A dark line appeared on Chen Pingchuan's forehead. With a hint of helplessness in his eyes, he quickly raised a hand to stop Lu Jiaojiao's next words and waved it dismissively. "Stop!"
"Arranged marriages are a bad idea. Your happiness is in your own hands. Once this crisis is over, you'll be free."
He swept his gaze over the group and promised firmly, "I keep my word. That goes for all of you. You can go wherever you like."
Sunlight fell upon Chen Pingchuan, illuminating his resolute face. His eyes revealed an undeniable determination, as if to convey that he had no intention of holding any of them hostage.
To be honest, Chen Pingchuan's sudden change in attitude did stir sothing in Lu Jiaojiao, but her eyes narrowed sharply. Is he trying to bait ? With his tendency to dig up dirt on people even when unprovoked, how could he possibly let us go so easily?
Moreover, Lu Jiaojiao glanced at the others and saw no surprise in their expressions. It was as if they weren't being held here against their will at all.
Such incredible actors, every last one of them. Why not go professional? Lu Jiaojiao scoffed internally, though her small, grimy face broke into a radiant smile.
"How could I? Once I've pledged myself to you, Boss, I'm yours for life—and even in death! I'll follow you forever!"
"Boss, are you abandoning ? You promised you'd make sure I'd never have to worry about food or clothes again! Don't throw away!" Porcupine said this in a deep, rumbling voice, yet with the bashfulness of a young girl. The display sent a chill down Chen Pingchuan's spine, giving him goosebumps all over. He could only reassure him in a gentle tone.
"I'm not abandoning you. I just want to make it clear to everyone that I have absolutely no intention of forcing you to stay. I helped you get out of the cells, and you helped with my tasks. That makes us even."
"Alright, let's save the goodbyes for later. We have other things to do right now."
Chen Pingchuan didn't want to waste any more ti there. He glanced up at the long, white clouds stretching across the sky, as if they were bringing the fierce battle to a close.
"Boss, what do we do next?" Wei Hao asked as he approached Chen Pingchuan.
Chen Pingchuan gazed at the ruins before them and contemplated for a mont before replying, "Set up a temporary camp. We'll rest for today and get back on the road tomorrow. I have a feeling this isn't over yet."
Everyone nodded and began searching the ruins for usable supplies. They carefully avoided sharp rocks and splintered wood, looking for any materials they could use to build a simple shelter.
Chen Pingchuan headed alone toward the spot where the strange tree had been. The village entrance was now the edge of a wasteland, littered with charred tree branches, shattered wood fragnts, and exposed roots snaking out from underground.
"Huh?" As he looked at the scene before him, Chen Pingchuan sensed sothing was wrong.
Empty-Handed Trick!
Instantly, a moderately-sized segnt of tree root appeared in Chen Pingchuan's hand.
"Holy crap, it's still alive!" It was no wonder he was so surprised. The Empty-Handed Trick skill couldn't be used on inanimate objects. This ant the strange tree was still living.
Perhaps this is just a clone of the strange tree, and its main body is sowhere else. That old man ntioned a Divine Mountain, a spring, and giant Corpse Worms... What is really hidden behind all of this?
As Chen Pingchuan drew closer to the large pit, he could see the gnarled tree roots twisting within it. They seed to be engraved with strange and mysterious symbols and patterns. Like a bolt of black lightning, he leaped down into the crater.
The pit was filled with a damp, decaying sll. The surrounding soil was churned up, releasing a pungent odor. His gaze locked onto the tangled ss of roots.
Chen Pingchuan took a deep breath, the muscles in his arms instantly tensing. The energy blade in his hand glead eerily in the dim light. With a low shout, he swung the energy blade with unstoppable force toward a section of root that bore an intact symbol.
The blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, as if tearing space itself. In an instant, the root was severed. The cut end pulsed with a dense wave of energy, making the very air around it tremble.
Chen Pingchuan gripped the severed root tightly, feeling the powerful energy coursing through his hand. He knew this mysterious symbol had to be important. He then leaped out of the pit. There was a hint of weariness on his face, but his gaze was steadfast. He couldn't stop the calamity of the Black Demon, but he wouldn't turn a blind eye to the world-ending disaster threatened by this strange tree, not when it was within his power to act.
After a quick search of the area yielded nothing else, Chen Pingchuan returned to where the others were busy at work. By now, the group had already set up a temporary camp. Seeing Chen Pingchuan return, they all gathered around him.
"Boss, how did it go?" Lu Jiaojiao asked with concern.
"The main body of that strange tree isn't dead yet," Chen Pingchuan said with a grave expression. "What we killed was probably just a clone."
"Tomorrow, we'll continue along the main road toward the other side of the mountain. The tree's main body might be hidden there."
Hearing this, the group couldn't help but gasp.
"If a re clone was that powerful, how formidable must the main body be? Can we really defeat it?" Little Lilia asked, her face a bit pale as she looked at Chen Pingchuan. The intensive use of her telekinesis over the past few days had raised her Spirit limit, but it had also left her deeply fatigued.
Faced with Lilia's question, Chen Pingchuan didn't know how to respond. After all, I'm the only one who knows you don't really die in the simulations. But how can I explain that? Unless...
Chen Pingchuan's voice was hoarse and somber. "Rember when we first t? I was able to tell you all your abilities, nas, and even your hobbies."
"I wasn't lying when I told you I was a Divine Envoy. It ans that even if you die, I can bring you back."
"Or, to be more precise, I can travel back to the past."
Chen Pingchuan described his ability to simulate the future as the power to travel to the past. It was not only more convincing but also helped mitigate so risks, especially given how mories from the simulated world had previously transferred over to reality.
Hearing this, the others wore awkward expressions. What Chen Pingchuan said sounded utterly fantastical, yet they had a feeling he wasn't lying. Besides, his abilities had long since proven to be far beyond those of a normal powered individual. He was practically an all-around warrior, a master of multiple powers.
Sensing that he had successfully reassured them, Chen Pingchuan made a decision.
"Alright. Everyone rest here for the night. We'll set out first thing in the morning. As for food, Porcupine, go dig up the supplies we buried earlier."
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