Chapter 193: Chapter 192 Porcelain Doll (Part 10)_1
It took Fu Qian nearly half an hour to finally mold a satisfactory face.
On one hand, it was because the skeletal structure was intricate, and replicating it exactly was somewhat troublesome.
On the other hand, the intangible influence of the area was disrupting the face molding process, causing it to become exaggerated without due care.
Fu Qian adjusted repeatedly several times before he barely managed to grasp the right pressure.
After dealing with the corpse, Fu Qian began to explore deeper along the path.
Although the blood-colored Porcelain Doll had escaped, the trip was still somewhat fruitful.
Having been a tutor at a top institution, Fu Qian had some understanding of the concept of Forbidden Areas.
In simple terms, these were regions in the world that, due to the influence of Transcendent powers such as environmental climate or the presence of numerous Transcendent creatures, became inhospitable to human life.
These regions were collectively known as Forbidden Areas, not only strictly controlled but also classified according to the level of danger.
Some that weren’t so dangerous were even open to the public for visitation.
Additionally, not all Forbidden Areas were under the jurisdiction of the Night Watchman; some were in the hands of organizations like syndicates.
While they were responsible for control, they also had the right to develop these areas, and special materials produced in certain regions were often of considerable value.
Nonetheless, the existence of people living in Forbidden Areas over long periods was too strange!
As a person with intense curiosity, Fu Qian’s interest was successfully piqued.
And as he progressed, Fu Qian realized that this area was quite extensive.
Most of the buildings at this moment were submerged in swamp, soaked in red and green decay for God knows how long.
The putrid stench that hit straight to the brain was absolutely soul-piercing.
At least he now knew where the foul smell was coming from.
In the swamp, there were also various tall trees covered in knots. The gloomy branches, nearly leafless, bore Bizarre Fruits of different colors and shapes.
Lush yet decaying, that was Fu Qian’s impression.
This place was obviously unsuitable for human habitation!
Not to mention those people didn’t look like Transcendents; they were just physically robust.
It was hard to imagine how they managed to live and reproduce in such an environment.
After living in such a place for a long time, not turning into a vegetable was already quite fortunate!
Fu Qian sighed to himself inwardly.
It had to be said that the girl was wittier than he had anticipated.
Not only did she take the chance to run, but her escape route was also complicated and bizarre, as if afraid of being followed.
She indeed had a strong will to survive!
However, for Fu Qian, who remembered her scent, it was impossible to shake him off in this way.
After a while, Fu Qian finally arrived in front of a building.
Compared to other places, this one seemed relatively fresh and clean.
Although he couldn’t deliberately release his perception, judging from the residue in the air, the girl seemed to have hidden inside.
Fu Qian hesitated briefly, considering whether to disturb her or not, when a grating squeaky sound reached his ears.
What was that?
Fu Qian turned his head to look to the side and discovered a tree beside him shaking unsteadily.
Accompanied by a gust of wind, Fu Qian dodged a swinging branch and looked closer.
At first glance, it seemed no different from the other trees, covered in knobby bulges.
The black-gray bark was covered with various mosses and fungi, the base had tree holes corroded into it, and even a fruit the size of a fist was dangling from the top.
How could a tree that looked like any other tree move?
Fu Qian was full of curiosity.
At this moment, after a missed attack, the trunk twisted eerily.
At the base of one of the branches, the twisted bark split open, revealing a blood-red fissure.
Was it an eye?
Fu Qian realized the significance of this action.
On the other side symmetrical to this eye, the bark was also stretching with all its might, but unfortunately, it had already been sealed by layer upon layer of tree burls.
This thing might really be a human transformed.
Fu Qian looked down at himself, could it be that he had guessed correctly?
Once the infection on his body became uncontrollable, would he truly turn into a Tree Planter?
“Who are you?”
At that moment, a slanted, large mouth suddenly opened from underneath the trunk.
Almost instantly, Fu Qian felt a stench, a hundred times more intense than before, hit him in the face, and dark red liquid even began to flow down.
“And who are you?”
Fu Qian directly deployed his skill of responding to a question with another question.
“I am…”
Such a masterful technique clearly could not be resisted by the old tree person, who reflexively began to ponder, but unfortunately, failed to produce an answer after a long time.
It seemed that it had already forgotten its own name.
“What are you doing here?”
Finally giving up its struggle, the tree person turned to Fu Qian with a question.
“I’m looking for someone.”
Fu Qian casually described the appearance of the little girl.
The other fell silent once again.
“She’s not here.”
After a long while, the tree person finally spoke.
You’re really giving yourself away, although the scent is faint I can still track it, that little girl is clearly inside.
Fu Qian thought to himself.
Why is this tree person deliberately misleading me? Do I really look that much like a bad guy?
It must be the face shaping that affected my demeanor, Fu Qian found an excuse for himself.
“That’s just fine then, if nobody is here I’ll go inside and rest for a bit.”
After throwing out this casual response, Fu Qian turned around and walked inside.
In the next moment, it was like eyes had grown on his back, as he sidestepped with a diagonal step to dodge the tree trunk that had lashed out at him.
Its attempt at misdirection failing, the Tree Spirit actually began to attack, swaying unsteadily.
Although it wasn’t fast, the branch, thicker than a thigh, swung with an intimidating momentum.
After its strike missed, the tree person started to shake its body violently.
The next moment, several orange-yellow fruits were hurled out like cannonballs, instantly covering a large area.
Upon hitting the ground, the egg-shaped fruits shattered instantaneously, and the full juice splattered out, raising a mist of greenish-yellow gas.
This gatekeeper’s battle awareness is really not bad, if all the trees inside are at this level, that would be somewhat formidable.
Fu Qian inwardly praised.
While the man and the tree were entangled, a strange sound suddenly rang out from a distance.
It was a sound that came from the depths of the swamp, as if someone was shaking a bell.
The ringing seemed to have a special effect, casting a vague trance upon the ear upon hearing it.
The tree person, which until now had been aggressive, suddenly stopped, twisted its body 180 degrees, and “looked” in one direction.
Fu Qian also took the opportunity to look in that direction, and saw on a small island in the swamp, a bright white light suddenly lit up.
The white light came from a leafless tree, completely bright white, tall and straight with nothing living on it.
In such an environment, the sight was mysteriously eerie.
On the road not far from the island, a group was approaching from a distance.
Leading them, one continued to walk while shaking the bell in hand.
At the same time, another person appeared next to Fu Qian.
The little girl who had previously escaped alone had quietly snuck out from home.