Chapter 959 - 129: The Fantastical Distribution and Numerous Divisions of Black Pine Forest (Part 2)
For example, the Sky Titan is located northeast of the Griffin Forest, more than 1500 miles away, and there’s a Sky Griffin nest on a cliff between them. Southeast of the Griffin nest, there’s a Spring of Life, where a Tata Khan lurks around. This is one of the Yellow Path Giant Beast, a massive creature that fell into the Old World from other realms. In the Jade Kingdom of another world, some human tribes use it as a mount. An adult Tata Khan is larger than a Wind Vulture, with hard shells and many chitinous legs. Their heads are spade-shaped, with huge antlers, powerful mouthparts, and a large number of compound eyes.
Also, this map marked many terrifying monster nests, such as the Chicken Serpent Beast nest located on a mountain not far from the Sky Titan’s feet.
The Sage used secretive language to describe this beast vividly: if your journey leads you to the entrance of a rocky cave, and the rocks on either side seem like extremely frightened warriors, I urge you to turn back immediately. This must be the territory of the Chicken Serpent Beasts. The origin of these creatures is completely baffling to me; they are terrifying hybrids of birds and snakes, surely corrupted by ancient evil forces long ago. The comforting part is that they usually dwell in their caves and appear to prefer eating injured animals or carrion. However, they can suddenly become fiercely aggressive, frighteningly so. My guard Stig died because of this, intruding into the Chicken Serpent Beast’s lair while seeking shelter.
The Chicken Serpent Beast’s beak is incredibly sharp, their claws imbued with evil forces, but none of these are their true weapon. Only those who meet their demise at its hands can truly realize this—encountering a Chicken Serpent Beast’s gaze makes a creature’s body distort with terrible energy, ultimately turning completely to stone. This transformation is quite horrifying and begins with just a brief glance; as the beast savagely began attacking my guard, I saw its reflection for just about a second in the moonlit water. My two toes turned to granite. Some Mages believe that those cursed by the Chicken Serpent Beast are not truly dead, even as statues they can continue to think. These creatures have chaotic diets, with eating habits both cruel and terrifying, yet they can devour stones as easily as they consume flesh, indeed a peculiar creature in some respects.
Besides these, the Black Forest also contains precious trees and magical resources that the Sage marked out, such as the Valley of Memory, the Gold Silver Tree, the Wishing Forest, the ruins of the Elf Altar, the Valley of Despair, among others.
The one that most fits Su Li’s requirements is the Gold Silver Tree. It’s in the center of the Black Pine Forest, a towering ancient tree with two grand coniferous forests covered in moss. Its dense canopy blocks sunlight, but the metal threads on its bark ensure the forest is never completely dark. At night, the moonlight and torchlight reflect off the enormous trunk, creating eerie flashes and illusions.
It produces various precious treasures such as Golden Thread, Silver Moon Fruit, and strands of the Magic Net! It’s a powerful Extraordinary Spirit Tree capable of binding all creature magic and divine magic upon it. When the Elves were at their peak, just standing under this tree granted nearly endless magic, capable of reducing any intruder to dust.
However, with the Elves’ retreat, this tree has lost its magic supply and may soon die out.
Unfortunately, its scale is too vast, with its size blocking out the sky, making it impossible for Su Li to take it back. Even exhausting all the power of Hesse Territory, the ends of its roots wouldn’t be found.
Su Li wasn’t overly ambitious; his goal was clear, targeting the location marked "Sleeping Giant" on the map. To communicate with this giant, Su Li dispatched Alfred, the Grand Leader of the Arrow of Light Knight Order, along with the Half-Elf Hero Ashfield, Wild Beast Mage Beastman Calamity Star Grondahl, and Tal Church Shepherd Leader Lunadeshan.
They all rode forest creatures like the Giant Eagle and Giant Shepherd Deer, highly skilled at traversing the forest. Nayadalin also brought two attendants, joining them in heading to this giant’s place of slumber.
Hoping to contact this last living Sky Titan and discuss bygone days or secrets within the forest.
A total of seven people, the team isn’t large. Bringing a large team is pointless as after entering this forest, they must travel thousands of miles, which truly delves into the Black Pine Forest’s depths, filled with dangers and monsters. If their presence is exposed, even an army entering would be trapped and ultimately killed by monsters attacking from all directions.
So instead, they opt for a small, streamlined team, to stealthily infiltrate past.
After sending off this team, Su Li felt enveloped in a farewell atmosphere for the coming period.
That evening the small streamlined team was sent off. The next morning, Su Li awoke early to host a grand farewell ceremony, seeing off a territorially unprecedentedly large military force!
Handsome Gilles and Corona Knight Order Grand Leader Constantine, the two Champion Knights, commanding over five thousand elite infantry and cavalry departed from Heisen City, officially heading to Marle Castle, participating in the Human Empire’s Holy Great Expedition!