Chapter 120: Venomous Tree of Chaos
The treasury of the Aether-Wood Deer race was located in an isolated region at the center of the planet. Besides being secret, it had seven lines of defense. Beyond the seven lines, in the inner region, there were still 3 great barriers.
That was because there were three layers of treasures. In the first, weapons, pills, and other valuable items were stored in sealed buildings. In the second, there was an enormous circular medicinal field, where all kinds of things grew freely.
At the center of everything, there was a small region sealed by a new defensive inscription.
But this one... just by feeling it through the air from a distance, Priam was sure it was guarded ten times more securely than the other two places.
When they approached the barrier of the first place, Priam noticed dozens of senses secretly focused on him. Indeed, other Elders of that race were checking whether he was who he claimed to be, as well as whether he carried any spatial rings.
But, in fact, there was nothing wrong with him.
The Elder accompanying him had an emblem in hand. He drew out a little of the bloodline from his own body and placed it into the emblem. That was an extra security method, where only people of that race could use the emblem to enter those places.
It was almost impossible to force their way in. And even by stealing the emblem, for example, outsiders wouldn’t be able to invade. After all, it was impossible to properly manipulate a bloodline that wasn’t yours.
They quickly passed through the first region. Obviously, they didn’t enter the buildings, going straight to the medicinal field.
After opening the second entrance, the Elder said, bowing:
"Senior, please."
Priam wasn’t modest and walked ahead with wide steps. At the same time, he didn’t forget to remind him:
"You can’t move away from me, and always stay alert. I don’t care about a true reputation, but I don’t want false rumors spreading about me."
The Elder agreed, but an ironic smile appeared on his face... Think about it, who was this Senior? Even if he wanted to steal, without spatial rings, he wouldn’t be able to take anything.
When they entered the medicinal field, the Elder began pointing out what could be found in the different regions, as well as the approximate age of the best things.
As he spoke, this Elder’s face showed great pride.
Priam said indifferently. "Considering the size of your race, having a stock like this is very good."
The two walked slowly, and Priam pointed out a few herbs in which he felt high-level Yang power.
Some of the things he pointed out left the Elder surprised, because they were considered low-level. But Priam could see the potential of everything and knew better than anyone whether something was truly good.
The Elder harvested everything he pointed at and stored it in his own life ring.
Priam saw that ring and almost drooled. He had the Life Ring he had stolen from that young woman during the clan’s coming-of-age ceremony. But that life ring was defective and very fragile. Now, he was seeing a real one, capable of storing living things almost eternally.
After almost an hour, they arrived near the center of the medicinal field.
Priam took a deep breath and swallowed hard, turning toward the distorted region at the center of everything.
He felt...
A dense and extremely strong soul energy is leaking from inside there.
’This is the place... that divine child... the lives and sacrifices of countless members of my clan... everything is inside there.’ He thought, staring at the place.
The Elder saw the direction of Priam’s gaze and said:
"That is the most secret place of my race. But don’t worry, there are no medicinal herbs stored there. Everything is here in the field."
Priam nodded, then turned to the side.
Something caught his attention.
A still-distant tree that stood out. It looked like an oak tree from Earth, but... it was completely purple and emitted a dark and sinister aura. It was about ten meters tall, with strangely broad branches and leaves. The light around the tree even seemed to bend, refusing to touch it.
"That is the Venomous Tree of Chaos. It is exactly 3,678 years and 10 months old. Its oldest leaves are still preserved. Does Senior want some?" the Elder said solemnly.
Priam took a deep breath. He remembered having read only rumors about this Venomous Tree of Chaos. It was a true poisonous treasure. This plant possessed its own very aggressive consciousness and produced a terrifying poison in its leaves.
It was a poison that, upon making the slightest contact with the body of a living being, caused the victim to enter a deep coma. The target would die very slowly; it could take more than a day. Then, this tree would absorb the prey’s life and feed on it.
But, obviously, that Venomous Tree of Chaos was sealed by a simple inscription. Anyone could approach and remove its leaves without risk.
This poison, if administered correctly by someone skilled, could make the patient’s body enter a perfect state of relaxation and recovery. That made all medicines work hundreds of times faster and more efficiently.
"I didn’t expect you to have this, so much so that I didn’t even ask for it before. Great, just one leaf, exactly three thousand years old is enough." Priam spoke in a calm tone.
The Elder smiled awkwardly. How could he differentiate exactly three thousand years? But that figure could tell him perfectly which one it was.
The two approached the tree with slow steps. They stopped near the trunk, then Priam looked upward, calmly observing the leaves.
He took much longer than that Elder expected.
That was because...
Internally, Priam was reflecting on an extremely risky move.
He was already walking the line between suicide and great profit. Any tiny mistake, and he would be lost; his clan would suffer heavy retaliation as well.
But...
’Fuck it. Being a coward isn’t truly living!’
After several minutes, he pointed upward, toward a group of leaves almost at the top of the tree.
"Those in this region are between three thousand and three thousand one hundred years old. I want exactly that one at the tip of the branch; it has the correct age."
"Okay, I’ll go get it."
The Elder smiled as he spoke. Then, without any hesitation, he jumped to the nearest branch.
He began approaching, without realizing that he was distancing himself several meters from someone he shouldn’t.
In that second...
Priam moved his hand to the tree trunk.
His Pristine Primordial Core activated. A Magic Art inherited from his mother was used.
’Friend, you must be starving and furious after being sealed here for so long. I’m giving you a good meal, but enjoy it slowly, okay?’
Priam did exactly what his mother’s race was supposedly specialized in.
Communicating with nature.
Without waiting for an answer, he burned a little Ether, creating natural energy.
He transmitted it into the trunk, outside the Elder’s senses, who was already at the top of the tree, ten meters away.
The Elder extended his hand and grabbed the leaf... Until...
*PIERCE!*
Suddenly, a nearby branch of the tree moved on its own, like a sharp spear.
"AH!"
He only opened his mouth, letting the air out in a muffled scream, but in that same second, his entire appearance changed, gaining terrifying shades of purple. In the next instant, he closed his eyes... entering a deep and eternal coma.
Down below, Priam smiled excitedly.
Without wasting time, he jumped upward, where the Elder was impaled.
’A little cruel... it went in through the worst possible place.’ Priam mocked internally, seeing the Elder’s situation.
He quickly took his life ring, along with the emblem. Then, he thought of the system.
[Absorb?] [Yes / No]
He accepted and extended his hand. Small emerald-green points began to come out of the Elder’s body. It was his bloodline.
Priam removed a good amount of it while it still hadn’t been corrupted by the poison. Then he jumped from the highest branch, landing near the trunk.
He turned to that tree and waved with a smile.
He had given it only enough natural power for the tree to subtly move one branch, while still remaining sealed. That seal was very simple, because it didn’t need to be something complex; no one was crazy enough to play with such a dangerous tree.
This poison was perfect. If that Elder were killed directly, the race would definitely discover it very quickly. But now, he was still alive and completely out of combat.
Priam took a deep breath, turning back.
His eyes shone, staring at that secret place.
After gathering his courage, he moved with the wind as fast as he could.
In seconds, he arrived at the barrier.
He took out the Elder’s emblem and a little of his bloodline runes.
*Buzz*
The emblem vibrated subtly, the same way it had when the Elder opened the barriers before.
Priam didn’t hesitate, moving it forward until it touched the barrier.
As soon as it touched...
A hole opened in the barrier before him.
Priam swallowed hard.
Now that he was already riding the tiger, he couldn’t back down.
He stepped forward, crossing into a dark environment in shades of red.