CHAPTER 1004: CHAPTER 197: JOINING FORCES

The Dark Thicket entraps, the mud-like black soil covers the snow, brushed away by diligent Six-legged Monster.

Silence falls before the clearing in front of the log cabin.

Allen is stunned.

Ophelia oddly stares at Lu Li and the Mother of the Marsh.

The God of the Deep Sea manipulates forces to concentrate water droplets.

"My bloodline?"

Lu Li looks up calmly at the Mother of the Marsh shrouded in the feminine essence.

"Human nature... You call it that."

Puxiu sighs with relief, while the crimson gleam under Ophelia’s slit fades.

"This is the gift I bestow upon your offspring." Only the God of the Deep Sea lifts a smooth, solid, pearl-like pale red water droplet using pure water. "It will be blessed by the Ancient God."

"Uh... His Excellency the Sea God, I think what they mean by ’human nature’ is not referring to a child."

"Thank you for the gift of the Ancient Deity..."

The Mother of the Marsh performs ancient noble etiquette, receives the water droplet akin to a starry surge, threads appear at her fingertips twining the crystalline droplet, forming a necklace.

The ugly, plump insect moves to Lu Li, low as it emits a fluorescent elegant figure, and hangs the crafted necklace on his neck.

"This is the ’Grand Duke of Turalton’ you transferred."

"Allen... kingdom... proverb, Turalton... Grand Duke... facing... beloved... noble, gives the royal... precious... gift... to her."

Ophelia whispers the origin of the proverb.

If the Mother of the Marsh’s tombstone was not established there, perhaps She would discuss the twenty-four-year story with Lu Li, inquire about Lu Li’s experiences, curious about his youth. But now, Her divinity surpasses humanity.

"Friend... Divinity, tell me your intentions."

"We want to know the situation in the North Shadow Swamp." Lu Li’s attention shifts away from the necklace on his neck.

"North Shadow Swamp..."

The Mother of the Marsh slowly straightens and recalls telling about Her enemies: a group of trees.

No other enemies, only a group of rooting, sprouting, sprawling trees invading the Mother of the Marsh’s territory.

The tree roots Lu Li encountered were their attack. But the north coast is their northern border, weak in defense. If it’s the adjoining conflict zone engulfing the Mother of the Marsh, they would experience the horror of the Twisted Jungle firsthand.

"They suddenly awoke twenty years ago, sprawling and growing, perhaps for some reason, you came because of this..."

"We are looking for something."

Lu Li did not elaborate further. A spirit, and the Ancient God whose power is lesser than the spirit, even though the Mother of the Marsh lost most of Her strength due to attacks over twenty years, She still held the power of the Evil God.

If She coveted the body of the Ancient God, although that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but—

"My remnant body lies in this place, young Alien God, are you willing to retrieve my remnant body for Me?" The God of the Deep Sea declares His intentions proudly.

"You should address ’you’ as ’thou’" The Mother of the Marsh corrects the God of the Deep Sea’s clumsy ancient tone.

"Thou..." The God of the Deep Sea follows her and recites.

The weak God of Evil teaches the once supreme Ancient God. Once the God of the Deep Sea masters this word, the Mother of the Marsh responds to His invitation: "I cannot withstand the power of that forest."

"Together, the power is stronger than handling it alone." Lu Li merely remarks.

The Mother of the Marsh contemplates briefly and accepts cooperation, just like the last time twenty-four years ago.

"... Please follow Me to the battlefield."

Due to the night’s descent, fluorescent plants frolic in the freezing swamp like spirits, following their advance, occasionally struggling to root in the frozen soil.

The clearing where the Mother of the Marsh resides is only three miles from the battlefield. It is Her frontline against erosion.

Before it is occupied.

Banyan Tree Guardian stands on the dark edge, in the pitch-black that fluorescent plants and oil lamps cannot illuminate, only the sound of the air being torn apart, and the intermittent sound of collapse.

Branches and tree roots are not fit for battle, but the Mother of the Marsh’s servants are even less suited.

Only Banyan Tree Guardian can barely withstand it, which is the reason He has endured for twenty years.

"Tomorrow this place will fall, retreat to the next defense line..."

The Mother of the Marsh’s words remind them of the Six-legged Monster caring for the Banyan Tree seen on the way.

This war is prolonged. But as it nears its end, the Mother of the Marsh’s defeat is imminent.

The battle cries from the darkness suddenly intensify, more fierce and frenzied, resounding like a thunderstorm.

"It senses My and your arrival..." The Mother of the Marsh whispers, as she and Lu Li retreat from the frontline, returning to the quiet clearing of the house.

The Mother of the Marsh invites them into Her house, not the right place for discourse in the cold outside.

From the wooden door of the Giant’s Gate in fairy tales, entering the house, bright and warm, it is as if they return to human civilization— if ignoring the ubiquitous tools inside the house, more convenient for the Mother of the Marsh.

The books Lilia brought back from the ruins of Shadow Town did not fill the corner bookshelves. The emblem symbolizing the Toyaragon Family is stamped on the most conspicuous wall.

"It... unlike Anna."

Entering the house, the Mother of the Marsh’s divinity fades, humanity emerges even more.

"Ophelia." Lu Li says.

In the glow of the oil lamp, they return to the topic.

The Twisted Jungle is clearly hard to deal with, at least not something they plus the Mother of the Marsh can match.

Hence the troubles arise.

They need to defeat that forest to retrieve the remnant body of the God of the Deep Sea.

But to retrieve the remnant body to defeat that forest.

"Let the flames... purify."

Ophelia still remembers the root’s fear when encountering lava.

"It holds the power of the Ancient God’s remnant body... Flames cannot burn the jungle."

The Mother of the Marsh’s eyes reflect the burning oil lamp, echoing Ophelia’s words.

"Then make it... hotter than flames."

...

Marsh Road.

The dirt road once dividing the southern and northern swamps has now been replaced by the impassable twisted tree canopies.

Hundred meters above ground, Lu Li, Ophelia, and the God of the Deep Sea are lifted by water. Ophelia’s charred arm stretches, blazing and bright, like molten blood cascading onto the forest below.

To destroy the twisted jungle with lava requires complete, capable of sweeping through the entire swamp burning.

Fire gradually unveiled, the sound of breaking the sky becoming clear, chaos emerges from the burning canopies—

And sudden attacks.

Out of nowhere, emerging as shadowy remnants, the roots shoot up from the Twisted Jungle, entangle Ophelia and the God of the Deep Sea, pulling them toward the ground.

Ophelia melts the roots, saves the God of the Deep Sea, and the reemerging water carries them, with Lu Li retreating to the edge.

"You are... desecrating... an Ancient God!"

Gazing at the forest below waving roots and extinguishing flames, the God of the Deep Sea murmurs angrily.

Failure comes abruptly, as if they were already prepared.

"You’re... mimicking me... speaking." Ophelia says.

"I apologize..."

The God of the Deep Sea mimics the Mother of the Marsh’s etiquette, slightly bowing.

Only Lu Li remains silent, pondering the brief, failed encounter.

All attacks of the Twisted Jungle bypassed him.