Two days later, at the Sacred Tree of Existence, the twelve Guardians of the Tree sat upon their thrones, their faces etched with bewilderment at the sudden meeting convened by Ji Yao Li. As the silence stretched on, Ji Yao Li sensed their growing anger and resentment—feelings that intensified with every passing second. This was especially true for Zhao Li Yong, whose expression was a complex, turbulent mix of rage, malice, joy, and suppressed cunning. Breaking the heavy silence, Zhao Li Yong spoke in a tone that sounded respectful and noble, yet beneath the surface, it concealed a deep well of fury and thinly veiled contempt:
"Lord Ji Yao Li, might you explain the reason for calling this emergency meeting?"
Ji Yao Li's gaze sharpened as he turned toward Zhao Li Yong—a look so piercing it was enough to strike terror into the very depths of the other's soul. The others were taken aback by this sudden shift; they were accustomed to Ji Yao Li's usual, absolute composure and his characteristic air of indifference, yet now his features had hardened into something harsh and severe.
Taking the initiative, Ji Yao Li broke the silence once more. His voice resonated with the immense power and profound wisdom he had garnered over his long existence:
"I wish to revisit the final topic we discussed in our previous meeting."
With a snap of his fingers, a portal manifested, displaying the events that had unfolded toward the end of the 6,300,577,823,550th meeting at the Sacred Tree of Existence. No one could utter a single word, as the gateway began to display the final moments of that meeting:
(Beginning of the displayed scene)
Zao Li Yong—occupant of the Fifth Throne—spoke in a calm, composed, and powerful tone. His gaze, cold and detached, was fixed upon the Tree of Existence. Though his heart burned with a fierce, overwhelming rage toward the future that awaited him, he kept these emotions locked deep within—for he trusted no one but himself.
"A vast expanse of time—countless eras and epochs—has passed. The birth of the ruler of the Tree of Existence, the Supreme Creator, draws near. Only about 50 trillion years remain before the world undergoes a profound transformation. For us, as the Guardians of the Tree of Existence, this spells danger; our role as Guardians will come to an end..."
He paused for a few seconds before continuing, his voice sharpening with greater resolve:
"Once the four rulers of the 'Fruits of Existence' and the Supreme Creator—the ruler of the Sacred Tree of Existence—are born, we, the Creators, will be reduced to nothing more than a memory of the past. What do you intend to do about this? Shall we accept our fate, or shall we defy it? The choice is yours."
His categorical rejection stemmed from his own interests and the immense benefits that would be jeopardized. The status of a Guardian of the Sacred Tree of Existence is one of great prestige within the four 'fruits'—the worlds—borne by the tree. These Guardians are granted the freedom to act according to their own will, and they command profound respect and countless privileges, both within the Sacred Tree of Existence and across the eleven other existential trees. With the birth of the new rulers, their mission—along with the privileges and prestigious status that accompanied it—would come to an end.
Zhao Li Yong could not accept this; he had been accustomed to such a status since his birth, which occurred in a time long forgotten—coinciding with the very existence of the Sacred Tree of Existence. Those who have lived in opulence since birth can never endure a life of poverty, not even for a single day; they will do the impossible to remain in a life of luxury.
This sentiment was shared by Zhao Li Yong and the other guardians of the Tree of Existence—with the exception of Ji Yao Li. Ji Yao Li longed for this exhausting mission to conclude, desiring to live in peace with his wife, Zehua Ming Hua, free from the constraints imposed by his high status—a status that had even prevented him from having a child. While such a high position is a blessing, it is, in truth, a curse, for it denies one the freedom to live as they please.
As he finished speaking, the place fell into absolute silence. Then, Ji Yao Li—who had listened to every word and fully grasped Zhao Li Yong's intent—spoke. Zhao Li Yong's plan was to kill the four rulers of the Fruits of Existence, as well as the ruler of the Sacred Tree—the Great Progenitor—before they were even born!
Ji Yao Li rejected this outright. He yearned to begin a new life with his wife, Zehua Ming Hua, and to have a child—a descendant to carry on his lineage and strengthen the bond he shared with the one true love of his life. Although he had to wait nearly two thousand years for the rulers to be ready to govern the Tree of Existence—a fleeting moment for a being whose lifespan transcends the grasp of the human mind—his response carried a tone of utter indifference, yet one underscored by absolute seriousness, immense power, and a firm rejection of Zao Li Yong's request, which threatened to derail his future plans:
"I am well aware of that. But as guardians of the Tree of Existence, we cannot abandon the very purpose for which we were brought into being. Together with our peers—the guardians of the other eleven Trees of Existence—we must fulfill our mission and bestow upon the rulers of the Tree of Existence what is rightfully theirs. This is my final decision. If anyone has anything else to say, speak now; my ears are open to whatever you have to offer."
He paused, waiting for the other throne-holders to weigh in, but they remained completely silent—no one dared to challenge him. Everyone grasped the subtext in Ji Yao Li's words: "The status quo will remain unchanged. Should anyone attempt to alter it, I shall stand as an immovable boulder in their path. Is that clear to everyone?"
Though many of the guardians were dissatisfied—their positions and interests now under threat—none dared to speak. Ji Yao Li was, by a vast margin, the strongest among them. Furthermore, he possessed one of the five 'Narrative Vessels'—the only one among the twelve guardians of the sacred Trees of Existence to hold such a relic—a fact that rendered his individual power greater than that of all the others combined. After some time, the occupant of the fourth throne—known as Domenico—broke the silence with a deep sigh before offering his opinion:
"Since no one else has voiced an objection, the decision proposed by the occupant of the fifth throne, Zao Li Yong, is rejected; the status quo shall remain unchanged. I hereby declare the meeting of the Guardians of the Tree of Existence—number 6,300,577,823,550—to be concluded. We wish all those present a life filled with happiness and prosperity."
The Guardians of the Tree of Existence departed, each returning to the specific worlds sustained by the sacred Tree of Existence.
(End of the displayed scene)
The portal ceased showing any further scenes.This left both Alexazia and Domenico breathing a deep sigh of relief, grateful that it had not been discovered that they were the ones who had tipped off Ji Yao Li about the betrayal being plotted against him by the other guardians of the Tree.
As a reminder, there were 12 guardians of the sacred Tree of Existence—six women and six men—known as the "Holders of the Twelve Thrones," designated by the number of their respective thrones:
Holder of the First Throne (and the strongest): Ji Yao Li
Holder of the Second Throne: Jinhai
Holder of the Third Throne: Domenico
Holder of the Fourth Throne: Evelyn
Holder of the Fifth Throne: Zhao Li Yong
Holder of the Sixth Throne: Dominic
Holder of the Seventh Throne: Richard
Holder of the Eighth Throne: Alexazia
Holder of the Ninth Throne: Margaret
Holder of the Tenth Throne: Seo-yoon
Holder of the Eleventh Throne: Hyun-woo
Holder of the Twelfth Throne: Chae-yoon
Ji Yao Li was the strongest, while Chae-yoon was the weakest. Yet, even the weakest among them possessed power that far transcended the systemic limits of this world—surpassing the "Beyond-Existence" rank to such an extent that they could crush such entities with absolute ease and without the slightest effort.
The Decisive Confrontation
A malicious grin spread across Zhao Li Yong's face as he cast his gaze toward Ji Yao Li. His expression boded nothing good; the craving for power had blinded him, preventing him from seeing reality clearly:
"So, if I've gathered correctly, you are opposing my request to prevent the Rulers of the Fruits of Existence and the Ruler of the Tree of Existence from ever coming into being? Am I correct, Master Ji Yao Li?"
Zhao Li Yong no longer bothered to hide anything. Tired of veiled language, he spoke directly—convinced that Ji Yao Li was now on his side and had understood his earlier hints. But Ji Yao Li's response shattered his expectations and sent him into an uncontrollable, indescribable rage:
"No, that is not what I meant. True, I will not allow any world to confine me to a single path; I shall move from one path to another, indifferent to the consequences. Yet, this can only happen after the birth of the Rulers of the Fruits of Existence and the Ruler of the Sacred Tree of Existence—the Great Progenitor. Therefore, I categorically reject your request. If you have anything else to say, speak now—for I shall show no mercy to those who obstruct my goals. Is that clear, Zhao Li Yong? And let this be understood by everyone!"
An overwhelming aura erupted, rendering everyone present unable to so much as lift a finger—a force that held absolute dominion over everything. When logic fails, matters must be resolved through violence—much like how great powers on Earth assert their control through threats and sanctions, and, should those fail, resort to weaponry and the language of war.
The same principle applies in this world: when dialogue fails, absolute power imposes itself through suppression. Ji Yao Li was the prime example of this; he had used his authority as the head of the Guardians of the Sacred Tree of Existence to suppress their coup attempts before they could even begin.
Nevertheless, Zao Li Yong showed no intention of letting the matter rest there. Rising from his throne with a sinister, cunning smile, he gestured toward Ji Yao Li:
"Hahaha... Ji Yao Li, you're nothing but a fool blinded by love! You want to step down from your role as a guardian of the Sacred Tree of Existence to live a life of ease and prosperity with your wife—am I right?"
His tone dripped with blatant mockery. In response, Ji Yao Li's expression became complex and unreadable; then, to Zao Li Yong's utter confusion—as he had clearly not expected such a reaction—Ji Yao Li began to applaud enthusiastically. Jie Yao Li spoke, pulling Zhao Li Yong out of his bewilderment with a voice laced with sharp, biting sarcasm:
"Yes, you are partly right. One of my goals in bringing about the rulers of the Sacred Tree of Existence—and the ruler over them—was to take a break from the burden of protecting it. But living a quiet, peaceful life with my wife, Zehua Ming Hua, is not my only objective! My true goal is to continue my pursuit of power—a path that has no end. Given that there are 144 entities who have transcended the very system of power itself, it is entirely possible that beings exist who are unimaginably stronger than us.
That is why I will continue on this path; power is the only constant—the strong remain strong, and the weak remain weak. Those who do not know themselves have no business coveting absolute power. I know exactly who I am: I am not merely a guardian of the Tree of Existence, nor am I some secondary character destined to fade away once the story's protagonist arrives. I do not live solely to grow stronger. I am no longer Jie Yao Li... I am Tom Fragelsen—a man who fell into the depths of failure, only to rise again to a peak that is not the end, but merely one of many summits, each higher than the last. Do you understand, Zhao Li Yong?"
The Second Trial
As soon as Tom finished speaking, the world around him began to crack, piece by piece, until it dissolved into an endless void.
Tom returned to his original form, his face etched with confusion as he struggled to process what had just occurred. Who were those people he had seen? And who was Jie Yao Li? And what was the connection between them? Many questions swirled in his mind, left without answers.
Hours and days passed as he remained in that infinite void, staring at nothingness, trying to gather his thoughts and make sense of everything he had witnessed within that strange realm. Years and centuries went by, and Tom remained trapped—with no sign that his release might be near—yet, deep down, he sensed that things would not stay this way forever.
After further centuries had elapsed, a brilliant light began to emerge from the void. He murmured in a faint voice:
"It seems the second trial is about to begin..."
Having spent more than five thousand years within that void, he gradually realized that everything he had endured was merely the first of the five trials mentioned in those inscriptions:
[ Spring always follows winter; summer follows spring; autumn follows summer; and winter follows autumn. So, too, does power follow the merit to possess it. He who does not know himself is not worthy to aspire to absolute power. ]
Thus, he prepared himself as best he could for the second trial—a challenge he knew, with absolute certainty, would be anything but easy.