Vitalizing the entire city was a last-resort measure that could only be used during wartime. It came with many restrictions.
However, this attack had undoubtedly met the requirements. The reason they hadn’t used it earlier was simply that they were waiting for authorization.
As expected, the enraged King immediately issued the permit for City Vitalization.
Thus, things changed quickly.
Yun Ruoxi, who had escaped halfway and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that the enemy hadn’t caught up, was just about to follow the plan to regroup with Lin Zhen and the others when she ran into big trouble! It was a massive problem that wasn’t in the plan!
No matter where she went, everything nearby would come to life, frantically attacking and obstructing her. She couldn’t go anywhere.
Even when she used Telekinetic Invisibility, she was somehow seen through and attacked, eventually being dragged out.
Yun Ruoxi had already consumed a vast amount of star energy due to the high-intensity battle while covering the rear.
Now, unable to even hide and rest, she felt as if she were being pulled into thick mud. The situation immediately turned critical. She realized this herself but had no good solution.
In the original plot, the event of the entire city vitalizing never happened at all!
‘It’s probably because the combat power I displayed was too high, forcing them to use this move. Dammit, Tree God City actually had a hidden trap like this, and I freaking stepped right on it!’
*Clatter, clatter, clatter!*
Inside a narrow alley, the blue-haired girl sped through. Her smooth blue hair was like seaweed in water, floating and fluttering in the air because of her rapid pace.
Her face was covered in sweat, her Starforce Battlesuit was filthy, and there was a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.
Not only was her telekinetic shield starting to fail, but her method of travel had also reverted from flying to a simple, unadorned run.
It could be said that this was Yun Ruoxi’s most pathetic state in any assessment since the Awakening Assessment. She had completely lost her previous graceful appearance.
However, this battered and disheveled state—one she was almost too ashamed to show anyone—unexpectedly received rave reviews from the “visual fans” among the barrage, separate from the “plot fans” who were worried about her.
「Why does the battle-damaged version of Xiao Xi look even better than the normal version?」
「Xiao Xi’s determined and resolute eyes, combined with her being covered in wounds, is simply stunning!」
「The sense of brokenness is off the charts.」
「It looks great!」
「Finally! It was worth watching for thirty minutes. The Xiao Xi Production Team is late, but they delivered.」
「Let me tell you, being a Xiao Xi fan is the right choice. Seeing Lao Xi sweeping through everything and acting all cool earlier was starting to annoy me. I still prefer the little crybaby from before.」
「It’s over for me. I actually prefer seeing Xiao Xi suffer a setback too.」
「It’s mainly because she’s cuter when she’s struggling. She feels more like a young girl.」
「True. It’s not that there was anything wrong with Xiao Xi’s highlights, but she was a bit too overpowered. Feeling her occasionally fail makes her feel more ‘human.’」
‘I actually ended up attracting a group of fans who enjoy seeing me suffer!’ Yun Ruoxi smiled helplessly.
Given the current situation, unless something unexpected happened, she likely wouldn’t be able to escape the hands of the Tree God Guards.
After all, she had a tendency to get carried away whenever she performed, sometimes losing control. So, she was indeed walking a tightrope this time.
However, she did have a backup plan. She still had a portion of Popularity Points in the System, which she had originally intended to use for emergencies like this.
But… since everyone liked seeing her suffer, it was time for her to take another small hit. Think of it as an appetizer before the main course.
Anyway, according to the original plot, there wouldn’t be any issues even if she got caught. Someone would come to bail her out! Besides, she could save some Popularity Points this way.
At this thought, Yun Ruoxi abandoned the idea of using her Popularity Points.
She intentionally left an opening, pretending to be momentarily distracted, and let a vine coil around her ankle, hanging her upside down. Then, her limbs were bound, stretching her out in a spread-eagle shape.
*Crank, crank, crank!*
A few seconds later, the ground suddenly split open. A giant red flower bud grew from the crack and spat out seven Tree God Guards.
However, this red bud wasn’t the work of the first Tree God Guard who had attacked. That guy had been crushed into a meatball by Yun Ruoxi in the previous battle. This method was merely a common skill among the Tree God Guards.
“We finally caught this brat!” one of the Tree God Guards looked at Yun Ruoxi with hatred. “I’m going to make her pay for our fallen comrades!”
As he spoke, he attempted to control the vines to strangle Yun Ruoxi to death.
But immediately, the oldest and strongest Tree God Guard—the one who had previously slammed Yun Ruoxi into the ground—raised his hand.
“Calm down! We vitalized the city; we must bring her alive before His Majesty the King for judgment! Once the trial is over, she will naturally pay the price!”
Having said that, he swung his right hand down. Another red flower grew from the crack, swallowing the desperately struggling and terrified Yun Ruoxi.
*Bang, bang, bang!*
The petals of the closed bud bulged repeatedly, as if something huge was trying to escape. But as a pinkish-red gas drifted out from within, the movement gradually ceased.
Subsequently, the closed red flower retracted into the ground like a poisonous snake, and the seven Tree God Guards also disappeared from the street.
「It’s over. Why did Lao Xi get caught again?」
「A tribute to the legendary queen of capture—Lao Xi.」
「Lao Xi is going to be tortured again. She won’t remember the process of being brainwashed by the Saints’ hand society and turn evil again, will she?」
「What are you talking about? Hasn’t Lao Xi always been a “blue on the outside, black on the inside” type?」
「Watch your words, or Lao Xi will release her true self.」
「This is doujin material right here.」
「Doujin node plus one.」
***
Outside the city, the group was perched on the canopy of a large tree, looking at the distant silhouette of the city walls from afar. Lin Zhen prayed in his heart for a certain figure to appear.
But in the end, one hour passed, and that blue figure never showed up.
“A Zhen, it’s already been one hour!” In the silence, Yun Che suddenly spoke.
“I know!” Lin Zhen nodded, his voice hoarse as he looked into the distance with a final shred of hope.
At this moment, how he wished Yun Ruoxi would suddenly jump out from the side, just like the several times she had teased them with her invisibility, laughing and saying, “How did you guys fail to notice my invisibility again?”
But hope was just hope. That cute young girl did not jump out from the side. And he still needed to lead the others forward.
“Let’s go!” Lin Zhen retracted his gaze and turned toward the direction of another city. “Let us go and finish what needs to be done!”
*Swish, swish, swish!*
Lin Zhen and the others climbed down the large tree one after another, leaving only Aili still looking at the distant silhouette of the city with teary eyes.
“Sister, you lied to Xiao Ai again!” she sobbed. She had wanted to wait right there until Yun Ruoxi returned.
But looking at the several people waiting silently for her beneath the tree, she finally wiped her tears, climbed down, and stood beside Lin Zhen and the others.
“Sister, I’ll wait for you at Giant Stone City!”
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