Chapter 689 - 670: The Snake-tailed Flower’s Battle

The chirping of insects filled the forest. Various bugs, about the size of a pinky finger, could be seen among the trees. Some, which fed on the wood, carried a faint trace of poison, while others, which lived on dew, exuded a somewhat sacred aura.

A thought suddenly struck Wang Meng. ’One of the essential truths of life is evolution. Take humans, for example. There are ordinary people, and there are Cultivators. Cultivators have different realms, which seem to be simple measures of strength... but when distinguished by their combat prowess, isn’t that also humanity’s path of evolution? It’s the same for True Essence Beasts. Their advancement in rank is, in essence, also evolution...’

’So what is the force behind a Cultivator’s evolution? The Five Elements Power...’

’True, the Five Elements Power is the primary method, but there must be something more fundamental. It’s like these insects. They evolved from being too small to see with the naked eye to the size of a pinky, yet they don’t have the Five Elements in their bodies... Instead, they have a more primitive power.’

This reminded Wang Meng of how his own body was "abandoned by the Five Elements." ’Does it truly lack the Five Elements? Or perhaps...’ A vague yet bold idea began to form in his mind.

The forest posed no danger. After he passed the last great tree and looked back, he saw only a verdant field. The woods he had just traversed had vanished without a sound, as if the entire experience had been nothing but an illusion.

Little Flower’s Vitality was still growing continuously. Strangely, it was fusing with the entire space, absorbing its Life Force. Wang Meng had no idea if it could digest all this power. The power of life was the most mysterious of all, a law of the highest level that even Master Wang could not fully fathom.

He had taught his five little companions the right attitude and pointed them in the right direction. As for which path they took and how far they could go, that was still up to them.

Suddenly, a joyful message echoed in his soul—it was from Little Flower. It... had actually gained dominion over the Eleventh Layer.

In battles between those of the Plant Element, rank is what matters most. After an interaction that could only occur on a botanical level, Little Flower had gained the upper hand and ultimately become the ruler of this space.

This surprised Wang Meng as well. A fight would have taken a great deal of effort; creatures of different elements would surely have fought to the death. But dealing with its own kind had yielded an unexpected reward.

Feeling its master’s praise, Little Flower was also overjoyed.

Wang Meng didn’t stop, proceeding to challenge the Twelfth Layer. After all, the previous floors had just been a warm-up. The real trouble was yet to come.

A flash of light, and in an instant, he arrived in another space.

Before him stood a mottled, ancient Divine Hall. The air buzzed with the sound of insects, and flesh-colored vines as thick as a man’s arm crawled all over the walls.

At the entrance to the Divine Hall, two monstrous Kobold guards patrolled back and forth, holding long-handled Warhammers. The head of each hammer was inscribed with the ancient character for "Wood."

Upon seeing Wang Meng appear, the two Kobolds howled an alarm and charged at him in unison. A black luster flashed atop their Warhammers, the light expanding like a bubble until, in an instant, it transformed into the spectral image of a black tree. An indescribable wave of energy rushed toward Wang Meng.

Little Flower shrieked and leapt to its master’s defense. It quickly rooted itself in the ground, its snake tail rising high. A green light glowed from the tip of its tail as a white flower bloomed, and a Wood Element Barrier unfurled before them.

BANG! BANG!

The Kobolds frantically hammered at the green barrier, but Little Flower held it with ease. The roots it had burrowed into the ground began to grow at a frantic pace, drawing nutrients from the earth and converting them into energy for Little Flower. Suddenly, the ground split open, and a massive root spike shot toward the two Kobolds!

SQUELCH! Dark blood sprayed from the Kobolds’ chests. Little Flower had scored a one-hit double kill!

This was the power of a Plant-type True Essence Beast. Once given enough time to gather its strength, it could unleash a burst of damage that other True Essence Beasts could hardly match.

Just then, more Kobolds charged out of the Divine Hall, Warhammers in hand. Wang Meng’s instructions were simple: during these trials, his life was in Little Flower’s hands.

Little Flower flew into a rage. In this world of the Wood of the Five Elements, its power was quite formidable.

RUMBLE... The ground shook as seven massive roots erupted from the earth, lashing out at the Kobolds.

Wang Meng was merely a spectator.

Although powerful, Plant-type True Essence Beasts weren’t actually well-suited for direct combat. They required too much time to prepare their attacks and could easily be torn to shreds by beasts of other elements in the meantime. Of course, this wasn’t an absolute rule. With enough combat experience, they could learn to play to their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses.

This was exactly the kind of trial by fire Little Flower needed.

The Kobolds suffered heavy casualties, yet they continued to charge out as if they had no fear of death, seemingly endless. But to Little Flower, their numbers meant nothing. More roots erupted from the earth, even beginning to directly absorb power from the bodies of the dead Kobolds...

Just then, the Divine Hall emitted a black light. The Kobolds stopped charging, and the bodies of the slain slowly sank into the ground, disappearing from sight.

Little Flower paused in confusion, its roots stabbing at the ground where the Kobolds had been, only to find their bodies had truly vanished.

Wang Meng smiled. ’To my senses, those bodies turned into a mass of energy similar to True Essence and returned to the Divine Hall. It seems these Kobolds were merely "created" by this ancient temple... Let’s call them "life" for now. The Divine Sealing Tower connects to some plane, one also at the level of a Middle Thousand Realm, but its forms of life are vastly different.’

’However, these "Kobold lives" have an obvious flaw. Their fearlessness in the face of death is certainly a strength, but they have also lost the instinct for survival. A being without the will to live... that is a defect.’

’The Divine Sealing Tower itself is enforcing some kind of powerful order. I’m starting to believe this tower really was left behind by a god.’

’According to Daoist Law, the Five Elements are the foundation of heaven, earth, and all creation. The Great Five Elements exist between heaven and earth, while the Little Five Elements exist within living beings. If they were truly gone from my body, wouldn’t that violate the law itself?’

’The Great Dao might be quirky, but it wouldn’t contradict itself.’

’In other words, my Five Elements haven’t disappeared at all. They’re merely in a latent state.’

’In the beginning, there was only Chaos between heaven and earth. Chaos gave birth to Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang gave birth to the Five Elements, creating the world as it is now.’

’Mingren is immensely powerful. His aptitude is heaven-defying in any plane, because his Sacred Body controls Yin and Yang at an incredibly high level. His power is closer to the source.’

’My current body clearly doesn’t use the power of Yin and Yang. Could it be... Chaos?’

’The most primordial state of power?’

But Wang Meng felt no great joy. If it truly was Chaos Power, the difficulty of controlling it would be immense. The level of power was too high and required a higher level of order to match it.

’Outside, there would be nothing I could do, even with my five little companions using Borrowing Spirit. In my current state, I would eventually fail on the path to ascension unless I solve this problem with Chaos Power.’

’Fortunately, I have the Divine Space. Here, my Godhood can be put to use. With my Demigod Power, is it possible to unravel the secrets of Chaotic Power?’

Wang Meng suddenly understood the true nature of this challenge. If he could succeed, the rank of his order would certainly increase.

’The power of a god must be Chaos. It seems I’ll have to face it ahead of schedule.’

He led Little Flower charging into the Divine Hall. All sorts of strange creatures attacked in a variety of ways. Some used traps, others launched sneak attacks, and still others charged head-on...

Little Flower was struggling. Inside the Divine Hall, there was almost nowhere for it to take root. The stone floor was made of some unknown material that its roots were completely unable to pierce.

At times like this, Wang Meng was cold, his heart like steel. It was just like the battles with his brothers back in the Demon Spirit Space; they had all been forged through countless life-and-death struggles.

’Jade cannot become a masterpiece without being carved. Little Flower must overcome this small problem. This is only the Twelfth Layer!’

Little Flower fought at the forefront, blocking every attack with all its might. For a Plant-type True Essence Beast unable to take root, being able to unleash even fifty percent of its full strength was already an excellent performance.

Its snake tail was raised high, and its once-white petals had now turned a dark crimson. Without its roots to replenish its energy by absorbing Spiritual Power from the earth, Little Flower was already extremely fatigued.

RUMBLE...

Another wave of enemies surged forward. This time, it was a hundred Cyan Wood Arrow Frogs, and behind them, a dozen or so pitch-black Smoke Bomb Rats.

"HISS..."

Little Flower let out a cry. Unable to take root, an attack of this scale was beyond what it could currently endure.

Wang Meng turned a deaf ear to Little Flower’s cry, remaining a mere spectator. It wasn’t that he was cruel; he had simply experienced too many scenes like this, many far more brutal. He had faced situations that transcended death, where the only thing that mattered was his brothers. You could only survive by living for others!

No matter what lay ahead, nothing could be allowed to halt one’s progress.

Little Flower understood. ’I have to overcome these difficulties. Never mind Nine Discount, who has already reached the Fifth Transformation—even Little Jia, Big Mouth, and Big Guy are all much stronger than me in a fight. When we play together, I can feel my own shortcomings. I’m different from them. I’m also the weakest at providing True Essence for Master. I don’t want to be a burden. I hope that one day, I can be the one taking care of others, too.’

’Little Flower wants to be a True Essence Beast that’s helpful to Master!’

’I really, really want to...!’

’But if I can’t even beat what’s in front of me now... what’s the point of reaching the mere Twelfth Layer?’

Snake Tail Rapid Stab!

Little Flower lunged forward. Empowered by the Power of Wood Element, its snake tail shot out in a vicious stab. A flash of cyan-green light, and a dozen Cyan Wood Arrow Frogs collapsed, spurting blood.

Little Flower was fighting for its life. The Cyan Wood Arrow Frogs spat out a relentless barrage of Cyan Wood Arrows. Covered in wounds, Little Flower whipped its snake tail, launching rapid stabs again and again. Each attack detonated in a burst of the Power of Wood Element, blasting several Cyan Wood Arrow Frogs away.

When the last Cyan Wood Arrow Frog was killed, the black Smoke Bomb Rats in the rear began to charge. They fearlessly swarmed around Little Flower and then self-destructed.

Little Flower deployed a Wood Element Barrier, but without being rooted, the barrier’s strength was pitifully weak.

Waves of energy smashed through the barrier, sending Little Flower flying.

’Is it over?’

Not even close. RUMBLE... New enemies began to emerge from every corner.

Struggling, Little Flower staggered back to its feet.

It pressed onward, deeper into the Divine Hall. The battle would not cease for a single moment. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation!)