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Chapter 240: Exploring the Primitive Forest

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone exchanged glances, seemingly unsure how to respond, especially since the Blue-haired Girl’s description was exceedingly ambiguous.

In the end, seeing that Miss White Fox showed no intention of speaking up, the Soul hesitated for a moment before asking again.

“Miss Tilysha, regardless of how you heard the plants speaking, what do you mean by ‘something underground is changing’?”

“Uh, even if you ask me, I’m just repeating what I heard…”

“Could it be the Ley Lines?”

The one who suddenly posed this question, sounding both uncertain and oddly assertive, was the Ferryman, the oldest and usually the quietest of the Grim Reaper’s Scythe team.

He always appeared in the same unchanging outfit of a raindrop cloak and hat, at least that’s how Miss Vilyric saw him every time, as if this guy’s clothes possessed some kind of automatic cleaning ability.

With someone who rarely spoke chiming in at a critical moment, he naturally grabbed everyone’s attention, but upon meeting their gazes, the Ferryman merely muttered that one line to himself before falling silent again, showing no intent to continue the discussion.

The Soul, already used to his manner, leaned back in contemplation.

“Ley Lines… Hmm, that does make some sense. If what Miss Tilysha described is true, and something underground is endangering the life and growth of these trees, then the most likely explanation could be the energy exchange that flows like a blood vessel deep beneath the earth.”

“But the strange creatures and terrifying things are…”

Miss Tilysha carefully proposed a guess.

“Could it be a Demon?”

The Gray-clothed Swordsman immediately dismissed that notion.

“Highly unlikely. Although Demons are invaders, they follow a certain principle—they see this world merely as a hunting ground for energy or a farm for food, and they rarely cause direct destruction to the world itself.”

“Moreover, at present, the majority of the Demons’ focus should be on the war in the Eastern Province of Fran against the Holy Kingdom; they shouldn’t have the time or energy to concoct strange plots in a rear area like this.”

“What’s more critical is that, as invaders from another world, Demons are repelled by our world. The Ley Lines, being the blood vessels of the world, aren’t defenseless. If a rejected creature approaches them, it will face a fierce backlash from the world’s own power, which is far more frightening than mere suppression.”

“Eh… Is that so?”

“Yes, the Merchant Association’s secret texts detail this aspect, so it shouldn’t be wrong.”

After several fruitless discussions, naturally, the group turned their gazes toward the most powerful individual, the one with the most say in the group—Miss White Fox.

However, Miss Vilyric did not respond to their gazes. She merely exchanged a look with her pet before directing her attention to a certain area deep within the primitive forest.

“In that case, it does seem like something strange is at play.”

“Master… Miss Xī, do you want to take a look?”

“Of course, we came here precisely to search for any unusual curiosities, besides…”

Miss White Fox turned her head and waved to a certain pink-haired loli.

“Eudora, come over here.”

“Oh!”

Taking the soft, delicate little hand of the Loli, Miss Vilyric nodded at the few capable adults behind her and then voluntarily parted the grass, leading the way forward.

As they moved ahead.

The reason this is called a primitive forest is that most of its areas haven’t been developed by civilization, meaning there’s hardly anything that could be called a “path.”

All around, towering ancient trees filled the view, their dense canopies nearly obscuring the light, casting everything nearby into a somewhat dim and damp ambiance.

It was currently the season transitioning from spring to summer in the Holy Kingdom, the most humid time of the year when biological activity was at its peak.

Snakes, insects, and pests naturally became the foremost dangers to be wary of while exploring the primitive forest. Many of the creatures here could be venomous, and if an ordinary person were unfortunate enough to be bitten and didn’t receive timely treatment, they could very well meet their end here.

Countless mosquitoes and similar pests that flourish in the primitive forest became a tiresome nuisance.

Fortunately, none of them were ordinary individuals; no ordinary critters dared to approach, even if the Little Dragon Daughter didn’t emit her unique passive skill, Dragon Might, the faint aura of pure-blood dragon essence was enough to make most wild animals and ignorant pests keep their distance.

Of course, there are always exceptions.

“Be careful!”

A pale blue shadow suddenly darted out from the thick shade of a towering tree, accompanied by the urgent warning of the Gray-clothed Swordsman, heading straight for the exposed neck of the White Fox Girl!

“Thud.”

With astonishing speed far exceeding that of the attacking creature, her slender white hand swiftly intercepted it, gripping it tightly in her palm.

A slight contraction later.

“Hiss!”

The tiny blue snake, no thicker than two fingers and no longer than a meter, began to writhe violently, letting out a pitiful cry.

However, this unknown creature seemed unusually ferocious. Little Dragon Daughter’s temporary restraint seemed to provoke its innate savagery even more.

In an instant, its front end expanded like a stretched rubber band, revealing a massive mouth wider than its body, and amidst shrieks of surprise from the Blue-haired Girl, it lunged at Xiao Guang’s wrist with its menacing fangs!

Yet, the dragon merely curled her lip in disdain and let the creature bite down.

“Clang!”

With a sound akin to blades clashing, the snake’s pointed fangs were immediately sent flying, embedding themselves in a nearby tree, while the tiny blue snake spewed blood from its broken fangs, writhing even more violently!

“Hmph, ungrateful pest.”

“Squish!”

With another flex of her fingers, she twisted the creature’s body into a form resembling a child’s play with modeling clay, her dragon power instantly turning its insides into mush, leaving it no chance to resist before it perished. Finally, Xiao Guang disdainfully tossed the snake aside and dusted off her unscathed white hand.

“Are you alright?”

Glimpsing at the dragon lady who seemed to neglect the unfamiliar title, Miss Vilyric shook her head, feeling somewhat helpless.

“It’s fine; thankfully, you acted in time.”

“Miss Xī!”

Only then did the others snap out of their shock from the lightning-fast attack and counterattack, quickly approaching the White Fox Girl, while the Soul looked at the deformed corpse of the monstrous snake on the ground with lingering fear.

Not only surprised by the speed and ferocity of the snake but also the terrifying strength finally revealed by the blonde girl named Xiao Guang, who had almost never shown her hand until now.

He clearly saw that Miss Xiao Guang had directly shattered the monster’s strongest and most robust venomous fangs with her unarmored flesh, and it appeared she wasn’t wearing any magic artifacts either—she simply took it on with her skin.

If he didn’t know better, he would’ve thought she was some kind of mechanical doll.

First, there was Miss Tilysha with her fantastic ability to understand the trees, and now Miss Xiao Guang with such overwhelming physical prowess…

Like attracts like, indeed.

“Alright, no need to make such a big fuss; it’s just a little snake.”

The Soul could only offer a wry smile at the calm demeanor of Miss White Fox, who didn’t even blink.

“If I’m not mistaken, that little snake is a Shadow Royal Snake, at least a Level 4 danger magical beast, incredibly fast. Even a legendary-level powerhouse bitten unexpectedly would find it hard to come out unscathed.”

“For an ordinary person without special countermeasures, if the venom spreads, they’d turn to puddles of goo in just a few seconds. It’s one of the top ten most aggressive and toxic snakes, and it’s likely only found in this primitive jungle.”

“Okay, okay, we get it, it’s formidable!”