Chapter 2088: Heavenly Pillar Chapter 2088: Heavenly Pillar Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Braydon Neal looked at the old man before him and bowed slightly.
“Lige Guay greets Senior Tree.” Grandpa Tree, holding Baby in his arms, nodded.
Suddenly, a table appeared in front of Braydon.
“Sit down.
You’re a guest—you can’t just stand there like this.” Braydon nodded in thanks and took a seat on the chair that materialized behind him.
“I heard you came to find me to understand certain things?” Grandpa Tree asked kindly, his gaze steady on Braydon.
“Aren’t you going to ask about my identity?” Braydon inquired softly, studying the old man.
“Hehe, I may not know your true identity,” Grandpa Tree chuckled, “but your name, Lige Guay, seems false—no, sometimes it feels as though you’re entirely false in front of me.” Grandpa Tree’s laughter carried an undertone of insight that made Braydon’s heart skip a beat.
The old man had sensed something about his Dharma Idol.
Although Grandpa Tree phrased it as a vague suspicion, Braydon knew he wasn’t far from uncovering the truth.
“As expected, nothing escapes you,” Braydon said with a faint smile.
“As for my real name, I can’t reveal it for now.
I hope you understand.” “It’s fine, it’s fine,” Grandpa Tree replied nonchalantly.
“This old man isn’t very interested in the secrets of you young people.” Two teacups materialized in Grandpa Tree’s hands, steaming with hot water.
With a wave of his hand, two leaves gently drifted from the tree above, landing perfectly in the cups.
“This tea is brewed from my own leaves.
It refreshes the mind.
You should try it.” Without hesitation, Braydon picked up the teacup and took a sip.
He set the cup down smoothly and remarked, “The fragrance lingers, and the taste is exquisite.
Truly remarkable tea.” Grandpa Tree chuckled.
“Young man, you’re the first I’ve seen of your age to achieve such calm.
Even after drinking my painstakingly brewed tea, you remain composed.” Braydon was silent for a moment before responding evenly, “My heart is already bitter—this tea, then, makes no difference.” Grandpa Tree looked at Braydon, clearly carrying a heavy burden, and smiled warmly.
“Youngsters should still hold onto some pride.
Now, Lige, what is it you wish to ask?” Hearing Grandpa Tree use his name, Braydon felt a wave of relief.
It signified the old man’s recognition of him, which would greatly aid his inquiries.
“Grandpa Tree, you should be aware of the situation here—of the entire valley, I mean.” Grandpa Tree seemed to hesitate, as if weighing how much to disclose.
Braydon continued, “From the outside, this valley appears as a mountain peak struck by something.
What exactly happened?” His words made Grandpa Tree’s expression shift subtly.
Stroking his long beard, the old man finally spoke.
“Lige, your perception is impressive.
You’re correct.
This place was once a mountain peak—what we called the Heavenly Pillar.” “The Pillar of the World?” Braydon’s expression shifted as he quickly pressed for more details.
Stories of the Heavenly Pillar had circulated for ages: every world had its own pillar, and if it fell, calamity would follow.
Could it be true that the Life and Death Valley was once the Heavenly Pillar?
Grandpa Tree smiled knowingly.
“It may sound unbelievable, but the Heavenly Pillar isn’t as mystical as the tales suggest.
It was merely the tallest mountain in this world, which led people to believe it supported the heavens.
However, it did harbor immense fortune.
When it stood intact, over a thousand level nine transcendents lived upon it.” A trace of sorrow appeared in Grandpa Tree’s eyes.
“But after a certain incident, only a handful of us remain.” Braydon furrowed his brow.
“Grandpa Tree, this is serious.” The more he learned, the more mysterious Life and Death Valley became.
It had been reduced to a shattered remnant of the Heavenly Pillar, yet the valley imposed strange rules: killing three people and surviving five days before leaving.
It seemed like a gruesome battleground.
“I sense your confusion,” Grandpa Tree said.
“You wish to know why such rules exist here, correct?” Braydon nodded, listening intently.
“A hundred years ago, the Heavenly Pillar wasn’t here.
It was drawn here by some unknown force,” Grandpa Tree explained.
“Those of us who survived merely wanted peace.
At first, we sought to seal off this place entirely.
But then…
it appeared.” “It?” Braydon’s curiosity deepened.
Grandpa Tree sighed, his voice heavy with memory.
“The spirit of the Heavenly Pillar’s protective formation.
It promised to restore the pillar and return our home to its former glory.
Believing it had the means, we agreed.” “But after the spirit fulfilled its plan, we realized its true intent: to lure cultivators here and turn their bodies into fuel for its schemes.
The array was set, and even we couldn’t undo it.
That’s the truth behind the valley’s rules.” Braydon processed Grandpa Tree’s explanation, his doubts mostly cleared.
Though some questions lingered, he refrained from pressing further.
“Thank you for sharing this, Grandpa Tree.” Grandpa Tree waved dismissively.
“What will you do next?
If you wish to avoid participating in the valley’s trials, I can help you leave safely.
The formation spirit and I share a connection—I can shield you with my aura.” Braydon pondered briefly before asking, “How large is this valley?
And what about the others?”