Chapter 267: Trapped

The thunderstorm over the Ten Thousand Mountains came suddenly and ferociously; within moments, the sky was choked with dark clouds, heavy and pressing down, and then rain poured in torrents.

Raindrops as large as beans fell densely, quickly turning the dense forest into a watery swamp.

As Liu Liu Xiaolou lay unconscious, the flowing water gradually lifted him, drifting him slowly outward; when he had floated ten zhang away, a vine suddenly shot up from the mud, coiling around his ankle and slowly hoisting him a foot above the surface.

Only when the wind ceased and the rain stopped, and the water level receded into the soil, was he released by the vine and dropped back onto the ground.

The jolt shook a pool of sour fluid from his mouth, and only then did he finally awaken.

Opening his eyes, he gazed up at the massive canopy above, unable to tell whether the dangling strands were branches from the tree or vines growing from the earth—he was momentarily dazed.

Where was he?

What had happened to him?

His gaze shifted, and he immediately saw the Spirit Leopard still suspended in midair; fragments of memory surged into his mind, and he finally remembered. But as he recalled further, his thoughts broke off—he didn't know how he had landed, or why this demonic tree or vine had spared him.

He could never figure out this question.

Turning his attention inward, he checked his body: his meridians and acupoints had not been damaged by the vine's piercing and sucking; his true qi was severely depleted, and he seemed to have lost too much blood, leaving his body heavy and unable to even move a single finger.

With consciousness restored, his cultivation method could resume; Liu Liu Xiaolou lay on the ground, slowly regulating his breath, practicing for a full day until he felt strength returning, then sat up, clutching a spirit stone in his palm to accelerate his recovery.

After another day, his true qi had recovered most of its strength; he finally stood, gazing at the towering tree before him, and cautiously took steps forward, testing his way outward.

Since this demonic tree hadn't consumed him, perhaps it would let him leave?

Step by step, zhang by zhang, he walked ten zhang until he reached the edge of the tree's canopy; he took a deep breath, channeled his true qi, and launched himself forward in a sprint.

This step was the fastest he could possibly move—he flew through the air like a spreading eagle, dashing out in a blur of motion!

Mid-air, he fixed his gaze on another large tree ahead, preparing to use it as a landing point to rebound further, his arms outstretched—

Two vines suddenly whipped through the air, wrapping around his arms!

Liu Liu Xiaolou was stunned; he drew the Master Sanxuan Swords, blade-light flickering, slashing at the vines. Yet even the razor-sharp blade-light of the Master Sanxuan Swords could not sever the vines!

Then more vines surged forth, coiling around his legs, neck, waist, and hands, binding him until he could no longer move, and forcibly dragged him back, slamming him beneath the demonic tree's canopy.

After dragging him back, the vines retracted into the earth, vanishing in an instant.

He was momentarily stunned.

What the hell?

After all this, this demonic tree had no intention of letting him go? Then why didn't it eat him, like it had eaten the Spirit Leopard?

Oh—the Spirit Leopard wasn't even finished eating yet; it was still alive!

Recalling vividly how the vines had dragged him back, he realized his cultivation hadn't fully recovered, and his escape speed hadn't reached its peak—hence his capture. He sat down again, resuming his breath regulation to restore his cultivation.

After a day, Liu Liu Xiaolou's cultivation was fully restored; he felt his state had returned to its peak, took a deep breath, and walked slowly toward the edge of the canopy, glancing back every three steps, then launched himself again!

He clearly felt better this time—his arms soared like an eagle, wings spread, flying high!

Several vines erupted from the soil once more, faster than before, coiling around every part of his body; this time, he had no chance to draw his sword before being yanked back.

He rolled over, sat up, and pondered long and hard, then decided to change his strategy.

He approached the canopy's edge—this time, instead of soaring, he tiptoed lightly outward; after just two steps, vines appeared again, dragging him back to his original spot.

So Liu Liu Xiaolou continued to rack his brains, devising a new tactic.

This time, at the canopy's edge, he flicked his wrist and launched the Mystic True Rope, wrapping it around a nearby rock—this rock was mostly buried in the soil, surely strong enough to bear his pulling force.

The Mystic True Rope looped around the rock, tied in a knot; Liu Liu Xiaolou tested it—it held firm. He leapt—

Vines again!

All day long, he pondered every possible escape method, but all failed without exception.

Liu Liu Xiaolou wanted to cry but had no tears; he knelt before the great tree, bowing three times and kowtowing nine times, performing every ritual properly.

But the demonic tree clearly knew no etiquette; it treated him as before—whenever he stepped beyond the canopy's boundary, it immediately yanked him back with vines.

Eventually, Liu Liu Xiaolou could no longer contain himself; rage surged in his heart, daring him to act—he drew the Master Sanxuan Swords and slashed at the trunk, branches, and vines; when the blade failed to cut, he pulled out the Glass Shield and rammed and smashed it; when that had no effect, he lit the Illusory Incense and fiercely smoked around the roots—every method he could think of was exhausted, yet the demonic tree remained utterly unharmed.

Liu Liu Xiaolou was nearly mad; he didn't want to die trapped here, yet had no solution, and screamed in frustration.

But no matter how loudly he screamed, not a single soul appeared.

That day, as he stared blankly at the blue sky and white clouds, watching small birds fly above the treetops, a vine suddenly shot out, snatching the bird midair.

Liu Liu Xiaolou cursed aloud: "You demon! Even letting me watch birds is too much?"

No sooner had he spoken than the bird was tossed at his feet, flapping its wings twice, then lying still.

Liu Liu Xiaolou blinked—he suddenly felt hungry; he hadn't eaten in days, and was starving.

He summoned a flame from his fingertip, gathered dry twigs and fallen leaves, built a small fire, and roasted the bird. His spirit rice was long gone, but his space bag still held many jars of Bamboo Ye Qing spirit wine; pairing the roasted bird with the spirit wine was utterly satisfying.

Bamboo Ye Qing was potent, and Liu Liu Xiaolou drank quite a bit; as the alcohol emboldened him, a new idea struck him—he chuckled wickedly, moved the bonfire beneath the tree's roots, added more dry twigs and leaves, stepped back a few paces, and waited to see the effect.

After burning for a long while, the roots refused to ignite; Liu Liu Xiaolou leaned closer to inspect—when suddenly, a vine drooped down and whipped his face, sending him flying. Moments later, several more vines descended, lashing the fire until it was completely extinguished.

Liu Liu Xiaolou was nearly hopeless.

This demonic tree was too strange—there was simply no way to defeat it. Was this how his life would end—trapped here forever?

Overcome with despair and exhaustion, Liu Liu Xiaolou fell asleep unconsciously. He dreamed he had achieved Foundation Establishment, wielded divine power, and chopped the demonic tree into countless pieces, laughing triumphantly as he walked away.

At dawn the next day, Liu Liu Xiaolou adjusted his attitude and made up his mind.

Since you won't let me leave, I'll just stay and outlast you. As long as you don't eat me, I'll begin rigorous cultivation from today!

Free to read.