Chapter 2356 Nightfall Stone
Fang Heng spoke without a hint of guilt.
Tippy didn't doubt him, perhaps because Fang Heng had just saved her life.
Everything had happened so fast, so suddenly, with too many clues. She needed time to sort through her thoughts.
Fang Heng continued, "Right now, the demonic seed is pursuing the Elder of the Root Tribe. If my guess is correct, the demonic seed's next move may be to seek revenge on your Tree Spirit Tribe."
Otherwise, why would that arrogant fellow, Pride, hastily run off?
He knew the demonic seed.
He was very cunning.
If this storyline were to unfold as described, Fang Heng would find it rather favorable.
Having Pride as an ally would expedite the mission's completion.
Tippy's expression shifted, and she slowly raised her head, gazing into the distance with a look of concentration.
"What is that?"
Fang Heng also raised his head and followed Tippy's gaze.
A thick black fog rose from the distance.
Tippy's heart sank.
It was exactly the same as the last holy war.
The black fog gradually spread in the 'Inner World'.
Under the influence of the black fog, the entire tree spirit tribe's strength would rapidly diminish to a significant extent.
At that time, they typically relied on their sacred tree to counteract the effects. But now...
"Tippy, are you alright?"
"Fang Heng, there's no time! We must find the Nightfall Stone immediately!"
Tippy turned to Fang Heng, a hint of urgency in her eyes.
The Nightfall Stone?
Fang Heng looked puzzled and asked, 'What is the Nightfall Stone?"
"A sealing tool. Not long ago, when we returned to the ruins of the tree spirit tribe's Elders Council, we searched the council's archives and found some ancient books left behind before the clan's demise. From these books, we learned that the Nightfall Stone was originally a special item used to assist in sealing the black fog."
"It was due to damage to the Nightfall Stone that the tree spirit tribe's ability to suppress the black fog was significantly reduced, allowing the fog to break through the seal. Afterward, the Nightfall Stone was kept within the Elders Council."
Something like this?
Fang Heng felt a stir in his heart.
If the Nightfall Stone can deal with Pride, wouldn't it also mean it could deal with Jealousy?
"Have you ever tried to retrieve the Nightfall Stone?"
"Of course we have," Tippy replied, her expression tinged with bitterness. "According to the ancient books, the Nightfall Stone was hidden by the Elders Council in a sealed land. Unfortunately, by the time we discovered this, the Elders Council had already been occupied by stone spirit puppets."
"The stone spirit puppets are very formidable. We've tried several times, but we couldn't break through their blockade," Tippy explained. "The Great Elder is concerned that forcibly seizing the Nightfall Stone would deplete too much of our clan's strength, so this matter has been temporarily shelved. The plan was originally to gather the entire clan's strength after the election of the new patriarch of the tree spirit tribe to eliminate the stone spirit puppets."
Fang Heng was stunned.
Good heavens, this matter really had something to do with him.
"Initially, when all four major clans entered the ruins of the Elders Council, it was our best opportunity to search for the Nightfall Stone. However, we were unaware at the time and didn't immediately enter the sealed land, missing the prime opportunity," Tippy explained, looking at Fang Heng. "I recall you entered the sealed land of the Elders Council back then, didn't you?"
"Yes."
Fang Heng nodded and carefully recalled the situation at that time.
He remembered it clearly. He did explore the sealed land and found the decrepit sacred tree, but he didn't come across anything related to the Nightfall Stone.
"I explored inside and found the decrepit sacred tree, but I never came across anything related to the Nightfall Stone."
"That's quite strange," Tippy pondered, lowering her head in thought for a moment before lifting it again. "I understand now. The Nightfall Stone is guarded within a secret temple established by our Soul tribe. It requires our tribe's secret arts to unlock, which is why you haven't found it."
A Secret Temple!
Fang Heng's heart skipped a beat.
Indeed, at that time, under the urgency of the situation, after Sandy's hint, he obtained the sacred tree sapling and encountered attacks from the stone spirit puppets. He hurriedly escaped with the sacred tree sapling without conducting a more thorough search.
It's certainly possible that something was overlooked.
Tippy continued, "Since then, the ruins of the Elders Council have been occupied by the stone spirit puppet monsters. The clans have been vying for the next leader of the tree spirit tribe, leading to open conflicts and covert maneuvers. Nature itself has had neither the time nor the elite resources to conduct a second, deeper exploration of the Elders Council ruins."
"So the Nightfall Stone is still in the Elders Council?"
"It's very possible."
Fang Heng rubbed his chin, feeling that something was amiss.
If what Tippy says is true, that the Elders Council of the tree spirit tribe could suppress the power of Pride using the Nightfall Stone, then why wasn't it done earlier? Why did they allow the demonic seed of Pride to destroy the entire tree spirit tribe?
There must be hidden motives at play.
However, for now, it would be prudent to return to the Elders Council and investigate further.
If the Nightfall Stone is indeed effective, it might prove useful in dealing with the demonic seed of Jealousy in the future.
Tippy, supporting herself on weakened legs, stood up and looked towards the black fog rising from the depths of the forest, her eyes filled with deep concern.
"Fang Heng," she said, "The black fog is spreading rapidly. We need to find the Nightfall Stone before it completely envelops the Inner World. I will immediately report this to the Great Elder and request clan reinforcements. I need your help."
[Hint: The player has triggered the main storyline mission branch-Tippy's plea.]
Mission title: Tippy's plea.
Mission description: The seal left behind by the tree spirit has been destroyed. The power of the demonic seed of Pride is eroding the 'Inner World'. Tippy hopes that you can cooperate with the Soul tribe to find the Nightfall Stone recorded in the ancient books and find a way to re-seal the demonic seed.
Mission requirements: Enter the ruins of the Elders Council occupied by the stone spirit puppets and search for the Nightfall Stone.
Mission reward: Favorable impression of the Soul tribe, the Soul tribe's reputation points, tree spirit tribe's reputation points, and support from the Soul tribe.
"Yes, of course."
Fang Heng glanced at the game hint and asked, "But are you holding up okay?"
"I'll be fine," Tippy replied, leaning against a nearby tree, catching her breath for a moment before continuing, "Fang Heng, there's no time. The black fog is spreading very rapidly. Once I recover a bit, I'll immediately contact the Great Elder for reinforcements using remote mirror communication. Let's head to the ruins of the Elders Council and wait for the reinforcements to arrive... cough..."
As she spoke in a hurry, Tippy coughed twice, "Cough... This might be my last chance."
"I understand. In that case, let's go to the Elders Council to take a look."
Fang Heng raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Two red shadows quickly darted out from the depths of the forest.
The two Lickers quickly arrived before Fang Heng and formed a cocoon.
The flesh cocoon rapidly expanded and burst open!
From within emerged two towering figures.
Fusion Tyrant form!
Fang Heng lightly tapped his toe on the ground and swiftly leaped onto the back of the fusion Tyrant form. He nodded towards Tippy.
"Let's go, get in the car. I'll take you to the Elders Council."