The team immediately divided the tasks: A Mu and A Shi were responsible for unlocking the vine locks. A Mu used the power of ice and fire from the New Sprout Sword to burn the turbid energy nodes of the black vines, while A Shi marked the most vulnerable vine lock locations based on the "vine vein diagram" drawn from the Crystal Words Fragment. A Ya was responsible for collecting the spiritual energy of the Spirit-Summoning Flower. She wove the improved Symbiotic Fiber into a "spirit gathering net" and laid it in the area where the Spirit-Summoning Flower grew, allowing the spiritual energy to converge into a spiritual energy cluster along the fibers. Loran and Lei Lin were responsible for protecting the tree spirit and preparing to inject primordial energy in the final step.
Unlocking the vines was more difficult than expected. A Mu gripped the New Sprout Sword, its Ice-Fire Entwining Pattern and fire patterns. He carefully pressed the tip against a turbid energy node of the black vine—the node glowed gray, and upon contact with the ice and fire power, it emitted a "sizzling" sound. The black vine twisted violently, even throwing out several thin vines that coiled towards A Shi. "Watch out!" A Shi quickly pulled out the Crystal Vein Map and held it in front of him. The patterns on the diagram glowed with a pale golden light, temporarily blocking the attack of the thin vines.
Seeing this, Lei Lin immediately transformed into wolf form, his golden figure rushing forward like lightning. His claws gleamed with Golden Crystal Power fiercely grabbed at the main vine of the black vine—with a "crack," a vine lock on the main vine was torn off, and the gray light of the black vine dimmed instantly. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Loran affixed the Origin Key to the crack in the Array Eye Tree. Pale blue light flowed into the crack, and the green light of the tree spirit orb became even brighter, even beginning to actively challenge the black vine's restraints.
Meanwhile, A Ya's Spirit Gathering Network had collected enough Spirit Energy from the Spirit-Summoning Flower. Holding the green-glowing energy ball, she carefully walked to the Array Eye Tree: "The tree spirit needs replenishment, I need to send the energy ball into the crack!" Loran nodded, using the light of the key to open a small opening in the crack, A Ya quickly handed the energy ball in—as soon as the energy ball touched the tree spirit's light ball, it was like a drop of water merging into the ocean; the tree spirit's light ball instantly doubled in size, and the gray light of the black vine was suppressed by the green light, beginning to retreat little by little.
The third step, "Fusion of Array Energy," is activated. Loran and Lei Lin stand side by side before the Array Eye Tree. Lei Lin transforms back into human form, grasps Loran's hand, and places his other hand on the Array Eye Tree. The Golden Crystal Power spreads along the trunk, awakening the primordial spiritual energy deep within the Array Eye Tree. Loran, meanwhile, fully embeds the Origin Key into the crack. The key's pale blue light merges with the green glow of the tree spirit orb and Lei Lin's Golden Crystal Power, forming a three-colored interwoven energy pillar that spreads throughout the entire Ancient Wood Formation Array Eye Tree.
Wherever the energy pillar reached, tender green buds sprouted from the withered branches of ancient trees, the moss on the ground turned lush and green again, Spirit-Summoning Flower bloomed even more brilliantly. Under the impact of the three-colored energy, the black vines gradually lost their gray light and turned into a pile of withered branches, falling off from the cracks in the array's Array Eye Tree. When the last trace of turbid energy was expelled from the Ancient Wood Formation, the cracks in the Array Eye Tree began to heal, and a ball of tree spirit light slowly floated out, condensing into a human figure in mid-air—a girl wearing a green dress, her hair woven from vines, her eyes as bright as Spirit-Summoning Flower, she was the Ancient Tree Spirit.
"Thank you..." The tree spirit's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze. She floated lightly in front of Loran and Lei Lin, her fingertips glowing with a pale green light, leaving a small vine-like mark on each of their palms. "This is the ' Ancient Wood Spirit Language Seal,' which allows you to understand the language of all plants. If you encounter any plant spirits in need of help in the future, they will sense the mark's aura."
That night, the group set up camp in the center of the Ancient Wood Formation. The tree spirit sat by the campfire and told them the story of the Ancient Wood Formation: a thousand years ago, the Ancient Wood Formation was a gathering place for plant spirits. Later, due to an invasion of external turbid energy, most of the plant spirits fell into a deep sleep. Only she survived thanks to the protection of the Array Eye Tree, until she was awakened today. Lei Lin sat next to Loran, his hand always holding Loran's hand. The vine pattern on his palm touched Loran's mark, glowing faintly.
"Oh, right," the tree spirit suddenly remembered something, its eyes flickering slightly, "Deep in the Western Territory Sand Sea, there is a ' Sand Soul Tree,' the core of the spirit of desert plants. Recently, I sensed its spiritual energy was very weak, possibly due to interference from turbid energy..." A Mu immediately took out Crystal Words Fragment and marked the location of the Western Territory Sand Sea on it. "Looks like our next stop is the Sand Sea to find the Sand Soul Tree!"
As night deepened, Loran and Lei Lin sat beneath an ancient tree, its canopy adorned with glowing Spirit-Summoning Flower, resembling a starry sky. Lei Lin took out a Spirit-Summoning Flower ornament, formed from the Golden Crystal Power, and gently tucked it into Loran's hair. "Back in the Amethyst Bamboo Domain, I wanted to pick a flower for you, and now I finally have the chance." Loran's cheeks flushed slightly as she leaned against Lei Lin's shoulder, her fingertips tracing the vine-like markings on her palm. "From now on, no matter where we go—the desert or anywhere else—as long as I'm with you, I won't be afraid."
Lei Lin lowered his head and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead. The Golden Crystal Power in his palm intertwined with Loran's key light, forming a warm cocoon of light around them. The ancient trees in the distance swayed in the wind, making a soft rustling sound, as if blessing their bond.
The path of protection for the Youth Camp continues to extend into the Western Territory Sand Sea; the bond between Loran and Lei Lin grows stronger with each battle they fight side by side. And the Sand Soul Tree in the Western Territory Sand Sea awaits their redemption amidst the sandstorms.