Chapter 368: Ignite the World Tree! The Steam Empress Moves In!

Twelve‑Ring Tower·Flame World Tree.

Although the outline of this system still exists.

But the Flame World Tree itself has been destroyed.

Along the way, not only did Lai Di Xi Ya explain the enemies' attacks on the World Tree over the past few years.

Ta Ke himself could also see the resources harvested from the system‑anchored Flame World Tree.

He observed a decrease in source energy, talent fragments, and Flame Heart fragments.

War broke out.

Naturally, the strong ones of those war legions could not allow Chao Shen Da Shi to guard this World Tree, continuously restoring vitality and fighting a war of attrition with them.

Now, both the World Tree and the Steam Ring have suffered varying degrees of damage.

Above the tower.

Inside the not‑so‑spacious Flame Hall.

Ta Ke saw the Four‑tusk Elephant Worldship for the first time, and the astonishingly powerful Chao Shen Da Shi who leads many tribes to guard the Flame World Tree—Gaili Si·Lan Ya!

Worldship people are naturally more robust.

And the masterful Gaili Si·Lan Ya, radiating aura, stands a full twenty‑five to twenty‑six meters tall, truly a giant human.

However!

All over Gaili Si·Lan Ya, the bark‑like rough, desiccated skin cracks reveal swirling flames inside.

He is wounded and quite weak.

That is Ta Ke's first impression.

On the way here, Lai Di Xi Ya told Ta Ke many things.

Such as, those quasi‑masters used various powerful forbidden incantations to attack the World Tree.

They employed curses to strike Gaili Si·Lan Ya.

They even used a pretext of negotiation to lure Gaili out for an ambush.

Even without a Chao Shen Da Shi entering, Mo Lei·Shen Ting's war legions have ample means to deal with the present Chao Shen Da Shi Gaili Si·Lan Ya.

The fact that worldship people can only cower in a corner of the World Tree shows that this protective tribe's Chao Shen Da Shi is already outmatched.

Above the Flame Throne.

Chao Shen Da Shi Gaili Si·Lan Ya gazed deeply, scrutinizing the shadow‑state Ta Ke.

"Ta Ni Lu, this is the promise I gave you earlier!"

Saying so, Gaili Si·Lan Ya tossed a Chao Shen storage bracelet toward him.

Ta Ke raised his hand to catch it.

"Furthermore... in the years to come you may cultivate within this World Tree."

"Although time is short, I have nonetheless fulfilled my promise."

This ancient Chao Shen Da Shi faithfully kept his prior agreement with Ta Ke.

Feeling the bark‑like rough surface of the Chao Shen storage bracelet, Ta Ke hesitated a moment before speaking.

"Lord Gaili, I previously enslaved a Shark Insect Empress in my personal micro‑world."

"And I have a way to bring the Shark Insect Empress over; perhaps... she could contribute to the defense of this Flame World Tree."

"Hmm... Shark Insect Empress?"

Chao Shen Da Shi Gaili's brows flickered with a slight pulse of vitality.

A year ago in a battle, Gaili Si·Lan Ya originally intended to slay several quasi‑masters and Mo Lei·Shen Ting's Chao Shen practitioners.

Instead, a quasi‑master Chao Shen from Mo Lei·Shen Ting directly wielded a legendary strongman's power, nearly killing him.

He escaped back, but was gravely wounded.

Afterwards, those quasi‑masters and countless war legions kept launching attacks.

He did use the Flame World Tree's power to crush the enemy.

But the Fire Ancient God Tree Tribe was incinerated in that battle, with fewer than one in ten city‑state residents surviving.

Currently the enemy lurks outside the worldship cabin, eyes ready to strike at any moment.

Around this Flame World Tree, defense is presently extremely difficult.

If he could not still mobilize some of the divine tree's power.

Otherwise, those Mo Lei·Shen Ting folk outside would have already slaughtered his people.

At this moment, the exotic Chao Shen Ta Ni Lu is willing to contribute his strength to the defense, which is naturally excellent.

"What rank of Shark Insect Empress?"

Gaili Si·Lan Ya asked.

"Ninth rank!"

Ninth rank!

A slight smile appeared on Gaili Si·Lan Ya's face.

"A ninth‑rank Shark Insect Empress is still very formidable."

"It's just that I lack sufficient resources here to supply the Shark Insect Empress, unable to spawn many Shark Insect warriors."

"Otherwise, the combat capability the Shark Insect Empress provides is still quite impressive."

"My Shark Insects don't need much flesh; a little blood and enough steam source energy suffices."

"Of course, most importantly, having a safe nest within this Flame World Tree would be even better."

Ta Ke said as such.

Ta Ke's explanation left Gaili Si·Lan Ya somewhat puzzled.

This is the shark‑insect Empress who primarily consumes source‑energy steam and not flesh; she… is she still the shark‑insect Empress?

…………

Several hours later.

Inside a "domain tree nest" of the Flame World Tree.

Ta Ke, who chose this site, is very satisfied with it.

Given the Flame World Tree's "world" characteristic is profound.

The ground width of this domain tree nest is roughly comparable to the former Lamor district, which is already quite considerable.

The most important thing is that this domain tree nest is very, very tall.

From bottom to top, it reaches a full five to six kilometers.

The three‑dimensional shark‑insect nest—this is the framework the Steam Empress likes best.

More importantly, this place can serve not only as the Steam Empress's hideout.

It is also an ideal spot for Ta Ke to build his Chaotic Master ecological nest.

Within this domain tree nest, Ta Ke can sense a relatively strong Chaotic Origin.

This is the case even under natural environmental conditions.

If a chaotic ecology forms, the Chaotic Origin here will become extremely dense.

"This place itself is a spatial layer domain; it's not easy to enter."

"Next, I will continue to use the power of the world barrier to strengthen the layer boundaries."

"In that case, this place will be as solid as a gold‑filled moat."

"Moreover… I choose this as my nest, so I can break the ecological ratio between the Steam and the Flame World Tree."

"Let the Flame World Tree become the Steam·Flame World Tree."

"The plan… begins!"

Ta Ke begins to communicate with the World Tree, communicating with the world's origin.

Not long after, the spacetime wormhole gate blossoms.

The other side of the wormhole gate appears within Ta Ke's sub‑light micro‑world.

"Whu…"

Accompanied by a faint steam rumble, the first to surge in are those diligent little steam shark insects.

These diligent little fellows know their Empress is moving, so they came first to scout the place.

"Whu whu whu…"

These little ones fly and glide within the space while joyfully spouting source‑energy steam.

Then come massive numbers of resident eighth‑tier and ninth‑tier powerful steam shark insects, all standard long‑life varieties.

They look no different from the temporary strains born during wartime.

After that, the Steam Empress herself spouts thick source‑energy ash mist and glides over.

As the Steam Empress begins leading her swarm to adapt and build a new domain,

Ta Ke silently employs the "Steam·World" method to breach the barrier between the Flame World Tree and the Steam ecology.

The metamorphosis, silent as ever, begins to blossom!

In itself, the twelve‑ring steam ecology here is already sufficiently powerful.

It does not require Ta Ke to build a steam ecology as the driving spark.

Ta Ke only needs to use his special ability to break that thin membrane; the rest need not be his concern.

The cycle of the extraordinary steam ecology will naturally achieve a multi‑layered domain depth balance with the Flame World Tree.

Maintaining the spacetime wormhole, while the shark insects over there keep coming.

Ta Ke is also drafting subsequent plans.

After the Steam Empress initially adapts here, war will commence.

The Steam Empress's war potential is terrifying; so far, Ta Ke has never fully unleashed it.

This time!

Ta Ke moves into the Flame World Tree.

He has already ignited the Flame World Tree with steam; steam spreads everywhere, ready to burst forth.

These are the Steam Empress's war foundation and great potential.

Facing the war that has already burned up to his side,

Ta Ke must release the Steam Empress's war potential in all directions.

Take a good look at the Steam Empress's war capability and see just how terrifying it truly is!