Chapter 12
From beneath the southern edge of the tidal vein, a rapid tremor, like a heartbeat, resounded.
That wasn't an ordinary water vein fluctuation, but a stream of water energy that had been artificially compressed and was rapidly rushing towards the light field.
Sprout 12 had just returned from the surface to its hidden root nest, its pods still covered in mud and water, and spoke in a hushed voice, almost inaudible:
“There are signs of blockage in the central sand veins… the hidden roots are trying to cut off our two water supply lines in the southeast.”
This means that without immediate intervention, the southern part of the Light Domain will enter a period of drought within three days—the Dark Web must be activated.
Standing in the halo of light from the mother tree's root core, 237's breathing became heavy.
The listening pods of the southern edge tidal veins are buried upstream of the initiation point, and any unnatural water waves will be "heard" by them.
The *Phantom Algae* has only been planted for less than a week, and is far from achieving its optimal interference effect.
Bean Sprout 12 looked up at her:
"Should we wait a bit?"
If they trace it back to the source of the dark breath, we might—"
237 interrupted him.
"Waiting is tantamount to suicide."
The roots of the mother tree slowly extend into the depths of the tide, like a tentative finger touching the pulse of the water.
As the dark web's veins began to weave, the Phantom Algae were also passively activated—
They release subtle temperature fluctuations, concealing the dark web's water signals within "natural water temperature fluctuations."
But the seed pod, like a keen ear, clings to the vessel wall, capturing rhythms that shouldn't exist.
Sprout 12 gritted its teeth, burrowed directly into the water vein, and swam at high speed along the tidal vein, planting a second layer of "noisy algae" next to the seed pod.
"Now, what they hear is the illusion of ocean waves."
237 took a deep breath, and the core pulse of the dark web was suddenly released—
The pressure of the water vein was instantly increased, like an undercurrent, breaking through the blockade of the central sand vein.
The severed water supply line resumed flow, and the tidal bore was once again filled with the vibrant energy of water.
But at the same time, in the Dark Root's listening room, several Deep Root Masters simultaneously raised their heads:
“An abnormal pulse appeared in the tidal vein on the southern edge.”
"It doesn't flow naturally... it's like it's been pushed."
Although the masking effect of the Phantom Algae made the data waveform appear as a natural tidal superposition, some members of the Dark Root Council still frowned:
"This is the second time in three days that we have seen similar waveforms in key water veins."
They haven't found the source yet, but the suspicion that "someone is manipulating the underground water veins" has taken root deep within the core of the underground roots, like a real seed.
And 237 is inside the root core. Close your eyes and gently touch the veins with your fingers—
She knew that although she had succeeded this time, the period of anonymity on the dark web had been shortened, and she would not be so lucky next time.
In the underground hall of the Dark Root Council, the Light Stone was dimmed, and a giant root projection floated in the center.
Several red rays marked the locations of the abnormal water flow—the southern tidal vein, the central sand vein, and the eastern salt source.
Chief Inspector Nagae's voice was low and cold:
"All three anomalies are connected to key water veins."
If these fluctuations are allowed to continue, the stability of the entire groundwater system will be rewritten.
The "Pulse Locking Order" was thus issued—a sealing method used only at critical moments in water vein warfare.
The first step of the Locking Vein Operation is to implant a sealing root circle at key nodes.
This black ring-shaped structure will tightly bind to the inner wall of the blood vessel, blocking all non-original water from entering.
Even more frightening is that it can cause any foreign roots that enter the node to shrink and wither instantly.
At the entrance of the southern edge of the tidal vein, three sealing workers, clad in deep soil vine armor, are slowly installing the first sealing root ring.
The surface of the root circle was covered with ancient underground runes. As the sealing process progressed, the water vapor of the entire tidal vein became slow and heavy, as if breathing was being suppressed.
Sprout 12 probed back from upstream, breathing rapidly:
"Damn it, they're not just monitoring, they're trying to lock down the entire Tide Vein!"
Once the seal is complete, our dark web connections will be completely severed.
Cold sweat beaded on 237's forehead.
The weaving of the dark web depends on the deep penetration of the mother tree's roots, while sealing the root circle will block all physical and energy contact.
If it is not destroyed before the seal closes, the southern part of the Light Domain will fall into a water-induced famine within ten days.
Just as she hesitated, a strange vibration came from deep within the root core of the mother tree—
An ancient root vein that has never been used is awakening on its own.
It bypassed the main waterway of the southern edge tidal vein, drew water from deeper underground, and automatically released a wave that broke the seal when its roots touched the sealed area.
The runes on the surface of the sealed root circle were shaken open, creating a slight crack, as if they had been torn open by some unseen force.
Sprout 12 stared wide-eyed:
"This...you didn't do this, did you?"
237 gently shook his head.
She realized that this was not a dark web action she controlled, but rather the first spontaneous defense by the Mother Tree's potential—
A natural, instinctive response from the mother tree to threats to the water veins.
However, the sealers were not entirely deceived.
An elderly craftsman crouched down to examine the crack, then looked up, his eyes gleaming coldly:
“This is not a geological movement, it is… the power of another tree.”
This statement changed the suspicions of the Dark Roots' top brass from "someone is manipulating things" to "some entity is manipulating things."
Deep within the dark web, 237 felt a chill run down his spine—
She knew that the presence of the mother tree had already been detected.
The atmosphere inside the Dark Root Council's Sealing Hall was extremely oppressive.
The unexpected crack rendered all the monitoring runes ineffective.
Supervisor Changgen solemnly issued the order:
"Since the water vein seal can be interfered with, then we will not track the water flow."
Release the root-penetrating beasts—they can smell the scent of any living root, even those buried deep in the soil.
The black spore capsule was slowly pushed into the ground and cracked open.
More than ten root beasts wriggled out.
Their appearance is bizarre: their shells are covered with hard scales, their bodies resemble upside-down tree roots, and their ends branch out into countless tentacles.
They have no eyes, but they can detect their targets in the dark by "smelling".
Whenever plants release moisture or energy fluctuations, these will be transformed into points of light in their brains.
Once these root beasts bite each other, they will crawl along each other's roots in the opposite direction until they gnaw on the root core.
Sprout 12 was the first to be found to be abnormal.
As he crept through the night, he keenly sensed something amiss with the rhythmic activity underground.
"No, something's sniffing...like a monster that's specifically targeting living roots."
237 immediately ordered the encryption of the dark web and the complete recall of all exposed roots.
Even so, deep underground, one could still sense waves of "tracking breaths" approaching step by step.
Just as the probing root beast approached the outer edge of the light domain, the core of the mother tree reacted spontaneously once again.
A strange command burst forth from the depths of 237's roots—"mimicry pseudo-root".
Suddenly, the roots on the outer edge of the large area of light began to split into false branches. These false roots simulated real root life on the energy waves, but had no life core.
The root beasts suddenly pounced on these empty roots, biting and devouring them frantically, but could only swallow empty shells.
Meanwhile, the true mother tree's roots have quietly retreated, disappearing into a deeper layer of the dark web network.
Sprout12 exclaimed:
"It's like building a mirror maze underground... This is the first time you've used the power of the Mother Tree to fight."
However, the watchdogs of the Dark Roots did not let their guard down.
The Root Beast failed to find its target for a long time, and instead discovered a large number of meaningless fragments of illusory roots in the Southern Edge Vein Domain.
The chief inspector's face was grim:
"A plant capable of weaving false roots... is no ordinary plant."
If the form behind it truly is the nascent mother tree, then it must be attempting to control the very roots of the entire continent.
A secret order flew across the entire continent:
"Operation Locking the Veins has entered its second phase—activating 'Soul-Digging Roots'."
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