Chapter 174: Moonshadow Holy Tree, The Confusion of Chaos

After crossing the last stretch of twisted, withered woods shrouded in thick gray-green mist, the view before him suddenly opened up.

A magnificent "city wall," formed naturally by countless massive, gnarled ancient tree roots intertwined, stood before them. The wall soared dozens of meters high, exuding an aura of weathered resilience. The root surfaces were covered in thick moss and vines emitting a faint silver-white glow, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding dead and withered environment. On the wall, the figures of elven archers patrolling vigilantly could be vaguely seen.

This was the elves' last sanctuary in the Withered Forest—the Moonshadow Grove.

Priestess Liyana and her group quickly passed through the city gate channel guarded by living thorns. The moment they entered the grove's range, the withered mist and corruption permeating the air were instantly blocked and largely purified, replaced by the fresh fragrance of plants and a faint, clear moonlight. Although the oppressive feeling from the forest depths could still be sensed, this was undoubtedly a green oasis full of vitality.

At the center of the grove, a massive, strangely shaped ancient tree was the focus of everyone's attention. It was not lush with leaves; its main trunk possessed a semi-crystallized texture, flowing with a soft moon-white radiance. The massive canopy was not made of leaves but woven from countless energy vines hanging down and emitting pure silver light, like an inverted river of stars and waterfall, illuminating the entire core area of the grove. This was the foundation of the Moonshadow Grove—the Moonshadow Holy Tree, a miracle tree catalyzed at the cost of the lives of ancient Moon God priests, fused with part of the World Tree's origin, and also the final barrier resisting the withered mist.

Under the glow of the Holy Tree, Priestess Liyana's tense nerves relaxed slightly. She immediately ordered: "Avila, take her to the Spring of Life for healing. The rest of you, strengthen the alert! There is movement in the direction of the root nodules! Take these two... 'guests' to the binding array at the base of the Holy Tree!"

The elven warriors moved swiftly. Avila was supported toward a pool of emerald-green spring water on one side of the grove. Meanwhile, the warrior carrying Xiang Lingna and the warrior escorting the wrench, who was bound into a bundle by vines and still growling and struggling, followed Priestess Liyana toward the natural platform formed by the massive roots of the Holy Tree. There, a complex and profound elven array was carved, with silver-white runes flowing with powerful order and binding forces.

Xiang Lingna was carefully placed in the center of the array. Under the pure moonlight of the Holy Tree, the chaotic light cocoon on her body, like encountering a natural enemy, began to fluctuate violently, its surface swirling with a three-colored halo, emitting a faint "hiss," as if being slowly neutralized and suppressed. But the light cocoon itself was exceptionally tough; it did not dissipate, only shrinking a circle and wrapping Xiang Lingna even more tightly.

The wrench was forcibly pressed against the edge of the array. The vines binding him were replaced by silver light chains extending from the array, winding around him layer by layer. The power of the Holy Tree seemed to have less effect on the mechanical parts within him but produced a strong suppression effect on the remaining biological tissues and chaotic energy. His struggle significantly decreased, the red light in his electronic eyes dimmed considerably, and he emitted meaningless whimpers from his mouth.

Priestess Liyana stood outside the array, her emerald-green eyes Heavy and Solemn as she scrutinized the light cocoon on Xiang Lingna. She extended her slender fingers and pointed at the cocoon from a distance. A wisp of pure moonlight power, like a probe, carefully touched the surface of the light cocoon.

Hiss!

The moment the moonlight power contacted the light cocoon, no violent conflict occurred; instead, like water droplets falling into boiling oil, it stirred up a wave of chaotic energy ripples! Priestess Liyana clearly felt that part of her moonlight power was assimilated and absorbed by the emerald halo (Thorn Order), part was repelled and eroded by the dark purple energy (Annihilation Corruption), and a tiny fraction was actually guided by the milky stardust halo (Lin Mo), attempting to merge into the interior of the light cocoon!

This was not a simple energy confrontation but more like a chaotic and strange... attempt at fusion?! A storm of waves surged in Priestess Liyana's heart. The Thorn Order originated from the core of the Wang Ting, sharing the same source as the moonlight power, so its absorption was not surprising. The stardust power was Lin Mo's power; it was understandable that it could guide the moonlight. But that pure, destructive Annihilation Corruption竟然 did not completely repel her moonlight power; instead, under the "mediation" of the stardust and the thorns, it presented a strange "inertness"?

"Priestess Liyana!" an old and gentle voice came. An old elf, dressed in a simple priest robe, holding a wooden staff, with a kind face but unable to hide his exhaustion, walked over quickly, accompanied by several elven elders. He was the spiritual leader of the Moonshadow Grove and Priestess Liyana's mentor—High Priest Tyrande. His gaze was immediately drawn to the chaotic light cocoon in the center of the array, his eyes filled with shock and worry. "By the Moon Shadow! This... what is this? I sense the aura of the Wang Ting, yet it is mixed with... the deepest darkness and destruction! And... the stardust light of Lord Lin Mo?"

"Mentor!" Priestess Liyana bowed respectfully and quickly summarized the process of discovering Xiang Lingna, the scene on the stone wall, Lord Lin Mo's soul being imprisoned, and the final outburst of energy by Xiang Lingna forming the light cocoon, focusing on the strange reaction between that chaotic energy, the Wang Ting fragments, and the moonlight power.

After listening, High Priest Tyrande remained silent for a long time. He walked slowly to the edge of the array, did not rashly touch the light cocoon, but closed his eyes and gently placed his withered palm on the Holy Tree roots carved with runes. His spiritual power, like a trickling stream, connected through the Holy Tree roots to the entire grove and even the deeper will of the earth.

Moments later, he opened his eyes, his gaze filled with indescribable complex emotions: shock, worry, and a hint of... unbelievable hope.

"The sensation from the Thorn Corridor was not wrong... she is that 'variable'." High Priest Tyrande's voice was low and solemn. "Through the Holy Tree, I sensed... the composition of the power within her is simply... incredible. The purest Annihilation Origin, the oldest Thorn Order, and Lord Lin Mo's stardust... and a cold logical power originating from old-world technology... these forces, which should have conflicted and annihilated each other, were actually forcibly blended within her body by an extremely resilient life will originating from herself and some... 'chaotic' characteristic we cannot understand, forming a temporarily balanced 'cocoon' state!"

He looked at Priestess Liyana, his gaze burning: "Priestess Liyana, do you remember the last whisper of the World Tree sprout before it withered in the depths of the Thorn Corridor?"

Priestess Liyana's body trembled, and she slowly recited that ancient and vague prophecy: "... When the order of steel embraces the embers of annihilation, when withered thorns entangle the starlight of another world... the seed of chaos will sprout in the soil of despair... It may be the death knell of the end... or it may be... the hope of rebirth..."

"Steel Order (Technology)... Embers of Annihilation (Claw of Corruption Origin)... Withered Thorns (Wang Ting Fragment)... Starlight of Another World (Lin Mo's Stardust)..." High Priest Tyrande's gaze fell on Xiang Lingna's light cocoon and the imprisoned wrench. "The prophecy... is coming true! This girl is that 'seed of chaos'!"

"But Mentor! This power is too dangerous!" an elven elder could not help but speak up, looking at the light cocoon with eyes full of apprehension. "Even the Holy Tree's moonlight cannot completely purify it! Once it loses control..."

"Yes, it is dangerous." High Priest Tyrande nodded heavily. "But it is also our only hope at present. Lord Lin Mo's soul escaped imprisonment, but it is extremely weak, and... I can feel that in his escaped soul, there also seems to be a trace of... chaotic aura of the same origin as this girl? There exists a profound connection between them that we cannot understand. To find Lord Lin Mo, awaken him, or even fight against that 'Pale Demon', perhaps... the key lies in this girl and the chaotic power within her!"

He looked at Priestess Liyana: "Try to communicate with her, Priestess Liyana. Use your heart, use the power of the Moon God, to feel for any spark of light that may exist deep within her chaotic consciousness. We must understand her, guide her... or, before she completely loses control, find a way to safely separate or control this power. Time... is running out. I can feel that the darkness in the depths of the forest is gathering."

As if to confirm High Priest Tyrande's words, the silver curtain of light hanging from the Moonshadow Holy Tree suddenly fluctuated extremely faintly. At the edge of the grove, the elven warrior on guard blew a sharp horn representing an enemy attack! From the mist of the distant Withered Forest came the terrifying sound of countless corrupted creatures surging forward like a tide!

The Doctor's revenge has begun!