CHAPTER 386: CHAPTER 0383: MUST BLAST HIM

The Ent’s lair.

This place is dark and situated deep underground, so much so that even Golden Immortals will face challenges entering here.

"Master, there are three tender-skinned Immortals roasting meat on our territory."

A small Ent rushed into the eerie palace, reporting the situation outside.

"Oh? Someone dared enter my domain? Do they not know this is Elder Huai’s territory?" A hoarse, aged voice echoed through the air. Hidden behind a layer of crimson gauze, Elder Huai’s true visage remained indiscernible.

This Elder Huai was a demon of considerable origin.

He was once nothing but a broken, dried branch—an existence that by all accounts should never have transformed into an Ent.

However, the events that transpired in a certain temple many millennia ago completely changed Elder Huai’s destiny.

A monk, holding the broken branch, inscribed the Demon Crossing Scripture onto it.

Through this twist of fate, the branch gained opportunity, and after countless years of nurturing, it slowly developed Spiritual Wisdom, eventually forming the cornerstone of a small temple and becoming an Ent who ruled over a region.

Even Elder Huai himself did not fully understand these events, but he felt a mysterious connection with Buddhism as if fate had tied them together.

He simply dared not approach Buddhist territory, fearing he might be hunted down.

Thus, he stayed here obediently and contentedly.

The small Ent flattered him, saying, "Master, those three fools clearly don’t know this is your domain. Allow me to teach them a lesson, catch them, and offer them to you."

Elder Huai consumed essence without discrimination—whether human or kin, as long as it possessed spirit, it could be devoured by him.

"Go, probe their origins and learn their purpose," Elder Huai instructed.

"Understood."

In the forest.

"It’s eerie."

Lin Fan acted as if there were no dangers around him, feigning carelessness to bait the hidden Ents into making the first move.

He avoided the temple out of respect for its deep mysteries and the terror of the unknown; yet these surrounding Ents—what threat could they truly pose?

As the ambient mood shifted sharply and ominously, Lin Fan could instinctively sense any abnormalities at the earliest moment.

Given the current situation.

Most people would likely say this:

"The weather is cooling; it’s a bit chilly. Better wear more clothes."

But Lin Fan knew that something wicked lay here.

He remained quietly vigilant.

Xiang Fei questioned curiously, "Qin Yang, did your family’s Immortal Venerable ancestor truly pass away? The rumors suggest he’s still alive, but others claim he has entered eternal meditation."

"Even if you died, my family’s ancestor wouldn’t be dead." Qin Yang sneered and spat at Xiang Fei, firmly committed to revealing nothing even if he knew the truth.

Xiang Fei treated Qin Yang far better than he did Lin Fan, knowing the weight of the other’s background. Fate can shift on a whim, and one never knows if Qin Yang might rise to prominence one day. When that time comes, assistance from him might be invaluable.

"Don’t be so heated; I’m just asking. Rumors aren’t reliable; I merely want to know the truth." Xiang Fei chuckled. His questions essentially poked sensitive topics for every Immortal Venerable Family. Respond poorly, and they might genuinely feud to the death over it.

Ssshh!

Sounds echoed faintly from around them.

In the distant shadows, countless tiny branches began to creep toward them, slithering forward as if the branches themselves were eyes.

"Heh-heh, these three fools really are naïve—it’s as if they’ve come here just to serve as food for the master. The moment they relax their guard, I’ll strike."

Competition amongst Ents was fierce.

This small Ent had worked tirelessly for centuries, relying on his superior appearance and sweetly persuasive tongue to earn favor with his master and secure his place by Elder Huai’s side.

Despite this, he never allowed himself to relax for even a moment. Too many seductive rivals dreamed of taking his place.

Therefore, this time’s probe had to succeed.

Lin Fan had already keenly detected the fault lines in the atmosphere around him.

Xiang Fei and Qin Yang were about to stand up but found themselves stopped by Lin Fan.

"Sleep."

Lin Fan yawned and acted as if he were drowsy, not bothering to say much before casually lying on his side.

"Yeah, sleep."

Xiang Fei understood Lin Fan’s meaning—to feign relaxed vigilance and draw them out. Though he didn’t fully grasp Lin Fan’s peculiar interest in Ents, he chose to cooperate.

"Sleep? What sleep? On such a beautiful night, how can you not compose poetry? How could anyone sleep?" Qin Yang scoffed, deeming the pair’s behavior absurd and nonsensical.

Given their cultivation level, not eating or drinking for a few hundred years wouldn’t faze them in the slightest.

Xiang Fei glared at Qin Yang. "Just sleep."

Qin Yang glanced at Xiang Fei, then at Lin Fan. Imagining the possibility of the two teaming up sent shivers down his spine. Fine, fine. Whatever you two say goes.

"A tiger abandoned in the plain is mocked by dogs; the wise adapt to their circumstances," Qin Yang muttered, swallowing his frustration.

The night stayed silent, interrupted only by the occasional eerie gust of wind.

Ssshh!

A multitude of branches slithered forward like serpents, speeding along the ground. They waited for the right moment to strike, aiming to capture all three in one move—a small Ent’s grand ambition.

"Bind!"

The small Ent suddenly launched into action. The branches moved more rapidly, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle, clearly intent on restraining the trio.

Suddenly.

Lin Fan opened his eyes, and the atmosphere seemed to freeze.

The small Ent was overcome by a sense of palpable danger.

But in such moments, there was no time to reconsider. Having already made his move, there was no turning back. He was confident he could take down these fools.

"Well done."

Lin Fan leaped and twisted in mid-air, his five fingers spreading to seize an incoming branch. He roared fiercely, unleashing brute strength to yank the small Ent toward him.

"Get over here!"

The small Ent felt an irresistible force grip him, pulling him up by the roots. His thick roots clawed at the earth, but in the end, it was all futile against Lin Fan’s strength.

"Impossible!"

The small Ent was stupefied. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

He didn’t even have time to speak before Lin Fan had hauled him close.

With his fingers clenched into a fist, Lin Fan swung hard—a heavy blow that landed squarely on the small Ent’s fragile body.

Boom!

The small Ent was obliterated without even a chance to scream.

His final thought was simply this: Who would replace the position he had painstakingly guarded for centuries?

Xiang Fei and Qin Yang stood up.

"Brother Lin, that was just a mere small Ent. Did you really need to go to such lengths?" Xiang Fei asked.

He was puzzled and slightly exasperated.

It was nothing but a trivial Ent.

Lin Fan explained, "These Ents are cunning. If you don’t feign carelessness, they won’t reveal themselves. All of this was preliminary; the real show is about to begin."

He couldn’t quite say outright that all Ents would suffice—weak or strong, it didn’t matter. He just wanted to trigger the drop for an Innate Divine Ability.

As he spoke.

The loot dropped.

[Acquired Innate Divine Ability: Longevity (Immortal Grade).]

[Longevity: An Ent’s Immortal Grade Innate Divine Ability, allowing near-eternal life as long as it avoids fatal damage.]

"Hmm?"

Lin Fan froze in place, slightly stunned as if he hadn’t fully registered what just happened. Slaying the small Ent had only been meant to attract more Ents.

To force the Ents to drop their Innate Divine Abilities.

But what was this now?

The ability dropped immediately.

The slain Ent’s strength was weak, merely at the Earth Immortal Realm, and his mana wasn’t anything special.

Dropping a rare ability from such a low-level kill shouldn’t have been possible.

Yet recently, the frequency of such favorable outcomes had been unusually high, especially after meeting Xiang Fei. While there had been danger, all incidents had gone by without major harm.

Lin Fan activated Heaven and Earth Creation Divine Power to examine their fortunes.

Xiang Fei’s fortune appeared robust and rich, while Qin Yang’s seemed no less potent.

Could it be...

This was the legendary principle: Associating with excellent people makes one more fortunate, while mingling with unlucky ones drags one down?

It seemed plausible.

Though the specific mechanics remained unclear.

Ssshh!

At this moment, great commotion rose from all directions.

A tempest surged, the ground trembled, and the sound of roots tearing through the earth resonated around them.

Swish!

Swish!

In the distant darkness, countless branches rushed forward, weaving together to seal off all escape routes.

"How dare you! To kill my subordinate in my territory—you’ll never leave here alive!"

The voice roared with imposing force.

Elder Huai was enraged. Discovering the death of his beloved underling was enough to make him emerge personally. The surrounding small Ents gathered together, determined to eliminate these three idiots on the spot.

"Been waiting for you. It’s about time you showed yourself." Lin Fan said.

Swish!

The canopy above was already dense with branches, which quickly descended like spears.

Clang!

The sharp branches plummeted swiftly, but none could approach Lin Fan. An invisible barrier repelled them all, and moments later, it shattered every sharp branch in turn.

[Elder Huai: Third Level of Immortal Realm, Golden Immortal.]

[Potential Drops: Immortal Grade Wood Spirit Root, Demon Crossing Scripture, ...]

"Hmm?"

Lin Fan was surprised.

He hadn’t expected Elder Huai might drop the Demon Crossing Scripture. This raised questions, as the scripture was an ancient artifact from long, long ago; surely Elder Huai didn’t have the capability to create it?

Then how in the world did he come to possess it?

"Kill!"

Lin Fan’s intent to kill the elder Ent grew overwhelming—he wouldn’t let Xiang Fei or Qin Yang deal the killing blow, as they wouldn’t gain anything from it.

He struck out with a punch.

The Five Burial Fist’s energy surged across heaven and earth.

Boom!

The deafening explosion resounded.

Lin Fan had underestimated Elder Huai.

Many of the elder Ent’s branches shattered, but myriad more soon surged forth. Having dwelled here for countless years, his foundations were impossibly deep. Despite his Golden Immortal Realm cultivation, his power surpassed even the Three Immortals of Jiao Yun Island.

His overabundant roots and colossal form made his aura chaotic and his progress slow.

But his true strength clearly exceeded surface appearances.

Lin Fan speculated briefly.

The probability seemed real enough.

So it might truly be the case.

"Brother Lin, this Ent is terrifying—we should tread carefully." Xiang Fei warned.

The Ent’s foundation was overwhelmingly dense; even apparent wounds inflicted on him amounted to little more than nothing.