Chapter 535: The Thunder-Resonance Tree's Attack

Beneath the massive Thunder-Resonance Tree, everyone gazed at the evil, ominous seed of malicious intent emanating from the crushed Thunder-Resonance Fruit, their hearts filled with chilling dread.

No one expected that within this seemingly irresistible Thunder-Resonance Fruit lay such terrifying peril.

If they truly swallowed and absorbed this object, they would inevitably be contaminated by the malicious seed within their bodies; at that time, not only would they fail to obtain any Thunder-Resonance Body, but their divine consciousness would also be corrupted.

"Good, insidious!" Qin Yin Yue's face twitched, and he then spoke through gritted teeth.

At the very beginning, they thought the malice here lay only in the quantity of Thunder-Resonance Fruits, yet they never expected this was merely the first layer; if they truly turned on each other because of this, the two who eventually emerged victorious would instead face the beginning of a tragedy.

Moreover, given the preciousness of the Thunder-Resonance Fruit, not everyone possessed the boldness of Jiang Jiang Qinge to simply crush it and render it useless.

Therefore, once the Thunder-Resonance Fruit reached their hands, they would most likely fall victim to its trap.

The Long Princess's elegant and beautiful face also became solemn and grave at this moment; this hidden trap was truly something she had not anticipated, for since the Thunder-Resonance Fruit was born from the Thunder-Resonance Tree, if the fruit had a problem, did that not also imply that this magnificent Thunder-Resonance Tree before them was actually not as simple and calm as it appeared on the surface?

What exactly had gone wrong with this Thunder-Resonance Mountain?

Yet clearly, the malicious intent energy within this mountain range was so scarce...

"This Thunder-Resonance Tree is likely suspicious." On Lu Ming's delicate body, Xiang power rose, and her steps slowly retreated.

Clearly, she had also perceived the point the Long Princess was thinking of.

Everyone's expressions were all solemn; when they looked again at this towering ancient tree before them, the previous sense of magnificent grandeur seemed to have dissipated considerably, and the silver tree trunk appeared to be acquiring an eerie, chilling aura.

"The malicious intent energy in this mountain range is so thin; how could this Thunder-Resonance Tree have a problem?" Zhao Zhao Beili frowned, somewhat puzzled.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden eyes gazed at the silver giant tree, and she said faintly, "If... those malicious intent energies were actually all absorbed by this Thunder-Resonance Tree?"

Upon hearing these words, the atmosphere froze for several breaths, and then everyone instantly stepped back, wanting to distance themselves from this Thunder-Resonance Tree.

Because they realized that if Jiang Jiang Qinge's speculation was true, then the Thunder-Resonance Tree before them was likely even more dangerous than they had imagined.

Li Luo also licked his lips; indeed, the tranquility along this entire journey had been nothing but an illusion.

"Everyone, what should we do now?"

The speaker was Ao Bai from the Northern Sea Sacred Academy; this strongest figure of the two-star academy in this Sacred Cup War had been low-key all the way here, presumably understanding that with his "Void General" level strength, he did not hold much speaking weight within such a lineup.

However, since the situation had now become intricate and confusing, he still had to ask clearly about everyone's plans for what came next.

Jiang Jiang Qinge glanced around and said calmly, "It is no longer a matter of what we want to do... haven't you noticed? The thunder energy at the mountain peak has begun to become violent at this moment."

Everyone was startled and raised their heads, indeed seeing the thunder clouds in the sky surging violently at this moment, with thick bolts of lightning constantly crashing down; that scene was truly terrifying in its momentum.

"The Thunder-Resonance Tree is also moving!"

The Long Princess also discovered at this moment that as the thunder energy in heaven and earth grew violent, that massive Thunder-Resonance Tree ahead suddenly showed some unusual movement; countless silver branches and leaves spread across the sky and earth, hanging down... from a distance, it seemed as if they were forming a prison to cover everything at the mountain peak.

"It intends to trap us!" Zhao Zhao Beili shouted fiercely.

"Retreat!"

The Long Princess made an immediate decision, uttered a light shout, and was the first to retreat urgently.

Boom!

But just as everyone planned to escape the Thunder-Resonance Tree's coverage range, blindingly bright Lei Guang erupted from the Thunder-Resonance Tree; in the next instant, countless thick vines like giant pythons roared down, and on the silver vines, extremely powerful thunder energy flowed.

Crack!

The thunder vines crashed down, causing the void to tremble slightly.

That dense offensive even caused the Long Princess, Qin Yin Yue, and Zhao Zhao Beili, these three Tian Zhu Jing grand masters, to have their expressions change slightly.

"One-star academy, two-star academy, retreat!"

The Long Princess shouted out; the energy condensed by this Thunder-Resonance Tree was simply more shocking than the Four-Armed Demon-Eye Snake in Zhenjiang City; this kind of offensive was absolutely something Li Luo and those low-star academy students could not withstand.

The Long Princess, Qin Yin Yue, and Zhao Zhao Beili, these three Tian Zhu Jing experts, instantly unleashed vast Xiang power; brilliant Tian Zhu Jing orbs appeared out of thin air behind them, swallowing and spitting out the energy of heaven and earth, and then the three acted simultaneously, with torrents of Xiang power surging forth to block down the offensive of those countless thunder vines.

Jiang Jiang Qinge defended on the side; she held a heavy sword, and behind her, light and shadow condensed, transforming into a vividly lifelike Ninth-Rank Light Spirit Envoy; the vast and solid Light Xiang power illuminated the space several zhang around her as if it were midday, the divine light pure and bright.

The great battle came extremely suddenly and was extremely violent.

The combined effort of three Tian Zhu Jing experts was nothing short of earth-shattering; the vast torrent of Xiang power roared through the void, as if even the towering Dashan beneath their feet had been caused to tremble slightly.

Those countless thunder vines were blocked by the three, and silver wood chips floated down everywhere in the sky.

But although the three blocked the Thunder-Resonance Tree's attack together, in this brief moment, at the edge covered by the Thunder-Resonance Tree's shade, countless branches and vines had already hung down, covering layer upon layer, as if transforming into a Lei Guang prison that enveloped the entire peak of Thunder-Resonance Mountain.

Lu Ming and Li Luo stood at the very rear; they, these low-star academy people, were actually protected quite well; although the Thunder-Resonance Tree's offensive was violent, most of it was blocked by the Long Princess, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and others, so their area was actually relatively stable.

At this moment, Lu Ming looked at the obstruction formed by the Thunder-Resonance Tree's vines in the distance, her delicate brows tightly furrowed, and said, "We are trapped."

"I never expected the tranquility along this entire journey was merely laying the groundwork for here," Li Luo also said with a solemn expression.

"Continuing like this is likely not good; although we have three Tian Zhu Jing experts, the environment here is extremely unfavorable to us; the Thunder-Resonance Tree can continuously draw upon the thunder power contained in the thunder clouds above the sky; if we truly have to sustain a prolonged consumption, even three Tian Zhu Jing experts might not be able to outlast it."

"And once our Xiang power is consumed too much, the situation is likely to undergo some changes," Lu Ming said calmly.

Li Luo nodded slightly, but the Long Princess and the others should also be aware of this point; perhaps the current entanglement was merely testing the Thunder-Resonance Tree's strength, and if it was truly discovered that it could not be defeated, then they might only be able to join forces to break open the prison and retreat.

As for the missing squad, they could only be abandoned for the time being.

And just as Li Luo was thinking this in his heart, he suddenly saw the ground beneath his feet seem to wriggle slightly.

He was slightly stunned, and then his pupils suddenly contracted sharply; he shouted fiercely, "Beware of the ground beneath your feet!"

Boom!

At the very instant his voice fell, the ground exploded, and a thunder vine shot out violently, carrying violent power, sweeping fiercely horizontally toward them, this group of low-star academy students.

This kind of offensive was far too cunning and sudden; in the eyes of Li Luo and Lu Ming, the roaring thunder vine was reflected, and that speed was far too swift.

At that critical moment, Li Luo slapped Lu Ming's shoulder, which was closest to him; one person getting injured was ultimately better than both of them suffering misfortune.

With one slap from Li Luo, Lu Ming's slender figure was knocked back, and at the same time, Xiang power erupted on his other hand; he could only actively extend it to slap at the thunder vine roaring down like lightning.

Bang!

A low sound rang out.

Li Luo's figure was directly blasted flying backward; the violent thunder energy electrified his hair so that every strand stood upright, emitting white smoke, and he could not help but spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, staining both hands red.

Although he had suffered severe injury, Li Luo firmly grasped that thunder vine, preventing it from launching another offensive.

"Li Luo!"

At this moment, Lu Ming, who had been knocked back, finally came to her senses. She looked at Li Luo, who had been swept away, and immediately cried out in shock.

Whoosh!

Just as her voice fell, an exceptionally sharp and domineering sword light broke through the air. Condensed upon the sword light was extremely mighty Light-Phase power. The sword light descended, severing the Thunder Vines before Li Luo in a single strike.

It was Jiang Jiang Qinge who had acted.

At the same time, beneath the ground, more and more Thunder Vines roared forth.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's beautiful face was covered in frost. She had not expected the Thunder Tree to be so cunning, able to launch a surprise attack from underground, which had taken everyone by surprise.

However, with the scene in chaos, she could not attend to Li Luo's condition. She swung her heavy sword, transforming it into a sky-filling array of light sword beams to clear and defend against those Thunder Vines.

Lu Ming took this opportunity to hastily leap to Li Luo's side, helping the smoke-rising-haired Li Luo to his feet, and asked urgently, "Are you alright?"

Li Luo waved his hand, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said, "It's good that the Princess and the others attracted most of the Thunder Tree's power; otherwise, this time I might have lost half my life."

"Just now, thank you." Lu Ming hesitated for a moment, then sincerely thanked him.

If Li Luo had not pushed her away with a palm strike at the critical moment just now, she herself would probably be in a very bad state right now.

Hearing this, Li Luo smiled and said, "Letting such a beautiful girl see me in such an ugly state would be a sin."

Lu Ming glanced at Li Luo's upside-down hair and blackened face and couldn't help but want to laugh, but she finally pressed her small lips tight and forced herself to hold it back.

"During our last fight, I didn't see it. You, who would poison a girl, actually have a gentlemanly side," Lu Ming said.

"At that time, you were an opponent, so of course I had to use any means necessary," Li Luo defended.

"I was just joking with you. You recover a bit first; I'll keep watch for you."

Lu Ming smiled, but her jade hand gripped the hilt of the slender sword at her waist, watching the surroundings alertly to prevent another surprise attack.

Li Luo nodded, then lowered his head to stare at the broken vine segment in his hand. The thunder energy upon it had already dissipated, but a strange color swept across his eyes.

Because when his blood-covered palm had grasped the vine earlier.

He had vaguely felt a faint and blurred piece of information transmitted from it.

That piece of information...

Seemed like a special distress signal.