CHAPTER 236: THE MYSTERIOUS PULL

Hearing those words, Lu Chen immediately walked up to Nantian Yijian. "Is that the second fragment of the stone tablet?"

He released his spirit qi, sweeping away a wide area of dust and debris, then followed Nantian Yijian's gaze. "That looks like... a base?"

The Divine Eye on Lu Chen's forehead widened sharply, locking onto the object Nantian Yijian was pointing at. Strictly speaking, it wasn't even a tablet. It resembled a nine-tiered platform instead.

On each level, countless tiny figures were carved in a pattern depicting their struggle to climb upward, only to fall back down again, never escaping the tier they were trapped on.

At the four corners of every level stood strange beasts that Lu Chen had never seen before. As he studied the structure more closely, he realized it wasn't just a platform. It was the base of the stone tablet, built to support it.

Holding the first tablet fragment in his hand, Lu Chen extended his vines toward the platform below. Just then, the gorge erupted with swirling dust that obscured his vision, while the base collided violently with countless skeletal remains.

He sent his vines out again and again, but none could latch onto the platform. Another wave of bones tumbled into the ravine, filling the air with a thick cloud of dust that gradually drifted upward.

Seeing his attempts fail, the radiance of Lu Chen's divine ability flared beneath his feet. He sent out even more vines, which spread rapidly along the cliffside and gorge. Then, he turned to Wind Dragon with a low hum. "Wind Dragon, clear the dust. I need a clear line of sight."

Standing beside him, Wind Dragon had been monitoring the mountain of bones. Upon hearing Lu Chen's request, he opened his massive jaws and growled, "Clear."

In the next moment, he unleashed a roaring storm into the gorge.

A powerful invisible force surged upward from the depths. Feeling its approach, Wind Dragon let out another roar, detonating the storm midair before the force could reach them.

The violent wind burst outward, sweeping through the ravine in a frenzy. Within moments, all the dust and ash were blown clean away.

The air above the gorge cleared, revealing that the enormous mountain of skeletons had shrunk by nearly a thousand meters. Tens of thousands of skeletal corpses rained from above, crashing against the cliff walls as they plunged into the depths below.

Lu Chen's vines darted like serpents through the falling bones, reaching for the tablet's base. But the relentless downpour of bones made it nearly impossible. Each time he was about to wrap around the platform, several skeletons would crash down and knock his vines aside.

"Little Lu, there's the tablet! Quick! It's about to fall!"

Jun Laoye activated his Heavenly Lightning Eye, hurling a bolt of lightning toward the tablet. But before it could reach, it was devoured by a wave of Void energy.

Seeing his attack fail, Jun Laoye looked down anxiously. "Not good! My lightning can't reach it. Little Lu, quick! Use your vines to grab the tablet!"

The tablet's base had already slipped from its ledge. It tumbled deeper into the gorge and was now another thousand meters lost in the chaos.

Lu Chen's vines were knocked aside once more. Watching the base sink further, he frowned. "It's no use. Too many bones are falling!"

Nantian Wan'er gently placed Red Fox on the ground and stepped to the edge of the gorge. "Lu-gege, let your avatars help! I can summon the Divine Tree's vines too!"

Forming seals with her hands, she released a wave of green vines toward the tablet.

Lu Chen tapped his forehead, laughing at his own foolishness. "How could I forget about that? Let's do it together."

He summoned his three avatars.

They appeared beside him, saluted, then immediately unleashed their own vines into the depths below.

Seeing everyone working in unison, Jun Laoye raised his Earth-Shattering Spear and took the front line, blocking the rain of bones that continued to fall from the mountain.

Nantian Yijian, the weakest among them, couldn't do much else. He stood at the edge of the gorge, calling out the tablet's position to help Lu Chen and the others aim more accurately.

With five people coordinating their efforts, their efficiency far surpassed what Lu Chen could manage alone. Two focused on deflecting the falling bones, while the other three concentrated on securing the tablet's base amid the chaos.

Through voice transmission, Lu Qing said to Lu Chen, "Original, we're still missing something."

His vines wove through the falling bones with uncanny precision, but they were always just a breath away from success. Each time he nearly caught the fragment, it slipped free again.

Hearing that, Lu Chen withdrew his vines and the first tablet fragment. "Got it."

Blue light flared around his ankle. He stomped lightly on the ground and stepped back. A glowing Bagua Diagram spread beneath his feet.

The air behind him suddenly tore open, connecting directly to the Innate Green Sovereign Divine Tree within his small world.

A small sapling emerged through the portal, appearing at the center of the Innate Bagua Diagram. Its roots burrowed deep into the ground, drawing in the core essence beneath the earth and channeling it upward.

Lu Chen watched as the sapling grew. With a low command, he unleashed another Bagua Diagram centered around himself.

Standing at the heart of the formation, Lu Chen looked every bit like an emperor. He slowly spread his arms and rose into the air, stepping onto the growing Green Sovereign Divine Tree.

Nantian Yijian turned around and froze, staring at the divine aura radiating from Lu Chen. After a long silence, he muttered, "Boss... is so strong."

Hearing the awe in Nantian Yijian's voice, Jun Laoye thrust his Earth-Shattering Spear into the ground, sending layers of shockwaves rippling through the ravine. He looked up at Lu Chen atop the Green Sovereign Divine Tree. "So this is how strong Little Lu has become..."

His expression hardened. "The gap between us keeps widening. Just how many cards are you hiding?"

Jun Laoye's gaze remained fixed on Lu Chen. At that moment, Red Fox stirred awake and stretched lazily. Her view was blocked by the towering Green Sovereign Divine Tree, so she didn't notice the chaos at the ravine.

Her eyes glowed faintly red as she yawned. "What are you all doing this time? Making such a ruckus just to cast a spell? Do you have any idea how many times you've woken me up along the way?"

She leapt lightly and climbed up the Green Sovereign Divine Tree. "Where's Wind Dragon? Why isn't he here?"

Hearing her voice, Nantian Wan'er turned and called out, "Lady Red Fox, please help us! The mountain of skeletons is collapsing!"

"Hm?" Red Fox reached the treetop and blinked at the crumbling mountain. "What happened? I only rested for a bit, and now the whole mountain is falling apart?"

Lu Chen continued forming hand seals in rapid succession as he controlled the Green Sovereign Divine Tree's growth. Hearing her voice, he looked up and said, "I accidentally caused this. Red Fox, go stand with Wind Dragon. The two of you will guard the left and right."

He lifted his gaze toward the pitch-black sky. "The skies above the Jianghai Region are darkening. I fear the mountain's collapse has triggered a chain reaction. We need to be ready."

Slowly bringing his hands together before his chest, he formed the final seal as his energy merged completely with that of the Green Sovereign Divine Tree.

Seeing Lu Chen's energy blend into the tree, Red Fox said, "Alright, just focus on what you're doing. Whatever decision you make, I won't interfere. Leave the rest to us."

She exchanged a glance with Wind Dragon, then transformed into a towering three-zhang-tall figure and charged toward the left side of the ravine.

Fiery red light burst from Lu Chen, flowing through the entire Green Sovereign Divine Tree. Flames cascaded down from its crown to its trunk and roots, then spread across the Innate Bagua Diagram below.

The firelight traced along the carved lines of the formation, illuminating the northern area once more. Strengthened by the Green Sovereign Divine Tree and the blazing divine light, the Innate Bagua Diagram expanded rapidly until it covered the entire edge of the ravine.

Beneath the ground, the tree's roots intertwined and spread wildly, drawing vast amounts of core essence from underground to fortify themselves. Each line of the Innate Bagua Diagram shone ever brighter, glowing with dazzling brilliance.

Seeing that Lu Chen's state had reached perfection, Lu Qing nodded slightly. "It's time..."

He sent a voice transmission to the other two avatars. At the same time, he withdrew his vines and released them again within the Innate Bagua Diagram's range.

Seeing countless skeletal remains sliding down the collapsing mountain, Jun Laoye pulled out his Earth-Shattering Spear once again. "Little Jian, let's lend them a hand."

He dragged Nantian Yijian with him to the front line, swinging his weapon to smash apart the falling bones.

Nantian Yijian stood by the edge of the ravine, forming hand seals. His task was simple: to support Jun Laoye by blocking the bones and debris falling from above.

Empowered by the Innate Bagua Diagram, the three avatars' and Nantian Wan'er's vines expanded tenfold, each growing to be as thick as a man's arm.

Lu Qing turned back and met Lu Chen's eyes. He then guided the others, coordinating their control of the vines as they reached for the tablet's base.

Their vines wove together to form a massive wall that connected to the ravine's edge, creating a triangular enclosure. Bones slammed against the vine wall again and again, bouncing off but never breaking through.

Lu Qing stepped forward, clenching his fist. "Original, push harder! We're almost there!"

Below, his vines tightly wrapped around the tablet's base. He turned back toward Lu Chen with a triumphant smile. "Original, I've got it!"

Before he could say more, his body suddenly lurched forward. An invisible force yanked him toward the ravine, dragging him down faster and faster with every passing moment.

The second avatar reacted instantly, flinging out his vines to grab the first avatar's ankle. "What's going on?"

But the pull from below was too strong, dragging him to the ground as well.

Seeing things go wrong, the third avatar and Nantian Wan'er both extended their vines to hold onto Lu Qing.

Even so, they couldn't stop his descent. The suction from below grew stronger and stronger, pulling Lu Qing into the ravine as he swung violently between the cliff wall and the bones.