Upon hearing the task prompt sound, Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden sense of clarity. The five-hour time limit was designed to urge the spiritual realm travelers to swiftly decrypt the outer storyline and reach the inner zone. If the time exceeded five hours, the outer副本 boss would launch a killing assault. "I... I..." Shallow Reo's face turned pale. "I've slain one tree spirit—will the Tree King come after me?" The Peony Immortal exhaled in relief. "Good thing I haven't killed a tree spirit. Don't worry—slaying just one tree spirit won't draw the Tree King's wrath. It won't even reach you." As she finished speaking, a sharp, piercing啸 sound erupted—like the sonic wave generated when missiles are launched—sharp and mournful. "Stay alert!" The Peony Immortal seemed to sense it immediately, urgently issuing the warning while raising both arms. The dense foliage above their heads trembled violently, swaying and rapidly growing, branches interweaving to form a lush, verdant shield. Yet in the next instant, this shield was violently torn apart, branches and leaves scattering in all directions. A thick, lingering silhouette broke through the barrier and struck Haruna Shina with force. The peony maiden's shield had bought the girl precious time, allowing her to surge sideways and roll continuously. Thud! Where she had stood, a deep furrow now ran through the ground. Zhang Yuanqing gazed closely and saw that what had split the earth was a thick vine, as wide as a water cistern, densely covered with clusters of green leaves. Its tip was sharp and pointed like a spear, while its base spread upward into the sky, seemingly without end. Zhang Yuanqing's eyes followed the vine upward, until they were obscured by the dense canopy. A towering tree—so tall it defied imagination—rose before him. He turned his gaze and made his assessment. The vine now resembled a tentacle, a great serpent, sinuously coiling and undulating, lifting its tip once more to strike Haruna Shina. The island girl had not yet risen; she braced her hands against the ground and launched herself again, tumbling toward the back of a large tree, where a series of crisp cracking sounds and a strong gust of wind that tugged at her hair reached her ears. The large tree, with a diameter of half a meter, was severed alive by the vines. "The Tree King's strength is standard for a Saint. Each strike from the vines equals the attack power of a Level 4 Saint—something that would be a nightmare for a Level 3 Traveler..." "Wooden spirits possess strong healing capabilities, and such thick vines are hardly effective against blades; fire attacks will be necessary..." As Zhang Yuanqing considered whether to summon the Yin-Yang Robe to assist Mayu, an even more dire development unfolded. Around the three of them, tree spirits that had been sleeping began to awaken, their grotesque human faces emerging from the tree trunks. Summoned by the Tree King, they joined the coalition of avengers. "Devour you, devour you~" Their murmurs wove together into a continuous chant. Hard tree roots burst through the soft, decaying soil, and the vines dangling from the branches writhed like tentacles. "They're completely frenzied!" remarked the Peony Princess, her expression serious. As a wood spirit, plants appeared to her no different from humans—she could communicate with them effortlessly, sense their emotions, and now, she had lost that ability. These tree spirits were not her kind, much like humans and zombies, who cannot communicate. When zombies encounter humans, they simply rush and charge. The tree spirits before her were no different. With no other option, she could only set the mountains on fire. Zhang Yuanqing was about to summon her yin-yang robe to make a major move, when, in her peripheral vision, she noticed a calm Shanzhao Ryō rising to her feet, surrounded by tree spirits several zhang away. With her right hand gripping the hilt, she slowly drew an upward semicircle, lifting the ice-soul blade high above her head. "Frost descends!" As she softly chanted the incantation, the blade, etched with crystalline patterns, gradually solidified into a layer of ice, radiating a visible coldness. At the same time, Misano Ryō's skin shimmered with a dreamlike ice blue, her long hair flowing gracefully down her back, each strand gently dispersed as if stirred by a breeze, adorned with crystalline glimmers resembling stars. Her face, pure and serene, remained cold and composed—like the legendary, aloof, and elegant snow maiden from myth. With a simple turn of her wrist, Misano Ryō lowered her ice-spirit blade, which had been raised high above her head, and planted it firmly before her. The tip of the blade pierced the ground, and the cold radiance swiftly spread outward, freezing everything in its path—ground, tree trunks, branches—enveloping them all in a thick layer of ice. In an instant, the once warm, humid tropical rainforest transformed into a frigid realm; ordinary people breathing the air would suffer permanent lung damage. Zhang Yuanqing and the Peony Immortal stepped back in surprise, stepping clear of the spreading ice crust reaching their feet. They exchanged glances, both seeing astonishment in each other's eyes—never having imagined that the Japanese girl, who had been treated so poorly throughout their journey, could wield such formidable power. The thick vine from the Tree King descended from the sky, still before it reached Shallowo Reina, solidifying into thick, hard layers of ice. "Crack!" At the front where the ice had formed, the vine snapped, crashing down onto the ground, which had likewise been encased in ice. "Shhh—!" The sturdy vine from the sky, as though in pain, suddenly retracted, retreating back into the heavens. "Hmm... huff... huff..." Shallowo Reina sat down heavily on the ground, gasping for breath as if spent. Zhang Yuanqing gazed at her deeply, then withdrew his gaze, issuing a command to the Shadow-Spreading Blood Rose to protect her physical form, and activated his divine sojourn, his spirit body detaching and rising upward, passing through the dense canopy. The view instantly broadened. He saw the blood-red sunset, the magnificent golden-red twilight, and also a colossal tree. Though he could not gauge its height, it seemed akin to the legendary World Tree connecting the celestial realm—its crown spread like clouds, its branches extending outwards for tens of miles. Compared to it, this tropical rainforest seems like saplings and undergrowth beneath the great trees. At this moment, long, flexible vines—like delicate tentacles—dangle from the canopy that resembles a cloud, reaching out toward various parts of the primordial forest, punishing the humble ants that dare to kill members of its own kin. The canopy beside Zhang Yuanqing sways, and he turns to see: the Peony Immortal, climbing with remarkable agility, even surpassing monkeys in tree-climbing skill. She emerges from the canopy, wobbling steadily on slender branches, always maintaining a delicate balance. Peering upward toward the sky, she is struck dumb: "Oh my heavens!" The robust, full-bodied form of this young wood spirit trembles, as if facing a formidable predator. Unable to bear it any longer, her face pale as paper, she sinks down and lands back on the ground. Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing bends down and descends, returning to his physical form. "It was absolutely terrifying—those vines are clearly of saintly rank, invincible!" the Peony Immortal says, her face pale. Zhang Yuanqing approaches Shallow野 Ryō and speaks solemnly: "How many times can you execute Aso Ryō knelt on the icy shell, her face pale, her eyes dim with fatigue: "I can only use this ability three times a day, with two-hour intervals between each use. The cost is that for the next half-hour after activation, my body grows weak and my joints stiffen." She added, her face filled with fear: "My panel has a countdown—ten minutes until the tree spirit launches its next attack. I'm certain I won't make it through that next assault." She had such a strong reserve—meaning that the earlier scenes of being besieged by three evil classes, nearly killed by the tree spirit, all of it so pitiful and desperate, had been a performance? Indeed, she had portrayed it so convincingly—women are naturally born performers. After all, as a native of the island, she had dared enter a killing raid dungeon, surely with at least one or two trump cards. Had there been no him, Aso Ryō would have used "Frostfall" to resolve the crisis. But now, with him present, she had begun to feign vulnerability, pleading for mercy, conserving her reserves. Later, once it became clear that he was a good person, Hitoshi became even more "patient and resilient," taking on the role of a guide dog, quietly observing and staying in the background. Zhang Yuanqing realized that this seemingly righteous companion wasn't quite as righteous as he seemed. In fact, he wasn't so naive—he had his own subtle strategies. The Peony Princess reassured him: "I and Wang Tai will do our best to support you." In the orderly profession, good people are still the majority. Just as she had comforted the Japanese girl, she noticed Wang Tai giving her a cold look. "Have you ever killed a monkey?" The Peony Princess was taken aback, then quickly realized what he meant, her expression stiffening. "I've killed one— they kept chasing me until I was driven to desperation. You're saying… you're saying…" Zhang Yuanqing said firmly, "If the Tree King will fight to avenge his people, why shouldn't the Monkey King? As one of the key bosses of the outer-layer副本, don't you think the Monkey King is too gentle? So far, it's always the monkey herd that has been pursuing the spiritual realm travelers. Why hasn't the Monkey King stepped in? "After the Tree King, it might very well be Monkey King who seeks vengeance... The Peony Fairy furrowed her brows, saying, "We must reach the central part of the forest before Monkey King takes his revenge." How formidable the Tree King is, how could Monkey King fall short? Even if he doesn't quite match the Tree King, one should not forget that there are numerous monkey clans scattered across the outer regions. Her eyes gleamed with sudden insight, and she murmured, "We still have time. The Tree King won't target us two, but others may. Perhaps this is a perfect opportunity to eliminate the evil-aligned professions." Zhang Yuanqing didn't seem particularly relieved. He exhaled, "As we eliminate the evil-aligned, we'll also wipe out the lawful-aligned. Especially those at the top of the list—certainly among the Tree King's targets. While Monkey King's vengeance hasn't arrived, let's focus on figuring out how to reach the central part of the forest. "The longer we delay, the more lives will be lost." "At this point, Zhang Yuanqing opened the leaderboard and found the number had plummeted to just 103. In just a few minutes, 17 Lingjing travelers had already perished. Anyone who had previously earned points by defeating tree spirits was now at risk—this included familiar faces like Jiang Jingwei and Yuan Ting. Guan Ya's points had also increased, but Zhang Yuanqing wasn't sure whether they came from killing tree spirits, monkeys, or evil professionals. He couldn't risk guessing. The forces from all three sides instantly fell into chaos, each sustaining various injuries from the vine strikes of the Tree King. After a moment's consultation, they decided it was better to gather together and face the Tree King as a united force rather than be defeated one by one in the spiritual realm. Guan Zhongkui, renowned for his enduring stamina, was entrusted with the noble task of uniting the warriors. "Crack!" The vines descended from the sky, landing solidly on Guan Zhongkui's body. He groaned, launched himself forward over fifteen meters, then leapt up again upon landing, continuing to rush ahead. The vines, capable of felling scouts with a single strike, only caused Guan Zhongkui mild internal injuries—shifting energy and a sensation of pain. After several minutes, following the sounds of commotion, Guan Zhongkui arrived at the nearest battlefield, where the scene was particularly devastating: the ground was soft and littered with five or six bodies, their forms ruined, internal organs spilling out. All had been torn apart by the vines. Ai Yi, never one to hesitate—Guan Zhongkui suddenly stopped, fixing his gaze on They also noticed him. The leading young man stared at him expressionlessly, his gaze hollow, as though he were a puppet. The younger man in loose pants and sandals, meanwhile, observed him with a critical eye, saying, "That rather naive face—somewhat familiar... Ah, you're Guan Zhong Kui Bao, the one ranked sixth on the list of independent cultivators." You're the only one who's naive! Guan Zhong Kui Bao said firmly. "I'm here on behalf of Zhao Chenghuang and the One Who Stands Alone, summoning all the spiritual realm travelers to unite and face off against the Tree King. Let us set aside our current rivalries and fight together—this is our only path forward." Bai Wu Jian Ji paused for a few seconds, then said, "Indeed, there's no reason to refuse." Guan Zhong Kui Bao felt a slight relief, his expression brightening immediately. "Then let's meet beneath the tree. I'll continue gathering more allies." With that, he promptly departed. ... "You all—go straight to the Tree King's direction. Zhao Chenghuang and A-I will gather all the spiritual realm travelers "Who are you, and how can we trust you?" "You have no choice—rather than be killed by the Tree King here, join the group and fight your way through. Even if you don't come, the Tree King will still attack you." "Really? It's Zhao Chenguang and A-I who have called for this?" ... "You're the illusionist known for your inherently evil nature, ranked fourth on the Five Elements Alliance's reward list, right? A-I and Zhao Chenguang have gathered everyone to face the boss—please remove your illusion and set aside your factional rivalries." ... "Everything is white and justice in the blade, aren't they? A-I and Zhao Chenguang, along with the one who embodies human nature's inherent evil, have already gone to hunt down the Tree King. Let me be the one to gather you all." ... "The one wielding the two blades—aren't you the Nine-Leak Fish? Perfect. Please go straight to the Tree King's presence immediately. I've already gathered everyone, and we're all heading to confront the boss together." ... "You're all from the Five Elements Alliance, aren't you? Exactly. Zhao Chenguang has asked me to gather "A little girl with red hair asked. 'No, he's just like dead—except for the leaderboard, I'd have thought he'd passed away already. Hey, you, young lady, why do you act so suddenly and impatiently at such a young age?' ... 'You two, go meet at the Tree King's pavilion immediately. I'll represent Zhao Chenghuang and A-I, and summon everyone to coordinate our attack on the boss.' 'I'm not interested!' 'What's your name?' 'Heaven's Fire Unites the World—yes, have you seen Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn?' 'He's dead!' ... Thus, under the persistent efforts of the one who could only see the whole picture through a tube, practitioners from the independent guilds, official factions, the evil forces, and a few foreign spiritual realm travelers were gradually gathered. One after another, they made their way to the Tree King's location, preparing to assemble their forces and launch the assault on the boss. Aside from the clear authority of Zhao Chenghuang and A-I, the widespread response from the spiritual realm travelers was largely due to the lack of alternatives." The Tree King's attacks are relentless. Though we can briefly recover after repelling each one, it only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. Moreover, defeating the boss comes with substantial points. With an organized team and top-tier transcendence-level heroes like Zhao Chenguang, A-1, there's simply no reason to decline. Tianxia Guihuo continued, "The right approach is to figure out how to reach the central part of the forest. Based on the difficulty level shown in the quest, I believe whoever reaches the forest's central area first will receive a substantial points bonus." Yin-zi blinked in comprehension, "Do you have any ideas now?" Tianxia Guihuo shook his head, "The information we've gathered is still limited—we can only deduce that there's a contradiction between the signs. But Master Yuan-Shi is a night-wanderer deity; he can kill and question spirits. Unless something unexpected happens, he's probably already engaged in such activities right now." At this point, Tianxia Guihuo's tone carried a touch of frustration. He had already figured out the correct way to play the quest, yet, due to his own limitations (he cannot absorb spiritual essence), he was unable to implement it. ... On the uneven, sunken terrain, Zhang Yuanqing stood before several corpses, the dark shadows in his eyes gradually fading. After the recent inquiry, he gained a new piece of advice: "The monkeys are the guardians of the forest, living in wild fruit forests—please do not disturb them." I think I now know how to proceed into the second stage... Zhang Yuanqing, combining the previous information, had a hunch forming. ... Meanwhile, the spiritual travelers from the two major factions were under relentless attacks from the vines, struggling to reach the area where the Tree King resides.