"It really hurt."
Qin An wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared ahead, his eyes red.
The giant tree controlled half its branches and leaves, but the other half attacked him like demons gone mad.
Qin An trembled all over. The force carried by the branches and leaves made even one more step feel impossibly difficult.
He was not trembling from fear. Under that crushing pressure, his body had reacted on instinct.
Reincarnation's voice sounded in Qin An's mind, tinged with urgency.
"Qin An, don't go any farther. If we can't solve this or obtain the Metal Source, let's retreat for now. We can come back once you've grown stronger."
She was worried, because she knew Qin An's temperament.
If Qin An kept charging ahead like this, only a life-or-death struggle awaited him.
But Qin An gave a cold laugh.
He forced down his instinctive trembling, excitement glinting in his eyes.
"Ever since I left Ding County, I've faced danger at every turn, but each time I've turned calamity into good fortune. No one has ever brought me this close to death. Today, I'll make this giant tree the stepping stone that tempers my resolve."
All this time, Qin An had felt something like the loneliness of a master without an equal.
Today, though, exhilaration surged through him. It was as if he had finally met a worthy opponent, one who could force him to use everything he had.
Reincarnation fell silent.
She did not know how to describe Qin An at that moment. The impression he gave her was simply too staggering.
She had never seen anyone remain so wild under the Metal Source's influence. Today, she saw it in Qin An.
Qin An paid Reincarnation no heed and lunged forward once more.
The instant