Chapter Summaries

Tao Qiu confronted the banyan tree that had abducted Tao Yuan and learned why it wanted to eat him. The banyan tree revealed its history and explained why sick mutant monsters had abruptly retreated from hunting humans, leaving Tao Qiu with more questions about the illness and its effects.

• Tao Qiu deduced that the greenhouse and its human allies were in Shen Family territory, then found the banyan tree waiting for him.
• The banyan tree gave Tao Qiu a video showing Tao Yuan safe with Lou Yu, and said it planned to eat Tao Qiu because its illness had reached a late stage.
• Tao Qiu questioned why the banyan tree could still sense and absorb energy from his crops despite its illness.
• The banyan tree recounted how its unique ability had once made it the most powerful mutant monster in the Dark Forest, and said the Creator's gift had also brought it a fatal illness.
• The banyan tree explained that many high-level mutant monsters had fallen ill decades earlier and had retreated from humans because their illness made them feel instinctive aversion toward human beings.

The Banyan Tree revealed that it had developed the Awakening Reagent to drag humanity into the same deadly fate as mutated monsters, then attacked Tao Qiu to consume him and cure its illness. As Tao Qiu struggled to escape its greenhouse, the Shen Family Head arrived with soldiers and ability users, claiming he had planted listening devices in the botanical garden.

• The Banyan Tree explained that illness killed powerful mutated monsters and that eating humans accelerated their decline, then admitted it had created the Awakening Reagent to make humans suffer the same fate.
• The Banyan Tree tried to eat Tao Qiu, but he tore free, used his wings to evade its roots, and flew toward the greenhouse entrance.
• The Banyan Tree revealed that a potent floral scent in the greenhouse was sedating Tao Qiu, and its roots wounded him as he neared the exit.
• The glass doors exploded, bringing the Shen Family Head and a force of soldiers and ability users to the entrance.
• The Shen Family Head told the Banyan Tree that he had planted listening devices throughout the botanical garden after it left.

The banyan tree escaped the Shen Family’s attack while Central Base erupted into a rebellion it had helped orchestrate. As it fled with Tao Qiu, Lou Yu and Third Cub spotted them and pursued in a military vehicle.

• The Shen Family Head revealed that he had uncovered Tao Qiu and the banyan tree’s deception, but the banyan tree announced that it had anticipated his plans and explosions began across Central Base.
• Tao Qiu tried to flee, but the banyan tree’s roots caught him as the Shen Family Head ordered the greenhouse bombarded; the banyan tree then killed the Shen Family Head from underground.
• The banyan tree explained that it had secretly organized the opposition and arranged for the white spiders to be stolen, then fled with Tao Qiu through the chaos.
• Tao Qiu shouted to the arriving Shen Family members that the banyan tree was there, and Eldest Young Master Shen and Seventh Miss Shen shielded it while the family split over how to respond.
• The banyan tree escaped into the ruined city with Tao Qiu, where they heard Third Cub call out and saw Lou Yu and Third Cub pursuing them in a military vehicle.

Lou Yu wounded the Banyan Tree while it used Tao Qiu as a shield and escaped with him to the ruins of an old base. There, the Banyan Tree revealed how it had deceived researchers and destroyed the base, while Tao Qiu realized it was recovering its strength and prepared to exploit its ignorance of his self-healing ability.

• The Banyan Tree held the injured Tao Qiu in front of itself, forcing Lou Yu to hesitate until Tao Qiu shouted and Lou Yu struck with his ability; the Banyan Tree shielded Tao Qiu with its roots and fled into an alley.
• After Tao Qiu woke, the Banyan Tree carried him into the wilderness and stopped at the ruins of a small base where researchers had once developed the Awakening Reagent.
• The Banyan Tree confessed that it had infiltrated the research team, guided its work on the Awakening Reagent, and opened the gates to mutant monsters after its deception was discovered.
• The Banyan Tree explained that it had later helped the Shen Family and deceived the Central Base, then said it had brought Tao Qiu to the ruins to kill and eat him.
• Tao Qiu recognized that the injured Banyan Tree was using their conversation to recover, and revealed that it did not know he had a powerful self-healing ability.

Tao Qiu captured the weakened Banyan Tree and reunited with Lou Yu and their cubs. Tao Qiu and Lou Yu destroyed the Banyan Tree, then watched its remains scatter like fireworks.

• Tao Qiu caught the Banyan Tree before it could escape underground and subdued it among the city ruins.
• Tao Qiu wrapped the Banyan Tree in its own roots and flew back toward Yong'an Base.
• Lou Yu and the three cubs found Tao Qiu, and the cubs excitedly celebrated his safe return.
• Lou Yu hugged Tao Qiu, then learned that Tao Qiu had captured the Banyan Tree.
• Tao Qiu kicked the Banyan Tree into the air, and Lou Yu blasted it into sparks as the cubs watched.