There was a pool of very shallow water, probably barely deep enough to cover a person's instep.
Dozens of corpses lay in the pool, each with its mouth open. A root extended into each corpse's mouth, ravenously drawing nutrients from it.
All the roots belonged to a tree in the very center of the pool.
The tree looked small, only about two meters tall. At its top was a fruit shaped like an apple, but crystal clear, giving off a faint, glimmering light.
Following the Money Rat's guidance, Ai Si and Rose arrived at the edge of the pool.
At the sight of the Monster Tree, the strange fruit, and the dozens of corpses serving as nourishment for the tree, both their expressions involuntarily changed.
"Ai Si, it looks like that strange fruit is the treasure." Rose was somewhat calmer. Although the sight before her was shocking, she soon regained some composure and spoke.
"Then let's hurry up, get that strange fruit, and leave. This place looks dangerous," Ai Si said with a nod.
People instinctively feared the sight of corpses. Why was that?
It was because humans feared things that could kill them. Seeing corpses made people feel that their own lives were threatened. This was information etched into human DNA.
Naturally, Ai Si also felt afraid at the sight of those dozens of corpses.
Since they knew the treasure was that fruit, the sensible thing to do was to take it and leave as quickly as possible.
"Wait..."
But Rose caught hold of Ai Si and said, "This tree can't move, so why are there dozens of corpses gathered here? Surely these corpses didn't come running over on their own to feed these trees?"
"There are only two possibilities. Either everyone who went to pick the fruit encountered