To eliminate these Tree People would indeed require a massive amount of Immortal Essence.
The Tree People numbered even more than the Snow Monsters during the first Earth Calamity, and their recovery ability was formidable. Fang Yuan had already seen numerous severed branches that, once stuck into the soil, could sprout new buds in the blink of an eye.
Unless he used a killer move like Sword Wave Triple to completely annihilate these Tree People, there would be lingering trouble.
Otherwise, once these trees grew back, they would consume a tremendous amount of Earth Qi from his Immortal Orifice.
But using Sword Wave Triple, or the Flying Sword Immortal Gu, to eliminate these Tree People was simply overkill!
"If I were a Fire Path Gu Immortal, this situation wouldn't be much of a problem." Just as this thought crossed Fang Yuan's mind, he suddenly heard a whoosh—from among the fallen Tree People corpses, a burst of flames suddenly surged upward.
The flames spread rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, they had enveloped countless Tree People!
The fire clung to these Tree People, blazing fiercely and burning continuously, charring them into charcoal. The leaves melted away, and casualties spread in short order.
Fed by the Tree People, the flames grew even more vigorous, rising a full fifteen to twenty meters off the ground!
Rolling waves of heat surged toward Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan froze.
What was happening?
Clearly, this was another change in the Earth Calamity.
But why would the Earth Calamity change like this—setting itself on fire? What exactly was the Heavenly Will trying to do? Help Fang Yuan solve his problem?
Fang Yuan immediately dismissed that notion.
A joke—how could the Heavenly Will ever help him?
ROAR—!
From within the soaring inferno, a colossal figure suddenly rose to its feet.
Within the orange-red flames, a giant stood eighteen zhang tall!
"That's—?!" Fang Yuan's pupils contracted to needle-point size. Instinctively, he clenched his teeth. "The Calamity Burning Tree!"
This was an Ancient Wild Plant.
According to historical records, such Calamity Burning Trees were common in the Ancient Crimson Heaven.
But this Ancient Wild Plant was rare in the Five Regions—though not entirely extinct.
The predecessor of a Calamity Burning Tree could be any species of tree in the world. When a great forest fire killed countless living beings, there was a certain probability that a Calamity Burning Tree would form.
The Calamity Burning Tree was wreathed from head to toe in scorching flames. It burned year-round, making it impossible for anything to approach. What was even more fearsome was that this Calamity Burning Tree would bring countless misfortunes and calamities to any living being that drew near.
"Clever move, Heavenly Will. Truly insidious! It's obvious I have my Fortune Immortal Gu protecting me, and the Heavenly Will saw through that—so it manifested this Calamity Burning Tree to ruin my fortune!"
Fang Yuan felt the gravity of the challenge.
Under normal circumstances: if he encountered a Calamity Burning Tree in the wild, he would wisely keep his distance. But this was different—the Calamity Burning Tree had appeared directly within his Supreme Immortal Orifice, not only draining its Earth Qi but also bringing disaster and misfortune to counter his Fortune. If he left it unchecked, before long Fang Yuan would be plagued by misfortune, with everything going wrong. Great calamities could even strike. As for refining Immortal Gu—don't even think about it.
The flames soared into the sky, the burning tree crackling and popping as it blazed.
The position where the Calamity Burning Tree had appeared was cunningly chosen—right next to Soul Wandering Mountain.
Even though Fang Yuan had deployed protective measures, the intense heat still singed his eyebrows and hair, causing them to curl slightly.
"This is only the outermost edge, and already the temperature is this extreme—let alone the surface of the Burning Tree." Fang Yuan sighed and withdrew.
He left Soul Wandering Mountain directly.
He still had Rivers and Mountains as Before—even if Soul Wandering Mountain were completely destroyed, it could always be restored.
The real problem now was how to destroy this Calamity Burning Tree, which had grown to nearly the midsection of Soul Wandering Mountain!
Sword Mark Life-Seeking!
Sword Wave Triple!
Poison Gas Eruption!
Fang Yuan tried one move after another, but the results were unsatisfactory. The poison gas was incinerated by the scorching flames before it could even get close. The Flying Sword Immortal Gu did pierce through the entire trunk of the Burning Tree and fly back to Fang Yuan's hand—this strike made the entire Calamity Burning Tree shudder violently, but it quickly recovered as if nothing had happened.
As for Sword Wave Triple, it did manage to extinguish some flames and reach the Burning Tree, shearing off a great deal of foliage. However, before long, the sky-full of flames returned, and the Burning Tree rapidly regenerated—its wounds vanishing in just a few breaths.
A sharp gleam flashed in Fang Yuan's eyes. Immortal Qi surged wildly from his entire body as he called out in a low voice: "Strength Path Great Palm Print!"
BOOM!
A giant palm materialized out of thin air, parting the winds with an overwhelming, mountain-toppling momentum as it clawed savagely toward the Burning Tree.
But the Calamity Burning Tree was also massive—nearly half the size of Soul Wandering Mountain itself.
The Strength Path Great Palm seized the Calamity Burning Tree, attempting to lift it.
But despite Fang Yuan's sustained effort, there was no effective result.
The Calamity Burning Tree's countless roots, like massive serpents and dragons, plunged deep into the earth, voraciously drinking in Earth Qi. It was also sustained by the Spring Dawn Emerald Orioles dancing through the sky, continuously replenishing its vitality. It was as steadfast as a mountain—utterly immovable.
As time dragged on, the Strength Path Great Palm actually began to melt in the flames, and soon it appeared to have dissolved by more than half.
Fang Yuan dispensed with this palm print and turned his thoughts to another plan.
BOOM!
A second Strength Path Great Palm flew out, but this time it was not aimed at the Calamity Burning Tree—it was aimed at Soul Wandering Mountain.
Fang Yuan couldn't lift the Calamity Burning Tree, but the Strength Path Great Palm contained the power of the Mountain-Lifting Immortal Gu, which meant he could lift Soul Wandering Mountain.
WHOOSH!
The wind picked up sharply as Soul Wandering Mountain was lifted directly into the air by Fang Yuan and hurled straight at the Calamity Burning Tree.
A tremendous crash—the entire earth shuddered violently.
The Calamity Burning Tree was crushed beneath the mountain. The flames that had soared skyward lost their arrogant vigor, only managing to poke out from beneath the mountain's base, forming a massive ring of fire around its foot.
Fang Yuan hovered in the air, his expression blank, gazing down at the battlefield below.
The Calamity Burning Tree could no longer rise, and it was tormented by the Soul Path Dao Marks covering Soul Wandering Mountain. But its vitality was astonishingly tenacious—it was still resisting and struggling.
The scorching flames began to bake Soul Wandering Mountain, melting some portions of its rock into soft mud.
Completely eliminating the Calamity Burning Tree would not be so easy.
Fang Yuan's heart was heavy. He swept his gaze outward—his entire field of vision was painted crimson.