As Chen Tian crossed the formation of the City Lord's mansion, a figure within the mansion opened their eyes and murmured, "Is it my illusion? I feel like my formation has been breached, as if someone has entered."
"It shouldn't be possible. This formation would require considerable effort even for me to dismantle. I must be overthinking it."
The old man closed his eyes again. Chen Tian entered the City Lord's mansion. At a glance, the splendor of the City Lord's mansion before him rivaled the entire city. However, Chen Tian paid it no mind and directly appeared on the other side of the formation. A hole opened in the formation, and Chen Tian squeezed through. He arrived at the rear of the City Lord's mansion.
Before Chen Tian's eyes lay a colossal tree mountain, entirely covered in green trees. Powerful life forces emanated from it. Chen Tian gazed at the mountain before him. This mountain was called the Wood Spirit Mountain, the dwelling place of the Wood Spirit tribe. Chen Tian's destination was the Wood Spirit tribe.
He took a step, covering a thousand miles in an instant, and appeared at the foot of the mountain. As soon as Chen Tian reached the mountainside, immense gravity descended from the sky. Chen Tian felt his body become heavier, but for him, this was nothing. He quickly adapted. Chen Tian walked on the ground, the surrounding scenery incredibly beautiful. Lush trees, flowers, and grass swayed in the wind. The gentle breeze on his cheeks brought immense comfort.
Chen Tian felt the surrounding life force, a powerful surge of life. Regardless of any injuries sustained or near-death experiences, one could recover by recuperating here. Chen Tian looked at the tree-lined landscape, formed his hands into a frame, and with a 'click,' captured the scene.
The existence of the game system proved that game functions could still be utilized. Chen Tian had no need to worry. After observing for a while, he found no trace of any living beings. He pressed onward. He was here to find the Wood Spirit tribe, and he hadn't even seen a shadow of them yet. He had to continue searching.
For some reason, Chen Tian's perception of heaven and earth was rendered ineffective within this mountain. Otherwise, finding the Wood Spirit tribe would have been much easier.
Chen Tian walked along a small mountain path, surrounded by flowers and trees underfoot. A sense of comfort flowed through his entire mind. With a whoosh, a vine shot out from the ground, heading straight for Chen Tian.
Chen Tian's body erupted in flames, instantly engulfing him. The vine collided with the flames and burned fiercely. A roar echoed from beneath the ground.
The surrounding flowers and trees suddenly exuded killing intent. Petals detached and transformed into blades, swirling through the air. Leaves from the plants acted like sharp swords. Chen Tian was surrounded by the leaves of the flowers and trees. He stood his ground, observing the situation. He knew the Wood Spirit tribe was making a move. Given the Wood Spirit tribe's hatred for humans, Chen Tian's appearance here would naturally be seen as an enemy, but this was all within Chen Tian's calculations.
Innumerable flying flowers and leaves surged towards Chen Tian. His dual swords appeared, spinning around him. Simultaneously, blue and red semi-shields materialized on either side of his body. With his dual swords guarding and his ice and fire protection activated, all the leaf attacks were resisted and could not breach Chen Tian's defenses.
Chen Tian looked at the flowers and trees before him and spoke, "Human Chen Tian comes seeking the elders of the Wood Spirit tribe. I hope the elders of the Wood Spirit tribe can reveal themselves for a meeting. There is an important matter that needs to be discussed with us."
"Human, you should not be here. All humans are so cunning. There is no need for further explanation. Die! For the sake of our fallen tribesmen, you shall perish here."
"Vine Dynasty!"
An enraged voice echoed from the sky. Chen Tian could not pinpoint its source. The entire ground began to shake. Green vines emerged, covering the entire mountain. Numerous vines twisted together, forming a vine drill that swept forward. Chen Tian watched the approaching vine drill, knowing that the Wood Spirit tribe's hatred for humans was too profound to be explained away quickly.
Chen Tian had no choice but to defend against the opponent's attack. However, Chen Tian would not counter-attack. He was here to ask for a favor and dared not offend them. He believed that once their anger subsided, things would improve.
The Divine Fire and Divine Ice dual swords appeared. Two successive slashes shot out, their blade energy flashing. Half of the vine drill was incinerated by the roaring flames, while the other half was continuously frozen by ice. With a crack, the vine exploded and shattered, but it was not over. Countless vines erupted from the ground. With a rumble, over a hundred vines formed tentacle-like appendages that drilled out and wrapped around Chen Tian's figure. Chen Tian's movement range was already limited by the flying flower swords, and if he were caught by this move, he would be immobilized and become a sitting duck.
Chen Tian understood the consequences. His figure flickered, and countless clones appeared. Each clone held dual swords in their hands, accompanied by flashes of blade energy. With a bang, an explosion rang out. The flower and grass blades shattered, and the vines were severed. However, to Chen Tian's surprise, the severed vines healed and transformed into new vines. This meant the more he cut, the more there would be.
"As expected of the Wood Spirit tribe! So troublesome."
Chen Tian's clones and his main body gathered together. They were now surrounded by attacking vines. Chen Tian's expression turned grim. He considered whether to use skills with greater destructive power. Otherwise, continuing like this would put him in mortal danger.
This was not a game world. Death was absolute; there was no resurrection. As Chen Tian hesitated, the vine tentacles attacked. Chen Tian's clones continuously swung their dual swords to intercept, but the severed vines would regrow, seemingly endless, their numbers constantly increasing. The vines intertwined, forming a giant wooden vine cage. Inside the wooden vine cage, Chen Tian looked at the situation with helplessness. "My apologies for the offense. I hope your tribe can hear my explanation."
"Humans have nothing to explain. You hunt our Wood Spirit tribe members and refine them into elixirs and potions, or use them as tools. There is nothing to explain. Die."
A furious roar echoed through the surroundings. Chen Tian had underestimated the Wood Spirit tribe's hatred for humans.
"Wood Spirit Cage Kill!"
The vine cage enclosing Chen Tian rapidly shrank. Chen Tian's clones, along with the contracting vines, were crushed, exploded, and dissipated. Chen Tian shook his head. His body erupted in ice-blue flames, and the flames condensed onto his body, as if reaching a critical point.
Facing this move from the Wood Spirit tribe, Chen Tian dared not be negligent. His body grew flaming spikes, which extended continuously. The flaming spikes pierced the sky, the earth, and the trees. The Wood Spirit cage was turned to ash by the raging flames.
Countless vines on the ground ignited, and the surroundings turned into a sea of fire. Chen Tian retracted his flaming spikes. He had just unleashed the skill "Ice-Fire Exploding Flame Kill."
He had only used the power of Divine Fire, only half of its full might. In Chen Tian's opinion, this half-power was sufficient. After all, the origin of the Divine race was superior to the origin of this world. Even with only half his power, Chen Tian's move was not something that beings in this world could easily contend with.
A terrified voice echoed through the sky. "What... what power is this? Who are you? You are definitely not a being from this world. Outsider, you are not welcome here. Leave!"
Chen Tian listened to the voice and felt a sense of helplessness. This was troublesome. The item he needed was within the Wood Spirit tribe, and now they wouldn't even meet him. How could he negotiate with them?
"Enough, Mu Yuan, there is no need for such a display. Let me handle this."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
"Go rest."
A voice sounded through the sky. Above, specks of green light scattered to the ground and gathered together. Simultaneously, the surrounding flowers and trees released their energies, and a figure coalesced. It was an aged elder, leaning on a verdant green staff, who slowly approached Chen Tian.
Chen Tian's eyes flashed with silver light, and information about the elder appeared in his mind. The elder looked at Chen Tian's eyes and froze, then became visibly excited, his heart unable to remain calm.
Because, because he had found it. He had found the descendant of that one. He had found that person. It turned out that person had not left this world after all.
"No, if they had not left this world, then why was the locator ineffective back then? It seems I need to understand the young master's experiences over these past few thousand years."
Just as Chen Tian was about to speak, the elder knelt down. "Wood Spirit tribe leader, Mu Yuanqing, pays respects to the Young Master. Welcome back, Young Master."
"Huh?"
Young Master?
Who am I? Where am I? What happened?
Chen Tian was utterly bewildered, his face full of confusion. He was the Young Master? How could that be? He was human, and the elder before him was the leader of the Wood Spirit tribe. He had no connection to the Wood Spirit tribe whatsoever. How could he be their Young Master?
"Elder Mu, please rise quickly."
Chen Tian helped Mu Yuanqing to his feet. Despite his confusion, this was not the time to ponder the matter.
"Young Master, you have finally returned. Our world can finally be liberated. Wuwu."
Tears streamed down his face, tears of emotion. Chen Tian was taken aback. Had this old man eaten something strange? How old was he to be crying like this? Wasn't he ashamed?
"Elder Mu, you speak of the Young Master, but I am not. I am human, and you are of the Wood Spirit tribe. How can I possibly be your Young Master?"
"No, if this old man says you are, then you are. Moreover, Young Master, you are not just the Young Master of the Wood Spirit tribe, but the Young Master of this entire realm."
"??????"
Chen Tian's mind was filled with question marks. What did that statement mean? Chen Tian did not understand and had not comprehended it.
"This old man knows the Young Master is very confused. Come, Young Master, please follow this old man. I will explain slowly to the Young Master within the Wood Spirit tribe."
"Alright."
Chen Tian naturally would not refuse. The other party was being so accommodating, which suited Chen Tian's intentions. As for the "Young Master" title, Chen Tian would wait for their explanation.
Chen Tian was also curious. Did he have another identity? Or was it another version of himself in another world? He recalled that when the contract was signed, only the versions of himself in the Divine Realm and the Cultivation World had signed. When had he signed for this world? What was his counterpart in this world like?