Section 13: Electric Mane Tree
By: Gu Zhenren
Date: 2013-02-09
“First team hold steady, third team provide rapid healing,” Hua Mei continued to issue orders. She sat in the center, exceptionally calm, like a stabilizing needle in the sea. As long as she was there, the team would not panic.
This precise command immediately stabilized the situation. In just a moment, the Cloudwing Tiger let out a whimper, heavily wounded, and finally collapsed, falling dead.
“We won!” Fei Yan cheered joyfully. She had also contributed significantly to the recent battle. Participating in such a large-scale event for the first time made her extremely excited.
“Clear the battlefield. Fei Yan, come here for a moment,” Hua Mei said, her brow furrowed. By her standards, she was not entirely satisfied, especially with Fei Yan’s erratic attacks, which had disrupted the entire team’s offensive rhythm.
She called Fei Yan aside and lectured her in a low voice.
After returning, Fei Yan lowered her head, looking dejected.
“I got scolded…” she pouted, her eyes welling up with tears, as she walked up to Chu Yun.
Chu Yun patted her little head and offered some words of comfort. Little Fei Yan’s mood immediately improved upon hearing Chu Yun’s gentle words. By the afternoon, she was smiling again, full of life and energy.
The team continued to advance. the coordination within the Rouge Rose team was absolutely top-tier. All commands were issued accurately, and the various parts of the team acted in unison. Their formation changes were as smooth as flowing clouds, and tactical shifts were seamless.
Cloudwing Tigers, Soul-Leaving Pythons, Inglorious Spirit-Marrow Willows, and other Demonic creatures, mostly Great Demons, and even one or two wild Spirit Monsters, all fell under the Rouge Rose team’s coordinated efforts.
Chu Yun also witnessed the combat prowess of Hua Mei and Yi Yan, which was no less than his own. In ordinary third-rate forces, such experts would be impossible to find. Rouge Rose was an organization with limitless potential. Even without the legacy of the Ten Thousand Beasts King, they would rise to prominence.
At Hua Mei’s request, to avoid disrupting Rouge Rose’s coordination, he rarely intervened. At most, he acted as a healer. He used the Dragon Eye Fruit from the Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch to emit the Longevity Profound Light, which was highly effective. In half a day, he had earned the deep respect of everyone in Rouge Rose. Especially the three shield-bearers, whom Chu Yun had focused on, looked at him with scorching gazes, full of warmth.
“Young Master Chu Yun seems to get along well with the sisters. Why not show off a bit more and do some divination?” Yi Yan was extremely curious about Chu Yun’s Yi Master divination skills. She had not let him off the hook during their journey, often coming to him with “trouble.”
A woman’s intuition was truly terrifying. She was convinced that Chu Yun was holding back and desperately wanted to understand the mysterious Abacus Master lineage.
Chu Yun suffered greatly. “Yi Master” was a fabrication he’d made up, so he could only decline.
“What, failed again?” Hua Mei asked with a smile as she watched Yi Yan stomp away angrily.
“Hmph, this Young Master Chu Yun, at first glance, is peaceful and straightforward, but he’s full of schemes. He’s definitely hiding something. I think he looks down on me, a self-taught Abacus Master. Sister Hua Mei, don’t you think the way he looks at me is very strange?” Yi Yan exhaled, feeling her teeth itch at the thought of Chu Yun.
Hua Mei chuckled.
“Why are you laughing, Sister?”
“I’m happy, so I’m smiling.” Hua Mei’s smile was as radiant as a flower. Her skin was smooth and fair. As she smiled, the hairpin in her coiled black hair quivered slightly, like a flower branch swaying in the wind.
“What are you happy about?” Yi Yan asked, puzzled.
“I’m happy that you’re finally acting like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. Usually, you’re calm and wise, detached from worldly matters, and seem uninterested in external things, always creating a sense of distance. Now, seeing your eagerness, I feel like you’re a real, flesh-and-blood person. I like you this way,” Hua Mei said, smiling and gently pinching Yi Yan’s hand.
“Sister is right, I’ll pay attention to that in the future,” Yi Yan replied, her face slightly flushed. She knew this was Hua Mei’s subtle but earnest advice. In fact, she wasn’t indifferent to everything, but only things related to Abacus Masters could pique her interest. Her passion for the path of divination was immense.
“Sister Yi Yan, Brother Chu Yun is looking for you. He said he suddenly divined something and wants to discuss it with you,” Little Fei Yan chirped as she bounced over, acting as a messenger.
Yi Yan’s eyes instantly lit up, and she turned to leave. “I’m coming right now!”
“Alas, it’s easier to change mountains and rivers than a person’s true nature…” Hua Mei watched Yi Yan hurry away, shaking her head with a wry smile.
As soon as he saw Yi Yan, Chu Yun got straight to the point.
He said calmly, “There are three forks ahead. One is a small mountain path, narrow and shrouded in dense mist. Another leads to a valley, blocked by three Great Demon-level Cloudwing Tigers. The last is a wide forest road, but it’s blocked by an Electric Mane Tree of Spirit Monster level. I suddenly had an inspiration, a divine guidance, telling me that the third path is the most suitable and will bring significant rewards.”
In truth, he had been monitoring the information constantly transmitted by the scouts ahead. The moment he heard the words “Electric Mane Tree,” he was startled.
In his previous life, Rouge Rose had kept the secret of obtaining the Ten Thousand Beasts King’s legacy until they had developed into a first-rate force, only then revealing their exploration experience to expand their influence.
This exploration record was detailed and highly authentic. The first thing mentioned was an Electric Mane Tree.
This was a Spirit Monster that possessed both lightning and wood attributes, blocking the path. It had to be slain before they could proceed. Before this, not everyone had reached this point. Most people, upon seeing this Spirit Monster tree, chose to turn back.
“The Electric Mane Tree is very difficult to attack. It possesses powerful offensive capabilities and swiftly unleashes lightning-element cultivation methods. It has also mastered wood-element cultivation methods, allowing it to absorb the Vital Energy of the earth, making it ideal for protracted battles. How did your sudden inspiration technique determine this? What kind of rewards will there be?” Yi Yan frowned slightly upon hearing Chu Yun’s words.
“As I’ve told you, sudden inspiration is akin to innate talent. Just like how humans can see and hear, it cannot be explained,” Chu Yun replied, shaking his head.
“So, this is really just intuition?” Yi Yan looked at Chu Yun with evident reluctance, hoping he would say more.
“Believe it or not, I believe it,” Chu Yun said, spreading his hands. To Yi Yan, this attitude seemed extremely shameless.
“The Electric Mane Tree is indeed a worthy opponent. It’s perfect for training the team’s reaction speed and endurance. Regardless of whether there are any rewards, I’ve decided we will fight it,” Hua Mei said, walking over. Dressed in a magnificent Tang suit, her curvaceous figure exuded a capable and mature aura.
Chu Yun glanced at her, feeling a sense of respect.
Ordinary Wanderer sects often focused on immediate gains. Difficult opponents like the Electric Mane Tree, with little reward, were battles many Wanderers disliked undertaking, as they were thankless.
Hua Mei, however, possessed foresight and did not haggle over immediate benefits. Instead, she planned for the long-term development of the entire sect, which set her apart from many.
It was no wonder that in a few years, she would become a prominent figure in the Wanderer community. The graceful demeanor of the Rouge Rose sect leader would be widely known, attracting many admirers.
The Electric Mane Tree was remarkably tall, reaching nearly ten feet. Its trunk was stout, requiring five or six adults to encircle it. Its branches were sparse but shot out straight like spears. Most notably, its bark was covered in blue fur.
These were its “lightning hairs.” Sharp electrical arcs flickered at the tips of the hairs, a faint crackling sound constantly warning outsiders of the tree’s extreme danger.
“Engage the boss!” This was the jargon used by Wanderers. With Hua Mei’s command, the three Beast Tamers from the first team immediately advanced, shields raised, to attract the initial onslaught.
Behind them, the second team, serving as the damage dealers, unleashed various cultivation methods in a cascade, striking down upon the tree.
The thunderous roars of explosions were incessant. The dazzling effects of the cultivation methods bloomed like fireworks, vibrant and colorful.
Suddenly, a burst of azure lightning exploded amidst the fireworks, rapidly expanding. The provoked Electric Mane Tree retaliated. Its lightning hairs bristled like needles, and electrical sparks shot out in all directions.
Instantly, blue lightning filled the surroundings, exploding outwards in a radius of dozens of feet, creating a terrifying scene resembling a thunderous, electric purgatory.
Screams of surprise erupted, and the assault by Rouge Rose faltered. Even the three most resilient shield-bearers were forced to retreat temporarily.
“This Electric Mane Tree has mastered a top-grade lightning technique. Damn it, damn it!” Fei Yan clutched her head, struck by the lightning, unable to raise her head.
At this critical juncture, Yi Yan stepped forward to defend.
“Third team, intensify healing. Second team, adopt a three-stage attack strategy. First team, hold on!” Hua Mei’s voice also became slightly urgent. The current situation had exceeded her expectations.
However, the Electric Mane Tree’s subsequent performance was even more astonishing. Not only did it possess many top-grade lightning cultivation methods, but its wood-element cultivation methods were also at least of middle grade. It even had a middle-grade recovery technique.
Rouge Rose was immediately thrown into a difficult battle. To ensure the safety of her disciples, not long after, Yi Yan, and even Hua Mei, joined the fray, wielding their weapons.
“Something’s wrong! This Electric Mane Tree has likely been cultivated by a Beast Tamer. Its combat style, with its cohesive advances and retreats and balanced offense and defense, could not have formed naturally,” after fighting for a full half-hour, Yi Yan’s expression grew increasingly solemn as she discovered the anomaly.
“Continue the fight, fourth team prepare to replace the second team.” Hua Mei’s brow was tightly knit. She was in too deep and had no choice but to continue fighting. Her strategic vision was strong; she continued to command globally while fighting. Thanks to her leadership, the situation stalemated.
*Swish!*
At that moment, a flash of saber light suddenly appeared, striking directly at the base of the Electric Mane Tree.
With a boom, the saber energy plunged into the soil, shaking the ground. The compacted earth was directly split open, revealing an altar hidden beneath.
“This!”
“It’s an altar!”
Before the gasps of surprise from the women had subsided, Chu Yun activated the Qimen Three Talents Saber Technique and unleashed three powerful slashes, destroying the altar. Without the altar’s support, the Electric Mane Tree immediately lost much of its geographical advantage and visibly weakened.
The morale of Rouge Rose surged. Breaking the stalemate, they immediately pushed the Electric Mane Tree onto the defensive. After a while, the great tree disintegrated with a crash, transforming into a long, blue-green Demonic Crystal.
The women all breathed a sigh of relief, and then their gazes shifted to the biggest contributor to this battle—Chu Yun.
..
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