NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 128
The Blood Flesh Mother Tree's fury shook the very foundations of Linhai County. Countless roots churned beneath the ground, upending buildings, shattering infrastructure, and transforming the once-peaceful town into a scene of utter devastation.
Lu Ming, however, remained unfazed by the chaos.
It was clear that the Mother Tree's rage was born of impotence. Unable to harm Lu Ming directly, it could only vent its frustration on inanimate objects.
It was a futile display of power.
As Lu Ming walked away from Linhai County unscathed, Zhang Chengcheng, Huo Sheng, and the others waiting outside breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Huo Sheng approached, his voice tinged with concern. "Is it resolved?"
Lu Ming shook his head, then succinctly described the Mother Tree's unique abilities and weaknesses. "It's going to be a war of attrition," he concluded, "but victory is inevitable."
"Now, I need a favor from you all," he continued.
Huo Sheng nodded. "Tell us what you need."
"Bring food and supplies here," Lu Ming requested. "I plan to stay here for a few days until I've dealt with this menace, then I'll return home."
Lu Ming disliked being away from home for extended periods. He couldn't sleep soundly anywhere else. However, in this situation, he couldn't afford to give the Blood Flesh Mother Tree any chance to recover or retaliate.
Even if it meant sacrificing a few days of rest, Lu Ming was determined to eliminate the threat posed by the Mother Tree once and for all.
Huo Sheng readily agreed to Lu Ming's plan, and the team quickly mobilized.
At noon, they paused for a quick lunch of exotic beast meat they had brought along. After sating his hunger, Lu Ming rested in the military vehicle while Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan kept watch.
The break passed uneventfully.
As soon as the lunch break ended, Huo Sheng arrived with the supplies Lu Ming had requested. After a quick inspection, Lu Ming opened his attribute panel and saw that his daily exercises had already been completed.
His three-dimensional attributes had increased by 3 points each, and his fitness proficiency had jumped by a whopping 400 points. It seemed the system considered his battle with the Mother Tree an excellent workout.
Without dwelling on these details, Lu Ming grabbed his weapons, shouldered his backpack, and leaped towards Linhai County, his movements a blur.
The air crackled with sonic booms as he landed at the base of the Mother Tree.
He even greeted the monstrous plant with a playful grin.
"Good afternoon," Lu Ming called out cheerfully. "Let's continue where we left off."
The Mother Tree remained silent, its massive form unmoving.
Lu Ming glanced up at the canopy, noticing that the countless human heads had their eyes closed, their expressions lifeless. It seemed the Mother Tree had shut itself down.
"Well, suit yourself," Lu Ming muttered, retrieving his spear and initiating his assault.
You want to play dead? Fine. I'll continue my training.
We'll each do our own thing, and I can finally enjoy some peace and quiet.
"This is quite pleasant," Lu Ming mused to himself.
No, it's not, the Mother Tree thought bitterly, but I have no other choice.
The afternoon passed as Lu Ming continued to use the Mother Tree as a training dummy. There was no danger, as the Mother Tree's offensive capabilities were limited.
The gains in skill proficiency, however, were substantial.
Lu Ming rotated between his spear, saber, and sword, focusing on whichever skill was at a lower level.
By the end of the day, his close combat proficiency had risen from Level 30 to Level 31.
His Basic Spearmanship had jumped from Level 25 to Level 26.
His Throwing skill had increased from Level 17 to Level 18.
And his saber, sword, and staff techniques had all gained a thousand proficiency points.
The progress was immense, far surpassing what he could achieve with regular training.
Only when his stamina neared depletion did Lu Ming finally leave Linhai County.
Before departing, he couldn't resist bidding farewell to the Mother Tree with a sarcastic wave.
"See you in the evening," Lu Ming called out, a hint of amusement in his voice.
He usually devoted his evenings to practicing stance techniques. But now, with the Mother Tree serving as an ideal training partner, Lu Ming adjusted his plans to maximize his gains.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., he continued his relentless assault on the Mother Tree. Both his saber and sword techniques leveled up as he honed his skills against the resilient foe.
Exhausted but satisfied, Lu Ming returned to the RV. After a hearty supper and setting up the sentries, he washed up and collapsed into bed, falling asleep within seconds.
The day's exertions had taken their toll, and he needed rest to sustain his rigorous training regimen.
As for the possibility of a nighttime attack from the Mother Tree... Lu Ming wasn't overly concerned. The creature had proven to be more cunning than ferocious, and a direct confrontation in the dark wouldn't play to its strengths.
He drifted off to sleep, confident in his ability to handle any surprises the night might bring.
Lu Ming considered the possibility of a nighttime attack, but he deemed it unlikely. He had observed the Mother Tree's significant shrinkage during his retreat, a clear indication of its depleted energy reserves.
With a few more days of focused effort, Lu Ming believed he could topple the Mother Tree and return home to his peaceful routine.
However, as he slept soundly, oblivious to the events unfolding around him, two zombies and a human stealthily entered Linhai County under the cover of night.
Simba and Lian Jie, accompanied by Xu Rufang, had witnessed the day's events with a mixture of terror and trepidation.
They were both awed and horrified by the power displayed by the Mother Tree and Lu Ming, and they harbored deep anxieties about their own future.
Xu Rufang had once suggested that if Lu Ming triumphed, their lives might improve. But after witnessing Lu Ming's overwhelming strength, Simba couldn't help but doubt that assessment.
After all, the relationship between humans and zombies was inherently adversarial, one of hunter and prey. They could not coexist peacefully.
Lu Ming's dominance over even the formidable Blood Flesh Mother Tree raised a series of troubling questions in Simba's mind.
"What will become of us?" it wondered.
"Are we doomed to live like hunted animals, forever hiding from Lu Ming?"
"What if he comes after us?"
"Can we escape?"
The answer to the last question was painfully clear.
"No," Simba realized, a cold dread settling upon it. "We definitely can't escape."
Until this moment, Simba remained unaware that Lu Ming rarely ventured far from his home. This was one of the drawbacks of always fleeing at the first sign of trouble.
After careful consideration, Simba made a fateful decision.
"We're going into the Black Mist Zone!" it declared. "I can't stay here any longer. Even if the Black Mist Zone is dangerous, I'd rather risk the unknown than live in constant fear in Nanxiang!"
Lian Jie expressed its concern. "But we don't know anything about the situation inside..."
Simba's voice was firm, its resolve unwavering. "Compared to a certain death, I'd rather gamble on uncertainty."
Staying in Nanxiang meant an inevitable demise at Lu Ming's hands. Entering the Black Mist Zone, however, offered a glimmer of hope, a chance for survival.
With that, their course was set.
Just as Simba and Lian Jie were about to escape, a Tier 2 humanoid monster silently approached them.
"I am the Blood Flesh Mother Tree," it said. "I need your help."
Simba and Lian Jie exchanged a look of alarm.
"No, no, no," Simba protested. "We don't want to get involved in the conflict between you two freaks."
The humanoid monster dropped to its knees, its voice desperate. "Take me with you! Please! Let's enter the Black Mist Zone together! You're bound to end up there sooner or later. I know the situation inside and can offer you valuable assistance!"
Simba hesitated, weighing the risks and benefits. "What should we do?" it asked Lian Jie.
It decided that if the danger wasn't too great, they would take a chance. If it proved too perilous, they could always retreat.
The humanoid monster continued its persuasive arguments, painting a picture of the opportunities and challenges that awaited them in the Black Mist Zone.
Eventually, Simba and Lian Jie were swayed.
With a newfound sense of purpose, they followed the humanoid monster into Linhai County.