Protect Our Clan Leader

...

Upon seeing the Artifact Spirit's reaction, everyone present was stunned.

"Monster?" Wang Shouzhe frowned and asked, "Is there a monster in our research institute?"

"Of course there is~" Artifact Spirit Lan Shan replied with an air of certainty, "Which ancient ruins have you seen that aren't occupied by monsters? Later visitors have to go through numerous trials to obtain abundant rewards!"

"..."

Wang Shouzhe was rendered speechless.

You really have a point.

"But, I vaguely remember, our Green Demon Research Institute only planted some spirit plants and spiritual medicine, along with energy conversion vines cultivated in the lab, right?" Green Fern Senior Sister was somewhat puzzled, "These can't be considered 'monsters,' can they? Could it be that an intruding monster from outside has taken over?"

"Reporting to the honorable master." Artifact Spirit Lan Shan explained, "Since our institute has received your command to shut down, no outsiders have entered the depths of the research base. The monster was born inside our institute."

"Could it be... that the exotic demon vine I cultivated has successfully evolved?" Green Fern Senior Sister seemed to recall something and suddenly became ecstatic, "Truly a case of finding it despite exhaustive effort! Wahahaha~~~ Wait, why am I so happy?"

Green Fern Senior Sister's laughter abruptly paused, becoming confused.

"That's because, master, you had great hopes for that exotic demon vine. You spent a fortune building the Green Demon Research Institute specifically to cultivate it." Artifact Spirit Lan Shan explained, "Although your memory has suffered significant loss, your instincts still cause you to feel delighted. However, I must regretfully inform you, master, that your experiment failed."

"Uh..." Green Fern Senior Sister was speechless.

"After the closure of the institute, the exotic demon vine gradually lost control, leading to the deaths of many researchers. Eventually, it started devouring various spiritual medicine, spirit plants, and the underground immortal spirit veins and demonic evil vein that you transplanted with great effort." Artifact Spirit Lan Shan explained, "Fortunately, to guard against emergencies, you specifically set up a defense system around the cultivation field to restrict its growth. But now, everything edible within the institute has been consumed, leaving nothing more for it to swallow, forcing it into dormancy to reduce energy consumption."

Dormancy is a natural ability of all kinds of exotic plants, a way to preserve vitality.

"However, it wakes up periodically and, once awake, will frantically try to break through our institute's defense system to escape into the vast world outside. Over the years, the defense system of our Green Demon Research Institute has been gradually failing."

"Boom!" "Boom!"

As they spoke, the exotic demon vine deep within the institute continued fiercely assaulting the defense system. The floor and walls of the reception room trembled more intensely, even the spirit wood beams began to crack.

"Artifact Spirit Lan Shan, just how powerful is that monster?" The more Wang Shouzhe listened, the tighter his brow furrowed, unable to refrain from asking, "How much longer can our research institute hold out?"

"Equivalent to Level Twelve..." Artifact Spirit Lan Shan said leisurely, "No longer sustainable."

Level Twelve?

Everyone's complexion changed.

A Level Twelve spirit plant is equivalent to the Mid-Late Stage of the Void Realm for humans. Though there were three Void Realm elites present, victory was uncertain even if they teamed up.

The Third Prince Shentu Jingming grasped another point, instantly his face became tense: "'Unsustainable' meaning? I asked how much longer you can endure..."

He had only spoken halfway when a thunderous crash was heard, and the reception room wall exploded.

Amongst the flying debris, a giant black vine burst from behind the wall, relentlessly smashing toward the people in the reception room.

In an instant, a terrifying demonic might swept forth like monstrous waves.

Under the oppressive might, even the surrounding space began to crumble piece by piece.

No one had any doubt; anyone below the Divine Power Territory would not survive if struck by this vine!

Everyone's faces suddenly changed.

Fortunately, there were still Zhou Lao, the Green Phoenix Demon Emperor, and Ji Yueer, three Void Realm powerhouses present. They reacted immediately, rapidly sweeping people into the air to avoid the deadly blow.

The giant vine missed its target, crashing instead into the reception room, reducing it to ruins.

In the air, once the group regained their composure and looked down, they collectively inhaled sharply.

It was indeed a monster.

The ground, within the ruins, was covered with endless black vines, filling every inch of visible space. They twisted and swayed madly like writhing snakes, with massive vines slamming everywhere, ravaging the institute.

Most terrifying was its chaotic and violent God Sense, filled with savage fury, akin to an unreasoning, fiercely blazing demonic creature, utterly unreachable.

"Senior Sister, look at what you have researched? Exotic magical plant? Isn't that just an alien botanical species~~" Wang Shouzhe's face twitched, "If this thing escapes, getting into a city would mean havoc for all living beings. If it hides deep in the mountains and forests, it would thrive like a fish entering the sea, becoming increasingly unstoppable. If it continues evolving, even the Immortal Emperor and Demon Emperor may find it challenging to deal with."