As everyone reviewed the contract and prepared to sign, Shen Han, out of curiosity, "Sniffed" Xu Liyuan.
Name: Xu Liyuan
Mental Energy: Martial Emperor Fifth Realm
Special Ability Rank: Fire Element - A-Rank, Wood Element - A-Rank, Mental Element - B-Rank
"Martial Emperor Realm?" Shen Han was slightly startled. This was within the scope of Advanced Martial Artists, at least one major Realm higher than the Martial Artists participating in the mission here.
While he was contemplating, about ten minutes later, a young Young Master with an extraordinary demeanor walked in front of everyone.
"This is our Xu Family's Young Master, Xu Haojie. This time, we are looking for the Spiritual Fire to provide it to Young Master Xu. He will also be joining us on this mission," Xu Liyuan explained.
Everyone looked up and saw the Xu Family's Young Master, and many went to greet him.
Behind Xu Haojie, two acquaintances of Shen Han were following: Song Ziqing and Li Mingxuan, both fellow West Forest natives from Yang City whom he had just dealt with a few days prior.
Xu Haojie saw Shen Han and Li Muhua in the crowd, a look of disdain on his face.
Song Ziqing and Li Mingxuan saw the two in the crowd but did not go forward to greet them.
"Depart—"
With Xu Liyuan's command, everyone collectively boarded the flying artifact prepared by the Xu Family for this operation.
"As expected of a large Family's work."
After about five hours of flying, the flying artifact landed at the entrance of a Secret Realm in Xilin Province. This Secret Realm was also called the "West Forest Secret Realm," and its area was many times larger than the Shadowed Forest in Yang City.
The West Forest Secret Realm was eerie and profound, like a forbidden zone isolated from the world. Dense ancient trees towered, each trunk entwined with thick moss and vines, their roots intertwined like claws. An ancient and decaying aura permeated the air, as if countless years of stillness had accumulated, sending shivers down one's spine.
Because the northwest had a sparse population, the West Forest Secret Realm was even more rarely visited. The exotic beasts here rarely suffered human attacks and hunts, so after many, many years, the cultivation of many exotic beasts was far beyond what other Secret Realms could compare to.
As the team Advanced, the surrounding temperature seemed to slowly drop, and even breathing carried a hint of biting cold. Someone accidentally stepped on a dead branch, emitting a "crack" sound, and the sudden noise echoed through the silent forest, startling several people.
"According to the map, we still have three hours of walking distance to where the Spiritual Fire appeared. Everyone, stay alert; the cultivation of the exotic beasts here is relatively high," Xu Liyuan reminded.
The group of seventy to eighty people split into ten small teams and Advanced along the path trodden by the leading troops. The team had barely penetrated the Secret Realm for half an hour when a strange rustling sound suddenly came from ahead, as if countless vines were slowly sliding.
Shen Han instinctively looked up, only to see a giant ancient tree slowly swaying. The twisted Texture on its branches seemed like opened eyes, coldly watching everyone.
That tree actually "came alive"!
Its branches suddenly transformed into dozens of giant vines, sweeping towards the team like a hurricane, quickly entangling several unprepared Martial Artists and dragging them deep into the jungle!
"It's a Blood Vine Demon!" Xu Liyuan shouted sternly, "It can entangle humans and exotic beasts with its vines to suck blood. Everyone, be careful!"
Before he finished speaking, a vine swept towards Shen Han like a poisonous snake. He instantly used "Lightning Teleport" to evade it.
Shen Han drew out his Thunder Shadow Soul Slash blade. The blade sliced into the vine, but only cut through a layer of skin. The thick vine seemed to possess endless vitality; the wound healed in the blink of an eye, becoming even thicker.
"Such strong vitality and regenerative power! Fire counters wood, try to suppress it with Fire Element Martial Skills!" Shen Han reminded the people around him.
Several Fire Element Martial Artists immediately unleashed flames upon hearing this. The scorching fiery currents intertwined in the air, forming a net of fire that quickly burned towards the Blood Vine Demon's vines. However, the Blood Vine Demon seemed to sense the threat of the flames, and its vines immediately retracted.
When the flames weakened, the vines wildly swayed and coiled towards the Martial Artists again. Several Martial Artists were accidentally swept away. The Blood Vine Demon hung them in mid-air, its vines constantly tightening. Blood flowed down the vines towards the trunk, and in the blink of an eye, several Martial Artists turned pale and their Qi became weak.
"Its core might be inside the trunk!" Xu Liyuan judged, shouting with a solemn expression, "Everyone, focus your attacks on the trunk! Don't get entangled with the vines!"
Everyone quickly adjusted their formation. Some provided cover, while others concentrated their fire on the tree demon's giant trunk.
Shen Han condensed lightning, and his blade pointed directly at the tree demon's core area, striking down fiercely!
Several Martial Artists unleashed their Fire Element Special Abilities, and flames surged towards the trunk. At the same time, Li Muhua used his Wind Element "Cyclone Dragon Tornado." Wind aided the fire, and fire borrowed the wind's momentum. The flames drilled into the Blood Vine Demon's trunk like a drill, burning its interior.
The high temperature finally caused the Blood Vine Demon's trunk to begin cracking. However, its dark brown woody material continued to heal, stubbornly resisting everyone's attacks.
The battle lasted for a full half an hour. Finally, the Blood Vine Demon's trunk was shattered and collapsed with a crash.
The seventy to eighty people passed through this area in disarray, with countless injured. More than a dozen Martial Artists were left forever in this eerie forest.
Shen Han wiped the sweat from his face, a complex expression in his eyes. He tightened his grip on his blade, secretly warning himself: "The West Forest Secret Realm is indeed not simple. It's only just begun, and it's already this dangerous..."
"This Blood Vine Demon had such tenacious vitality and regenerative power. Fortunately, there were many of us, otherwise, it would have been quite a struggle."
"Quickly go and see if there are any Beast Cores left. With such strong vitality, the Beast Core must be especially valuable." Many Martial Artists were already eager to move.
"Under such fierce fire attacks, it must have been burned away already."
Just as he let out a sigh of relief, Xu Liyuan saw many Martial Artists preparing to snatch the Beast Cores, which would inevitably lead to another fight. He wore a look of disdain, "A bunch of fellows who value money over their lives."
"Everyone, this is not a place for infighting. Don't forget our purpose. This Blood Vine Demon was killed by our combined efforts. The Beast Core will be handed over to my Xu Family, and we will compensate everyone at market price."
Due to Xu Liyuan's authority, no one dared to raise any objections.
After collecting the Blood Vine Demon's Beast Core, everyone continued to move forward.
"We're almost there—"
Everyone's nerves were taut, and their Mental Energy was highly concentrated. Three hours later, the team finally arrived at the area where traces of the Spiritual Fire had appeared. However, the sight before them left everyone stunned.
So many teams?
So many people?
How could there be so many people in this godforsaken place, the West Forest Secret Realm?
Had everyone rushed here upon hearing the news of the Spiritual Fire?
The battle for the Spiritual Fire was far more complicated than expected.