The Treant Ambush

Before the valley lay a host of enormous footprints, each over a meter long. Their shape was startlingly similar to those of a human—could they be giants? In the Mortal World, Xiao Chen had heard legends of ancient remnant races whose bodies were colossal, towering like giants.

This, likely, was why the Blood Demon Ape had refused to come further. It must be related to the giants of this place. But… did that mean Zhao Lin'er was living in the territory of giants?

Xiao Chen advanced cautiously with the three skeletons, wanting to see for certain.

The valley was lush and verdant, thick with towering ancient trees visible from a distance. The entrance was not very wide—only about a dozen meters—and the cliffs on either side were steep, covered in great trees that gave the place a vibrant, thriving air.

At the mouth of the valley, Xiao Chen saw many deep impressions. The meter-long footprints were truly unsettling. He sensed danger creeping closer. He and the three skeletons halted warily at the entrance.

Peering inward, the valley appeared peaceful and tranquil. Birds warbled melodiously, flowers bloomed in a riot of color, carrying their fragrance on the wind. A stream formed from spring water meandered through the grass and trees, clear and bright as a jade belt. This place harbored no ferocious beasts—it was a pocket of serene, protected land.

Yet, facing such a scene of harmony, Xiao Chen suddenly felt an immense danger looming. He and the three skeletons turned and bolted back, unwilling to test whether his premonition was correct.

They had just cleared the entrance when a thunderous crash sounded behind them. Several boulders tumbled down the cliffs on either side, roaring like a stampede of horses, making the entire cliff face tremble. At the same time, a cyan giant, eight or nine meters tall, landed heavily at the valley mouth, following the stones. The ground shook violently, splitting open with great fissures.

Had Xiao Chen delayed even a moment, he would have been crushed to pieces.

A cyan giant, eight or nine meters tall!

Xiao Chen was stunned. He turned to look back.

And at that moment, he witnessed something even more unbelievable.

On the cliff wall, a towering ancient tree underwent an impossible transformation. Its enormous branches shook violently, leaves rustling like flowing water. Its sinewy roots, like coiling dragons, rapidly pulled free from the soil. The entire tree erupted with a dazzling green light, and in an instant a series of bizarre changes took place.

The branches swiftly retracted, the roots twisted and deformed. In that brilliant green radiance, the ancient tree shrank and transformed into a cyan giant!

With a thunderous boom, the giant landed at the valley entrance, standing shoulder to shoulder with the one that had descended earlier. Two cyan giants, eight or nine meters tall, their bodies flowing with faint green light, radiated an oppressive pressure.

It was utterly unbelievable!

A towering ancient tree, like a sky-covering parasol rooted in the cliff, had turned into a cyan giant?

Tree-men!

Were these tree spirits that had cultivated to human form?

Xiao Chen had no answer, nor any time to think. The two cyan tree-men were charging toward him with massive strides.

At the same time, a graceful figure appeared on the cliff above the valley—the peerlessly beautiful Zhao Lin'er. And beside her stood another tree-man.

What was this? She was together with mysterious tree-men? But Xiao Chen had no chance to dwell on it. He and the three skeletons turned and fled.

“Don’t let him escape!” Zhao Lin'er’s voice was clear and cold. Dressed in white like snow, her unparalleled beauty and heavenly bearing made her seem like a goddess descending to the mortal world.

Boom, boom, boom… The eight- or nine-meter-tall cyan giants ran like the wind, their steps as heavy as mountains. Each footfall pounded the earth like a giant mallet, making the ground quake violently.

Meanwhile, the Royal Celestial Maiden Zhao Lin'er on the cliff leaped lightly onto the shoulder of the tree-man beside her. The tree-man agilely descended the cliff, his body radiating a faint green light. He followed the other two giants and sped after Xiao Chen.

Three colossi were pursuing him, pressing down with an overwhelming force. Xiao Chen and the three skeletons turned into four streaks of light, bounding and leaping through the forest.

The primeval forest was dense. Though the three cyan tree-men ran like the wind with enormous strides, the trees kept obstructing them, making it difficult to catch up immediately.

Zhao Lin'er stood on the tree-man’s shoulder, her silhouette pure and ethereal, her eyes shining with keen light. She had been waiting here for Xiao Chen for a long time, knowing he would eventually find this place. Today, the time for counterattack had come.

She was grateful for the favor of the little Celestial Horse. This young sacred beast was a darling of nature. It had a good relationship with the strange tree-men of Treant Valley, and through it she had earned their friendship.

Though there were only a few tree-men, each possessed infinite strength. They had evolved from ancient trees tens of thousands of years old, nature’s own spiritual beings, wielding the power of the natural world. Even the fiercest savage beasts dared not approach Treant Valley.

Except for the oldest tree-man, the others had only recently awakened intelligence and were still somewhat dim-witted. Zhao Lin'er, through her connection to the little Unicorn Sacred Beast, easily gained their support.

“Xiao Chen, you never imagined such a turn of events, did you? The one who laughs last is the true victor!” Zhao Lin'er’s voice was beautiful, but her words carried clear murderous intent.

“Hmph, laugh when you’ve caught me. Perhaps someday you, the lofty Royal Celestial Maiden, will become my female slave!”

Zhao Lin'er’s expression remained calm; she did not take the bait. She directed the three tree-men to encircle Xiao Chen.

With a great rustling of leaves, the three tree-men ran swiftly through the forest, parting the dense undergrowth. Their bodies flowed with faint green light—the natural power they were born with, helping them push aside obstructing branches and trunks.

The sound of their running was tremendous. The entire forest trembled slightly, startling wild beasts into panicked flight. A few savage creatures charged out, but upon seeing the three eight- or nine-meter giants, they halted in their tracks.

Meanwhile, the commotion had roused practitioners in the area. Many leaped to the crowns of giant trees or climbed cliffs and ridges, peering toward the source of the noise.