Chapter 184: Entering the Jungle
Chapter 184: Entering the Jungle
The resistance against the Dragon Beast ended in a brutal defeat.
It wasn't until Lin Sai bid farewell to the Mountain Stone Elemental and the Vine Elder that he realized they were the last survivors.
There had been many rebels in Starlight Forest, but the Six-Stage Treemother was an insurmountable obstacle.
After two years of the Treemother's cleansing, there were no more rebels in the surrounding areas.
Only those Treants with stronger individual consciousness would break free from control and attempt to escape the forest.
If the situation were more severe, and if Lin Sai had arrived here years earlier, or if the purge was still ongoing...
Even with the artifact Stone Breath given by the Mountain Stone Elemental, it would be difficult to escape the other party's detection.
It was after experiencing that prolonged battle.
Now, the Mountain Stone Elemental was on the brink of death, with only the Vine Elder remaining by its side.
They managed to survive in the vicinity of this Grand Canyon by blending into the underground, utilizing their special ability.
But ahead lay the basin marsh occupied by the Blackscale Lizards.
Beyond that, their path was blocked by the vast forest.
Being on the wanted list, they couldn't escape freely like the Treants; they were trapped here, quietly awaiting the end of their lives.
One day later...
The two set out again, reaching the edge of Starlight Forest.
The once vibrant forest seemed unchanged in its scenery, but at this moment, it was inexplicably shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.
Lin Sai and Elena were on high alert.
They checked their own conditions and confirmed the integrity of the Stone Breath before entering the forest.
Lin Sai walked in front, his gaze determined, his steps steady, constantly adjusting his route based on the information on the map.
Each step seemed to fall perfectly on the meticulously planned path.
Behind him, Elena trusted Lin Sai completely, her Meteor Spear in hand, her dangerous gaze frequently scanning the forest.
But at the slightest hint of abnormality...
Or if Lin Sai gave a signal, she wouldn't hesitate to attack.
The path through the forest was not easy.
There were no signs of human activity here, forcing them to push through dense bushes, occasionally using animal trails for short distances, and clearing the way with their knives.
Soon, more troublesome obstacles began to appear.
The terrain wouldn't suddenly change.
The ground beneath the dense forest canopy, like the previous Grand Canyon, was filled with various ravines, large and small.
They could find ways to cross the narrower ones.
But for canyons too wide for humans to traverse... attempting to cross such terrain often meant a terrible outdoor experience.
The only consolation was the perfect effectiveness of Stone Breath.
Lin Sai and Elena wore the artifact, transforming their human scent into the essence of the earth in Starlight Forest.
The creatures here were familiar with this essence, making it less likely for monsters or animals to approach them unless they were directly in their path.
After a month...
The forest-covered area transitioned from canyons to hills, and Lin Sai and Elena's journey finally sped up.
"Elena, have you ever thought about this?"
In the morning, birds chirped in the forest, and occasionally, the roars of unknown animals could be heard in the distance.
The long and tedious journey made Lin Sai a bit bored.
He reflected on his experiences since entering Black Mountain World and asked his companion a question that had long puzzled him:
"Those glaciers might affect the Dragon Beast's advancement."
"But expelling them to such a distant place, so far from one end of the world, is quite an unreasonable choice."
"It can choose a spot around Black Mountain."
"That way, it can keep an eye on things and maintain control at all times."
Hong immediately made a guess, "Unless it doesn't want the Glacier Elementals too close, and it's even wary of them. That's why it drove those Elemental beings away to such a remote location and even sent a powerful trusted subordinate to guard them..."
At this point, Hong might not have felt the full extent of the situation.
But as someone who had experienced it firsthand, when Lindsey recalled the Blackscale Lizard guarding the Glacier Elementals, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
The lizard's venomous bite, its unique and dangerous Essence Technique, its robust body, and its impenetrable defense—these traits made it a formidable foe, even at the Fifth Stage.
The Blackscale Lizard was undoubtedly a powerful entity, and even the lord of the border town might not have been a match for it in a direct confrontation.
Lindsey had only managed to defeat it due to various factors.
And yet, this incredibly powerful subordinate had been sent by the Dragon Beast to guard some Glacier Elementals who had already pledged their allegiance?
At this thought, Lindsey became pensive, and his gaze fell upon Hong.
The girl's thoughts remained focused on the Dragon Beast itself. Following the information Lindsey had provided, she made her next deduction:
"So, Lindsey, do you think the Dragon Beast's weakness might have something to do with ice?"
"A Seventh Stage powerhouse probably won't be defeated by something as simple as temperature," Lindsey shook his head. "But I think this is a lead, and we might be able to uncover some clues from it."
Deep in the primeval forest, Lindsey and Hong each fell into deep thought.
Lindsey's suggestion was merely a hypothesis.
But the Dragon Beast's act of driving away the Glacier Elementals did indeed contain many unreasonable aspects, and there might be other secrets hidden within.
Both of them had come here with the goal of slaying the Dragon Beast.
When it came to the beast's weaknesses, they wouldn't let any opportunity slip by.
Crack!
At that moment, Lindsey stepped on a dry branch, breaking it.
In the nearby shade, a small emerald bird took flight, startled by the unexpected sound.
This was just a minor incident that could happen anywhere in the forest.
However, it was precisely because of this startled bird that, several hundred meters away on a distant hilltop, a rapid tearing sound filled the air, and the flying bird was suddenly struck down.
"..."
"What was that?"
In almost an instant, Hong raised her Meteorite Spear, aiming it towards the direction of the hill.
With her abilities, she could guarantee a lethal strike within a 200-meter range. Beyond that, the power would diminish, but it would still be more than enough to overwhelm an ordinary person.
Although the hill was quite distant, if they continued to approach each other, Hong was confident she could launch a preemptive attack before any encounter!
However, Hong didn't throw the Meteorite Spear.
Almost simultaneously, Lindsey reached out and stopped her.
Lindsey held Hong's wrist, and under the gaze of her ruby-like eyes, he shook his head.
"Hong, there's something special ahead."
"Let's go take a look, but stay quiet."
Hong pouted, feeling a little dejected as she lowered the spear. "What did your mysterious techniques discover this time?"
Lindsey glanced at the map, where four rapidly moving yellow markers were in the corresponding position. "They're neutral entities without hostility."
"If my guess is correct, we might be able to get some helpful information."
(End of Chapter)
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