The branches attacking Shangguan Yulin swiftly dodged the Vermilion Bird phantom and pursued him again.
Though Shangguan Yulin was fast, he had ventured too deep into the Demonic Wood Forest, and escaping would still take several breaths of time.
Rong Guang, who could restrain the tree demons with his Poisonous Thorn Tree, had also created some distance between himself and Shangguan Yulin while sending him towards Xuanyuan Xun.
At this moment, even if he were to rush over to rescue him, it would take two breaths of time.
Therefore, Shangguan Yulin's situation immediately became perilous.
Seeing that the tree demon was about to ensnare his feet again, and once entangled, it would be very difficult for him to fly up again.
Shangguan Yulin was greatly alarmed and wanted to conjure the Vermilion Bird phantom once more, but it was already too late.
It's over!
He thought to himself, his heart sinking by half.
At this critical juncture, a sword light descended from the sky and struck the branches beneath his feet.
"Hiss!" Su Dan Novel Network
A slight cry of pain sounded, and the branches fell to the ground, writhing violently.
Shangguan Yulin's face and body were instantly splattered with green sap.
A rotten odor rushed into Shangguan Yulin's nostrils, making him dizzy and about to fall from the sky.
Fortunately, Ye Lingyuan shouted, "If not now, when!"
This jolted Shangguan Yulin back to his senses.
He took a deep breath and, with a few leaps, flew out of the tree demon's encirclement.
However, he dared not relax and ran towards the others with all his might.
Seeing the edge of the forest within sight, Shangguan Yulin was overjoyed.
Suddenly, Rong Guang shouted, "Be careful!"
The Poisonous Thorn Tree lashed out at Shangguan Yulin.
It turned out that two branches had already touched Shangguan Yulin's waist. Even though one of his feet had stepped out of the Demonic Wood Forest, those two branches had enough time to entangle him and drag him back into the forest.
Therefore, the Poisonous Thorn Tree in Rong Guang's hand was actually striking at the two branches behind Shangguan Yulin.
But Shangguan Yulin was unaware of this.
Even if he knew Rong Guang wouldn't harm him, faced with danger, he still couldn't fully trust him.
Seeing that he was about to be whipped back into the Demonic Wood Forest by the Poisonous Thorn Tree, he bitterly closed his eyes.
At that moment, Shangguan Yulin felt his body pause, and his waist was clearly entangled by something.
Then, he felt his body accelerating in a certain direction.
It's over!
Shangguan Yulin thought to himself, and then felt himself being flung to the ground.
Huh?
Something's not right!
This isn't fallen leaves, it's the ground!
Shangguan Yulin rejoiced, abruptly opened his eyes, and saw six dark eyes!
These six eyes looked down from above, blocking more than nine-tenths of his view.
"Ah~~~"
Shangguan Yulin screamed and jumped up from the ground, shouting hysterically, "I'm out! I actually got out!"
Xuanyuan Xun and Rong Guang exchanged glances and shook their heads with pity.
Shen Liuxing squinted and dug at his ear, saying disdainfully, "Are you sick! You got out, so you got out. The Mistress of the Underworld Palace saved you, and she didn't say anything. What are you yelling about?"
Shangguan Yulin was stunned and only then realized that he was surrounded only by Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shen Liuxing. Ye Lingyuan also stood not far away, not even sparing him a glance.
He said to Shen Liuxing, "You just said, he was the one who saved me?"
As he spoke, he pointed at Ye Lingyuan.
Shen Liuxing nodded and said, "Although I can't stand his arrogant demeanor, among those present, besides him, no one could have pulled you out in that situation!"
Shangguan Yulin looked at Rong Guang again. Rong Guang nodded and said, "My Poisonous Thorn Tree could only deter those branches and make them pause for a moment, but the powerful wind generated by the Poisonous Thorn Tree also swept you away. Fortunately, the Mistress of the Underworld Palace flicked out an energy whip and entangled you, otherwise, you would have fallen back into the Demonic Wood Forest."
Perhaps because he had done more harm than good, Rong Guang's gaze noticeably shifted.
Shangguan Yulin patted Rong Guang's shoulder and said, "Good brother, I'm fine!"
Then, he walked up to Ye Lingyuan and said sincerely, "Thank you!"
Ye Lingyuan's gaze did not leave the Demonic Wood Forest as he said faintly, "No need! It is I who should thank you!"
Shangguan Yulin smiled and said, "No! You don't need to thank me! If she can fight for the creatures of the Azure Star, we can also give our all for her!"
"She..."
Ye Lingyuan frowned and was about to speak when Xuanyuan Xun interrupted, "Brother Shangguan is right! This is what we should do for Miss Zi!"
Ye Lingyuan's eyes brightened for a moment before returning to their calm state.
"Alright, alright! Stop thanking each other and talking about what you should or shouldn't do. Let's talk about how we can get through the Demonic Wood Forest."
Shen Liuxing, while digging at his ear, broke the awkward silence.
Rong Guang nodded and said, "I've discovered that although the Poisonous Thorn Tree can deter the tree demons, it can only ensure my own safety. I don't understand why."
Xuanyuan Xun, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing all frowned, unable to explain.
"Because the Poisonous Thorn Tree is one with you, it will desperately protect your safety. It can accommodate others, but it won't risk its life. As for the tree demons, they clearly don't want to risk their lives against the Poisonous Thorn Tree, so they will allow you to pass!" Ye Lingyuan explained.
The group was immediately at a loss.
After two rounds of probing, they had already discovered that forcing their way through was not an option, nor was seeking protection.
"Then how do we get through?" Shangguan Yulin asked.
Ye Lingyuan looked at him and said, "The key to us getting through lies with you!"
"Me?"
Shangguan Yulin pointed at himself in disbelief and asked.
Ye Lingyuan nodded and said, "I just discovered that they are extremely afraid of your Vermilion Bird phantom!"
Shangguan Yulin shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Mistress of the Underworld Palace, you must be joking. If they were afraid of the Vermilion Bird phantom, I wouldn't have been chased like a dog!"
Ye Lingyuan said seriously, "I am not joking. The reason you were so disheveled is that you haven't unleashed the true power of the phantom. As for why they fear the Vermilion Bird phantom, it's because there is something within the Vermilion Bird phantom that they dread!"
"What is it that they dread?"
Shangguan Yulin asked blankly.
At this moment, his mind was already struggling to keep up.
Ye Lingyuan glanced meaningfully at the Demonic Wood Forest and said, "What do you think wood is afraid of?"
What is wood afraid of?
Afraid of what?
Afraid...
Afraid...
"Fire!"
Shen Liuxing's eyes lit up as he said.
Ye Lingyuan nodded and said, "Exactly! Wood is afraid of fire, and the true power of the Vermilion Bird phantom lies in its Vermilion Bird Flame!"