30: Mutated Vine Shooter

Thud, thud, thud, thud—

Dense spikes, like a torrential downpour, fiercely embedded themselves in the trunk of a tree so thick it would take two people to embrace it. They made dull thudding sounds, leaving behind deep holes, with several even piercing through the thick bark, demonstrating the terrifying force behind them.

Lin Mo shielded Gu Zhixia tightly behind him, poking out half his head for a quick scan.

The once vibrant flower patch ahead had now transformed into a deadly trap.

Over a dozen peculiar plants had emerged from the ground. Their forms resembled giant morning glories, but at the center of each flower was a dark, hollow opening. The venomous spikes were precisely what shot out from these openings.

A line of data appeared in his vision.

【Name: Mutated Vine Shooter】

【Attack: 30】

【Defense: 30】

【Life: 200】

Its attributes were unremarkable, even quite weak, one might say.

But their sheer numbers and coordinated long-range volleys created a barrage strong enough to instantly riddle any approaching creature like a sieve, making them extremely troublesome.

“I’ll take care of them.”

Gu Zhixia’s voice came from behind him, carrying an undeniable resolve.

“Save your bullets.”

Before he could finish, she had already darted out from behind Lin Mo, giving him no time to react.

The girl’s figure was like a black bolt of lightning, advancing instead of retreating, charging boldly into the overwhelming rain of spikes!

“Clang, clang, clang!”

She flicked her wrist, and the Six-Harmony Long Spear in her hand transformed into a silver whirlwind, dancing impenetrably. The spear's shadows overlapped, forming a visible, circular barrier of spear-shadows in front of her!

Countless spikes crashed against this silver barrier, producing crisp metallic clangs, then were all deflected, with not a single one able to penetrate her defense.

This scene was incredibly cool!

Gu Zhixia braved the hail of spears and bullets, carving out a bloody path. In just a few seconds, she had reached the mutated vine shooters.

Her beautiful phoenix eyes were now filled with icy killing intent.

“Die!”

With a low shout, her long spear instantly changed its stance, no longer defending but launching a furious, storm-like assault!

The spear tip, like a dragon, lunged forward, precisely piercing the stem of one of the vine shooters!

Green sap burst forth!

She twisted her wrist, and the spear shaft, carrying immense force, swept out horizontally, smashing hard into the waists of two other vines, directly breaking them in half!

Lift, stab, smash, sweep!

The girl's figure moved nimbly through the flower patch, and with every thrust of her spear, a mutated plant was violently destroyed!

That was no longer a battle; it was a one-sided slaughter, full of violent aesthetics!

In less than ten seconds, the dozen or so mutated vine shooters were completely cleared out by her.

Green sap and broken stems splattered all over her.

The jungle once again returned to a deathly silence.

Lin Mo emerged from behind the tree, looking at Gu Zhixia, who stood amidst the wreckage, her chest rising and falling slightly, and genuinely praised her.

“That spear flourish you just did was pretty cool.”

Gu Zhixia’s body visibly stiffened when she heard his compliment.

She instinctively turned her head, avoiding Lin Mo’s gaze, and wiped the green sap from her cheek with the back of her hand, but her words still held a defiant tone.

“It’s nothing… just instinct.”

But her slightly reddened earlobes betrayed her true feelings.

Lin Mo smiled, not pursuing the topic further, but instead looked at the messy ground, his eyes growing cold.

“That Koi Squad, it seems they deliberately withheld information about these plants.”

Gu Zhixia also snorted coldly, her tone full of disdain.

“They must have suffered a great loss here, losing men. How could they be so kind as to tell us for free?”

With the crisis resolved, the two continued deeper into the island.

This time, their journey was much smoother.

After another ten minutes or so, as they pushed aside the last giant fern leaves in front of them, both of them simultaneously stopped in their tracks, standing still in place.

The sight before them made them catch their breath.

What they had seen from afar on the ship, thinking it was a small mountain peak in the center of the island, was now up close, and they realized it wasn’t a mountain peak at all!

It was a tree!

A tree so unimaginably massive, so huge that it could overturn their understanding!

Its trunk was as thick as a mountain wall, its surface covered with grooves eroded by time, requiring dozens of people to embrace it.

The towering canopy blotted out the sun, almost enveloping the entire central area of the island in its shadow. Sunlight could only cast dappled specks of light through the gaps in its branches and leaves.

This was no tree; this was clearly a green temple standing upon the earth!

And on the “walls” of this temple, that is, on the towering trunk and branches reaching into the clouds, hung fruits that glittered like stars.

Red ones, exuding a scorching aura—those were the Fruits of Strength.

Green ones, surrounded by a gentle breeze—those were the Fruits of Agility.

Yellow ones, with a heavy texture—those were the Fruits of Durability.

And their goal for this trip: the Fruits of Wisdom, which emitted a dreamlike pale purple glow!

All the fruits grew at extremely high positions, with the lowest being dozens of meters from the ground. To pick them, one would either need to be a mutant with flight abilities or climb up like a monkey.

Otherwise, only ranged weapons could be used.

“Get ready for battle.”

Lin Mo’s voice broke the silence, pulling Gu Zhixia back from her shock.

“I suspect picking the fruits will activate this tree’s defense mechanism.”

Gu Zhixia immediately snapped back to attention, nodded, tightened her grip on the Six-Harmony Long Spear, assumed a standard defensive stance, and sharply scanned her surroundings, wary of any possible disturbance.

Lin Mo no longer hesitated.

He raised his pistol, aiming at the closest purple fruit, which grew on a branch about fifty meters high.

He aimed at the small stem connecting the fruit.

Bang!

A crisp gunshot suddenly exploded in the silent forest, startling a flock of birds.

The bullet accurately hit its target!

The fruit, shimmering with a pale purple glow, fell with a thud, tracing a graceful arc in the air as it plummeted downwards.

Gu Zhixia’s eyes narrowed, she pushed off the ground, and her figure darted out instantly. Just as the fruit was about to hit the ground, she extended her fair hand and steadily caught it.

The fruit of wisdom was secured.