I lay low and gave up, but my servants were caught in a cycle of life and death.

However, it was too late.

Roots as thick as arms emerged from the ground and quickly wrapped around everyone's ankles.

Lu Yanfei, suspended in mid-air, instantly set up a chessboard. The chessboard, originally designed to trap and imprison the enemy, was now protected within the entangled group, becoming a protective shield.

The tree roots that were entangled around the crowd were severed by the crisscrossing network of the chessboard.

The tree roots outside the chessboard lashed at the protective shield like thousands of tentacles.

Zhou Zhengqing and the other two shivered in unison.

Shen Rang reacted immediately, pulled out his dagger and began to cut the severed root wrapped around his ankle.

He could feel that even if the thing broke, it could still cling to his ankle and drink his blood!

"Woo woo woo! That scared me to death!" The parrot landed on Lu Yan's shoulder, nuzzling its little head against Lu Yan's neck. "Dad is still the best."

"Woof!" (Dead bird, don't you dare touch my dad!)

Lu Bao on the ground was so jealous that it could only vent its anger on the banyan tree that was entwined around it, tearing and biting it fiercely.

Seeing that they were safe and sound, Lu Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then looked sharply at the banyan forest in the distance.

"Explode!"

With a roar, Lu Yan's gaze fell upon twenty black and white chess pieces that rained down from the sky, striking the banyan tree.

"boom"

"Boom!"

"what!"

The sounds of chess pieces exploding and banyan trees screaming echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

The enormous canopy shook violently, and countless branches and leaves fell with a rustling sound.

Lu Yan once used a single chess piece to blast a tree with a diameter of one meter into pieces, but now, after using twenty chess pieces, only the upper part of the banyan tree has been blasted to a crisp, while the huge trunk and root system remain completely untouched.

Dark red sap dripped from the broken branch of the banyan tree onto the ground, only to be reabsorbed by its roots. An aged voice rang out, "Humans, I'm releasing you. How about you never set foot in this area again?"

Lu Yan said coldly, "Where's the knife I brought in looking for you? Is it also entangled in your tree roots?"

The banyan tree remained silent for a moment, then released the kitchen knife that had been entangled within it. The knife regained its freedom, soared into the sky, and flew towards Lu Yan.

"Master! Waaaaah! Ugh! This tree spirit's saliva is so sticky! Ugh! Waaaah, I'm not clean anymore!!"

Looking at the pitiful kitchen knife, Lu Yan said, "Go back and find Xiaobai, and have it fix it for you."

The kitchen knife went away crying.

The parrot looked around at the scene, then at the departing kitchen knife, and decided it was safest to leave. It spread its wings and took flight, calling out, "Brother, wait for me!"

Lu Yan patted his shoulder, which had been scratched by the parrot, flew into the chessboard-covered world, folded his wings, and landed. "This thing is not easy to kill. Let's find some help."

Although he still had more than 300 chess pieces inside him, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use them all to blow up the banyan tree spirit, but he was keeping these chess pieces to save his life, so he would avoid using them if possible.

The troops also have artillery shells and rockets, so let them use them.

Banyan Tree Spirit: !!!

"Okay." Zhou Zhengqing turned on his bracelet and dialed a number.

Once the call connected, Zhou Zhengqing succinctly reported the situation, coordinates, and needs.

After hanging up the communication, he nodded to Lu Yan: "Heavy firepower will arrive in ten minutes."

"Human, you break your promise!" the banyan tree spirit exclaimed in exasperation.

"Since you haven't released them, the contract hasn't been fulfilled."

"I put the knife down!"

"It's a knife, not a person."

The banyan tree spirit, driven to rage by its impotence, lashed out even more fiercely with its roots outside the protective shield.

"Brother Yan! What do we do with these tree roots?" Pang Shi'an cried, pointing to the tree roots wrapped around his ankle. "I feel like they're sucking my blood, and I can't cut them with a knife!"

Lu Yan shuddered after hearing this!

In my past life, when I was a child, I worked in the fields planting rice, and the most disgusting thing was leeches!

"Hurry up, try using metal-based or fire-based abilities!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Rang and Xiao Li acted swiftly. Flames erupted from their ankles, and the tree roots that had been binding them seemed to be in a panic. They not only loosened their grip on the ground but also twisted and turned like snakes, trying to burrow into the soil to extinguish the fire.

Startled, Lu Yan jumped onto Shen Rang's back. "Quick, burn it!"

Damn it!

Snakes, earthworms, leeches, loaches, caterpillars, maggots—these horrible things are the most disgusting of all!

Shen Rang's gray eyes twitched, and his hands moved in a blur as he set fires everywhere.

In just a few seconds, every broken piece of wood on the chessboard caught fire.

After Shen Rang unleashed his supernatural power, Xiao Li added fuel to the fire. Soon, the tree roots inside the protective shield were burned into charcoal and could no longer be twisted.

Lu Yan got out of bed, and Pang Shi'an, remembering Lu Yan's embarrassing moment, burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Hahaha! Brother Yan! So you do have things you're afraid of!"

Lu Yan's face darkened, and he kicked him, "You idiot! What are you doing at a time like this, instead of thinking about contracting a banyan tree spirit?"

Pang Shi'an was taken aback. "It's so strong, how do I form a contract with it?"

Lu Bao rolled his eyes in disdain.

The golden retriever sat upright, looking very docile.

The tabby cat lay lazily on the ground. What did it care about the stupidity of the two-legged beasts? As long as they were fed, that was enough.

Zhou Zhengqing tapped his head in exasperation, cleared his throat, and shouted to the banyan tree spirit, "Old banyan tree, you heard that too, our heavy firepower will be here soon."

Now, you have two paths: one, accept the contract and become our contracted beast;

Second, we'll bombard your banyan forest to the ground!

The old banyan tree remained silent for a moment before making its decision.

Countless roots were removed.

In the banyan forest, countless large banyan trees withered instantly, leaving only the one in the very center, which was completely shattered.

It grew taller at a visible speed, sprouting new branches, green leaves, and roots.

Everyone's expression hardened; was it going to fight to the death?

Then they saw the roots of the old banyan tree seem to transform into a pair of large feet, striding away.

ha?

It ran away!

"You all go back, I'll go after it!"

Lu Yan removed the chessboard, spread his wings, and flew towards the old banyan tree.

"Hey, old banyan tree, why are you running? What's the point of running?"

Lu Yan was met with a tree whip.

Lu Yan easily dodged, stretched out his hand, and the chessboard landed. "Heaven and Earth Chessboard!"

The banyan tree spirit couldn't run anymore.

I tried it from front to back, left to right, up to down, and so on.

Even its roots, which could originally stretch for ten miles, are now forced to shrink into the space where the chessboard is located, and can no longer extend outwards!

What the hell is this thing?!

So domineering!

Is there any justice in this world?!

The old banyan tree is rotten, rooted in the same spot, lying there like a corpse.

Lu Yan chuckled; he had only just witnessed the true power of the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

Lu Yan recalled the terminology he used when he first taught Go: "The Go board is placed, sealing the heavens and locking the earth."

I'm so awesome!

The little devil in Lu Yan's mind laughed heartily, hands on his hips.

"Hey, old banyan tree, have you thought it through? Do you want to accept the contract?"

"Kid, how about you let me go, and I'll tell you a secret?"

"What secret? Tell me first."

Lu Yan crossed his arms, flapped his wings in the air, and looked completely indifferent.

The old banyan tree's aged voice echoed, "There is something underground that will cause this world to end."