"What the... What is this?! What kind of freaky things are these?!"
"Oh crap, my pants—my pants!"
"Help! Ahhh! It's drilling right up my ass!"
......
All around, people screamed like crazy. Right now, only Yintian and the four Great Elders managed to take to the air; everyone below Void Realm was completely locked down by the Heavenwood Roots. Martin Ma was having it the worst—his lower half was skewered through and the roots drilled straight into all seven holes in his face. He howled in agony, begging Ryan Ling and Serena Yan for mercy.
"Scumbag! Even a thousand cuts wouldn't wipe away your sins!" Serena Yan cheered at Martin Ma's suffering. This bastard used to be a down-and-out college kid—my husband Victor Yan only took him in out of pity. The guy was a master at sucking up, worming his way into the Yan Family as house steward.
But you never really know someone’s heart. During Victor Yan’s illness, Serena trusted him with everything. Who could’ve guessed he was hiding such venom? If a guy like him isn’t killed, it’s basically a crime against heaven.
Right now, Ryan Ling didn’t hesitate for a second. His eyes flashed, and he barked out one word: "Die!"
The moment he said it, the Heavenwood Roots pierced right through Martin Ma, ripping him in half on the spot.
"Serves him right!" Serena Yan clapped her hands in delight.
In a split second, everyone tangled up by the Heavenwood Roots stared at Ryan Ling in sheer panic. Every single one of them was shaking uncontrollably, faces pale as death. A few whose legs gave out had already dropped to their knees.
"Begging for mercy now? What good does that do? You're all just a bunch of home-invading bandits—every last one of you dies!" Ryan Ling snapped, showing zero sympathy. The moment his words fell, a dozen Shadow-Soul Cultists caught by the Heavenwood Roots were ripped to pieces, blood and guts splattering everywhere.
"Hell yeah! Kill them all—any bandit who invades our home deserves to die!" Serena Yan said, her gaze locking straight onto Yintian.
At this, Yintian and the four Great Elders shuddered. Even though their Void Realm barriers protected them, facing these weird plant roots still left their faces ashen.
"Retreat!" Yintian didn’t hesitate for a second. He knew that if he stuck around, something terrible was bound to happen.
"Trying to run? You really think you can get away now?" Ryan Ling sneered. Tens of thousands of Heavenwood Roots shot toward them. Even with Void Realm shields, the roots looked ready to pierce right through.
"Damn it, you think I don’t have any tricks?" Yintian snarled, and suddenly a weird yin-flame burst out from his body, forcing the Heavenwood Roots to shrink back.
Seeing this, Yintian burst out laughing: "You really think some cheap wood-element monster tricks can trap me? Kid, you’re way out of your league!"
"Oh yeah? Not scared of these roots—how about this?" Ryan Ling saw him unleash the yin-flames and immediately summoned the Hell Furnace straight out of the Demon-Snaring Bowl. The Heavenwood had just sprouted, but its power was already impressive. He was satisfied; it would play an even bigger role in the future. For now, he stashed the Heavenwood segment away.
"Is that the—th-the Hell Furnace?" Yintian’s eyes went wide at the sight of the treasure.