Westheid’s voice drowned out all the whispers. The nobles of the Pioneer Territory had brought their own elite Guards, but they were insignificant compared to the surrounding Qinghui Legion.

Duke Qinghui’s words carried great weight. Though his voice wasn’t particularly loud, it instantly silenced the nobles of the Pioneer Territory.

Some who had complained about Westheid’s stance felt a surge of fear in retrospect, regretting their disrespect.

However, Westheid showed no intention of pursuing the matter, merely urging them over with a smile.

Duke Qinghui stood on the highest nearby platform, which offered a vast, open view. From there, one could even see the capital of Winter Fall Province on the horizon.

On the horizon stood a colossal tree. A faint purple mist shrouded its withered, twisted form, which was covered in vines and thorns. Above its canopy-like crown, a foul swarm of winged creatures gathered like a dark cloud.

The once-prosperous provincial capital was now overrun by all sorts of vicious, living vegetation, while the swirling Chaos Tide lapped at the ground.

The distance was too great to make out fine details, but the mere sight of the Corrupted Holy Tree’s silhouette was enough to shatter their souls.

Upon seeing this sight from their high vantage point, some immediately fell to their knees, utterly dumbstruck.

"What... what is that?"

"The Little Holy Tree... That’s the Little Holy Tree, isn’t it?"

"How could this happen... What on earth happened?"

"Isn’t the Little Holy Tree supposed to be a flesh-and-blood incarnation of the Divine Ancestor? It would be one thing if it were destroyed, but how could it... could it become..."

Stationed on the border, the nobles of the Pioneer Territory were not well-informed. They knew nothing of the Plague of Corruption, nor were they aware that the gods had been cut off from the mortal world. They had simply assumed this was another once-in-a-century Chaos Tide, and that Winter Fall Province had been unlucky enough to bear the brunt of it.

Such an event, though rare, was not without precedent. It happened on the border every one or two centuries. If it struck your lands, you were simply unlucky.

But the scene before them was far beyond what they could bear. The will to live drained from their faces, as if they had just witnessed their purest ideal being brutally defiled.

Casting aside their fear of Duke Qinghui, someone screamed themselves hoarse at Westheid:

"Why has the Holy Tree become... that thing?!"

Westheid didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he spoke slowly.

"Come to think of it, I haven’t told you why I accepted the Imperial Capital’s command to consolidate the border territories, have I?"

"Because this Chaos Tide is completely different from those of the past. The Great Chaos Enemy has severed the path to the Supreme Heaven, and the Mortal World can no longer contact the Celestial Gods. Because of this, the Holy Tree system, which should have been under the Divine Ancestor’s protection, has come crashing down."

’Huh? What is he talking about?!’

The bombshell Westheid dropped caused the minds of the Imperial Citizens, hearing this for the first time, to short-circuit. However, under Duke Qinghui’s patient and clear explanation, they reluctantly accepted the cruel reality.

Now, it wasn’t just the nobles of the Pioneer Territory; even their elite Guards were on the verge of collapse.

These Guards, men who would fearlessly defend their masters with their lives, threw down their weapons, collapsed to the ground, and began to wail.

"Divine Ancestor..."

"Oh, Divine Ancestor, have You closed Your eyes to us?"

"Without Your blessing and guidance, where are we to go?"

"..."

Westheid calmly observed their reactions. It might have seemed like an exaggeration, but it was actually quite normal.

Faith in the Radiant Holy Tree had been rooted in the Imperial for millennia. This was no spiritual opiate used by rulers to enslave the masses; it was genuine, utterly pure fanaticism.

One wouldn’t even notice the fanaticism in normal times, as everyone seemed perfectly ordinary. But that only proved how deeply the faith in the Divine Ancestor had permeated every aspect of their lives. For an Imperial Citizen, the Divine Ancestor’s blessing was their ultimate spiritual pillar.

Now, hearing this dreadful news, they probably felt suicidal.

Westheid let the people from the Pioneer Territory wail for a time before his brow furrowed slightly. He waved a hand and barked:

"Enough! What is all this weeping and wailing? This is a battlefield!"

"I didn’t bring you here to listen to you caterwaul! I brought you here to fight!"

"Qinghui’s Warriors are ready for battle. And you? How much longer will you weep here?"

Westheid pointed to the orderly ranks of the Qinghui Legion. They had already begun to steadily advance their lines, approaching the border of the Circle of Clear Skies.

Compared to the Imperial Citizens who were wailing hysterically, the Qinghui Guard appeared much calmer. Even when they first heard the news, the Purity People had only been surprised and bewildered, their reaction a far cry from the despair of shattered faith.

After all, it wasn’t the blessing of the Radiant Holy Tree they received, so it was easy for them to remain detached.

If it had been their Pure Holy Spirit that was violated by Chaos Undivided and twisted into a corrupted version of itself, the Qinghui People would be wailing even more pitifully.

The Imperial Citizens from the Pioneer Territory were dumbfounded. They stared blankly at Westheid, their eyes red and swollen from crying.

"D-Duke Qinghui... you want us to eradicate that... that Corrupted Holy Tree?"

"Of course. That is the purpose of our journey... Why such a look? You were the ones who offered to help us in battle. How could I not satisfy your desire?"

Westheid spoke meaningfully. Even though the paperwork had been in order and the process was legitimate, the nobles of the Pioneer Territory still resented the Qinghui Territory’s takeover.

In truth, he could understand their resentment at having their lands seized. That was why he hadn’t suppressed them by force, but had instead granted their petition and brought them along.

The result was just as he had expected. Before they came, the nobles of the Pioneer Territory had been full of themselves, thinking they could use this opportunity to prove their ability to protect their own lands. Perhaps then, they could even wrest control of the Pioneer Territory back from Duke Qinghui.

But they never imagined that the Little Holy Tree they yearned for day and night had been twisted into a corrupted abomination. The blow instantly shattered their confidence. Not even a true Chaos Tide could have been this terrifying.

"W-we..."

Westheid shot the stammering nobles from the Pioneer Territory a cold glance, then continued: 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"This is our new reality. In an age where the Celestial Gods have departed, we can only rely on ourselves. The Holy Trees that once protected the Imperial will all become breeding grounds for Chaos Undivided. They are tumors festering upon the land, endlessly producing filth. They must be eradicated."

"Wake up. In this new age, those who do not fight will not survive."

"If you lack the courage to advance, then fall back and await my protection."

Having put the defiant Imperial Citizens in their place, Westheid now prepared to display his might and command their submission.

Duke Qinghui turned and stood upon the precipice. He took a deep breath, and his voice boomed:

"Purity People! Qinghui Legion!"

"The enemy we are about to face is a Corrupted Holy Tree—a Great Chaos Enemy on par with a Holy Spirit!"

"Answer me! Do you have the confidence to face it and be victorious?!"