Before the valley lay massive footprints, over a meter long. Their shape was eerily similar to a human's—could they belong to giants? In the Mortal World, Xiao Chen had heard legends of ancient tribes whose members towered like giants.
This was likely why the Blood-Colored Demonic Ape had refused to come this way. But if so... was Zhao Lin'er living in the territory of giants?
Xiao Chen advanced cautiously with his three skeletons, wanting to see for himself.
The valley was lush and verdant, filled with thriving greenery. Even from a distance, he could see towering ancient trees rising like giant umbrellas. The mouth of the valley was not wide—barely a dozen meters—and the cliffs on both sides were steep, covered in immense trees that gave the place a vibrant, living aura.
At the valley entrance, Xiao Chen saw many deep impressions. Those meter-long footprints were truly alarming. A vague sense of danger crept over him. He and the three skeletons halted cautiously at the mouth.
Peering into the valley, everything appeared peaceful and serene. Birds warbled melodiously, flowers bloomed in a riot of purple and red, their fragrances carried on the breeze. A spring-fed stream meandered through the grass and trees like a jade belt, crystal clear. No ferocious beasts prowled here—it was a tranquil patch of pure land.
Yet, facing such a scene of peace, Xiao Chen suddenly felt an immense danger about to descend. He turned and fled with the skeletons, trusting his instincts regardless of their accuracy.
They had barely cleared the valley mouth when a thunderous crash erupted behind them. Massive boulders tumbled down the cliffs on both sides, roaring like ten thousand horses, making the rock walls tremble. At the same time, a cyan giant nine meters tall landed heavily at the valley entrance after the boulders. The ground shook violently, fissures splitting open beneath his feet.
Had Xiao Chen delayed even a moment, he would have been crushed into pulp.
A nine-meter-tall cyan giant!
Xiao Chen was stunned, turning to stare.
Then he witnessed something even more astonishing.
On the cliff wall, one of the towering ancient trees underwent an impossible transformation. Its massive branches shook, emerald leaves rustling, while gnarled roots like coiling dragons swiftly tore free from the soil. The entire tree burst into brilliant green light, and in an instant, a series of eerie changes occurred. The branches retracted, the roots twisted, and amidst the dazzling radiance, the ancient tree shrank—and transformed into a cyan giant!
With a booming crash, he landed at the valley mouth, standing shoulder to shoulder with the first giant. Two nine-meter-tall cyan giants stood side by side, faint green light flowing over their bodies, exuding an overwhelming pressure.
It was almost unbelievable!
A towering ancient tree, like a sky-covering canopy rooted on the cliff, had turned into a cyan giant?
Treefolk!
Were these tree spirits that had cultivated?
Xiao Chen didn't know, and he had no time to wonder. The two cyan Treefolk were striding toward him with giant steps.
At the same time, a graceful figure appeared on the cliff above the valley—none other than the peerlessly beautiful Zhao Lin'er. Beside her stood another Treefolk.
What was this? She was with the mysterious Treefolk? Xiao Chen had no time to ponder; he and the three skeletons fled swiftly.
"Don't let him escape!" Zhao Lin'er's voice rang out, crisp and cold. Her white garments were like snow itself, her beauty unrivaled. Standing on the cliff, she seemed like a celestial maiden descended from the nine heavens.
Boom, boom, boom... The nine-meter-tall cyan giants ran like the wind, their weight like mountains. Each footfall hammered the earth like a giant ram, shaking the ground violently.
Meanwhile, the Royal Celestial Maiden Zhao Lin'er leaped onto the shoulder of the Treefolk beside her. That Treefolk agilely jumped down the cliff, faint green light radiating from its body, and joined the other two giants in pursuing Xiao Chen.
Three colossal beings chased him from behind, a suffocating pressure closing in. Xiao Chen and the three skeletons turned into four streaks of light as they bounded through the forest.
The primeval woods were dense. Though the cyan Treefolk ran swiftly with huge strides, the trees constantly blocked their path, making it difficult to catch Xiao Chen.
Zhao Lin'er stood atop the Treefolk's shoulder, her figure ethereal and pure, a sharp light gleaming in her eyes. 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 finally come.
She was grateful to have won the favor of the little Celestial Horse. This young sacred beast was a darling of nature and had good relations with the strange Treefolk of Treefolk Valley. Through the horse, she had gained the friendship of the Treefolk.
Though there were only a few Treefolk, each possessed enormous strength. They were ancient trees that had evolved over nearly ten thousand years, spirit creatures born of nature, masters of natural power. Even the fiercest primordial beasts dared not approach Treefolk Valley.
Aside from the most ancient Treefolk, the others had only recently awakened their intelligence and were still dim-witted. Zhao Lin'er, using her connection with the little one-horned sacred beast, had easily won their support.
"Xiao Chen, you never expected this turn of events, did you? The one who laughs last is the true victor!" Though Zhao Lin'er's voice was beautiful, her words dripped with killing intent.
"Hmph. Laugh when you've caught me. Maybe one day, the lofty Royal Celestial Maiden will become my slave."
Zhao Lin'er's expression remained calm. She was not angered. She directed the three Treefolk to surround Xiao Chen.
Rustle, rustle. The trees swayed as the three Treefolk ran swiftly through the forest, pushing aside dense thickets. Their bodies glowed with faint green light—the natural power inherent to them, which helped repel obstructing branches and trunks.
The sound of the Treefolk running was enormous, making the forest tremble. Beasts fled in panic, and even a few primordial monsters that charged out halted at the sight of the nine-meter giants.
Meanwhile, the commotion had attracted the attention of practitioners in the area. Many leaped to the crowns of giant trees or scaled cliffs to gaze toward the scene.
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