Apocalypse - Evil Shelter System

"Is this the Tree of Life?" Addison's eyes sparkled with fervor.

The tree looked extremely ordinary, like a common weed, but Addison knew that this tree was the essence of the energy contained within the entire cave. He even suspected that the Tree of Life was nurtured by the spiritual energy of the entire mountain range, making it incredibly valuable.

"Whoosh!"

Addison placed his palm on the Tree of Life, and in an instant, a tremendous surge of soul power flowed into the tree. The seemingly ordinary Tree of Life immediately radiated a brilliant golden light.

Addison's eyes were filled with zeal as he exerted all his strength to uproot the Tree of Life.

"Buzz~"

The trunk of the Tree of Life trembled, and a dense wave of energy emanated from it, quickly filling the space.

"Gulp!"

Feeling the overwhelming energy, Addison couldn't help but swallow. Although this energy was not as potent as the Elven Sacred Spring, it far exceeded the cultivation speed of ordinary people. For warriors, it was a dream come true.

Alex's eyes also turned red with greed as he gazed at the Tree of Life, but he remained rational, knowing that his task was to protect the tree.

"Swish!"

Suddenly, the branches of the Tree of Life shot out like arrows, piercing through Alex's chest in an instant.

"Ah!"

Alex screamed, staggering a few steps and almost falling to the ground.

The branches of the Tree of Life had completely penetrated Alex's body. A constant stream of life force flowed from the branches into Alex, nourishing his nearly shattered bones, muscles, and meridians.

These life forces seemed to have a will of their own. Not only did they nourish Alex's body, but they also aggressively surged through his mind, cleansing his mental energy.

As the life force continued to flow, Alex's face gradually regained its color, and his wounds healed at a visible rate. Within a few minutes, Alex had regained his mobility. He raised his hand, clenched his fist, and felt the surging true essence within him, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"My power should now be at the early ninth tier, just a step away from advancing to mid-ninth tier."

Addison also looked at Alex in astonishment. She clearly hadn't expected Alex's injuries to heal in the blink of an eye and for him to become even stronger. It was nothing short of a miracle in the medical world.

"Congratulations, Brother Xiao," Addison said with a smile.

Alex chuckled lightly, "Thank you. If you hadn't blocked the Ice-Horned Python's attack earlier, I would have perished."

Addison shook her head and smiled noncommittally. Then she approached the Tree of Life, slowly placing her hand on its trunk, allowing a trace of mental energy to seep in.

The Tree of Life emitted a gentle glow, and this light flowed through the trunk into Addison's body, giving her a sense of comfort.

Addison closed her eyes, quietly savoring the gentle energy.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, a loud noise came from ahead.

Addison opened her eyes and looked forward. A massive rock had crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Someone got here before us," Alex frowned.

Their steps quickened in unison, and moments later, they abruptly halted. Before them lay three skeletons on the ground.

Among the three skeletons, one was dark in color while the other two were gray. Judging by the material of their clothing, they appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old.

"They are from the Mercenary Guild," Addison remarked after scanning the skeletons and confirming their identities.

"Mercenary Guild members died here? No wonder we didn't encounter anyone from the guild when we entered the ruins. They were killed," Alex frowned, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.

Addison nodded and then asked, "Do you know anyone from the Mercenary Guild?"

"Yes, I once saved a mercenary captain, so they owe me a favor. They were supposed to assist me in this expedition into the ruins. I didn't expect these people to die here; it must be the work of the killer," Alex said in a serious tone.

"You're quite lucky," Addison smiled slightly. He focused his mind, allowing a trace of mental energy to flow into the Tree of Life, and then withdrew it.

Addison turned to Alex, "Brother Xiao, how is your body holding up?"

Alex rubbed his nose and smiled awkwardly, "Sorry, I'm still not fully accustomed to this energy."

Addison nodded, "Once you're accustomed to it, we should leave here quickly."

"Alright." Alex agreed, then his gaze fell on the Tree of Life as he murmured, "The energy of this Tree of Life is immense. We need to leave quickly, or it will attract trouble."

Addison nodded in agreement, "Let's withdraw for now!"

Before the words were fully spoken, the two figures vanished into the forest like shadows...

"Hmm?"

Shortly after Addison and Alex left, a figure appeared. He looked around and finally fixed his gaze on the Tree of Life, "There's still a Tree of Life left!"

The man was clad in animal skins, carrying a longbow on his back and wielding a spiked club. Standing nearly eight feet tall, his physique was robust and muscular, exuding a menacing aura.

"Heh heh, looks like this trip won't be boring!" The man grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth. He suddenly leaped up, grabbing the slender trunk of the Tree of Life.

With a powerful tug, he forcefully tore the trunk down. Then, hoisting the trunk onto his shoulder, he leaped again and disappeared into the forest...

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, a thousand meters away, a green figure sped through the trees. His toes lightly tapped the treetops, propelling him far with each step, leaving clear footprints in his wake.

On his shoulder perched a small, snow-white, hairless beast, lazily squinting its eyes in a drowsy manner.

Suddenly, the small beast opened its large, watery eyes, filled with excitement.

"Chirp~"

With a sharp cry, the small beast's body rapidly expanded, releasing an incredibly intimidating aura. In an instant, it grew to a hundred feet in length, its wings spreading to cover the sky.

Suspended in the air, the beast's form was like a sculpture of white jade, crystal clear and transparent. A faint golden glow seemed to shimmer on its feathers, making it look majestic and imposing.

It opened its beak and spewed a golden thread, which wrapped around a sturdy branch. With a fierce pull, it yanked the branch backward.