Chapter 31
Boom—
The tremors on the plain reached their peak as the collision between the Locking Vein Array and the Mother Tree Root Seal cleaved the entire land apart.
The water columns gushing from deep underground are like thousands of silver dragons roaring angrily, breaking through the soil and soaring straight into the sky.
The surface vegetation was uprooted, but then it took root again in the surging air currents;
Even the sky was bleached white by the rising water vapor, as if a new climate zone had been formed in an instant.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the battlefield, an ancient and massive root-mark pattern finally emerged in its entirety.
It wasn't carved into the ground, but rather imprinted directly into the skeleton of the entire plain.
The roots extend like mountains, and the water flows like rivers of blood, reflecting the original appearance of a "living continent".
The meridian-locking array completely collapsed under this backlash.
The light and shadow of the four forces were blasted back hundreds of feet, and each leader was pale-faced, as if their souls were being torn apart.
But the plains did not recover to their original state.
Under the guidance of the root seal, it is—reshaping.
The land on both sides of the crack rises up, forming towering stone ridges, as if a barrier guarding the boundary;
The gushing water converged and gradually formed a ring-shaped lake, with water mist spreading, resembling a natural barrier;
Countless severed roots are reborn under the call of the root imprint, transforming into thick "root pillars" that connect heaven and earth, standing like an altar.
Ultimately, an unprecedented space underwent a transformation.
It is part of the plain, yet it has become an independent sacred place of roots.
Seed 237 stood in the center of the sacred area, its pulse perfectly synchronized with the entire terrain.
His breath was the aura of the sacred realm;
His heartbeat was like the ripples of a lake;
He gently stretched out his hand, and the surrounding roots and water veins responded as if to submit.
Sprout 12 whispered in a trembling voice, "You...you've become the domain lord of this place."
The white ash branch's flames dimmed, and it murmured, "So... the root imprint of the mother tree is not an inanimate object, but can give rise to new territory?"
Mixing Teng licked his lips, his tone laced with amusement: "This is just the beginning of the Dark War... The continent will be torn apart by one Holy Domain after another, until the map is completely rewritten."
The Wind-Swaying Flower swayed its petals, its eyes filled with fear: "It's still just a prototype... If we let it grow to fully integrate with the Root Imprint, we... won't even be able to track it anymore."
The Bone-Eating Root gritted its teeth and roared, "No! The Holy Domain is just a prison! As long as we find its lock, we can trap it inside!"
Just as they were discussing, the earth suddenly roared.
Ripples spread across the lake's surface, then transformed into hundreds of root-guarding spirits.
They have no clear shape, appearing as if woven from roots and water mist, with their eye sockets shimmering with a bluish-white light.
"Thump—"
The pulse of the sacred realm spread once more, and the guardian spirits bowed their heads in unison, paying homage to 237.
At this moment, the sacred realm truly proclaimed—its master had appeared.
Sprout12 almost shouted, "This is... the first practical result of the Mother Tree's potential! With the Holy Domain as its foundation, he can now confront the Dark Root forces head-on!"
At this moment, deep within the Root Hall of the Dark Root Council, Corrosive Root slammed his palm on the withered wooden table, his voice low and deep like rotting mud: "The Plains Sanctuary has taken shape... If allowed to grow, it will become a 'Reverse Pulse Core' that Dark Root cannot control."
Bai Jinzhi coldly replied, "What we seek is to completely lock down the roots of the continent, while he allows the earth to grow on its own. This kind of existence is more dangerous than any rebellion."
The Wandering Vine licked its lips, its laughter sinister: "Don't be afraid, he hasn't completely taken control of the Holy Domain yet. Just send out the Rift Walker. If we can sever his resonance with the Root Seal, we can make the Holy Domain turn against him."
Ultimately, the council decided to activate the infiltrators that had been dormant for a thousand years—the Riftwalkers.
As night fell, thick fog rose from the lakes of the sacred plains, and a low humming sound from between the pillars seemed like an early warning.
Sprout 12 suddenly raised its leaves and whispered, "Someone has come in."
Seed 237's brow trembled slightly; he could feel that the pulse of the Holy Domain had been severed somewhere.
That wasn't an impact from an external force, but rather... the Holy Land itself tacitly allowing the invasion.
“The Riftwalker…” 237 murmured.
A figure emerged from the mist.
It was not a complete individual, but a black plant that had been cut countless times, its shape twisted, as if pieced together from broken roots.
Each time it moves, a crack appears in the ground, revealing darkness leading to the underground.
It made no sound, only a low, grinding sound of roots rubbing together:
—Click, click.
Instead of confronting 237 head-on, the Crack Walker stayed close to the lake shore, its arms outstretched and its roots plunging directly into the ground.
In an instant, the lake's water was drawn away, transforming into dark patterns that seeped into the depths of the sacred domain.
Sprout 12 exclaimed urgently, "It's rewriting the distribution of the root's water veins! If it succeeds, your control will be taken back!"
237 closed his eyes, placed his hands on the ground, and breathed in sync with the sanctuary.
"I'll plug the crack."
boom--
The lake surface suddenly surged, and hundreds of water veins transformed into guardian spirits rushed towards the rift walker.
But the Riftwalker did not resist; it simply continued to absorb and corrode, its body gradually transforming into a pitch-black web of roots that swallowed up the guardian spirits one by one.
Just as the Rift Walker was about to reach the core of the Sanctuary,
The root seal suddenly lit up with a dazzling white light, as if responding to 237's sentiments.
Beneath the lake, the dormant pillars suddenly trembled.
They rose from the ground and transformed into dozens of giant root dragons, their scales composed of crystallized soil and crystal roots.
Each root dragon roared as it lunged at the Rift Walker.
Bit it off, entangle it, burn it, and drag it into the center of the sanctuary.
first--
The Sanctuary demonstrated its proactive defense.
The Riftwalker was pinned to the center of the lake, its body torn into countless fragments, eventually dissolving into the mist.
But before it vanished, its roots transformed into symbolic marks, etched on the bottom of the sacred lake.
Bean Sprout 12 leaned against the rootstock, panting heavily: "We...won?"
Seed 237 remained silent, gazing at the lingering black lines on the lakebed.
"No, this is just a probe. The Dark Roots have learned of the existence of the Sanctuary..."
Next, they will spare no effort and send their true strength.
The lake water rippled and shimmered, as if the entire sacred realm was humming in anticipation of the impending war.
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