Chapter 293: Chapter 290: How Dare You Drain Me?

"Mo the kid, should we just chop it up and cook it?" the Pig Emperor asked, his eyes glued to the Five Elements Tree.

’The legendary Five Elements Tree!’

’If I ate this, how strong would I get?!’

’Could I become an Immortal on the spot?’

Mo Qi thought for a moment, then said, "We can collect the leaves for now. They might be useful later. We’ll just eat the trunk and branches."

’Branches and a trunk?’

’Can you even eat this stuff?’

As if sensing the Pig Emperor’s doubt, Mo Qi smiled. "Back when I was a chef at the Void Sect, I figured out a little knife skill trick when I was bored."

"I make a rapid series of cuts, following the grain of the wood. This slices through its life barrier without destroying its essence and transforms its structure, giving it the texture and chewiness of meat."

"Don’t worry. I guarantee it’ll be delicious, and its Medicinal Power won’t be diminished in the slightest."

’Holy shit, that’s fucking awesome!’

Right then, nothing could describe what the Pig Emperor was feeling except for those six words.

’Turning a tree into meat!’

’Is that even possible? For real?’

"Are you sure you’re not joking?"

Even with his ten-thousand-percent confidence in Mo Qi’s culinary skills, he couldn’t help but express his doubt.

"Forget a living tree, I can even make chopped and dried firewood have the exact same texture as tender, juicy meat!" Mo Qi said confidently.

The Pig Emperor swallowed. "Then can you turn dirt and rocks into meat, too? If we ever fall on hard times, we can eat dirt!"

"Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s just the texture," Mo Qi reminded him.

"The texture is enough!"

"Alright," Mo Qi said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "I’ve never tried it with dirt and rocks, but if you want to eat them, I can give it a shot when I have time."

’As expected of the Pig Emperor. He won’t even pass up on dirt and rocks!’

"It’s a deal!"

"Quiet down for a second and let me think," Mo Qi said, gesturing with the Obsidian Kitchen Knife in his hand.

"The part near the root is thicker. Even after the transformation, the texture might be a little lacking, but its Medicinal Power is rich, so we can use it for soup."

"The middle section is just right. We can marinate it in sauce to preserve it. It’ll be perfect for snacks and side dishes!"

"The top is the most tender. A quick stir-fry with scallions would be absolutely perfect!"

As he spoke, Mo Qi had already planned out how to divide up the Five Elements Tree sapling.

Just listening was enough to make the Pig Emperor drool all over the floor, and he repeatedly urged Mo Qi to hurry.

"Holy smokes, hurry, hurry! This Emperor can’t wait any longer!"

Hearing the conversation between the man and the pig, Yan couldn’t help but look to the heavens and cover her face.

The living continuation of the great tree that once made the entire continent tremble was now being planned into three dishes—soup, a side dish, and a stir-fry—by a human whose Cultivation was so low it was almost negligible.

’If those powerful beings who participated in the Divine War back then found out about this, they’d probably climb out of their coffins and start cursing up a storm.’

SHING!

Mo Qi flicked his wrist, and the Obsidian Kitchen Knife began to spin rapidly in his palm.

He was about to begin cutting and transforming the Five Elements Tree sapling.

’That’s not right!’ Yan thought of something. ’With that tree’s terrifying power, it’s impossible that it didn’t leave behind a fail-safe when it continued its life. It’s even more impossible that it would let its sapling fend for itself. The trigger conditions probably just haven’t been met yet.’

’That foolish boy’s actions are now seriously threatening the sapling’s life, so that fail-safe...’

Just as Yan was thinking this, Mo Qi had already raised his knife and swung it down.

CRACK!

The blade cut half an inch deep and then could go no further.

’It’s so hard!’

Mo Qi tried to pull the knife out for a second strike, but the kitchen knife was stuck as if by suction; he couldn’t get it out no matter how he tried.

"What’s going on?"

Mo Qi frowned. Just then, an immense suction force erupted from within the Five Elements Tree sapling. It traveled up the Obsidian Kitchen Knife and began to rapidly drain his Life Force.

The Five Elements Tree, which had looked sickly before, seemed to be reinvigorated with Vitality and began to sprout branches and buds.

A dazzling emerald light radiated from its body, forming a brilliant phantom image.

It was a colossal, blood-soaked tree. Countless branches extended from its sky-blotting canopy, reaching deep into the Void.

A dignified, solemn human figure was bound to each branch, radiating a suffocatingly powerful aura.

"It really is it!"

Yan’s expression was excited, but her eyes were filled with trepidation.

’A fail-safe left by an expert of that level is definitely not simple. If I don’t deal with it in time, it could cause an irreversible disaster.’

She tilted her head slightly, her Divine Sense reaching deep underground.

"Ah Bai!"

Deep underground, in that same vast subterranean space.

The cold-faced young man in white robes opened his eyes.

"Your Majesty, your orders."

"In a moment, This Queen will personally destroy this tree. You will take your men and lock down a thousand-mile radius. Monitor all living beings to prevent it from escaping and hiding, and then..."

She was only halfway through her sentence when she trailed off, her full attention drawn to Mo Qi.

"You fucking dare to drain me?" As his Life Force was continuously plundered by the Five Elements Tree, Mo Qi struggled for a long time but couldn’t break free. He snapped.

"Then let’s see who has the bigger appetite!"

Nine Transformations into Spirit, Eight Transformations of Creation, the First Transformation—Gorging and Drinking!

Mo Qi gave up resisting. He picked up the Five Elements Tree sapling, opened his mouth, and took a bite.

It was strange. The Five Elements Tree, which the Obsidian Kitchen Knife could barely cut half an inch into, had a large chunk of flesh bitten off by Mo Qi.

That’s right! It wasn’t wood fiber, but living, breathing flesh and blood!

Mo Qi was stunned for a moment, but he had no time to react because the speed at which the Five Elements Tree was draining his Life Force instantly doubled.

’Damn it, screw it all!’

A ruthless look flashed across his face. He raised his head and threw it back.

GULP!

His throat bobbed. Without chewing, he swallowed the chunk of the Five Elements Tree’s flesh whole.

Under the power of "Gorging and Drinking," the flesh was rapidly digested and converted into a special Energy, replenishing Mo Qi’s lost Life Force.

Along with the Life Force, an indescribable power also merged into his physique.

"It’s working!" Mo Qi was overjoyed and opened his mouth to take another bite of the Five Elements Tree.

RRRIP!

He tore off another large piece of flesh and swallowed it whole.

VMMMM!

The phantom of the great tree behind the Five Elements Tree trembled slightly. The branches embedded in the Void rapidly retracted, then whipped toward Mo Qi.

Mo Qi’s hand was still stuck to the kitchen knife, leaving him unable to dodge. He had no choice but to speed up his devouring of the flesh.

WHIP-CRACK!

The branch fell like a long whip, shattering space wherever it passed.

However, when it struck Mo Qi, it didn’t even damage his clothes, merely kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was like old friends greeting each other.

"Draining me is one thing, but you dare to ambush and hit me too!"

Mo Qi was furious. He knew it wasn’t because the Five Elements Tree had shown mercy; it was the miraculous power that had merged with his body that had blocked the attack.

He let out a ferocious cry and pounced, using his hands and feet to pin the Five Elements Tree underneath him and began to gnaw at it wildly.