Into the fields
"Dammit the pressure is too strong this time"
Many people straight up coughed up blood.
"It wasn't this strong last time"
Many people started noticing something strange, from their predecessor's experience and even by some of the older cultivators. They know that the essence qi is not supposed to be this strong.
"This essence qi is not only much stronger, but it is also much more corrosive, prolonged contact with it can also lead to long-lasting consequences".
While everyone was complaining about the nether essence qi, both Long Chen and He Mao had a big smile plastered all over their faces.
Looking at each other they giggled evilly.
Long Chen high-fived on her paw.
Long Chen felt like he had returned to his origin, his body, qi, and demonic heart were bring greatly nourished.
Although the nether qi was mixed with some undesirable qi, It wasn't hard to extract what they needed.
Fang Qian and others were being restless, but Long Chen gestured them to stand down.
"Don't jump in the game just yet, let's observe how this is playing out first. I smell something fishy"
Seeing Long Chen's stern expression, his group backed off and focused on what others were doing.
Some of them started attacking nether grove trees head-on, while their teammates shot arrows, daggers, and other projectiles at the tree.
"These trees are not so mighty"
"Yeah they are paper tigers"
To their surprise, the trees which seemed so daunting from afar fell apart like paper.
Long Chen's eyes narrowed seeing this and he had a thoughtful expression.
Seeing this a lot of people started tackling the Nether Grove trees with much success in the initial layer.
All of a sudden the outer trees started exploding.
'boom'
'boom'
'boom'
A lot of people were hit by the shrapnel of the explosions along with the corrosive qi.
"Ahhh run"
"Help save me"
A good portion quickly escaped but before they could get a breather.
Branches popped out from the tree trunks and dragged the people away.
'Woosh''Bang'
The howling of people was twisted as if their bodies were in unimaginable pain.
At least a quarter of people were included in the casualties.
Everyone who was sitting on the fence felt a chill up their spine whatever happened was certainly very gruesome.
"B-boss I think I wanna sit this one out" Fang Qian blurted out stammering.
Even Bei Youer and Fang Qingmei's faces were pale.
"It's alright the three of you did well in this secret realm, there is no need to be too greedy. Just sit back and relax, you too little ding ."
Long Chen gently comforted.
Everyone heaved a sigh.
'There is a malignant tree in the center is it worth it to go in"
Long Chen pondered.
Everyone at the edge of the field was having grim expressions.
Fang Zheng Belowed in a loud voice.
"Everyone those who won't be entering the fray better leave"
At the end of the sentence, his tone was very stern.
Quickly a lot of people exited the place.
The fact that the tops guys are not monopolizing the resources is favor on its own.
If they feel like playing the fisherman, then that's truly going too far.
Everyone started attacking the trees albeit a lot more carefully this time.
The only idlers were Long Chen and his friends, but nobody dared to say anything to them.
Everyone started attacking the next layer of trees albeit a lot more responsibly this time.
Huang Peng was practically hopping weaving on the air using his silk folding fans, his movements were gentle but vicious heavily damaging the trees. The rest of the clan members followed his lead.
The Wang Clan worked together as a unit, their movements were bold and near suicidal.
Making them a lot more efficient.
Xia Wuhen was attacking the layers from afar point away from everyone. His movements were vicious and silent, while they seemed unassuming they certainly packed a punch.
Fang Zheng was probably the most flashy with using exquisite sword movements while his clan mates fired shorts.
Fang Qian, Youer, and Qingmei put on serious expressions seeing them.
The Young clan leaders may have weaker bodies, qi, and even less pure qi. They were still stronger than fang Qian and co. albeit removing the intent.
This is largely due to comprehension, efforts, and experience.
Long Chen also noticed this but said nothing.
In their beginning, he might hold their hands but at the end of the day, the Little hawk has to take a leap of faith.
"You guys also leave"
"No way we won't let you here by yourself"
Bei Youer immediately objected.
"Trust me I will be by myself, but some groups may have sinister intentions towards you."
Seeing Long Chen being so adamant everyone left except for He Mao.
"Mao your powers are being severely restricted here just stick to be alright"
He Mao nodded gently nudged against Long Chen's leg.
Long Chen moved his gaze deep inside the field.
Despite the lack of visibility, he can feel something special inside it, and just thinking about this made his heart boil.
'Woosh'
Long Chen dashed towards the trees, seeing this the nearby trees swung their branches at him.
Smirking lightly, with He Mao on his back, Long Chen jumped forward keeping his head in the front and legs at the back.
Rotating his body he maneuvered against the branches but dodged every last one of them. Albeit some of them at the last moments.
'Swish'
'Swish'
'Swish'
The other people had their jaws hanging seeing Long Chen.
10 meters, 100 meters …
Using the trees as catapults, he kicked at them, for support, to launch himself even further.
Before he knew the outer part of the field wasn't even visible anymore.
The trees which seemed to have horribly drawn faces were frowning while looking at him.
Long Chen had a wide smile plastered on his face, his body was trembling with excitement.
This is the kind of excitement he always sought, paying no heed to the expressions of the trees Long Chen made his way towards the center.
Arriving at the central part of the tree Long Chen was baffled by what he saw.
"EVIL CYPRESS TREE"
He saw a small inconspicuous black-colored tree in the center, surrounded by Taller than normal Nether Grove trees.
All of them were radiating strength at the initial essence gathering realm cultivator.
Still, it wasn't these trees that astonished him, it was rather the evil cypress tree.
It was an absolute treasure of heaven and earth if extracted properly.
As if sensing Long Chen's emotions the Evil Cypress Tree held out its branches and pointed at Long Chen, who suddenly felt a lot of danger.
'crack'
Dashing sidewards he was his previous position being pincered by all these Nether Grove trees.
Seeing this Long Chen had a solemn expression but hidden deep in his eyes was madness.
'Swish''Swish'
Long Chen unsheathed his 2 sabers.
"Asura Intent"
'Whoosh'
A red-colored miasma was oozing out of Long Chen, it weakened the hostile creatures will as well as hinder their essence qi flow at the same time promoting Long Chen's qi flow.
'Screee'
The evil cypress tree let out a screech and all the surrounding trees went ballistic.
They threw everything they had at Long Chen.
"Demon fairy steps"
He hopped around while jumping via the tree branches.
Long Chen appeared nimble like a crane occasionally intensifying his intent to push them backward.
One of the branches came way faster aiming at his head.
"Eagle kings wrath"
Swinging both sabers he was barely able to cut off the branch.
'Splash'
As the branch fell Long Chen was splashed with a black-colored liquid that seeped out of the branch.
"Shit"
Long Chen tried to get away but it was too late.
The liquid seeped into his body and started corroding his body and qi.
"Ahh dammit"
Taking advantage of Long Chen's confusion the branches coordinated to hit him at the back.
A couple of branches attacked Long Chen from below as a feint before he was hit in the back.
'Crack'
Cracking of bones was heard as Long Chen was sent crashing downwards.
Long Chen threw up blood.
'Dammit this is concentrated dark essence qi, it's a pain in the ass to remove'
Long Chen tried running Primordial Dragon Transformation to heal, but the branches weren't going to give him any extra time.
They relentlessly attacked him on all sides.
Long Chen tried navigating to the best of his abilities, but he got hit every now and then accumulating massive injuries.
He was careful not to cut any branches this time so he just parried all their blows.
Observing the Evil Cypress Tree, Long Chen felt it was growing weaker, since Long Chen disturbed its breakthrough it's going absolutely haywire.
After 10 minutes Long Chen was able to get rid himself of all the dark essence qi.
Still, he was in very bad shape, his clothes were torn in many places, with multiple broken bones he was bleeding all over the place.
When all of a sudden he felt a tap on his shoulder, turning back he saw He Mao, who has been on the sidelines pretty much the entire encounter, pointing to a stone embedded in his belt.
"Oh, it's done " Seeing this Long Chen started laughing maniacally.
"Ah Gu come out with your comrades"
"Woosh"
All of a sudden a bunch of fiends appeared out of nowhere and started exerting tremendous pressure on the trees.
"Except for the one in the middle destroy the rest of them.
Also, Don't forget to extract to fruits carefully"
"As my liege commands"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone