“So that’s the world tree huh? Thought It would be bigger...”

Zhang Dong commented while looking at a giant tree that reached up into the clouds. It was majestic and green but from someone used to things being large, this wasn’t that spectacular. Back in his own world, he had gone to forests with similar-sized trees already.

“What do you mean, it’s huge!”

Next to him, an astonished Sakura bounced around while looking at the large tree in the distance. All of them were on a large flying ship flying towards this very tree.

“If you say so…”

The only thing Zhang Dong could think about was the tree’s name Yggdrasil and how it was the same as the tree hugger sect that he bumped heads with. The naming sense from this world and his own was strangely similar. Even this tree’s name was a very popular name in fiction and games that was mostly used as the point of origin of elves.

Here as well, this tree was a focal point of their civilization. There was a legend that the first elves were birthed from this very tree. Only afterward would they proliferate throughout the lands the usual way. Even then the birth rates were quite low, many times below the human race. What they lacked in numbers they made up in magical power.

“The mana density around this forest is very high…”

Beatrice commented while also gawking at the large tree.

“So you’ve noticed, practicing your breathing technique here would boost your development. I’d say double it, at least?”

He replied while Beatrice’s eyes started sparkling. This girl had reached the mana capacity of an early-stage foundation establishment person. Isabella had also caught up and with this, it was a lot easier to keep up with the soul binding for the two of them.

Regretfully even with the power boost, he was still unable to tap into his full nascent soul power level. He was inching towards it slowly but it still remained in the half-step region. This mostly made him worry about his upcoming fight with the demon king. Would the monster be above him in terms of strength?

The only thing he could compare it to were the demon lords. They were at about the great circle of core formation, which made them easy targets for his half-step prowess. Through this he expected the demon king to be about at his level. The heroes he pushed through the dungeon weren’t all that strong either. He tried to base the maximum strength on the strongest person in this world that he met, which was the human king.

He didn’t think that whoever set up this world would let the heroes lose. So the demon king should not be that much off from this king that would never act on his own.

‘Though it could be one of this power of love or friendship endings where their power multiplies many times over…’

This was one of the options that he didn’t want to be true. If this was the ending it was going for here the demon king could even be at the very top of the nascent soul level. The heroes would have to have some kind of breakthrough during the fight or would get some aid from their system that would perhaps give them a temporary boost in power.

If something like this happened he would be in a lot of trouble. The demon king would make quick work of him and maybe even Beatrice and Isabella. This could actually push Takeshi and the three girls to get their breakthrough of power.

He was going off script though, so anything could happen at this point. Zhang Dong knew it was risky but he didn’t want to wait half a year to train the heroes and his two summoners. There were other ways for him to get power, for that he only needed the cooperation of the races and access to their people.

‘I’d have to construct some formations on these ships… I hope the elves give us some of theirs and also give me access to their library…’

They were finally here, the grand elven city. At least right in front of it. There was a large glowing barrier blocking their way forward. This one was much larger than the academy shield he pushed the demon lord against.

This made it clear that the elves' magical knowledge was above the humans. He could tell that this shield was of better quality even after one glance. It would be really hard for any demon to cross to the other side.

He could feel holy energy radiating off this shield. Any demon that came in contact with it would be incinerated by the holy fire it was made off. It was similar to his dao but felt a bit diminished due to the fire part.

Zhang Dong’s holy cultivation had been progressing at a steady pace after he came here. This was all thanks to him being able to focus on his soul which was related to this Dao. He expected a boost to his cultivation when he returned home. This soul expansion would cause his nascent soul power to be enhanced further even without reaching the next realm.

“We greet the heroes from the human kingdom and their followers.”

After being stopped for a while a group of beautiful golden-haired elves arrived. Their skin color was akin to the jade beauties from his own world. If Zhang Jin was here he would probably be going crazy at this sight before him. He on the other hand preferred the darker skin tone that a dark elf would have so this didn’t really get his heart pumping.

Just like before the Heroes were more important than he was. Most people didn’t realize that he was the main powerhouse of this journey quite yet. He didn’t want to argue with anyone about such a thing so he just left the talking to Takeshi and his party members while he waited in the background.

“Are you feeling well?”

He looked to Beatrice that was glancing at a particular green-haired youth. It was Prince Ludwig that switched from Beatrice to Sakura, the youngest member of the party. He was quite a handsome young lad and had a silver tongue. The young girl was unable to resist his approach.

He wasn’t the only royal family member here. Zhang Dong hoped to ditch them during this journey but they came as a package deal with the ships they were getting. He couldn’t go to the king and complain without the soul resonance up so he had to let it slide.

“I’m fine…”

It was easy to tell that the girl was still a bit mad at the whole predicament. From Zhang Dong’s perspective, this was actually a good thing. Beatrice was hit by reality, people weren’t always what they seemed to be. He hoped that she would learn from this event and grow. It was actually good that this happened now and not after she was too attached to that casanova.

“I'm ashamed that I ever considered someone like that as my fiance! Truly reprehensible!.”

Isabella was to the side as well, she looked quite annoyed. It was clear that she wanted to go over there and tell the moss head a few chosen words. She had to restrain herself though, he was still a prince. The girls here were unable to word their disdain due to the barrier in noble ranks.

“Just learn from this experience, I’m sure you’ll find yourself a fitting partner in time.”

“How about you marry Mr. Leigong Isabella.”

Beatrice poked the grumpy Isabella from the side after hearing the conversation.

“W-what? Marry him?”

Zhang Dong just smiled down at the two girls. Isabella went bright red in the face which only made him want to tease her more.

“Regretfully I’m already spoken for, but I’m flattered nonetheless.”

“Oh, you have a wife?”

Beatrice asked as he had somehow managed to evade this topic through his stay here. No one had asked him to marry him though, being a spirit and all.

“Ah yes and two kids!”

“Spirits can have children?”

Beatrice and Isabella looked at each other but soon they recalled that Leigong here wasn’t your average spirit. He was a special never before seen one with a somewhat strange unknown background.

“Well, here take a look.”

He wasn’t against talking about his own family. The girls were already close to him so he didn’t mind sharing some of his secrets. Though at this point in time they still knew him as a strange spirit and he didn’t mention him being from another world.

While the two girls moved closer he held out his hand and a little 3D hologram of Zhang Liena appeared. She was dressed up in an exquisite robe that she wore during their wedding.

“Oh… she is beautiful… but…”

The two girls' eyes wandered on the presented hologram and the shape of the woman’s body. Soon they both focused on the chest area that was quite prominent.

“Big…”

“Yes big…”

Both of them moved their hands to their own chests while looking at the hologram of Zhang Dong’s wife. He could tell that they were feeling defeated which only caused him to chuckle, his laughing didn’t go unnoticed.

“Does size really matter?”

“Yeah…”

He wanted nothing more than to rub it in but he also didn’t want these two girls to get some strange chest size complex. Due to this, he moved to the next hologram which was of his little cinnamon roll.

“Oh, who is this cute little girl?”

“She looks a bit similar…”

“I see that you have noticed, this is my oldest daughter, isn’t she cute?”

The girl’s eyes started sparkling as they saw the child moving around in the palm of Zhang Dong’s hand. While they were cheering he on the other hand started to get less excited. The sight of his daughter only caused the worrisome thoughts to enter his mind again.

The hologram then changed again to his wife holding a newborn in her hands while the older daughter was to the side full of smiles. He started staring at his family without saying a word only a louder call out from Beatrice managed to snap him out of it.

“Mr. Leigong, are you okay?”

“Ah...sorry about that…”

He moved his hand away while removing the hologram of his family. The two girls that he tried to cheer up were now looking at him with concern in their eyes.

“Well, it looks like Takeshi and the others are done with the elves, we will be moving into the elven city you two should get ready.”

Beatrice and Isabella looked at Zhang Dong who was clearly trying to shift the conversations. Before they could actually ask if he was really fine the flying shift jolted forward. They had to give up on their cross-examination as they would also be required to enter the elven city. There they were supposed to get the aid of the elves against the demonic beings.