39: Chapter 39 Corruption Whispers and Ominous Marks

Four teams, led by four queens, ascended along the unimaginably vast trunk of the World Tree. At first, the surroundings were full of vibrant vitality, the energy currents were gentle, and the emerald leaves shimmered with a healthy luster. However, as the altitude increased, an invisible unease began to spread in the hearts of all those with keen perception.

The first to notice the anomaly was Bai Zhi (Evernight Epiphyllum Kingdom team). The sprite [Holy Grail] floating in her hand spontaneously emitted a soft, purifying white light, but this light seemed to touch some kind of viscous barrier and became sluggish. "Something is polluting the energy here," she whispered to her companion Mo Li, her brows furrowed, "a kind of... deep, unclean impurity."

Almost simultaneously, Feng Ling (Gentle Breeze Dandelion Kingdom team) also took a deep breath; her Talent [Breath of Freshness] made her extremely sensitive to changes in the atmosphere. "The smell of the wind has changed," the sprite [Wind Fluff] beside her stirred uneasily, "a nauseating, sweet-rotten scent has mixed into the pure airflow." She instinctively activated her ability, attempting to disperse the negative energy that was gradually thickening around them.

On the other side, Qing Mu (Flowing Water Lotus Kingdom team) closed his eyes and focused; his Talent [Life Perception] established a weak connection with the tree trunk through the sprite [Root]. The scene he "saw" made his face turn pale. "The stream of life has become turbid and sluggish here," he pointed to a seemingly intact area to the front right, "like dirty oil seeping into a clear spring, something is obstructing it underneath, and even... reversing the flow of life."

Lin Wan (Sun Sunflower Kingdom team) felt it more directly and painfully. Her [Nature Resonance] allowed her to listen to the "emotions" of plants. At this moment, she could clearly feel a weak but continuous groan of pain from the majestic World Tree beneath her feet, as if countless tiny borers were gnawing at its Foundation. "It is asking us for help," Lin Wan whispered to Zhang Hao, her face somewhat pale, "a slow and continuous decay."

Zhang Hao's [Logical Connection] Talent operated at high speed, rapidly integrating this information from different angles that pointed to the same conclusion. "Multiple independent perceptions cross-verified, confirming the existence of large-scale unknown energy pollution. The nature of the pollution is inclined toward decay and stagnation, possessing inhibitory and erosive characteristics against life force and positive energy." The sprite [Silver Star] on his shoulder had data streams pouring out of its eyes, assisting in constructing a preliminary model of the pollution diffusion and marking several coordinates where energy anomalies were most significant.

"Look there!" Shi Yan (Gentle Breeze Dandelion Kingdom team) shouted in a low voice, pointing to an area marked by Silver Star. Everyone looked over and saw that the originally dark brown bark had lost its luster, becoming gray and withered, covered with fine cracks, as if all its vitality had been drained.

"It is a Scar of Decay!" Queen Qing Lian's voice was filled with unconcealable pain. The water-mirror flower in her hand immediately emitted a blue halo full of vitality, attempting to nourish that area. However, the healing light was like water droplets falling into a desert, quickly swallowed by the gray decay, with minimal effect. "The natural healing power of the Sacred Tree is severely suppressed here."

As they continued to ascend, such Scars of Decay began to appear more and more frequently. Varying in size and shape, they clung to the sacred trunk like ugly sores. The sweet, rotten smell in the air also became increasingly heavy, making one feel restless.

"Stop!" Queen Ye Tan's cold voice rang out suddenly like shattering ice, carrying a strong warning. She hovered in mid-air, her gaze sharp as a knife, staring fixedly at an unusually large, dark-colored area of decay ahead that was almost black. The moonshadow flower in her hand emitted a cold silver glow, as if resisting the ominous aura permeating from there. "There is something inside... a large number of malicious living things! Prepare for battle!"

Before she finished speaking—

"Snap... Boom!"

That huge piece of decayed bark, like a solidified pustule, suddenly collapsed and shattered inward! Immediately after, accompanied by a scalp-tingling, dense rustling sound, countless creatures the size of a fist, with an ominous gray-white body and twisted dark red patterns on their carapaces, surged out from the breach like a filthy flood that had broken a dam! Their scarlet compound eyes flashed with pure malice, and their sharp mouthparts dripped with dark, highly corrosive mucus as they opened and closed. Everywhere they passed, even the air made a slight "hissing" sound, being rapidly polluted!

"Corrupted Termites!" Queen Chaoyang's voice was filled with anger and awe-inspiring killing intent, "It really is these filth that hollow out the world!"

Facing this surging tide of filth, the four queens instantly erupted with energy brilliance as dazzling as the stars. Their attire underwent a transformation within the light, and powerful energy condensed into armor suited to their respective Origin powers:

Queen Chaoyang (Sun Sunflower Kingdom): The gorgeous golden long dress gathered and reshaped, turning into solar light armor that fit her vigorous figure, the armor flowing with a luster like molten gold. She gripped the air with both hands, and the scorching Sun Essence power surged and condensed, turning into two solar dual swords that shone with immense light, as if they could cut through all darkness.

Queen Ye Tan (Evernight Epiphyllum Kingdom): The ink-blue and silver-white long dress seemed to merge with the surrounding light and shadow, turning into a set of moonshadow leather armor convenient for concealment and surprise attacks. She held a pair of moon-shimmering daggers, curved like new moons with extreme cold light flowing on the edges, which appeared quietly, with chilling murderous intent.

Queen Zhufeng (Gentle Breeze Dandelion Kingdom): The vibrant emerald short outfit was replaced by a more neat and dashing flowing-wind hunting suit. She drew her bow and nocked an arrow; a translucent wind-walking longbow made of highly compressed airflow and an arrow made entirely of sharp, swirling winds were instantly ready.

Queen Qing Lian (Flowing Water Lotus Kingdom): The flowing water-blue long dress turned into a solemn and gorgeous water-mirror magic robe. The water light flowing in her hand and the power extended from her crown condensed into a crystal-clear staff with an eternal ice lotus blooming at the top, and the power of protection and purification was already full.

Four queens, four completely different energy armors, like four solid pillars, instantly built a gorgeous and sturdy defense line in front of everyone. Their gazes were cold and firm, locked tightly on the surging gray-white flood that symbolized decay and destruction.

The atmosphere of the battle instantly tightened to the limit.