Great Wilderness Lord: System Intelligence Updated Daily

The Deadwood Valley is located deeper within the Wild Mountain Range.

Therefore, the road is more remote and difficult to travel than the one we took to the spring last time.

The group circled around the foot of the mountain for most of the day before turning into a narrow valley hidden by bushes and vines.

The mountain walls on both sides became steeper and steeper, the sky above became narrower and narrower, and the road underfoot became more and more rugged.

"We're almost there."

Glenn lowered his voice and pointed ahead:

"Beyond this ridge lies the Valley of Dead Trees."

Agnes raised her staff, and a faint blue light shone from its tip.

The light spread out, enveloping the entire team, and an almost invisible ripple appeared in the air.

"Concealment Technique"

She spoke softly:

"Tier 4 and below magical beasts cannot sense us."

"But don't make too much noise."

The group slowed down and their steps became lighter.

We crossed the mountain ridge.

The Valley of Dead Trees unfolds before your eyes.

Although it is called the Valley of Dead Trees, this valley is not a desolate place where nothing grows.

On the contrary, the Valley of Dead Trees is not dead, but full of life.

The entire valley is an irregular oval shape, surrounded by steep mountain walls, with only a few narrow animal trails for entry and exit.

The valley floor was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves and moss, with various low shrubs and vines intertwined densely, and the air was filled with a rich scent of grass and trees.

At the deepest part of the valley, a towering tree stands all alone!

The tree was about 100 meters tall, and its canopy blocked out the sun, almost covering the central area of ​​the entire valley.

The tree trunk was incredibly thick; it would take at least a dozen people to encircle it.

The bark is dark brown with crisscrossing grooves. Branches extend from the trunk, densely packed and layered, each branch laden with emerald green willow leaves that sway gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound.

It was indeed the peak fourth-tier willow tree spirit mentioned in the intelligence report!

In the center of the tree trunk, about twenty meters above the ground, there is a naturally formed tree hole.

Inside the tree hollow, a ball of amber light floated quietly, emitting a soft and warm orange-yellow halo.

Although not dazzling, it possesses a kind of imposing aura that makes one's heart tremble.

Willow heartwood!

Even from this distance, everyone could feel a strong sense of life emanating from them.

"So big..."

Alice gasped softly.

"Peak of the fourth tier".

Reinhardt's gaze was fixed on the willow tree, his voice low:

"But I can feel its aura fluctuating."

"A breakthrough is indeed imminent!"

Agnes narrowed her eyes slightly, observed for a moment, and nodded:

"I'll be promoted tonight."

"It needs to sever its connection with the willow heartwood first, and then absorb it back."

"At that time, its strength will drop from the peak of the fourth tier to the early stage of the fourth tier, which is when it is at its weakest."

Yang Erde continued:

"The powerful beings around us will definitely not let this opportunity pass."

"Willow heartwood is the essence of hundreds of years; whoever gets their hands on it will benefit."

"Those magical beasts that are also stuck at the peak of the fourth tier will definitely come tonight."

Reinhardt closed his eyes and released his fighting spirit to sense things.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his expression grave:

"There are many threatening signs in all directions."

"Three of them are particularly powerful, all reaching the fourth rank."

Nodding, Yang Erde gave the order in a low voice:

"They're all hidden."

"No one is to move without my order."

"Stay calm and don't step in until the crucial moment."

Everyone quickly sought out hidden spots to take cover.

At the top of the valley on the east side, there is a prominent rocky platform, completely covered by shrubs and vines. It offers a commanding view and is an excellent vantage point.

Yang Erde and his core group lay there, peering down at the Deadwood Valley through the gaps in the vines.

Time passed little by little.

The sun moves from the east to its zenith, and then slides back down to the west.

The valley gradually sank into darkness.

The moon has risen.

The moon isn't perfectly round tonight, but it's bright enough.

This allows people to see the Valley of Dead Trees at night in a relatively clear manner.

It was midnight.

The willow tree spirit has finally moved!

It wasn't the kind of shaking caused by the wind, but a tremor that came from the inside out.

The grooves on the tree trunk began to writhe, and the bark undulated like real skin.

Hundreds and thousands of drooping willow branches no longer sway in the wind, but point to the sky as if in worship.

"It's time to break through!"

Yang Erde muttered to himself.

Then everyone saw it.

Inside the hollow in the center of the tree trunk, an amber light began to flicker intensely.

The heartwood of a thousand-year-old willow tree, hidden within, slowly floated out of the tree hole, like a bird's egg flying out of its nest, hovering about two meters in front of the tree trunk.

Liu Muxin's true colors were finally revealed to everyone.

It was a crystal core the size of a fist, crystal clear throughout, as if carved from a single piece of amber.

Liquid was slowly flowing inside, emitting a faint orange-yellow glow.

Several thin willow branches, as fine as hair, are wrapped around the top and bottom ends, connecting the main body like an umbilical cord.

Each time it flickers, the willow branches tremble slightly, making a soft sound like a heartbeat.

A rich sense of life emanated from the willow heartwood and spread outwards.

Even from hundreds of meters away, Yang Erde and his group could smell the refreshing and sweet fragrance.

Ms. Agnes couldn't help but sigh:

"Although the claim of a thousand-year-old willow heartwood is mostly just empty talk, this one is definitely a top-tier fourth-order natural treasure!"

At the same time, the willow tree spirit's aura began to decline rapidly.

From the peak of the fourth tier, it slipped to the late stage of the fourth tier, then to the middle stage of the fourth tier, and finally stabilized at the early stage of the fourth tier.

It severed its connection with the willow heartwood.

Now, it needs to reabsorb the willow heart before it can take the final step on its path to advancing to the fifth rank.

The willow tree spirit stretched out dozens of thick willow branches, reaching into the air like arms, preparing to envelop the suspended crystal core.

But if nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected is likely to occur.

In an instant, countless fragmented and chaotic roars and howls rose and fell in the Valley of the Dead Trees.

On the mountain walls surrounding the Deadwood Valley, countless eyes lit up—red, green, and yellow—densely packed together, looking incredibly eerie in the darkness.

Beast Tide!

Young's pupils constricted slightly.

A large number of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 magical beasts.

Wind wolves, demonized wild boars, rock-armored lizards, shadow leopards, venomous pythons... there are many kinds and a huge number of them, roughly estimated to be at least three or four hundred.

They surged down the mountainside, rushing forward like a tide towards the willow tree in the center of the Deadwood Valley.

Loud.

"So many!"

Alice gasped.

"They're all low-level."

Reinhardt lowered his voice:

"These magical beasts were all driven here by the aura of a fourth-tier powerhouse."

"They also wanted to steal the willow heartwood, but they were used as cannon fodder."

A beast tide is coming.

Sensing the threat, the willow tree spirit reacted immediately.

The willow branches reaching into the air suddenly turned and lashed out at the beast tide like countless whips.