6: Chapter 6 The Elf Forest, The Treant Lord's Emerald Core!

The light of the Cross-server Portal slowly receded as Lin Chen's group stepped out, the world before them instantly transformed.

No longer the desolation of the Gobi desert, it was now a lush, verdant forest with towering trees blotting out the sky. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled spots of light, and the air was filled with the fragrance of vegetation and a faint aura of magic.

[System Notification: Entering the Heavens World — Forest of Elves. Current area: Outer Trial Zone. Level Limit: Level 7-9]

[System Notification: Main Quest Triggered — The Elves' Plea for Help. Objective: Rescue the Elven High Priestess imprisoned by the Treants. Reward: Elven Reputation +1000, Fountain of Life (Tier 1) x1, Random Epic Equipment x1]

Lin Chen raised his hand and summoned the Bone Dragon Cavalry Captain: "Scout the surroundings, confirm the safe perimeter, and mark enemy positions!"

"By your command, Lord!" The captain took two Bone Dragon Cavalrymen and flew into the sky on their bone dragons.

Brick Mover King picked at the bark of a large tree, looking curious: "This tree is thicker than the walls of Ruststone Fortress! The vegetation in the Elven world is this fierce?"

"Don't just pick at things!" Ah Jie slapped his hand away. "Be careful not to trigger a trap and get dragged away by vines!"

"What's there to fear? With Lord Big Shot here, even if the sky falls, someone will be there to prop it up!" Brick Mover King grinned.

Little Dumpling held the Undead Codex, looking around: "The magic elements here are so rich! Ten times stronger than in Ruststone Fortress!"

[System Notification: Bone Dragon Cavalry scouting complete. Targets found: Level 8 Treant Guard x20, Level 9 Treant Lord x1. The Elven High Priestess is imprisoned at the top of the giant tree in the center of the forest.]

[System Notification: Player party detected. Treant Guards have initiated an attack. Countdown: 10 seconds.]

Lin Chen's gaze turned cold as he raised the sword of the heavens pioneer: "Everyone, on alert! Bone Dragon Cavalry, aerial suppression!"

"Understood!" The Bone Dragon Cavalrymen responded in unison, their Dragon Breath condensing as they aimed at the charging Treant Guards.

As soon as the ten seconds passed, twenty Treant Guards rushed out from the woods. They were tall, covered in bark, with thick vines for arms, and the words [Level 8 Treant Guard] hovered above their heads.

"Fire!"

At Lin Chen's command, the Bone Dragon Cavalry's Dragon Breath spewed forth, three streaks of black flame shooting toward the Treant Guards.

[-400] [-390] [-410]

The health of the three Treant Guards in the front row instantly bottomed out.

"Whirlwind Slash!"

Lin Chen leaped up, the sword of the heavens pioneer sweeping out with triple damage.

[-600] [-620]

Two Treant Guards fell on the spot, turning into a pile of withered branches.

[System Notification: Lin Chen killed Treant Guard x2, obtaining 800 Experience Points and 150 Copper Coins.]

Brick Mover King rushed forward and smashed a fist into a Treant Guard's chest.

[-300]

"This bark is harder than iron plate! My hand's gone numb after one punch!" Brick Mover King bared his teeth.

Ah Jie held his sword and slashed at a Treant Guard's vine arm.

[-320]

"Cut off its arms! Don't let it entangle anyone!"

Little Dumpling held up the Undead Codex and cast Undead Summoning (Tier 2).

[System Notification: Little Dumpling summoned 10 Level 6 Undead Skeleton Soldiers to assist in combat.]

The Skeleton Soldiers rushed toward the Treant Guards, their bone swords hacking at the bark with "clack-clack" sounds.

[-150] [-145]

"Healer, heal me!" A player was entangled by vines, his health dropping rapidly.

"Coming!" Little Dumpling raised her hand, and a glimmer of light fell on the player.

[+100]

The player broke free from the vines and swung back with a blade, cutting off the Treant Guard's arm.

[System Notification: Congratulations to player Lin Chen. Accumulated 1500 Experience Points. Level increased to 8. Obtained 5 Attribute Points and 1 Skill Point.]

Lin Chen put all 5 Attribute Points into Strength, his combat power soaring to 50. He put the Skill Point into Lords Deterrence, upgrading the skill once more.

[System Notification: Lords Deterrence upgraded to Tier 4. Consumes 5 Stamina. Stun duration 4 seconds, Defense reduced by 40% for 15 seconds. Can cause an additional 20% stun probability against plant-type enemies.]

"Lords Deterrence!"

Lin Chen raised his hand, and a pale gold light shot toward the remaining Treant Guards.

[System Notification: Lords Deterrence (Tier 4) in effect. 15 Treant Guards stunned for 4 seconds, Defense reduced by 40%. Plant-type extra stun probability triggered, additional 2 seconds of stun.]

"Everyone, focus fire! Take them down!" Lin Chen roared.

The Bone Dragon Cavalry's Dragon Breath, the players' attacks, and the Skeleton Soldiers' hacking all fell upon the stunned Treant Guards.

[-350] [-360] [-340]

The Treant Guards fell in swaths. In just six seconds, all twenty Treant Guards were cleared out.

[System Notification: Party killed Treant Guard x20, obtaining 8000 Experience Points, 3000 Copper Coins, and Vine Armor (Tier 7 · Fine) x5.]

The players instantly exploded with excitement.

"Tier 7 armor! Five pieces dropped at once! This wave is a massive profit!"

"The Lord Big Shot's deterrence is too fierce; plant-types are just controlled to death!"

Lin Chen picked up the Vine Armor and distributed it to the front-row Iron Shield Guards and players: "Front row gets priority equipment to boost defense!"

"Thank you, Lord Big Shot!" The players took the armor one after another and quickly equipped it.

[System Notification: Treant Guard corpses detected. Use Undead Conversion (Tier 2) to convert?]

"Convert!" Lin Chen said.

[System Notification: Consumed Undead Core x3. Converted Treant Guard corpse x10. Obtained Undead Treant Guard (Level 7) x10.]

Ten Undead Treant Guards, covered in black bark with vine arms glowing with purple light, appeared in the team.

[System Notification: Undead Treant Guard (Level 7). Attack +70, Defense +60. Specialized in vine binding and toxin attacks. 30% damage bonus against plant-type enemies.]

"Undead Treant Guards, stay at the rear of the team and be responsible for binding enemies!" Lin Chen ordered.

"By your command, Lord!" The Undead Treant Guards bowed in response.

Everyone walked toward the center of the forest. The trees along the way became increasingly dense, and the sense of pressure in the air grew stronger.

After walking for about twenty minutes, a massive World Tree appeared ahead. Its trunk was over ten meters in diameter, and its height pierced the clouds. On a platform at the top of the tree, an elf dressed in white robes was imprisoned, her hands and feet bound by golden vines; it was the Elven High Priestess.

Below the World Tree stood a Treant ten meters tall. Its body was a branch of the World Tree's trunk, the name [Grimm] floated above its head, and it held a staff made of emerald in its hand.

"Outsiders, leave my territory!" Grimm's voice was like muffled thunder, echoing through the entire forest. "Otherwise, I will turn you into nutrients for the trees!"

Lin Chen raised the sword of the heavens pioneer and pointed it at Grimm: "Grimm, release the Elven High Priestess, and I can spare your life!"

"Spare my life?" Grimm laughed loudly. "Puny human, do you think you can challenge me with that little bit of power?"

A terrifying pressure washed over them.

Lin Chen said calmly: "Challenge you? I'm here to crush you!"

As the words fell, Lin Chen roared: "Bone Dragon Cavalry, focus fire on Grimm from the air! Undead Treant Guards, bind its limbs!"

"Understood!" The Bone Dragon Cavalrymen rode their bone dragons into the sky, their Dragon Breath condensing.

"Vine Binding!" The Undead Treant Guards raised their hands, shooting black vines toward Grimm's limbs.

Grimm snorted coldly and waved the emerald staff in his hand, a green screen of light enveloping his body.

[System Notification: Grimm cast 'Nature Shield', immune to all control effects, Defense increased by 50% for 10 seconds.]

The Undead Treant Guards' black vines struck the light screen and snapped one after another.

The Bone Dragon Cavalry's Dragon Breath hit the light screen, the damage halved.

[-200] [-195] [-205]

"This shield is even more ridiculous than Morgana's!" Brick Mover King shouted. "Can physical attacks break it?"

"Let me try!" Ah Jie held his sword and leaped up, slashing at the light screen.

[-150]

"I broke the defense! But the damage is too low!"

Lin Chen opened the territory panel, consumed 2000 Copper Coins, and activated 'Pioneer Strike'.

[System Notification: sword of the heavens pioneer (Tier 8 · Legendary) skill 'Pioneer Strike' activated. Deals 10x damage for 1 attack.]

Lin Chen leaped up, the sword of the heavens pioneer carrying world-destroying power as it slashed toward Grimm's Nature Shield.

[Critical Hit! -10000]

The Nature Shield shattered instantly. Grimm let out a painful roar, his health dropping by a third.

[Grimm (Level 9), Health: 20000/30000]

"Damnable human! You actually broke my Nature Shield!" Grimm roared, waving his emerald staff to release a skill.

[System Notification: Grimm cast 'Forest Summoning', summoning Level 8 Treant Warrior x10, Level 7 Treant Archer x10. Grimm enters Berserk state, Attack increased by 30% for 15 seconds.]

Twenty Treants rushed out from the woods, charging toward the player party.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

“Little Dumpling, use Ice Shield Spell to protect the backline!” Lin Chen shouted, “Brick Mover King, A-Jie, take the players and block the Treant Warriors! Undead Treant Guardians, bind the Treant Archers!”

“Understood!” everyone replied in unison.

Little Dumpling cast Ice Shield Spell, shielding the healers and ranged players within it.

Brick Mover King led the players, charging toward the Treant Warriors, landing punch after punch, forcing the Treant Warriors to retreat repeatedly.

The Undead Treant Guardians' black vines wrapped around the Treant Archers' bodies, preventing them from shooting arrows.

Lin Chen charged toward Green, hacking away with his sword of the heavens pioneer.

[-500] [-520] [-510]

Green's HP dropped rapidly.

[Green (Level 9), HP: 15000/30000]

Green's berserk state was triggered. With a wave of its emerald staff, a wave of green energy shot toward Lin Chen.

Lin Chen dodged to the side, and the energy wave slammed into the ground, blasting out a huge crater.

“Whirlwind Slash!”

Lin Chen released a Tier 4 Whirlwind Slash, and Green, within an eight-meter radius, was drawn into the attack range.

[-600] [-620]

Green was knocked back three steps, its HP dropping again.

[System Prompt: Congratulations to player Lin Chen, total experience points have reached 5000, level increased to 9, gained 5 Attribute Points and 1 Skill Point.]

Lin Chen put all 5 Attribute Points into Strength, and his Combat Power soared to 55. He added the Skill Point to [Undead Conversion], and the skill leveled up again.

[System Prompt: Undead Conversion has leveled up to Tier 3. It consumes 1 Undead Core, can convert undead corpses not exceeding one's own level by more than 3, increases conversion quantity to 30, and can now convert plant-type undead.]

“Undead Conversion!”

Lin Chen raised his hand, consuming 2 Undead Cores to convert the 5 Treant Warrior corpses that had just been killed.

[System Prompt: Conversion complete, obtained Undead Treant Warrior (Level 8) x5.]

The five Undead Treant Warriors joined the battlefield, charging toward Green.

“Lord Big Shot, Green's HP is almost at 10,000!” Little Dumpling shouted. “It's about to release its ultimate move!”

Lin Chen looked at Green; green energy was gathering in its mouth, clearly an ultimate move.

“Bone Dragon Cavalry, use Dragon Breath and interrupt it!” Lin Chen roared.

Three blasts of Dragon Breath shot toward Green's mouth simultaneously.

[-300] [-295] [-305]

Green's ultimate move was interrupted, and it let out a shrill scream.

“Now! Everyone, focus fire on Green!” Lin Chen roared.

The Bone Dragon Cavalry's Dragon Breath, the players' attacks, and the undead units' hacking all landed on Green.

Brick Mover King rushed up and slammed a fist into Green's chest.

[-400]

“This punch is to avenge my numb hand!”

A-Jie held his sword and slashed at Green's emerald staff.

[-450]

“The staff is broken! It has no weapon now!”

Lin Chen leaped into the air, bringing down the sword of the heavens pioneer with full force, stabbing toward Green's heart.

[Critical Hit! -8000]

Green's HP dropped to 0 instantly.

[System Prompt: Lin Chen killed Treant Lord Green (Level 9), obtained 10,000 experience points, 10,000 copper coins, Emerald Core (Tier 2) x1, and Nature Staff (Tier 8, Epic).]

[System Prompt: Main Quest — The Elves' Plea for Help, 100% completion, obtained rewards: Elf Race Reputation +1000, Spring of Life (Tier 1) x1, Random Epic Equipment x1.]

Green's corpse turned into a pile of withered branches, and the Emerald Core and Nature Staff dropped to the ground.

The players exploded with excitement.

“A Level 9 BOSS was insta-killed! Lord Big Shot is the G.O.A.T.!”

“A Tier 8 Epic staff! And an Emerald Core! We're taking off with this one!”

Lin Chen picked up the Emerald Core and the Nature Staff, then handed the Nature Staff to Little Dumpling: “This staff suits you, it adds magic attack!”

“Thank you, Lord Big Shot!” Little Dumpling jumped up with excitement and immediately equipped the Nature Staff.

[System Prompt: Little Dumpling equipped the Nature Staff, level increased to 8, unlocked Nature Magic: Healing Spell (Tier 2), Vine Entanglement (Tier 1).]

Lin Chen walked toward the World Tree, raised his hand, and with a wave of the sword of the heavens pioneer, severed the golden vines binding the Elf High Priestess.

The Elf High Priestess landed slowly. She had long silver-white hair, pointed ears, and emerald green eyes. She bowed to Lin Chen and said, “Thank you for your rescue, Human Lord Lin Chen! I am Ayla, the High Priestess of the Elf Race. I wish for the Elf Race to become allies with Ruststone Fortress!”

[System Prompt: Elf High Priestess Ayla has proposed an alliance with Ruststone Fortress. Do you accept?]

“Accept!” Lin Chen said.

[System Prompt: Alliance between Ruststone Fortress and the Elf Race successful. Unlocked Elf Race exclusive building: Tree of Life (Level 1), Elf Archer recruitment permission.]

[System Prompt: Obtained Tree of Life Seed x1, can be planted in Ruststone Fortress, provides a territory-wide life recovery buff.]

Ayla took out a crystal-clear bottle and handed it to Lin Chen: “This is the Spring of Life (Tier 1). It can heal all injuries and resurrect units that have been dead for no more than 10 minutes. May it be of help to you!”

[System Prompt: Obtained Spring of Life (Tier 1) x1, Effect: Heals all injuries, resurrects units dead for no more than 10 minutes, cooldown 24 hours.]

“Many thanks, High Priestess Ayla!” Lin Chen took the Spring of Life and put it into his inventory.

Ayla looked toward the top of the World Tree: “After Green died, the World Tree's core energy leaked. It requires an Emerald Core to repair. Lord Lin Chen, could you lend me the Emerald Core? After the repair is complete, I will gift you the Elf Race's treasure — the Nature's Bow (Tier 8, Epic)!”

[System Prompt: High Priestess Ayla requests to use the Emerald Core (Tier 2) to repair the World Tree. Do you accept?]

“Accept!” Lin Chen said.

Ayla took the Emerald Core, leaped up, reached the top of the World Tree, and embedded the Emerald Core into the core position of the World Tree.

[System Prompt: World Tree is being repaired, duration 10 seconds.]

10 seconds later, the World Tree glowed with green light, its leaves became more verdant, and the magic in the air became more concentrated.

Ayla leaped down from the top of the World Tree, holding a bow made of emerald and branches in her hand, and handed it to Lin Chen: “Lord Lin Chen, this is the Nature's Bow (Tier 8, Epic). Please accept it!”

[Nature's Bow (Tier 8, Epic): Attack +180, Agility +30, Range 800 meters, 20% chance to trigger “Nature's Arrow”, dealing 2x damage and including a healing effect.]

Lin Chen took the Nature's Bow and tested its feel; a surge of natural power flowed into his body.

[System Prompt: Congratulations to player Lin Chen, obtained Nature's Bow (Tier 8, Epic), unlocked ranged attack ability.]

“High Priestess Ayla, after the alliance, Ruststone Fortress will provide protection to the Elf Race, and together we will resist the enemies of the heavens!” Lin Chen said.

“Thank you, Lord Lin Chen!” Ayla bowed and said, “The Elf Race will send 100 Elf Archers to Ruststone Fortress to assist in defending the territory!”

[System Prompt: The Elf Race has dispatched 100 Level 8 Elf Archers, who have arrived at the Cross-server Portal, waiting to head to Ruststone Fortress.]

Lin Chen looked at everyone: “The mission is complete, the alliance with the Elf Race is successful. Now, we return to Ruststone Fortress, plant the Tree of Life, and welcome the Elf Archers!”

“Good!” everyone replied in unison.

Just then, an emergency prompt popped up on the system panel.

[System Prompt: Warning! A Heavens Abyss Rift has opened. Baal, leading 500 Abyss Legion troops, has arrived at the outskirts of the Elf Forest. Target: Seize the World Tree Core!]

Ayla's expression changed drastically: “Abyss Demons! They actually have their eyes on the World Tree!”

Lin Chen raised his sword of the heavens pioneer, his gaze firm: “What's there to be afraid of? If they come, we'll smash them!”

He looked at the Bone Dragon Cavalry Captain: “Notify Ruststone Fortress immediately, dispatch all garrison troops, and have them come through the Cross-server Portal to support us!”

“As you command, Lord!” The captain rode the bone dragon and flew toward the Cross-server Portal.

Lin Chen looked at everyone: “Everyone, prepare for battle! Elf Archers, prepare for ranged attacks! Bone Dragon Cavalry, patrol the skies! Undead units, form the first line of defense!”

“Understood!” everyone replied in unison.

In the forest in the distance, the black, swarming Abyss Legion had already revealed itself. The Abyss Demon Lord Baal, who was leading them, held a bloody giant axe, with red flames dancing in his eye sockets, emitting a terrifying aura.

“Human Lord, Elf High Priestess, hand over the World Tree Core, and I may spare your lives!” Baal's voice traveled through the forest and echoed throughout the entire area.

Lin Chen stood in front of the World Tree, raised the Nature's Bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed at Baal.

“If you want to take the World Tree Core, you'll have to step over my dead body first!”

“We are going to establish a firm foothold in the heavens. Today, let the Abyss Demons taste the power of the Fourth Calamity and the Elf Race!”

As he finished speaking, Lin Chen released the bowstring, and the Nature's Arrow, carrying a green glow, shot toward Baal.