The Treant Chase and the Little White Beast

From a distance, the sight of three azure-green giants astounded the cultivators. Some who had witnessed Xiao Chen's great battle with Kaio watched with even greater attention.

Zhao Lin'er, peerless in elegance, stood atop the shoulder of a cyan Tree-Man, commanding attention. Before long, all the cultivators in the surrounding region were chasing after them, following every turn of events.

Now, more and more practitioners had landed on Dragon Island, all for the Ancestral Dragon and the Companion Dragon Kings. Battles had already broken out, and many had fallen.

The Tree-Men had joined the fight, crossing entire regions in their pursuit—the most spectacular conflict yet. It drew the attention of nearly half the practitioners on the outer island. Many began to scheme, thinking of ways to approach Zhao Lin'er. They could guess the origin of the Tree-Men: only ancient trees of ten thousand years could transform into such beings. By currying favor with Zhao Lin'er, one might gain not only a woman of unrivaled beauty but also an unimaginable fighting force.

At a mist-shrouded waterfall, Yan Qingcheng stood like a dream on the cliffside, watching the giant figures rush past. She frowned slightly.

The golden-haired handsome man Rand also showed surprise. "Tree-Men on Dragon Island! That requires millennia-old trees. They are the crystallization of nature. Yarode is from the Forest Tribe—if he can subdue a Tree-Man, his power will skyrocket, surpassing us all."

Even as they watched, Yarode and the barbarian youth Kaio observed from a nearby mountain. Yarode's voice trembled with excitement: "Millennia-old trees transformed into Tree-Men, and three of them at once!"

...

Though Xiao Chen had broken through to a new realm, facing three colossal beings gave him a pounding headache. He had already separated from the three undead skeletons, but under Zhao Lin'er's command, the Tree-Men relentlessly pursued him alone.

He had crossed over a dozen mountain ranges, startling countless fierce birds and savage beasts. Yet the three cyan Tree-Men clung to him like shadows—he could not shake them. They even managed to encircle him!

"Boom!"

A massive foot, gleaming with pale green light, smashed through the trees and stamped down at him. Xiao Chen left an afterimage, dodging just in time. The foot struck the earth, splitting it with cracks that ran in all directions, trees swaying wildly.

Then several huge arms swung across, radiating blinding green light—the Tree-Men's natural power. The arms, forged as if from steel, swept through a row of giant trees, leveling them. The broken trunks nearly buried Xiao Chen.

Six giant hands reached for him together. Cold sweat ran down Xiao Chen's back as he shifted and teleported in rapid succession. His body seemed to ignite, blazing with dazzling light like leaping divine flames, leaving afterimages through the forest as he dodged the giant Tree-Men.

The cultivators watching in secret were stunned. The Tree-Men were truly terrifying.

"Xiao Chen, let's see how you escape now!" the Royal Celestial Maiden called from atop a Tree-Man's shoulder. A faint smile bloomed on her pure face, putting the wildflowers of the mountain to shame.

One of the Tree-Men's green arms blazed with light. Its enormous hand swept aside everything in its path, cutting down seven or eight giant trees before finally covering Xiao Chen's escape route, leaving him no room to retreat.

"Boom!"

The cyan-green palm, taller than half of Xiao Chen's body, struck forward with force. Unable to dodge, Xiao Chen had no choice but to push his power to the limit and meet the blow head-on.

His hands traced arcane, mysterious seals, one after another. Amid brilliant light, a constellation of stars appeared before him like an ancient, sacred shield, blocking the giant palm's deadly strike.

The jade-green palm blazed with blinding radiance and crashed down on the star chart with a thunderous sound. The light screen before Xiao Chen shattered; the stars dimmed. Xiao Chen was sent flying by the immense force. In a cacophony of splintering wood, his body flashed with intense light as he crashed through more than a dozen ancient trees before landing in a heap of broken branches and leaves.

Now he understood Kaio's pain. Kaio had once endured such savage punishment at his hands—Xiao Chen never expected to taste it himself so soon.

"Boom!"

A giant foot stomped down beside him. If he hadn't rolled fast enough, he would have been crushed to paste. Xiao Chen sprang up, his erupting power dazzling. With nowhere to run, he met the Tree-Man's attacks head-on.

But the Tree-Men were not merely huge; they could wield natural force. With every clash, brilliant green light exploded. Xiao Chen felt as if he were slamming into a mountain. The shockwaves wracked his body with pain.

Even though his life essence was so abundant it had condensed into solid divine flames that blazed around him, he could not withstand the Tree-Men's onslaught. They were simply too massive.

Xiao Chen was batted back and forth through the forest, crashing through rows of trees. Against the colossal Tree-Men, he felt utterly powerless.

A river wound through the primeval forest ahead. Xiao Chen saw hope. After exchanging a few more blows, he fought desperately toward the water.

"Stop him! Don't let him get there!" Zhao Lin'er shouted urgently.

The forest was too dense. Though the river was broad, its flow was gentle, making no sound—so it had gone unnoticed. For Xiao Chen, it was a river of salvation. Without hesitation, he plunged in, splashing once before disappearing.

Things never go as planned. Zhao Lin'er felt a deep frustration. Victory had been within her grasp, only to slip away at the last moment.

She wanted to pursue along the river, but when she saw the terrain, she dared not let the Tree-Men advance. Unwittingly, they had reached the edge of the Tyrant Dragon's territory. That beast was a violent sovereign—neither three Tree-Men nor three times that number could stand a chance; they would be torn apart in an instant.

The Tyrant Dragon was one of the most ferocious royal dragon lineages, a formidable dragon species said to rival the gods!

Nearly half an hour later, Xiao Chen surfaced amid churning waves. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. The nine-meter-tall Tree-Men were immensely strong; he had taken heavy damage.

For that half-hour, he hadn't swum downstream. Instead, he had dived against the current, swimming dozens of meters upstream, then hidden motionless underwater. He dragged himself onto the bank, stumbled a dozen paces, and collapsed onto the grass, gasping for fresh air.

Suddenly, he sensed danger—someone watching him from the shadows. Xiao Chen got to his feet at once. His powerful life essence surged like divine fire, and a blinding light dried his clothes in an instant. He looked as if clad in a radiant suit of divine armor, full of vitality.

He knew that more practitioners had landed on Dragon Island. Many must have seen the cyan giants chasing him. Now the onlookers might try to strike while he seemed weak, hoping to eliminate a powerful rival.

He had no choice but to flare his aura as a warning.

Indeed, the perceived threat diminished somewhat. But a few still watched, their gazes like icy snakes from the forest behind him. Some were convinced he was severely wounded and saw their chance.

On Dragon Island now, the strong lived and the weak died. It was brutal.

Xiao Chen suppressed his blazing aura, knowing it would only make experts think he was bluffing. He walked calmly toward the Tyrant Dragon's territory. As expected, someone followed. Killing intent closed in—a master had locked onto him.

The danger grew. The hidden assassin was about to strike. This was definitely a powerful foe; the next attack would surely be like thunder.

Xiao Chen frowned. His body was in terrible shape. The nine-meter cyan giants had pummeled him relentlessly; even a diamond body would be failing. Another great battle would be a nightmare.

"Roar..."

A tiger's cry. Up ahead, three familiar silhouettes appeared. King Qin Guang, King Yan Luo, and King Samsara tore apart a giant tiger that blocked their path and rushed toward him like white beams.

In that moment, the three white skeletons looked like angels in Xiao Chen's eyes. Their timing was perfect!

The dangerous presence locked onto Xiao Chen hesitated, then quickly receded.

If the three skeletons hadn't arrived, it wouldn't have been a false alarm. Xiao Chen finally relaxed completely. But he couldn't stop yet. With the skeletons, he followed the river into the Tyrant Dragon's territory.

To reach the Death Swamp, he had to pass through this region—the domain of a brutal sovereign. Most cultivators dared not approach.

After advancing two li deeper, Xiao Chen no longer feared beasts or ambushes—only the possibility of encountering the Tyrant Dragon itself.

He found a safe, secluded spot and collapsed into the grass, utterly exhausted. His whole body ached. For a full half-hour, he did not move, silently circulating his profound technique to heal his injuries and restore his vitality. A watery light flowed, enveloping him.

Finally, Xiao Chen allowed himself to be served by the three skeletons. King Qin Guang, King Yan Luo, and King Samsara carried him, whisking through the forest toward the swamp.

A few cultivators saw this bizarre sight. Those unfamiliar with undead creatures felt as if they'd seen a ghost—three snow-white skeletons carrying a man on the run.

Some tried to follow, but the distance was great, and the primeval forest too dense. The skeletons vanished in a few bounds.

Though carried, Xiao Chen remained alert. As they neared the swamp, he spotted a fuzzy little creature.

Some beings stand out even in a crowd, drawing all eyes. The same applied to animals. A fluffy little thing, like a spotless snowball, exuded an indescribable spiritual quality.

It looked like a tiger cub, or a lion cub, or a kitten—but far more beautiful than any of them. Its fluffy white fur was soft and smooth, flawless, gleaming like silk with a faint, milky radiance.

It was barely half a foot long, but brimming with spirit. Its large eyes were bright like black gems, a stark contrast to its white body. Every blink was full of life and intelligence.

It was curled up on the ground, utterly humanlike, gazing at Xiao Chen with a pitiful expression in its bright eyes. One small white paw was at its mouth, as if sucking on it, like a starving child.

Xiao Chen did not recognize the species, but he was certain it was a highly intelligent little creature. It felt extraordinary—though it looked like an adorable beast, it overflowed with spiritual essence, like a tiny spirit.

Fortunately, Xiao Chen was a man. A woman would have charged over to hold it. The intelligent little thing was irresistibly cute.

"Ya-ya ya-ya..." The sounds it made were nothing like a beast's; they were like a baby babbling. "Ya-ya" it went, gazing at him with a pitiful look.

Even with his hardened heart, Xiao Chen felt a stir. He decided to find some food for the little thing, perhaps keep it around for a while.

But just then, the three skeletons acted as if they'd seen a ghost. Before Xiao Chen understood what was happening, they all let go at once. "Thump!"—they dropped him straight to the ground.

Caught completely off guard, Xiao Chen landed hard. Several sharp stones dug into his back. He yelped and jumped up, ready to dismantle the three skeletons.

At that moment, King Qin Guang, King Yan Luo, and King Samsara fled headlong into the swamp, splitting up. They each lay down stiffly among the piles of bones and played dead.