Chapter 11: Triggering Combat

Xia Tong carefully avoided the surrounding vines, weaving through the darkness.

The entire first floor was entangled in a dense network of roots, leaving hardly any place to step. Occasionally, a flower or two would bloom in the corners, emitting a dim, eerie luminescence.

Yet, this was of little consequence to her—her target was the core of the mutated vine.

"The first floor is a bit too quiet," Xia Tong observed, glancing around as the "Source Core" notifications flickered in her mind.

[Unknown luminescent flower, no obvious fluctuation of supernatural energy]
[Abandoned doors and windows]
[Meridians, with a small amount of supernatural energy flowing...]

"Hmm?"

At this, Xia Tong immediately turned her gaze with vigilance toward the meridians indicated by the "Source Core."

Compared to the vines surrounding it, this meridian appeared much thinner and was covered in uneven, eye-like spherical granules. Beyond that, there was nothing explicitly abnormal, but since the "Source Core" had provided a prompt, it was worth pondering.

"...Has the Phantom Color Vine begun to act?" Xia Tong concluded internally.

It was highly likely. Even though it was still in the early stages of evolutionary mutation and its "intelligence" had not fully matured, its instinct as a predatory plant had already made the first move.

"I need to speed up; it seems I have to check upstairs."

Every second was crucial now. At the same time, a faint, lingering sense of danger echoed in her mind.

"First-order, three-star... there is still a chance..." Xia Tong muttered under her breath, a cold, sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

She then arrived at the staircase, which was covered in dust and broken wooden planks, and looked up into the deeper darkness above. That subtle sense of danger seemed to be emanating from the floor above.

Its consciousness had awakened, and it seemed the core was still upstairs.

Without hesitation, Xia Tong leaped onto the stairs. Moving with agility and speed, she stepped on the vines beneath her feet and dashed up to the next level.

The structure of the second floor was similar to the first, but the vines were significantly denser. Thick, rugged tendrils hung from the ceiling, with bewitching flowers blooming among them. The sweet, cloying fragrance in the air was even more potent; even with the protection of her water membrane, Xia Tong could still feel the faint scent attempting to seep through.

"Is this truly a size that a first-order, three-star mutated creature can achieve?"

Taking into account the coverage outside and on the first and second floors, Xia Tong began to suspect that the "Source Core" information was incorrect. But now was not the time to dwell on that.

She moved quickly and elegantly through the corridor. The walls were so completely entwined with vines that the original color of the wall was barely visible, and the floor was covered with tiny root hairs that twitched slightly as if they were living things.

Just as Xia Tong passed through a narrow corridor and prepared to enter a room with a partially open door, a sudden change occurred!

The Phantom Color Vine, lurking in the darkness, could no longer restrain itself.

*Whoosh...*

A sharp sound of something piercing the air erupted in the darkness.

Without warning, a grey-brown vine, thick as an adult's arm, launched itself from the shadows of the ceiling above Xia Tong like a long-coiled viper. Carrying a powerful gust of wind, it lashed out to strangle her petite form!

The speed and ferocity of the strike far exceeded Xia Tong's expectations!

"! " Every hair on her body stood on end, and an intense sense of crisis caused her pupils to constrict sharply.

Almost subconsciously, Xia Tong twisted her supple waist and instantly turned into water, lunging to the side at an incredible angle!

*Bang!*

The thick vine grazed her body and slammed into the floor. The hard concrete shattered, leaving a deep fissure as debris sprayed everywhere!

That was close!

Xia Tong's heart skipped a beat. If she had been a split second slower, she would have been crushed into pulp!

Before she could catch her breath, more vines were activated! In the darkness, from the walls and the ceiling, thick vines writhed and hissed like living pythons, surging toward her from all directions and instantly sealing off all her paths of retreat!

"..."

"This is truly troublesome now!" Xia Tong’s gaze intensified as she shifted into a combat stance.

With a low growl, her water-based supernatural energy erupted! The water membrane covering her body thickened, becoming more solid and resilient. Simultaneously, several sharp water arrows condensed out of thin air, whistling as they shot toward the first few vines attacking her!

*Squelch! Squelch!*

The water arrows hit the vines with precision, but the results were less than satisfactory.

These vines were exceptionally tough; although the water arrows could pierce them and cause some damage, leaving holes that oozed dark green sap, they could not sever them completely!

"So persistent."

For a first-order, three-star mutated plant, is this increase in defensive power really that terrifying?

At the same time, Xia Tong's sharp counterattack had completely infuriated the Phantom Color Vine!

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

More vines emerged from the shadows like a frenzy of whips, whistling through the air as they lashed out and coiled toward Xia Tong, covering the sky!

The dark corridor instantly transformed into a deadly cage constructed of vines!

Xia Tong’s figure dodged and maneuvered rapidly within the cramped space. She was exceptionally agile, at times turning into a flow of water to glide across the floor, at others using the walls to vault, narrowly avoiding one fatal strike after another.

She dared not be the slightest bit careless, her concentration at its peak.

These vines were not only immensely powerful and remarkably resilient, but their angles of attack were also devious and strange. A moment of carelessness would result in being ensnared.

"I must find a breakthrough!" Xia Tong thought quickly while dodging. A head-on clash was clearly not wise; her current attacks were in vain. Unless she found the core, everything was a waste of effort.

And that was the most difficult aspect of a mutated plant.

*Whoosh...* Another vine whipped toward her from the side at high speed...

...

"Wait... what are those..." Xia Tong's attention was drawn to some slender meridians mixed among the thick vines.

These tiny meridians seemed to adjust their direction slightly as she moved, and the small, eyeball-like granules at their tips were always vaguely "staring" at her position.

"Could it be..." A guess emerged in her mind.

[Alienated sensory organ discovered, with functions similar to vision.]

"I knew it!" Xia Tong’s eyes sharpened. "They are its 'eyes'!"

No wonder it could pinpoint her position every single time... Xia Tong sneered.

The next moment, she channeled the water-based energy within her. Countless powerful arrows fired instantly. Dark green sap splattered everywhere, and, having lost its "eyes," the Phantom Color Vine’s attacks suddenly became chaotic and disorganized.

"Now!" Xia Tong seized the opportunity, her body once again transforming into a swift shadow as she charged directly toward the partially open room at the end of the corridor!