[Quest: Seek Help from the Shanyin Guhuai Tree]
Description: The Shanyin Ancient Locust Tree is on the brink of transformation. It cannot resist the Li Gui's assault. Defend it until its rebirth is complete.
Reward: Unknown.
Wang Xian squinted at the quest details, brow twitching.
Not a hidden class awakening, not a divine inheritance.
Just... defend the tree.
"Uncle, this task seems a bit difficult," Nangong Wu said, looking over the quest window with a thoughtful frown.
Wang Xian turned to her slowly. "Somewhat difficult? You've got a serious misunderstanding of the word 'some.'"
Level 30+ ghosts. Half his team couldn't even survive a stiff breeze from one of those things.
Even with [Liu Yinhuaming]'s resurrection, they only got one retry. He could already see the game-over screen flashing in the distance.
And yet, something about this task tugged at the back of his memory. A ripple of déjà vu.
How had they done this in the last life? He hadn't been there. They'd been lower level. Weaker.
Then a soft voice broke his train of thought.
"Sister, my branch's description changed… Did yours?" Hua Xiangrong blinked and held up her [Branch of Shanyin Guhuai Tree].
Changed? Wang Xian's head snapped up. That's it. That's the trigger.
"What changed?" he demanded, stepping toward her.
But before he could get close, Xue Fangfei slipped between them like a mother hen protecting her chick. "What do you want, old man? Back off."
Wang Xian stared at her, deadpan. "I just want to read the item."
Then—thankfully—Nangong Wu offered hers forward instead.
[Branch of Shanyin Guhuai Tree] (Epic)
Effect: Can be activated to instantly raise a random skill level by at least 30 levels. Duration: 1 hour.
Wang Xian stared.
Speechless.
Then he whispered: "...Ridiculous."
He'd heard stories of skills that broke the ceiling—past level 30, past reason. Skills that evolved. That mutated. That could make even a [Fireball] rival a Level 100 archmage's ultimate.
He remembered that one mage who'd spammed [Fireball] into oblivion. Level 30 Fireball with 2-second cooldown? Basically a machine gun made of fire.
And now... they had that chance.
"Yaoyao," Wang Xian said firmly, handing the branch to her, "Use this."
"What? Me?" Cheng Yao blinked, startled. "Shouldn't... you use it, Uncle?"
Everyone looked confused. After all, wasn't Wang Xian the main DPS?
"No time. I've got too many skills. Random boost could land on the wrong one. We need a specific outcome."
Still hesitant, Cheng Yao looked to the others.
"Use it," Wang Xian said again, more forcefully this time. "Now."
Defeated, she held it up and activated the item.
A soft blue light enveloped her. The branch dissolved in her hands like mist.
Her eyes opened, shimmering with surprise. "It upgraded [Liu Yinhuaming]!"
Wang Xian's expression twisted.
Wrong skill.
It should have been [Hundred Flowers Striving for Beauty].
Seconds ticked.
Li Gui began to appear in the distance, clawing toward the tree.
No time to waste.
Wang Xian turned sharply to Hua Xiangrong. "Give me your branch."
"What? Why?" Before she could say anything, Xue Fangfei leapt in again. "You want to scam her now? Forget it, old man—"
"It's part of the quest," Wang Xian snapped. "If you want to survive this, if you want to complete the mission, give me the damn branch."
"Feifei," Hua Xiangrong said softly, interrupting her. "It's okay."
She stepped forward and handed him the branch.
"You idiot," Xue Fangfei muttered. "You really trust him?"
"She's right to." Wang Xian handed the branch to Cheng Yao again without a word.
Cheng Yao looked like she was about to cry. "Uncle, if I mess up again..."
"There is no again," Wang Xian said, his voice low, eyes hard. "Use it. We're out of time."
Cheng Yao's hands trembled as she activated the second branch.
Light bloomed again.
This time, her face lit up in joy. "Yes! It worked! [Hundred Flowers Striving for Beauty]!"
Wang Xian exhaled sharply.
Perfect.
"Everyone, huddle up!" he shouted. "Yaoyao, pop your buff! Let's do this!"
Cheng Yao raised her hands, petals bursting forth—lilies, orchids, plum blossoms, and a thousand more unfurled in waves of glowing light.
Ding! [Hundred Flowers Striving for Beauty] (Level 30) Activated.
All Attributes +60%. Duration: 6000 seconds.
Everyone gasped as their strength surged like a tide.
Su Jin blinked. "...Did I just get taller?"
"Focus," Wang Xian barked.
Off in the distance, howls echoed through the night as Li Gui began to crawl through the fog—gaunt and twisted, eyes glowing like embers.
In the distance, the bark of the Shanyin Tree began to glow. Its transformation was beginning.
Nangong Wu turned to Wang Xian, her expression unreadable.
"Uncle... are we going to survive this?"
Wang Xian summoned lightning in both hands, eyes reflecting the gathering swarm.
"We're not here to survive," he said.
"We're here to protect that tree—until the last second."