The pair worked in perfect sync
The ground beneath Liu Erlong's feet had turned into a lush green lawn.
The lawn was wide, divided into five horizontal lanes, each about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) wide.
At the end of the passage was a gray forest, with swaying shadows of trees, and the shadows of many Soul Beast could be vaguely seen moving at the edge of the forest.
Behind them stood a two-story house, with red bricks, white walls, and a gray tiled roof. It looked ordinary, but this was the target they were determined to protect.
A low, oppressive melody came from all directions, buzzing and humming, like something growling in the distance.
Liu Erlong subconsciously activated his Soul Power.
There was nothing there.
His Soul Power was locked. He couldn't use any of the Soul Skill of a level 79 Soul Saint.
Her heart sank.
Qin Chuan was already squatting on the lawn. He pulled a cloth bag out of thin air, and the bag was filled with seeds of various colors.
"Sister Liu, I'll dig the holes and plant the plants. You'll be in charge of watering and collecting the Heaven and Earth Soul Power. Follow my instructions, and I'll take you flying."
Liu Erlong nodded as she watched his practiced movements.
"Okay!"
She turned and ran towards the cabin, pushed open the door, and rushed inside.
The room was very simple, with a table, two chairs, a water vat in the corner, and a wooden bucket and a water cup next to it.
Liu Erlong grabbed the wooden bucket, scooped more than half a bucket of water into the water vat, and ran out with the bucket in his arms.
When she returned to the lawn, she found that Qin Chuan had already dug a hole in each of the second and fourth paths and planted two Golden Sunflower.
Golden Sunflower grow very quickly. After the seeds are planted in the soil, tender shoots emerge in just a few breaths, and then they sprout branches, unfold leaves, and bloom.
The flower head is golden, similar to a sunflower, but the petals are thicker, and fist-sized orbs of light keep emerging from the center of the flower.
Those orbs of light floated in the air, shimmering with a pale golden glow.
"That's [Heaven and Earth Soul Power]," Qin Chuan pointed. "Just touch it to collect it; it'll be automatically added to your game panel."
Liu Erlong put down the bucket and ran over to touch the ball of light.
The ball of light transformed into a warm current and entered her palm. The numbers on the game panel jumped: Heaven and Earth Soul Power: 50.
Qin Chuan dug another hole and planted a dark green seed in the third passage.
"This is [Green-Pod Arrow Vine], eight thousand years old. A long-range attack plant that can launch vine arrows."
He started burying soil in the pit.
Liu Erlong ran over carrying a bucket of water and poured half a bucket of water into it.
Qin Chuan looked up at her.
"No, Sister Liu, you're going to drown the plants! Go inside and get that cup."
"Okay." Liu Erlong put down the bucket, ran back into the house, and brought out a water cup.
As soon as she ran out the door, she saw a gray-brown figure dart out of the bushes at the edge of the forest in the distance.
It has four legs, a pointed snout, gray fur, and eyes that gleam green.
Rot-Skinned Wild Wolf. A five-thousand-year-old Soul Beast.
It ran along the third path towards the cabin. It wasn't fast, but it was steady, stepping carefully on the grass, leaving shallow scratches on the ground with its claws.
Liu Erlong's heart leaped into his throat.
"Quick, curator, it's coming!"
Qin Chuan didn't even look up, continuing to fill the pit with soil.
"If you hadn't overwatered it, this plant would have already sprouted."
Liu Erlong opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
"So what do we do now?"
"Wait a minute. Go and collect the scattered Heaven and Earth Soul Power around here first, don't let it disappear."
"Okay." Liu Erlong ran to Golden Sunflower's vicinity, bent down to pick up the light orbs floating in the air. One, two, three, the numbers of Heaven and Earth Soul Power jumped up on the panel.
The Rot-Skinned Wild Wolf is getting closer.
Forty meters. Thirty meters. Twenty meters.
Liu Erlong picked up the orb of light, her eyes fixed on the wolf. Her palms were sweating, and her pace quickened.
Fifteen meters.
The Green-Pod Arrow Vine that Qin Chuan planted has finally sprouted.
A thick vine sprouted from the ground, unfurling several dark green leaves with fine, barbed edges. Three sharp tendrils branched from the tip of the vine, pointing forward.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three vine arrows shot out, piercing the body of the Rot-Skinned Wild Wolf with a whooshing sound.
The wolf howled, and three plumes of green blood mist rose from its body. It staggered a couple of steps, then charged forward a few more meters.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two more arrows were fired from the Green-Pod Arrow Vine.
The wolf's body stiffened abruptly, its four legs went weak, and it collapsed onto the lawn, turning into a gray speck of light and disappearing.
Two small orbs of light fell to the ground.
"Wow, it's dead! And it even released two Heaven and Earth Soul Power!" Liu Erlong exclaimed.
"Yes, the Heaven and Earth Soul Power that's being released over there will be automatically absorbed; you don't need to go pick it up."
"OK."
Just as Liu Erlong breathed a sigh of relief, he turned his head and saw three more Rot-Skinned Wild Wolf leap out from the edge of the forest.
They rushed in along the first, third, and fifth passages respectively.
Qin Chuan had already planted a Green-Pod Arrow Vine on the first and fifth passages.
Liu Erlong, holding a water glass, watered the newly planted plants as Qin Chuan instructed. This time, she learned her lesson and only poured a small half-glass, just enough to moisten the soil.
The plants grew quickly, sprouting before the wolves arrived and beginning to fire vine arrows.
The three wolves were killed by the three Green-Pod Arrow Vine, and none of them rushed to the front of the hut.
Liu Erlong ran around collecting the Heaven and Earth Soul Power, and the number on the panel rose to more than three hundred.
Qin Chuan glanced at the numbers and began digging a hole in the second passage.
"Sister Liu, even stronger Soul Beast are coming soon. I need to plant defensive plants."
Qin Chuan took a silver-gray seed out of the seed bag and planted it in the front row of the second passage.
"This is Crystal-Pattern Shield Oak, ten thousand years old. Its body is hard and can withstand a lot of damage."
Liu Erlong poured half a cup of water on it, and the Shield Oak quickly grew.
A short, stout tree stump, its surface covered with a layer of silvery-white veins, its trunk thick and sturdy, looking like it could withstand a beating.
Qin Chuan planted a Green-Pod Arrow Vine behind the Shield Oak.
"Shield Oak stands in front to absorb damage, Arrow Vine deals damage from behind. Basic combination."
Liu Erlong nodded, indicating that he had made a mental note of it.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a deep roar echoed through the forest.
The ground trembled slightly.
A huge figure emerged from the bushes.
[Iron-Armored Giant Bear]. A ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beast.
It was three or four times larger than the Rot-Skinned Wild Wolf, its entire body covered in gray-black iron armor, and its four legs were as thick as pillars, causing the ground to shake with every step it took.
It slowly walked along the second passage.
The Green-Pod Arrow Vine began to fire. Swish, swish, swish, the vine arrows struck the Iron-Armored Giant Bear, making a clanging metallic sound.
Fujiya bounced away.
The Iron-Armored Giant Bear's armor was so thick that even the eight-thousand-year-old Green-Pod Arrow Vine couldn't penetrate it.
Liu Erlong's heart sank as he watched the flying vine arrows.
"We can't damage it!"
"No need to touch it," Qin Chuan said. "Just let the Shield Oak hold."
The Iron-Armored Giant Bear walked up to the Crystal-Pattern Shield Oak and slammed down with its forepaw.
Boom!
The Shield Oak trunk swayed slightly, and a crack appeared on its silvery-white veins, but it did not break.
The giant bear patted it again.
Boom!
The crack widened, but the Shield Oak continued to hold on.
Qin Chuan planted another Double-Thorn Arrow Vine behind it.
"Double-Thorn Arrow Vine, 20,000 years old. It fires two arrows at once, with stronger penetrating power than the Green-Pod Arrow Vine."