Evolution Begins With A Big Tree

Chapter 160, Thorns

Translator:  Ashish

Translation Checker: Silavin

North Canyon…

*Boom Boom Boom…*

Accompanied by a series of tremors, Mutant Beasts that had gone hunting during the deep returned with an aggressive momentum.

In the distance…

*Rooaar…* A Tiger’s roar resounded as White Tiger leaped tens of meters high, crossing half a mountain in one leap.

Surprisingly, his snow-white fur that was smooth and shiny as silk happened to be stained with blood, giving him a more ominous air.

“Did he run into a tough opponent?” Yu Zi Yu murmured to himself as he looked at the hideous wound on the White Tiger’s abdomen, which caused him to squint his eyes.

Yu Zi Yu was not surprised by the fact that they had encountered a formidable opponent. What surprised him was the fact that White Tiger had actually suffered injuries. After all, White Tiger happened to be the strongest among the Mutant Beast that were out hunting tonight.

Golden Ant, Honey Badger, Armored Wild Boar, and the likes, though not weak, were more or less a step below White Tiger.

And that was a given too.

White Tiger had pretty strong Innate Talents and he was also carefully cultivated by Yu Zi Yu.

As for Golden Ant, who was also cultivated vigorously, as he had just recently, he was only in Tier-0 Level 7. As such, his combat power was slightly inferior.

However, Yu Zi Yu believed that given some time, Golden Ant would be able to dominate his peers of the same rank. His Innate Talent of Earthshaking Strength, combined with his inherent ferocity put him a cut above the rest and Yu Zi Yu was looking forward to Golden Ant’s growth.

…

At this moment, seemingly aware of Yu Zi Yu’s scrutinizing gaze from afar, White Tiger, who was close to the canyon, appeared a little awkward, as if he was embarrassed.

Then, he started roaring.

*Rooaar, Rooaar…* Listening to White Tiger’s successive low roars, Yu Zi Yu was also taken aback.

“So, that’s how it is.” Muttering to himself, Yu Zi Yu shook his head in helplessness.

White Tiger had indeed encountered a formidable opponent, but the reason he got injured was due to carelessness. What was even more exasperating was that the enemy had managed to escape. As such, White Tiger felt like he had lost face.

“You Dumb Tiger.” Sighing, Yu Zi Yu gently waved his branch and released a drop of Life Essence.

White Tiger’s wound was quite deep. While it would not endanger his life, Yu Zi Yu did not want it to leave any lingering effects.

In no time, White Tiger broke into excited roars and started leaping around, feeling his injuries fully healed. His gaze toward Yu Zi Yu held an additional trace of warmth.

However, after a while, as if sensing something, White Tiger’s pupils suddenly contracted.

Much to his surprise, a small forest had appeared overnight at the center of the canyon. What surprised him even more was that these trees looked quite eerie, appearing as if they had not grown naturally.

*Rooaar…* Another Tiger’s roar rang out, carrying a hint of confusion as White Tiger turned to look at Golden Ant following closely behind.

“It’s true that there was not this forest during the day,” nodding, Golden Ant confirmed that it was not White Tiger’s imagination.

Right at that very moment, as if discovering something, Golden Ant’s gaze slightly narrowed as he looked toward the forest not far away. In there, a figure happened to be sitting on a blood-red vine swing among the treetops, swinging gently.

Upon closer look, Golden Ant found the figure a bit familiar.

“Hmmm!?” A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes as Golden Ant’s feet kicked the ground.

The next moment…

A thunderous boom reverberated, and the earth shook as a streak of golden light shot straight into the depths of the forest like a speeding arrow.

However, before Golden Ant could approach the figure deep in the woods…

*Swoosh…” A fleeting red blur whizzed in the forest. The next moment, Golden Ant’s pupils fiercely shrank as he noticed a blood-red vine whipping toward him fast.

*Crack!*

Accompanying a cracking sound as if the air had exploded, a fearsome gale cut through Golden Ant like a blade.

“Hmph!” With a cold snort, Golden Ant raised his right hand and grabbed the blood-red vine.

*Boom!* Immediately after, a thunderous clap rang and the ground trembled as Golden Ant was pushed half a meter back, leaving two parallel ditches on the ground.    

Nonetheless, Golden Ant’s right hand had firmly blocked the blood-red vine.

“Interesting.”

Glancing at the thorny and sinister vines filled with spikes at hand, Golden Ant grinned and flicked the vine in his hand away, then tapped the ground once more, dashing toward the figure in the distance at an even faster speed.

He wanted to see who this figure was.

However, just as he closed in on the nearby figure, the blood-red vines lingering around the figure seemed to have sensed his presence.

In an instant, they transformed into one blood-red spear after another, thrusting straight at Golden Ant.

…

At the same time, in the depths of the dense fog, Yu Zi Yu, witnessing the sudden battle in the nearby small forest, could not help but chuckle.

[How did these two end up fighting each other? Still, it would be really amusing when Golden Ant would come to know that Qian Qin had not initiated the attack.]

Innate Talent: Absolute Defense – Qian Qin’s superb sense of intuition as a Human combined with the innate instinct of the blood-red plant allows her to automatically defend and even attack using blood-red vines when sensing danger, preemptively quelling threats.

It was quite a formidable Innate Talent. In terms of defense alone, it was unbeatable within the same rank. After all, no matter how fast one’s speed was or how formidable one’s techniques were, they could not surpass Qian Qin’s incredibly accurate intuition. Consequently, one would inevitably face numerous blood-red vines that could predict the enemy’s every move.

Just like now, Golden Ant was quite powerful and his speed was terrifying. Yet, facing the blood-red vines that seemed to anticipate his every move, he was pressed in a corner.

In addition, after merging with the blood-red plant, Qian Qin’s Spiritual Energy had also surged. She had already reached Tier-0 Level 8, she was a level above Golden Ant, who was only at Tier-0 Level 7.

Although Golden Ant had formidable Innate Talent, enough to challenge opponents above his rank, he could not contend the Vine Nymph, Qian Qin, who was invincible among the peers of the same rank.

Challenging above one’s rank was ultimately relative.

Some Mutant Beasts also possessed impressive Innate Talents. While they might not match Golden Ant’s Innate Talents, it by no means meant that Golden Ant could easily challenge them while lower in rank.

And here, Qian Qin, who had now transformed into the Vine Nymph, was precisely one of them.

“Vine Nymph, it doesn’t sound pleasant.” With a playful smile, Yu Zi Yu looked at the back of the swinging figure not far away, who appeared very lonely, and thought of a rather fitting name.

“Thorns….”

For Qian Qin’s current state, Thorns was quite apt.

She used to be Humans, but now she was entwined with blood-red vines full of thorns, turning into a maiden of thorns.