“We’re here,” said the veteran at the front, his voice deep and heavy.

Nan Muran and the rest of the group of eight looked up and saw, about twenty meters ahead at the foot of the mountain, a massive, glowing red flame tree as large as a small building.

“Don’t get close to it. It can suddenly eat people,” the veteran warned them in a grave tone, a hint of worry in his voice.

Under the gigantic flame tree, the wide clearing was full of lush grass and flying birds.

The entire area, centered around the flame tree, was bright and spring-like amid the surrounding snowy mountains—a sight that looked suspicious no matter how you viewed it.

Suddenly, a mutated bird flying by and some passing mutated plants were snatched up by the tree at lightning speed.

It happened so fast that everyone thought they were seeing things.

Xiao Liu: This flame tree has completely lost its sanity after mutation. It creates illusions to lure animals close and then devours them. If Ranran wants to get its fruit, she’ll have to snatch it by force.

“Can you tell what’s going on with it?” Nan Muran asked. It was the first time she had seen a mutated tree showing signs of all four seasons on its body.

Next to her, Han Yingting and the others all shook their heads in unison. How could they tell? It looked beautiful, but also strange.

Xiao Liu: These idiot humans… Ranran, it’s a level-six mutated plant.

Nan Muran couldn’t help feeling a little frustrated hearing that. Her own plant abilities were only at the late stage of level three, far from being able to fully utilize Xiao Liu’s level-seven potential.

If they really had to fight, it would definitely be troublesome.

“Is there a problem?” Jiawu asked, worried, rarely seeing Nan Muran show such a troubled expression.

“This flame tree is already at the late stage of level six,” Nan Muran said helplessly.

It wasn’t the most powerful force she had encountered since the apocalypse began, but it was definitely the strongest opponent—because the only other level-seven+ being she knew was way too gentle.

“Level six…” Han Yingting and the others stuttered in shock.

Since the apocalypse began, they had always been outstanding among the survivors, proud of their own talents.

But ever since meeting Nan Muran, they had all become little more than useless side characters.

They were now just a burden dragging the boss down—a bitter realization that wasn’t easy to accept.

“Trees are afraid of fire, right? Should we try setting it on fire?” Eagle frowned. This flame tree was way too creepy. It would be best not to get close.

“Going head-on against something three levels higher? I salute you for being a true man,” Nan Muran said, feeling like giving Eagle a thumbs up.

Eagle himself realized how ridiculous his idea sounded and shut up.

Nan Muran started thinking, staring at the distance, and a plan gradually formed in her mind.

At the same time, Si Ye’s eyes also lit up—if they could use their powers to take the fruit without getting close, it would be the best plan.

“Si Ye, Han Yingting, Xiang Xi—you three use your powers from here to pick the fruit directly. Chengcheng, work with me to control the fruit so it doesn’t fall. Eagle, use wind powers to blow the fruit toward us. Fifteen and Jiawu, use your speed powers to safely collect the fruit without damaging it.

How about it?” Nan Muran looked at the others.

Good plan! Everyone’s eyes lit up. This sounded very doable.

“It’s a good plan, but we’ll need perfect teamwork. We have to practice a bit,” Han Yingting said.

“Let’s try it first with that dried-out wild fruit tree over there,” Si Ye suggested, pointing at a nearby withered tree still covered in black, shriveled fruits.

The group of eight positioned themselves around the withered tree, maintaining the same distance they would from the flame tree.

First, three blades—ice and metal—shot out together, targeting the fruits on the tree.

Then the spirit power and control abilities caught the falling fruits.

Eagle’s wind immediately kicked in, pushing the fruits out of the tree’s attack range. Then Fifteen and Jiawu used their speed abilities to collect them.

At first, they struggled a bit—messed up timing, moved too slow, sometimes even damaged the fruits.

But after several tries and constant adjustments to their positions and timing, their teamwork became smooth. After more than a dozen successful runs, they made no mistakes.

The only limiting factor was how many fruits they could control at once. Han Yingting and Chengcheng together could manage five fruits at most. Nan Muran and Si Ye, however, could double that—ten fruits in one go.

Jiawu and Eagle exchanged a glance but said nothing. If Nan Muran and Si Ye really went all out, they could probably handle twenty fruits at once.

It was obvious they were holding back their true strength. A glance at Han Yingting and the others confirmed it: these guys were dragging them down.

Nan Muran and Si Ye knew what the others were thinking but said nothing.

Once they were confident in their coordination, the eight returned to a position not far from the flame tree, quickly finding the spots most suited to them.

Xiao Liu: Ranran, you can do it! Don’t be afraid. If it really gets dangerous, I’ll take you all and run. The tree can’t catch us.

Nan Muran smiled slightly. “Thanks, Xiao Liu.”

Then she suddenly sharpened her tone: “Get ready—move!”

As her voice fell, everyone gathered their energy with precision and focus.

Before the swaying flame tree could react, the eight of them, with their tight, rapid coordination, successfully plucked two rounds—thirty fruits in total.

When they went for the third round, the flame tree’s branches suddenly lashed out at them.

“Retreat!”

Sensing the danger, they immediately retreated from their spots.

They watched as countless branches whipped out, smashing into the spots where they had just been standing, raising clouds of dust.

“Whoa, that was close,” several of them muttered, hearts pounding as they saw the devastation.

Nan Muran, however, suddenly turned to Si Ye. “I want to try something,” she said, her eyes glinting with a wild idea.

“How?” Si Ye asked.

“I want to see how much life force it has—whether it’s enough to bathe this whole mountain in spring,” Nan Muran said, her gaze on the flame tree turning a little crazed.

Without Si Ye’s time ability awakening, she wouldn’t have dared to try.
But with the ability to freeze time—even for just a moment—it was enough for a life-or-death gamble.

Most importantly, the wood-type core of a level-six flame tree was simply too tempting for a plant-type user like her.

Si Ye nodded. “I’ll go with you.”

“Jiawu, Han Yingting, take everyone else back to the veteran’s village,” he said.

Jiawu didn’t argue. He knew Nan Muran and Si Ye too well—they weren’t the reckless type. If they had decided to do this, they must have something up their sleeves. “Be careful,” he said simply.

“What the heck, the eight of us couldn’t do it, and now you’re leaving just you two?” Eagle said, worried, looking between Nan Muran and Si Ye.

Jiawu rolled his eyes—these two were probably more effective than all eight of them combined. He grabbed Eagle and dragged him downhill. “Let’s go.”

“Be careful. We’ll wait for you to come back,” Han Yingting called out. He knew if they stayed, they’d only cause more trouble.

Once everyone else had left, only Nan Muran and Si Ye remained.

The two exchanged a smile and then sprinted toward the flame tree. At the same time, Xiaobai and Xiao Liu shot out from Nan Muran’s left wrist, clearing a path ahead of them.