Chapter 2240 Restriction
In the past, while the various tribes of the tree spirit clan competed to nurture sacred trees, most of the competition was conducted openly, with the Elders Council overseeing and enforcing strict rules. Many things were regulated, such as refraining from actively destroying the sacred temples of other clans and refraining from physical conflict between clans.

Now that the Elders Council is no more, the constraints of these rules are diminishing.

But the Wood tribe didn’t expect the Leaf tribe to come directly for them!

They even directly killed their own kin!

“Hmph, ridiculous!” Rudyard sneered mockingly. “The Elders Council told us not to fight among ourselves. But what about when you and the other two tribes took the elite essence of our sacred tree? How did you behave then? In consideration of kinship, I’ll give you a way out. Take your people and leave, or else, you’ll stay here forever!”

“You’re delusional!”

Sidy roared in anger, and massive wooden spikes extended from the giant tree of the Temple of Incantation, viciously thrusting toward the Leaf tribe.

Both sides had ignited their fury, plunging into fierce combat once again.

Fang Heng remained hidden nearby, watching the tree spirit clans engage in battle.

It was evident that the Wood tribe was slightly inferior in overall strength compared to the Leaf tribe, and with fewer numbers, they quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.

“Boom!!”

After a brief skirmish, Sidy, the patriarch of the Wood tribe, was subdued by Rudyard. He was lifted high by a swirling vortex of leaves and slammed heavily into the trunk of a nearby tree.

Struggling to rise, Sidy’s sturdy body bore deep marks from the sharp leaves.

When he looked again, several clansmen had already died in the hands of the Leaf tribe!

The remaining five members of the Wood tribe gathered around, encircled by the Leaf tribe in the center.

“Rudyard! How dare you…” Sidy’s gaze pierced Rudyard, his fists clenched, his anger reaching its peak.

In fact, during the last struggle for the essence of the sacred tree, the four major tribes had still maintained great restraint, preserving their dignity by refraining from harming their own kin.

Unfortunately, the Leaf tribe had suffered heavy losses as they became the primary target of the stone spirit puppet’s attacks. Several of their kin had died under its assault.

The losses were devastating.

Rudyard had already earned the resentment of the other tribes.

Although the Leaf tribe members didn’t directly die at the hands of the other tribes, what was the fundamental difference?

If it weren’t for the other three tribes blocking their way, how could their kin have died?

It was simply a trick of using others to do the killing.

“Ha! How is it?” Rudyard looked at Elder Sidy of the Wood tribe coldly, his eyes full of killing intent. “Hand over the sacrificial jar and I’ll let you live. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not reminding you. You’ll all die here today!”

Sidy’s breath grew heavier.

He realized that Rudyard wasn’t joking.

Rudyard truly intended to kill them!

Weighing the pros and cons, Sidy had to make a choice.

“Rudyard! The Wood tribe will remember this! Let’s go!”

Sidy reluctantly left behind two jars of sacrificial jars, waved his hand, and quickly departed with the injured members of the Wood tribe.

“Tell your Great Elder that this Temple of Incantation is now under my control! If anyone dares to challenge, they’re welcome to come find me anytime!” Rudyard coldly smirked, gesturing to his Leaf tribe subordinates. “No need to see them off!”

Watching from the shadows, Fang Heng raised an eyebrow at the scene.

Rudyard looked like he was going to kill everyone and showed no mercy to his kind. However, he did not expect that he would let them go at the last moment.

So, the Leaf tribe also doesn’t want to escalate the situation and completely break off with the Wood tribe?

Fang Heng quickly evaluated in his mind.

The relationships between the major tribes of the tree spirits were truly unpredictable!

Forget about it!

Following from so far away, wasn’t it just to snatch heads?

With the Wood tribe patriarch heavily injured now, it was a perfect opportunity!

Snatch some heads!

Fang Heng had already made up his mind. He immediately threw a blood-tracking skill towards the rapidly retreating Elder Sidy’s figure from a distance, then followed into the secondary space projection, swiftly chasing after Sidy.

…

Sidy, the elder, and his group of six were mostly heavily injured, so they weren’t running fast. Once they left the area of the Temple of Incantation, they slowed their pace and took a moment to catch their breath under a giant tree.

“Are you really okay, Elder?”

“It’s nothing,” Sidy waved his hand. “This time, we were ambushed by the Leaf tribe and sustained heavy injuries. Oakley, your injuries are the lightest, and you move the fastest. You should go back and report this to Elder Klonor immediately. Tell him to bring reinforcements as soon as possible. We only have three temples, and if this one is taken, our cultivated sacred trees will fall far behind the Leaf tribe. Even if we have the essence of the sacred tree…”

As he spoke, Sidy’s expression changed slightly, and he leaned against a nearby tree, taking a brief rest.

Seeing this, the others came over to support him, concern evident in their eyes, “Elder, you…”

Sidy suppressed the flare-up of his internal injuries and waved his hand. “It’s fine. Remember everything I said just now. Go back and report immediately.”

“Yes, Elder!”

Upon hearing this, Oakley quickly noted down everything Sidy had said and promptly returned to report to the clan.

Sidy watched the Wood tribe swiftly depart, took a deep breath, and turned to the remaining few clan members, nodding, “The clan will definitely come to support us once they know. My consciousness is in extreme disarray right now, and I need some time. Just stay here and guard me.”

With that, Sidy began to concentrate on restoring his disrupted sea of consciousness.

“Understood, Elder.”

The remaining four Wood tribe members weren’t as badly injured as Sidi. They immediately stood guard.

Eh?

Within minutes, a member of the Wood tribe suddenly uttered a soft exclamation and turned to look at a patch of bushes behind them.

“What’s that sound!?”

“Rustle, rustle…”

All four members of the Wood tribe were simultaneously drawn to the sound emanating from the bushes.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!”

Turning around, they saw a large number of Lickers rushing out from the bushes ahead!

“Be careful!! Enemy attack!”

The Wood tribe’s expressions changed drastically as they immediately leaped into a defensive stance.

Several wooden spikes shot out from the air, fiercely aiming at the approaching Lickers!

“Boom! Boom! Boom!!!”

The exploding wooden spikes and subsequent chain explosions drove back the horde of Lickers attacking from the bushes!

However, before the guards of the Wood tribe could catch their breath, another wave of Lickers surged out from all directions of the dense forest!

“Be careful! There are so many of them!”

“Protect the elder!”

While Elder Sidy was still in the process of recovering his consciousness, part of his perception remained vigilant outside. Hearing the cries of his people, he forcefully interrupted the half-completed meditation, abruptly opening his eyes.

In Sidy’s eyes, bloodshot red veins filled his vision.

Seeing the creatures emerging from the bushes, his anger surged uncontrollably.

He had seen similar creatures before.

They were Lickers!

The Leaf tribe!

It must be them!

The first thing that came to Sidy’s mind was the human who was with the Leaf tribe!