242: Qinglin's request, the ancient tree cried out in sorrow.
Those few emerald streams of light were extremely fast, traversing the battlefield in an instant and arriving before Ye Chen.
The light dissipated, revealing the figures of three Wood Spirit Clan Cultivators.
The leader was an old man with a kind face holding a green wood staff, followed by two fierce-looking Wood Spirit warriors covered in vine armor.
A rich aura of life emanated from them, turning into streams of warmth that actively lingered around Ye Chen, making him feel as if he were soaking in a warm, gentle spring.
The burning pain and the tearing sensation in his Meridians were immediately relieved by quite a bit.
"Are you Lord Ye Chen?" The leading old man bowed slightly, his tone carrying respect and a trace of urgency.
"I am Mu Huan, acting under the orders of High Priestess Qing Lin to come and support you! Thank you, Lord, for taking action to resolve the urgent crisis in our Forest Realm!"
He looked at the cleared scorched earth area behind Ye Chen, the shock in his eyes not yet faded.
To withstand a remote strike from an Abyssal Lord while heavily injured, and to use that force to heavily damage the demon tide—such courage and means were unheard of!
"Elder Mu Huan is too polite, it was my duty." Ye Chen suppressed the surging Qi in his body and waved his hand, his voice slightly hoarse.
"What is the current situation?"
Mu Huan's expression darkened, and he said quickly: "It is not optimistic.
Although the main force of the demon tide was temporarily blocked by you, it remains endless.
What is more troublesome is that there are three Abyssal Demon Generals at the Middle Stage of Law Realm, each attacking one of the three major nodes of the Forest Realm's barrier.
The barrier's energy consumption is dropping sharply, and I am afraid... it will not hold for much longer."
He turned to lead the way: "The High Priestess is waiting under the ancient tree of life; it would be more appropriate for her to explain the specific situation to you.
Please follow us to the core quickly, this place is not suitable for a long stay!"
Ye Chen nodded; he also sensed that in the distant demon tide, several exceptionally fierce auras were locking onto this place again.
He did not say more and, following Elder Mu Huan and the others, turned into a stream of light, swiftly entering the Emerald Forest Realm's life barrier, which appeared thin but was actually resilient.
As soon as they entered the barrier, an extremely rich aura of life rushed towards them.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, forming a sharp contrast with the filthy, deathly Abyssal Qi outside.
Looking around, ancient trees towered, vines intertwined, and exotic flowers and herbs grew everywhere, resembling a fairyland.
However, this fairyland was currently shrouded in the shadow of war.
The sky was dimmed by the Devilish Qi outside the barrier, and from afar, the booming sounds of energy striking the barrier could be heard.
Scorched battle marks could be seen in many places, and injured Wood Spirit Clan warriors and Cultivators of other races taking refuge here could be seen everywhere; the atmosphere was heavy and tragic.
Soon, the group arrived at the very center of the Forest Realm.
A giant tree of unimaginable size stood there; its trunk was as thick as a mountain, its canopy blocked out the sky, and it radiated a gentle and vast light of life.
It was the sacred object of the Wood Spirit Clan—the ancient tree of life.
However, the state of this ancient tree was clearly not good at this moment.
The leaves, which should have been lush and green, showed some withered yellow at the edges, and the light of life it emitted was much dimmer than in legends; one could even faintly feel a trace of imperceptible fatigue and sorrow.
Under the ancient tree, the Wood Spirit Clan High Priestess Qing Lin, dressed in a green dress and wearing a crown of vines, was standing quietly.
Her appearance was stunning and her temperament ethereal, but the worry and fatigue gathered between her brows could not be dispelled.
Seeing Ye Chen arrive, Qing Lin immediately stepped forward and bowed solemnly: "High Priestess of the Wood Spirit Clan, Qing Lin, on behalf of the entire clan and all the refugees in the Forest Realm, thanks Fellow Daoist Ye Chen for your aid!"
"High Priestess, there is no need for such formalities." Ye Chen returned the salute, but his gaze fell on the ancient tree of life, his brows slightly furrowed.
"The ancient tree, it..."
Qing Lin followed his gaze, a flash of pain in her eyes, and she said softly: "Fellow Daoist has a Wisdom Eye.
The ancient tree... is having its Origin eroded by the power of the Abyss."
She waved her jade hand, and a clear water mirror appeared again, showing three different directions outside the barrier.
It could be seen that in each direction, there was a hideous Abyssal Demon General radiating powerful Devilish Qi of the Middle Stage of Law Realm, leading a large number of monsters, frantically attacking three light spots on the barrier that were flashing with special runes.
The filthy Abyssal power contained in those attacks was seeping in through the barrier nodes, like maggots attached to bones, constantly eroding the ancient tree of life that was connected to the barrier's Origin.
"Those three nodes are the energy hubs where the barrier connects to the ancient tree's root system." Qing Lin explained, "The Demon Generals' attacks not only consume the barrier's energy but are also directly polluting the ancient tree's life Origin.
If it weren't for the ancient tree's deep foundation, it would have long since... Even so, at the current rate, it can hold for at most one more day; the barrier will definitely break, and the ancient tree will also wither completely."
Her voice carried a deep sense of powerlessness.
The Wood Spirit Clan was skilled in the Law of life and nature; their healing, defense, and support were all top-tier, but facing this kind of pure, violent attack aimed at destruction and erosion, they appeared somewhat passive.
Ye Chen looked at the three arrogant Demon Generals in the water mirror, cold light flashing in his eyes: "Therefore, to stabilize the situation, we must take the initiative to attack, kill or heavily injure those three Demon Generals, and interrupt their continuous attacks and erosion of the nodes."
"That is exactly the case." Qing Lin looked at Ye Chen, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation and a trace of determination.
"Our clan's warriors are not afraid of battle and have organized counterattacks many times, but those three Demon Generals are powerful, echo each other, and have the demon tide covering them, so we... have suffered heavy losses without achieving success."
She paused, her tone becoming even more solemn: "Moreover, I vaguely sensed through the ancient tree that deep in the demon tide, there is an even more terrifying aura hidden... I fear it is the true vanguard commander under that Abyssal Lord.
Its strength is by no means comparable to those three Demon Generals.
It has not yet taken action, perhaps it is waiting for the moment when the barrier is weakest, or perhaps... it is guarding against variables like you, Fellow Daoist."
The situation was even more severe than Ye Chen had anticipated.
Outside, three Demon Generals were fiercely attacking the nodes, inside, the ancient tree was being eroded, and in the shadows, an even stronger enemy was lurking, while his own side's high-end combat power was clearly insufficient.
"I understand." Ye Chen slowly breathed out a turbid breath; the injuries in his body were temporarily stabilized under the nourishment of the life aura, but his combat power had recovered at most seven percent.
He looked at Qing Lin and said in a deep voice: "The most urgent task is to deal with those three Demon Generals.
High Priestess, please arrange a guide familiar with the terrain and the node situation, and organize forces to contain the demon tide for me.
Those three Demon Generals... leave them to me."
He did not say any grand words, but the confidence and determination contained in his calm tone made Qing Lin and the surrounding Wood Spirit Clan high-level members feel encouraged.
"Fellow Daoist is still heavily injured; this move is too risky!" Elder Mu Huan could not help but speak up, his face filled with worry.
"It's fine." Ye Chen shook his head, his eyes sharp.
"Time is not on our side.
The longer we delay, the more damage the ancient tree will take, the weaker the barrier will become, and the greater the possibility that the hidden vanguard commander will take action.
We must eliminate its wings before it makes a move!"
Qing Lin looked deeply at Ye Chen, seeing an unquestionable firmness in his eyes.
She knew this was the only way to break the deadlock at the moment.
"Good!" Qing Lin did not hesitate anymore and said decisively: "Elder Mu Huan, you will personally guide Fellow Daoist Ye Chen.
The target is the 'Bone-Splitting Demon General' at the eastern node!
I will mobilize the 'Green Vine Guards' to cooperate fully, tear open the demon tide for you, and contain the other monsters!"
"Yes! High Priestess!" Elder Mu Huan accepted the order heavily.
Qing Lin turned to Ye Chen again, and with a flip of her jade hand, a green crystal emitting a rich aura of life and shaped like a dewdrop appeared in her palm.
"Fellow Daoist Ye Chen, this is 'life source dew' condensed from the ancient tree's Origin.
It can greatly stimulate potential and repair injuries in a short time, but there will be a period of weakness after the effect wears off... Please be careful."
Ye Chen did not refuse; he took the life source dew, felt the majestic vitality within, and nodded: "Thank you."
Just at this moment—
"Woo—!!"
The entire Emerald Forest Realm shook violently!
The ancient tree of life let out a low and sorrowful lament!
Large swathes of withered yellow leaves fell from the canopy, and the light of life it emitted dimmed visibly by another notch!
In the water mirror, it could be seen that the three Demon Generals seemed to have received some kind of instruction, and their attacks suddenly became more violent and fierce!
The filthy Abyssal Qi seeping in increased significantly!
"Not good! They are forcibly accelerating the erosion!" Qing Lin's expression changed drastically.
Cold light shot out from Ye Chen's eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, he put away the life source dew and shouted to Elder Mu Huan: "Let's go!"
Before the words had even finished, he had already turned into a Chaos sword light, taking the lead and shooting violently towards the direction of the eastern node!
Time was already running out!