CHAPTER 1005: CHAPTER 198: TROUBLE IN THE JUNGLE

On the shattered streets of Shadow Town, the silhouettes of three outlines fall under the dim light of the oil lamp.

The dark undulations of the Twisted Jungle gradually recede.

"Can it... go any higher?" Ophelia believes the failure is due to insufficient height.

"My remaining strength is limited..."

The hundred-meter high column of water is the limit of its control: "Only when you retrieve the remains can strength be restored."

Yet it becomes a cycle: "Retrieve the remains to resolve the jungle, resolve the jungle to retrieve the remains."

Returning to the dwindling Southern Marsh, they inform Mother of the Marsh about the failed action. Their next possible step seems to be letting the God of the Deep Sea emit its aura to draw the attention of the remains extended by the Twisted Jungle.

However, a terrible price might be paid: if the Twisted Jungle covets the God of the Deep Sea, it will be unstoppable.

"Take me to the battlefront," Lu Li says, looking up at Mother of the Marsh.

"As you say."

Late at night, they reach the battlefield adjoining the Twisted Jungle once more.

"Ophelia, stay with me. If I am attacked, save me; if not, retreat."

Lu Li wipes the condensation off the oil lamp’s cover, holding it with his right hand, passing between two Banyan Tree Guardians onto the battlefield like a stormy area.

Ophelia moves like dull lava, emitting scorching waves as she follows Lu Li.

As before, the Twisted Jungle becomes frenzied upon their approach. More intense than in prior encounters, the surging tree roots coil around Ophelia, who becomes molten lava, forming a fireball that envelops her.

Lu Li stands safe in the midst of tangled tree roots and tendrils, even as the frozen earth is plowed through and scarred at the battlefield’s center.

They indeed avoid him. Even the sharp, splintering debris and frozen earth are gently deflected by the twisted tree roots and tendrils around him.

At that moment, roots beneath Lu Li encroach and form vine-like cages to ensnare him.

"Stay back."

Lu Li stops Ophelia, Mother of the Marsh, God of the Deep Sea, and the believer servants from rushing into the battlefield, allowing the roots to lift him and carry him north.

"Wait here, they’re taking me somewhere."

His calm words follow Lu Li into the dark depths of the forest shadows, the battlefield drowned once more by thunder.

"Do they recognize Lu Li?" God of the Deep Sea murmurs.

"It’s ’they’," Puxiu corrects God of the Deep Sea’s ancient mispronunciation, casually addressing it like a friend: "If they recognized him, they wouldn’t have attacked us."

He is unconcerned for Lu Li.

"Because... Lu Li’s... title... Speaker of the Trees."

Ophelia hoarsely unveils the answer as she returns with ashes falling, the whisper of the Cursed Title echoing in two divinities’ ears.

Mother of the Marsh and God of the Deep Sea react differently: the former shows surprise, while the latter mutters reminiscence: "This feeling... the shadow... of the world."

"You’re... mimicking my... speech again," Ophelia conceals her aura.

God of the Deep Sea remains in recall, yet cannot piece the fragments into memory.

"What is the shadow of the world?" Puxiu asks as it lifts its hood.

"I forgot..."

...

The glow scattered outside the tree root cage forms interwoven shadows.

The roots lift the cage, like waves embracing the feet of God of the Deep Sea, relaying Lu Li deeper.

Lu Li cannot discern direction but suspects they’re heading north, possibly passing through Marsh Road.

While letting the Twisted Jungle carry him away, Lu Li overlooks one troubling matter: the demon’s pursuit.

Yet as he moves away from God of the Deep Sea’s protection, the burning imprint on his hand fails to flare as expected, hinting the demon may have ceased its search for Lu Li.

Lu Li rather thinks some force blocks the pursuit — not the Twisted Jungle, as the hand’s heat did not vanish upon entering it from the coast.

Realizing the truth, Lu Li touches his chest; beneath his shirt lies a necklace condensed by God of the Deep Sea and given by Mother of the Marsh as a second gift.

Apart from the "gift from ancient gods" value, God’s gift is clearly generous. Generous too was the handover by Mother of the Marsh.

The cage slows its pace, gently settling onto soft mud crowding in.

A root arrives, unraveling the cage to release Lu Li from a long, tranquil journey.

Lu Li steps out of the cage, raising his oil lamp, a tiny figure entering a dark giant forest.

"What brings you here, friend from afar, accompanying men who harm the trees..."

A resonant voice hums from the depths of the jungle.

Lu Li holds the flickering oil lamp, addressing the voice from the dark: "We mean no harm to the jungle, just seek something."

"They harmed the jungle..."

"Because you attacked us."

"You harmed the jungle first!"

No imagined fury, just a voice echoing more like a child or a dully young person complaining about unfair treatment.

Truthfully, Lu Li does not recall any harm before the attack — unless treading on sea roots counts.

Perhaps God of the Deep Sea did something.

"I apologize for it."

Darkness softens, the voice becomes gentle: "Friend, what are you seeking..."

Firefly-like lights suddenly appear, drifting from the depths of the jungle, transforming the silence into a clamor —

They illuminate the forest: contrary to imaginations of canopy-covering twisted tree crowns, the trees are towering and straight, like a natural forest.

Lu Li thus sees the voice’s owner: a tree indistinguishable from surrounding giants — except for a claw-like piece lying in its crown, upheld by branch layers forming a nest-like cradle, as if too hefty to bear.

"The claw."

Lu Li has found the remains of God of the Deep Sea.

"It cannot be given to you..." the voice’s answer is unsurprising.

"Why."

"The jungle needs its strength to resist foes."

"The Southern Marsh’s Mother?"

"Only one of the enemies."

"There are more?" Lu Li asks with a frown.

"Waters polluting everything, winds extinguishing light, shadows obscuring all..."

Lu Li ponders deeply. Mother of the Marsh never mentioned these.

They sound peculiar, too.

"What are the polluting waters?"

"North of the jungle, endless seas bring pain and despair..."

Sea water.

"And the life-extinguishing winds?" Lu Li asks again.

"They linger outside, seizing moments, stealing warmth from the jungle..."

Winter chill.

Finally, the "shadows covering all" must be clouds shrouding the sky.

Lu Li calmly watches the giant tree and its crown’s claw: "If I solve it for you, will you grant us the claw?"

"Truly? Friend." The voice becomes thunderous, excitement clear.

"Yes."

Assisting the jungle may prove simpler than confronting it.

"But first, cease invading Mother of the Marsh’s territory."