Vines Hung with Corpses Revived?!

The secluded valley was silent and ethereal.

Light fell from within the valley, casting a long trail of radiance. Within that light, an enormous Vine hung down.

The Vine was a deep, shadowy green, thick enough for three people to wrap their arms around. It descended from the sky and rested at the foot of the mountain, like an arm that had naturally drooped down as a god rested.

Its end was nowhere in sight.

It was utterly spectacular.

It evoked a sense of vast emptiness and desolation, loneliness and bleakness.

"Is... that the Vine?"

"This mountain looks beautiful, but the terrain is actually perilous, shrouded in clouds and mist. With one or two Vines hanging down, it would be impossible to see clearly. No wonder not many people noticed this news."

"Indeed. From far away, I thought it was just a Vine growing on the mountain. It was spectacular, but not something that would draw your attention at first glance."

"But... the news wasn't lying at all. This Vine really is shocking. At first glance, I thought it was a painting—the kind made by AI."

Romanced and Scammed Out of 50 Cents rubbed his arms.

The group stopped halfway up the mountain. They all stared up at the enormous sight, a strange feeling rising in their hearts.

A Vine hung down from the sky.

It sounded simple enough, but the imagery was incredibly striking. It was much like a fairy tale they had read as children.

"Have you never heard that fairy tale? What was it called—Jack and the Beanstalk? In the story, someone planted a magical bean seed. Later, it grew and grew, all the way into the sky."

"I haven't read it. Then what happened?" someone asked curiously.

"Then he climbed up to the sky along the leaves. A giant lived up there, and he stole the giant's gold. In the end, he even got the giant killed in a fall, and then lived happily ever after..."

The corner of 81-year-old Beautiful Young Woman's mouth twitched.

"Theft, repaying kindness with betrayal, and then living happily ever after? You call that a fairy tale?"

"Fairy tales weren't originally written for children. They were meant to satirize society at the time..."

"Enough. Let's end this topic here."

Lin Yiyi frowned slightly, cutting off their digression.

But there was one thing she had said correctly.

This Vine felt much like the one described in that fairy tale. It towered into the clouds, stretching all the way to heaven, making one feel an urge to climb up and see what lay at its source.

Especially the feeling this Vine gave them.

"Logically speaking, this Vine should have a Wood Attribute, but for some reason, I can sense an aura of desolation from it."

"Desolation?"

"I feel it too. I don't know how to describe it. It feels like it has sunk into the river of time, with all things annihilated and all vitality extinguished. It makes me very uncomfortable."

"I feel the same way. The moment I came near this place, my mood became extremely low. Could this Vine be devouring our life force?"

The moment that terrifying speculation was voiced, everyone felt a chill creep into their hearts.

When they looked at the Vine again, there was now wariness in their eyes, as though it might sweep them up and devour them the next second.

"Look!"

Suddenly, 81-year-old Beautiful Young Woman pointed at a spot on the Vine.

Everyone looked over, and their expressions changed instantly.

The Vine hung from the cliff face. On its slightly curled branches and tendrils were traces of dried blood.

Several curled-up figures hung from it. They did not look like beasts from the valley, and scraps of synthetic-fiber clothing still clung to their exposed limbs.

They were likely the Pioneers killed by the Vine.

At that thought, everyone's scalps went numb.

No one could remain completely calm after seeing the corpses of their companions.

"They probably tried to touch the Vine and were devoured by that Barren Power."

The quiet Three-Star young man in the group finally spoke.

"My suggestion is that we don't get any closer. We should sense it from here."

"I agree."

"I-I agree too."

As expected, the moment he finished speaking, everyone voted in favor.

They wanted opportunities, but not at the cost of their lives.

Lin Yiyi swept her gaze over the group and said gravely, "Then we'll sense it from here. Stay within sight of one another, and don't go too far."

"Okay."

They each found a spot and sat down.

The young man went to the nearest cave entrance, neither too close nor too far from the others.

The girls gathered together beside the cliff.

Lin Yiyi chose an old tree with lush, spreading branches.

After choosing their places, they each entered a cultivation state.

Lin Yiyi took a deep breath, the fragrance of leaves filling her nose and easing the discomfort caused by the Vine's Barren Power.

Soon, she entered a cultivation state.

Crystal-clear spiritual energy flowed around her body.

Like a transparent barrier, it enveloped her within.

In the distance.

Atop another ancient tree.

Fang Yi lay on a branch with one leg crossed over the other, fanning himself with a paper fan.

"This Vine feels seriously wrong."

"Even from this far away, though I can't see the corpses, I can still sense that heavy deathly aura coming from it. How did those people even find this thing?"

"After seeing so many strange phenomena of heaven and earth, aside from that Dark Attribute anomaly, the Vine here is the most uncomfortable. It's clearly a plant that symbolizes vigorous life, yet it feels like an earthen figurine. It doesn't feel alive—more like a dead thing disguised as a living creature, stripped of spiritual energy."

Fang Yi planned to wait until they finished cultivating before approaching to create a Cultivation Method.

Just then,

A storm suddenly erupted where Lin Yiyi was. A powerful aura burst out from within the girl's body, shrieking sharply as it shot into the sky.

The phantom projection of an enormous Divine Axe faintly appeared in the air.

"She's undergoing Star Ascension already? So soon?"

Fang Yi was somewhat stunned. Before coming here, he already knew Lin Yiyi was close to Star Ascension, but he had not expected her to reach the threshold of Three-Star so quickly.

Was this what a genius was like?

"My Cousin... really is extraordinarily talented."

Fang Yi could not help but marvel.

His Cousin was only seventeen this year, a year younger than himself.

Reaching the threshold of Three-Star at her age meant she was unquestionably among the best of the best.

The aura around Lin Yiyi continued to swell and expand.

That transparent aura seemed to transform into a giant hand, gripping the massive axe that symbolized absolute power in midair. Spiritual energy spiraled around it and surged madly into the girl's body.

Lin Yiyi knitted her brows slightly. She controlled all her spiritual energy and pressed it against the giant axe with all her might.

Boom!

The massive axe viciously tore through the air, swinging three times.

Ghost Axe... Three-Star!

"Success!"

"That's amazing, Yiyi!"

"Breaking through to Three-Star at such a young age—you're practically the second greatest prodigy in our group."

Her companions all wore excited expressions as they surrounded Lin Yiyi and congratulated her.

Even the taciturn young man praised her with a single word. "Impressive."

Lin Yiyi sat cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by companions who treated her like the center of the world.

Just as everyone was immersed in the joyful atmosphere,

the Vine hanging from the sky moved silently.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

"What was that sound?"

Hearing the strange noise, 81-year-old Beautiful Young Woman abruptly looked up.

When she saw what was before her, her breathing stopped for a moment.

"The Vine! The Vine is coming for us!"

"What?"

Everyone looked up in horror, only to see an overwhelming sea of green!

The Vine had come alive!

The narrow leaves embedded along the Vine had originally looked like tiny boats. Now, they had all transformed into emerald giant pythons, sweeping toward the group.

Those leaves seemed capable of opening gaping, bloody maws. They closed in at terrifying speed, looking ready to swallow everyone whole in the next second!

Everyone's expressions changed drastically.

"How did this happen?"

"How did the Vine suddenly come alive? Did Yiyi's breakthrough just now draw its attention?"

"We absolutely cannot let the Vine coil around us. Once we're caught in it, the aura of desolation will instantly entangle us, and we'll melt away in an instant!"

Even the steady voice of the young man trembled slightly now.