Chapter 156: Twisted Dead Tree
The next day, the team set off in the early morning. Things like bags and such had already been inventoried and prepared the night before. After the sun came out, they simply finished breakfast and stepped onto the small path.
Leaving Beg Town, they followed the mountain forest path westward all the way, passing through a forest full of weeds and shrubs, and slowly arrived at the edge of the outpost.
Compared to the peaceful town, the air here was clearly different, and even the distant scenery had become gray and still, as if it were a sketch outlined by a pen.
“This is the place.”
Bad Apple, walking in front, stopped and turned back to look at everyone. Yarn was not far behind him, followed by Xilutiya, Bona, and Karl.
“The black-and-white part of the Shadow World of Earth actually doesn’t exist. It only seems like it does; in fact, it’s merely a projection of the Sea of Clouds Continent.” He gave Xilutiya a simple explanation.
“When it gains ‘color,’ it gradually possesses real parts from the illusory.”
“Every time we walk through it, we leave faint traces. Once they accumulate to a certain extent, they can turn this illusory part into a real world.”
“However, this process is quite long, and ordinary people won’t live to see it.”
“Though it’s not visible, this brings one benefit: if your perception is exceptionally high, you can follow these faint color traces to know the routes taken by the seniors who came to this Secret Realm before.”
“As long as we follow the same main route, it will be very safe. Of course, the downside is that everyone thinks the same, so the gains on such routes will be fewer.”
“This time, we’re mainly getting familiar with the environment and letting Tiya get used to the adventure process, so we’re choosing the main route.”
After the explanation, everyone nodded to show they understood, then plunged headfirst into that strange black-and-white world.
Traveling through the black-and-white Shadow World was exceptionally quiet. Xilutiya stayed close to the team, walking quickly. About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the first intermediate node, which was an area with color.
“Phew, we can talk again.” Bona supported her waist, a bit tired.
“This place isn’t far from the outpost, so there basically won’t be any monsters appearing.” Karl scanned the surroundings. This was the first time he spoke after setting off.
“There’s residual charcoal fire on the ground. Someone must have camped here a couple of days ago.”
“So close, why not just return to town? Maybe it was too late that day.” Bona touched the charcoal inside; it was already a bit damp.
Xilutiya also looked into the distance. Due to the obstruction of many forest trees, her line of sight was limited. She could only vaguely sense faint ‘traces’ ahead leading to the next node.
“Let’s keep going.” After resting for two minutes, the team set off again.
Afterward, they passed through several similar nodes, and the journey was very smooth, probably because they hadn’t truly reached the Secret Realm yet.
Around three in the afternoon, when Xilutiya followed her teammates ahead into another forest, a shady aura hit them in the face, and the surrounding trees regained their color.
This should be the Deep Forest. The trunks were covered in moss, the air was cold and humid, the overhead tree canopy and branches and leaves provided dense cover, and the light in the woods was exceptionally dim.
“That’s right, this is it. We’ve only now truly arrived at the ‘Deep Forest Path.'” Bad Apple up ahead evaluated.
“Stay alert, everyone. We need to be careful from here on.” His gaze searched around as he took light, silent steps ahead.
Not far behind him, Yarn was clad in full heavy armor, holding a shield and longsword, following step by step. His gaze focused ahead and on his feet, not wasting energy looking around.
In this dim forest, Xilutiya heard no bird calls. As the five moved through, they could only hear the sounds of their own movements, like slight breathing, the snapping of dry branches, and the brushing of shrub thorns.
The first few hundred meters ahead went smoothly, with no abnormalities or accidents, until Karl at the back of the team suddenly stopped.
“Wait, do you see that tree?” He pointed beyond the roadside shrubs to the even darker depths of the forest.
“I can’t see it.” Bona tiptoed and looked a few times, then shook her head.
She had no far-sight ability and was also insensitive to some nature auras.
“I can sense something different, but it’s blurry. I don’t know exactly where.” Yarn looked inside and then answered.
“I can roughly smell the aura and determine the direction.” Bad Apple twitched his nose.
“I think I see it.” Xilutiya’s response surprised the others a bit.
“What do you see, Tiya?” Karl turned his head and asked carefully.
“It should be a rather strange tree, like there’s a twisted face on it.” The maiden described carefully.
“That confirms it; it should be the ‘Twisted Dead Tree.'” Bad Apple rubbed his nose, then turned his gaze to Karl.
“Should we go check it out?”
“Yes, sorry to trouble everyone.” Karl nodded, then raised his hand. A illusory Ghost Cat leaped out and charged straight into the depths of the woods.
The group left the main path, using their weapons to part the weeds and branches along the way, carefully approaching the place Xilutiya described.
This was a withered tree, with branches and trunk seemingly dusted in white ash, exceptionally still. But the twisted face frozen on the trunk made everything horrifying.
“Chop the tree, Yarn, you do it.” After inspecting it, Bad Apple stepped back.
“Got it.” So Yarn set down his heavy backpack, took out an axe from it, walked to the dead wood, found his position, and prepared to strike.
“Get in position first, Tiya. You and Bona stand at the very back, as far away as possible.”
“Okay.” Xilutiya and Bona stepped back a few paces.
At this point, Karl came to Yarn’s side-rear and waited, his gaze carefully observing the large tree.
“Alright, begin.” He nodded.
Yarn raised the axe high, then swung it down, striking the tree roots. The axe embedded into the withered wood, and wisps of black mist overflowed from the cut.
“As expected, this is a ‘Twisted Dead Tree.'” Karl’s expression was complex.
“It’s said that in the Eighth Epoch, an evil church developed a special ritual: placing a dead person’s corpse into a tree trunk and sealing the wound.”
“This large tree would slowly die, then gradually condense the ‘Death Ash’ nature under the ritual’s effect.”
“If the ritual succeeded, the corpse buried in the trunk would also be tainted with the condensed ‘Death Ash’ nature, ultimately animating into some kind of walking corpse.”
“The evil church at the time used this method to create walking corpses and Ghosts for warfare or to learn certain special spells.”
“The Shadow World where this Secret Realm is located was a place where those cult members were active back then. Even now, there are still hidden ‘Twisted Dead Trees’ undiscovered, still nurturing Corpse Undead.”
While he explained, Yarn pulled out the axe and kept chopping, and the emerging black mist became more obvious.
Then, with a cracking sound, the withered large tree slowly fell. Inside the split trunk were exposed white Bones, including a rotten Skull.
He walked over. The Ghost Cat rushed to the split trunk, fur standing on end, issuing a warning hiss, as if something invisible was coiled there.
“Boring.” Karl said coldly, then sprinkled some strange glowing powder he carried, which drifted toward the split trunk.
An ugly humanoid figure emerged, its lower body connected to the Bones in the trunk, writhing and crawling occasionally.
【Corpse Undead】（First Order·Death Ash）: Ghosts nurtured from dead corpses, often without reason, instinctively attacking living things.
