The Ancient Gods' Whisper

Chapter 1176 - 548: Happy Birthday

The Candle Light Divine Tree grows with a thunderous roar, as Gu Jianlin appears infused within the tree, revealing only his face devoid of sorrow or joy. His eyes are a bizarre golden color, swirling with jet-black lotus flowers.The Primordial is drawing power from him, devouring this world.

Vast plains are swallowed by tree roots entwined with lotus vines, as if the ancient tree realm descends, roots digging into the snow-covered soil, reaching deep into the earth's core.

That ancient tree seems to have stretched to the extreme of the sky, its golden crown endlessly spreading out. When looking up, one can see scorching winds converging, with crimson fiery clouds torn apart by sunlight, indistinguishable if it's heaven or hell.

The boy's gaze is hollow, yet his golden eyes seem capable of reflecting the world's appearance.

Candle Dragon Venerable stares into his eyes, seeing the world's end.

Aged men howl and flee, yet cannot escape the fate of Treeification. Withered bark proliferates over their bodies, turning them into old trees in an instant. Their children cry, holding them, unwilling to leave, only to be forcibly carried away by servants.

Demon Hunters and Night Watchers feud and battle on the Central Spirit Core Institute campus, suddenly overturned by a giant ancient tree. As thick roots touch them, these well-trained warriors are treeified, their despair immortalized on the trunks.

Ji Xiaoyu and Fu Chaoyang retreat under the cover of fellow warriors, as more companions become infected by the bizarre treeification, some realizing their anomaly and pulling the trigger at their heads.

Lu Zijin and Chen Bojun, despite being wounded all over, also couldn't escape. After escorting injured comrades onto vehicles, they fell into slumber, transforming into towering ancient trees.

Of course, Captain Lu and Deputy Chen, including Uncle Mu, were also engulfed by golden roots.

Cheng Youyu, the fatty, cursed the sky, only to be invaded by the peculiar virus in an instant, becoming a short, stout treeman — a comedic sight indeed.

Xia Zhi also fell asleep, turning into a graceful little tree.

The Dusk freaks couldn't resist this bizarre force. After short-lived resistance, they were consumed of all spirituality, and their mere mortal forms became part of the Candle Light Divine Tree.

Only the Shadow Department continues to hold ground, striving to destroy spreading roots, guarding the underground depot of Deep Space. Luckily, they have Divine Servants' assistance; otherwise, they'd have perished long ago.

The treeification in Tokyo has swallowed the city, turning the desert near Cairo into a terrifying oasis, while Oslo's glaciers roar, birthing jade trees and splendid flowers.

"So pitiable."

Candle Dragon Venerable gently caresses the boy's face, observing the sorrowful humanity.

The Demigods fare no better.

Rhein and Lin Dong are close to rampage; their eyes also bizarrely golden, dried bark crawling to their necks. Even cutting off treeified limbs with swords didn't help.

Platinum laughs maniacally, kneeling as twisted branches grow from his withered body.

Commander Lu is nearly suffocated by countless vines.

Only Netherworld still rapidly maneuvers on the streets, evading rampant roots.

Even exalted Demigods fare not against Catastrophe.

This bizarre treeification spreads globally like a dreadful epidemic. Should communication devices still work, it'd immediately flood the internet, reported by major media, causing worldwide upheaval.

Swift-responding nations likely dispatched military for investigation and aid, and sent the top scholars to research this peculiar Treeification Disease, though results seem futile.

Such is the apocalypse prophesied, civilization built across millennia proves fragile — vulnerable before the Ancient God Clan's natural might.

Candle Dragon Venerable sings, seemingly hypnotizing the boy within the tree.

Gu Jianlin clearly had his eyes open yet seemed asleep.

His consciousness remained amidst the whistling snow and ruins of an ancient barbaric tribe.

Under the withered ancient tree are withered lotuses, a black-haired girl stands loftily on the tree crown, surrounding horizon is vast Ice Sea, majestic stone statues roar emerging from the sea.

Gu Jianlin couldn't move because he's held by someone.

A scorched God clings to his back like a ghost, whispering hoarsely by his ear, akin to a desperate person's calls before drowning, like a devil's curse.

The burned-black face suddenly shows a grim human visage.

Sometimes it's Milo, other times Taiqing, and many unfamiliar faces.

All were once corroded by the Primordial, a unified will's collective.

Now with a steadfast heart, he wouldn't be disturbed by such illusions; raising his hand attempted to crush that damned face, yet suddenly paused.

Because that face was unexpectedly Wanwan, her gaze towards him filled with fear.

In a blink, Uncle Mu's blood-soaked face emerged, never before so grim and terrifying.

In mere moments he saw many people.

Lu Zijin, Lu Zicheng, Chen Bojun, Chen Qing...

So too were Lin Lan and Sister Wanqiu's expressions ghostly sinister.

Faces of former comrades appeared in turn, eyes filled with unprecedented malice.

Eventually, burned faces of Shadows emerged like illusions.