The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

"The culprit?" Everyone looked at Lin Qian with inquisitive eyes.

They had just arrived after the swift soldier's death, yet Lin Qian already knew who the culprit was?

Without another word, Lin Qian turned around and punched toward the withered tree near the fallen soldier's ashes.

His fist crackled with thunderous power, forming a large golden thunder strike that roared toward the tree. Just as the punch neared the tree, it suddenly came to life.

The black, withered branches, which had seemed dead moments ago, suddenly twisted like sharp swords, emitting a bloody aura as they pierced toward Lin Qian's thunderous fist.

Pssshh!

The black branches, though appearing fragile, were incredibly sharp and tough. They easily pierced through Lin Qian's thunderous soul power, spreading the bloody aura within.

Even after piercing through, the branches didn't stop; they withdrew and struck again, like shadowy blades, quickly shattering Lin Qian's thunder strike.

Ye Xin's expression changed as she flicked her fingers, sending out a sharp beam of starlight sword energy toward the tree.

But to everyone's surprise, the black branches met the starlight sword energy head-on, and after a brief stalemate, the sword energy disintegrated into sparkling fragments. The black branches bore only a faint white mark, showing no significant damage.

Lin Qian's face remained cold, while Ye Xin's expression grew tense. The two stood side by side, cautiously eyeing the tree.

Not only were they on high alert, but so were the others behind them—Lei Qian and his companions wore expressions of shock and disbelief.

They knew how powerful Lin Qian's thunder strike was, yet this withered tree had managed to counter it. Even Ye Xin's formidable starlight sword energy, imbued with the power of the stars, had been blocked by the tree's branches with minimal damage.

The realization sent chills down everyone's spines. The dead, lifeless trees scattered throughout the Dead Lands were not as harmless as they appeared.

"I understand now why so many people died when they ventured here before," Lei Qian muttered, staring at the tree in disbelief.

Ding Zhirong and Zhao Haiming nodded in agreement.

The Dead Lands were filled with these seemingly lifeless trees. When the previous expedition entered, they didn't have Lin Qian's unique methods to track each other or protect themselves from the ghostly influences. They had been easy prey for these deadly trees.

The others could easily imagine how those disciples had become separated and disoriented in the fog, falling prey to the deadly trees they had mistaken for harmless obstacles.

Lin Qian had only uncovered the trees' secret because of the fallen swift soldier. Before his death, the soldier had transmitted what he had seen and experienced back to the Huaxia Empire's engineering department for analysis.

When Lin Qian had gestured earlier, he was accessing that data. After reviewing it, he understood that the tree had been responsible for the swift soldier's death.

"There's no need to fight these trees directly. As long as we're careful and avoid them, we should be able to minimize trouble," Ye Xin suggested after assessing the situation.

Lin Qian nodded in agreement. "You're right. Let's proceed with caution."

With that, Lin Qian adjusted their course and led the group deeper into the Dead Lands.

The journey became more tense as they proceeded, everyone on high alert, keeping a close eye on their surroundings. Knowing that the trees could come to life at any moment, they couldn't afford to relax.

Despite their vigilance, the trees' black branches occasionally lashed out from the fog, attacking like spears. Thankfully, the group was prepared and managed to fend off the attacks, working together to cover all angles.

Time passed slowly, and their progress was slow due to the Dead Lands' treacherous conditions. The further they went, the more active the trees became. The black branches struck with increasing frequency, forcing them to stay on high alert.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lei Qian suddenly called out, "Look over there!"

Following his gaze, they saw a large shadowy figure looming in the distant fog. Their spirits lifted as they quickened their pace.

As they advanced, the fog began to thin, revealing the landscape ahead. The broken, moss-covered stone paths led to crumbling pavilions and courtyards.

These buildings, though dilapidated, had a familiar yet foreign design, reminiscent of sects and disciples' residences.

"We've arrived," Lin Qian said, surveying the surroundings. "This must be where the ancient sect's disciples once lived."