Chapter 288 - 117: Lake of Life! Longevity Substance

Chapter 288: Chapter 117: Lake of Life! Longevity Substance

The group’s spirits lifted, and they followed close behind.

Du Qi’s eyes sparkled with anticipation:

"Once we kill this Tree Zombie, we can finally search this core area properly! This is the heart of the Beast Taming Sect’s territory. Maybe when those Qi Cultivators evacuated, they were in such a hurry that they really left behind some incredible treasures!"

"I hope we find some Cultivation Technique Manuals or some real treasures!" Lei Gang licked his lips, his eyes burning with fervor.

The group left the mountain hollow.

They returned to the edge of the great, dried-up lake.

From a distance, they cautiously observed the giant Tree Zombie, which remained deathly still yet emanated a heart-pounding aura.

Its enormous black trunk was like an ancient demonic mountain, wreathed in thick, necrotic energy.

Zhou Tiankuo once again cautiously opened his tactical backpack and took out the four remaining Energy Grenades.

"Lei Gang, you’re the strongest."

Zhou Tiankuo handed one to Lei Gang and pointed at the giant Tree Zombie.

"This giant Tree Zombie’s attack range is huge—its branches can easily cover a hundred meters. We can’t get close, or we’ll definitely die. You try it. Use all your strength and throw this Energy Grenade from a distance, near the base of its main trunk! As long as one can hit its core, that’ll be enough to make it suffer!"

Lei Gang took the heavy Energy Grenade, weighed it in his hand, and grinned, full of confidence:

"A hundred meters? That’s nothing! Just watch me!"

He cautiously took a few steps forward.

He carefully confirmed his position was completely outside the attack range of the giant Tree Zombie’s drooping, squirming branches.

He planted his feet, took a deep breath, and the muscles in his right arm instantly bulged like coiling dragons, veins popping as they swelled with explosive power.

He took aim at the base of the giant Tree Zombie’s trunk, thick as a palace pillar. With a low roar, he unified his stance, channeling his entire body’s strength into his right arm, and violently flung the Energy Grenade as if it were a cannonball!

The silver-gray grenade tore through the air with a sharp whistle, transforming into a streak of light barely visible to the naked eye as it shot straight for the giant Tree Zombie!

"What power!"

"This is definitely going to work!"

"Blow that old tree root to hell!"

The group held their breath, their eyes filled with hope.

However.

Just as the Energy Grenade flew to a point about thirty meters above the giant Tree Zombie, about to fall toward its base—

"SWOOSH!"

A pitch-black branch as thick as a water bucket, which had been hanging limp, suddenly shot out like a long-ambushing viper!

It was so fast it left only an afterimage in the air!

"CRACK!"

A sharp, ear-piercing sound erupted!

Like a precision whip, the branch viciously lashed the flying Energy Grenade!

BOOM!!!

The Energy Grenade was swatted out of the air and detonated!

A blinding white light erupted in an instant, accompanied by a deafening explosion!

A violent shockwave of energy rapidly expanded, blasting several nearby, thinner branches to smithereens. Black sap and wood fragments rained down like a torrential storm.

The smoke and dust began to settle.

Only a few shallow, scorched marks were left on the giant Tree Zombie’s main trunk. To its massive body, the few blasted branches were a mere drop in the ocean.

Its enormous trunk had barely even swayed, and the necrotic energy surrounding it remained as thick and dark as ink.

Their hopes were instantly shattered.

A dead silence fell over the hollow.

"This... This..."

The confident smile on Lei Gang’s face froze, then twisted into one of extreme frustration and anger, mixed with helpless resignation.

Du Qi gasped, his voice tinged with despair:

"It’s no use! It’s completely useless! Its branches react too quickly, and their reach is too wide! Unless we can shove a grenade directly under its roots, there’s no way to hit its vital spot!"

"Get closer? Getting closer is suicide! None of us can withstand a full-power attack from a Fifth-Grade Tree Zombie!"

Liu Mei’s face turned pale. She looked at the countless branches squirming like a forest of death, her heart still pounding with fear.

Zhao Zhuo also sighed heavily and looked toward Zhou Tiankuo:

"Mr. Zhou, it’s impossible. This Tree Zombie is entrenched here; the terrain gives it too great an advantage. With our current methods, we can’t do anything to it. We have to... give up."

Zhou Tiankuo stared fixedly at the giant Tree Zombie, which seemed to be silently mocking them. His eyes filled with frustration, but reason told him his teammates were right.

He gritted his teeth and said with grim determination:

"Fine! We’ll pull back for now! After we get back, I’ll go to the Public Security Bureau and figure out a way to borrow some heavy Energy Cannons! I refuse to believe that continuous, long-range bombardment with Energy Cannons won’t be enough to blast this damn tree to bits!"

At his words, everyone’s spirits lifted.

"Energy Cannons?! Great idea!"

"Yeah! Energy Cannons have long range and massive power. With continuous bombardment, it won’t be able to block them no matter how many branches it has!"

"That’s the plan! Let’s retreat for now and come back with heavy firepower to level this thing!"

It was as if the group had found a new way forward. Though still frustrated, they all agreed this was a more reliable plan and began to turn and leave.

「Just then.」

Lin Yi, who had been observing in silence, suddenly felt his heart tighten.

He knew exactly how valuable the Golden Body skeleton beneath the roots was.

If they really used Energy Cannons for an indiscriminate bombardment, that precious Golden Body skeleton would very likely be damaged!

That was a loss he absolutely could not accept!

As the group was about to leave,

Lin Yi hesitated no longer. He took a step forward, his voice firm as it rang out: "Uncle Zhou, wait!"

The group paused and looked at him, confused.

Lin Yi’s gaze burned with intensity as he looked at Zhou Tiankuo:

"Uncle Zhou, can you give me the three remaining Energy Grenades? I want to... try one more time."

Zhou Tiankuo’s brow furrowed, and he refused flatly:

"Xiaoyi! Don’t be ridiculous! You saw it yourself, throwing from a distance is useless! It might only work if you place it right at its roots! But that’s too dangerous! That Tree Zombie’s branches form an impenetrable defense, and they strike as fast as lightning. Even someone at the peak of the Fourth Grade might not be able to escape unscathed! You already took a huge risk luring the monster before. This time, it’s absolutely out of the question!"