Ice was slowly melting everywhere. Another long winter had passed, and the city of Oaktree was gradually coming back to life, its streets bustling with activity once again. In the heart of the city the magnificent Evergreen, started spreading its divine sense, encompassing almost ten thousand kilometers around it.

  It surveyed the area looking for any hint of disruption, any sign that might suggest danger. Evergreen’s mind was filled with images of endless forests, rivers and mountains. It scanned everything looking to the most subtle details. His senses were met only by the quiet movements of nature, and the usual human activity.

  It had been 30 years since Evergreen had its breakthrough to become a Core Formation cultivator. It was now towering over the surrounding city with a height of more than 300 meters. Its branches now provided shade to only a few exquisite buildings while he rest of the city expanded farther with new developments emerging every day.

  Among the buildings still under its branches was the residence of Dedalus, one of the most important figures in Oaktree. It was thanks to his actions that the current city managed to overcome its very modest beginnings. Over the years Dedalus had grown a large family establishing them as the core political and military power within the city. Evergreen was of course one of his main levers that helped with the vast development of the city. The majestic tree was a never sleeping vigilant observer, able to perceive anything within the city boundaries and further. It no longer needed ears to listen either, instead it had mastered many new ways of using its divine sense including using it to interpret sounds.

  “The merchant caravan at gate seven is clear of any threats“, Evergreen transmitted to the security office, its warnings and reports now an integral part of the city’s administration. This kind of communication had gradually become routine over the past few decades.

  “There is a possible fire starting in the east district, building 131,” it continued, with relentless vigilance. The humans scrambled to prevent the fire. trusting Evergreen alerts.

  Evergreen enjoyed its role as an ever knowing sentry. Many years ago, when the city was still a small village, Dedalus had laughed when the tree suggested that it could help with administration. He accepted the tree’s suggestion nevertheless and thus Evergreen became the manager, being the most suitable for this activity thanks to its vast awareness. Humans could also spread their awareness, but they would get tired eventually, being unable to maintain their divine sense active more than a few hours at a time, unlike Evergreen who could always keep its divine sense spread.

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  The one thing Dedalus asked of the majestic tree was not to meddle with the political and internal conflicts of the citizens.

  “A bit of internal strife is healthy for development“ he said. Though the tree was capable of far more than it let on, it decided to heed Dedalus request and decided to show restraint. Evergreen held back and let the humans manage their own conflicts. It still reported the crimes, accidents and a variety of other events to Dedalus, but it never had an input in resolving them, rather focusing on outside threats. Political balance was a delicate thing, and Evergreen feared upsetting it. Indeed there was truth to Dedalus words. It appeared that it was to the city best interest to let the internal strifes play through. Despite the fierce and bitter struggles within the city, these very conflicts drove its expansion and progress. Humans really did show their potential in competitive environments, Evergreen mused. The most intense rivalries emerged among Dedalus's descendants, each competing for power and striving to demonstrate their suitability to lead the ever-growing Oaktree.

  Evergreen had a strange feeling on this particular day. It was like the air was filled with tension and a sense of dread, as though the world was holding its breath. Scanning the surroundings carefully did not ease this feeling even though it found nothing wrong. Everything was calm, until the first shockwave hit. It was an unstoppable wall of air mixed with wild qi remnants. The tree trembled and undulated under the pressure and some of the shabbier houses crumbled instantly, while other buildings creaked dangerously. The citizens were caught totally unprepared, many killed or wounded by the unexpected fury unleashed upon them. Frantically, Evergreen expanded its senses outward, trying to find the source of this calamity.

  “Evergreen, what is happening?” demanded the cultivators, their minds filled with panic.

  “It is coming from the east, but it is outside of my perception,” Evergreen transmitted, a sense of

  powerlessness gripping its thoughts.

  “So far, and yet we felt it so strongly?”

  A moment later, a second shockwave struck the city, even more brutal and powerful than the first.More buildings were flattened, crumbling into dust and debris. Many died and more were wounded unable to react in time to the chaos enveloping the city.

  “We need to evacuate!” screamed Dedalus, his voice cutting through the anarchy like a blade. “Pick as many as you can and run west!”

  Evergreen forced its divine sense as far as it could, straining against the its own limits, desperate to understand the source of the calamity. Finally, it caught a glimpse of a human figure, floating high in the air. It was a cultivator with an unfathomable aura, much stronger than Evergreen had ever sensed before. Must be one of those gods Dedalus told stories about, Evergreen thought to itself. A sudden surge of qi burst from the man's hands, in the shape of a concentrated fireball, that seemed to bend the very essence of reality as it soared away into the horizon. Moments after, another shockwave enveloped Evergreen and the surrounding city. The tree could feel its branches and roots creaking under the strain and pressure, and many of its leaves went loose, ripped violently from their stems by the tempest.

  “Strong cultivators are fighting in the distance!” it sent to every cultivator nearby. “Run!”