Chapter 39
The ancient words uttered by 237 seemed to have shaken the very foundation of the entire continent.
Deep in the plains, the hidden veins of light suddenly trembled, as if forcibly redirected by an unknown force.
A rumble came from the earth, and the water flow between the roots began to reverse.
The water veins that had been polluted by the Qi River into black water were momentarily stagnant under 237's control, with the water ripples reversing and shimmering with a faint light.
This is the initial manifestation of "reversing the roots and veins".
It was not inherited from the mother tree's talent, but rather a "tampering method" that was accidentally triggered by 237 during the process of merging with the mother tree's light and energy.
It can temporarily and forcibly rewrite the flow of water veins, and even suppress the pollution of dark roots—but at the cost of consuming the caster's own life force.
Qi He's eyes suddenly lit up, and black ripples spread out in his pupils.
He sneered, "You dare to go against the very source of the water veins? Foolish! Going against the current is only for those with hidden roots!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qihe suddenly swung his arm.
The black water, like bared fangs, lunged at the light domain defense line, instantly engulfing a large area of sea buckthorn array.
The sea buckthorn made a piercing snapping sound in the water, and even the sharp thorns became soft and powerless from being soaked.
The figure of Qihe moved with the waves, transforming into a giant scaled fish shadow formed from black water, swooping down and heading straight for 237.
237 closed his eyes and plunged his arms into the soil.
His roots were connected to the earth's veins, and he felt countless water lines surging in the darkness.
"Listen to me... change direction."
The roots suddenly trembled, as if a giant beast had turned over.
In an instant, the black water that was originally heading towards the light domain was abruptly reversed and redirected to the flank.
The surging waters carried away most of the Night Scale Beasts and even tore apart part of the Rotten Reed Shadow Soldiers' formation.
The Allied forces watched this scene in shock:
The enemy's overwhelming force was turned around and used for our own purposes in an instant.
But this power is not without its drawbacks.
The roots of 237 began to crack, and the sap flowing inside mixed with blood.
He could feel his "roots" being forcibly extracted by the earth, and each reversal felt like a knife cutting into his soul.
Qihe realized this, and his maniacal laughter echoed across the battlefield:
"Hahaha! You're burning yourself out! When you're exhausted, I will personally transform your roots into a bridge against the current!"
The black water surged again.
Qi He's cloak completely disintegrated, revealing black reeds covering his entire body like scales, making him look like a fallen water spirit war god.
He spread his arms, and more than ten black water veins rushed towards 237 at the same time.
237 pressed his forehead to the soil and growled:
"The root cause—change it again!"
A burst of light erupted.
Centered on him, the earth's surface cracked open with ribbons of light resembling a giant net of light.
Each beam of light rushed toward the black waters of the Qi River, attempting to forcibly rewrite its direction.
—The first head-on collision between the black water and the light vein.
The roar shattered the sky, tearing the air above the horizon.
Large numbers of Alliance warriors were thrown back by the shockwave, but an unprecedented flame ignited in their eyes:
237 is currently engaged in direct combat with the Apostles!
The rage of the black water and the stubbornness of the light veins locked in a fierce battle.
The water flow constantly twists, backfires, and is rewritten.
Each confrontation was accompanied by the excruciating pain within 237's body and the echoing roar of the Qi River.
However, 237 gritted his teeth and persevered.
He understood that this wasn't about winning, but about proving:
The future of our roots does not belong to the dark currents.
A hint of seriousness finally appeared on Qi He's face.
He sensed that this tiny individual was actually qualified to confront him in the battle of the water veins.
Just as the stalemate reached its extreme, another unfamiliar tremor suddenly came from deep within the earth.
It does not belong to Qihe, nor does it belong to 237.
It was an ancient and chilling power, like a long-dormant vein being awakened.
Its breath directly suppressed the struggle between light and water, causing the entire continent to tremble.
Qi He's expression changed, and he whispered:
"...The original vein is actually going to intervene."
237 suddenly opened his eyes, a sense of crisis he had never felt before welling up inside him.
Just as the light and the black water reached their limit of stalemate, a tremor came from the depths of the earth.
That wasn't just an earthquake; it was the very foundation of the continent breathing.
All the vegetation, rocks, and even the air trembled slightly, as if listening to an irresistible call.
The Alliance warriors paused their fighting, and even the Nightscale Beasts hesitated to advance.
An ancient pressure, surpassing both light and darkness, slowly rose from the depths of the soil.
As the soil cracked, a huge root emitting a ghostly light emerged from the ground.
It is thicker than any mountain range, and beneath its bark flows a sap that is a mixture of silver and ink.
This color means that it belongs to neither light nor darkness.
This is the primordial source—the origin of life on the continent.
In ancient times, it split into two branches:
One strand transforms into "light," nourishing all things;
The other path degenerates into a "dark root," nourishing corruption.
However, the original vein itself has always slumbered in the Earth's core and has never chosen either side.
At this moment, it was awakened by the extreme confrontation between Hu Zi 237 and Qi He.
An invisible wave spread out.
The warriors of the Alliance and Nightscale knelt down simultaneously, unable to resist this mental oppression.
They heard a low echo:
“You… have torn apart the balance of the earth.”
Hu Zi 237's chest trembled violently, and he felt the "reverse alteration" power within his body being suppressed almost instantly.
Qi He's face turned ashen, and the black liquid on his body trembled as if it were about to collapse.
The original lineage showed no bias, but rather, in the manner of a judge, declared:
"Tampering with or going against the tide are not the right path."
The primordial vein slowly raised its roots, releasing countless tiny tendrils, resembling a silver waterfall.
These tentacles pierced the earth of the battlefield, forcibly halting all water veins and roots.
The flow of light was suppressed, and the erosion of dark roots was frozen.
Time seemed to stand still across the entire plain.
In this silence, only Hu Zi 237 and Qi He were still able to move with difficulty.
The voice of the primordial vein rang out again:
"If you want this to continue, you need to prove who can uphold my order."
This is not the end of the confrontation, but rather a forced upgrade to the Original Vein Trial.
Qi He laughed loudly, "Hahaha! So that's how it is! The original lineage is not just at all, but craves new slaves!"
The black light in his eyes surged, and his scales and flesh twisted, transforming him into a half-human, half-water beast.
"In that case, I will become the sole ruler by devouring the primordial veins!"
He rushed madly toward the main root of the primordial vein, opening his bloody mouth in an attempt to suck up the silver ink liquid.
As Hu Zi 237 watched this scene, he knew that if Qi He succeeded, the entire continent would fall into irreversible corruption.
However, he also understood that his "reverse alteration" was merely a temporary technique to tamper with the water veins, and could not possibly match the madness of the Qi River.
He took a deep breath and placed his hands on the surface of the vein.
Unlike Qihe's plundering, he chose "linking".
To resonate with one's roots and origins for a moment, even if it means being completely consumed in the process.
Instantly, light and excruciating pain surged into his body at the same time.
The roots of Hu Zi 237 withered rapidly within the body, but in return, they evoked a faint echo from the original vein:
"You are willing to forge yourself into my continuation?"
Hu Zi 237 responded in a low voice:
“I am not a guardian, nor a ruler… I am just coral, but I wish to let the sea and land continue to breathe.”
The original pulse is silent.
Its juices transformed into streams of light, flowing back along Hu Zi 237's body.
At the same time, the lacquer tree has already bitten through part of the main root, and the black liquid is spreading wildly.
The silver light and the black liquid are beginning to clash along the same primordial vein.
The fate of the entire continent will soon be decided in the struggle along this lineage.
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