, but I was too busy to check up on him."

"Master!"

Stella glanced over her shoulder at Jasmine, who emerged from the ethereal root nestled in a secluded area near Ash's trunk.

"What's up?"

"That was mean," Jasmine pouted. "You even told me to get you out of bed."

"I told you to get me out of bed right before the Mystic Realm opened." Stella hugged the girl and ruffled her hair. "You robbed me of five precious minutes!"

"Five minutes is right before." Jasmine protested, but Stella just smiled. It was fun teasing her, and the girl's arrival seemed to have drawn everyone's attention, and only now they noticed that Stella had also arrived. Not that she blamed them, as she was wearing her Phantom Veil Amulet to mask her presence and made no effort to draw attention to herself. It was too early in the morning to deal with people.

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"With Jasmine here, I think we can start."

Stella felt Ash's presence expand to encompass the entire peak, and everyone looked up at the canopy in unison as Ash's voice echoed in their minds.

"The Mystic Realm is about to open. Many, if not all of you, have experienced it before. However, this time will be different." From Ash's upper branches that were shrouded in mystery and arcs of divine energy, pearlescent fruits that looked like palm-sized crystals floated down into everyone's hands.

Stella inspected the strange fruit. Its texture almost felt like glass, and the colors of its skin seemed to shift slightly as she rotated it.

"This is a Mystic Realmwarm fruit. They are extremely Qi-intensive to grow, but for everyone's safety, I deemed it necessary to grow at least one for everyone. It's no secret that the Mystic Realm contains great rewards but an equal amount of danger. There's no telling where you will end up, so this is the solution to reduce the number of deaths after the Redclaw incident."

A wave of murmurs spread between the group at the mention of the Redclaw youths murdering each other over a flower.

"By eating this fruit, you will immediately leave a pocket realm and return here."

Stella saw flashes of surprise and relief on everyone's faces. They all knew that as cultivators, great leaps in power didn't come without risks. But the Mystic Realm had been especially dangerous with how opaque it was and how you had to survive in whatever realm you were in for an entire month.

I wish I had this last time. Stella mused as she reflected on the Azure Clan's tournament realm, where she had gotten stuck. Actually, no. If I had this fruit back then, I would have used it and unknowingly deprived myself of encountering the aether origin stone. Great opportunity doesn't always make itself known on the surface.

She weighed the fruit in her hand and frowned. This is quite the conundrum. Having the fruit guarantees my safety, but the pressure of death helps a cultivator exceed their limits and achieve greatness.

"I apologize, Ashlock, but I don't wish to accept this."

Stella glanced up at Grand Elder Redclaw, who held out the fruit.

"May I ask why?" Ash asked while using telekinesis to take back the fruit.

"Safety breeds weakness and carelessness. Access to such an escape method will make me bold against threats I'd usually handle cautiously. While that fruit does offer an exit, it's not foolproof. I'd have to eat it first, which takes time. I understand this may sound crazy or backward, but I believe knowing I have such a fruit in my spatial ring will lead to my death." The man's tone was stern, and his resolve was unwavering. "If I die, I die. That is how the heavens wanted it."

"I see," Ash replied, "That's not a perspective I thought of."

Grand Elder Redclaw bowed in respect, "Ashlock, you are a wise one but also a spirit tree. As a being rooted in place, unable to flee, being risk-averse is understandable." He straightened up and slowly looked around, "But I ask the talented people here, how many times have you faced death, overcame it, and come out stronger than ever on the other side? Meanwhile, how many times have you experienced a breakthrough in understanding the safety of your home?"

Never. Stella thought, and a powerful feeling from the Grand Elder's passionate speech stirred inside her. Memories of all she had been through, all the times she had almost died, flashed in her mind. Looking back, there had been a reward at the end of every trial. A new technique, insight, affinity, friend, and more.

"One does not grow by sitting at home surrounded by formations and doing the same monotonous routine. True growth in power and wisdom comes from experiencing and shaping the world around oneself. That is what makes the Mystic Realm such a miracle." The Redclaw Grand Elder bowed once again to Ash. "It's the ultimate training ground for one to fight for one's life in a distant realm and the Ashfallen Sect's greatest treasure. Without it, the explosive growth of everyone here wouldn't have been possible."

"Well said, Grand Elder!" Douglas slapped the man on the shoulder with a big grin, "But I'll be keeping hold of mine. While those shards in the fog seem to call to those capable of challenging them, my cultivation far outranks my techniques. If I get caught in a fight with a Star Core beast, it's over for me, and I have way too much to live for. Ya, feel me? Besides, I'll likely have to leave the Mystic Realm partway through to check up on the Mudcloaks and the new city I'm building."

Stella looked between the two men. One a seasoned warrior born for war and the head of a now major family. The other was a rogue cultivator turned construction worker who was also a king. They had both had tough lives filled with fighting and death, yet their perspectives couldn't be more different.

Neither is wrong. Grand Elder Redclaw and Douglas's priorities are just different. Stella furrowed her brows. Was it the harmony dao poisoning the air, or had the dreams simply opened her mind to this phenomenon that had been happening all around her, but she had simply never taken notice?

Cultivators were supposed to be arrogant. Years, decades, or maybe even centuries spent listening to heaven's whispers, having the power to alter reality and make people kneel at their feet, gave them a god complex. It made them believe that anything they said and any opinion they held should be the only one.

Yet what she saw happening before her seemed to transcend that.

"That's fair enough," Grand Elder Redclaw returned the pat on Douglas's back and grinned, "How could I survive without your delicious home-brewed spirit wine if you got stomped on by some big earth turtle?"

Elder Mo nodded profusely at the Grand Elder's side. "He's right! I wouldn't miss this old bastard, but your spirit wine? How could I live without it?"

The Grand Elder's eye twitched, and the flames flickering across his skin flared up, "Who are you calling an old man, and why are you still clutching the Mystic Realmwarp fruit? Hand it back, or are you afraid of death?"

Elder Mo heartily laughed and stored the fruit away, "I'll be keeping this. Don't give me that look. How else will I steal an inheritance from under your nose and escape if not for this? I think it will prove quite useful."

Stella found herself once again looking at the fruit in her hand. She wanted to follow the Grand Elder's lead in giving it up, but a part of her still hesitated. After all, this fruit would lead her back to Ash, and she didn't plan to die.

But if I want to reach the Nascent Soul Realm in a single trip, I must push myself to the limit. This fruit might hold me back.

"Okay, enough of this," Ash said, silencing the group. "Younger members in attendance and those who will be on the convoy to the Silverspire's peak must keep hold of their fruits. That's non-negotiable. Everyone else is free to do with them as you please." Ash paused his speech, and everyone could feel a change in the air. "Now stand back. I will be opening the Mystic Realm shortly."

The Redclaw Grand Elder, Elder Mo, Margret, Brent, and even Amber, alongside a large group of Redclaws that hadn't dared to say a word in the presence of the other members, stepped back to form a wide semi-circle around Ash's trunk.

This gave Stella a clear view of everyone in attendance. Besides herself, Jasmine, and the already mentioned Redclaws, Douglas and Elaine were at the back. Standing beside those two was Diana, who smiled at Stella. Coiled around the demoness's legs was Kaida, who was far larger than Stella ever remembered the Midnight Ink Lindwyrm being.

Looking to the left, she caught the gazes of the two Silverspires, Sebastian and Ryker. There were also members from Nightshade City, such as Elysia Duskwalker, along with members from the other families.

It's good to see the members of the Blightbane family look as gloomy as ever, Stella noted as she glanced at their Grand Elder. Like the rest of the Blightbane family, the man had hair as dark as rotting wood and eyes like fading embers. Dark maroon spirit flames that reeked of death danced along his shoulders and down a staff he held.

"Tree, don't you think it's crazy how quickly the sect has grown?" Stella murmured under her breath, "I'm starting to lose track of who some of these people are."

Ash chuckled in her mind, "Whether you know them or not, it doesn't matter. What I care about is expanding our numbers and increasing our strength as quickly as possible. Unlike more traditional sects, we are not limited as much by resources. As the Grand Elder rightly pointed out earlier, I make miracles happen."

With that, a celestial fog filled with shards of glass that seemed like mirrors into other worlds ballooned out of nothingness to fill the ample space the cultivators had left.

"Good luck everyone, and don't die."

Stella watched everyone excitedly dive into the fog and felt their presence vanish one by one. A part of her wished Ash didn't share the Mystic Realm with so many people, as she missed the simpler days, but on the other hand, this only upped the competition and fired her up.

"I'll be back soon, and when I do, I swear I will be in the Nascent Soul Realm," Stella said and strode toward the Mystic Realm.

"Don't push yourself too hard, and remember to use the Mystic Realmwarp fruit if you encounter danger," Ash warned like a concerned dad. His words made her smile at the irony of it all. He was the reason she needed to push so hard in the first place. Entering the celestial fog, everything seemed to fall away. The floor was gone—it was just her and the innumerable tiny worlds to choose from.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply. Her spiritual senses spread, and she tried to find a shard that was calling to her. The spatial Qi ones, while appealing, didn't seem quite right. She searched far and wide until she came across not one but two options.

Strangely, it wasn't the aether Qi realm that was calling out to her. It simply existed and felt compatible. It was the second one that drew her attention.

What's this feeling? Stella moved quickly through the celestial fog as if afraid she would lose it. The shard in question radiated spatial Qi of the Monarch Realm level. But that wasn't even the strangest part. The shard was utterly black, giving no hints of where it led, and even stranger, it didn't appeal to her affinity.

It was calling out specifically to her bloodline.

Stella clenched the Mystic Realmwarp fruit in her hand. Her bloodline didn't exactly have the best reputation, and there were far more people out there who wanted her dead than those who would go through all this effort to set up a meeting with a Crestfallen.

"Okay, good," she said after patting her head to ensure Maple was there. "Now, if I were an evil mastermind trying to capture a Crestfallen, what type of trap would I have planned? I assume they want me alive if it's my bloodline knowledge they are after, lest they can harvest and use it like Vincent. In that case..." Her mind wandered as she began digging through her spatial rings to extract fruits.

Soul Dominion fruit, I should have complete dominion over my soul after eating it for a while. If I remember right, I can even fracture my soul and temporarily put it into items without risk of permanent soul damage. Stella began munching on that fruit while pulling out another. If I combine this with the Soul Protection fruit that protects my soul from external influences and attacks, that should cover me for getting mind controlled.

Now chowing down two fruits, Stella was left with a third potential option. The void protection fruit. Eating it consumed a significant amount of Qi but produced a barrier of void that was practically guaranteed to block one attack.

Using it would increase her safety.

"But it would also set back my cultivation." Stella made the tough call to dismiss the fruit and go in with her mind protected. "Phew, here goes nothing." Taking a deep breath, she reached out and clasped the shard. "No pain, no gain... right?" Her world rippled, and she was pulled into the shard.

However, nothing could have prepared her for who awaited her arrival on the other side. It was a man she hadn't seen in quite some time.

Stella took a step back as her eyes narrowed. "To think it's you who would call me."

"Now, now," the figure partially obscured by fractured space said, "I haven't come here to fight. Please, take a seat, Stella Crestfallen."