Chapter 2317 Fully Prepared
Serge continued, “Fang Heng, our attacks on the Temple of Incantation were merely a diversion. Our real target has always been the habitat of the Wood tribe, and we are fully prepared for it.”

….
“Is that so?”

Fang Heng smirked, about to mock him, when Serge took out a small box from his pack.

“What’s this?”

“The corrupted seeds of the Broken One.”

Fang Heng watched as Serge opened the box, revealing three black, date-sized objects inside.

Serge handed the box to Fang Heng and explained, “Take these three seeds. They appear to carry the aura of parts of an ancient sacred tree on the surface, but they are internally contaminated beyond use. If a sapling of the Wood tribe’s sacred tree were to accidentally absorb them…”

Fang Heng grew more curious, hesitating before taking the box, and examining the seeds inside.

“Oh? So you’re saying this thing can cause trouble for the Wood tribe?”

“A very significant trouble.”

“Is that so? That’s quite clever.”

Taking his eyes off the seeds, Fang Heng looked back at Serge and asked, “So, tell me more about your plan?”

“Just like when you infiltrated our habitat before, we hope to utilize your special abilities to enter the Wood tribe’s territory. Here’s a map of the internal layout we obtained. It may be a bit outdated, but I believe it should still be mostly accurate.”

Serge placed a map on top of the box and handed it to Fang Heng, continuing, “With your abilities, locating the seed of the sacred tree should not be difficult.”

“Indeed, and then what?”

“After that, we’ll need to use the polluted seed of the sacred tree. Once you’re near the sapling domain of the sacred tree, simply infuse your mental strength into the seed and crush it. The pollution concealed within the seed will then erupt.”

“This force has a strong suppressive effect on the sacred tree saplings, capable of nullifying some of their abilities. Ideally, we should find a way to directly integrate the seed into the magic array nurturing the sacred tree saplings. If the sacred tree seed absorbs the contaminated seed, the impact will be greater, and the backlash effect will last longer.”

Fang Heng became even more curious, wondering just how potent these seeds could be.

“After you complete this task, find a way to leave immediately. The Leaf tribe will handle the rest. If you have the strength remaining, consider destroying the teleportation passages within the Wood tribe’s clans to buy us more time.”

Fang Heng took the box and map Serge handed over.

[Hint: The player obtains an item-Seed filled with foul aura.]

[Hint: The player obtains an item-Map of Wood tribe habitat (partially incomplete).]

[Hint: The player triggers a special mission-Leaf tribe’s scheme.]

Mission name: Leaf tribe’s scheme

Mission description: The Leaf tribe wishes for you to infiltrate the Wood tribe’s camp and temporarily disrupt the sacred tree saplings using a seed filled with foul aura, significantly reducing their strength.

Mission requirements: Temporarily disrupt the sacred tree saplings of the Wood tribe to buy time for the Leaf tribe.

Mission reward: Main mission-Increase in the completion rate of dealings with the Wood tribe, increase in friendship with the Leaf tribe.

Fang Heng glanced at the game hint for the mission description, then back at the item description, feeling a sudden jolt.

Wait a moment…

This thing!

[Hint: Item-Seed filled with foul aura.]

Item description: A seemingly ordinary seed emitting ripples of sacred tree strength. It appears intact on the outside, but reportedly, its interior has been thoroughly polluted, filled with corrupting strength.

Additional description: The seed seems to contain some unknown power within.

Additional description (triggered by mission hint): Crushing this seed will rapidly spread its pollution, causing localized contamination within the domain.

Additional description (triggered by the player’s internally resonant strength): This seed has been polluted by a demonic seed (pollution source unknown).

Huh?!

Pollution?

A demonic seed!

Fang Heng turned sharply, looking at Serge with a mix of confusion and suspicion.

How did they come across this thing? Where did it come from? Did the power of a demonic seed exist in this world?

“We stumbled upon it recently while exploring various ruins of the tree spirit tribe in the Inner World,” Serge replied, noticing Fang Heng’s unsettled demeanor. He asked, “Is something wrong? Does it seem strange to you?”

“No, it’s nothing,” Fang Heng replied, trying to contain his thoughts. He held the seed in his palm, pondering silently, then looked towards the Wood tribe’s habitat in the distance. Then he asked, “So, what’s your plan? Once I breach their outer defenses, what comes next for you?”

“We have our people already placed inside the Wood tribe,” Serge explained calmly. “If the sacred tree shows any sign of anomaly, our operatives will activate a backup teleportation magic array. During the chaos, they will infiltrate the heart of the Wood tribe’s habitat and seize the sacred tree sapling.”

Serge paused briefly before adding a cautionary note, “The internal guards of the Wood tribe are extremely vigilant. If anything goes wrong, you could try infusing your mental strength into the polluted seed and triggering its explosion to cause some disruption. But remember, we only have three seeds.”

“Heh… you’ve got it all figured out.”

Fang Heng chuckled lightly, glancing at Serge as if he had seen through his plans completely.

Triggering pollution voluntarily?

For an ordinary person, being close to such an explosion could lead to corruption from the pollution.

Sensing Fang Heng’s penetrating gaze, Serge grew slightly uneasy and asked, “Is there something else on your mind?”

“No, nothing.”

Fang Heng couldn’t be bothered with further questions and simply pressed forward, disappearing into the scattered spatial fluctuations.

Watching Fang Heng depart, Serge’s gaze turned cold.

The polluted seed of the sacred tree contained a high concentration of pollution. If triggered at extremely close range without preparation, even their tree spirit tribe wouldn’t withstand it; there was a high probability of corruption effects.

If Fang Heng actually crushed the sacred tree seed, he would undoubtedly be affected by the pollution, leading to dire consequences.

Moreover, Serge had only now handed over the contaminated seed, under the directive of Great Elder Senzo. Senzo believed that mere attacks on their base wouldn’t suffice to draw back the Wood tribe’s Great Elders; more disturbances were needed, such as threatening the main body of the Wood tribe’s sacred tree sapling.

They had learned in advance that the Wood tribe had placed a special imprint on their sacred tree saplings. Once triggered, this imprint would alert all the Great Elders, who would immediately return using a special ritual.

This provided an opportunity for others to act and seize parts of the sacred tree sapling.

In truth, the subsequent actions purportedly planned by Argyll of the leaf tribe were entirely deceitful.