Chapter 332: Breaking Free
Chapter 332: Breaking Free
As Chen Zhuan descended to the basement level, the signs of virtualization on his body intensified. The further he ventured, the more severe the virtualization became, and an overwhelming sense of being watched permeated the air.
At that moment, the hair of the Flying Head Monster on his wrist and the Lynx Spirit Talisman hanging around his neck began to vibrate slightly.
It seemed that he was indeed facing a ghostly phenomenon. Ghostly remnants were known to be sensitive to such occurrences, but the talisman's reaction suggested a potential threat.
The temperature ahead dropped slightly as he approached a metal door, locked shut. He reached out and pressed against it, causing the frame to creak and crack, with bricks and bolts gradually crumbling and popping out. With a surge of force, the entire door twisted and deformed, then crashed backward with a loud boom.
As the dust settled, Chen Zhuan stepped inside and saw a "tree." More precisely, it was a Field Distortion Creature, but it appeared magnified several times, occupying nearly half of the entire basement level.
The branches extended outward, filling the entire underground space, and seemed to pass through the floor, reaching upwards as if they were intangible.
What was truly unsettling were the naked arms hanging from the branches like vines.
Near the lower end of the trunk, human feet were arranged neatly and stacked around it, spreading outwards in circles along the roots.
Chen Zhuan glanced at the hands, some slender and others muscular, likely taken from different men and women, haphazardly arranged on the branches.
Near the root's knots, there were countless strands of human hair, some entangled in the branches, while on the ground, layers of tattered clothing were scattered.
Chen Zhuan finally understood the fate of the hotel guests. This creature was undoubtedly a ghostly phenomenon, but it had likely undergone some form of metamorphosis.
Some ghostly remnants, if left unchecked and supplied with abundant vitality, could gradually detach from their origins and become increasingly powerful.
Chen Zhuan realized that the branches had extended into the hotel's corners, attempting to influence him.
In just three years, this transformation had occurred, and it might have become even more formidable if left unchecked.
At that moment, the creature emitted a high-pitched shriek as if in response to Chen Zhuan's resistance. The lights in the basement, which had been flickering, suddenly stabilized.
After observing the situation, Chen Zhuan sheathed his Snow Lady Sword at his side, gripped the hilt with both hands, and with a clank, drew the blade. He held it single-handedly, spun around, and slowly approached the creature.
The branches above suddenly lashed towards him.
Chen Zhuan slashed upward, and for the first time, the Snow Lady Sword's effectiveness against the Flying Head Monster was evident. The bloodline on the blade's back glowed more vividly, and with a hiss, the branches were severed, raining down with a clatter. A spray of red liquid, akin to fresh blood, gushed from the cuts.
As Chen Zhuan continued to hack through the branches blocking his path, a sense of relief surged within him.
Previously, he had relied on endurance, physical contact, and unique methods to eliminate ghostly remnants, but this direct and brutal approach proved most efficient.
He advanced, clearing obstacles with each step, his pace unyielding. In the blink of an eye, he had covered thirty to forty meters, and with a single leap, he found himself mere ten meters from the massive trunk.
The creature emitted an even higher-pitched screech. The thick roots, adorned with strands of hair and human legs, writhed from the ground in an attempt to hinder Chen Zhuan's progress.
However, this only exposed the creature's vulnerabilities.
Chen Zhuan let out a low shout and unleashed a burst of sword light from his body, shattering the surrounding entanglements. Limbs rained down like a torrential downpour as he burst through the barriers, reaching the trunk in mid-air. With both hands gripping the hilt, he slashed downward in a diagonal arc.
The tree trunk was instantly cleaved open by the crescent-shaped sword light. A shrill cry emanated from the trunk as odorless crimson liquid gushed forth. Chen Zhuan's forward momentum didn't waver, and with a swift hip movement, he slashed horizontally, another flash of sword light slicing through the trunk.
The tree convulsed, and with a retching sound, it vomited countless organs and broken body parts. The entire basement level was instantly flooded with gore.
Chen Zhuan stared at the creature, realizing that despite the severe injuries inflicted by his two strikes, the wounds were already healing. These attacks hadn't reached the creature's true vulnerabilities.
Chen Chuan's thoughts raced, and he made a swift decision. With a swift movement, he brandished his sword, leaned forward, and in a flash, he leaped through the broken opening.
Inside, he glanced up and saw numerous interconnected internal structures hanging around, slowly pulsating like breathing. At the center, a brain-like object was encased within.
Surrounding this object were shattered organs and fluids that once nourished it, now leaking out through the opening. It was clear that this was the very part the ghost tree desperately tried to protect.
Chen Chuan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and with a swift spin, he slashed diagonally at the object!
As he entered, the opening outside immediately began to close, and limbs extended to fill the gap, secreting a red, viscous liquid to swiftly repair the cracks.
But halfway through these actions, everything suddenly stopped. After a while, both the tree's trunk and limbs began to wither and shrink rapidly. Eventually, they collapsed, one by one, like they couldn't support themselves anymore, shattering into black ashes on the ground.
Strangely, the entire process was silent, as if these were intangible, unreal beings.
In just over ten seconds, the entire ghost tree's trunk turned into a pile of thick, heavy ash on the ground.
Chen Chuan removed his hat, brushed off the ashes, and put it back on. He scanned the area, confirming the creature was thoroughly eliminated.
Beneath the ashes, something solid seemed to be hidden. He used the Snow Lady Sword to probe, and a fist-sized object rolled out.
Bending down, Chen Chuan picked it up, blew away the ashes, and saw a heart-shaped object, resembling wood but carved from jade.
This must be the ghost tree's remnant.
He pocketed it and exited the basement. The entire hotel felt lifeless, but as the ghost story was resolved, insects and ants seemed to swarm back to life instantly.
His Boundary Vessel also recovered, so he immediately contacted the City Patrol Team, asking them to handle the situation. The cleanup was secondary; the primary goal was to inform their superiors that everything was back to normal, and no special measures were needed anymore.
Chen Chuan returned upstairs, pushed open the hotel door, took a deep breath, and headed towards the parking lot.
But after only a few steps, he spotted gang members surrounding his car, with an off-road vehicle parked in front, its hook dangling.
Using his Boundary Vessel, Chen Chuan identified them—gangsters with numerous torture and arrest records, and the leader, a wanted man.
Calmly, he reached into his pocket, crushed a pebble into fine particles, and flicked one onto his knuckle.
"Boss, someone's coming out!" a gang member shouted upon seeing Chen Chuan.
The gang leader was startled. He hadn't expected anyone to emerge alive, but with a glance, he sensed Chen Chuan was no ordinary man.
So, he decided to give him some face.
He patted a subordinate on the back, "Go greet him. We're just looking after his car. Let him pay a fee, and we'll let him go. No need for trouble."
"Got it, boss." The subordinate tossed away his cigarette and swaggered forward with a few others. "Hey, you there—" But before he finished, a gunshot rang out, and he collapsed to the ground.
The other gang members reacted swiftly, drawing their weapons, but before they could act, they, too, fell, sprawled across the street.
Chen Chuan strolled towards his car.
The gang leader sensed danger and sprinted away from the car, shouting, "Blockade! Blockade! Hard nut! Draw weapons!"
Chen Chuan ignored him and approached his car. With a flick of his finger, the car door unlocked.
He paused, glanced back, and saw the little boy watching him. Chen Chuan nodded, got in, closed the door, and drove towards the blocked intersection.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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