Golden Eagle Region, city of Vinuos.
This is the largest and most well-preserved ancient city in the Golden Eagle Region, and also its geographical center.
The city boasts over 1,500 buildings with more than seven hundred years of history, over seventy churches of the Church of the Creator God, and more than sixty medieval streets.
Ancient statues are scattered throughout the streets, listed on the Federal Cultural Heritage Registry.
The best part is that it has the fastest internet speeds in the entire Federation…
For all these reasons, Vinuos has always been a popular tourist city.
But today, this small city was silent.
While other cities were engaged in fierce battles against invaders, its streets were devoid of people.
Not only was there no one, but there were no insect chirps, no bird calls, not even the sound of human breathing, as if it were a dead city!
Wen Wen and Qiao Feiya walked the streets, filled with vigilance.
Although the city was not large, it had a population of hundreds of thousands. The disappearance of so many people indicated a great anomaly.
After walking a bit further, Wen Wen discovered the source of the problem.
One did not need exceptional eyesight to see that a colossal tree had grown atop the "Gate of Dawn," a famous landmark in the city center. Su Dan Novel Network.
This colossal tree was merely tree-shaped; its roots, trunk, and even its leaves were composed of living beings.
Perhaps they were humans, or cats, dogs, birds, beasts, fish, or insects…
All the people on the tree had contorted expressions, enduring immense pain.
Upon seeing Wen Wen and Qiao Feiya, the city became noisy again, and all the creatures on the tree began to scream wildly.
Some pleaded with Wen Wen and the other for help, some begged for death, and others cursed them with malice.
These manifestations coalesced into nearly tangible mental pollution, causing the surrounding space to warp. It was enough to drive ordinary people, or even superhumans with weaker abilities, insane upon the first sight of this colossal tree.
This was the embodiment of the negative emotions of hundreds of thousands of people, and indeed all life in the city. Facing this colossal tree was akin to directly confronting Wen Wen's madness surge.
Wen Wen sighed, a faint killing intent appearing in his eyes.
"This aura also originates from the Nameless King, but it's not the Great Sage... it should be Hesta. It seems taking the third Sanctuary won't be easy."
Unlike other enemies, the Great Sage knew a great deal about the Containment Facility, and would not easily allow Wen Wen to gather all three Sanctuaries.
"Haha, hahahaha…"
Boom!
A somewhat viscous, distorted force struck the ground beneath Wen Wen's feet, corroding a large area of land.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the colossal tree as a giant cicada emerged from its canopy.
This cicada was entirely red. Unlike Wen Wen's crimson madness, this red was dark, like congealing blood, giving a sense of thickness.
Wen Wen recognized this cicada; it was the Cicada Ancestor, sealed by Mo Gong.
However, the Cicada Ancestor now was vastly different from its original form, not just in color, but also in size. Its upper body had transformed into a half-cicada, half-human appearance, with the human form belonging to Hesta.
The Great Sage had assisted Hesta in a ritual, granting him power of a nature similar to madness, and then Hesta had merged with the Cicada Ancestor, becoming this current monster.
"The Great Sage was right, you truly came here. My tree still lacks one fruit, and you would look beautiful planted on it."
Hesta spoke, drooling, swaying his head. His expression was somewhat dazed, appearing to be slightly delirious.
Unlike Wen Wen and the Great Sage, he could not maintain calm thought under the interference of this power.
"Oh, and here is a beautiful lady. Making you into a flower would surely be very pretty too."
Qiao Feiya waved her hand, unleashing a sword energy. Hesta raised a claw and blocked the attack with surprising ease.
Wen Wen and Qiao Feiya exchanged glances, their expressions grave. Even if Hairui had blocked this attack, it wouldn't have been so effortless, indicating that this guy's strength surpassed that of a typical Cataclysm-level being.
Behind Wen Wen, a mass of shadow slowly writhed, and as it approached him, a sharp spike violently thrust forward.
Just as the spike was about to hit, it was detected by Black Moon. Wen Wen tilted his head to dodge, then Black Blade materialized in his hand, and he slashed backward.
This slash directly severed the thing behind him, but it dissolved into sand and fell to the ground. Ten meters in front of Wen Wen, a man's figure appeared.
This man was bald, adorned with numerous gold accessories. His eyelids, ears, nose, lips, navel... every place that could be pierced and adorned with a ring was gleaming with gold.
In addition to his ridiculously ostentatious jewelry, the man bore many thick black tattoos, possessed four arms, and a black tail with a sharp, gleaming spike at its tip.
Wen Wen recognized this fellow; it was the Sand Scorpion Tura!
However, what surprised Wen Wen was that the Sand Scorpion Tura had not actually been corrupted by the Great Sage, meaning that Tura had been a subordinate of the Great Sage even before the latter's plan commenced.
Tura was somewhat disappointed by the failure of his sneak attack. If Hesta had assisted him slightly, he might have succeeded, but he dared not express his displeasure.
For despite only knowing each other for a few days, he felt a deep-seated dread towards this madman, Hesta.
This guy was a complete pervert, seemingly only enjoying destruction and torture. If the Great Sage hadn't kept him in check, he might have targeted Tura himself.
Hesta cradled his cheek, his body twisting slightly as he let out a terrifying laugh, revealing a mouth full of bone-chilling teeth.
"You've come, you've finally come. You are mine, you are mine…"
Wen Wen ignored Hesta's rambling and said to Qiao Feiya, "Leave that bald guy to you. I'll deal with this pervert. We have some unfinished business, and I want to kill him myself."
A surge of viscous energy shot out again, targeting Wen Wen.
Black Moon instantly expanded, forming a shield in front of Wen Wen. The dense power did not dissipate upon being blocked; instead, it accumulated in front of Black Moon, and the pressure on Black Moon increased.
Even for the current Wen Wen, it would be difficult to withstand such an attack for an extended period.
Qiao Feiya nodded solemnly, "You be careful too. I'll defeat that bald guy as quickly as possible and come help you. This madman… is very strong!"
Upon seeing Hesta appear, Qiao Feiya realized he was an opponent she could not handle.
Even for Wen Wen, defeating Hesta would not be an easy task.