Chapter 2341 Assessment
The Lickers quickly searched the entire temple, then moved outside to firmly guard its entrances and exits.
Pavao's heartbeat gradually accelerated as he stole a glance at Fang Heng.
Weren't they supposed to come here to seize an opportunity?
How did it suddenly turn into occupation?
And what's with this super-sized magic array?
"Don't worry," Fang Heng reassured, looking up at Pavao. "The Lickers are monitoring the perimeter. If the Soul tribe shows up, we'll get notified immediately. We can still make our escape then."
Pavao hesitated for a moment, and nodded with a bitter smile, thinking that was not his primary concern.
Fang Heng walked over to an open area and began setting up the stone slab magic array.
As for the cultivation ritual of the tree spirit tribe, he was not sure how to proceed exactly. For now, summoning Abe Akaya was the priority, then they could assess the situation.
Maybe Abe Akaya would have some insights upon seeing the stone wall?
Soon enough, Fang Heng completed setting up the magic array in his hands.
"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle...!"
As the magic array activated, a dark red vortex emerged from its center.
Vines of Abe Akaya quickly spread out from the magic array.
Seeing the vines pouring out from the magic array, Pavao's expression immediately changed.
What in the world was this?!
The dark red vines gradually spread out and quickly climbed up the stone wall carving in front of them.
More bewildering to Pavao was that after being entangled by the vines, the stone wall surprisingly responded!
Stimulated by the vines, a faint crimson light appeared on the stone wall!
What?!
Pavao's heart skipped a beat as he turned around, staring fixedly at Fang Heng.
The stone wall had actually been triggered!
Fang Heng's retina immediately displayed a game hint.
[Hint: The player has discovered the mural of the primogenitor sacred tree...]
[Hint: Abe Akaya has been detected to possess partial bloodline inheritance of the primogenitor sacred tree. Abe Akaya can now undergo the sacred tree successor assessment ritual. Proceed?]
[Warning: If Abe Akaya fails the inheritance assessment, Abe Akaya's level will decrease by 20 levels and enter a weakened state (all attributes reduced by 50%, effect duration: 20 days).]
"Abe Akaya!"
Seeing the game hint appear, Fang Heng promptly attempted to establish a mental link with Abe Akaya, asking, "Abe Akaya, how do you feel? Can you pass the assessment?"
A surge of excitement emanated from Abe Akaya, appearing confident.
"Alright! Let's give it a try!"
Fang Heng immediately infused his mental strength into the magic array.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!
The magic array suddenly burst forth with a crimson glow, operating at full power!
More dense vines surged out from the summoning magic array, directly wrapping around the stone wall, almost entirely enveloping it in an instant.
"Boom!!"
In an instant, a rich dark red light shot up from the entire temple, piercing through the sky!
Under the crimson radiance, Pavao's face turned red, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief as he looked at Fang Heng.
Fang Heng!
He was actually conducting the tree spirit tribe's sacred tree inheritance ritual!
Who exactly was he?
And why was he able to perform such a ritual?
Questions flooded Pavao's mind at that moment.
[Hint: The player has completed the mission-assessment of the tree spirit tribe in the Sacred Realm of Gods. Abe Akaya is currently undergoing the assessment to become the inheritor of the sacred tree...]
[Hint: The player has triggered a main storyline mission branch-Protect Abe Akaya.]
Mission name: Protect Abe Akaya.
Mission difficulty: A~ (Variable difficulty mission, minimum difficulty A).
Mission description: You have found the first-generation sacred tree stone wall in the tree spirit tribe's holy land and successfully allowed Abe Akaya to undergo the assessment as the inheritor of the first-generation sacred tree. Regardless of the final outcome, your actions have alerted the major clans of the tree spirit tribe, who may obstruct the assessment.
Mission requirements: Protect Abe Akaya, ensuring that it is not disrupted and successfully completes the assessment within 1 hour.
Mission completion countdown: 1 hour.
Mission reward: Tree spirit tribe reputation points
Mission penalty: The completion rate of the main storyline will be reduced. You will not be able to take the first-generation sacred tree inheritance assessment again for 60 days.
Fang Heng withdrew his gaze from the mission notification.
Indeed, with all this commotion, it was likely that various clans of the tree spirit tribe would come to investigate.
However, at the moment, the Leaf tribe and the Wood tribe were still engaged in battle with the Human Federation.
By the time they returned, an hour would have passed, and they would have consumed quite a bit of time.
As for the remaining Soul tribe and Root tribe...
Fang Heng looked up at Elder Pavao of the Root tribe.
Pavao was completely shocked by what he was witnessing, looking at Fang Heng with a slightly trembling voice, "Fang Heng, you... who are you?"
"Me? Throughout the annals of history, the tree spirit tribe has had many clans. Have you ever heard of the vampires?"
Pavao's pupils dilated.
"You're a vampire!?"
Vampires, a clan of the tree spirit tribe?
Never heard of it! But he had a deep, visceral fear from the bottom of his heart.
He felt that everything Fang Heng said was true!
Vampires really existed!
Otherwise, why would the ancestral sacred tree's stone wall residue produce such a special reaction?
There was only one explanation!
In other words...
Pavao couldn't help but look at the roots and vines within the magic array behind Fang Heng.
"Is this your vampire clan's cultivated sacred tree?"
"Yes," Fang Heng nodded gently, continuing, "We've been away from this world for too long, only returning recently. As members of the clan, we naturally have the qualifications to vie for the next successor of the tree spirit tribe, don't we?"
Pavao slowly stepped back two paces, gazing at Fang Heng, his mind in turmoil.
In theory, that was indeed the case.
Any clan had the qualifications to become the next successor of the tree spirit tribe.
But...
"Pavao, now that you know my secret," Fang Heng stared at Pavao intently, his tone gradually darkening, "What choice does your Root tribe make? Will you stand against me?"
Pavao stood still, momentarily at a loss.
The situation had unfolded suddenly, and as a normal elder of the Root tribe, he had no authority to make decisions for the entire clan.
"Forget it. I suppose you can't decide anyway. You might as well stay here and watch quietly. For the sake of our kinship, I'll spare your life."
At the same time, the blood-red pillar of light rising from the temple in the Sacred Realm of Gods immediately caught the attention of the four major clans.
Unfortunately, the Wood tribe and Leaf tribe had already emptied out to confront the Human Federation, leaving very few personnel remaining in the Inner World.
Upon seeing this scene, the elders of each clan who remained in the 'Inner World' were deeply astonished.
The temple's release of such intense ripples was reminiscent of the last time the sacred tree completed its succession.
Could it be that one of the clans had already completed the cultivation of the sacred tree sapling?
Without delay, each clan immediately reported the news back to their respective headquarters through their own channels.