<h4>Chapter 229 Chapter228-Desire Treant (2nd update, Cheer me with Power Stones!)</h4>


    "What... what on earth just happened?"


    The rtivelyposed Blue Sea was the first to stow away his staff into his equipment slot, deactivating hisbat mode.


    Adam, on the other hand, mirrored the same action. Bewilderment filled their eyes.


    John stood silent, eyebrows furrowed in contemtion.


    Truth be told, he too was in the dark about the sudden shift in their behavior.


    However, it was evident that their mental state was off-kilter, their emotions seemingly swayed by an external influence.


    "Aren''t you two usually thick as thieves? Did all the pent-up negativity finally reach its breaking point and explode?" John used a jesting tone, trying to diffuse the awkward tension.


    Both Adam and Blue Sea responded with wry smiles, equally puzzled within.


    True, their respective guilds sometimes had friction, but it never affected their personal camaraderie.


    Especially after both the Creation and Blue Sea Guilds started ying the Godyer game, they had maintained a close alliance.


    Where did these sudden conflictse from?


    Moreover, both were prudent thinkers and steady leaders.


    How could they act so impulsively?


    Seeing their silence, John''s confusion deepened.


    After pondering for a moment, he softly inquired, "Have you two had issues with each other all along?"


    Blue Sea and Adam both shook their heads with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.


    John''s brows furrowed deeply, as if struck by a sudden realization.


    In a casual tone, he inquired, "After entering the Thousand Streams Cave, did either of you encounter anything strange?"


    Blue Sea and Adam took a moment to ponder and then almost simultaneously eximed, "Now that you mention it, there was..."


    "After stepping through the entrance portal, I kept hearing a faint whispering sound," Blue Sea began. "It was so subtle and sporadic that I thought I was just hallucinating and paid it no mind..."


    The two finished their sentences and looked at each other, eyes wide in astonishment. "You heard it too?" they echoed.


    A glimmer of understanding dawned on John''s face.


    He peered deep into the cavernous dark before them, a peculiar grin forming on his lips.


    "It seems our host has taken note of our arrival, greeting us in this unique manner."


    "What do you mean?" both Blue Sea and Adam queried, their expressions filled with confusion.


    John chuckled lightly, a hint of mystique in his voice.


    "All in due time. Once we venture further, it''ll be clear. For now, my advice to you both is to restore all your stats to their peak and stay close, no more than ten steps away from me."


    Though Blue Sea and Adam didn''t fully grasp the reason, they heeded John''s words without hesitation.


    They followed closely behind him, mirroring his every move.


    Strangely enough, once they maintained this proximity to John, the eerie whispers that once resonated in their ears ceased entirely.


    The two exchanged nces.


    At that moment, John seemed to return to his rxed state.


    Hands sped behind his back, he leisurely navigated through the thick magical flora.


    "Guild Leader Adam, have you spotted the Aqua Blue Flower you''ve been so eager to find?"


    As they delved deeper into the Thousand Streams Cave, John nced over with a teasing grin.


    Adam surveyed the surroundings, slowly shaking his head.


    "While there are plenty of rare magical nts here, there''s no trace of the Aqua Blue Flower..."


    Raising an eyebrow in surprise, John inquired, "Is it really that rare?"


    Before Adam could answer, Blue Sea chimed in with a smile, "Indeed, it''s rare. Throughout the entire Godyer Continent, within the areas yers have explored, no one has reported finding the Aqua Blue Flower."


    "The discovery of the Thousand Streams Cave was serendipitous. It happened when a member of Adam''s guild was on a quest in Storm City and inadvertently learned about it from a venerable local NPC elder," Blue Sea exined.


    "Without that fortunate incident, we might have been searching for the Aqua Blue Flower for a much longer time."


    John nodded in realization, the pieces fitting together.


    The trio continued their journey.


    The deeper they went, the more bizarre the magical nts appeared.


    At the entrance of the Thousand Streams Cave, the nts had resembled...well, nts.


    Now, however, the magical flora before them looked more like monstrous beings that might dwell in hell.


    Some were covered in tumorous growths, quivering in the air as if pulsating with life.


    Others bore enormous human-like faces, their features clear and distinct, offering the trio a chilling grin.


    And still others resembled tentacles, dotted with massive eyes, each exhibiting its own unique expression.


    These eerie nts sent shivers down the spines of both Blue Sea and Adam.


    However, John''s expression remained unflinching, as if he was ustomed to such sights.


    "What... what are these nts? Why have I never seen them before?" Blue Sea''s voice quivered slightly.


    Even with his usualposure, he felt a hint of fear in the face of these eerie nts.


    Adam kept his head lowered, not daring to take another nce.


    It wasn''t the fear of what he saw, but rather his intense phobia ying tricks on him.


    With a faint smile, John nonchntly responded, "Don''t be rmed. You surely recognize these nts. They''ve just been corrupted by some mysterious energy, causing them to mutate..."


    Blue Sea''s face showed utter disbelief. Almost instinctively, he cast his Detection spell on one of the nts:


    [Mutated Boneck Flower: A ck flower that grows in dim environments. Known for its strong hematopoietic function, it''s ideal for crafting health recovery potions. However, it has been tainted by the dark forces of the abyss, leading to mutation...]


    Dark forces of the abyss?


    Blue Sea looked up in shock, disbelief evident in his eyes.


    How could this even remotely resemble the Boneck Flower?


    Even if corrupted by dark powers, how could it distort to this extent?


    As he surveyed the surroundings, they were now entirely enveloped by these grotesque, mutated magical nts.


    Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed from the dense magical flora.


    "What''s going on?"


    All three turned towards the source of the sound, their eyes sharp.


    John sinctly responded, "Seems like the entity that rules this ce couldn''t wait any longer and has sent some pawns to test our strength."


    Blue Sea and Adam once again summoned their weapons, readying themselves for battle.


    This time, however, their target wasn''t each other but the direction from which the noise emanated.


    The rustling in the direction grew more intense, causing therge mutated nts to sway more violently.


    Soon, the nts parted, revealing a grotesquely shaped creature crawling from within.


    The creature resembled a withered section of tree trunk, with two pairs of blood-red eyes embedded on it.


    A slit below the eyes either served as its mouth or perhaps a nose.


    Directly beneath its main body, hundreds of tiny vine-like tendrils acted as legs, rooting deeply into the soil.


    With every movement, these tendrils churned and wriggled out of the ground, making for a sight that was both terrifying andical.


    As the creature slowly approached the trio, the eerie nts surrounding them seemed to sense its aura, bending away in a sign of submission.


    "This thing... Its appearance is beyond abstract," Adam remarked, a twitch forming at the corner of his mouth. "Would you say this creature is nt or animal?"


    Without hesitation, Blue Sea responded, "Whether nt or animal, it''s undoubtedly a formidable opponent."


    Having cast his Detection spell, the information he received left him in shock:


    [Desire Treant (Elite Boss): Once an ordinary ancient tree, but a mysterious and powerful entity once rested beneath it. The entity''s energy seeped into the ground, corrupting the tree''s roots, imbuing it with desires and consciousness. From that moment on, it became the most loyal servant of that powerful existence...]


    [Level: 150]


    [Attributes: ...]


    Even though it was only an elite boss, the formidable level of 150 was enough to make Blue Sea wary.


    "This grotesque creature is actually at level 150?" Adam, having also discerned the attributes of the Desire Treant, eximed in surprise.


    Blue Sea tightened his grip on his staff, his expression grave. "It seems that the first creature we''ve encountered in Thousand Streams Cave is of boss level."


    John chuckled lightly, "It''s to be expected. The dense magical elements here naturally give birth to high-level creatures... especially when tainted by external forces."


    After pondering for a moment, Blue Sea broke into a confident smile, dering, "Galewind, my friend, Adam and I will take care of this creature. We wouldn''t want to trouble you just yet."


    John replied with a smirk, "If you wish to warm up, Blue Sea, I won''t stand in your way." He then gracefully stepped back, affording Blue Sea and Adam ample room to engage the creature.


    Standing side by side, the two readied themselves forbat.


    "Blue Sea, if the two of us can''t handle this creature together, we''ll be making quite a fool of ourselves in front of Galewind," Adam quipped, his spirits high despite the looming threat.


    Blue Sea responded with a faint smile, "We''re not babes in arms... Let''s show this creature what we''re truly made of!"