Chapter 365: The golden fruit 76.

Yan Cijin caught it with both arms.

"Keep it safe!"

"I know!"

Bai Li climbed higher.

The tree became faster.

It was weaker, but its attacks were more desperate.

That made them more dangerous.

Roots cracked through the rooftop.

Branches became spears.

Leaves became blades.

Bai Li fired her revolver while climbing.

Each golden bullet tore open another defensive point.

Yan Cijin shifted below her.

She no longer tried to destroy the tree directly.

Instead, she watched.

She learned its attack patterns.

She counted the gaps.

She called them out.

"Right side! Three branches!"

Bai Li ducked.

"Bottom!"

She jumped.

"Behind!"

She spun and blocked.

"The fruit stem!"

Bai Li fired.

The stem cracked.

She reached it.

The second fruit came free.

This time the tree released a violent scream.

Bai Li almost lost her footing.

Yan Cijin caught the fruit’s falling stem with a bolt from her crossbow, slowing it enough for Bai Li to grab it.

"Nice," Bai Li said.

Yan Cijin smiled.

"You’re welcome."

Bai Li stored the second fruit away.

The tree’s golden light dimmed.

Only three fruits remained.

The third was deeper inside the canopy.

Bai Li needed to climb through a maze of branches.

She entered.

The world became gold.

Leaves brushed across her face.

Branches moved like serpents.

The tree was no longer thinking about pushing her away.

It wanted her dead.

Every attack came toward her.

Bai Li stopped smiling.

She moved faster.

Whisperfang struck.

The revolver fired.

She switched weapons continuously.

Blade.

Gun.

Blade.

Gun.

The combination became lethal.

A branch came from the right.

She cut it.

Another from the left.

She shot it.

A root wrapped around her ankle.

Bai Li looked down.

"Seriously?"

The root tightened.

Bai Li’s soul power exploded.

The root shattered.

Yan Cijin shouted, "Bai Li, above you!"

A thick branch dropped.

Bai Li brought Whisperfang up.

The blade met the branch.

The impact shook her arms.

The branch was stronger than the earlier ones.

Bai Li’s feet slipped.

For one heartbeat she was hanging in the air.

Yan Cijin fired.

The bolt struck the branch.

Bai Li regained balance.

She drove Whisperfang through the wood.

The branch split.

She landed.

The third fruit was directly in front of her.

She reached for it.

The tree’s trunk opened beneath the branch.

A golden tendril emerged.

It moved like a spear.

Bai Li sensed it.

She tilted her head.

The tendril passed beside her cheek.

A small line of blood appeared.

Bai Li touched it.

Then she smiled.

"You actually got me."

Her eyes became cold.

She grabbed the tendril.

Soul power surged through her hand.

The tendril twisted violently.

Bai Li pulled.

The entire branch shook.

She jumped to the fruit.

Whisperfang cut the stem.

The third fruit fell.

Yan Cijin caught it.

Three down.

Two remained.

The tree’s light was almost gone.

But its resistance was not.

In fact, its movements became stranger.

Less coordinated.

More instinctive.

It was dying.

And dying things were dangerous.

Bai Li descended toward the central trunk.

She looked at Yan Cijin.

"Stay below."

Yan Cijin frowned.

"Why?"

"Because the next part is going to be ugly."

"That’s not an explanation."

"It’s enough of one."

Yan Cijin stared at her for a second.

Then she sighed.

"Fine. But if you’re about to do something reckless, tell me first."

Bai Li smiled.

"I always tell you."

"Usually one second before you do it."

"Still counts."

Yan Cijin shook her head.

Bai Li returned her attention to the tree.

The trunk was cracking.

The golden core was now exposed almost completely.

Two fruits remained.

The tree poured everything into them.

They glowed so brightly that Yan Cijin had to narrow her eyes.

Bai Li understood.

If she removed the remaining fruits without destroying the core, the tree might collapse naturally.

But if she destroyed the core first, the fruit might be damaged.

She did not want to risk it.

So she decided on another method.

She would force the tree to attack the wrong direction.

Then climb straight through the center.

It was dangerous.

It was also simple.

Bai Li stepped onto the central root.

The tree sensed her.

Every branch moved toward her.

Bai Li raised the revolver.

Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

The roots exploded.

The tree recoiled.

Bai Li rushed forward.

She did not dodge everything anymore.

She used her body to redirect attacks.

A branch slammed into her side.

She absorbed it.

Another scraped her arm.

She ignored it.

A root struck her shoulder.

She spun and cut it.

Yan Cijin watched from below, heart tightening every time Bai Li was hit.

She hated how casual Bai Li looked about it.

"Bai Li!"

Bai Li glanced down.

"What?"

"Don’t be stupid."

Bai Li blinked.

Then laughed.

"That’s your concern?"

"Yes."

The answer came too quickly.

They both paused.

Yan Cijin looked away.

"Just don’t get yourself killed."

Bai Li’s smile softened.

"I won’t."

She turned back to the tree.

The fight resumed.

The fourth fruit was on the left side.

Bai Li reached it after cutting through six branches.

The fruit reacted to her presence.

Its golden skin opened a tiny line.

A burst of energy struck Bai Li in the chest.

She was thrown backward.

Yan Cijin rushed forward.

"Bai Li!"

Bai Li landed hard.

For a moment she did not move.

Then she sat up.

"That fruit bites."

Yan Cijin almost laughed from relief.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Really."

Bai Li stood.

She wiped blood from her mouth.

Then she looked at the fourth fruit.

"Fine. Let’s try again."

She moved more carefully this time.

Instead of grabbing the fruit directly, she fired a golden bullet into the branch beneath it.

The branch weakened.

Yan Cijin fired a crossbow bolt into the stem.

The stem cracked.

Bai Li reached out.

The fruit dropped into her hand.

Four.

Only one remained.

The tree went silent.

The wind stopped.

The golden light faded almost completely.

The last fruit remained at the highest point of the canopy.

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TO BE CONTINUED.