Chapter 188: Position and Spirit Seed

And the Plague Mage Amel did not actually participate in the kidnapping operation.

The 【Wither Plant】 spell was cast by him through a spell called 【Fragile Disc】, a white plate that could store spells and would release them instantly upon being shattered.

Unlike a magic ring, the 【Fragile Disc】 did not require infusing with spirit or mana; the mana of the spells cast from it all belonged to the person who stored them.

Rod stroked his chin.

Another white plate, just like the 【Brittle Ceramic Disc】 seized from Dimia.

Such similar spells suggest that the one intending to kidnap the Tree Spirit and break into Sharon's recovery cottage is the same person.

And according to the other party's habits, it is highly likely they intended to kidnap Sharon, a Canine, though it is unknown why they retreated.

The Half-Wolf Druid had already dealt with all the bandits; she approached with the heavy steps of an Owl-Bear, stride by stride, full of momentum.

Hoo—

She raised her bloodied bear paw tipped with hooks and, without a word, swung it down toward the leader's head.

Rod waved his hand at her.

"Wait a moment, Young Lady Druid."

She looked at Rod, confusion showing in the Owl-Bear's round eyes.

Rod explained: "He still has accomplices, and the mastermind is hiding in the shadows. If we kill him now, the withering will likely happen again."

The Druid heeded the advice.

A beam of magical light rose from the ground, cleansing the bloodstains on her body.

Then she cast 【Wild Shape】, transforming back into that blue-and-white giant wolf.

She approached beside the leader, baring her teeth.

The leader was startled into a shiver and simply confessed everything, revealing even the color of the Plague Doctor's underpants.

Although the intelligence he knew was limited, of course.

"Another Tier 7?"

Rod thought to himself.

With the recent instability, places like Twilight Hills, where a Tier 7 had not been seen even once a year before, were now stirring with turmoil.

After consuming ten Spirit Seeds and undergoing arduous cultivation during this period,

Rod's physical strength had increased significantly.

This half-step Tier 7 beneath his feet, he could even kill without using any offensive spirit spells.

He couldn't help but sigh.

A true warrior shouldn't learn flashy spirit spells; a normal attack is the ultimate move; who could stop me?

But as much as one says that, in reality, mages have countless methods, even more so as their rank rises.

Mere physical strength rarely brings benefits.

Haven't you seen that high-level mages can easily deal with giants whose strength attributes are maxed out?

The Snow Hill Evening News once mentioned a spell called 【Durak's Glass Transformation】.

Thick skin and tough flesh were useless; once this spell was cast, the giant immediately turned into a glassy weakling.

Although the news written by bards often contained exaggerated elements, this also indirectly showed that mages possessed a multitude of methods.

Rod asked, "Where is he? Where is the Plague Mage Amel located?"

"I... I don't know right now."

Hearing this,

the blue-and-white giant wolf immediately growled low at him.

"What do you mean you don't know right now?"

Rod instinctively wanted to pat the giant wolf's head, but remembering this was a Tier 7, he forcibly retracted his hand.

"Amel's whereabouts are unpredictable; we can never find him. He only appears actively when he has a need."

"Oh? In that case, you are useless."

"No, no, no! I'm still useful, still useful! We made an agreement to exchange goods in two days at Yiku Slope in Twilight Hills. Amel is extremely vigilant; if he discovers a stranger, he certainly won't appear!"

Upon hearing this,

Rod fell into thought.

Yiku Slope in Twilight Hills? In two days?

Isn't that exactly the date and location for the negotiations with Coral Bay?

The Ruin Brotherhood was already colluding with the rebel mages of Coral Bay. Judging by the reclusive habits of that Plague Mage, it is possible he would also appear near the negotiations and conveniently retrieve the kidnapped races.

Rod originally had no feelings for the people of Coral Bay; he didn't value the so-called negotiations and even intended not to go.

Now it seems he must not only go but also bring people to hide secretly, targeting that Plague Mage and catching him off guard.

Rod told the giant wolf Druid beside him about this matter and asked if she intended to join the ambush.

The werewolf still did not speak to him but nodded.

That could be considered communication, I suppose.

The rest was simple; Rod dealt with the corpses scattered on the ground, then escorted this little leader to the City Hall.

After all, he was a half-step Tier 7.

Rod chose to snap both his arms.

Upon learning of this, the Witch Dimia took the matter very seriously.

After all, abducting a sentient race is a grave crime, and this person worked under that Plague Mage; Sharon had once seemingly been threatened by the Plague Mage.

Whether for private or public reasons, she should act thus.

She used magic items to place several layers of security on him, then threw him into the dungeon, where a specialist was assigned to continue interrogating for information.

By the time all this was done, it was already noon.

Rod hurried back to the forest to report the news to the girls.

Bai Yu District, the temporary hospital treehouse.

Outside the magic treehouse, a striped canopy had been set up, with several wooden tables and chairs formed from magic beneath it.

It looked like a fine spot for a picnic.

This had been commissioned not long ago by the half-deer person Miss Xiao Ke, for the patients' physical and mental well-being, and made by Lady Kali.

Everyone had gathered here.

The elf Lady Kali took several white ceramic 【Sliver Shards Plates】 that Rod handed over.

She tossed a few identification spells onto them.

She said: "It is indeed 【Plant Withering】, along with 【Nature's Rejection】, 【Rotting Wood Binding】, and 【Soul Decay】 — all spells targeting tree spirits."

After speaking, she glanced at the tree spirit Vivian, who stood motionless.

She still wore an expressionless face, blinking her innocent large white eyes.

The half-deer person Miss Xiao Ke, however, was already furious beyond measure; her hands clenched into fists, her whole body trembling with rage.

"Not only that — what's even more deadly is this."

Lady Kali picked out from the things Rod had confiscated a crystal vine that reflected purple light:

"I call it 【Rotting Wood Zhi Zhou】. It is made from a certain part of a tree spirit, using a cruel ritual to kill three or more tree spirits, then twisting their souls into a treasure specialized against tree spirits. It will greatly weaken a tree spirit's connection with nature, rendering them unable to use most of their innate spiritual arts."

Everyone's expression darkened.

The elf comforted them: "This isn't something that can be mass-produced — at the very least, there's no need to worry about the enemy having the same method again."

Rod asked her: "Then why does the Wen Yi Fa master have so many methods targeting tree spirits?"

During their trip to Emerald Jade City, one of Bahadur's students had mentioned having done research on quite a few tree spirits — this race seemed to hold great appeal for mages.

Lady Kali sighed: "Because of Spirit Seeds. Tree spirits are currently the only race that can produce this kind of treasure. Spirit Seeds are simply too powerful — that's the reason so many people take reckless risks. It's also why there's a Tree Spirit Protection Association on the continent."

Rod's expression immediately turned strange.

In his palm, at the most inopportune moment, came that familiar sensation, and before long a Spirit Seed appeared.

(End of this chapter)