CHAPTER 79 — The Wrath of a World Beast
The Primordial Root Labyrinth shook as if waking from an ancient slumber.
Roots peeled away from the walls, spiraling into grotesque shapes—serpents of wood and sinew, twisting with primal intent.
The true heart of the Titan Vine awakened.
Mu grabbed Lin's arm.
"This pressure—it's like the whole world is pushing down on us!"
Aurora appeared at Lin's shoulder, her expression uncharacteristically tense.
"This is no illusion.
This is the Titan Vine's true form.
A world beast rarely shows itself."
Bai grinned, though exhaustion lined his face.
"Good. Then we came all this way for the real deal."
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1. The Titan Vine Reveals Itself
The chamber split open further, roots tearing through the floor and ceiling.
The heart—once a compact sphere—rose and unfolded like a blooming flower, revealing a radiant emerald core the size of a house.
From the core sprouted a serpentine body woven of countless vines and roots.
Eyes of pure nature-force opened—two massive glowing emerald orbs staring straight into Lin's soul.
Wen shivered violently.
"I feel like… it's reading my insides."
Aurora whispered:
"No.
It's judging you."
Symbols formed in the air, glowing green:
> "LEAVE, TRIBULATION-CHILD.
THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING."
Lin tightened his grip on his spear.
"We only need a small part of your heart.
Enough to save one man."
The ground shook violently.
> "MY HEART IS MY LIFE.
I WILL NOT DIE FOR YOU."
Lightning flickered around Lin's form.
"Then we'll earn it."
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2. Phase One — Crushing Roots
The Titan Vine struck instantly.
WHOOSH—CRACK—!!!
Thick roots lashed from every direction.
Bai met one strike head-on, spear trembling under the force.
He staggered back several steps, blood dripping from his arm.
"Lin—these things hit harder than a Nascent Soul elder!"
Sheng narrowly dodged a whip-like root, sparks flying from his sword as he parried.
Mu used her flame to burn encroaching vines, but new ones sprouted instantly.
Wen set down formation flags, anchoring the ground so they weren't swept away.
The air vibrated with raw nature power.
Aurora shouted:
"Don't aim for the big body—it's a distraction!
The heart still hides the true core!"
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3. Phase Two — Poison Spores
The Titan Vine pulsed—
A cloud of shimmering green dust burst outward.
SZZZZT—!!!
Sheng gasped and covered his nose.
"This poison—it's melting my qi barrier!"
Mu slammed her cauldron into the ground.
Tribulation-enhanced flame erupted, burning through the spores with roaring violet-gold fire.
Aurora nodded approvingly.
"Good girl.
This poison has liquefied Golden Core elders.
Keep burning."
Mu gritted her teeth and poured out more qi.
"I won't let anyone die!"
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4. Phase Three — Devouring Maw
A massive maw opened in the vine-beast's chest—
lined with interlocking blade-like roots drenched in green corrosive sap.
It lunged at Lin.
"Move!" Bai shouted.
But Lin didn't run.
Lightning formed a barrier around him as he thrust Solar Lance, holding the maw back with sheer force.
KRRRRRAAAAAAK—!!!
The impact cracked the ground beneath them.
Lin's arm bled.
His muscles screamed.
But he held firm.
Aurora yelled:
"Lin! Its regeneration is too fast! You must strike the origin! The heart-root!"
Lin's eyes hardened.
"Then we distract it."
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5. The Group's Desperate Stand
"Bai! Hold its left flank!"
"On it!"
Bai roared, slamming into a mass of roots with reckless courage.
"Mu! Burn the spores!"
Mu unleashed a swirling storm of violet-gold flame, clearing the poison cloud and searing dozens of vines.
"Wen! Anchor us!"
Wen dropped three formation flags at once.
THUD—THUD—THUD—!!!
A stabilizing dome formed, allowing Lin a few seconds of secure footing.
"Sheng! Cut anything that reaches me!"
Sheng nodded with fierce determination.
"Count on me!"
Lin gathered his strength.
---
6. Lin's Revelation — Understanding the Titan Vine
As the Titan Vine roared, Lin activated his dual-star vision.
He saw:
Its ancient loneliness
Centuries of attackers
Cultivators who once made vows of peace
Those who promised to take only fragments… then took everything
Its fear of extinction
Lin whispered:
"You're not evil…
Just afraid."
The Titan Vine froze.
For a single heartbeat, its attacks slowed.
But then memories of betrayal fueled its wrath.
> "I WILL NOT BE TRICKED AGAIN."
Lin narrowed his eyes.
"Then I'll show you something different."
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7. Lin Creates an Opening
Lightning surged around him.
Dual-star qi spiraled.
"Everyone—cover me!"
Bai charged, smashing his spear into a wall of roots.
Mu created a blazing firewall.
Wen reinforced the dome.
Sheng cut through roots blocking Lin's path.
Lin sprinted across the shifting roots—
Leapt—
Twisted mid-air—
And triggered his ultimate technique:
> Solar Nova Strike!
Lightning and solar qi spiraled together—
forming a miniature sun at his spear's tip.
Aurora's jaw dropped.
"Oh, that's going to hurt."
Lin struck the heart-root—
KAAAA-BOOOOOOOM!!!
The chamber exploded in light.
The Titan Vine shrieked—its entire massive body convulsing.
A gaping wound opened in the heart-sphere, revealing the emerald core within.
---
8. Recognition of Worth
The Titan Vine didn't strike again.
Instead…
It drew back.
Exhausted.
Wounded.
But… acknowledging.
Symbols formed:
> "YOU… HAVE EARNED…
THE RIGHT TO TAKE A FRAGMENT…"
A glowing shard broke off the core, floating into Lin's hands.
Mu gasped.
"That's… the Titan Vine Heart Fragment!"
Bai grinned.
"Haha! We did it!"
But then—
The chamber pulsed again.
More symbols formed.
Aurora's eyes widened.
"Oh… now that is unexpected."
---
9. Dual Reward — Fragment and Sapling
Roots curled protectively around a second object—
a tiny, glowing green seedling pulsing with embryonic life.
The Titan Vine spoke through symbols:
> "TAKE ALSO THIS SAPLING.
A CHILD OF MY ESSENCE.
NURTURE IT, AND A NEW CYCLE BEGINS."
Lin's breath caught.
"A sapling… meant to grow into a Titan Vine?"
Aurora stared in awe.
"This is… a world-rank treasure.
A true life-source seed.
A gift only granted to those a world beast considers worthy heirs."
Lin bowed respectfully.
"I'll protect it.
And I'll help it grow."
The sapling floated into his palm, warmth blooming through his arm.
Inside his inner Earth, the world trembled—
as though eagerly preparing a place for new life to take root.
Mu whispered:
"A sapling with its own will…
In Lin's inner world…
This could create a complete life cycle.
A real ecosystem…"
Wen nodded.
"It means Lin's world can grow infinitely."
Sheng wiped his eyes, overwhelmed.
"This is… more than victory."
Aurora smirked.
"Heh. My master would have envied you.
You earned the respect of a world beast."
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10. Final Warning
The Titan Vine pulsed one last time, its voice deep and resonant.
> "GO.
BUT KNOW THIS—
OTHERS HAVE FELT YOUR TRIBULATION.
THEY COME FOR YOU."
The chamber trembled ominously.
Mu paled.
Bai tightened his grip on his spear.
Aurora scowled.
"Well. That's our cue to leave."
Lin turned, fragment and sapling in hand.
Lightning crackled behind his eyes.
"Then let them come."
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