A chance to advance
Lu Heng retreated to the outer edge of the Mist Forest.
The sounds of fighting in the Inner Region had subsided, and thick fog slowly seeped out through the gaps in the trees. The fog on the outer edges had thinned considerably, but a damp, chilly, and stuffy feeling still lingered in the air, mixed with the smell of decaying leaves and earth.
He stood still, letting his tense shoulders and back slowly relax.
The fatigue from the continuous fighting was still lingering in his bones, and the dullness from the monster's attacks still lingered in his chest. He didn't immediately adjust his breathing, but instead slowly released his senses, like a thin net, spreading over weeds, broken branches, and undulating slopes.
Soon, a flood of restless emotions rushed in.
Large numbers of survivors were scattered around the perimeter, in groups, rushing headlong into the depths of the forest along forest paths and barren slopes.
The energy shockwaves erupting from the Inner Region traveled far. In their judgment, such a large commotion meant the presence of treasures and high-level demonic creatures, a rare opportunity.
Some hurried along alone, others in groups of three or five, weapons in hand, their steps quick, their whispered conversations filled with anticipation. Everyone feared that if they were a step too slow, the opportunity would be snatched away by someone else.
Lu Heng quietly sensed the ever-flowing crowd.
He knew exactly what the situation was.
Going in now would be like walking into a trap.
The native creatures of this forest have sided with the invaders, the original balance of power has completely collapsed, there are no resources to plunder, only a killing net that has been laid out.
He raised his wrist, Survival Bracelet lit up with a cold white light.
Open the public channel.
The messages on the screen scrolled rapidly, mostly calls to form teams or inquiries about the cause of the unusual activity. Lu Heng didn't glance at them at all, his fingertips falling to type out a line of text and send it.
"Don't rush in now, something's not right."
After sending the message, he immediately turned off the channel.
The screen went dark.
That concludes the reminder.
Whether they believe or not is their own choice. Lu Heng didn't intend to waste any more words or chase after them to explain the cause and effect. In the apocalypse, the choices made should be the responsibility of the people who make them.
For a long time, it was the will of the forest that actively sought him out, conveying messages from within the woodland.
This time is different.
Lu Heng looked up at the surging white mist, his voice steady, penetrating the intertwined branches and falling into the layers of fog.
"Come out for a moment."
As soon as he finished speaking, the noise in the woods gradually subsided.
The wind stopped, and the soft rustling of the leaves disappeared. A heavy, ancient, invisible will slowly descended, enveloping him completely. There was no sense of oppression, yet it carried the weight of this territory.
Lu Heng didn't beat around the bush and directly asked the question that was on his mind.
Why would the creatures inside unite to assist an external enemy and target human survivors?
The thought arose directly in his mind, flat and without any fluctuation.
"This is a taboo after the territorial integration, as it involves the opportunity to advance to the Gold Tier."
Lu Heng listened quietly.
"The Frost Forest is the original core of this region. The Mist Forest, the Hill Valley, the Withered Reed Plain, and the Blackwater Swamp are all recently incorporated Subsidiary Territory."
There are distinctions based on closeness or distance.
The native creatures of the Frost Forest have a far higher chance of obtaining Gold Tier promotion than the creatures of the territories that were later incorporated.
This is not a case of anyone deliberately showing favoritism; it is a natural outcome resulting from the integration of territories.
The creatures within the Subsidiary Territory had long since figured out this fact. Following the normal order, they had almost no chance of reaching the Gold Tier.
"The Plane has just invaded, disrupting the previously stable order." The Forest Will continued to transmit its thoughts, "Many creatures in the Subsidiary Territory have sensed the changes. There are no pathways to advancement on the normal path; with the intrusion of foreign enemies and the situation spiraling out of control, in their eyes, this is another opportunity to break the deadlock."
They chose to stand with the foreign invaders and actively cooperated.
Taking advantage of this turmoil, they are vying for promotion opportunities that were not originally theirs.
There were no grand excuses, only the pursuit of profit.
Lu Heng remained silent for a moment.
The logic is clear, and within the context of the survival rules of this forest, it's not difficult to understand.
He spoke up to confirm.
"These creatures that breed disloyalty and collude with foreign enemies must all be eliminated?"
"Right."
Will's answer was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
"All sources of unrest must be eradicated. This troubled Subsidiary Territory needs to be completely destroyed. Only after the chaos is cleared can the land regain stability and be reborn."
Having received a reply, Lu Heng no longer hesitated.
He focused his mind and awakened the Blood Taisui dormant within his body.
The damage from the fierce battle in the Inner Region was still there, but the foundation remained intact. Dark red Mycelium sprouted from the soil beneath their feet, silently spreading outwards along cracks in the ground and the veins of tree roots.
Lu Heng settled his mind and set the boundaries for clearing the area.
Within these Subsidiary Territory: Hill Valley, Withered Reed Plain, Blackwater Swamp, and Mist Forest.
Any native creatures that harbor disloyal intentions or collude with foreign enemies will be completely eradicated.
Human survivors who wander into the forest are not included in the elimination efforts.
The Mycelium spreads at an increasingly rapid rate.
Dark red tendrils stretched out beneath the soil, passing through bushes, climbing tree trunks, and spreading out along the undulating terrain of the hills.
Creatures hidden in burrows, bushes, and deep within the mist quickly sensed the disturbance. Panic-stricken tremors traveled across the earth layer by layer, while faint hissing and scurrying sounds drifted intermittently from the distant fog.
The Blood Taisui didn't stop.
The silken threads continued to extend, gradually locking down the retreat routes of the entire annexed territory.
Those Rebellious Native Lifeforms that wanted to hide underground or in the shadows of the dense forest were successively targeted by the Mycelium. Beneath the soil, a silent strangulation had begun.
Lu Heng stood at the border, quietly watching the churning fog.
He didn't intend to go in and fight those monsters.
The net spread out by the Blood Taisui is enough.
The Global Region Subsidiary Territory was cleared out.