Chapter 250: Assemble Walkers, Strike the Boss

Chapter 250: Assembling the Walkers, Strategizing the Boss

Hearing the mission prompt tone, Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden sense of clarity.

The five-hour time limit was meant to urge the Spirit Realm Walkers to quickly decipher the outer layer's plot and achieve entry into the middle region.

Exceed five hours, and the outer layer dungeon boss would launch a slaughter against the Spirit Realm Walkers.

"I, I..." Asano Ryo's small face was deathly pale:

"I killed a tree demon. Will I be hunted down by the Tree King?"

The Peony Fairy, however, breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness I haven't killed any tree demons... Don't worry too much. You only killed one tree demon. Even if the Tree King seeks revenge, it would never be your turn."

As her words fell, the three of them suddenly heard a sharp whistle, like the sonic boom of a missile launch, piercing and shrill.

"Watch out!"

The Peony Fairy seemed to sense it, crying out a warning urgently. At the same time, she swung both arms.

The lush branches and leaves above the trio's heads rustled and shook, growing wildly. Branches intertwined, forming a barrier of verdant green.

But in the next instant, this barrier was whipped into smithereens, broken branches and shattered leaves flying in all directions.

A thick, blurry afterimage broke through the barrier, lashing viciously at Asano Ryo.

The Peony Fairy's barrier had bought the girl a precious moment. She lunged sideways, rolling continuously.

*Bang!*

Where she had just stood, a deep trench now appeared.

Zhang Yuanqing fixed his gaze. The thing driven into the ground was a vine thick as a water jar, covered in clusters of green leaves. Its tip was sharp as a thorn, its root stretching endlessly toward the sky, vanishing from sight.

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes traced the vine upward, all the way until the thick canopy blocked his view.

A towering great tree, a towering great tree of unimaginable height... He withdrew his gaze, making a judgment.

The vine was like a tentacle, a giant snake, writhing and twisting, raising its sharp tip to lash at Asano Ryo once more.

The island nation's girl had yet to rise. She pushed off the ground with both hands, lunging out again, throwing herself behind a large tree. A "crack" sounded by her ear, along with a fierce wind that blew her hair into disarray.

That tree, half a meter in diameter, had been snapped in two by the vine's raw force.

"The Tree King's combat power is that of a standard Saint. Every lash of its vines is equivalent to a Level 4 Saint's attack. For Level 3 Walkers, it is simply a nightmare..."

"The Wood Demon profession possesses powerful regenerative capabilities. And with vines this thick, blades are of little use. Fire attacks are needed..."

Just as Zhang Yuanqing was contemplating whether to summon the Yin-Yang Robe to aid Asano Ryo, an even worse scene unfolded.

Around the three of them, sleeping tree demons awoke one by one. Ugly human faces protruded from the trunks. Summoned by the Tree King, they joined the league of avengers.

"Eat you, eat you~"

Countless murmurs intertwined.

One hard root after another burst through the soft, rotting soil. One vine after another hanging from the branches twisted like tentacles.

"They've gone completely mad!" The Peony Fairy's pretty face was grave.

As a wood spirit, plants appeared to her no different from humans—she could commune with them without hindrance, feel their emotions—but now, that ability was gone.

These tree spirits were not her kind, any more than humans and zombies are kin; there could be no communication between them.

When zombies see humans, they only howl and lunge.

The tree spirits before her were precisely that.

There was no other way; he would have to burn the mountain down... Zhang Yuanqing was just preparing to summon his Yin-Yang Robe for a grand spectacle when, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Asano Ryo several zhang away, standing calmly amidst the encirclement of tree spirits.

Her right hand, gripping the hilt, slowly traced an upward semicircle, hoisting the Ice Soul Saber high above her head.

“Frost, descend!”

As she softly intoned the incantation, the blade, etched with ice-crystal patterns, crackled as a layer of ice crust formed upon it, radiating a chill visible to the naked eye.

Simultaneously, Asano Ryo’s skin took on a dreamlike, glacial blue; the long hair cascading down her back lifted without wind, each strand separating, interwoven with ice crystals that shimmered like starlight.

Her pure, innocent face was a mask of utter coldness, resembling the legendary Snow Woman—proud, beautiful, and utterly frigid.

With a flip of her wrist, Asano Ryo drove the upraised Ice Soul Saber down before her.

The tip pierced the earth, and frigid air surged outward in all directions, freezing everything in its path—ground, trunks, canopy—all encased in a sheath of ice.

In a heartbeat, the stifling tropical rainforest became a realm of absolute zero; a single breath of this air would sear an ordinary person’s lungs forever.

Zhang Yuanqing and the Peony Fairy scrambled back, dodging the ice crust creeping toward their feet.

They locked eyes, each seeing astonishment mirrored in the other’s gaze—never had they imagined the island girl who had endured their bullying all this way could unleash such terrifying power.

That massive vine descending from the Tree King plummeted from the heavens, but before it could reach Asano Ryo, it was sheathed in layer upon layer of thick, hard ice.

“Crack!”

The vine’s frozen tip snapped clean off, crashing and shattering against the equally ice-encrusted ground.

“Whoosh—”

The massive vine from the sky seemed to recoil in agony, snapping back violently, retreating into the heavens.

“Hah... hah hah...”

Asano Ryo slumped to the ground, gasping as though utterly drained.

Zhang Yuanqing fixed her with a deep look, then averted his gaze, commanding the Yin Corpse Blood Rose to guard his body. He cast Spirit Roam; his spirit slipped free, drifting upward, piercing the dense canopy layer.

His vision instantly broadened.

He beheld a blood-red setting sun, a magnificent tapestry of gold and crimson twilight—and a colossal tree.

Its height defied estimation, a legendary World Tree linking the celestial court; its canopy resembled cloud banks, its branches stretching dozens of li to either side.

Beside it, this entire tropical rainforest seemed mere saplings and weeds at the foot of a giant.

At this moment, from that cloud-like canopy, countless vines descended—supple as tentacles—lashing out across the primeval forest to punish the ants daring to slaughter its kin.

The canopy beside Zhang Yuanqing trembled; he turned to see the Peony Fairy ascending with nimble grace, more adept at climbing than any monkey.

She broke through the canopy, treading unsteadily on slender branches yet always maintaining a miraculous equilibrium.

The Peony Fairy lifted her gaze to the heavens, struck as if by lightning:

"Heavens above~"

This wood-demon matron's voluptuous form trembled faintly, as though confronting a natural predator.

She dared not look again, her face draining to a deathly pallor as she plummeted back to earth.

Witnessing this, Zhang Yuanqing swooped down, returning to his physical shell.

"Too terrifying... that tree is absolutely Saint-tier, utterly invincible!" The Peony Fairy's face went white.

Zhang Yuanqing appeared beside Asano Ryo, his voice low:

"That move of yours just now—how many times can you use it?"

Asano Ryo knelt upon the ice shell, her face pale, the light in her eyes dimmed with exhaustion:

"Three times a day, with a two-hour interval between uses. The cost—thirty minutes of weakness afterward, joints stiffening."

Having said this, she added with a look of dawning horror:

"There's a countdown on my panel—ten minutes. That's when the tree demon will attack me again. I... I definitely won't survive the next assault."

She possesses such a powerful trump card... meaning her previous siege by three evil-class professionals, her desperate plight against the tree demon—all that pitiful desperation was feigned?

Acting so convincingly... women truly are born actresses. Then again, an island nation woman daring to enter a slaughter dungeon—she'd certainly have an ace or two up her sleeve...

Without me, Asano Ryo would have used "Frost Descent" to resolve the crisis. But with me present, she began playing the damsel, begging for mercy, saving her trump card unless absolutely necessary.

Later, upon discovering I was a good person, she doubled down on "enduring humiliation," playing guide dog, biding her time.

Zhang Yuanqing realized: this righteous companion wasn't so righteous after all.

Precisely speaking, not so naive and sweet—she had her own small schemes.

The Peony Fairy offered comfort:

"King Tai and I will do our best to help you."

Among lawful classes, good people still constituted the majority.

She had barely finished comforting the island girl when King Tai fixed her with a cold stare:

"Have you ever killed a monkey?"

The Peony Fairy froze, then comprehension dawned, her face stiffening. "I killed one... they kept chasing me, cornered me... you mean... you're saying..."

Zhang Yuanqing's voice deepened:

"Since the Tree King avenges its kin, why wouldn't the Monkey King? As one of the outer zone bosses, don't you find the Monkey King suspiciously docile? Thus far, only the monkey troops have hunted Spirit Realm Walkers—why hasn't it acted? Reference the Tree King and you'll understand."

After the Tree King comes the Monkey King's vengeance... The Peony Fairy frowned:

"We must reach the forest's central region before the Monkey King retaliates."

The Tree King is this terrifying—the Monkey King won't be far behind. Even if inferior, don't forget the outer zone teems with countless monkey troops.

Her eyes shifted, as if a thought struck her, and she whispered:

“We still have time. The Tree King won’t target the two of us, but the others? Not so certain. Perhaps… this is a prime opportunity to purge the Evil classes.”

Zhang Yuanqing felt no joy whatsoever. He let out a long breath:

“While purging the Evil classes, it will also purge the Lawful ones. Especially those at the top of the rankings—they are undoubtedly the Tree King’s targets for retaliation. Before the Monkey King’s vengeance arrives, we need to figure out a way into the forest’s heart.

“The longer we delay, the more die.”

As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing opened the leaderboard and found the number of survivors had plummeted to 103. In mere minutes, seventeen Spirit Realm Walkers had perished.

Anyone who had gained points by killing tree demons was in danger.

Including acquaintances like Jiang Jingwei and Yuan Ting.

Guan Ya’s points had risen as well. Zhang Yuanqing couldn’t be sure if she’d earned them killing tree demons, monkeys, or Evil classes. But he dared not gamble.

…

Vines descending from the heavens lashed out at every sector of the primordial forest. Spirit Realm Walkers were in every sector; injuries and deaths mounted ceaselessly.

Guan Zhongkuibao, in his Earth Monster form, sprinted through the dense woods. His posture lacked grace; every step drove deep prints into the earth.

Like a wild bull rampaging through the forest.

Not long ago, he had been spectating the duel between Zhao Chenghuang and Wei Wo Du Zun, looking for a chance to snipe.

Before a victor emerged, the Tree King’s retribution descended.

The three factions were thrown into instant chaos, all suffering grievous wounds beneath the Tree King’s whipping vines.

The three parties conferred and concluded that rather than being picked off one by one to die in the Spirit Realm, they should rally everyone and jointly topple the boss.

Guan Zhongkuibao, with his inexhaustible stamina, was honored with the task of rallying the Walkers.

*Crack!*

A vine plummeted from the sky, striking Guan Zhongkuibao squarely.

He grunted, flung back over a dozen meters. He hit the ground and sprang up instantly, continuing his mad dash.

A whip that could one-shot a Scout had caused only minor internal injuries—churning qi and blood—and pain.

Minutes later, following the sounds of combat, Guan Zhongkuibao arrived at the nearest “battlefield.” The scene was gruesome; five or six mangled corpses lay on the soft, rotting earth.

Entrails spilled across the ground.

All crushed to pulp by the vines.

Yi Yi, Bai Wu Jin Ji… Guan Zhongkuibao halted abruptly, staring at the figures in the clearing, wariness etching his face.

The group noticed him too. The youth leading them gazed back with a blank expression, eyes hollow as a doll’s.

The young man in oversized shorts and flip-flops, however, looked him over with a scrutinizing gaze and said:

“That simpleton face looks familiar… Oh, you’re Guan Zhongkuibao. That loose cultivator ranked sixth on the list.”

*You’re the simpleton…* Guan Zhongkuibao said in a low voice:

“I represent Zhao Chenghuang and Wei Wo Du Zun in summoning Spirit Realm Walkers to jointly resist the Tree King. Everyone, set aside factional conflict for now and fight the boss together. This is our only way out.”

Bai Wu Jin Ji pondered for a few seconds, "Indeed, there is no reason to refuse."

Guan Zhong Kui Bao felt a slight relief in his heart, joy appearing on his face, and immediately said:

"Then let us rendezvous beneath the tree; I shall continue gathering manpower."

With that, he departed at once.

……

"You few, head immediately toward the Tree King's direction; Zhao Chenghuang and A Yi are summoning all Spirit Realm Walkers to take down the boss."

"Who are you? Why should we believe you?"

"You have no choice; rather than being beaten to death here by the Tree King, why not go all out with everyone? Anyway, even if you don't go, you'll be attacked by the Tree King all the same."

"Is it really... summoned by Zhao Chenghuang and A Yi?"

……

"You are Human Nature Is Evil, the illusionist ranked fourth on the Five Elements Alliance bounty list? A Yi and Zhao Chenghuang have summoned everyone to take down the boss; please dispel your illusion and set aside factional opposition."

……

"All Under Heaven Are White and Reason Lies In The Blade, right? A Yi, Zhao Chenghuang, and Human Nature Is Evil have already gone to hunt the Tree King; let me summon you lot."

……

"Dual-wielder... you are Nine Leaky Fish? Perfect, please head straight beneath the Tree King; I have already summoned everyone to jointly hunt the boss."

……

"Are you few from the Five Elements Alliance? Perfect, Zhao Chenghuang had me summon you to rendezvous beneath the Tree King and take down the boss together."

"Have you seen Yuan Shi Tian Zun?" a red-haired little girl asked.

"No, that guy is as good as dead; if not for still seeing him on the leaderboard, I'd have suspected he was dead... Hey, you little girl, why so quick to violence? So young, yet so irritable."

……

"You two, head immediately to rendezvous beneath the Tree King; on behalf of Zhao Chenghuang and A Yi, I summon everyone to clear the boss."

"Not interested!"

"What is your name?"

"World Returns To Fire; by the way, have you seen Yuan Shi Tian Zun?"

"Dead!"

……

Thus, through Guan Zhong Kui Bao's sustained efforts, independent cultivators, the official faction, the evil faction, and a minority of foreign Spirit Realm Walkers were all summoned one after another.

They rushed toward the Tree King's location in a steady stream, preparing to gather their strength and take down the boss.

Aside from the fact that Zhao Chenghuang and A Yi's banner truly held sway, the Spirit Realm Walkers responded so readily mainly because they had no other choice.

The Tree King's attacks were incessant; though repelling one wave bought a brief respite, it treated only the symptoms, not the root cause.

Furthermore, toppling the boss inevitably yields a bountiful reward of points; since an operation has been organized, with peak Transcendent experts like Zhao Chenghuang and Ah Yi taking part, there is truly no reason to refuse.

……

Yinchi had encountered Tianxia Guihuo early on. At his suggestion, they had not hunted the tree demons for points, and had strictly adhered to the precautions; consequently, they had not incurred the Tree King's wrath.

"Why did you refuse that guy's invitation? Toppling the boss should net a considerable sum of points," Yinchi asked, bewildered.

"That is a heretical path!" Tianxia Guihuo snorted.

"Topple the Tree King, and next comes the Monkey King. Following that method, by the time the outer dangers are cleared, at least half of us will be dead. And the reality is, we haven't even figured out the instance dungeon's plot yet."

Yinchi frowned.

Tianxia Guihuo continued:

"The correct approach is to deduce a method for entering the forest's central region. Judging by the difficulty the instance has displayed, I believe whoever first enters the central forest will receive a massive point reward."

Realization dawned on Yinchi.

"Have you come up with something?"

Tianxia Guihuo shook his head.

"The 'precautions' we've collected are limited; at most, we can infer a contradiction between the signposts. However, that guy Yuanshi Tianzun is a Night Wanderer—he can kill and interrogate souls. Barring accidents, he is doing exactly that right now."

As he spoke, Tianxia Guihuo's tone grew somewhat depressed.

He had already groped his way to the correct strategy for the instance, but was hindered by insufficient ability—he lacked the Devour Spirit skill—and thus could not execute it.

……

Amidst the gullies and pits pockmarking the arena, Zhang Yuanqing stood before several corpses, the pitch-black in his eye sockets gradually receding.

Through the spirit interrogation just now, he had obtained a brand-new precaution:

【Monkeys are the guardians of the forest; they live in jungles teeming with wild fruit. Please do not startle them.】

It seems I know how to enter the second stage... Zhang Yuanqing combined this with previous intelligence, and a conjecture formed in his mind.

……

At this very moment, the Spirit Realm Walkers of the two great factions, enduring the onslaught of vines, arduously arrived at the Tree King's domain.