Ma Hongjun clenched his teeth and said nothing more. His fists were balled so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, blood dripping through his fingers.
But he did not let go, because he knew Tang San was right. He did not want to be looked down on anymore. He did not want to remain that useless fat guy who could only hide in the back and throw fireballs. He wanted to grow stronger, no matter the cost.
Tang San closed his eyes and intensified the Devouring once more.
The roots of the Dark Blue Silver Emperor spread wildly beneath the earth, its reach expanding from dozens of zhang to over a hundred. More plants were swept into the vortex of death, and the entire dense forest withered at a visible rate.
Towering ancient trees toppled one after another, their trunks crashing against the ground with dull booms and sending black dust billowing into the air.
With the canopy gone, sunlight shone straight down. Yet upon this scorched land, it carried no warmth at all—only a bone-deep stillness and cold.
On the first day, Ma Hongjun broke through to level thirty-nine.
On the second day, Dai Mubai broke through to level forty-two.
The third day, the fourth day, the fifth day...
The Dark Blue Silver Emperor's Devouring range continued to expand, and Tang San led Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun through seven or eight forests around Heaven Dou City.
After being devoured, every forest became a scorched wasteland. Even the microorganisms in the soil had been drained of life, and no one knew how many years it would take for vegetation to grow there again.
Not a single animal in the forests escaped. From the tiniest insects to the largest wild boars, all became nourishment for the Dark Blue