"That's very straightforward. I like that quality.
It's a deal."
Austin nodded.
The mind power and the law of life were two of the rarest known cultivation methods.
However, members of the wood puppet race were born with a natural aptitude for them.
The maternal tree standing before Austin was the mother of the entire wood puppet race.
If it were possible to get his hands on the secret of the law of life and the mind power from the maternal
tree, Austin wasn't going to let this chance go since it would mean a giant leap in his strength levels.
More importantly, cultivating the mind power would give him an advantage while dealing with
Humphrey later on.
It was the most effective way he could think of while dealing with such an omnipotent opponent.
"All right, young man. You must hurry up,"
the maternal tree said anxiously.
Whatever was inside the Longevity Valley must carry immense importance for the maternal tree.
However, its children had some doubts.
"Mother, do you really think it wise to send this man into the Longevity Valley?
We have been engaged in a battle with the face race for a long time now and yet, we have not found a
single opportunity to even enter the valley.
With so many of us unable to do so, this guy might fail as well.
Besides, what you're sending him to find is our holy treasure. We can't let other creatures get their
hands on it or even know its existence,"
a governing god of the wood puppet race said to the maternal tree.
"Shut up.
I have already made up my mind.
And since you have been unable to get your hands on the holy treasure for such a long time now, you
have lost all rights to doubt me.
From now on, you will all listen and follow this young man's commands and assist him in entering the
Longevity Valley. You will do your best to help him and find me the holy treasure,"
the maternal tree impatiently scorned.
"Yes, mother. We got it."
Even though the governing gods had their doubts about Austin, they didn't have the courage to
question the maternal tree.
"Well, young man. You mustn't dilly or dally.
I hope our deal can be completed soon,"
the maternal tree urged Austin once more.
It was evident that it had pinned all its hopes on the man.
"All right."
Austin nodded.
"Let's go."
He turned around and walked out.
The eight governing gods looked at each other helplessly before following suit.
Austin and the gnome used their bodily movement skills and left this world behind in a moment. Very
soon, they arrived in the dense forest.
His allies also followed him.
"Young man, what's your plan?"
one of them asked.
"Plan?
I don't have any plan, simply because
I don't need any.
I can enter the Longevity Valley directly,"
Austin replied with a calm and composed smile.
"You don't have a plan?"
The governing gods were stunned by Austin's words.
"Young man, you are being too reckless.
Let us remind you once again that the
Longevity Valley is the ancestral land of the face race.
It is heavily guarded by several of their troops.
Over the past years, we have tried every possible means and faced all kinds of hardships to enter the
valley and get our holy treasure back. And yet, we were unable to make it through their defenses even
once,"
another governing god reminded him.
"That's right.
In fact, after secret missions did not succeed, we also tried an all-out attack on them in the form of wars
but were still unsuccessful.
Do you really think you'll be able to enter the valley without a plan?"
a third one asked.
Obviously, they didn't trust Austin.
"Is your ancestral land heavily guarded?
Tell me. How are the defenses in your ancestral land compared to the Longevity Valley?"
Austin asked.
"Yes. Of course our ancestral land is heavily guarded.
And it's easily comparable to the defenses of the face race's ancestral land,"
one of them answered promptly.
"And yet, I entered your ancestral land, didn't I?"
Austin asked with a smile.
"Well..."
The eight governing gods were rendered speechless now.
It was true that their own ancestral land had been heavily guarded. In fact, these eight governing gods
had been the ones on duty when Austin had broken through their defenses like a hot knife through
butter.
These governing gods still felt ashamed as they thought about the events that had taken place just a
while back.
They had been at a loss for what to do while facing just a semi-governing god.
Despite their regret and shame, they also felt some amount of admiration for Austin. The man had
incredible talent and power.
"Let's go.
We'll enter the Longevity Valley directly,"
Austin announced.
"Austin, are you sure?
Are you really going to the face race's territory?"
the gnome asked hesitantly.
"What? Are you afraid?
Don't you have confidence in me?"
Austin asked with a smile.
"Look, I am serious about this.
However, you can choose to stay here if you want."
He gave the gnome a choice.
To be honest, considering the gnome's current strength, it wasn't going to be of much help to Austin if
he accompanied Austin.
"Austin, do you think I'm a coward?"
the gnome pouted in an unhappy tone.
"For more than a hundred years, I have been training in this supreme universe. I have experienced and
witnessed all kinds of battles.
And even if I can't participate in a battle between governing gods, witnessing one will be of much
benefit for me. There's no way you're leaving me out here."
The gnome did not want to be underestimated.
"All right.
We'll all go,"
Austin responded with a smile.
The two of them then activated their bodily movement skills and walked out of the forest.
The governing gods of the wood puppet race followed them closely.
Very soon,
they arrived at the edge of the vast forest.
"Austin, you are back.
We were just about to go inside and look for you."
The Eight Stone Saints had been waiting for them outside for quite a while. When they saw Austin and
the gnome come out, they were overjoyed and hurried forwards.
"What's going on? Have you found the lair of the wooden puppet race?"
Asa asked anxiously. Then, their gazes fell on the governing gods who were following their two friends.
"What the hell?
These governing gods are all from the wood puppet race. Austin, what's going on?" When they saw the
governing gods,
the Eight Stone Saints turned pale with fright.
They could sense an extremely terrifying aura coming out of each of the governing gods.
"Yeah. It's a long story.
Forget about them for now.
We need to get inside the Longevity Valley right now,"
the gnome said.
The gnome and the Eight Stone Saints had been cultivating in this supreme universe together for a
long time. They were on excellent terms with each other and also had a tacit understanding.
"To the Longevity Valley?"
The Eight Stone Saints were taken aback.
"Yes. I'll explain on the way,"
the gnome replied.
"Well, if you're going there, we'll go with you."
The Eight Stone Saints were forthright and fearless. They knew about the dangers associated with
entering the Longevity Valley. Ordinary creatures were too frightened to even approach this place. Still,
they offered to go with Austin.
Together, the group headed towards its destination.
"So, I take it the reason behind the grudge between you and the face race is your desire to break into
their ancestral land. Am I correct?"
Austin asked with a smile.
"You are right."
One of the governing gods nodded.
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