"The villagers called that tree-the Mother Tree of Life."
The walls, already riddled with cracks from being torn apart by the Withered Branch, began shaking violently after that whispered mention of the "Mother Tree of Life," as though the pressure had exceeded their limits and they could no longer hold. Every crack rapidly widened, like the blood vessels of some terrifying creature suddenly swelling.
Almost simultaneously, with a sharp crack that seemed to rise from an abyss deep underground, the walls and ceiling collapsed all at once!
"BOOM-!!"
A deep, thunderous crash erupted, as though the entire space had overturned and collapsed in that instant. Even the air seemed to warp beneath the crushing pressure, forcing a suffocating sensation into everyone's ears and chests!
Although they were under Blood Vine's protection, they could still clearly see the walls and ceiling shattering into great chunks as though being ripped apart, debris raining down around them.
Just as everyone instinctively closed their eyes and braced for the falling rubble-
The surrounding lights abruptly went out.
Without warning or transition, the entire corridor plunged into almost absolute darkness in an instant.
"Mr. Su! Do something!"
Chi Yan couldn't help shouting. The darkness seemed to swallow most of his voice, but the heartfelt trust and plea for help in it remained unmistakable.
"Open your eyes and look." Su Bai's calm voice came through the darkness amid the sounds of collapse.
With their inexplicable trust in Su Bai, Chi Yan and Le Shiya instinctively opened their eyes-at some point, the entire space had quietly brightened again.
The light dispelled the darkness, gradually clearing their vision. Countless fragments were still falling from above, but the great chunks of rubble did not strike them as expected. Instead, they slowly dissolved overhead before vanishing into the air entirely,