Leaping through the darkness, Lian Qiguang’s wood-element ability wrapped his body in a thin layer of green light. Though faint, it was enough to keep the revolting vines from coming anywhere near him. Whenever they touched the green glow, it was as though they had encountered something terrifying—they recoiled in panic. Those that retreated too slowly visibly withered before his eyes.
Lian Qiguang advanced without obstruction.
His wood-element energy condensed into a web-like field of perception, spreading outward in every direction from which the vines were attacking.
Found it!
A sharp light flashed through his eyes.
Reversing his grip on Qianming, he twisted in midair and shot toward the location where the flow of energy was strongest.
Racing through the forest, illuminated only by the blood-red moon, Lian Qiguang soon spotted it in the distance.
A monstrous mass over thirty feet high.
Countless vines intertwined into a writhing mountain of vegetation.
As they twisted together, green slime oozed between them, producing a nauseating, wet squelching sound that sent chills down one’s spine.
Lian Qiguang knew that fire was undoubtedly the quickest and most effective way to destroy a plant like this.
But he also knew every move he made was being monitored.
He could only find another solution.
Sensing his hostile intent, the tangled mass of vines suddenly lashed toward him.
Watching the countless vines rushing at him, Lian Qiguang’s expression tightened.
He immediately sprang into the air, landing atop another tree.
The thick vines wrapped around the trunk where he had been standing only moments earlier.
A tree so massive it would take three people to encircle it shattered into countless splinters in an instant.
The scattered vines posed little threat to him.
But these…
These were the main roots.
Tens of thousands of mutated vines.
With the strength of a Warrior Rank creature, even Lian Qiguang couldn’t be certain whether his wood-element ability could overpower them.
Whoosh!
A vine whipped toward him.
The green aura surrounding him instantly dissolved it.
But one became ten.
Ten became a hundred.
A hundred became thousands.
The vines surged forward again, swallowing him completely.
They blotted out the sky, leaving no trace of moonlight.
Lian Qiguang looked coldly at the walls of vines enclosing him.
His gaze darkened.
Qianming rested horizontally before him.
He drew it three inches from its sheath.
A tyrannical aura overflowing with bloodlust burst forth.
The surrounding vines were blasted several yards backward by the overwhelming pressure.
Lian Qiguang shot forward.
His eyes gleamed sharply as he charged directly toward the main root with incredible speed.
Sensing danger, the vines frantically converged upon him.
One wave withered.
Another instantly replaced it.
They left him no opening whatsoever.
Lian Qiguang continuously leaped across the writhing vines, weaving through them as he slaughtered everything in his path.
The vines fought desperately to protect their core.
Neither side gave even a single step.
For a time, neither could gain the advantage.
A handful of seeds scattered from his hand.
Stone Brambles erupted from the earth.
They spread wildly in every direction, piercing through the vines and forming towering walls of stone and thorn that shielded Lian Qiguang within.
Rip!
Among the endless sea of vines, one managed to pierce through the green aura.
Although Lian Qiguang reacted instantly, he was still a fraction too slow.
A bloody gash opened across his shoulder.
Swinging Qianming, now infused with green energy, he severed the attacking vine cleanly in half.
Standing atop a towering Stone Bramble several yards high, Lian Qiguang stared expressionlessly at the vine canopy blotting out the heavens.
His eyes grew increasingly dark.
After such prolonged combat, he could already feel the mounting exhaustion and weakness spreading through his body.
Knowing he was gradually losing the advantage, he realized…
He had to end this quickly.
Looking at the endless vines before him, Lian Qiguang slowly closed his eyes.
The green aura surrounding him intensified.
It swirled faster and faster until it formed a raging storm.
Suddenly—
His eyes snapped open.
A flash of silver streaked through them.
The green storm exploded outward.
From beneath his suspended feet, countless thin vines covered in razor-sharp barbs spread across the battlefield, intertwining with the massive vines surrounding him.
More and more of the green vines appeared.
The carpet beneath his feet grew increasingly dense.
The vicious barbs pierced into the enemy vines, provoking violent struggles in return.
Lian Qiguang’s eyes shone brightly.
His gaze rapidly searched through the tangled mass.
Suddenly—
His eyes stopped.
Locked beneath the enormous knot of vines…
He caught a fleeting glimpse of something hidden deep inside.
When all else fails… treat a dead horse like it’s still alive.
Forget it.
Just destroy it.
Lian Qiguang launched himself into the air.
Qianming left its sheath completely.
Dark energy surged wildly.
Murderous intent erupted without restraint.
The cries of a thousand sparrows echoed across the heavens.
The surrounding vines instinctively recoiled.
Gripping the sword tightly in his right hand, a cold flash split the darkness like lightning itself.
He thrust straight toward the root.
Everywhere the blade passed, overwhelming force compressed everything in its path.
The vines exploded apart one after another.
Back in the observation room…
Those seated leisurely around the conference table—drinking tea while casually commenting on the cadets displayed on the floating surveillance screens—all stopped moving.
Slowly…
Every one of them stood up.
They stared in astonishment at the small figure charging fearlessly forward, overflowing with killing intent and unstoppable momentum.
For a brief moment…
Through that slender body…
They seemed to see someone else.
Splurt!
A muffled sound rang out.
Green liquid sprayed into the air.
Lian Qiguang instinctively raised an arm to shield his face.
The sticky fluid splashed across his hand, carrying a faint smell of blood.
The instant Qianming pierced its target…
The countless vines that had filled the sky only moments before…
Frozen.
Every single one became perfectly still.
Lian Qiguang slowly lowered his hand.
Expressionless, he looked at where Qianming had pierced the core.
With one clean motion, he withdrew the blade.
A flick of his wrist sent the slime clinging to the sword flying onto nearby leaves.
Qianming slid smoothly back into its sheath.
Effortless.
Elegant.
Utterly domineering.
He wiped the trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.
A faint brightness flickered in his eyes.
Since the severe injury that had mutated his spatial ability…
He had finally begun to recover the connection he once shared with Qianming in his previous life.
He could use Qianming again.
Although he still wasn’t completely proficient…
At least wielding it no longer caused him to lose consciousness afterward.
He believed that if this continued…
Even if his abilities never returned to their former peak…
He would eventually regain complete mastery over Qianming.
Stepping forward, Lian Qiguang ignored the disgusting slime.
He reached his left hand into the wound Qianming had opened.
Green liquid dripped down his arm.
When he finally withdrew his hand…
A sphere the size of an apple rested in his palm.
It glowed with a mysterious green radiance.
The instant the orb left the vine mass…
The countless vines hanging overhead instantly withered away.
Within moments…
They crumbled into dust.
Lian Qiguang turned and walked away.
Wherever he passed, the Stone Brambles quietly disappeared.
He examined the glowing orb in his hand.
He squeezed it lightly.
It was soft.
Springy.
This is…
A seed?
His footsteps slowed.
Confusion appeared in his eyes.
Suddenly—
His gaze darkened.
Qianming instantly appeared in his hand as he spun toward the darkness.
“Who’s there?”
Hidden among the shadows stood a figure dressed in black.
The person’s back faced Lian Qiguang.
A loose black robe concealed their entire body, making it impossible to distinguish their appearance.
Lian Qiguang stared expressionlessly at the mysterious figure.
The person was completely unfamiliar.
Yet…
The feeling they gave him was strangely familiar.
His heart suddenly pounded violently.
He froze in surprise.
His grip on Qianming tightened unconsciously.
The wound on his shoulder split open again under the strain.
Fresh blood trickled down.
Yet Lian Qiguang paid it no attention.
His calm, silent eyes remained fixed upon the black-robed figure.
Who… is he?
This feeling…
Someone from my past life?
Still gripping the sword tightly, Lian Qiguang slowly began walking toward the figure.
Just then—
A hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
“AHHHHHH!!”