Hearing the mission prompt, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly felt enlightened.
The five-hour time limit was meant to make Spirit Realm Walkers hurry and unravel the outer layer's storyline, fulfilling the requirements to enter the middle layer.
Once five hours had passed, the outer dungeon's boss would begin slaughtering the Spirit Realm Walkers.
"I... I..." Asano Ryo's little face turned deathly pale.
"I killed a tree demon before. Will the Tree King come after me?"
Peony Fairy let out a sigh of relief. "Luckily, I've never killed a tree demon. Don't worry too much. You only killed one tree demon. Even if the Tree King wants revenge, you wouldn't be first in line."
As soon as she finished speaking, the three of them suddenly heard a piercing shriek, like the roar produced by a missile launch—sharp and mournful.
"Watch out!"
Peony Fairy seemed to sense something and cried out a warning. At the same time, she swept out both arms.
The lush branches and leaves above their heads rustled violently and began growing madly. Branches intertwined, forming a verdant barrier.
But in the next instant, the barrier exploded from a lash, sending broken branches and shredded leaves flying everywhere.
A thick afterimage burst through the barrier and lashed viciously toward Asano Ryo.
Peony Fairy's barrier bought the girl a precious moment. She lunged hard to the side and rolled repeatedly.
Bang!
A deep gully appeared where she had been standing.
Zhang Yuanqing looked closely and saw that the thing striking the ground was a vine as thick as a water barrel, covered in clusters of green leaves. Its tip was sharp as a thorn, while its base extended all the way into the sky, with no end in sight.
Zhang Yuanqing followed the vine with his gaze upward until his vision was