Chapter 149: Group Attack of the Black Soul Trees

Finally, the group arrived in the vicinity of Spirit-Binding Island.

Suddenly, the weather underwent a drastic change. Not far away, towering tornadoes came howling toward them.

The surface of the lake was churned into countless swirling vortexes by the sheer force of the winds.

Everyone began channeling their spiritual energy, maintaining utmost vigilance.

The next second, they were all swept into the storm, and their rafts instantly shattered into pieces.

Knowing that rafts were useless for the entire journey to the island anyway, everyone abandoned them and began to display their individual magical abilities.

Golden Eye and Bald Crocodile transformed immediately and plunged into the water. Their innate abilities were well-suited for aquatic movement.

In fact, ever since Xiang Nan and Daoist San-Tong first breached the barrier, its power had long since been drastically reduced. While it looked terrifying in appearance, its strength had actually been halved.

A short while later, everyone successfully passed through the tornado barrier one after another.

Golden Eye exposed most of its head above the water, its thick and lengthy serpentine body gliding swiftly beneath the surface.

"Hmph! And here I thought it was some formidable barrier—all thunder and no rain!"

Shortly after, the barriers of black rain and lightning were also successfully crossed, which only made Golden Eye even more arrogant.

"They always talk about how terrifying the Spirit-Binding Island's barrier is, yet I breached it with absolute ease."

Beside him, Bald Crocodile also revealed his head—still covered in crocodile hide—keeping silent.

Unlike the ignorant Golden Eye, he knew very well in his heart that this barrier had clearly been broken by someone beforehand, which was why it was all bark and bite.

Even a ruined barrier possessed such might; when it was intact, it must have been even more terrifying than the legends suggested. He wondered how Xiang Nan, with his Tier 2 cultivation, had managed to pass through it, or if he had already perished within these barriers.

Aside from a distant glimpse at the entrance of the Spirit Realm, Bald Crocodile had never witnessed Xiang Nan's true abilities, naively assuming his cultivation truly was Tier 2 as others claimed, and that he was merely arrogant and lucky.

Yet, if Xiang Nan was already dead, who then had broken the barrier?

He had heard that Daoist San-Tong was traveling with him, but it would likely be extremely difficult for San-Tong alone to breach such a powerful barrier.

Bald Crocodile remained silent throughout, yet deep down, he grew immensely curious about Xiang Nan.

Meanwhile, on Spirit-Binding Island:

As Xiang Nan and Daoist San-Tong stepped inside, a fine, drizzling rain began to fall across the jungle.

Xiang Nan flicked his wrist, producing two raincoats. He handed one to San-Tong, draped the other over his own shoulders, and they continued deeper into the forest.

However, the patter of the rain impaired their hearing, causing both of them to fall silent and advance with heightened caution.

"Swoosh—" Amidst the sound of the rain, the faint noise of something being dragged could be heard.

Xiang Nan paused slightly, then carefully looked down at his feet. Beneath the thick layer of fallen leaves, numerous withered vines were densely interwoven like a giant net.

"Something feels off. These look too much like Black Soul Trees!"

He swung his sword downward and slashed. True enough, the severed withered vine contracted in pain, and the next instant, the entire ground began to move.

"Run!" Xiang Nan shouted aloud.

The two men each channeled their spiritual power and leaped into the air.

However, high above them, a densely woven net of withered vines was already descending upon them head-on.

Every single vine sprouted sharp thorns over half a foot long, looking grim and horrifying.

It was not Xiang Nan's first time encountering Black Soul Trees, but the ones here were clearly of a much higher grade. Their opening move was a inescapable dragnet designed for slaughter, leaving their prey with nowhere to hide.

Daoist San-Tong spun his Diamond Umbrella, sending countless sharp blades shooting out from the ribs of the umbrella toward the surrounding vines.

A chaotic clattering echoed through the air as broken pieces of withered vines filled the sky.

Yet, high above, countless more vines had already formed a new net, giving the two preys not a single moment to catch their breath.

Xiang Nan pivoted, unleashing a scorching wave of flames to greet them. "Burn to ashes, you clinging nuisances!"

"Boom, boom, boom, boom..." The fiery waves struck the Black Soul Trees, erupting in a series of deafening concussions as flames ignited instantly.

"Screeech—"

From all directions came piercing, shrill screams, sounding like the weeping of malevolent ghosts.

The next second, the sky-covering net of Black Soul Trees began to release a barrage of sharp thorns toward their prey with a rustling sound.

"Damn it! These Black Soul Trees have practically turned into spirits; they can even launch projectiles!"

"Dodge! Be careful not to get riddled with holes like a sieve!"

Ultimately still concerned for Xiang Nan, Daoist San-Tong sheltered him by shifting the Diamond Umbrella toward his side. The umbrella spun ceaselessly, shooting out countless blades that slaughtered the surrounding Black Soul Trees amidst their ghost-like wails.

"Look after yourself; I don't need it." The corner of Xiang Nan's mouth curled into a smile. His light wings fluttered, and he soared straight up into the sky, ignoring the torrential rain of swords and charging directly out of the Black Soul Trees' encirclement.

Overlooking the scene from above, Xiang Nan unleashed his scorching flame waves with full force, bombarding and burning the Black Soul Trees that were still gathering in midair, refusing to grant them a single moment to recover.

Inside the giant net, Daoist San-Tong darted back and forth in flight. "You take care of the ones above, then I'll handle the ones below!"

He retracted the Diamond Umbrella, transforming it into a gigantic longsword at least ten meters in length, its entire body radiating a verdant glow.

Gathering his spiritual power, Daoist San-Tong swung the sword downward toward the ground.

"Slash—"

A massive fissure instantly split open across the ground, and the withered vine monsters hidden beneath the leaves shrieked as they contracted, many burrowing straight down into the earth.

He looked up to see a sky full of blazing fire, resembling a purgatory.

The extreme fire produced by Xiang Nan's scorching flame waves emitted a heat so intense that even Daoist San-Tong could not endure it. Raising his Diamond Umbrella as a shield, he charged straight out.

High in the air, Xiang Nan looked calmly down at the sea of fire, clearly waiting for San-Tong.

Seeing him emerge, Xiang Nan cast aside all hesitation. With a few horizontal chops of his hand, terrifying sword qi surged forth, obliterating a vast expanse of the jungle in a single blow!

"Goodness, you certainly know how to deal a ruthless blow!" Even Daoist San-Tong had to admit he fell short of such ruthlessness.

"Otherwise what? These Black Soul Trees love to congregate in swarms and never end. We can't afford to waste our time here."

Having resolved the Black Soul Trees, the two men continued deeper into the forest.

By now, they had passed the outer perimeter of the jungle, and faint roars of demonic beasts could be heard echoing from the deep interior.

"The demonic beasts of Spirit-Binding Island haven't been affected by the Spirit-Suppressing Stone. I heard their spiritual pearls all possess powerful spiritual techniques; I wonder if that's true?" To ease the tense atmosphere, Xiang Nan began chatting casually with as much composure as he could muster.

"Hey, hey, don't forget the purpose of this trip—it's just to find the Spirit-Suppressing Stone. As for those demonic beasts, it's best not to provoke them unless we have to." Daoist San-Tong appeared truly detached at the moment, though, of course, he simply valued his own life.

An island that required such a formidable barrier to isolate it meant the demonic beasts residing upon it could hardly be simple.

"We'll play it by ear. If we really run into prime goods, wouldn't it be an injustice to this trip to Spirit-Binding Island if we didn't meddle with them?"

"You really are a newborn calf that's not afraid of tigers." Daoist San-Tong conceded defeat.

Xiang Nan cast a meaningful glance at Daoist San-Tong. "The way you talk now carries a bit more human warmth."

Daoist San-Tong let out a light snort. "Nonsense, I've always been like this. I speak the truth based on facts."

"The truth based on facts? Then tell me, who on earth told you to deliberately get close to me and try to seize my magical treasure while you had the chance? Or are you going to say your so-called detachment is just an act?"

Through his observations over this period, Xiang Nan had actually gained some understanding of Daoist San-Tong and had already guessed that his attempt to seize the treasure did not seem to be for his own benefit.

"You're a young man with quite a few suspicions in that mind of yours," Daoist San-Tong chuckled bitterly. "If it were just for some magical treasure of uncertain authenticity, I truly wouldn't have that much drive. However, as for who that person is, it's inconvenient for me to say—and I certainly won't."

Xiang Nan smiled faintly, already understanding. "Actually, even if you don't say it, I know who it is. Unlike you, he's someone who wants both fame and fortune, am I right?"

Hearing this, Daoist San-Tong was slightly stunned, then let out a dry laugh. "Heh heh heh, wanting both fame and fortune is simply a testament to his own ability."

"Right, that is his ability. However, running into me, things might not go quite so smoothly for him."

"Xiang Nan, you're a promising young man, but I advise you—those who are overly stubborn often don't live long lives."

"Can't help it; I was born with a nature that refuses to submit."

As they spoke, the two men had already entered the depths of the jungle.