Wizard: Starting from the Skill Tree-Chapter 614: The Guidance of the World Tree Seed
On the right side was a downward slope, with relatively sparse strange rocks, but in the distance, there seemed to be a faint, elusive grayish-purple mist, equally ominous.
Behind them was the direction from which they had been transmitted, possibly attracting other latecomers or triggering unnecessary skirmishes.
Directly ahead, in the direction the victims rushed toward, had already proven to be a deadly dead end.
That rock might be a treasure, but without sufficient intelligence, it’s still unwise to rashly seize it.
After all, there are still a few people watching from the side, and even if he manages to get it with some effort, it will most likely lead to some disputes.
Others are more likely to hide and wait until Duke is about to succeed before appearing to fight for it.
Moreover, Duke had no confidence in obtaining that rock, as his understanding of such cursed items was still too limited.
Duke’s gaze finally fell on a narrow gap at the right front, between the deadly sandy ground and the grayish-purple mist slope.
It was the angle between two towering rock walls, forming a natural corridor, with a bare and darker solid bedrock surface, almost free of sandy soil covering, and no sign of those grayish-white strange rocks.
The corridor inside was dimly lit, but at least within visible range, there were no obvious weird energy fluctuations or suspicious objects.
Although it was unclear where it led, compared to the other directions, this bedrock corridor seemed relatively clean and stable, at least underfoot.
As Duke made his judgment, the other three survivors seemed to reluctantly recover from their shock.
"Damn! What the hell is that?!" The arrogant young Warlock cursed under his breath, his face still pale, he held a flashing protective charm, cautiously scanning the surroundings, his previous arrogance gone.
The Vine Witch bit her lip, her magic wand emitting a faint light, a few real, spiky dark green vines emerged from her sleeve, gently dancing in front of her, serving both as a defense and a probe.
"The land... or the rock is peculiar, they can’t be touched lightly." She seemed to have detected something as well.
The crouching thin man finally finished his detection rune, it flickered a few times before extinguishing, and he shook his head with a grim expression: "The interference is strong... I can only confirm the energy field in this area is very chaotic and full of malice, the specific type of trap... I can’t decipher."
The three instinctively huddled a little closer to each other, temporarily forming a fragile defensive circle, their eyes cautiously sweeping over each other, then warily looking at Duke, the sole loner.
Duke ignored their silent alliance and vigilance. Having confirmed the direction, he neither hesitated nor made any sound, his figure moving slightly, his footsteps light and swift, as if melting into the dim light, heading straight for the bedrock corridor he had chosen.
His decisive and sudden action instantly drew the attention of the other three.
"Where is he going?" The arrogant Warlock squinted his eyes.
"That stone gap?" The Vine Witch questioned.
"He seems... pretty sure?" The thin man stared at Duke’s rapidly receding figure.
Duke did not explain, nor did he need to.
In such a treacherous, competitive environment, trust is a luxury, and information is currency.
He chose the path based on his own judgment, whether others followed or chose another direction was none of his concern.
One advantage of acting alone is the absence of consultation, decisions are immediate executions.
His figure swiftly vanished into the shadows of the rock wall angle, disappearing from the view of the other three.
The bedrock corridor was even darker and damper than outside, with a faint scent of minerals and moss lingering in the air.
The solid rock beneath gave a reassuring feel, at least for the moment, there was no perception of that strange, eerie inertia.
He moved not fast but with enough caution, ensuring every step landed on solid bedrock, avoiding any suspicious crevices or attachments.
Only the faint sound of his own footsteps and the distant, vague wailing, whether of wind or something else, met his ears.
After traversing the dark bedrock corridor for about half an hour and avoiding two areas emitting faint energy disturbances, the light ahead gradually became brighter and softer.
The end of the corridor revealed an unexpectedly open view.
Duke slowed his steps, silently shifting to the shadow of the rock wall at the corridor’s exit, cautiously peering outside.
What met his eyes was a world completely different from the previously desolate and lifeless forest of strange rocks.
This was an unimaginable, primeval forest teeming with abundant Life Force.
As far as the eye could see, towering ancient trees, requiring even several people with arms outstretched to encircle, their trunks a deep iron gray or dark brown, with bark rough as dragon scales, gnarled roots deeply embedded in fertile, humus-covered black soil.
The tree crowns were like canopies, blocking out the sky and the sun, with strands of pure, golden light as if filtered, seeping through the gaps between the branches and leaves.
The air was filled with an overwhelmingly rich aroma of vegetation, the moist earth scent, and a quiet yet vast resonance of Life Energy, sedimented over countless years.
Vines as thick as a child’s arm entwined the ancient trees, blooming with strange and large flowers.
Ferns, mosses, and lichens thrived on tree roots and rocks, vibrant and green, some even emitting a faint magic power glow.
A distant, clear bird call and the rustling of creatures indicated a vibrant life.
Unlike the oppressively leaden sky outside, the ancient forest here seemed shrouded in a faint, Life Energy-filled verdant glow, rendering the whole environment sacred and tranquil.
"Such dense Life Energy..." Duke marveled silently.
This kind of environment often signifies abundant resources but might also shelter powerful native creatures or Guardians.
He did not rashly step in but instead observed more carefully, simultaneously fully releasing his perception ability, scanning for energy flows and potential dangers within visible range.
As he concentrated on sensing his surroundings, a peculiar, subtle thrill from deep within his being quietly emerged.
The source was the World Tree Seed lying silently in his Light God Court.
At this moment, the World Tree Seed emitted a clear and gentle directional wave.
It seemed to be attracted by an extremely pure and ancient Energy Source somewhere in this vast forest, like a compass sensing a magnetic pole, transmitting to Duke a vague yet firm sense of direction. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
This feeling was very subtle, not a specific map guide, but a connection and attraction at the Life Level, guiding him towards a particular location within the forest’s depths.
