Chapter 313
This little girl is too unruly!
The forest was unusually quiet, but this quiet was not peaceful; rather, it was a stillness that contained countless life rhythms and lurking dangers.
Beneath your feet lies a thick layer of humus accumulated over countless millennia, soft and springy to the touch, exuding the unique scent of decaying soil and plants.
The vines coiled around the tree trunk like giant pythons, hanging down from the canopy to form green curtains.
Various exotic ferns and brightly colored fungi that may contain deadly toxins thrive among tree roots and damp rock crevices.
The air was filled with a rich sense of life, mixed with damp mist, the fragrance of grass and trees, the faint scent of flowers, and a barely perceptible stench of wild beasts.
Simply standing on the edge, the vast and desolate aura from the ancient wilderness, the grandeur and profundity that blots out the sky, press down on you as if they were real, silently proclaiming its majesty and unpredictability.
This is the kingdom of spirit beasts, a primitive land that humans should revere.
Oscar swallowed hard, his excitement replaced by a hint of instinctive awe.
Tang San's Purple Demon Eyes activated involuntarily, scanning the darkness ahead warily.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists, his evil eyes flashing with golden light. The oppression of yesterday seemed to be dispelled by the grander and more primal challenge before him, replaced by a solemnity as he faced a true test.
Even Flander's expression turned serious. He adjusted his glasses and said in a deep voice:
"Pay close attention and stick with me. The Star Dou Great Forest is not a place for a picnic. From now on, be careful with every step you take, and don't ignore any disturbance."
"understand!"
Oscar's incantation echoed at the edge of the silent forest, carrying a strange rhythm.
"I have a big sausage! I have a small sausage!"
Light shimmered in his palm as the restorative and detoxifying sausages quickly solidified.
His face was slightly pale, and his thick beard could not hide the weakness caused by the rapid depletion of his soul power.
"then!"
He quickly distributed the sausages and bacon to everyone.
"Sausages can heal wounds and satisfy hunger, while cured sausages can detoxify; they're effective for up to twelve hours! Keep them safe, because I might not have time to react if a real fight breaks out!"
The group silently accepted the life-saving item and carefully put it into their pockets.
Dai Mubai weighed the warm sausage in his hand, feeling the gentle soul power contained within it. He then glanced at Lin Xia, who was leisurely strolling at the back of the group, and Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, who had different expressions beside him. An indescribable sense of frustration welled up in his chest—why could they be so relaxed, as if they were on a spring outing?
But given Lin Xia's strength, he could only grit his teeth and suppress his frustration.
"set off!"
Flander's voice cut off his thoughts.
The dean pushed up his crystal glasses, a sharp glint flashing in his deep-set eyes. His tall, thin figure was the first to disappear into the dark, all-encompassing darkness ahead, like a gray arrow shot into the unknown.
The moment you step into the edge of the Starry Sky Forest, the air suddenly changes.
So moist it seemed you could wring water out of it, the strong scent of decaying vegetation mixed with faint floral fragrance, earthy aroma, and even a hint of the stench of wild beasts, creating a primal, wild, and intense odor that forcefully filled everyone's nostrils.
The light was completely swallowed up by the massive, layered canopy of trees, which was tens of meters thick. Although it was morning outside, it was like an eternal twilight here. Only a few scattered spots of light managed to penetrate the gaps in the leaves with great difficulty, casting shimmering fragments of gold onto the damp ground covered with moss and huge, plank-like tree roots.
Beneath our feet lies a bottomless layer of humus, accumulated over millions of years. It is thick and soft, and each step sinks deep into our ankles, making a muffled "plop" sound, bringing with it a strong smell of decaying old leaves and tiny, rotting organisms.
Thick, python-like vines hang from the treetops, dozens of meters high, some twining around the trunks, others meandering across the ground, forming natural green barriers. Vibrant mushrooms and strangely shaped ferns parasitize tree roots, rocks, and fallen giants, each brightly colored cap silently proclaiming a deadly temptation.
"Stay close! Pay close attention to every step you take!"
Flander's voice came from the front, low and tense.
"Keep your eyes peeled and your ears perked up! Insects, blades of grass, even a drop of dew here could be deadly! Signal immediately for any disturbance!"
Xiao Wu was the most excited.
She seemed to have broken free from invisible constraints, her pink figure leaping lightly in the dim light, her toes touching protruding tree roots or exposed rocks, like a true fairy rabbit returning to the mountains and forests.
She even playfully reached out and brushed against a huge, fluorescent blue fern, whose leaves seemed to curl slightly as if they were sentient, eliciting a barely audible chuckle from her.
As a snow-white, long-eared, red-eyed, ten-year-old soft-boned rabbit darted past her feet in a panic, a fleeting, extremely subtle, and indescribable gentle purple glint flashed in her eyes before she regained her joy.
Flander followed closely behind her, his brow furrowed, ready to strike at any moment.
This little girl is too impulsive!
But her range of activity was strangely always within the limits of what he could instantly control, leaving him unable to find a solid reason to reprimand her, and he could only turn his dissatisfaction into heavier footsteps.
The burden of paving the way was soon lifted off Flanders' shoulders.
After going no more than a mile, the terrain suddenly becomes complex and rugged.
The huge, plank-like tree roots are like natural steps, intertwined and bulging, and in some places they even form steep embankments several meters high.
A massive, collapsed tree lay across the scene, covered in a thick layer of moss and slippery fungi.
The ubiquitous, resilient vines layer upon layer, forming a natural net.
"Change players! Mu Bai, in front!"
Volland decisively stepped back, giving up the most dangerous striker position.
His martial spirit excels in agility and attack; in this environment, pure strength and defense are more effective in clearing a path.
Without the slightest hesitation, Dai Mubai replied in a deep voice:
"Yes!"
A fierce aura belonging to the Evil-Eyed White Tiger instantly rose from his body. He strode past Flander and stood at the very front of the group.
Dai Mubai's burly figure stood at the very front of the group, his evil eyes gleaming with golden light as he warily scanned the dark path ahead, overgrown with vines and thorns.
He gave a low shout.
"White Tiger, possess me!"
A blinding platinum-gold light suddenly erupted, instantly pushing back the surrounding darkness by several feet.
His powerful muscles bulged and rippled under the surge of soul power, and faint golden tiger stripes appeared on his skin. A majestic "King" character on his forehead shone brightly.
Most striking were his enormous tiger paws, from which sharp, white bone blades, accompanied by a teeth-grinding clang, suddenly sprang forth from his knuckles. Each blade was over half a foot long, gleaming coldly and radiating a ferocious aura capable of tearing everything apart. (End of Chapter)