My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 168: Please Test Me Thoroughly

Bam!!

With Li Rui's Thunderbolt Palm strike, a piercing scream echoed through the space, revealing the full form of the Evil Spirit.

Then came the shrieks of the Forest Spirits.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

"It's out!!"

The Tree Spirit Elder was startled, having no time to ponder how this person could slap the Evil Spirit out with a single blow; he only wanted to resolve the crisis quickly, as that thing could claim a spirit's life.

Its body emitted a crackling sound and rapidly began to swell, growing crazily from a height of one and a half meters to a muscle-bound tree demon of over ten feet tall.

During the process of revealing its true form, it also had many thoughts.

"Indeed, it was a mistake to let outsiders in. That young lad seemed inexperienced and ended up causing trouble here."

"However, this person seems to have some skills."

"It seems I underestimated this young Daoist just now."

"The Daoist's skills are extraordinary; I'm impressed!"

The change happened because after Li Rui knocked the Evil Spirit out with the first palm, he followed up instantly with the speed of the Shenxiao Thunderbolt Heart Scripture with a second blow, scattering the ghost completely.

This was just a branch of the preliminary task. The monster wasn't strong to begin with, and it happened to encounter Li Rui, who was in peak level 25 state, and he also possessed the Divine Thunder, a nemesis of the Yin Sha Ghost.

One slap to fly, one slap to demise, just that simple. If not for the concern of harming the possessed Vine Spirit, he could have killed it in one move.

The Ginseng Spirit next to him was stunned, its mouth agape, not knowing what to say.

The surrounding Forest Spirits were also dumbfounded.

"You, you, you, and you still say you're a Daoist?!" The Vine Spirit Captain couldn't hold it.

What kind of Daoist exorcises by giant slaps?

The Tree Spirit Elder immediately intervened: "Teng Feng, do not be rude."

Seeing that the Evil Spirit was dispersed with two slaps, it returned to its usual one-and-a-half-meter stature, went forward, and with wrinkled wooden branches, cupped its hand, saying, "I apologize for any offense just now, I beg your pardon."

Actually, it wasn't being disrespectful earlier; it was merely considering the safety of the Forest Spirit Holy Land with no offense intended.

The younger Forest Spirits didn't understand, but having lived many years and seen much, it knew that Shenxiao Palace was skilled in using Thunder Skill to dispel ghosts, and the straightforward method used earlier, though unconventional, did match the identity claimed by the other party.

Li Rui, of course, responded kindly: "The Elder is too polite."

"Ah, Shen Huang, quickly take Teng Yao back to rest. Daoist, I didn't recognize you earlier and intended to refuse you entry, but it was out of helplessness. Recently, many strange things have happened in the Holy Land, requiring caution."

The Tree Spirit spoke like a scholar, "Ah, Daoist, you are a person of justice. If you do not hold a grudge and still wish to help, please follow me. There will be a generous reward after driving out the evil spirits."

[Optional task completed, received the Tree Demon's Elder's permission, experience points +15000]

Leveled up! (Previously, just 690 experience short of reaching level 26.)

[Main quest updated: Stage one completed, permission from the Tree Spirit Elder obtained. Settling rewards.]

[Stage two: Follow the Tree Spirit Elder.]

Li Rui casually distributed the attribute points evenly across the three attributes.

He knew that the main enemies in this Secret Realm were all Evil Spirits, mere juniors to him, but natural enemies to the Forest Spirit race.

In the setting of the Secret Realm World, all Evil Spirits belong to Yin; they either need a lot of Yang energy to be restrained or use Extreme Yin power to poison them back, reversing control.

If it were some Magmatic Spirit Monsters from Flame Mountain, they wouldn't fear Evil Spirits, but Forest Spirits are wood-based and naturally fear fire, lack the Yang energy of the Human Race, and aren't Yin enough, thus having no way to deal with Evil Spirits.

Of course, if they had powerful experts among their race, even being restrained, they could counter with strength, but this group of Forest Spirits on the west side of Liangting had long declined, so they couldn't handle the Evil Spirits.

Li Rui knew this because, during the investigation of Community Thunder clues, he found the background in the materials related to Shenxiao Palace, further confirming that the deity who once helped the ancestor of Liangting was related to this Spirit Realm.

Perhaps it was due to its fall causing a disturbance in Spiritual Qi, leading to the weakening of these Forest Spirits, resulting in the creation of this Secret Realm, Peach Blossom Spring.

He said to the Elder: "Elder, please hold on, I heard earlier from Captain Teng Feng that they captured a Human Race individual. If I'm not mistaken, perhaps it's my, my junior brother, could..."

The Tree Spirit, upon hearing they arrested the wrong person, felt a bit embarrassed, though it couldn't blush, so its face remained unchanged, quickly ordering spirits to bring the person over.

Soon, Hea Yang, with a bruised face and tied up like a zongzi, was carried over.

"Junior Brother!"

Li Rui hurriedly went up to untie him.

The Tree Demon Elder saw they indeed knew each other and quickly went up, fumbling to help.

"Oh dear, the flood has washed the Dragon King's Temple, hah, hahaha."

Its smile was a bit awkward.

Hea Yang was also bewildered, mainly at Li Rui's immediate address as Junior Brother.

How did I become a Junior Brother? Who's our master?

But anyway, it seemed he was saved. He initially thought he'd be stuck in the cell until failure.

Li Rui pulled him aside.

"What happened to you; didn't we agree to meet at the entrance before going in?"

Hea Yang, having previously fought Li Rui, thought it might be awkward upon meeting again but found the other didn't hold any grudges.

He recalled that this person had once defeated Li Xiaolin at level ten and, before entering, his third uncle, He Pengxi, had instructed him to listen.

So, he just answered with a mournful face: "I came in and saw you weren't there, so I thought I'd peek from the woods to see if you came in, but they beat me up and tied me up."

Teng Feng awkwardly said, "I apologize for any offense."

Li Rui quickly replied: "It's okay, it's okay, he likes taking a beating."

The Tree Demon Elder also came up with a smile of apology: "Since it's all a misunderstanding, would you two be willing to accompany me inside to meet the other elders? We can decide from there."

Inside?

Meet the Elder Council?

The still-dazed Hea Yang suddenly realized that the opening task was already completed.

"I wasn't captured for long, right? This fast? Even the simplest task should have been helping the Forest Spirits landscape, but it's already done?"

He was about to ask Li Rui how he did it when he saw the other waving a big hand.

"Oh! Elder, that's not quite right."

The Tree Spirit Elder blinked: "Daoist, what advice do you have?"

Li Rui leisurely said: "You see, this place is your Forest Spirit race's territory. If people were allowed in just like that, wouldn't it be dangerous? It would be hard to explain if the Elder Council inquired."

"But...."

The Elder was confused, "Daoist, you're a Shenxiao Palace disciple."

"Just because I say so?"

"Your golden light secret technique just now...."

"What if it was a trick?"

The Tree Spirit Elder felt like he encountered a nitpicker, his bark twitching on his face. "Just say what to do."

Li Rui rubbed his hands: "Please test me thoroughly. Tell me all the troublesome matters, and when I've completed them all, it will prove I'm a good person."