"Let's try it quickly then!"
Xuan Yuan Xun, Shen Liu Xing, and Shang Guan Yu Lin urged simultaneously.
Although Ye Ling Yuan didn't rush them, he didn't object either.
Rong Guang nodded and took out the Shí Dú Tree.
With a thought, the Shí Dú Tree rapidly expanded, like an open, giant umbrella.
"I'll go try!"
Rong Guang said, grasped the Shí Dú Tree, and stepped into the Demon Wood Forest.
He took a step forward and found that the tree demons showed no intention of attacking him, so he advanced three more steps.
The tree demons' branches twitched, but they still didn't attack him.
Could it really work?
A hint of joy appeared on everyone's faces.
"Take a few more steps to be sure!"
To be safe, Xuan Yuan Xun suggested.
"Okay!"
Rong Guang agreed and took another five steps forward.
Indeed, the tree demons still showed no sign of attacking him.
Seeing this, Shang Guan Yu Lin was the first to exclaim, "Excellent!"
Xuan Yuan Xun and Shen Liu Xing also looked pleased, but Ye Ling Yuan's brow remained furrowed. He had a nagging feeling that things weren't that simple.
"Brother Rong, retreat first, and then bring us all over!" Shang Guan Yu Lin called out.
"Alright!"
Rong Guang responded and retreated.
Then, he enlarged the Shí Dú Tree by another segment, shrouding the others. "Let's go together!"
Ye Ling Yuan shook his head, carrying Zi Lin Ling in his "Chǒng Er" backpack, and stepped back two paces. "The Demon Wood Forest does not laugh. If he brings too many people at once, it will consume too much spiritual power and law energy. So, I'll wait with Lin'er!"
Shen Liu Xing also stepped back two paces. "King of Hell... Lord Yuan is right! You go first, and I'll wait with Lord Ming Yuan!" His goal was to escort Zi Lin Ling to the demon race on the Continent of Gods' Remnants.
Therefore, he had to stay by Zi Lin Ling's side at all times, even if it meant being with Ye Ling Yuan, his love rival.
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Xun also wanted to stay behind, but Shen Liu Xing stopped him.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle should go with them. Otherwise, if the next wave is too large, Brother Rong will still struggle!"
"This..."
Xuan Yuan Xun looked at Ye Ling Yuan.
Ever since their trip to the Sealed Land, he had unconsciously regarded Ye Ling Yuan as the cornerstone.
Ye Ling Yuan nodded. "Mm, be careful!"
Only then did Xuan Yuan Zhe feel at ease, standing beside Rong Guang with Shang Guan Yu Lin on his left and right.
"Go!"
The three exchanged glances, then stepped into the Demon Wood Forest.
As expected, just like when Rong Guang walked in alone, the Demon Wood Forest remained silent.
The three exchanged glances, a smile creeping onto their lips as they quickened their pace.
However, just as the three let down their guard slightly, the branches behind them suddenly twitched.
This was all caught by Ye Ling Yuan and Shen Liu Xing.
If they hadn't been constantly watching the tree demons, they would have doubted their own senses.
Moving without wind, an abnormal sign of a demon!
"Quick, come back!"
Ye Ling Yuan and Shen Liu Xing shouted simultaneously.
Xuan Yuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shang Guan Yu Lin turned back in surprise, their faces etched with confusion.
"Come back!"
Ye Ling Yuan and Shen Liu Xing issued a warning again.
"Why?"
Xuan Yuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shang Guan Yu Lin asked in unison.
Just then, the tree demons in front of them began to tremble again.
However, they were currently turning to look at Ye Ling Yuan and Shen Liu Xing, their attention focused on the two, so they didn't notice.
"The tree demons are moving!"
Shen Liu Xing anxiously pointed behind the three.
The three turned back in surprise and this time noticed a large cluster of branches silently approaching them.
Perhaps surprised by the trio's sudden turn, the branches paused momentarily.
Of course, Xuan Yuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shang Guan Yu Lin were equally stunned.
Ye Ling Yuan and Shen Liu Xing's brows were nearly knitted into a single line.
They realized now that these tree demons possessed cunning intelligence.
"Ah~ they've become spirits!"
Shang Guan Yu Lin's scream jolted both parties back to their senses.
Just as the three were preparing to run back, the branches suddenly accelerated, lashing out to entwine their limbs.
The difference was that the branches that wrapped around Xuan Yuan Xun and Shang Guan Yu Lin advanced relentlessly, while those targeting Rong Guang were hesitant, clearly intimidated by Rong Guang and the Shí Dú Tree.
However, caught off guard, the three didn't notice this subtle difference, but Ye Ling Yuan and Shen Liu Xing saw it clearly.
Before the two could even warn them, Shang Guan Yu Lin unfurled his feather fan and swung it fiercely, sending a Vermilion Bird phantom lunging towards the branches.
Upon seeing the Vermilion Bird phantom, the branches entwined around Shang Guan Yu Lin visibly paused and trembled.
Of course, the panicked Shang Guan Yu Lin didn't notice, but this subtle change once again registered in Ye Ling Yuan and Shen Liu Xing's eyes.
On the other hand, Xuan Yuan Xun was clearly struggling much more.
Although he wielded his Overlord Spear with fierce momentum, he was outnumbered. Two branches skillfully bypassed his defense and wrapped around his wrists.
Not good!
He thought to himself, and law energy surged from his wrists, attempting to melt away the two branches.
He hadn't used spiritual power because Shen Liu Xing's experience had taught him it was useless.
However, as the law energy enveloped the two branches, wisps of dark energy suddenly emerged from them.
"Netherworld energy!!" Ye Ling Yuan exclaimed in shock.
Netherworld energy?
Shen Liu Xing was greatly alarmed. He couldn't comprehend why these branches contained netherworld energy.
He even secretly congratulated himself on his previous good luck, being rescued by Ye Ling Yuan before the netherworld energy in the branches had surfaced.
"Brother Rong, help Ninth Imperial Uncle!" Shen Liu Xing shouted.
He called out to Rong Guang because he had observed that the branches did indeed show some hesitation towards the Shí Dú Tree.
"Okay!"
Rong Guang responded, and holding the Shí Dú Tree, he flew towards Xuan Yuan Xun.
As expected, upon contact with the Shí Dú Tree, the branches all retreated.
Rong Guang seized the opportunity to tell Xuan Yuan Xun, "Ninth Imperial Uncle, you go first!"
With that, he shoved Xuan Yuan Xun, pushing him towards the edge of the area.
As soon as Xuan Yuan Xun was out of the tree demons' attack range, the branches rustled and retreated.
After escorting Xuan Yuan Xun, Rong Guang intended to help Shang Guan Yu Lin.
But when he looked at Shang Guan Yu Lin, he saw that Shang Guan Yu Lin was wielding his feather fan with such dexterity that it formed an impenetrable defense, and the Vermilion Bird phantoms that were occasionally unleashed made the tree demons particularly wary.
"Brother Shang Guan, retreat!"
Rong Guang shouted, then turned and headed towards the edge of the area.
"Alright!"
Shang Guan Yu Lin responded, fanned out another Vermilion Bird phantom, and used the opening to charge towards the edge.