At the same time,
This doesn’t make sense, does it? With that golden light I casually bestowed, how could there possibly be a chance of losing?
Unless…? Lumiya narrowed her eyes.
That little tree’s life force on the other side…? Why does it feel a bit old?
This can’t be right. A Life Tree this small shouldn’t have such an aura, and why does its magic have the stench of an old man?
Lumiya’s eyes began to shine, as she carefully examined the Life Tree opposite her.
Old!
Undeniably old!
Well, well! Someone’s really out here using a ringer to bully the weak!
The body of that so-called “Life Tree” over there was indeed new,
But the problem was, that thing wasn’t even a real Life Tree at all—just an ordinary sapling growing among the Life Tree clan!
It had only been slowly assimilated after years of soaking in Healing Light, barely touching the surface traits of a Life Tree.
The real troublemaker was a strand of Divine Sense attached to the sapling.
That was some bored old fellow from the Life Tree Clan, using this half-baked sapling as an eye to peek into other worlds, whiling away eternity with such disgraceful antics!
To put it plainly, it was just a little sapling that hadn’t even awakened, forcibly possessed by some ancient geezer as a puppet!
It had been mentioned before—Lumiya had traveled to other worlds, so there were some races she actually recognized.
And as for this old cheat dropping in to bully the weak—what a coincidence,
Lumiya had beaten him up before!
This one, who stepped onto the field, was actually one of the Life Tree Clan’s Elders.
Back then, when she passed by that world, she’d only drunk a couple sips from their lake.
Yet those old fossils not only refused to let her drink, they even dared to attack!
She’d given them a sound thrashing, branches and leaves flying everywhere.
Who would’ve thought that, after thousands of years, he’d stoop to bullying a little human girl.
A flash of anger passed through Lumiya’s eyes, golden light pulsing faintly at the tip of her tail.
What she hated most were these self-important old bullies, breaking the rules!
You say Lumiya herself isn’t the same?
How could that be the same?
She is humble and inquisitive, loves interacting with the younger generation, cares for them, and is their best friend!
Don’t believe it? Go ask around in the worlds Lumiya’s visited—who would dare say a word against her?
This old guy dropping in to bully the weak was way too reckless! Did he not even notice whose gaze was fixed on Little White? Daring to lay a hand on her!
Today, Lumiya would remind him what it means to be humble and to challenge one above your rank!
Her vertical pupils flashed with golden light, and a sharp gaze instantly pierced through the Life Tree on the field and reached a certain world.
Far away, in the Life Tree World, ancient Life Trees stretched in endless groves.
Jade-green rivers flowed through the woods, brimming with vitality.
Yet, curiously, at the source—Life Lake—there were suddenly two bowl-sized holes sunken into the surface.
The crystal-clear lake water swirled around the holes, unable to mend, as if by some strange force!
Beneath the ancient tree at the heart of the clan, an Elder entwined in emerald light sat with eyes closed, meditating.
Its thick trunk-like limbs were covered in ancient runes—this was the true body of the Divine Sense attached to Su Qing’s beast.
Suddenly, without warning, the sky split open.
A golden Dragon Eye slowly appeared, its pupil swirling with radiant golden light, like a blazing sun suspended above the world, bathing the entire forest in gold.
“World-Destroying Dragon! You would punish me? For what reason?!”
The Life Tree Elder’s eyes flew open, its aged voice trembling with fear.
It tried to gather Healing Light to form a shield, only to find the energy sluggish and unresponsive under the Dragon Eye’s gaze.
Before it could react, a bolt of violet-gold lightning shot forth from the Dragon Eye, descending like divine judgment and striking at the Elder with an aura of destruction and majesty.
“Boom—” At the instant the lightning struck, the Elder’s emerald shield shattered, ancient runes splintering in the lightning’s glare.
The Elder let out a wretched howl, its vast body scorched black, vitality visibly draining away.
All around, members of the Life Tree Clan prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to move a muscle.
Only the Dragon Eye hung high in the sky, exuding an untouchable majesty. Though it said not a word, every Life Tree heard a warning—
[Open your eyes wider from now on! If this dragon ever catches you laying hands on my people again, you’re done for!]
At the same time, the Life Tree on the field suddenly began to shake violently.
The faint, calm smile on Su Qing’s face vanished.
She could clearly feel—the Life Tree summoned by her clan’s secret art was trying to tell her something.
What do you mean, I should surrender?
What kind of joke is this—wasn’t I about to win? Why surrender all of a sudden? Aren’t I the Life Tree’s favorite child?
But no matter how Su Qing asked, the Life Tree refused to answer.
It only told her not to act unreasonably, saying there was nothing it could do.
Soon after, Su Qing noticed the Life Tree’s energy had been cut off.
Though its body remained, relying on only Su Qing’s own magic, there was no way she could fight as before!
The Vine Net, having lost its immense energy supply, slowed drastically in its frenzied growth.
Even the luminous green veins between the leaves grew dim.
In the clash, Su Qing finally withdrew from her previous stance of directly withstanding attacks, and started dodging clumsily to the side.
Yet the habit of exchanging injury for injury was ingrained in her very instincts, and her movements still showed hints of her old ways.
Worse, her wounds now healed much slower.
Where scratches once closed instantly, now they seeped with blood; even the Life Tree’s blessing was fading fast.
Snowball’s icy mist swept in, bitterly cold. Su Qing staggered, her speed and strength plummeting.
In an instant, she was pushed back again and again by Little White’s short dagger, new cuts blooming on her arms and shoulders from icy blades.
Yet, instead of panic, an unusual light flared in her eyes, and a faint smile played at her lips.
“Snowball, now! Extreme Frost Ice Spikes!”
Little White’s fingertips burst with icy light.
Seeing Su Qing’s condition drop, she instantly gathered her strength and called out for Snowball to go all out!
Snowball raised its head and let out a clear dragon’s roar.
Blue elemental power gathered before it, coalescing into countless thick ice spikes, each one radiating bone-chilling cold, stabbing straight at the Life Tree’s trunk.
Having lost its Vine Net, the Life Tree could not resist at all.
The ice spikes drove deep into its trunk, and frost spread rapidly from the wounds, encasing the entire tree in a glistening ice sculpture.
Su Qing watched as the Life Tree was frozen.
The last hint of emerald light faded completely from her body, the pain in her still-healing wounds intensifying, blood dripping from her fingertips.
She stood there in a daze for two seconds, staring at the crystalline ice sculpture in the center of the arena.
Her face took on a sickly flush, yet her eyes still sparkled. With a soft, satisfied hum, she slowly collapsed.