She Really Did Nothing

So she answered, "To ordinary people, the Spirit Tree is just a tree.

But in reality, they possess divine power and sentience—they are gods.

I sincerely communicated with them and asked the Spirit Tree at the heart of the array to redirect its power to the other trees, which made the array lose its effect."

"You mean... you can communicate with the Spirit Tree?" asked Emperor Xavier, surprised.

Grace braced herself and said, "...Yes."

"I don't believe it," Empress Wendy said. "You're right—the First Spirit Tree is definitely more than just a tree. But I've never seen anyone who could actually communicate with it."

The First Spirit Tree grants spiritual power to this world and stands above all living beings.

Even the gods of the Drake, Phoenix, and Kirin clans wouldn't dare, like Grace, to boldly claim they could communicate with the First Spirit Tree.

Grace bit her lip and said, "If Your Majesty the Empress doesn't wish to reward me, then I don't need it! I'll take my leave!"

She turned and walked away.

But just as she turned, a few imposing royal guards blocked her way.

She had no choice but to stop and turned to look at Empress Wendy.

"Chloe Zhu, do you really think I'm that petty?" Empress Wendy raised her brow. "If you truly saved Goldie, I could reward you twice as much.

But I suspect you didn't do anything at all—you're just a fraud!

You might even be involved with the people who kidnapped Goldie!

Honestly, Your Majesty, you guessed the truth! Grace thought to herself.

She really hadn't done anything.

And yes, she actually was connected to the 'kidnappers'...

Just now, all Grace did was hug the Spirit Tree and pray: Spirit Tree, oh Spirit Tree, Beanie doesn't want to drain your power, and honestly, neither do I! Could you maybe transfer your divine power to the other trees for a bit? Once the array breaks, you can get it back!

Then, after a while, she suddenly heard Shannon calling out.

Saying she'd already escaped danger and was safe...

...

"Empress Wendy, what do you suggest then?" Prince Xavier asked.

"Put her into the Spirit Tree Enclosure. If she can walk out, it proves she's telling the truth. If she can't..." Empress Wendy stared at her sharply. "Then she'll go to the interrogation chamber and explain herself properly!"

Damn it!

Grace cleared her throat, put on a kind and sincere smile, and said, "Your Majesty the Empress, I've been personally taught by the Alliance Leader. Why would I kidnap the little prince? What would I even want with him?"

"That's exactly what I want to know!" Empress Wendy replied. "Guards, take her to the Spirit Tree Array."

Two guards came over, one on each side, and locked her arms behind her back.

Grace looked to Byron for help.

Byron gave her a reassuring look and said with a smile, "Grace, this magical ability of yours—I want to see it for myself. Go on, prove it to us!"

Screw you!

Grace withdrew her gaze and silently returned to the Spirit Tree planting area.

There were so many divine trees here, and quite a few arrays were set up among them.

Grace was brought into a small enclosure.

It was a square area surrounded by four Spirit Trees. The barrier inside was exactly like the one that trapped her in the Blue Moon Kingdom: you could enter, but not leave.

Grace had no choice but to go into her space and call for Shannon again.

But this time, to her horror, she realized her communication talisman seemed broken?

Or maybe it wasn't broken, but being inside the Spirit Tree Enclosure made it useless...

Grace looked at Beanie with a face full of grievance.

"Beanie, you see my situation, right? What do you think we should do?"