Deadwood Mountain was more of a towering, withered giant tree piercing the clouds than a mountain.
The tree was called the Ancient Earth Tree.
The Earth Tree possessed an incredibly long lifespan, and this particular specimen was over a million years old. It had stood since the era of the Savage Demon Venerable, through the Red Dust Demon Venerable, the Yuan Lotus Immortal Venerable, the Theft Heaven Demon Venerable, and the Giant Sun Immortal Venerable, all the way to the Soul Wandering Demon Venerable and the Blissful Earth Immortal Venerable. It was still alive even after the Blissful Earth Immortal Venerable's fall.
In its prime, its lush, deep green foliage had blotted out the sky and earth, bearing countless fresh fruits. Unique fields could be carved out upon its sturdy branches.
During its glorious epochs, it was typically occupied by the most powerful Gu Immortals of the Northern Plains, or the mightiest factions.
But as the River of Time relentlessly washed over it, that vibrant emerald hue gradually withered away, and the thick, rugged bark slowly became mottled. Its glory faded, its splendor fell silent.
The Ancient Earth Tree, once fought over by countless mighty beings until heads bled and even lives were lost, had finally entered a solitary old age. Its dry, bare trunk seemed to hold the memory of its past prosperity only in the vast shadow it cast over the land.
Today, the main trunk of the Ancient Earth Tree had long since died and withered away. Only a few scattered branches still retained a faint vestige of life.
From a rare treasure fought over by all, it had become a relic nearly worshipped in awe. Like a hunched giant, it sat obediently on the ground, waiting for its final lifespan to run its course.
Fang Yuan hadn't come here to pay respects to the dead Ancient Earth Tree. He had come for the Zombie Immortal who resided upon it.
This Zombie Immortal had been a Wood Path Gu Immortal in life. His surname was Gu, given name Ye. To join the Northern Plains Zombie Alliance, Fang Yuan first needed an introduction from a Zombie Immortal.
Fang Yuan had already gathered general intelligence about the Northern Plains Zombie Alliance from the Fairy Li Shan. His choice of Gu Ye wasn't due to anything special about him; it was simply that his location was closest.
As he drew nearer to the Ancient Earth Tree, Fang Yuan deliberately slowed his pace, but Gu Ye still didn't appear.
He couldn't help but frown slightly. Gu Ye's vigilance was rather lacking.
Finally arriving at the base of the Ancient Earth Tree, Fang Yuan called out loudly, "Is the City Lord of the Ancient Earth Earth here? This humble one, Sha Huang, pays a visit!"
His voice echoed up and down the colossal trunk, shaking loose the withered yellow leaves. From deep within the tree, a figure shot out. "Another one?! Do you really take me, Gu Ye, for someone easy to bully?!"
The tone was filled with both exasperation and helplessness.
Gu Ye appeared before Fang Yuan.
He was withered and yellow all over, tall and thin, resembling the Ancient Earth Tree itself. His exposed skin was marked with wood grain patterns—the body of a Rotten Wood Zombie Immortal.
Seeing Fang Yuan, Gu Ye was stunned for a moment, the anger on his face vanishing completely. He asked hesitantly, "And you are?"
"This humble one is Sha Huang. I have recently, and reluctantly, become a Zombie Immortal. I wish to join the Northern Plains Zombie Alliance. I wonder if the City Lord of the Ancient Earth could introduce me?" Fang Yuan bowed politely, getting straight to the point and stating his purpose openly.
"Ah, so you're a newcomer wanting to join the Alliance. A pleasure, a pleasure." Gu Ye's expression changed immediately, and he hurriedly returned the bow with a smile. "I thought... never mind. Say no more. We are both outcasts in this world, please, come in. Come in."
Fang Yuan slowly ascended into the air and, under Gu Ye's guidance, passed through countless thick, decaying branches and rotten leaves, arriving deep within the tree's limbs.
There lay a city.
A wooden town carved entirely into the limbs of the Ancient Earth Tree, possessing a unique style.
Countless wooden houses were stacked layer upon layer, high and low. There was not only a plaza but also watchtowers, city walls, and streets of various sizes, stretching along the branches like veins.
There were also vine ladders, hanging vertically or diagonally, connecting one branch to another.
Unfortunately, this wooden city was already half-ruined. A vast number of houses had rotted and collapsed. The yellowish-brown vine ladders were no longer green and lush, unable to bear the weight. With a gust of cold wind, ladders would often snap and plummet, striking the trunk with a dull thud.
"This is the City of the Ancient Earth. Even in this state, it retains a certain charm. One can imagine how thriving it was in the past, how many distinguished figures gathered here, even making it the center of the Northern Plains for a time," Fang Yuan remarked casually, surveying his surroundings.
"The city is dead, not very interesting anymore. Brother Sha calls me the City Lord of the Ancient Earth, heh heh, a title long since undeserved." Gu Ye beside him let out a bitter laugh. "To be honest, if not for the fact that this place still produces a type of withered essence wood-path resource, who would still pay attention to it?"
Fang Yuan nodded, agreeing offhandedly, "That is true."
Gu Ye sighed deeply. "Sigh, if I had known it would be this tedious here, I never would have accepted this garrison mission from the Alliance. But fortunately, the mission term is almost up, and I can escape this sea of bitterness soon. Brother, look at my miserable state and take it as a lesson. When you join the Alliance in the near future, absolutely do not choose the mission to garrison the Ancient Earth Tree."
Fang Yuan had already sensed that Gu Ye was injured. Now, hearing him say this, he let his gaze rest openly on Gu Ye's face.
On one side of Gu Ye's face, a cheek was swollen high, as if a pink peach were about to sprout from it. The other side was sunken, covered in fine, web-like cracks. Therefore, his entire head looked strangely misshapen, like a crooked melon or a cracked date.
Moreover, across his chest was a long, shallow wound.
The wound was thin, but the cut itself was wide, exuding wisps of purplish-black, poisonous Qi.
"Since Brother Gu brings it up, I was also curious. Where did you sustain these injuries?" Fang Yuan asked.
"Ah, brother. Seeing you've just become a Zombie Immortal, you don't know the suffering we endure..." Gu Ye sighed wearily, just about to pour out his grievances when suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded from outside. The entire Ancient Earth Tree trembled violently, dead leaves flew everywhere, and even the rotting branches crashed down like collapsing beams and pillars.
Gu Ye's expression changed instantly.
Then, Fang Yuan heard someone shouting from outside, "Surnamed Gu, get out here! This Divine Lord has come to do business with you!"
Gu Ye's face grew even more ugly. His eyes shot fire, and he ground his teeth. "It's the Tiandu Divine Lord again!"