Chương 364: A Price To Pay.

Explosive sounds covered the entire area when the army of monsters and Liu Shu's warriors collided. The <Third Energy Cycles> were in the middle, causing widespread destruction. Being in the Corrupted World Tree's vicinity, they held back nothing and caused the land to change with their attacks. Both sides were somewhat balanced, but thanks to Thalgryn's 300 powerful beast riders, the balance was tilting their way. Usually, that would not be the case since the Corrupted World Tree would get personally involved.

However, it was in a situation where it didn't dare to divert her attention from her roots.

'How are you so strong even at this distance!? You are nothing but my food! Part of the environment that was meant to be mine!'' They were over 100 kilometers away from Liu Shu's main body, and, for a Second Energy Cycle world tree, such distance was ridiculous. The Corrupted World Tree didn't know that Liu Shu's maximum root net distance was already unlimited. The only thing holding her back from spreading without limits was the difficulty of increasing the root net beyond a certain distance.

Even then, this distance was well over 200 kilometers, far more than the 100-kilometer distance to the Corrupted World Tree. Liu Shu heard her shout, but she didn't answer. She didn't dare to answer. Once she opened her mouth, she felt as if she would lose control of herself. So, as she had done since the very beginning, Liu Shu just focused on attacking and ripping apart the Corrupted World Tree's roots, digging toward the Core hiding in her body. At this point, Liu Shu's ternary essences had depleted nearly 75%.

Despite all the balancing and recovering she had been doing, she was exhausted. Moreover, due to the Corruption and the destroyed roots, even her Phoer Body Cores were being drained. While damaging a root wouldn't damage Liu Shu much, repairing it needed vitality. Hence, a large mass of roots was created to push forward through the deeply rooted Corrupted World Tree.

'A little bit more.' Liu Shu's World Tree eye was slightly blurry as her roots attacked without a single moment of respite.

'I am almost there. I am close…' Her gaze flickered with dark light, and her thoughts took a turn. A cold feeling sank into her core, giving way to ruthless thoughts.

'A little bit more, and I'll be able to devour her! All her Corruption will be MINE!' However, the warmth of the four Sylvan's and her own willpower fought back those impulsive thoughts.

'I mustn't.' Liu Shu's gaze returned to her resolute self.

'If I am corrupted, won't I be disappointing everyone? I refuse!' Her Aether Mana and Anima Energy flowed through her complex but seamless root neet and arrived at the battlefield in second. BOOM!

"AHH!" The Corrupted World Tree wailed in pain as Liu Shu managed to grab onto one of her main roots and rip it off of her.

'This… How is this possible!?' Unlike the small [-100] to [-500] that she had been seeing, a massive number appeared in the Corrupted World Tree's eyes. [-2, 505, 000]! 25 Phoer Cores were instantly slashed from her reserves! Hearing the ghostly scream of pain, the monsters became restless while Liu Shu's army grinned wildly. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The underground kept trembling while the two World Trees fought it out.

Both sides used their skills, and while the Corrupted Tree had many mental skills, most were ineffective against Liu Shu's powerful mind and resistances. With 68% Spiritual Resistance and 67% Mental Resistance, all mental attacks were reduced to just specs of their original power. The Corrupted World Tree angrily fought back, but soon, people started seeing signs of its defeat.

"Look over there!" A person suddenly shouted, and a few people glanced over.

"Those are… Lady Liu Shu's roots!? They are coiling around the Corrupted World Tree!" Flor and the others glanced over for a second and noticed the roots at the base of the Corrupted World Tree.

"No! No! I refuse! I refuse! All will be corrupted by my presence!" The wails of the Corrupted World Tree continued as Liu Shu managed to move more and more roots up the World Tree's body. Once she was at around 200 meters from the ground, she reached the place where the calves would be and stopped advancing upward. [Corruption Level: 65%] The quick advance in corruption was due to Liu Shu coming into contact with the Corrupted Sap spilled after dismembering the Corrupted World Tree's main root.

Still, Liu Shu pushed. Even when her mind was blurry, she didn't back down!

"<Curse Devouring>!" [Congratulations! Under the significant stain, <Curse Devouring> has evolved from B- Rank to B Rank]! [Overflowing proficiency detected!] [Skill Level Up!] [Skill Level Up!] [Skill Level Up!] [Skill Level Up!] [Skill Level Up!] [<Curse Devouring (B Rank Level MAX)>!]"HAAA!!!" Liu Shu's face turned ferocious as her scream spread around, and her corrupting body suddenly shone.

The World Tree's light, which had previously been muddied by the Corruption, erupted briefly, illuminating the dark domain and even her main body. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. [Skill Rank Up]! Liu Shu's roots tightly coiled around the Corrupted World Tree. [Skill Level Up!] Her radiance and purity surfaced. [Skill Level Up!] Her distorted screaming became clearer. [Skill Level Up!] The Corrupted World Tree's scream of pain reverberated! [Skill Level Up!] The corrupted wood touched by her roots was eroded. [Skill Level Up!] [<Curse Devouring (B+ Rank Level MAX)>!]"STOP! STOP!" Monsters and People stopped fighting as they looked at the incomparable radiance from the World Tree—the glorious light that sunk deeply into the corrupted environment and the Corrupted World Tree as Liu Shu's roots cut deeply into it.

"Corrupted World Tree." [Corruption Level: 66%] Liu Shu's clear and gentle voice spread around. However, this didn't calm down the people because looking at the mission, there was something very wrong. People couldn't help but ask, their hearts tightening.

"W-Why is the Corruption Level increasing!?" [Corruption Level: 68%] Liu Shu spoke softly and gently.

"Today, I won't forgive your life. You've caused too much evil and harm." The Corrupted World Tree could see its Phoer Body Cores depleting at a terrifying speed, and her heart was filled with fear.

"Wait! WAIT! I don't want this! I didn't even attack you! Why are you bothering me even after I've become like this!? AHHH!" [Corruption Level: 70%] Liu Shu's soothing voice spread around.

"However, I won't make you completely disappear. In your place, a new life will bloom." [Corruption Level: 72%] Flor's heart raised to her throat, and she shouted.

"Liu Shu! Stop it! You are getting corrupted!" Liu Shu's next words answered Flor's fears.

"I'll absorb your corruption and plant your sapling here. A new World Tree will be born, and under my nurturing, you'll slowly become a new and pure World Tree." [Corruption Level: 73%]"No! NO! I don't want to! I AM PERFECT AS I AM!" The Corrupted World Tree struggled. However, it was a futile resistance. [Congratulations! <Curse Devouring (B+ Rank)> has evolved into <Curse Cleansing Aurora (A- Rank>!] [You've gained the title <Vane Of Corruption>.] Liu Shu poured the remaining Aether Mana and Anima Energy into her body, getting dangerously close to zero, and her gentle and soothing voice spread around, making even the corrupted creatures feel warmth in their cold hearts." <Curse Cleansing Aurora>." [Corruption Level: 74%] From the terrain that Liu Shu had taken over from the <Dark Aether Swamp>, gorgeous multicolored flowers began blooming and shooting pollen into the air." Now, be reborn." The multicolored pollen rushed like a giant eastern dragon toward the Corrupted World Tree and surrounded it from the bottom to the top. The leafless branches suddenly bloomed with flowers and then burst out, creating a gorgeous flower petal rain that spread throughout the entire <Dark Aether Swamp>. The Corrupted monsters stood still as these auras swept them, cleansing the corruption deep inside of their bodies and giving them back part of their previous rationality. A woman stretched her hand and caught a beautiful golden petal stuck in her long and dirty hair. The petal slowly emitted light, and a message appeared in everyone's eyes. [You are bathing in Tianlian Liu Shu's purifying aura. You will be healing 1% of your <Phoer> reserves per minute.] As everyone was stunned by the surrounding effects, they heard the cracking of wood and looked toward the source of the sound. Everyone's hearts skipped a beat when they saw the gargantuan World Tree leaning backward. The several hundreds of meters tall World Tree slowly topped backward, and a message appeared in everyone's eyes. [Congratulations! You've completed <Sylvan Quest: Fate Of The World Tree> before <Corruption Level> reached 75%. Rewards will be handled!] An incomparably gentle and soothing energy filled everyone's body, and then their strengths made a qualitative change. [Level Up!] A storm of energies surrounded Level 24s, Level 29s, Level 39s, and Level 49s, their bodies breaking through the respective <Energy Cycles>. Moreover, being affected by Liu Shu's auras, their ability to form better <Energy Cycles> was clearly displayed, giving them a powerful strength even among same-level people. Flor's legs became weak, and she plopped down onto the muddy ground, not caring about the rewards. Her eyes were fixed on the Corruption Level, and her heart still had lingering fears." S-System, show the decimals…" [Corruption Level: 74. 87%] Flor almost fainted.' So close. A little bit more, and I would've lost my darling.' Her heart couldn't calm down as her eyes were fixed on that number. Igantia approached and gently lifted the Flower Fairy, hugging her into her arms." It's done. Liu Shu will recover." Meanwhile, inside Liu Shu's Core Room, the four Sylvans were tightly surrounding Liu Shu's body in a hug as a protection bubble of fire, wind, and vines surrounded them. When Liu Shu began absorbing the enemy's Corruption to make it easier to affect her, this room was quickly filled with the Corruption Fog. Thankfully, they reacted quickly and created a protective barrier around Liu Shu. By now, after being corrupted to nearly 75%, her Avatar had changed even more than before. Her white skin was gone, replaced by a greyish one, and her jade-green flowing hair had turned dry and bristly. Even the smooth skin on her body was slightly rugged. Verdantia and the other three were looking at the Corruption Level with pounding hearts and sweating bodies. They didn't know what happened when it suddenly started growing at a terrifying speed. Moreover, Liu Shu's Avatar was writhing in so much pain that even hugging her couldn't keep her still. However, other than using their presence to calm her down, they couldn't do anything else, making them wish that they had clones able to go and fight in the frontlines. When the Mission Complete message arrived, the four of them almost fainted from the sensation of relief. It was truly the most heart-wrenching hour of their lives. A message popped in their sights. [Tianlian Liu Shu's Avatar has been temporarily liberated from her restraints. You've received a special new quest <Sylvan Quest: Tree Of Life>] [Description: Tianlian Liu Shu's condition is horrible, and due to her lack of Aether Mana and Anima Energy, she has no strength to heal and can only suppress the corruption from taking over. Find a Life Tree with strong healing powers and convince it to join Tianlian Liu Shu's domain to heal her. Without joining the domain, healing the Corruption will be impossible. In the meantime, use your best healers on Tianlian Liu Shu's <Avatar> and prevent her from waking up or becoming more corrupted.] [Failure Condition 1: <Corruption> starts advancing once more.] [Failure Condition 2: <Avatar> wakes up.] [Failure Condition 3: <Avatar> gets killed.] [Failure Condition 4: Life Tree refuses to become part of Tianlian Liu Shu's domain] They looked solemnly at the description and immediately knew who the <Sylvan Quest> was referring to. [Rewards: <Tier Up>.] Their eyes widened at the reward.' Tier Up!?' [Failure: Tianlian Liu Shu will have lingering Corruption marks and be unable to become a pure World Tree again.] Even when the failure wasn't aimed at them, they felt that it was much more terrifying than anything else. Tempestria expanded the dome of air, pushing back the corruption surrounding them, and spoke aloud." Let's leave through the Petal Door. Verdantia, create a temporary leaf dress for Liu Shu. We are going to Mariane to ask for help." On the outside, a Domain-wide message appeared. [Domain-Wide Debuff: <Lingering Corruption>] [While the Quest has been completed, Tianlian Liu Shu will need time to cleanse the <Corruption> on herself. During this time, the strength of wild monsters will increase by 50%, and their voracity and violence will increase by 100%.]