Yang Kai's expression turned solemn. The technique looked simple enough, yet it demonstrated the elder's absolute mastery over his own power.
He had assumed that with Die at his side, even if they couldn't defeat this elder, they could at least put up some semblance of a fight. Now he realized how naive that assumption had been. This elder's strength was... truly unfathomable.
If the elder truly harbored ill intent toward him, then even combining forces with Die would be less than a puff of wind to the old man.
The elder, meanwhile, seemed genuinely intrigued by the medicinal potion Yang Kai had refined. After sniffing it for a while and finding that unsatisfying, he actually scooped out a small amount and placed it in his mouth to taste. Then he raised an eyebrow and turned to Yang Kai. "Did you brew this potion?"
Yang Kai nodded. "That's right."
"A remarkable healing tonic," the elder praised without reservation. "However, it shouldn't be used too frequently. Overuse could cause some damage to one's foundations."
He had spotted the potion's drawbacks at a single glance. After all, Yang Kai had made it using only common, ordinary herbs. In theory, it shouldn't have possessed such powerful healing effects, yet it could activate the vitality within the barbarian bloodline and accelerate the body's natural recovery. The Blood Rage Art worked on the same principle — using it once or twice was fine, but doing so too often would undoubtedly damage one's foundations and hasten aging.
Still, this wasn't really a major problem. It was, after all, an external healing medicine, and no one would use it excessively.
"I never expected today's alchemists to be this impressive." The elder was clearly interested in the healing potion. He held the stone jar up and began identifying the various herbs that had gone into it.
Taking advantage of the moment, Yang Kai pulled Die aside and quietly asked, "Who exactly is this old gentleman?"
Die answered with a smile, "Grandpa Qing didn't tell you?"
Yang Kai shook his head.
"If Grandpa Qing chose not to say, then I can't tell you either," Die said.
Yang Kai extended a hand. "Then hurry up and pay me back all the green coins you've earned over this time."
Die's eyes went wide with alarm, and she hopped a step backward. "Don't even think about it — that's mine!"
Yang Kai let out a cold laugh. "Oh? It sounds like you'd prefer that little secret of yours to become common knowledge."
Hit right where it hurt, Die clenched her teeth and glared at Yang Kai with undisguised contempt. "Despicable. Shameless. Utterly shameless..."
Yang Kai snorted. "Try something fresh for once!"
"Young man, if you already have your suspicions, why trouble the little girl?" At that moment, the elder set down the stone jar and turned around with a smile.
Yang Kai furrowed his brow. He took a deep breath, the shock in his eyes impossible to conceal, and spoke slowly. "I have my suspicions, but I wouldn't dare presume to be certain."
The elder chuckled. "Whatever you're thinking — that is the truth of it."
Yang Kai's heart lurched. He stared at the elder in astonishment and said in a grave voice, "Could you truly be... the Evergreen Divine Tree?"
This elder had appeared out of thin air inside his own tree hollow, and Die called him Grandpa Qing. With Yang Kai's meticulous way of thinking, it would have been strange if he hadn't made the connection. But even though the thought had crossed his mind, he truly hadn't dared to believe it.
The elder waved his hand casually. "Divine Tree and such — that's just the exaggerated title the Frost Snow Tribe gave me. Many years ago, I was nothing more than an ordinary evergreen."
Many years ago — that likely traced back thousands, even tens of thousands of years.
Seeing him admit it, Yang Kai felt a wave of relief wash over him. Now that he thought about it, it made sense. Legend had it that no Shaman King or Shaman Saint could intrude upon the Evergreen Divine Tree's hollow. For someone to suddenly appear within his own hollow, who else could it be but the Evergreen Divine Tree itself?
And precisely because of that, Yang Kai had nothing to worry about. During his long stay with the Frost Snow Tribe, he hadn't socialized much, but he had heard plenty of tales about the Evergreen Divine Tree. It was a tree of peace — a tree of protection. Naturally, it would harbor no ill will toward him.
"Please forgive my rudeness, Senior Qing. This junior spoke out of turn and caused offense. I hope Senior Qing's magnanimity extends to overlooking a young man's foolish words." Yang Kai clasped his fists solemnly.
Qing laughed warmly. "No need for such formalities. You've looked after Die — how could I hold it against you?"
Yang Kai asked in surprise, "Senior, you and Die..."
One was the Evergreen Divine Tree; the other was a barbarian of the Floating Tribe. On the surface, the two seemed to have absolutely no connection. Yet in reality, Die appeared to be extremely close with Qing — close enough to call him Grandpa.
"Sixteen years ago, someone abandoned a baby girl beneath the tree." Qing offered no further explanation, just a single sentence, as he gently patted Die on the head.
Die didn't seem to mind at all. She simply giggled, savoring the rare affection.
Yang Kai understood. It seemed Die had been raised entirely by Qing. That intimate form of address suddenly made perfect sense. And Die's transformation ability — that was likely Qing's protection as well.
Yang Kai had previously been curious about what shamanic art Die had used to alter her petite frame into that imposing physique, since it had been triggered by nothing more than a single green leaf. But now it was clear that it wasn't a spell Die had cast — it was Qing's power.
Under the Evergreen Divine Tree, Qing held dominion over everything. Granting Die a single green leaf imbued with mysterious power to conceal her true appearance was child's play.
"Grandpa Qing, you only woke up last year — why are you awake again so soon?" Die asked curiously.