Chapter 181: Starlight Forest
Chapter 181: Starlight Forest
The Vine Elder spoke of the Mother Tree's tale.
According to its account, a century ago, a thriving grand forest lay ahead, vibrant and harmonious under the Mother Tree's governance.
This perfectly aligned with Lindsey's understanding.
Even before the Dragon Beast's arrival, the expedition team had passed through this canyon area and recorded its conditions.
They made no mention of any dangerous creatures lurking in the forest.
Instead, they documented the area's beauty, and the expedition members felt cheerful due to the scenery.
They even named the place Starlight Forest, commemorating a meteor shower they witnessed there.
Unfortunately, the state of Starlight Forest couldn't be maintained after a century.
The ruler of the Black Mountain World, the Dragon Head, wouldn't overlook such an extensive area like Starlight Forest.
The Mother Tree, once a follower of the natural path, was forced to submit to the Dragon Beast's command...
"Didn't you ever consider resisting?"
Lindsey listened attentively.
The girl, Elena, had been freed from captivity by Lindsey, and although she had lost her memory, she knew her position as a prisoner was not favorable with the Dragon Beast.
Hearing about the Mother Tree's submission to the Dragon Beast, Elena's dissatisfaction was almost visible on her face:
"If I were you, I'd never choose to submit so easily, even if it meant risking my life."
The Vine Elder didn't mind Elena's scorn.
From the perspective of a plant spirit, it explained:
"We plant-born beings generally have long lifespans. Even if that Dragon Beast rules over us, in the long run, it will eventually become nourishment for the earth, but the forest will endure."
"Moreover, in the natural world, it's the survival of the fittest. Submitting to a stronger being isn't an unacceptable choice."
"Hmph," Elena scoffed, no longer paying attention to the Vine Elder.
Lindsey didn't comment but encouraged the Elder to continue the story:
"Since you forest beings accepted your fate, you should be living within the forest, not appearing here."
"Something else must have happened afterward, which is probably why you left the forest."
"You're smart, human," the Vine Elder acknowledged Lindsey's deduction, "About 52 evolution cycles ago... or 13 years in your human years, the Dragon Beast sent a messenger into the forest."
The Vine Elder paused briefly, seemingly recalling a terrifying experience. After adjusting its emotions, it continued:
"That messenger ordered the extraordinary beings in the forest to surrender their source essence and aid the Dragon Beast's advancement."
"The Mother Tree was originally gentle and nature-loving."
"But as her essential power was continuously extracted, her personality became twisted and irritable, more like a beast than a tree."
The Vine Elder's story aligned with the Corrupted Spider's warning.
Lindsey silently gazed at the Starlight Forest in the east. The vast green expanse stretched beyond the horizon, seemingly becoming part of the earth itself.
This region was already vast.
Under the management of the forest's extraordinary beings, it had expanded over thousands of years, reaching the size of a large country.
According to the expedition team's records, Starlight Forest stretched over 2,000 kilometers from east to west, and its northern extent was unknown, as it had not been fully explored.
Now, with the ruler's submission leading to madness, it was understandable that some would choose to escape, like a lizard shedding its tail.
"The Treant at the World Border must have escaped from here too," Lindsey mused quietly.
He nodded slightly to the Vine Elder, acknowledging:
"So, you didn't want to accept this outcome and escaped?"
"Vine Elder, you've already shared what you know. According to our agreement, you should be free to go..."
Lindsey abruptly cut off the elder's plea.
"Yes, you have a reason to leave the forest. But that doesn't explain your actions in warning us. As a traitor who fled from the Treemother, you should have remained hidden, not come out to warn us at the sight of humans."
"... "
Vine Elder fell silent for a moment, but quickly found a reason.
"You two are human Awakened. If you were captured in the forest, you would undoubtedly aid that Dragon Beast. I came out to warn you so that he wouldn't..."
"Don't give me that ridiculous excuse," Lindsey interrupted the Vine Elder again, her tone forceful. "How many Awakened like us are there in such a vast forest? Even if we were captured, what difference would it make with the two of us?"
As she spoke, Lindsey's gaze became aggressive.
A neutral existence marked in yellow would never risk warning them.
Combining this with previous events, a bold idea formed in Lindsey's mind.
Even if he guessed wrong, he wouldn't lose a piece of meat! At most, he'd be mocked by Red during dinner tonight...
Lindsey made an instant decision and, in the next second, demanded sternly, "There must be others behind you, and it's because of this person's orders that you warned us."
"... "
Vine Elder fell silent, no longer responding.
But Lindsey continued to increase the pressure in her words, "And that rock puppet that was initially hiding in our campsite."
"If you were still at the fifth stage, creating such a large puppet might be possible. But with your current fourth-stage strength, you definitely don't have the corresponding ability."
"Come clean, who's behind you!"
Vine Elder's reaction was unexpected.
This creature, who was willing to beg for its life, suddenly clammed up and refused to answer.
It seemed to have made a decision.
Even if it was killed by Lindsey here, it wouldn't reveal any more information.
Sometimes, the attitude of not answering is itself an answer.
Red, standing by, understood that Lindsey had guessed some truth upon seeing this scene.
However, Vine Elder chose not to cooperate when faced with this question.
"This is your choice!" Red showed no mercy, her fiery red irises turning cold as iron.
Without hesitation, she raised the meteorite spear hovering over Vine Elder's head, and it instantly burst into red flames.
A loud rumble echoed as the ground beneath them trembled, making it difficult to stand.
In the moment of life and death, a earthy yellow puppet emerged from the earth, its hands raised high.
It had been lurking there without them noticing, positioned right below the three of them.
Vine Elder, about to be burned to death by the meteorite spear.
Was also protected by the puppet's clasped hands, about to be dragged underground.
"Trying to escape!"
Despite the trembling ground, Red's voice was calm yet filled with rage.
Bang! The girl stomped on the ground, her body leaping like an eagle.
The meteorite spear in her hand was raised high within the flames, immediately aiming at the rock puppet trying to sink into the earth.
This strike was not only to pierce the puppet.
But also to kill Vine Elder, who was being protected by it!
"Please, don't hurt him!" At the critical moment, a deep voice echoed from the rock puppet, "He's only following my orders."
"If you want to know the truth, follow this puppet and come see me."
Whoosh—
In the next second, Red threw the meteorite spear.
The girl's icy voice was only to pronounce judgment:
"Truth?"
"Die first, then we'll talk!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
