Aksai observed the unfolding chaos in the city with a solemn expression etched upon his face.
Emerging from the Everwood Palace, he sought to witness firsthand the extent of the terror that had seized Serenity Peak.
He watched as citizens fled in panic, their desperate flight leading them to unknown destinations. People and animals ran from nowhere to nowhere.
Amidst the chaos, he observed the true nature of individuals laid bare, some revealing acts of selfishness while others displayed selflessness and compassion. Some relationships were broken in the face of danger and some blossomed.
Aksai observed the unfolding events with the detached gaze of a silent observer.
Having tested the effectiveness of the Myriad Worlds Painting within the confines of the isolation barrier, Aksai found reassurance in its continued functionality.
Knowing he could retreat to the safety of the Everwood farm if circumstances grew dire afforded Aksai a sense of calm amidst the chaos. The enchanted sanctuary served as a potential gateway back to his home world– Cultivation World Dadangar.
With the ability to teleport at will, Aksai remained composed in the face of danger. Why would he be scared of the trouble when he could dodge it anytime he wanted?
Yet, the ability to skip trouble didn’t mean invincibility.
Aksai remained mindful of the inherent risks present within Serenity Peak. Despite his ultimate trump card, he understood the unpredictability of Spirit spells and remained vigilant as he navigated the city’s streets.
“Yepp. These really are Spirit spells,” Aksai thought to himself as he watched a tree devil acting against a random citizen from a safe distance. With his Spirit Sense active, no tree devil could catch him unaware.
Plus, the tree devils were not only slow in their movements but also in their ability to cast Spirit spells. As such, Aksai had plenty of time to dodge any incoming attacks coming his way.
Yet, Aksai did not attack the tree devils out of his own volition and observed them from a distance. He wasn’t someone who’d underestimate his enemies. Plus, he wasn’t a hero of the city who’d put his life on the line to save the lives of random strangers.
As for the fear of the unknown?
Aksai, originally hailing from Dadangar, viewed what the natives of Sharang termed “devil powers” as merely peculiar Spirit spells. Rather than fear, curiosity stirred within him, compelling him to delve deeper into the chaos.
Approaching the city square, Aksai’s attention fixated on the foreboding figure of the demon tree, which loomed ominously over Serenity Peak. Its imposing stature radiated an aura of formidable Spirit cultivation, marking it as a potent force.
He climbed over the buildings and traveled from roof to roof using Qi Flow Arts as he got close to the demon tree. The Lian Sword had appeared in his hand which was enough to take care of any tree devil that came to hinder his path.
As Aksai approached the colossal demon tree, he encountered an escalating number of tree devils, each displaying growing prowess.
He noticed that the closer one ventured toward the demon tree, the greater the number and strength of the tree devils. Some even exhibited abilities akin to those of late-stage martial artists or mid-stage Spirit cultivators.
Within a mere hundred meters of the demon tree, Aksai surmised that the encountered tree devils would rival a late-stage Spirit Refiner in power.
Unwilling to confront such formidable foes without understanding their capabilities, he halted his advance, taking refuge in a six-story high-rise building.
Aksai’s vantage point afforded a clear view of the tree, situated approximately 500 meters away.
“Hm? This is…”
As he scrutinized the tree, Aksai sensed the presence of another formidable entity nearby, further heightening the ominous atmosphere enveloping the city.
Sitting cross-legged beneath the towering demon tree, the formidable entity exuded an aura of strange power. Its humanoid form bore a striking resemblance to that of an elf, yet with a demeanor that hinted at a deeper, more primal connection to the surrounding newly grown forest in the middle of the ruined city square.
With skin resembling the rugged bark of ancient trees, its features melded seamlessly with the natural elements. Branches and tendrils intertwined with its limbs, suggesting a symbiotic relationship with the woodland environment.
The forest entity’s eyes were deep and piercing. Despite its humanoid form, there was an otherworldly quality to its presence, evoking reverence born out of fear.
“Is it a druid? Woodland elf? Or a tree monster? Or someone in between, perhaps a wood spirit possessing a vessel?”
Aksai pondered with grim expressions, observing the powerful entity from a distance and refraining from getting too close.
Though Aksai’s Spirit Sense did not extend that far, he could instinctively sense that the strange humanoid tree lifeform, seated under the colossal demon tree in a meditative position, was as powerful as a Spirit Refining Perfectionist.
It meant that the tree lifeform was only a few steps away from entering the 2nd realm in Spirit cultivation.
“Hm? Is he using some kind of cultivation technique?”
Aksai wondered as he tried to focus his gaze on the strange man, who clearly appeared to be seated in meditation under the colossal tree.
Even after utilizing the vision-enhancing abilities of the neural link fabric, Aksai still did not get a clear view of the man.
“Just a little closer. Avoid other objects and scenes in the vision and focus on that man. Then zoom in,” Aksai commanded the neural link fabric.
[ Target identified. Processing artificial enhancement of real-time visuals. Zooming in on the target ]
“Hm… This is much better. Now let me see. What do we have he–”
However, just as he thought he had a clear view of what he deemed as a corrupted druid for the lack of a better term, the latter opened his eyes and looked directly in his direction.
“Uh oh! Not good,” Aksai immediately utilized the Light Steps Spirit spell to swiftly move away from his initial position.
In the next moment, a bunch of iron vines sprouted from below the building’s terrace roof, while some appeared from above the sky. These iron vines were attached to the gigantic branches of the tree, slowly draping over the city.
Aksai did not wait to find out what the corrupted druid was up to. He simply bolted away from the city square, heading towards the suburban parts of Serenity Peak, deemed safer from both the demonic tree and the tree devils. At least for the time being.