Top-tier Unruly Master-Chapter 1622 - 1659: Tree Root Spirit

Ding Fan pondered for a while but couldn’t conclude why these strange vines and branches suddenly attacked them. However, Ding Fan gained some understanding of these things at this moment. They still belonged to the category of plants and were not Yuan Beasts.

Therefore, when Ding Fan cut down the first vine, that vine immediately died and remained motionless, without any intelligence. Ding Fan suspected that these vines, or branches, probably became sentient because these ancient trees had existed for a long time, constantly absorbing the spiritual energy here, and thus became spirits.

However, these sentient ancient trees still belonged to the realm of plants and lacked intelligence. Even if there was some intelligence, Ding Fan believed it would be minimal.

After all, those vines, due to the Arctic Chill released by Ding Fan, were no longer a threat to them. However, these vines continued to rush towards them, seemingly indifferent to the vines that had been cut down, died, or frozen. The other ancient trees didn’t feel pain and therefore wouldn’t stop.

Ding Fan realized this was both good and bad for them.

The good was that these ancient trees lacked intelligence, so their attacks wouldn’t involve too many tricks, and, for the time being, these ancient trees couldn’t threaten Ding Fan’s group. The bad was that these trees couldn’t feel pain, so even after Ding Fan and the others cut down a large number of vines, more would keep coming at them, seemingly endless.

At this moment, Ding Fan felt the Arctic Chill from the Frost Toad was still abundant. After all, this chill was innate to the Frost Toad and didn’t require much effort. As long as it breathed, the chill would exist. But Ding Fan knew they couldn’t stay trapped there indefinitely.

Even if the Frost Toad felt no pressure in releasing the Arctic Chill, it might not withstand prolonged use. Ding Fan believed that if this continued for half a month, even the Frost Toad wouldn’t hold up.

Moreover, for Ding Fan, entering the Xuantian Secret Realm this time was to gain an opportunity. It was clear that if they couldn’t seize that opportunity, this trip would be in vain, and who knew when they’d get a chance to enter such a secret realm again.

Currently, Ding Fan and the two others kept waving their longswords, cutting down the vines and branches that penetrated. The vines fell to the ground and were immediately frozen. As more vines were cut down, the previously half-meter tall "ice wall" was now more than one meter high, reaching about shoulder-height for Ding Fan and the others.

Thanks to the "ice wall," the trio saved much strength. Most incoming vines were blocked outside by it, with only a few able to penetrate over the top.

"Big brother, Ah Du, you guys take a rest. Leave these vines and branches to me!"

Before long, Guo Linn said to Ding Fan and Ah Du. Since only a few vines could penetrate over the "ice wall," Guo Linn could handle them alone. At this point, Guo Linn didn’t complain about Ah Du anymore; after all, they were all in the same boat and needed to remain united.

"Be careful."

Ding Fan advised Guo Linn, then sat cross-legged, releasing his Divine Sense to carefully observe the surroundings. Surrounded by the "ice wall," the naked eye made it difficult to see outside, let alone in the distance.

Subsequently, Ah Du also stopped attacking the vines, leaving it to Guo Linn. Looking at the surrounding "ice wall," he felt somewhat more secure. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Ah Du said to Guo Linn, who was continuously cutting vines and branches:

"Try to throw those cut vines outside; otherwise, our space will gradually decrease."

"Okay."

Guo Linn replied expressionlessly after hearing Ah Du’s words.

Afterward, Ah Du glanced at Ding Fan, wanting to ask about the next step, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Clearly, asking meant admitting inferiority. Yet, without consulting Ding Fan, Ah Du knew he had no way to deal with their current situation.

Ah Du naturally understood that while there was no longer any life-threatening danger, given the formation of a thick "ice wall," the threat from vines was dramatically reduced. However, being perpetually trapped here was not a viable solution.

He knew that although Ding Fan could control the Arctic Chill, it was unlikely that he would release it indefinitely. Even if Ding Fan could sustain sufficient Arctic Chill, spending almost a month trapped here in the Xuantian Secret Realm would yield no gains from this excursion.

What pained Ah Du most was knowing they had identified an opportunity—the Sword Washing Pool. Yet, all they could do was watch from afar, unable to escape. This thought pained Ah Du deeply...

After much hesitation, Ah Du reluctantly asked Ding Fan:

"Big... brother, what do we do next?"

"Shhh..."

At that moment, Ding Fan’s eyes remained closed, his brow slightly furrowed, and he didn’t answer the others, but with a heavy expression, he made a silencing gesture, suddenly opening his eyes, which were filled with seriousness.

Ah Du saw this scene and couldn’t help but feel confused, unable to understand what Ding Fan meant. For a moment, Ah Du felt slightly angered. Was the other looking down on him? But just as Ah Du was about to question Ding Fan again, a rumbling sound gradually reached them.

Rumble...

Ah Du was shocked and lost the words he was about to say to Ding Fan. He quickly released his Divine Sense to observe the situation outside the "Ice Wall".

Outside the "Ice Wall" where the three stood, numerous strange tree roots were rushing towards them. These "roots" looked like individual roots, countless tendrils exposed, clawing fiercely. These "roots" varied in shape; some appeared robust, driving countless tendrils below towards Ding Fan. Others had fewer tendrils but crawled no slower than the other "roots".

Ah Du was stunned by this sight; clearly, he hadn’t expected so many of these objects to appear now. Ah Du realized these were akin to those tough vines and likely very difficult to deal with, even with his Nascent Soul Late Stage Peak power, he felt a little panicked.

After all, he’d experienced the prowess of those vines before. Had it not been for Ding Fan releasing the Arctic Chill, he and the others would have already been strangled by those vines. Now with so many "Tree Root Spirits" arriving, he knew they were likely harder to deal with than those vines!

"Everyone, be careful!"

Ding Fan calmly warned the group, simultaneously drawing out his Flying Sword. Ding Fan pondered, unsure if the "Ice Wall" could withstand the attack from the "Tree Root Spirits".

Ding Fan hadn’t anticipated the ancient trees here to be so formidable. Not only can those vines already move and attack humans, but even the roots could move. Ding Fan knew that these "Tree Root Spirits" were probably very difficult to tackle, but regardless, Ding Fan had to eliminate them.

Therefore, they must survive!

Immediately, Ding Fan intensified the Arctic Chill’s release, and instantly, the ice on the "Ice Wall" surrounding the trio became more solid and firm, and the thickness of the entire "Ice Wall" increased too.

Guo Linn, hearing Ding Fan’s words, also noticed the scene outside, feeling extremely tense. He had never seen anything like this before; it was truly terrifying. He knew all too well that without the Arctic Chill from his elder brother, he wouldn’t have been able to cut through those vine tendrils and would have long been dead.

Guo Linn understood the threat of these ancient trees well. The attack coming at them wasn’t just simple vines anymore but numerous "Tree Root Spirits". Guo Linn shared the same thought with Ding Fan and Ah Du, suspecting the "Tree Root Spirits" were even harder to deal with than the vines.

However, Guo Linn wasn’t frozen from fear, at least aware that they had an "Ice Wall" to buffer them, and he saw his elder brother had reinforced these "Ice Walls", though uncertain if they could resist the attack from the "Tree Root Spirits".

Now, Ding Fan, Ah Du, and Guo Linn gathered together, each staring nervously in one direction, backs against each other closely.

"Big brother, do you think this ’Ice Wall’ will hold?"

Guo Linn, feeling somewhat anxious, asked Ding Fan beside him.

Rumble...

Before Ding Fan could answer, a series of rumbling echoes continuously reached them. The "Tree Root Spirits" were already attacking the "Ice Wall" surrounding the trio and countless varying "Tree Root Spirits" were impacting the "Ice Wall," causing it to tremble slightly.

The "Ice Wall," having been reinforced by Ding Fan, was incredibly sturdy, and beneath the three’s feet lay solid ice, firmly connecting the "Ice Wall" with the icy ground, making them very durable.

Yet, faced with the countless attacks from the "Tree Root Spirits," the "Ice Wall" has begun shaking slightly, showing the power of the "Tree Root Spirits" was considerable. It’s known that even Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivators couldn’t shatter this "Ice Wall".

However, with too many "Tree Root Spirits" and despite the "Ice Wall’s" sturdiness, it seemed to struggle against them.

At this time, Ah Du and Guo Linn watched the slightly shaking "Ice Wall" with anxiety and tension. They understood clearly that if the "Ice Wall" were breached, they would face countless "Tree Root Spirits" directly. Most importantly, without Ding Fan’s Arctic Chill, they’d previously been unable to handle even those vines. Now these "Tree Root Spirits" undoubtedly had a toughness comparable to, if not greater than the vines. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

But now it’s uncertain if Ding Fan’s Arctic Chill would still be effective. After all, these "Tree Root Spirits" were far more powerful than the vines.