Chapter 52: Ghost Face Demon Vine Tree

When Li Luo and the other two walked out through the great doors of the hall where the trees were gnarled and tangled, the scene before them suddenly changed dramatically—it was a dim, gloomy forest. Within the forest, massive trees stood in dense rows, their dark-black branches spreading outward and blocking out the sky, giving off a heavy, oppressive feeling.

Li Luo and the others glanced at this gloomy forest, then their gazes stopped on a crystal wall up ahead, which had clearly been erected recently.

On the crystal wall, characters flowed, emitting a faint glow.

Li Luo and the others read the characters carefully, and their expressions immediately grew more solemn.

"This trial is to seize the 'Ghost Face Fruit.'"

Within this gloomy forest, there exists a special kind of plant called the Ghost Face Demon Vine Tree. It is vicious and cruel by nature, liking to strangle any creature that approaches, then bury the corpse at its roots, using the flesh and blood as nourishment to strengthen itself.

And once the Ghost Face Demon Vine matures, it will bear a single 'Ghost Face Fruit.' This second-layer trial requires obtaining one Ghost Face Fruit to earn base points.

"This Ghost Face Demon Vine isn't easy to deal with. The vines are covered in poisonous thorns, and its attacks are vicious. To be honest, even someone at the Eight Seal phase power level would find it very hard to snatch the 'Ghost Face Fruit' from it in solo combat." Zhao Kuo frowned.

Seeing Yu Lang, who had originally planned to slip away earlier, now pulled his feet back and said, "I suggest the three of us team up to snatch the 'Ghost Face Fruit.' How about it?"

"You look like you were planning to go solo." Li Luo said with a smile.

Seeing Yu Lang said somewhat awkwardly, "How could that be? We're brothers who've been through life and death together."

Li Luo shook his head, too lazy to pay attention to this guy's unreliable words, but he didn't oppose Seeing Yu Lang's suggestion either. Although he might have had a way to obtain the 'Ghost Face Fruit' on his own, having help would naturally make things much easier.

And if it could be easy, why go it alone and grind away?

"Let's go."

Li Luo said, then took the lead, heading straight into the gloomy forest. Behind him, Seeing Yu Lang and Zhao Kuo hurried to follow.

The three traveled together, heading deeper into the forest. After about ten-odd minutes, they heard some movement from the distant right side.

The three exchanged a glance, crept forward quietly, pushed aside the dense thicket, and saw in a muddy wetland up ahead a great black tree standing tall. The tree was wrapped all over in black vines, with black thorns on them. When they whipped through the air, they sounded like great black pythons, the wind-breaking noise shrill and piercing.

On the thick trunk of the tree, one could faintly make out a somewhat grotesque face, chilling to behold.

It was indeed a Ghost Face Demon Vine Tree.

However, around this Ghost Face Demon Vine Tree, there were already six or seven figures present. Clearly, they were joining forces to besiege this Demon Vine Tree, bursts of phase power light blooming as they continuously launched attacks against it.

And the Demon Vine Tree was also counterattacking viciously, the vines with their poisonous thorns lashing down with terrifying force, directly whipping those six or seven people into wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves.

"Too tragic."

Seeing Yu Lang couldn't bear to look directly. Those six or seven people were of average strength, only around Six Seals, and even with their numbers, they were still being suppressed by the Demon Vine Tree.

And every time they were struck by the vines, the slapping sounds made one's scalp tingle, as if recalling the sticks waved by one's parents.

So in just a short while, this makeshift team was whipped bloody all over and fled in disarray. Fortunately, the Demon Vine Tree's attack range was limited; otherwise, even retreating might not have been so simple for them.

The three witnessed a tragedy and couldn't help shaking their heads.

"This Ghost Face Demon Vine Tree is a bit tricky." Zhao Kuo said with some worry. Although they were stronger than the previous team, wanting to break through the Demon Vine Tree's frenzied vine attacks and seize the Ghost Face Fruit on its branches was probably not going to be a simple matter either.

"Seeing Yu Lang, you go try it first." Li Luo thought for a moment and said.

Hearing this, Seeing Yu Lang immediately grumbled in dissatisfaction, "Why send me?"

"You're wind phase, the fastest. If you don't act as vanguard, who will?" Li Luo said with a smile.

Seeing Yu Lang couldn't argue back, and could only curse and grumble as he stepped forward. Green phase power spread out from his body, and then his figure shot out like the wind, kicking up a gust.

"Tch, worthy of being called the fastest man in our South Wind Academy." Zhao Kuo saw this and said with a strange expression, cackling.

Li Luo stared at Seeing Yu Lang's figure. This guy's speed was indeed very fast, and it was obvious he had put more effort into cultivating his speed, which was actually a very smart choice.

Ssssk!

And when Seeing Yu Lang rapidly approached the Ghost Face Demon Vine Tree, the latter sensed it and immediately sent vines like great pythons whistling down.

Seeing Yu Lang dodged quickly, but as he got closer, the Demon Vine Tree seemed to sense the threat, and more and more vines whistled in, constantly cutting off his dodging space. So gradually, Yu Lang's figure was no longer as carefree as before, and began to look a little wretched.

In the end, he chose to retreat. His figure flashed, and he withdrew from the Demon Vine Tree's attack range, landing beside Li Luo and Zhao Kuo.

"No good, I can't get close at all, let alone snatch the Ghost Face Fruit." Seeing Yu Lang wiped the sweat from his face and said helplessly.

"Actually, it's not that hard."

Li Luo smiled. Seeing Yu Lang's speed earlier had already forced out the Ghost Face Demon Vine Tree's attack frequency. He said, "Next, we'll strike together. Zhao Kuo takes the front as meat shield, I'll assist him by tying up the Demon Vine Tree's frontal assault, and you strike from the side when the opportunity arises to snatch the Ghost Face Fruit."

"But this way, most of the hardship will be taken by Zhao Kuo."

Hearing this, Zhao Kuo let out a simple chuckle and said, "Don't worry, I'm thick-skinned and tough."

Li Luo nodded and didn't say anything overly sentimental. Since they were cooperating now, everyone had to play their part. He didn't want to let Zhao Kuo freeload just because they were close, and besides, Zhao Kuo probably wouldn't want to accept that either.

"Fine." Seeing Yu Lang had even less objection.

Having set a simple battle plan, the three no longer hesitated. Li Luo drew his twin blades from his waist, and Zhao Kuo also took down his great axe from his back.

"Go!"

Accompanying Li Luo's low shout, Zhao Kuo roared, his burly, towering frame charging out like a savage bear, rushing toward the Demon Vine Tree in the most ferocious posture.

A faint silver glow of phase power emanated from his body. When the Silver Bear phase was activated, Zhao Kuo's already burly frame swelled another size larger.

Sss!

The Demon Vine Tree's response came quickly. Vines like great pythons whistled in like lightning, raising a sharp wind-breaking sound.

Zhao Kuo swung his great axe in his hands, like a storm blade, savagely severing the vines coming at him head-on. Greenish sap splattered everywhere.

The mud beneath their feet suddenly exploded at this moment, and vines actually drilled out from underground, aiming straight for Zhao Kuo's lower body.

But at this moment, a flash of blue-glowing blade light swept past, slicing the vines apart.

Li Luo, with blue phase power rising from his body, stood behind Zhao Kuo, his twin blades occasionally flashing blue as he severed some of the vines attacking Zhao Kuo.

The two were continuously closing in on the Demon Vine Tree.

But as they got closer and closer, the Demon Vine Tree also began to go berserk. Countless vines smashed down like mad, and even though Li Luo tried his best to help block, some vines still struck Zhao Kuo's body, leaving bloody welts. Yet he didn't make a sound, gritting his teeth, and continued to press forward step by step.

"Seeing Yu Lang, go!"

At this moment, Li Luo knew the timing was about right and immediately let out a fierce shout.

"Got it!"

Seeing Yu Lang, who had long been ready on the flank, heard the call and his figure immediately shot out, pushing his speed to the limit. Taking advantage of the moment when the Demon Vine Tree had all its attacks drawn by Li Luo and Zhao Kuo, he dove straight for the Ghost Face Fruit hanging on the branch.

His speed was extremely fast; in the blink of an eye, he was close to the Ghost-Face Fruit, but just as he was about to reach out and snatch it, suddenly the soil beneath exploded, and a strange figure shot out, intending to seize the Ghost-Face Fruit a step ahead.

"Damn it!"

Such a sudden turn of events made Seeing Yu Lang's face turn iron-green, and he cursed loudly; no one had expected that someone was hiding in the shadows, waiting to play the role of the oriole behind the cicada.

However, just as Seeing Yu Lang watched helplessly as the newcomer was faster than him, Li Luo, not far away, let out a thunderous shout: "Seeing Yu Lang, close your eyes!"

Immediately, with a cold expression, he raised his hand, and a blue light orb had already condensed at his fingertip, shooting out violently.

The blue light orb suddenly exploded not far from Seeing Yu Lang and the figure who had launched the surprise attack; the next instant, blinding intense light burst forth.

(End of this chapter)