The Divine Exorcist Great Saint looked around, then said softly, "I have brought it!"

"Li Jing didn’t give you any trouble, did he?"

The Divine Exorcist Great Saint gently shook his head, "Not at all, he is a wise man, and would not give anyone leverage in such matters."

"People from the great families are always like this, always assessing the situation and acting accordingly. However, since he didn’t openly oppose us, there’s no need for us to care about him. After all, we are facing quite a few enemies this time," the Jade Emperor said indifferently.

At that moment, the Divine Exorcist Great Saint took out a glass jar from his bosom, within which a tree blazed fiercely.

This was none other than the Divine Fusang Tree, which the Divine Exorcist Great Saint had taken from Li Jing with a Magic Artifact.

"It’s such a pity for this Heaven and Earth Spirit Root," the Divine Exorcist Great Saint sighed.

These Spirit Roots are not just rare, but often unique in the Three Realms. Once destroyed, they are completely extinct, unlike the Peach, which can be cultivated and is rather an anomaly.

However, today, he was about to witness the extinction of a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root. The Jade Emperor planned to use the vital force of the Divine Fusang Tree to repair the damaged Peaches.

"This tree is the essence of flame, and of little use to us, but the Peaches are a symbol of longevity, and that is what we can rely on," the Jade Emperor spoke lightly.

In his heart, only the Spirit Roots that he could use were considered valuable; others that he couldn’t make use of were of no consequence if destroyed.

Hearing these words, the Divine Exorcist Great Saint nodded slightly. He understood this principle all too well, but the thought of such a precious Heaven and Earth Spirit Root being destroyed by his own hands caused him a faint pain.

"Give me the Spirit Root," the Jade Emperor said softly.

Receiving the glass jar from the Divine Exorcist Great Saint’s hands, even through the Magic Artifact, the Jade Emperor could feel the astonishing heat emanating from the Divine Fusang Tree.

He couldn’t help but marvel at it, truly worthy of being the symbol of flame in legends, indeed a manifestation of the Great Dao of Fire. It was a shame that he did not follow the Great Dao of Fire.

Perhaps sensing its impending death, the Divine Fusang Tree emitted a dazzling light, the flames around it transforming into various fearsome beasts, roaring silently.

Yet none of this could change its doomed fate. As the Jade Emperor moved closer to the central Peach tree in the Garden, a cold and solemn sense of death enveloped them, making even the Divine Exorcist Great Saint feel a chill.

The Divine Fusang Tree seemed to wilt as well, its terrific presence making its flames dwindle.

The Jade Emperor gently caressed the charred trunk, saying softly, "Don’t worry, you’ll recover soon."

With that, Mana surged, and endless vitality flowed from the Divine Fusang Tree into the Peach tree.

In that moment, the Divine Fusang Tree struggled desperately, its flames roiling. But no matter what, it could not break through the glass jar—a Magic Artifact specifically designed to contain it, capable of isolating flames. In its current state, the Divine Fusang Tree simply could not break free.

As time passed, more and more vitality flowed into the withered Peach tree. The Divine Fusang Tree visibly began to languish, its flames flickering erratically, and anyone could see that this Spirit Root would soon give out.

But then, an even more powerful suction came from the Peach tree. Even though he was at a distance, the Divine Exorcist Great Sage could feel the Peach tree’s greed.

It was determined to drain the Divine Fusang Tree’s vital force completely.

The Divine Fusang Tree made one final struggle, its endless flames filling the entire Magic Artifact, the terrible heat even passing through the glass jar to the Jade Emperor’s hand, scalding him.

"Still trying to struggle?"

The Jade Emperor finally channeled all his mana to drain the last vestige of life from the Divine Fusang Tree, which instantly withered, its flames extinguishing without a trace.

This Spirit Root of Heaven and Earth thus perished.

Endless vitality poured into the Peach Tree, reviving the severely weakened tree in an instant, its withered branches regaining life and sprouting verdant leaves, even beginning to flower and fruit.

After all, this was the vitality of a Spirit Root, enough to restore the Peach Tree and yield Peaches.

The Jade Emperor looked at the fruit-laden tree and, smiling, patted the trunk and said, "Not in vain did I expend a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root."

For him, the Peach Tree held extraordinary significance, occupying a certain position in future schemes, and was absolutely essential.

It was precisely because of this that at the moment the Peach Garden was blasted away, his rage was genuine.

However, upon discovering that the Peach Tree still held a glimmer of life, he quickly realized that this was also an opportunity, a good chance to conceal the Peach Tree.

Everyone thought he was in a desperate situation, but they did not know he had already prepared a way out for himself, it was just that, with so many enemies in the Three Realms, the Jade Emperor wasn’t confident enough that his methods could deceive everyone.

"When you begin vying for the Dao," the Jade Emperor muttered to himself, "perhaps no one will care by then."

And that would be the time to test his destiny, succeed, and he would still have a chance at life, fail, and naturally, it would mean a demise along with the loss of his Dao.

Meanwhile, far in the Eastern Sea, the Eastern King sighed softly as he held the now dim seed in his hand.

"Your Majesty, this is?"

"The Divine Fusang Tree has been destroyed," the Eastern King said with a sigh.

This Spirit Root had accompanied him since ancient times, the greatest aid to his growth, and yet, this time, he ultimately failed to protect it.

"How dare he?"

This was a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, the sole one in the Three Realms, its destruction meant complete extinction, how could the Jade Emperor dare?

"There’s nothing he wouldn’t dare. He has the Peach Tree, so the Divine Fusang Tree isn’t as significant to him. I’ve heard that someone blew up the Peach Garden; if it’s as I suspect, he must have used the life force of the Fusang Tree to replenish the damaged Peaches," the Eastern King stated indifferently.

Having a Spirit Root himself, he naturally knew the secrets within. The Jade Emperor specifically sought the Fusang Tree for the sake of that Peach Tree, what else could it be for.

It was just unclear why the Jade Emperor valued this fruit tree so highly.

"Damn, that was the Divine Fusang Tree."

The Eastern King could only let out a long sigh. Such was the privilege of the victor. From the moment he lost to the Jade Emperor, he had already lost the ability to control his destiny.

The only reason he was still alive was that the folks of the Three Realms hoped he would slow down the Jade Emperor’s ascension to the Dao.

And yet, he could still feel his Dao weakening continuously, being plundered by the Jade Emperor.

This Dao of the Heavenly Emperor was too unique, choosing only the victor. If one harbored the shadow of defeat, the Dao would abandon you. When he failed in his struggle against the Jade Emperor for the Dao, his demise was already destined.