Chapter 197 - 171

As the saying goes, "looking at a mountain, a horse runs to its death." Even from Astera, the towering figure of the Ancient Tree could be seen from afar, but it wasn't until this moment that the cloaked middle-aged man truly arrived at its base.Of course, this was partly due to his unfamiliarity with the terrain, which caused him to spend a lot of time in the dense forest.He was now carefully stepping on a highly raised tree root, approaching the Ancient Tree. White mist surged like a turbulent tide beneath his feet, and strange noises occasionally echoed from within, making him hesitant to get too close.Along the way, he cautiously avoided various disturbances, relying on the rapid movement ability granted by his strong physical fitness. Before long, he successfully reached the base of the Ancient Tree.As the distance continuously closed, the Ancient Tree's thick trunk appeared increasingly massive in the eyes of the cloaked middle-aged man. Its rough bark, like obsidian, exuded an extremely hard texture.This prompted him to pull out his small knife and gently tap it against the bark.A crisp sound instantly reverberated, and whether it was an illusion or not, he seemed to faintly see a spark fly."Good heavens, if I peeled off a piece of bark, I could probably use it directly as a shield!"This thought made the cloaked middle-aged man secretly click his tongue, but he didn't forget his purpose for this trip. After reinserting the small knife into its sheath, he began to rapidly climb upwards along the cracked crevices in the bark.His powerful limbs allowed him to easily lift his heavy body with just one finger, his hands and feet alternating continuously, like a nimble gecko.And on the surface of this giant tree, a large number of aerial roots hung down, intertwining and weaving together, magically forming natural staircases.In the blink of an eye, the cloaked middle-aged man had climbed hundreds of meters upwards, successfully reaching the first branch platform.Those thick branches extended outwards for thousands of meters like giant dragons, connected by vines and aerial roots, resembling a small, wide expanse of land when viewed from afar.Nutrient-rich tree fruits attracted a large number of herbivores. As far as the eye could see, countless environmental creatures of various shapes and forms were present.For these creatures, this was undoubtedly a legendary paradise, with abundant food and no need to worry about predators.Even predators at the top of the conventional ecological hierarchy, such as Rathalos and Nargacuga, dared not easily ascend the Ancient Tree, only daring to wander around beneath and around it. Once they crossed the line, they would face fierce attacks from Logan's dependents.The cloaked middle-aged man took a short break here, watching the surrounding creatures gnaw on tree fruits. He couldn't resist picking one himself and popping it into his mouth.With a gentle bite, a sweet taste instantly filled his mouth. After swallowing, it felt as if he had drunk a large glass of warm water, and a warm sensation surged through his entire body.Having not eaten a proper meal for over a month, he quickly stuffed several more tree fruits into his mouth. Only after replenishing the energy he had expended did he continue climbing upwards.Upon reaching the second level, the platform formed by the branches was slightly smaller than the first, but the tree fruits growing there were even larger. This made the cloaked middle-aged man regret eating too much earlier, filling his stomach.Here, numerous environmental creatures could also be seen. Compared to those on the first level, they were undoubtedly larger than their counterparts, and their fur and scales appeared more vibrant.He even saw some rare species here, such as Golden Stagbeetles, Flashflies, and Moonlight Lizards.If these creatures could be captured, they would surely fetch a good price. But the cloaked middle-aged man still resisted the temptation; his goal was always the dragon power crystal at the top of the tree, and he didn't want to lose sight of the bigger picture or alert the enemy prematurely.After a brief observation of the surrounding ecosystem, he continued to climb upwards. As the levels gradually increased, the creatures he encountered became more and more peculiar.But they all shared one common characteristic: the higher the level, the more outstanding they were among their kind.When the cloaked middle-aged man reached the fifth level, Grimalkyne began to appear around him. These upright, tiger-like beastmen startled him at first sight.The cloaked middle-aged man knew about Grimalkyne; they were originally creatures about the size of Felyne, but he had never heard of them growing to nearly two meters tall.Combined with the beastmen's disproportionately powerful strength and innate agility, their combat effectiveness was simply terrifying.Fortunately, most of the Grimalkyne did not carry weapons, except for a few patrol teams.At the same time, the comfortable environment on the Ancient Tree also made them less vigilant.Relying on his rich experience, the cloaked middle-aged man quickly used the Ancient Tree's complex and varied terrain to successfully bypass one Grimalkyne after another.Continuously ascending the levels, he soon reached above the tenth level.The surrounding environmental creatures began to decrease here, as an altitude of a thousand meters is not suitable for survival for most creatures.The dominant inhabitants here, besides the Grimalkyne, were some two-winged Wyverns or Pterosaurs, and also an insect similar to a cicada.When a Thunderbug landed beside the cloaked middle-aged man, he couldn't help but reach out, curious to touch it.Unexpectedly, the insect in front of him suddenly burst with a flash of lightning, instantly transforming into a phantom and darting away.His keen intuition allowed him to retract his hand in time, but his fingertip was still lightly brushed by the raised wing. His thick dragonhide glove was instantly sliced off a section, almost severing his finger.This was as if he had stirred up a hornet's nest. A large buzzing sound suddenly erupted from the surrounding tree canopy—the sound of wings rapidly beating, cutting through the air."Oh no!"Realizing he had caused trouble, the cloaked middle-aged man instantly broke out in a cold sweat.He quickly pulled a spherical object from his waist pouch and forcefully smashed it at his feet."Bang!!!"As the outer shell shattered, the liquid inside was exposed to the air and immediately began to rapidly evaporate. A white smoke then rose, accompanied by a pungent odor, quickly spreading in all directions.The Thunderbugs, which had already taken to the air, stopped their charge upon being stimulated, circling the smoke from a distance, unwilling to approach for a while.When the smoke gradually dispersed, the cloaked middle-aged man was nowhere to be seen.It wasn't until the Thunderbugs, like an enraged swarm of bees, gradually calmed down, that the cloaked middle-aged man, who had taken the opportunity to hide in a depression in the bark beneath the branch platform, finally let out a long sigh of relief.He looked at his torn glove; the cut was smooth and clean, without any burrs, clearly caused by an extremely sharp blade.Thinking of the thousands of terrifying insects still outside, he dared not move, and even a hint of regret welled up in his heart.After what seemed like an eternity, as the sun set and night deepened, he cautiously crawled out of his hiding place and carefully surveyed his surroundings.Flying creatures generally have distinct day and night habits; if they are active during the day, they will fall silent at night.Sure enough, the insects and pterosaurs had all burrowed into the tree canopy by now, making it an excellent time to climb upwards.To be cautious, he collected some leaves and tender branches from the surroundings. After some concoction, he made a plaster-like liquid and carefully applied it all over his body.This could effectively mask his scent, preventing him from being discovered by monsters with keen senses of smell.When he had ascended another thousand meters, reaching an altitude of nearly two thousand meters, a strong wind had, at some point, begun to blow outside the dense foliage of the Ancient Tree. The air currents continuously swirled and twisted, pulling the surrounding low-lying clouds into pure white cylindrical shapes.No wonder he couldn't see the top of the Ancient Tree when he was at its base; it was due to this layer of storm.Was this a natural phenomenon, or caused by some monster?Although curiosity welled up in his heart, the cloaked middle-aged man kept his hands and feet moving, climbing upwards, racing against time.As the altitude increased, the branches gradually became thinner, and the platforms extending outwards also grew smaller in concentric circles. However, the tree fruits that grew on them became even larger.Each golden, sparkling fruit emitted an alluring glow that made his heart pound.Unfortunately, these fruits were too large, and once broken open, they would inevitably release a strong fruity aroma, making it impossible for him to take them with him, nor did he dare to cut them open and eat them casually.Having climbed to such a height with great difficulty, he wouldn't risk even a slight chance of exposure by touching them.Just as the top of the Ancient Tree seemed to be within reach, the cloaked middle-aged man's gaze casually swept around, and he instantly broke out in a cold sweat.He couldn't believe his eyes; a Kushala Daora was actually lying on the branch platform to his left.Since when could two Elder Dragons of different species inhabit the same place? And judging by the location of this Kushala Daora's nest, its status was clearly far below that of the Elder Dragon at the top of the tree.Were they cooperating in symbiosis, or had one already submitted to the other?This was a major discovery. If word got out, it would surely cause a sensation among the Scholars.But for the cloaked middle-aged man at this moment, this was by no means good news. One Elder Dragon was already difficult enough to deal with, and now there was another; this was not simply a matter of one plus one.Fortunately, this Kushala Daora looked abnormal. Its steel hide was bulging, and wave-like cracks were expanding layer by layer, as if something was wriggling beneath its body.The cloaked middle-aged man had no intention of investigating further. He quickly seized the opportunity to climb upwards, and after passing this branch platform, the area above suddenly became quiet, without any movement.No creatures could be seen on the surrounding branch platforms, only large tree fruits, like lanterns, hanging among the branches and leaves.He suppressed the unease in his heart and continued to climb. After some time, the seemingly endless tree trunk above finally came to an end, revealing a cliff-like Cut."Finally here?"The cloaked middle-aged man took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself, and then cautiously peered over the edge of the break.In front of him was also a wide platform. Perhaps due to the altitude, dense clouds and mist swirled around, appearing blurry and indistinct in the night.Faintly, he could see a wide pool in the center of the platform, with two small mountains standing beside it, shimmering with a rainbow glow under the moonlight.The mysterious Elder Dragon was nowhere to be seen, seeming to have temporarily left its nest, which made the cloaked middle-aged man breathe a sigh of relief.He quickly flipped over and stepped onto the platform, his eyes continuously scanning the surroundings, eagerly searching for valuable items.The cloaked middle-aged man first focused his gaze on the two small mountains. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were some unknown metal, but being placed in an Elder Dragon's nest, they were clearly of extraordinary value. He immediately drew his scimitar and tried to cut off a piece.Unfortunately, this material was too hard, and he dared not make too much noise. After a brief attempt, he immediately gave up.However, when his gaze shifted to the pool beside him, large clusters of crystal-like formations instantly came into view, making his breathing involuntarily quicken.So many dragon crystals! The quantity was simply too great! Clusters upon clusters, some even forming Columnar several meters long.If he could carry all these dragon crystals back, not to mention buying some land and establishing an estate, he could probably even buy several cities.The cloaked middle-aged man wished he possessed legendary spatial storage abilities. He looked left and right, touching each dragon crystal, finding them all so precious and difficult to choose from.After a fierce internal struggle, he finally suppressed his greed and broke off a half-meter-long piece from a cluster of crystals on the shore.He then wrapped it entirely with the waterproof cloth he carried and securely tied it to his chest.This single piece was already enough for him to enjoy wealth and luxury for the rest of his life. Taking any more would affect his agility and hinder his smooth retreat.After all, no one knew when that Elder Dragon would return.Having obtained what he wanted, the cloaked middle-aged man pulled a mechanism on his back. The cloak behind him suddenly unfolded downwards, revealing ropes used to secure his hands and feet.Once everything was ready, he took a few quick steps to the edge of the platform and suddenly leaped off.The whistling wind continuously echoed in his ears. His limbs spread out in a star shape, and the cloak behind him, like the patagium of a sugar glider, filled with air, effectively slowing his descent.By making subtle adjustments between his limbs, he could even change his direction of fall, continuously avoiding the branch platforms.Seeing the ground below getting closer and closer, with escape in sight, a hint of joy appeared in the cloaked middle-aged man's eyes.However, he didn't know that from the moment he stepped onto the upper levels of the Ancient Tree, a pair of molten-gold vertical pupils had been watching his every move.When Logan saw the cloaked middle-aged man jump straight down, he was momentarily surprised. Then, the peculiar gliding posture immediately reminded him of wingsuit flying.This extremely dangerous sport in his previous life was perfectly suited for the powerful physical fitness of hunters in this world. Even without a parachute, they could withstand the impact of landing.After all, judging from their performance in the game, no hunter ever died from falling, which shows how incredibly sturdy their bodies were.However, letting him leave so easily would be too convenient for him.Although a little bit of dragon crystal was completely insignificant to Logan, it had to be given by him willingly for the man to take it. If he didn't give it, the man absolutely couldn't steal it.