None of the four priests would have thought the high priest was talking nonsense.
Because they had all witnessed the beam of light and the disappearance of Mount Basir with their own eyes.
The lord who wielded this terrifying power clearly did not intend to destroy the wood people tribe.
Of course, he also did not intend to let them go. Instead, he used this terrifying power to awe them into submission.
Although they were reluctant to be attached to a territorial force, under such power, they could not resist and had no other choice.
As priests of the wood people tribe, they had always been prepared to sacrifice themselves for the tribe.
But what about the tribesmen?
As a highly intelligent race, they could choose to sacrifice their lives to preserve the dignity of the wood people.
However, they could not risk the entire tribe for their so-called dignity.
"The final decision should be left to Mother!"
The middle-aged male priest pondered for a moment, then sighed helplessly and said.
Immediately, the gazes of all five priests turned towards the ancient tree, which was nearly a hundred meters tall.
The Natural Ancient Tree was the mother of all wood people and had protected the wood people tribe for nearly a thousand years.
The fate of the wood people tribe should be decided by the Natural Ancient Tree.
"Mother! We have encountered a dilemma, and we need you to make the final decision!"
Mu Chunrou walked to the Natural Ancient Tree, lowered her head, and said respectfully.
"Buzz~"
With a slight buzzing sound, the Natural Ancient Tree emitted a soft green light.
The next moment, a figure resembling a young girl of sixteen walked out of the trunk.
The girl had a graceful figure, wore a jade-green gauze skirt, and looked ethereal and elegant.
Upon seeing the girl appear, the five priests simultaneously prostrated themselves.
"Greetings, Mother!"
Five men and women, who looked at least thirty years old, knelt before a girl of sixteen and called her Mother.
The scene was truly peculiar.
However, it was also quite normal.
After all, the Natural Ancient Tree had a very long lifespan, and it was normal for it to live for tens of thousands of years without any issues.
Therefore, a Natural Ancient Tree that had not even lived for a thousand years was still very young.
"All of you, rise!"
The girl's bare, fair feet were ten centimeters off the ground. With each step, a green ripple spread as she slowly walked to the front of the five priests.
Although her voice sounded ethereal and distant, her tone was seasoned with age and contained a hint of authority.
"I have heard what you said. I did not intend to appear and let you decide for yourselves. After all, although I have nurtured you, the fate of the wood people still lies in your own hands."
"I cannot decide your fate, because each of you wood people is a free individual, and no one can force their will upon you."
After the five wood people priests slowly stood up, Mu Chunrou replied respectfully,
"But, Mother, this is a very difficult choice for us!"
"The territorial force is the enemy of all forces on the Primordial Continent. If we truly choose to surrender and submit, aren't we betraying the entire world, and even more so, betraying His Majesty the Wood Emperor!"
The girl, who had transformed from the Natural Ancient Tree, slowly shook her head after hearing Mu Chunrou's words, a gentle and loving smile appearing on her delicate face.
"I don't think so!"
"Firstly, His Majesty the Wood Emperor has always been benevolent, and he will not punish us for this matter."
"Secondly, no one can clearly discern the war between the territorial forces and the indigenous forces of the continent. At least, no one can see what the future will hold."
The girl paused slightly, then turned to look at the sky above the Immortal and Demon Tribe, as if sensing the surveillance from that magnificent city.
"I only hope that this lord will not become an enemy of the wood people in the future! Only then will we not fight each other!"
"Of course, he must also make a promise that we will absolutely not fight the wood people! And he cannot harm the wood people!"
"Yes, we understand!"
The five wood people priests responded in unison.
Then, the other four priests, with heavy hearts, left the courtyard.
They returned to organize the tribal meeting of the wood people, with all members, men and women, old and young, participating.
The entire meeting was filled with heated arguments, which gradually subsided after a long time.
However, the dim light in the eyes of the wood people as they left the venue indicated that they had ultimately chosen to surrender.
The atmosphere throughout the wood people tribe was somber, simply because they were about to submit to a territorial force.
...
In the high priest's courtyard.
Mu Chunrou stood respectfully before the girl. After pondering for a moment, she finally asked the question that was on her mind.
"Mother, do you have high hopes for that territorial force? Given your usual temperament, you would have surely led our entire tribe to resist fiercely!"
The girl was slightly taken aback, then pursed her lips and smiled, playfully rolling her eyes at Mu Chunrou.
However, her expression then became somewhat distant.
Her gaze slowly shifted towards the central area, and she asked meaningfully,
"Chunrou, do you know how tall the Empire's Natural Ancestral Tree is?"
Mu Chunrou was slightly stunned and shook her head in confusion.
She knew that Mother was originally a branch from the main trunk of the Empire's Natural Ancestral Tree.
After nearly a thousand years, Mother had grown to a hundred meters tall. The Empire's Natural Ancestral Tree had been growing for tens of thousands of years; how tall would it be?
She could not imagine.
"The Natural Ancestral Tree is tens of thousands of meters tall, and its canopy alone covers thousands of kilometers. She is one of the most powerful deities on this continent. When demons from another world invaded, countless were slain by the Natural Ancestral Tree."
The girl spoke with a look of longing and admiration on her face.
After hearing the girl's words, Mu Chunrou gasped, her heart filled with immense shock.
She had clearly never heard the legends about the Natural Ancestral Tree before.
"Mother, is your goal to become a great being like the Natural Ancestral Tree?"
"Yes!"
The girl nodded gently and stated directly.
"Mother, do you want to use the power of that territorial force to become the Natural Ancestral Tree?"
The girl nodded again, and at the same time said to Mu Chunrou,
"This is only one reason! The main reason is that I don't want to see my children slaughtered, and you are my first child. You should lead the wood people tribe on the correct path!"
"I understand!"
Mu Chunrou replied respectfully.
As soon as she finished speaking, the other priests entered, reporting the results of the tribal meeting to the girl and Mu Chunrou.
At the same time.
In the Immortal and Demon Tribe, a system notification appeared before Xiao Mo's eyes.
[Congratulations, a Natural Ancient Tree and the entire indigenous wood people tribe have pledged allegiance to you and will be incorporated under your Immortal and Demon Tribe. Do you wish to accept immediately?]
[Yes] [No]
Seeing this message, a foxy smile appeared on Xiao Mo's face.
The mature and beautiful high priest of the wood people had not disappointed him.
Not only had the entire wood people tribe submitted, but the Natural Ancient Tree had also surrendered.
This was a very beautiful beginning for conquering indigenous forces...