"Spiritual Power attack ineffective?"
Everyone was caught off guard by the Tree People possessing such a trait; ordinarily, in a confrontation, skill-based System Awakeners tend to be more formidable because they can attack their opponents with long-range abilities.
However, melee Awakeners, unless they were speed-type Awakeners like Ma Ziqian, were at a disadvantage when facing skill-based System Awakeners.
But this time, the skill-type abilities were countered by the Tree People, and melee System Awakeners had to be relied upon instead.
Xi Keyao's ability came in handy; she might not inflict much damage on these trees, but she could enhance the overall quality of her teammates.
Since physical attacks were the only option, meaning Xi Keyao pouring her [Support with All Might] power into strength and speed could make Xiang Beifei and Ma Ziqian's combat abilities leap significantly.
Bolstered by Xi Keyao, Xiang Beifei's speed and strength increased markedly, allowing him to chop another two Tree People in half.
However, he quickly realized that these Tree People, split in half, didn't simply perish; their bodies emitted a green glow, and the severed parts reconnected.
Even the Tree Person whom Xiang Beifei had earlier severed a hand from was making creaking sounds, and it, too, sprouted a new limb!
This way of fighting was clearly no solution.
Xiang Beifei wielded a blade condensed from breath soil, chopping down on the branches before him and dismembering another Tree Person's limb.
Breath soil was inherently special, both tough and potent, capable of morphing into various shapes, including sharp cleavers, and most miraculously, it wasn't countered by the Tree People!
More and more Tree People began to revive around them. If this continued, the entire wilted forest might turn into Tree People—they would be completely entering the Tree People's nest.
Li Zimu and the others reacted quickly, leaping into the sky. Although their abilities were ineffective against the Tree People, they could still use them to flee.
But the Tree People had no intention of letting them escape; countless branches and roots emerged, blocking their way above. Immediately after, every leaf began to spin, detaching from the branches and turning into a swarm of sharp darts—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Numerous leaves sliced through the air swiftly, creating a dense net that blocked all their escape routes!
Long Guocheng once again tried to counter the leaves with Vision Pressure, but the leaves disregarded his efforts, immune to both spiritual power and Spiritual Power attacks.
Xiang Beifei leaped out rapidly, guarding them, as the breath soil in his hand transformed into a long staff. Whirling the staff, he created a powerful wind.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The leaves, as sharp as little knives, hit the breath soil and collided fiercely, the breath soil acting like a propeller, pulverizing the leaves into powder!
Shielding against the leaves, he led everyone out of the forest, with Ma Ziqian at the ready, flashing through the incoming branches, severing them with ease.
Under Xiang Beifei's lead, the group swiftly exited the forest and reached the air above the withered woods.
Yet the night sky remained pitch black, with only distant lightning flashing, occasionally illuminating an area.
The Tree People below, however, seemed to have no plans to let them go, leaping up rapidly. Their mode of ascent was eerie; they were actually stepping on spinning leaves, closely pursuing them.
Furthermore, more and more Tree People were pouring out of the withered woods, converging on them from all directions.
"Fly higher," Xiang Beifei said.
But Li Zimu, after flying for so long and carrying so many people, began to slow down.
"Xiao Hu, it's our turn to exert effort," Cheng Xin'an commanded.
A Yongzhou University SR-level student, Hu Hongcai, summoned several eagles, and everyone alighted on the backs of the eagles. With a flap of their wings, they soared away, speeding off with the aid of the eagles' velocity.
The Tree People below climbed rapidly, but Xiang Beifei brought up the rear, knocking away several that tried to catch up. Long Guocheng and the others were helpless by then; the Tree People completely disregarded their Spiritual Power. Aside from standing by, they could do nothing.
The Tree People were relentless in their pursuit; as if the entire withered forest had come alive. The group flew higher and higher, but about a hundred meters above the forest, they suddenly found the sky enshrouded in layers of gray fog.
This fog was thick, like a huge cover sealing the heavens tightly. As they attempted to pass through the fog, lightning suddenly burst forth from within, roaring towards them!
The lightning was terrifying, like a dragon roaring through, charged with electricity that made the air violently turbulent. Everyone was shocked; such a display of lightning was enormously powerful, possibly as potent as a late-stage Meridian Opening. Its immense pressure was enough to scare everyone!
Cheng Xin'an shouted and rushed forward, a white glow spreading as he released an air of righteousness to meet the lightning—
The lightning was fierce, crashing into Cheng Xin'an's righteousness. His system finally took effect, diminishing the lightning's strength, but it remained potent. When it struck down, it was significantly weakened.