Ethereal World: Vicious Cannon Fodder's Immortality Road novel Chapter 800

Chapter 800: Bitter Fear Tree

"Are you familiar with the Bitter Fear Tree?" He inquired.

"That’s the fabled tree born from a demon that emerged from the depths of hell ten thousand years ago, right?" Shenlian Yingyue responded, her eyes wide with astonishment.

According to legend, a demon had awakened from its ancient slumber, sowing chaos and terror, particularly among humans. This monster was said to possess the ability to create the Bitter Fear Tree.

The tree emanated a strange fragrance that induced vivid hallucinations of past traumas and latent fears, blending illusion with reality, leaving victims unable to discern what was real. It slowly poisoned the mind, leading to paranoia and madness.

"Exactly," Tuzi AoFen confirmed, nodding.

"But shouldn’t that tree have vanished five thousand years ago when a powerful cultivator defeated that demon?" she tilted her head in confusion.

"The demon was slain, but the tree endured. As a testament to its power, it cursed itself. No one can eradicate it," he elaborated, guiding the group with the pink snowflake while navigating the perils of their surroundings.

"Shouldn’t that tree reside in the Upper World? What’s it doing here?" Dongfang Moqing’s gaze sharpened. It was unfathomable that such a formidable and perilous tree could be on this lower-level planet.

It made sense why adventurers and cultivators had mysteriously perished in the past. They either succumbed to madness from torture, leading them to turn against each other, or they remained trapped in their own hallucinations.

Tuzi AoFen didn’t give anyone the response to this question.

"What about the bloodied man who emerged from this forest fifty years ago, claiming he was pursued by a nightmarish creature that haunted him day and night? Is that creature connected to the Bitter Fear Tree?" Huang Bai Xing finally chimed in after a lengthy silence.

"That was merely an illusion he experienced," Tuzi AoFen replied, brushing aside the underbrush blocking their path. He was subtly ensuring that Shenlian Yingyue could move more freely.

Such attentive treatment warmed Shenlian Yingyue’s heart. However, her warm feeling dissipated when she sensed something amiss.

The question loomed in everyone’s mind: if this forest was indeed so perilous, why was he leading them here? He moved with an ease and familiarity that suggested this was more akin to his personal garden than a treacherous realm.

The group turned their anxious gazes towards Tuzi AoFen, who maintained a gentle expression despite the surrounding tension.

"Don’t worry, I mean you no harm," Tuzi AoFen said softly, letting his slender fingers intertwine with hers.

His grip was firm enough that it felt as though she wouldn’t be able to wrench her hand free if she tried. His fingers were strikingly beautiful, almost ethereal, but there was an unsettling sensation that they could easily crush her bones.

"Xiao Yueyue, what’s running through your mind?" Tuzi AoFen smiled gently, his gaze fixed on her with the charm of a mischievous little creature, drawing people into his endearing allure.

Shenlian Yingyue whirled around, searching for any sign of Huang Bai Xing and Dongfang Moqing.

"Fen Fen, where did they go?" A chill crept down her spine, her instincts heightened as she readied her spiritual energy for any looming threat.

"You didn’t put yourself in harm’s way for them?" Tuzi AoFen’s eyes narrowed, leaning back slightly to gauge her reaction.

"I didn’t," she replied, shaking her head.

"Then what compelled you to charge into numerous demon strongholds and the Demon City to provoke those creatures? You could have lost your life!" He demanded, his concern evident as he recalled how terrified and heartbroken he felt when he saw her injured by Infernal Volcanic.

"Uhh..." She found herself at a loss for words.

"Well, I’m fine now, see? I don’t feel any pain anymore," she quickly shifted the conversation, hoping to defuse any further anger from him.

In her eyes, he looked utterly adorable when he was upset; his skin turned a soft shade of pink, and his ears morphed into charming bunny ears.

"What are you thinking?" He narrowed his large, expressive eyes with a hint of suspicion upon noticing the sparkle in hers.

"Don’t change the subject. How could you send them out of this forest? What’s your connection to that Bitter Fear Tree?" she asked, fixing her gaze on him intently.

"As expected of you, Xiao Yueyue," Tuzi AoFen sighed, releasing her from his hold.