Chapter 391 - 207: Spirit Realm, Traces of the Ancient Tree Deer Spirit

Chapter 391: Chapter 207: Spirit Realm, Traces of the Ancient Tree Deer Spirit

After more than half an hour, Pei Ze successfully set up the Plane Teleportation Array. He then took out Tining’s aura imprint to contact her and establish a Teleport Anchor Point.

But even after waiting a long time, he received no response from the Half Deer Maiden.

Pei Ze’s brow furrowed. He guessed something had likely happened to Tining, preventing her from responding.

’I can’t delay any longer.’

After some thought, Pei Ze decided to set the destination to the place they had last met and began the teleportation.

In a flash of light, Pei Ze’s figure vanished from the underground hall.

...

On a boundless plain, the grass was lush and birds soared through the air.

A lemming was contentedly nibbling on some grass roots when it suddenly sensed something, looking up warily to scan its surroundings.

The next moment, a dazzling silver light flared up more than ten meters away. Countless thread-like rays of light materialized from thin air, swiftly weaving together to form a Light Gate about two meters high.

The poor lemming jumped in fright and, with a squeak, scurried away into the distance.

Behind it, a figure slowly emerged from the Light Gate.

"So this is the Ancient Forest Plane?"

Pei Ze scanned his surroundings. The scenery was rather ordinary, but the free-floating Energy Particles in the air were noticeably more active and dense.

’Perhaps this is why so many Magical Creatures can survive in the Ancient Forest Plane.’

Pei Ze levitated into the air and soared toward the sky.

The control an Elemental Mage had over elemental energy far surpassed that of a Crystal Wizard. This wasn’t just limited to their primary element; their ability to manipulate all other elemental energies was also significantly enhanced.

Now, Pei Ze no longer needed to rely on the Floating Technique or the Flying Skill to stay airborne; he could do so simply by manipulating elemental energy directly.

After flying straight up to an altitude of a thousand meters, Pei Ze stopped and looked down at the world below.

The precision of teleportation using an aura imprint was, to be frank, abysmal. If one were unlucky, the margin of error could be more than ten kilometers.

Therefore, his top priority was to pinpoint the location where Tining had last contacted him. Only then could he figure out the movements of the Ancient Tree Deer Spirit Race.

In their previous encounters, Tining had always used a body of water as a ’window’.

In other words, there ought to be a lake or a stream near her location.

Just as Pei Ze expected, he soon spotted a lake about five or six kilometers from his current position.

’Good, I’m not too far off.’

Pei Ze turned and flew rapidly toward the lake.

The lake was vast. Its dark blue water was clear yet somber, the surface perfectly still. Viewed from high above, it looked like a magnificent blue Gemstone set upon a verdant canvas.

Pei Ze had no time to admire the view; he immediately began to search carefully along the lakeshore.

Disappointingly, the shore was covered in numerous, jumbled footprints. While some appeared to belong to cloven-hoofed animals, he couldn’t be certain they were from the Ancient Tree Deer Spirits.

’It makes sense, I suppose,’ he thought. He had last met Tining three months ago. Even if she had left tracks back then, they would have long since disappeared.

’Looks like I’ll have to find a local to ask.’

Pei Ze flew off in the direction of the tracks.

The lake was bordered by plains on three sides, while to the north lay a vast forest. Its dense canopy stretched all the way to the horizon, with no end in sight.

At the far end of the lake, a stream branched off and disappeared into the forest.

As he flew over the lake and neared the forest, Pei Ze suddenly heard a buzzing sound from below, like some kind of insect rapidly beating its wings.

The next moment, forty to fifty ferocious Insect Beasts, each the size of a carriage and sporting blood-red wings, burst through the canopy and charged menacingly toward Pei Ze.

The buzzing suddenly intensified, making one’s chest feel tight.

The Insect Beasts’ sharp fangs and claws glinted menacingly in the sunlight, a terrifying sight to behold.

"Bloodthorn Insects!"

The knowledge he had crammed in from the library quickly proved useful; Pei Ze immediately recognized the Insect Beasts.

Bloodthorn Insects were the basic flying units of the Alien Insects. An adult’s combat prowess was roughly equivalent to that of a Tier One Legendary Knight. However, their ability to devour flesh and blood to heal their wounds made them far more difficult to deal with than a Knight.

Of course, to Pei Ze, they were nothing.

He pointed a finger, and a dazzling bolt of lightning shot out. It struck the first Bloodthorn Insect and exploded, transforming into a dense web of electricity that engulfed the insects behind it.

With a deafening series of CRACKLES and POPS, dozens of Bloodthorn Insects were instantly incinerated and fell from the sky.

’Has the Alien Insect Army already invaded this far?’

Pei Ze frowned. After a moment’s thought, he descended into the forest below.

Upon entering the forest, Pei Ze discovered the vegetation was even denser than he had anticipated.

Furthermore, all sorts of strange creatures frequently appeared among the trees, each one seeming energetic and full of life.

Pei Ze was surprised. It wasn’t because of the vibrant life force of the trees and creatures, but rather a question: if the Alien Insect Army had already invaded this area, why were there still so many non-insect creatures around?

Given the savage and merciless nature of the Alien Insects, it was a wonder the forest was even left standing. They shouldn’t have spared a single living creature.

The only explanation was that other creatures in this forest were fighting back against the Alien Insects.

Far from being alarmed, Pei Ze was pleased. This was a perfect opportunity to ask about the whereabouts of the Ancient Tree Deer Spirit Race.

At this thought, Pei Ze wasted no more time and strode forward.

The trees along his path were a vibrant green, most of them over a hundred meters tall. Their slender, beautiful trunks looked as if they had just been washed by a waterfall, exuding an aura of pure freshness.