Chapter 316 Don’t be afraid, Sister Lingxi, Jiu will protect you
"Lingxi," Xiao Yu looked at Lingxi, "Your mission is to use your connection with the sacred tree to guide us and avoid those already fragile root veins."
"I understand," Lingxi nodded heavily, "Every root of my mother is like my blood. I know better than anyone what is real and what is fake, what can be touched and what cannot be touched."
"Very good," Xiao Yu was very satisfied with her answer. Then, his eyes fell on Ah Jiu, and his voice became softer, "Ah Jiu, your mission is the most critical."
"Yeah," Jiu nodded vigorously, looking serious.
"After we go down, we will encounter many polluted 'spirits' that originally belonged to this forest." Xiao Yu explained patiently, "They are not bad by nature, they are just sick. I don't want to hurt them."
"So, I need you to soothe them and make them quiet down, okay?"
"Sure," Jiu promised, patting his chest. "Don't worry, Xiongxiong, I'll talk to them nicely. If they listen, I'll sing for them."
"Alright," Xiao Yu stood up and looked around at everyone, "The plan is set, everyone prepare."
"yes."
At the command, everyone took action immediately.
Chu Xuanyi and Taoist Tianyan surrounded Master Jingxin and walked to the other side of the sacred tree. Chu Xuanyi took out a bunch of strange and bizarre things from his treasure storage bag.
"Uncle-master, I will be in charge of attack, and you will be in charge of defense. Let's first determine the positions of Qian and Kun according to the map of our ancestor, and then use the Kan and Li Bagua..." As he spoke, he began to carve the outline of the formation on the ground with nimble hands and feet.
Taoist Tianyan also had a solemn expression on his face. He took out a few small flags from his arms and inserted them at several key locations.
Master Jingxin sat cross-legged in the center, closed his eyes and lowered his brows, and began to recite Buddhist scriptures.
A circle of soft golden Buddha light emanated from him, pushing back the evil spirits around him.
Lingxi walked to the trunk of the sacred tree and gently placed his forehead against the only remaining piece of bark that was emitting green light.
"Mother, please open the way for us."
She closed her eyes and prayed softly.
As she prayed, the pure life force in her body flowed into the holy tree without reservation.
"Buzz..."
A slight vibration came from inside the sacred tree.
Then, the ground slowly cracked open, and countless thick tree roots retreated to both sides, forming a spiral staircase that spiraled down to the bottom.
A mixture of the fragrance of earth and a strong stench blew out from the cave entrance.
"Brother Xiongxiong." Ajiu pulled the corner of Xiao Yu's clothes.
"Don't be afraid," Xiao Yu took Ajiu's hand and walked down the stairs.
The moment their figures completely disappeared from the cave entrance, the stairs made of tree roots slowly closed again, and the ground instantly returned to its original state.
The underground world is like a three-dimensional maze made up of countless huge roots intertwined and entangled. It is interconnected in all directions, but there are dead ends everywhere.
The walls were creeping, covered with black-veined tree roots, and underfoot was slippery, rotting moss.
The air was filled with a dizzying evil miasma.
"This way."
Lingxi's voice was particularly clear in the silent passage.
A green light flashed at her fingertips. "The root vein on the left is completely dead. The energy is very unstable. We can't get close."
Ajiu looked around curiously, and black energy flowed in those black veins.
Occasionally, deep within some thick roots, you can see faint golden filaments wrapped in black energy.
That was the source of life of the sacred tree that had not yet been completely devoured.
"They're crying," Ah Jiu whispered to Xiao Yu, "How pitiful."
"Soon, they won't have to cry anymore." Xiao Yu responded softly.
At this moment, Lingxi, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped.
"Be careful," she warned. "There's something up ahead."
Before he finished speaking, several dark figures suddenly jumped out from the shadows at the corner ahead.
They were hound-like monsters made of dead vines and mud, their bodies covered with sharp thorns and their eye sockets burning with two balls of scarlet will-o'-the-wisp fire.
"They are contaminated vine spirits," Lingxi's face turned pale. "They have completely lost their minds and will only attack all living things."
Those vine spirit monsters let out low "ho ho" growls and pounced towards the three people with a fishy wind.
Lingxi subconsciously urged the vines to defend herself.
There was a figure that was faster than her.
Xiao Yu didn't even draw his sword. He took Ajiu's hand and took a step forward.
An invisible dragon power originating from the superior swept out like a tsunami.
Those vine spirit monsters that had just been ferocious suddenly stiffened the moment they came into contact with this breath, and all stopped in mid-air as if they were under a spell.
The scarlet will-o'-the-wisp fire in their eyes flickered violently, revealing the fear that came from deep within their souls.
"Ajiu." Xiao Yu's voice sounded faintly.
"Um."
Ajiu nodded, and his bright star eyes lit up.
Two ripples of pure starlight, invisible to the naked eye, spread out from her eyes.
The moment the starlight enveloped the vine monsters, the violent, demonic aura within them sizzled and quickly dissipated, purifying them. The scarlet will-o'-the-wisp fire in their eyes gradually died down.
The body made of dead vines and mud began to slowly disintegrate and turned back into plant seeds wrapped in a green halo.
The seeds circled in the air, as if expressing gratitude to Ajiu.
Then they fell to the ground, burrowed into the soil and disappeared.
Lingxi, who was walking in front, was stunned.
Perhaps, my mother...
There is really hope.
After purifying the vine spirits, the three continued on their way.
The deeper you go, the more depressing the surrounding environment becomes.
Those huge, tangled roots have completely turned black, and are covered with black veins that are constantly throbbing like blood vessels.
The evil miasma that filled the air also changed from being dizzying at first to a thick liquid with a pungent smell of sulfur and decay.
Even the green light at Lingxi's fingertips began to flicker, as if it would go out at any time.
"Lingxi, are you okay?" Xiao Yu noticed that Lingxi's face was getting paler and paler.
Lingxi took a deep breath and shook her head. "I'm fine, Your Highness. It's just... the closer I get, the more I can feel my mother's pain. It's like countless insects are gnawing at my heart."
Ajiu reached out and gently held Lingxi's cold fingers, "Sister Lingxi, don't be afraid, Ajiu will protect you."
A warm force was transmitted from the place where the two people touched, instantly dispelling the coldness and pain lingering in Lingxi's heart.
Lingxi felt warm in her heart and smiled gratefully at Ajiu, "Thank you, Ajiu."
"You're welcome," Ajiu shook his head, then moved closer to Xiao Yu and asked in a low voice, "Brother Xiongxiong, are we almost there? It stinks in here."
Xiao Yu touched her head, his eyes full of doting, "Well, it's almost there, just be patient, once we get rid of that bad guy, this place will become fragrant again."
"Really?" Jiu's eyes sparkled.
"When have I ever lied to you?"
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