The Creation of the Heavens and All Realms

Chapter 18: The Vital Energy of Plants and Trees

No more than ten li outside the City of Tears and Blood, Zhou Tianci caught sight of the endless forest stretching to the south. Under the setting sun, countless rocks and trees converged into a sea—a black ocean that lay in wait like a colossal beast, exuding a soul-stirring power. Zhou Tianci’s predecessor, Zhou Shi, had enlisted five years prior and had never experienced a beast tide. Typically, the Blood Battle Legion focused on defending against the Golden Wolf Empire, so Zhou Shi had never ventured into the Wild Forest. Consequently, Zhou Tianci’s impression of the Wild Forest was rather vague. It wasn’t until he witnessed a corner of the Wild Forest with his own eyes that Zhou Tianci understood why so many legends surrounded this place. “Is this the Wild Forest?” Gazing at the trees towering over a hundred meters high, Zhou Tianci marveled at the wonders of this world’s creation. “Squad Leader, this is merely the edge of the Wild Forest. Strictly speaking, it doesn’t even count as part of the Wild Forest yet,” said Chen Xiangrong, the squad leader under Zhou Tianci, stepping forward. “It’s another 40 li further ahead before we reach the Wild Forest!” Chen Xiangrong was the squad leader of Zhou Tianci’s Second Squad, possessing cultivation at the peak of the mid-Postnatal Realm. He had previously maintained a lukewarm attitude toward Zhou Tianci, but ever since Zhou Tianci rose to fame after his bloody battle on the Battle Platform, Chen had begun to actively seek his favor, frequently currying favor with him. “Chen Xiangrong, have you ever been to the Wild Forest?” Zhou Tianci asked. Chen Xiangrong nodded slightly. “I went in there seven years ago during the beast tide. At the time, I truly thought I wouldn’t make it back. Fortunately, that beast tide was short-lived and not very large in scale, which saved my life.” Zhou Tianci’s interest was immediately piqued. “Since you’ve experienced a beast tide, do you know why they occur here every so often?” “That’s not something I’d know…” Chen Xiangrong said with a wry smile. Zhou Tianci thought about it and realized he was right—seven years ago, Chen Xiangrong had probably just joined the army; what could he possibly know? “But…” Chen Xiangrong hesitated for a moment. “Just say it,” Zhou Tianci said. Chen Xiangrong said, “Squad Leader, regarding the cause of the beast tides, I’ve heard a rumor—but it’s just a rumor. They say that ever since the City of Tears and Blood was founded, beast tides have occurred periodically. It seems there’s something deep within the Wild Forest that causes the beasts to panic. This rumor has been circulating in the City of Tears and Blood for a long time; many people know about it.” Zhou Tianci nodded; he wasn’t particularly interested in the cause of the beast tides. However, he sensed that there was something unusual behind them. “If it were merely a matter of repelling the beast tide, why would Liu Yuntao need to intervene personally? I don’t believe the Great State of Yu would deploy 23 elite legions just for those scattered villages in the Wilderness. When the beast tide struck, there must have been some immense benefit within the Wilderness Forest that drew Liu Yuntao in!” “Brother Huang, Liu Yuntao’s move was quite a masterstroke—to actually leave the entire defense of the City of Tears and Blood to us.” At the Huang Manor in the City of Tears and Blood, a middle-aged man in a green robe was playing a game of Go with Huang Shuyi. “It certainly took us by surprise. I wonder what brilliant strategy Brother Zhang has in mind?” Huang Shuyi asked. The man playing against Huang Shuyi was Zhang Yuliang, head of the Zhang family—one of the Four Great Families of the City of Tears and Blood. While the Four Great Families stood united against Liu Yuntao, they were not entirely monolithic internally; they were essentially divided into two factions. The Huang and Zhang families, having formed numerous marital alliances, constituted one faction, while the Wang and Zhao families, bound by shared interests, formed the other. Zhang Yuliang shook his head slightly. “This time, Liu Yuntao is employing an overt strategy; he’s counting on the fact that we cannot afford to lose the City of Tears and Blood. Liu Yuntao’s arrival in the City of Tears and Blood is by order of the royal family, with the aim of bringing the city completely under his control. The current ruler of the Great State of Yu, Yan Xiong, is far more cunning than his predecessor. Judging by his move against the City of Tears and Blood, Yan Xiong must have already consolidated control over the other eleven provinces. Given that, he will absolutely not allow the City of Tears and Blood to slip from his grasp.” Huang Shuyi nodded slightly; his views were similar to Zhang Yuliang’s. “In that case, our Four Great Clans are in danger,” Huang Shuyi said with concern. “Indeed. Although the Great State of Yu has had several rulers who achieved little, the Yan family is, after all, the royal house with deep-rooted power. We are simply no match for them. Fortunately, other clans and sects are keeping them in check; otherwise, we wouldn’t stand a chance. Even now, our situation is far from secure. Liu Yuntao has led 23 elite legions into the Wild Forest, leaving us to defend the City of Tears and Blood. If the City of Tears and Blood were to fall, he need only retreat to Jiangzhou, then wait for the Golden Wolf Empire to plunder the city before recapturing it. Although the Great State of Yu would suffer considerable losses this way, the four great families would bear the brunt of them. “At that point, Liu Yuntao alone could wipe us out. On the other hand, if we leave a large force to defend the City of Tears and Blood, we’ll inevitably struggle to compete with Liu Yuntao in the Wild Forest, and our losses will be just as severe. What a brilliant strategy,” Zhang Yuliang sighed. “As the saying goes, when faced with two evils, choose the lesser one. This time, we have no choice but to play by Liu Yuntao’s rules and leave 15 elite legions to defend the city,” Huang Shuyi said. “However, it won’t be easy for Liu Yuntao to monopolize the riches of the Wild Forest!” “Haha, exactly! This time, we’ll show Liu Yuntao who the true master of the City of Tears and Blood is!” Zhang Yuliang laughed heartily. The Blood Battle Legion marched swiftly, and within a single hour, the entire legion had entered the Wild Forest. “Such dense spiritual energy!” As soon as he set foot in the Wild Forest, Zhou Tianci sensed the difference. The spiritual energy here was far denser than in the City of Tears and Blood; the omnipresent vitality seemed to constantly stimulate his body, making him feel as if he were soaking in a hot spring. “I’ve heard there are countless villages at the northern end of the Wild Forest—and now I see why,” Zhou Tianci thought to himself. The arrival of the Northwest Legion stirred the vast forest to life. The martial aura of the 23 legions, sharp as halberds and blades, sent the surrounding beasts scattering in panic. Any reckless beast that dared to approach was shot down in the blink of an eye from a hundred zhang away. After pausing for a moment, Zhou Tianci received an order instructing him to lead his unit along Yutou Mountain to assist the fleeing villagers. “Yutou Mountain?” Zhou Tianci sought out Chen Xiangrong. “Do you know where that is?” Chen Xiangrong did not disappoint him: “It’s a spur of the Black Dragon Mountain—the largest mountain range at the northern end of the Wild Forest—located about 60 li from our current position.” “Since you know, then lead the way!” Zhou Tianci said. Hailing from the era of Star-Rated Civilizations, he placed great importance on humanitarianism; now that he was going to rescue people, Zhou Tianci dared not waste a moment. “Yes!” Led by Chen Xiangrong, more than 200 people set off toward Yutou Mountain, though their progress through the forest was several times slower than usual. “It’s impossible to clear a path through the Wild Forest,” Chen Xiangrong explained, noticing the look of urgency on Zhou Tianci’s face. “This environment is ideal for plant growth. Even if we expended great effort to clear a path, it would be overgrown by new vegetation within two days.” “Do the mountain villagers take this same path every time they come to the City of Tears and Blood?” Zhou Tianci surveyed the dense trees and endless vines around him, then stomped his foot, crushing a lurking three-tailed scorpion to death. “However, according to the mountain villagers’ customs, they usually visit the City of Tears and Blood once every two to three months.” It took the group a full hour just to cover 20 li; with 40 li still remaining to their destination and nightfall fast approaching, Zhou Tianci grew impatient. “This pace is too slow… Have all warriors at the Mid-Posthuman Realm or above clear the path and pick up the pace!” Zhou Tianci led the way at the very front. As he swung his great halberd, the wind generated by the blade shattered the vines within a zhang of him, leaving no escape for the snakes, insects, rats, and ants hiding beneath them. Seeing Zhou Tianci take the lead himself, Qi Shan, Chen Xiangrong, and the others naturally dared not stand idly by; they immediately pushed to the front to clear the path. Among the more than 200 members of the First Brigade, there were 17 martial artists at the Mid-Postnatal stage or higher. Under Zhou Tianci’s leadership, these 17 formed a sharp spearhead, greatly increasing the column’s pace. Half an hour later, Chen Xiangrong, panting heavily, suggested, “Squad Leader, let’s take a break. We’re only a little over 10 li away from Yutou Mountain.” Zhou Tianci glanced around and saw that Qi Shan and the others were drenched in sweat and running low on energy, so he said, “All right, let’s rest for a quarter of an hour, then push on to Yutou Mountain in one go.” “Squad Leader, you truly live up to the Commander’s praise as an invincible powerhouse of the Post-Heaven Realm—you barely seemed to expend any energy clearing the path for over half a shichen,” Qi Shan said, looking at Zhou Tianci in astonishment. Seeing him calm and composed, with his breathing as steady as ever, he couldn’t help but express his admiration. It wasn’t that Zhou Tianci hadn’t expended any energy; it was simply that his stamina replenished faster. During the clearing, Zhou Tianci had sensed something in this wild forest that was extremely beneficial to him—not spiritual energy, but the essence of plants and trees. “I used to think I could only devour ferocious beasts, but now it seems I can even devour plants.” And so, as Zhou Tianci cleared a path, he simultaneously absorbed the essence of the forest’s flora. Far from diminishing, his strength actually grew. At this rate, Zhou Tianci wouldn’t need to rest for not just half an hour, but even twelve hours. While Chen Xiangrong and the others meditated to recover, Zhou Tianci stationed some men on watch around the perimeter and settled his mind to cultivate. “This Wild Forest truly is a blessed land. Although I can’t advance as quickly here as I did by devouring the energy of ferocious beasts, the advantage lies in endurance. The essence of plants and trees is everywhere here—it’s truly an endless supply. At this rate, half a month to a month will be enough for me to attain the Posthuman Realm!” Zhou Tianci thought to himself with quiet delight. Zhou Tianci also discovered that absorbing the vital energy of plants and trees could nourish his spiritual essence—an effect even stronger than devouring ferocious beasts. As he cultivated, invisible whirlpools appeared around him, and the forest’s boundless vital energy poured into his body. At the same time, his spiritual essence reaped immense benefits. “There seems to be a commotion up ahead!” Half a quarter of an hour later, Zhou Tianci thought he heard a sound. He immediately stood up, turned back to Qi Shan and the others, and said, “Something’s happening up ahead. I’m going to check it out. Wait for my word.” Qi Shan and the other four watched Zhou Tianci’s figure disappear, exchanging puzzled glances. “Did any of you hear anything?” Qi Shan asked. “No.” Zhou Tianci ran through the forest. After traveling half a li, he finally heard it clearly: right ahead of them, there were the cries of many men and women. Zhou Tianci realized that he had likely come across mountain villagers fleeing for their lives.