Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

A silver glint flashed in Kate's eyes.

"Void Serenity Lotus - Spatial Anchoring!"

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the illusory image of the silver-blue lotus shone brightly.

The immense spatial energy was channeled out.

Kate formed a hand seal, her fingertips shimmering with pale silver moonlight, and then pressed down sharply into the void ahead.

Om-!

Instead of attacking the Shadow Beast's main body, the project used the node locked by Elena's starlight as coordinates, combined with the Seed of Origin's super-strong analysis of the spatial structure of that area, to instantly lay down several invisible "anchor points" made of highly condensed spatial energy in the spatial folds around the Shadow Beast!

These anchor points, like pebbles thrown into water, instantly disrupted the relatively stable spatial structure of that area.

Just as the Void Shadow Beast was preparing to leap again, it suddenly felt the surrounding space become like a viscous swamp.

Its ability to jump, which relies on spatial folds, was instantly greatly disrupted and slowed down.

"Buzz—!"

It emitted a buzzing sound of alarm and rage, its antennae vibrating wildly as it tried to forcibly tear space apart.

"Interference successful, lasting 5 seconds!" Kate shouted in a low voice, veins bulging on her forehead. Maintaining such a large-scale spatial anchoring was extremely taxing.

"Well done!" A glint flashed in Evan's eyes.

"Shadow Strike - Finishing Blow," Kyle's icy voice echoed from the shadows.

Just as the Shadow Beast was momentarily immobilized by the spatial anchor, two shadows, like the most deadly venomous snakes, silently pierced out from the shadows on its left and right sides.

Kyle's shadow threads coalesced into an almost invisible point of cold light, carrying extreme spatial sharpness, piercing straight at the relatively vulnerable side of the Shadow Beast's neck.

Serena's dagger, wreathed in a demon-dispelling light, pierced towards the joint of its hind leg, like a black lightning bolt.

The timing was impeccable!

puff!puff!

The sounds of two sharp blades piercing flesh rang out almost simultaneously.

Kyle's shadow threads pierced precisely into the gaps in the scales, leaving a trail of eerie blue blood. The powerful spatial cutting force tore through the muscles and energy channels!

Serena's dagger plunged deep into the joint gap, unleashing a burst of demonic light that instantly disrupted the joint's stability.

"Awooo—!"

The Void Shadow Beast let out an extremely mournful howl!

The excruciating pain and joint damage caused its movements to become instantly distorted.

"Wind Shackles - Thousand Bindings" Aiven seized the opportunity and swiftly struck with his Wind Staff.

Countless condensed cyan wind strands appeared out of thin air, coiling around the Shadow Beast's injured neck and hind legs like serpents, further restricting its movements.

Kate also moved with "Thorn Armor - Strangulation".

Several vines covered in dark gold metallic luster and wrapped with pale purple poisonous light broke through the ground, tightly coiling around the Shadow Beast's body like giant pythons, frantically injecting nerve-paralyzing toxins.

At the same time, the metal spikes on the vines, due to the properties of the Golden Thorns, possessed a physical piercing effect, fiercely chiseling into the gaps in the scales.

"Rock Spike - Piercing Strike" Sophia also unleashed her power at the same time, and an extremely sharp, huge stone spike covered with gray-white runes suddenly protruded from under the Shadow Beast's body, piercing straight at its relatively vulnerable chest and abdomen junction.

Concentrated fire, truly deadly concentrated fire.

The Void Shadow Beast, hampered by spatial anchoring, injured joints, and doubly bound by wind cables and vines, and corroded by neurotoxins, was now like a moth caught in a spider's web.

In its eyes, if one could call the space above its deep, gaping maw its eyes, a flicker of desperate madness flashed.

"Buzz—!!!"

It suddenly opened its massive maw, no longer attempting to leap, but instead condensing the remaining astral energy within its body, spewing out a dark blue energy beam imbued with spatial tearing properties.

Astral Cut!

The beam of light, sharp enough to tear through space, shot fiercely at Sophia's rock spikes and entwined vines, attempting to sever the restraints.

"Star Protection - Barrier" Elena shouted.

The Nebula Crystal burst forth with a dazzling silver-blue light, and a thick wall of starlight instantly appeared in front of Sophia and the vines.

*Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!!!*

The azure spatial-cutting beam slammed violently into the star barrier.

Terrifying, tearing energy violently assaulted the starlight, causing the barrier to fluctuate wildly and become riddled with cracks.

But Elena's Star Power was nourished in the Garden of Life, making her barrier exceptionally strong, and she managed to withstand this desperate attack!

boom!

Sofia's rock spikes hit their target without any hindrance.

Sharp stone spikes pierced through the junction of the Shadow Beast's chest and abdomen, drawing out a large amount of dark blue blood and fragments of internal organs.

"Seed of the Spirit Pivot - Mental Blast" Kate delivered the final blow.

A silver seed, wreathed in pale blue moonlight, was precisely shot into the Shadow Beast's gaping maw, which was throbbing with pain, and detonated deep within its throat.

Om-!

A highly concentrated mental shock erupted within it, instantly destroying its last will to resist.

The Void Shadow Beast's massive body stiffened abruptly, and the mad light in its eyes quickly dimmed and finally went out.

Its body, covered in shadowy scales, convulsed violently a few times before crashing to the ground, slamming onto the dark red fungal carpet and kicking up a cloud of dust.

The pale blue blood gushed from the wounds, quickly neutralized and dissipated under the purifying force of the Garden of Life.

The dashcam transmitted a clear notification:

[Successfully defeated a Void Shadow Beast (possessing full Wizard-level combat power), earning 100 points. Teamwork was key to this kill; points are distributed based on contribution. You have earned 30 points.]

[Total points updated: 757.]

"Well done, Kate!" Evan's voice was weary yet approving. "Your spatial anchoring was key! Without it, we wouldn't even be able to touch it!"

"The star trails indicate that the entrance to the fourth level, 'Emerald Dream,' is just ahead at the border of the Withered Royal Court. The spatial tides are stabilizing, so we can enter."

Elena slowly opened her silver eyes and pointed in one direction.

Everyone's spirits lifted.

The fourth plane, described as a vibrant, city-state-like realm, sounds like the perfect place to rest.

"Target—Emerald Dream. Rest, recover, and digest the spoils!" Evan said in a deep voice.

"Timeframe... one month. During this period, you are free to move around, but remain vigilant. One month later, gather at the city center to explore the next level!"

Guided by Elena, they quickly found a spatial vortex at the border of the withered royal court, flowing with the luster of liquid emerald.

The vortex emitted a gentle and stable spatial fluctuation, quite different from the entrances of the previous floors.

Stepping into the vortex, the dizziness from the teleportation was slight and brief.

As vision cleared, a fresh, moist, and vibrant atmosphere swept over me, instantly dispelling the corrupting gloom and battle fatigue from the edge of the Garden of Life.

The world unfolded before them like a scroll painting.

The sky was a pure, washed-out azure blue, dotted with wisps of cotton candy-like white clouds.

A soft orb of light, not the sun, radiating a warm glow, hangs in the sky, casting a comforting light and warmth.

Beneath my feet lies soft, fertile black soil covered with a thick layer of emerald green moss.

The air is filled with the fragrance of soil, the fresh scent of grass and trees, and the faint fragrance of flowers. Every breath is refreshing and invigorating, as if it can wash away the weariness of the soul.

As far as the eye can see, there is an endless, vibrant scene. Towering trees with bark as smooth as jade, lush foliage, and a faint aura of life flowing through them.

Thick vines twine around the tree trunk, bearing huge, colorful flowers that emit a sweet fragrance.

A crystal-clear stream meanders through the woodland, its bottom covered with colorful pebbles and swaying aquatic plants, where occasionally a fish shimmering with silver light can be seen leaping out of the water.

Further away, one could see neatly planned farmlands radiating a soft magical glow, planted with strange crops that Kate had never seen before, emitting faint elemental fluctuations.

Most surprisingly, at the edge of the horizon, the outline of a city could be faintly seen.

The city's buildings are not made of cold stone or metal, but are naturally grown and constructed from huge, living trees, vines and luminous crystals!

The towering treehouses resemble towers, and arched bridges entwined with glowing vines connect different areas. The streets are lined with fragrant flowerbeds and canals with flowing springs.

The entire city exudes an atmosphere of harmony, tranquility, and integration with nature.

"This... is the Emerald Dream?"

A hint of emotion flickered across Sofia's rock-like face as she gazed incredulously at the vibrant world before her.

"The star trails indicate that this is a demiplane formed by the convergence of fragments from the shattered astral plane and the prime material plane."

Elena's silver eyes sparkled, and her voice carried a hint of ethereal beauty.

"The residual astral energy combined with the rules of life to form this unique paradise. The native inhabitants here... seem to be quite friendly to wizard apprentices."

"Friendly?" Kyle said coldly from the shadows, his eyes scanning the dense jungle warily. "Beneath the surface, there may be danger."

Kate's primordial seed operates silently:

[Environment: Emerald Dream (Demiplane)]

[Energy Attributes: Abundant life energy (gentle, stable), weak astral energy (inert), pure water/earth element.]

[Spatial structure: Relatively stable, with no abnormal fluctuations.]

[Threat perception: Extremely low. Intelligent life has been detected gathering; energy fluctuations are peaceful, with no apparent hostility.]

[Recommendation: Safe zone, suitable for rest, recovery, and trading.]

The cold analysis made Kate relax her tense nerves a little.

After a series of fierce battles in the Heart of Lava, the Shadow Corridor, the Corruption Garden, and the Purification Temple, this peaceful and serene land is like an oasis in the desert.

"All-Encompassing Recorder Notification: Entering the safe zone 'Emerald City'. Killing non-hostile targets will deduct points. You can trade, rest, and study."

Evan looked at the recorder on his wrist and said in a deep voice,

"It seems this place truly is a rare haven within the Trial Tower."

"A safe haven?" Sophia stretched her slightly sore shoulders and neck. "Perfect for finding a place to rest and rejuvenate, and fuse with the earth vein crystal core fragments."

Although Kyle and Serena remained silent, the coldness in their eyes softened slightly, clearly indicating that they also needed to rest.

Elena looked at Kate:

"Junior Kate, you have just experienced the baptism of the Crystal Source Cave and then engaged in continuous high-intensity battles. Although your mental sea is stable, it has been greatly depleted and you need time to settle and consolidate it."

The Emerald City might have the resources we need.

Kate nodded: "It certainly takes time to process what we've learned."

"Alright!" Evan made the decision. "Let's head to Emerald City to rest."

He surveyed the crowd with a sharp gaze:

"This month, everyone is free to move around! There are three goals:"

First, restore your condition, heal your injuries, and stabilize your realm.

Second, digest the gains from the trial! Sophia fused with the fragments of the earth vein crystal core, Kelserina strengthened the spatial equipment, Elena nurtured the nebula crystal, Kate... solidified your spatial perception and spiritual sea.

Third, gather intelligence! Especially information about the fifth level! Elena's prophecy and the ancient texts of the Barrier both mention that it is a demiplane of the dead, extremely dangerous, where even formal wizards may perish. We must be fully prepared.

One month later, we will meet at the "Tree of Life" plaza in the center of the city-state and then depart.

With renewed spirits, the group set off towards the emerald city that radiated a soft glow, each with their own goals.

Stepping into the Emerald City, Kate felt as if she had entered a fairyland from a fairy tale. The streets were woven from resilient, fragrant, living vines that were soft and springy to the touch.

The "buildings" on both sides are made of huge, magically guided ancient trees, with doors and windows carved into their trunks, entwined with glowing vines and blooming flowers, emitting a soft glow and fragrance.

Some buildings are even made entirely of giant, glowing mushrooms or crystal clusters, sparkling and translucent.

A peaceful and serene atmosphere permeated the air.

There weren't many pedestrians on the street, but they were of various races: there were tall "wood elves" with skin like tree bark and emerald green eyes; there were short and stocky "crystal dwarves" with big beards who played with glowing minerals; and there were even "light fairies" with transparent wings who looked like large fireflies, flying and playing in the air.

When they saw Kate and her party, they showed no hostility or surprise, but rather cast curious and friendly glances, and some even nodded slightly in greeting.

Guided by a gentle wood elf, they quickly found the "Forest Whisper Inn" for travelers to stay in.

The hotel is made up of several huge symbiotic ancient trees. The rooms inside are like tree hollows, furnished with soft moss beds and fragrant wooden furniture. Outside the windows is a garden with a flowing spring, creating a quiet and comfortable environment.

After settling in, the members of the Green Peak Alliance went their separate ways to begin a month-long period of rest and improvement.

Kate glanced at the sky and felt that she was in pretty good shape, so she decided to go to the hotel lobby to rest for a while, sit down, and learn about the general situation of this trial tower.

Upon arriving at the bar in the lobby, a tall, slender female elf with azure eyes and a perfect figure was gently wiping a wooden wine glass in front of the bar.

"Beautiful elf, please give me a glass of your most popular drink," he said, pulling a magic stone from his person.

"While you're at it, could you buy me a drink? And tell me about any valuable magical plants or creatures around here?"

"Oh, such a high price for magic stones is only something that you foreign wizards can afford. Thank you for your generosity..."

She paused, then offered Kate a freshly prepared cocktail, giving her a charming smile.

"My name is Selena. This is our best-selling wine—Jade Kiss. ​​Please have a taste. We have plenty to talk about, enough to keep you hunting for a long time. Let's chat slowly."