The closer to the garden center, the taller the Fog Lamp Grass grew, with those in the center even reaching Xia Nan’s chest.
Likewise, the thicker stems and dense roots made the light emitted from the lanterns at the top of the Fog Lamp Grass even brighter, swaying like blue-white incandescent light.
Amidst these dazzling rays, the silent and massive object stood like a "light cocoon," intertwined among leaves and the radiance.
Holding the Ash Fall Straight Sword tightly, he parted the Fog Lamp Grass blocking his path and slowly approached.
As the distance between them closed, Xia Nan finally saw the full view of the "light cocoon."
He was sitting there cross-legged.
Or rather, it was "its" forr body remaining in place.
The lower half had been completely replaced by the purple-blue twisted vines like those of the previous Fog Lamp Monster, making it impossible to distinguish the original shape of the lower limbs. Twisting and mutating, they intertwined with the roots of the surrounding Fog Lamp Grass. Faintly, he could see blue-white energy flowing and transmitting through the stems and tendrils;
It seed not fully transford, as "its" upper body, especially the head and arms, retained the general shape of a human. The features, arm structure, and fingers were clearly visible, but the skin was replaced by a protective tissue like that of plants, with no pores or hair to be seen, only luminescent blue veins like Fog Lamp Grass leaf veins flickering faintly beneath the skin.
The expression on "its" face appeared pained and struggling, yet frozen in a rigid grimace, with both hands tightly gripping the roots of the lower half, fingertips deeply embedded in the fibrous flesh.
Xia Nan dared not approach, observing from quite a distance.
His heart grew ever more vigilant.
Recalling the life evolution ritual ntioned at the log’s end, there was no doubt that the ghastly plant statue before him must be the journal’s owner, the evil Druid stuck at the Level 5 bottleneck.
Although the detailed process of the supposed ascension ritual was unknown, the current scene clearly indicated the other’s "failed evolution" outco.
"So... is he dead?"
Xia Nan observed silently, focusing, enhancing his Perception Ability to the maximum.
This appearance...
Not dead, but not alive either.
Like being in a sort of half-dead superposition state.
Under his perception, the roots connected, with the surrounding Fog Lamp Grass constantly, though limited in number, sending energy to the central plant statue with their glowing blooms.
Yet the quantity of Fog Lamp Grass was limited; no matter how tightly the roots entwined, it was like a small stream entering a dried-up riverbed, far from enough to revive it, rely barely sustaining its internal life force.
Considering that Fog Lamp Grass only blooms once a year during specific months, the energy being transmitted to the Druid now would likely have to sustain him for the rest of the year after the flowering ends.
Thinking this, Xia Nan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Consider it good news.
At least he wasn’t facing a High Level Professional who had broken through the bottleneck and completed the transformation.
Just as he lifted the Straight Sword, cautiously advancing to end it all.
Suddenly, the plant statue, seemingly frozen in place, its head moved ever so slightly.
The originally painful and fierce expression rapidly relaxed; fingertips trembled, shaking off fibrous debris, withdrawing from the roots.
Closed eyes abruptly opened, those pupil-less eyes with only whites stared directly at Xia Nan who hastily retreated upon noticing the movent.
With lips slightly moving, a hoarse, dry voice like the rustle of dead leaves echoed in the cold, dead air.
"Stay... unknown adventurer..."
Do I stop just because you say so?
Alarm bells rang in Xia Nan’s mind, yet he kept moving, simultaneously holding his Longsword in front and keeping his eyes fixed on the Druid ahead while being wary of the surrounding Fog Lamp Grass, afraid of any ambush.
His continued retreat seed to make the half-plant Druid anxious, its purple-blue rigid face twisted as if forcing a smile, causing the leaves around its body to tremble slightly:
"Adventurer... you can see my current state..."
"A living dead whose every movent drains all his strength, poses no threat to you."
Naturally impossible to trust the other’s explanation.
Having read the notes, Xia Nan knew that the Druid was a proper Level 5 Professional before, with an evil camp, indifferent to using innocent villagers’ lives to create conditions for his advancent.
Under such circumstances, even though the Druid appeared half-dead, near-death, he wouldn’t relax his vigilance.
Only when retreating to a safe distance did he slow his pace.
Seeing this, fearing a few more words of nonsense might cause the adventurer to leave directly, the Druid hurriedly got to the point, raising his volu:
"I touched... the edge of eternity."
"Just one final step and the transformation could be complete."
"Adventurer, help ... you will receive unimaginable rewards."
Reward?
Xia Nan lightly arched his eyebrows, maintaining his vigilance while deliberately slowing down his pace, showing an interest.
His awakening ti was short and his mind hadn’t fully cleared, unable to detect Xia Nan’s disguise.
Thinking Xia Nan was genuinely persuaded, the Druid quickly increased the stakes.
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