"The King of the Black Rain Clan has been suppressed!" Captain Wu said softly as he quickly healed his injuries.
Fang Yue nodded slightly.
"To think a Rain-grade Martial Artist could suppress a Demon Grade Anomaly. Those four clan elders really are monsters."
From what they could see, they could safely leave the battle here to King Qing and the four elders. That would free them to rescue An Dong'er.
Just as the two of them thought this...
Crack!
A fissure suddenly split open in the ground of the Imperial Palace.
Fang Yue looked down. A gigantic vine was visible inside the fissure.
Had An Dong'er returned?
Fang Yue was delighted at first, but immediately realized that the Phoenix King might have stabilized An Dong'er's condition and returned with her.
An Dong'er's situation was far too unusual. Under these circumstances, he wasn't even confident he could save her. He might even have to kill her body if he had to face the Phoenix King.
Just as Fang Yue was thinking this...
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The fissure in the ground suddenly widened. At the same time, cracks appeared across the land surrounding the Imperial Palace, spreading to varying degrees. Countless vines writhed and intertwined underground like crisscrossing fibers.
"The Guardian Spirit Tree is back?"
"Wonderful! With the four clan elders returned, His Majesty here in person, and the Spirit Tree's help, Heaven really is blessing the Qing Kingdom!"
Many people had no idea what had happened between the Spirit Tree and Fang Yue's group. They had only watched from afar, so they didn't realize that the "Guardian Spirit Tree" was more likely an enemy.
"An Dong'er! Is that you?"
Fang Yue and Captain Wu exchanged a glance, then called out to their surroundings. But the response was...
Crack!!
All the vines