As the last rays of the setting sun faded, night fell over the ruins, and the air was thick with the smell of scorched earth and blood. Ning Yu struggled to sit up, the intense pain causing him to gasp, but he had no time to worry about his injuries; his gaze was fixed on his hands.

“Plant energy…what exactly is it?” he murmured to himself, trying to recall the strange power he had felt before losing consciousness. It was an unprecedented experience, as if a life force was flowing through his body, yet it was like an untamed wild horse, beyond his control.

"Ning Yu, how are you?" Mu Xue's voice was full of worry. As she spoke, she handed over a clean piece of cloth. "Let's bandage the wound first."

Ning Yu took the cloth and hastily bandaged the wound on his arm. His brows remained furrowed, and he seemed preoccupied. He could feel the plant energy still flowing through his body, sometimes gentle like a trickle, sometimes violent like a raging storm.

He tried to guide this energy, just as he would control fire and water, but the plant energy seemed to have its own consciousness and completely disobeyed his commands. Whenever he tried to control it, it would run rampant within his body, causing him immense pain.

Mu Xue watched him silently, her heart filled with anxiety. The unconscious team members were still awaiting treatment, and Ning Yu was their only hope. She knew that if Ning Yu couldn't master the plant energy, they would all face the threat of death.

"Could this be... the method you were talking about?" Mu Xue's voice trembled slightly as she looked at Ning Yu, her eyes filled with worry and a hint of barely perceptible despair.

Ning Yu didn't speak. He closed his eyes, focusing all his attention on the plant energy. He knew he had to find a way to control it, otherwise…

He took a deep breath and tried again to guide the plant's energy using his powers. This time, he sensed a faint connection, as if grasping at a straw in the darkness. However, just when he thought he was about to succeed, an even more powerful force suddenly erupted…

Ning Yu felt a powerful force surging through his body, as if it were about to tear him apart. He groaned, his body trembling uncontrollably. His originally pale face turned bright red, veins bulged on his forehead, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"Ning Yu!" Mu Xue exclaimed, trying to step forward, but was pushed away by an invisible force.

The other team members also gathered around. They had never seen Ning Yu in such pain before, and they were all panicked for a moment.

"What's wrong with the boss?"

"Is it an energy backlash?"

"What should we do? How can we help him?"

The team members discussed anxiously, but none dared to approach Ning Yu. They had witnessed Mu Xue being thrown back and knew that rushing forward would only make the situation worse.

Ning Yu's body began to glow and heat up, like a red-hot iron, radiating a chillingly high temperature. His clothes began to smoke, and a burnt smell filled the air.

"Ah—" Ning Yu let out a painful roar. He felt his consciousness gradually fading, replaced by a primal, violent power.

Mu Xue paced anxiously back and forth, biting her lip tightly, her beautiful eyes filled with worry and fear. She could feel the violent energy within Ning Yu, a power capable of destroying everything.

"Ning Yu, hold on! You must hold on!" Mu Xue shouted, hoping her voice could awaken Ning Yu's sinking consciousness.

However, Ning Yu seemed not to hear her voice. His body was enveloped by a green light, which grew stronger and stronger until it completely swallowed his figure.

"Ning Yu!" Mu Xue rushed towards the ball of light without regard for anything else, trying to pull Ning Yu out of it.

"Don't go!" A team member quickly grabbed Mu Xue, stopping her from taking the risk. "It's too dangerous!"

Mu Xue turned around, tears blurring her vision, "But..."

"I believe in our leader!" the team member said firmly. "He can definitely overcome all of this!"

Mu Xue stared at the blinding light, and finally, helplessly, she let her hands fall to her sides. She knew that now, she had no choice but to trust Ning Yu.

At the center of the light, Ning Yu was experiencing unprecedented pain. He felt as if his body was being torn apart, his consciousness teetering on the brink of collapse. Plant energy raged within him, like a wild beast out of control, threatening to devour him completely…

"No... I can't just give up like this..." Ning Yu gritted his teeth and squeezed out these words, a resolute glint in his eyes.

Intense pain surged through Ning Yu's nerves in waves, making him feel like a small boat on a vast ocean, vulnerable to being swallowed by giant waves at any moment. But he clung tightly to his last shred of clarity, knowing that giving up would mean utter destruction. Plant energy surged wildly within him, attempting to completely take over his body.

"No, I can't be controlled!" Ning Yu roared inwardly. He began to mobilize all his willpower, as if he were fighting an invisible behemoth, trying his best to suppress it. His consciousness struggled in an abyss of pain, each breath feeling like torture.

Time ticked by, and Ning Yu's forehead was covered in sweat, his clothes soaked through. He felt his strength draining away bit by bit, but his gaze grew ever more resolute. Finally, after a long tug-of-war, the raging energy gradually subsided, like a tamed beast, quietly curling up within him.

Ning Yu slumped to the ground, panting heavily, feeling as if his body had been completely drained. He looked down at his slightly trembling hands, his heart filled with lingering fear. He knew he had just escaped death.

"Huff...huff..." Ning Yu tried to calm his disordered breathing, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how to convert this powerful plant energy into something that could heal his teammates. However, no matter how hard he racked his brains, he still had no clue.

Just then, the previously fresh air suddenly became heavy, and an inexplicable sense of oppression enveloped everyone's hearts. Ning Yu keenly sensed that something was approaching, and it seemed to be up to no good.

"What's going on?" One of the team members looked around warily, but found nothing.

"Ning Yu, I feel..." Mu Xue hesitated, her expression turning somewhat unpleasant.

Ning Yu frowned. He sensed an unfamiliar aura rapidly approaching, an aura filled with aggression and danger that stirred a strong sense of unease within him.

"They've arrived..." Ning Yu said in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity.

As soon as the words were spoken, the dense forest in the distance began to shake violently, accompanied by a series of chilling growls...