I am the Clone of a Death Row Inmate-Chapter 55: Tree Marrow

The battle between Feng Bqing and the Spirit Root Tree raged on, but Feng Bqing was at a clear disadvantage.

Spiritual Plants like the Spirit Root Tree trade their mobility for a massive home-field advantage, making them nearly unrivaled among those of the same rank. And this Spirit Root Tree was a peak fourth-rank Spiritual Plant, just one step away from the fifth rank.

Feng Bqing relentlessly severed the Spirit Root Tree’s roots, but there were simply too many of them. They regenerated at an incredible speed, making them impossible to cut down completely.

Every lash he took tore his flesh open. Only the tough body of a Saint-level evolver could withstand such punishment. Had it been Su Ze, a single strike would have likely forced him to detonate his Regeneration Core just to survive.

Just as the battle between Feng Bqing and the Spirit Root Tree was at its fiercest, a low roar echoed from an unknown source, and another green light of evolution flared to life.

Su Ze’s eyes followed the light, and he noticed something struggling desperately at the base of the Spirit Root Tree, within the tangled mass of its countless roots. A giant claw broke through, snapping more than a dozen roots, but before it could fully emerge, it was swarmed by even more roots and suppressed once again.

It was a tiger’s claw. Su Ze was certain he hadn’t seen wrong. Trapped within the Spirit Root Tree’s roots was a fourth-rank Tiger Beast.

The Spirit Root Tree was simultaneously suppressing a fourth-rank beast while also sparing enough power to thrash Feng Bqing.

Suddenly, everything clicked for Su Ze.

’This Tiger Beast must have just recently evolved to the fourth rank before being captured by the Spirit Root Tree to be devoured.’

’The Spirit Root Tree is already on the verge of the fifth rank. If it can digest this fourth-rank Tiger Beast, it might be able to complete its fifth evolution.’

’Originally, the Spirit Root Tree could have slowly devoured and digested the fourth-rank beast. But for some unknown reason, it ended up fighting the madman Feng Bqing, which exposed its existence.’

’A fourth-rank Spiritual Plant’s intelligence is on par with a human’s. The Spirit Root Tree must know how dangerous it would be to be discovered. That’s why it’s focusing all its energy on devouring the Tiger Beast, trying to break through to the fifth rank as fast as possible. In doing so, it must have relaxed its guard over the rest of the mountain’s interior, allowing Feng Bqing to get close.’

’That Tiger Beast is probably at the end of its rope. That last swipe of its claw was likely its final, desperate struggle.’

Su Ze recalled the evolutionary knowledge he had learned from Liou Wenxin. When carnivorous Spiritual Plants devoured their prey, they didn’t chew and swallow like beasts. They had no mouths or teeth, let alone stomachs or digestive systems.

They would often torture their prey to exhaustion or kill it outright, then slowly draw out its flesh and blood as nutrients. Some Spiritual Plants would secrete special acidic substances to completely dissolve a corpse before absorbing it.

’Though the Tiger Beast is still alive, it must have been drained until it’s extremely weak—not far from death. Otherwise, it couldn’t have been suppressed so completely, with no strength left to resist.’

If the Spirit Root Tree could speak, it would surely be cursing out Feng Bqing. All it wanted was to quietly focus on devouring the Tiger Beast’s energy to complete its fifth evolution, but Feng Bqing had stuck to it like a stubborn leech that it couldn’t kill or drive away.

Just then, the sounds of a fierce battle erupted from overhead. Su Ze couldn’t see what was happening, but he guessed the four Saints from the Mu and Luofan Countries had finally made their move.

’They must have realized something is wrong with the Spirit Root Tree and decided they can’t wait any longer.’

And he was right. Feng Bqing couldn’t handle the Spirit Root Tree on his own. If they waited any longer, the Spirit Root Tree might actually complete its fifth evolution.

With the four Saints above joining the fray, the pressure on the Spirit Root Tree increased exponentially. It had to suppress and drain the fourth-rank Tiger Beast, fend off Feng Bqing’s harassment, and simultaneously face a furious bombardment from the four Saints.

If this continued, it was doomed.

The Spirit Root Tree grew desperate. It decided to first deal with Feng Bqing, who was as annoying as a housefly.

Countless roots were mobilized. Even the ones maintaining the spherical space began to squirm. An instant later, a storm of shadowy whips lashed toward Feng Bqing, who immediately entered his Shadow Transformation state.

At the same time, however, many other roots formed suction cups that tugged at the shadow he had become.

Feng Bqing was truly reckless. While still in his shadow form, he suddenly charged toward the tree trunk. Just as he reached it, he could no longer maintain the state and reverted to his physical body.

CRUNCH!

He bit down hard on the trunk, tearing off a large chunk of bark dripping with green sap.

The Spirit Root Tree flew into a complete rage, and countless roots whipped furiously at Feng Bqing.

"AAAAH! HURTS, HURTS, HURTS, HURTS, HURTS!"

Feng Bqing howled in agony from the beating, transformed back into a shadow, and vanished in a flash.

Su Ze hastily backed away, retreating into the deepest part of the tunnel. He was afraid that with Feng Bqing gone, he would become the Spirit Root Tree’s next target.

But as he backed away, he was startled to see Feng Bqing right behind him.

Su Ze jumped in fright, but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Feng Bqing wasn’t even looking at him. He then quickly covered his nose, daring only to breathe through his mouth.

Feng Bqing had a piece of bark in his mouth. He took it out, licked the green sap from it, then stuffed the bark back into his mouth and, with a loud CRUNCH, CRUNCH, chewed and swallowed it.

Su Ze noticed that the look in Feng Bqing’s eyes suddenly changed!

They were no longer simple, confused, or dull. A light had returned to them, along with a sharp, murderous glint!

’He’s recovered? He’s not crazy anymore?’

Su Ze’s heart sank.

Luckily, the clarity in his eyes lasted for less than a second before they returned to their simple, foolish state.

Su Ze breathed a sigh of relief. ’It’s better if he’s a little crazy. Crazier is cuter... and he doesn’t bite.’

He immediately realized it was the sap on the bark that had allowed Feng Bqing to briefly regain his sanity.

’That’s Tree Marrow...’ Su Ze recalled Liou Wenxin’s description of it. She had said Tree Marrow could heal all sorts of injuries, so perhaps it could heal mental trauma as well.

’Feng Bqing’s madness is because of mental trauma. With enough Spirit Root Tree Marrow, he might be able to recover completely.’

’Even though he’s crazy, his subconscious instincts drove him to get the Tree Marrow. The bodily intuition of a Saint-level being told him his body needed it, which is why he was so fearlessly determined to get close to the Spirit Root Tree’s trunk.’

Although there wasn’t enough Tree Marrow to restore his sanity, its healing effects were indeed top-tier. The many flesh wounds he had sustained began to heal rapidly.

His condition restored, Feng Bqing shot out again like a gust of wind, resuming his relentless harassment of the Spirit Root Tree.

Meanwhile, the battle overhead grew even more intense. The entire mountain trembled as if in an earthquake. Su Ze carefully crept back to the tunnel’s exit, wary of a potential collapse.

If the tunnel showed any sign of caving in, his only choice would be to jump.

Suddenly, the light of evolution at the base of the Spirit Root Tree—the one that represented the fourth-rank Tiger Beast—rapidly dimmed. In its place, an intense light of evolution began to suffuse the entire trunk of the Spirit Root Tree itself.

The green evolutionary light was so dense it seemed tangible, and it appeared to be transforming into another color.

The Spirit Root Tree was about to evolve!