Dark Blood Path

As the flames raged on, they voraciously devoured the forest, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing upwards. Fanned by the relentless north wind, the inferno gradually spread further afield with each passing moment. And when night fell, the flames seemed to burn with even greater ferocity, illuminating the sky with a faint crimson hue that could be seen as far as the eye could see from the Black Forest. The surrounding woodland, spanning tens of miles in all directions, became engulfed in a thick and pungent cloud of smoke that hung heavily in the air. The smoke was especially thick in the north, where the wind carried it away in large, cotton-like waves, shrouding everything in its path.

Zhou Fu and the others didn’t escape into the Black Forest but were instead heading north in a certain direction. Unfortunately, luck did not seem to be on their side tonight. Even if the raging flames did not reach them, the thick, suffocating smoke would certainly make it difficult for them to breathe, causing them to choke and struggle for air.

By midnight, the ferocious blaze had ceased its relentless advance and began to gradually diminish. As day broke, the fire had finally been quenched, leaving behind a smoldering aftermath that would take a day and a half to cool down completely. Only then did Xiao Yu lead a group of people into the ravaged woods. The area spanning more than ten miles was now a desolate, charred wasteland. As they walked on the still-warm ground, they were greeted by the sight of pitch-black, smoldering wood emitting thin wisps of green smoke. The ground was now covered by a thick layer of black ash, which was stirred up by the slightest breeze, creating an eerie snow-like effect.

With a single, deft blade strike, Xiao Yu expertly severed a long, scorched tree that had been obstructing his path. From a distance, he spotted a towering, majestic tree that somehow managed to remain standing amidst the devastation wrought by the inferno. During the height of the blaze, everyone had been focused on burning this area, yet miraculously, the dryad still managed to emerge unscathed. However, its once-lush green leaves had turned a sickly shade of yellow and were now wrinkled and covered in soot, no longer radiating the vibrant life they had just a day prior.

Without the surrounding plants to draw upon for strength and vitality, the dryad’s combat power had been severely diminished. It was now no more formidable than an average monster in the latter stage of the first order. Even so, the late-first-order was not an existence that anyone could underestimate, especially given the dryad’s ability to wield the terrifying and macabre “Instant Disintegration skill.” This curse magic had the power to instantly obliterate any strong opponent, leaving no trace behind. One moment of carelessness could result in one’s immediate demise, with no hope of survival.

Jiang Xiaowen summoned the half-abomination with her scroll, and everyone else was ready to attack, waiting for Xiao Yu’s orders.

Turning to Jiang Xiaowen, Xiao Yu spoke, “The dryad possesses a powerful magic that is incredibly fast and difficult to dodge. For safety’s sake, I’ll launch the first attack. Xiaowen, have half-abomination toss me over to its location, and the rest of you can launch a coordinated assault once I’ve engaged it.” With an eye towards minimizing casualties, Xiao Yu urged his team to unleash a barrage of swift and aggressive attacks, hoping to bring the fight to a swift conclusion.

With a mighty leap, Xiao Yu soared through the air, while the towering half-abomination stretched out its massive hands to grab hold of his legs. With a deep roar, the creature spun around with all its might, then hurled Xiao Yu towards the dryad like a shooting star. The power of the half-abomination was immense, propelling Xiao Yu towards his target with incredible force. However, the Dryad was ever vigilant and quickly spotted the intruder. Its hideous face materialized on the trunk of the tree, and in a flash, green flames gathered, coalescing into a potent “Instant Disintegration skill” that was aimed directly at Xiao Yu.

“I already knew that you would use this trick!”