I STACK ATTRIBUTES IN THE APOCALYPSE -MyOwnEdit-

"Multi-level marketing" was an outdated concept. Even a homebody like Lu Ming could easily see through such a flimsy ploy. Attempting to deceive him with such tactics was a fool's errand.

The Mother Tree wasn't surprised by his reaction. This had been a test, a way to gauge Lu Ming's response.

It sensed something peculiar about him. When dealing with an abnormal powerhouse, one had to resort to unconventional methods. Perhaps tactics that wouldn't work on ordinary people might prove effective on a lunatic.

With the negotiation having crumbled, there was nothing left to say.

Lu Ming, driven by the desire for a peaceful existence, had no choice but to fight.

The Mother Tree, on the other hand, was determined to obtain Lu Ming's genetic material and the energy contained within his body. It wouldn't rest until it achieved its goal.

There was no deep-seated hatred between them. It was simply a matter of their positions on the ecological chain. As the two strongest beings in Nanxiang City, a clash was inevitable to establish dominance.

In a flash, Lu Ming sprang forward, charging like a bull towards the Blood Flesh Mother Tree in the distance.

At the same moment, a mass of roots burst from the fungal carpet beneath Lu Ming's feet, surging towards him like a relentless tide.

Lu Ming had assumed that the Blood Flesh Mother Tree relied solely on the humanoid monsters it spawned.

However, in their initial clash, Lu Ming quickly discovered that the Blood Flesh Mother Tree's true strength lay in its colossal main body.

Its branches, like sharp sabers and swords, were both strong and agile. They were covered in dense barbs that glowed with a faint, ominous red light, hinting at a potent poison. Lu Ming wasn't eager to test the lethality of these barbs firsthand.

His battle saber danced like a butterfly, unleashing a flurry of sword qi that sliced through the air. The sword qi was deadly, cutting through the Mother Tree's root system with ease.

However, Lu Ming sensed that the root system's defenses were even tougher than those of the Tier 5 Ent, Model Gris Klass. This realization forced him to expend more energy with each strike, gradually draining his stamina.

And there were simply too many roots.

From above, Lu Ming appeared to be trapped in a dense thicket of reeds that towered over him. His entire body was submerged in the tangled mass of roots, his presence revealed only by the occasional flash of sword qi and the undulating movement of the vegetation.

Normally, a thousand-meter distance was trivial for Lu Ming, easily covered in a few powerful leaps. But the Mother Tree's relentless assault turned that distance into a seemingly endless obstacle course.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash of sword qi, even larger and more powerful than before, erupted from the heart of the root maze.

Lu Ming, with a mighty slash of his saber, cleaved through the tangle of roots that had ensnared him.

He then propelled himself upwards, his powerful legs launching him into the air like a rocket. In mid-air, Lu Ming defied gravity, seemingly walking on nothingness. The relentless roots pursued him, but the oppressive weight he had felt on the ground was significantly diminished.

A series of sonic booms echoed through the air as Lu Ming continued his aerial assault, swiftly closing the distance to the Mother Tree's main body.

Three steps.

It took only three gravity-defying strides for Lu Ming to reach the base of the colossal tree.

"As expected..." the human heads on the Mother Tree murmured in unison.

Lu Ming's reputation as the strongest in Nanxiang City preceded him. The Blood Flesh Mother Tree hadn't anticipated its roots to hinder him for long.

But it didn't matter.

Under the watchful gaze of its countless heads, Lu Ming suddenly drew his saber and swung.

An even more potent and ferocious sword qi erupted from the blade, slicing through the air and striking the Mother Tree's trunk directly.

A deafening ripping sound filled the air.

The battle saber ripped into the trunk of the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, and a shockwave of sword qi erupted from within, blasting a gaping hole three meters wide in the tree's flesh.

Boom!

Another strike.

Lu Ming's swordsmanship was a blur, each swing faster than the last. He hammered away at the tree trunk like a relentless machine, carving a deep, ten-meter pit into its heartwood.

But...

"Is it working?" The countless heads on the Mother Tree chorused, their voices filled with mocking amusement.

Within the freshly carved pit, a red substance writhed and pulsed. In a matter of seconds, it had repaired most of the damage inflicted upon the Mother Tree.

Lu Ming's brow furrowed in frustration.

He continued his assault, but the Mother Tree merely chuckled.

"Don't waste your energy," it taunted.

"Truthfully," the Blood Flesh Mother Tree continued, its voice dripping with condescension, "my form is quite specialized. Besides creating monsters, my only offensive capability lies in my roots."

In essence, the Mother Tree's main body had a single attack method: ensnaring and constricting with its vast network of roots.

It was undeniably powerful, but also predictable and limited.

"However," the Mother Tree admitted, "I do agree with one of your notions: the pursuit of security. All living beings crave it."

"My mobility is extremely limited," it explained. "Therefore, I've invested most of my energy into defense and self-healing."

The Blood Flesh Mother Tree's defensive capabilities were indeed exceptional. Its trunk was even more resilient than its roots, which themselves were tougher than a Tier 5 creature.

But defense alone wasn't enough.

The Mother Tree's regenerative abilities were truly remarkable.

It recalled the time when Chang Yi, freshly Awakened, had challenged it. Back then, the Mother Tree was still primitive, lacking intelligence, and its powers were far weaker than they were now.

Even so, it had effortlessly endured Chang Yi's relentless attacks for an entire hour.

This was the result of prioritizing self-preservation, of channeling its energy into resilience and regeneration.

Lu Ming, exhausted, paused his relentless assault after delivering another 888 strikes. He watched in frustration as the deep gashes on the tree trunk seamlessly healed, leaving no trace of his efforts.

Its regenerative capacity rivaled that of the Tier 5 Ents, Model Gris Klass!

"So, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?" The Mother Tree taunted, its voice dripping with mockery. "Show me again!"

It continued, its tone dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, I see. Your superpower relies on training to increase your strength. You don't possess any long-range offensive abilities! Could that sword qi be your strongest attack? Surely not!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," it mocked. "It seems there's nothing you can do to me."

Lu Ming was indeed at a loss. He had no means to counter such a potent regenerative ability.

In the past, he would have simply resorted to relentlessly attacking such opponents until their energy was exhausted.

But this time, exhausting the Mother Tree's vast reserves seemed like an insurmountable task.

Not to mention...

"Mr. Lu Ming," the Mother Tree's voice suddenly echoed in his ears, "you're sweating."

Lu Ming was momentarily stunned. He wiped his forehead, realizing that perspiration was indeed streaming down his face, soaking his clothes and the crimson matrix fungus beneath his feet.

The heads on the Mother Tree erupted in a chorus of laughter.

"I've already collected your genetic sample!" they announced triumphantly. "Lu Ming, you're finished!"

"Now, come and face your doom!"