# Chapter 1754: The Tree Nation Under Moonlight
"HOLD THE LINE! Let all things flourish!"
With Chen Daoyi's furious roar, a massive tree phantom materialized, scattering rain of light that fell upon the earth, healing everyone present!
Chen Daoyi's body didn't stop; he charged straight at the Earth-Roaring King!
The Giant Tree Wood Spirit manifested, holding a thorny giant club, swinging it horizontally in a devastating blow!
Once again sending the Earth-Roaring King flying, pulling it away from the crowd!
But from the side, a Black Steel Ape King roared as it charged, its rank also reaching Dao Heaven Five!
With a casual yank, it grabbed a tower hundreds of meters tall, pulling it from the ground!
Picking up the tower, turning it to steel, it smashed down violently at Chen Daoyi's Giant Tree Wood Spirit!
Chen Daoyi turned to face it, blocking the descending tower, but the Earth-Roaring King's Blood Light Roar shot forth once more, directly engulfing the Giant Tree Wood Spirit in endless blood light!
From the sky, a Flame Sky Dragon burning with fierce flames charged, spitting a series of fireballs at Chen Daoyi, its rank also reaching Dao Heaven Six!
But the next instant, the Eight-Armed Giant Tree Wood Spirit burst out from the endless flames with a furious roar!
Its entire body covered in a spiritual energy veil, countless vines extending like writhing dragons, wrapping around the Flame Sky Dragon's claws, yanking it down to the ground!
Its massive hand gripping the dragon's neck, smashing it down!
At this moment, Chen Daoyi was fighting at his limit, one against three, dealing with three Dao Heaven beasts while also ensuring the defense line wasn't breached!
He was already at his breaking point!
Wang Gang wiped the blood from his mouth, his massive body rising, the bloody hole in his chest already healed under the effect of All Things Flourish!
"Seize every moment to evacuate! We'll hold the beast horde!"
As he spoke, he roared: "POWER!"
Blood lightning struck down again, and Wang Gang's giant form underwent a clear transformation, his muscles swelling to an exaggerated extent!
Transforming into the Strong Giant Form!
Grabbing a skyscraper in his hands, using all his strength, he hurled it violently at the charging beast horde!
Like a human grenade launcher!
Those flying buildings fell like meteorites, their destructive power astonishing!
But even so, it still couldn't stop the beast tide surging like ocean waves!
Hundreds of thousands, millions of spirit beasts—even standing still and letting people cut them down would exhaust anyone to death!
Luocheng was this big, with spirit beast packs pouncing from all directions—how could they defend it!
Below, the Spirit Martial troops had gone mad fighting, gun barrels scorching hot, firepower bombardment never ceasing from start to finish, the air filled with beast roars and explosions!
"Ammunition! Send it up! The eastern sector is breached! Don't let them in, damn it! Third squad, get up there!"
"Vice-captain! Ammunition reserves are almost depleted! Third... Third squad was already gone earlier!"
"Third squad's gone, then fourth squad, fifth squad! Get up there, old man! Reinforcements? Still can't make contact? Keep fighting!"
"Report! Signal stations and communication cables everywhere are mostly destroyed, hard to establish contact. The situation has been reported, but everywhere is requesting reinforcements!"
"Everywhere is fighting; there's no one left to support us! He..."
A barrage of porcupine venomous spines came raining down, and before the communications officer could finish his words, he was already riddled like a sieve!
Grief filled the eyes of all Dragon Abyss warriors!
Yes!
Where were there any reinforcements? There were none!
We could only rely on ourselves!
Only us remained!
The northern defense line was breached again, massive waves of beasts pouring in, charging toward the evacuating crowd!
Wang Gang's eyes bulged, his two massive hands plunging deep into the ground!
Muscles trembling, blood burning!
"RISE!"
With a thunderous roar, a chunk of Luocheng's ground over ten thousand meters wide was lifted by Wang Gang!
Spirit beasts, eyes bloodshot, crashed into the raised earth, gathering in greater numbers!
Wang Gang gritted his steel teeth, pushing against the earth barrier as he roared, his two massive feet sinking deep into the ground!
With his massive body, he somehow held back the impact of tens of thousands of beasts, slamming the earth barrier down heavily, crushing who knows how many spirit beasts!
But it wasn't nearly enough!
Wang Gang panted heavily: "What are you standing there for! Get up there and hold the line! Can't you see the defense is broken! Hold it!"
A young Dragon Abyss soldier shook his head, a helpless bitter smile on his face, clutching his shoulder—his right arm had already been bitten off!
"Ammunition's gone, no reinforcements, Brother Gang! We can't hold it!"
"The defense line can't be rebuilt anymore; let's retreat! This is simply..."
But Wang Gang gritted his teeth: "What the hell are you saying? Turn around and look! Look at that million people!"
"Retreat? Behind us are ten thousand homes and lights; how can we retreat! Are we going to watch them die in the jaws of beasts?"
"Did you forget the oath you swore when you joined Dragon Abyss? Did you think it was just hot air?"
"Our bodies are Luocheng's final line of defense! A flesh-and-blood Great Wall built with blood!"
As he spoke, Wang Gang was already charging into the beast tide!
"When you can't hold on anymore, think about why you're standing here, and what you're raising your fists for!"
"For the people! For our home!"
"Become someone you can be proud of! When calamity comes, every person has a duty!"
Those explosive fists swung like heavy cannons, pounding the beast tide on the battlefield!
Countless spirit beasts gnawed at Wang Gang's massive body, tearing at his flesh!
But Wang Gang! Would not retreat!
At this moment, determination filled the eyes of the Dragon Abyss warriors!
Looking at the beast tide charging toward them, their eyes held nothing but resolve and madness!
Drawing their spirit-binding blades, gripping them tightly, veins bulging on their foreheads!
Wiping the tears from their eyes, they roared with all their might!
"You beasts! Come and get us!"
"Eight Gates Formation • Eighth Gate of Death! OPEN!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The spiritual pressure of the Dragon Abyss warriors exploded off the charts, their skin crimson, roaring as they charged into the beast horde with blades raised!
Brilliant flames erupted from time to time within the beast tide!
Those were the blazing lives of the warriors!
The defense line was broken, and the Dragon Abyss warriors built a flesh-and-blood Great Wall with their bodies, buying time for Luocheng's people to evacuate!
Perhaps if they could hold out one more second, tens of thousands more people might survive!
And that one second! Was paid for with life itself!
"ROAR!"
A hoarse roar shook the heavens!
The Flame Sky Dragon's head was torn off, and from within the Black Steel Ape King's body, countless branches grew, bursting through its body!
A gruesome death!
Chen Daoyi had become a bloody gourd, severely wounded, half his shoulder gone!
And the Earth-Roaring King was also beaten to the brink of death, barely clinging to life!
Chen Daoyi dragged his heavily wounded body forward, a wooden spike extending, stabbing viciously through the Earth-Roaring King's eye into its skull!
Even with his severe injuries, Chen Daoyi's wounds were slowly recovering!
After all, he was wood-element; offensive power was lacking, but sustainability was strong!
But killing three Dao Heaven beasts by himself still filled Chen Daoyi's eyes with exhaustion!
The defense line had completely vanished; the Dragon Abyss warriors were still fighting bloodily, holding back the beast tide!
But in the distance, two Blizzard Storm Wolves, both with Dao Heaven-level strength, led dense packs of wolves charging this way!
In the sky, a dark mass of Blood-Drinking Bats pressed down like a blanket, their Bat King also at Dao Heaven!
And further beyond, more—as if no end was in sight!
Chen Daoyi took a deep breath, looking toward the sunset at the horizon, only the last trace of afterglow remaining!
His voice hoarse: "I've held out this long... that should be about enough, right? I've done my best!"
"Leave... or not..."
Chen Daoyi fell silent. His heart was worried about the Chen Clan, wondering how they were doing, whether little granddaughter Chen Xi was safe.
Whether little girl Nannan had eaten on time.
That was his only concern!
After receiving the order, he came to defend Luocheng, and the Chen Clan wasn't in Luocheng...
Chen Daoyi had spent his whole life finding ways to make the Chen Clan better, to glorify it, not to shame their ancestors!
He turned to look at the millions still evacuating!
A one-year-old child crying loudly in their mother's arms; the mother's arm was broken, but she held back her tears, forcing a smile to comfort her child!
A white-haired old father carrying his bleeding son through the crowd, his face covered in black soot and sweat!
A boy who looked like a student carrying his unconscious father, desperately seeking help, on the verge of tears...
"Is there a doctor? A doctor anywhere? Sob..."
Chen Daoyi's eyes dimmed, a bitter smile on his face. How could he bear to leave!
Trembling, he pulled a blood-stained cigarette from his pocket, borrowing a light from the dead Flame Sky Dragon!
The cigarette burned; Chen Daoyi took a deep drag, tilting his head back to slowly exhale. Smoke curled upward, blurring his vision!
The last ray of daylight faded, night fell, and the Blue Moon hung in the sky!
Chen Daoyi pulled out his phone. The screen was cracked. He dialed Chen Xi's number, wanting to hear his precious granddaughter's voice!
But it didn't connect. The signal was already cut off...
Chen Daoyi's eyes dimmed. He tried calling Jiangnan, but it showed he was out of service area!
Silent, Chen Daoyi sent Jiangnan a message. It showed sent successfully!
Chen Daoyi threw away his phone, a cigarette between his fingers, and slowly walked toward the surging beast horde!
"Wang Gang! Have the kids pull back. You're still young. Leave this kind of thing to an old man like me..."
With that, he passed through the crowd, stepping over beast corpses, walking toward the pressing beast tide!
Wang Gang froze, turning sharply to look. Old and young!
Their gazes met in the air!
Wang Gang's heart trembled. What he saw in Chen Daoyi's eyes was only calm. He gritted his steel teeth!
"Fall back! Everyone, fall back!"
The remaining Dragon Abyss warriors pulled themselves out of the beast tide!
Chen Daoyi walked forward, finishing his cigarette. He flicked it away casually. The burning butt fell to the ground, scattering sparks.
Chen Daoyi's silhouette was stooped and thin, stepping into the darkness under the moonlight!
Wang Gang stared fixedly at Chen Daoyi's back, not blinking!
"Brother Gang! What is Uncle Chen doing? The beast tide is so terrifying; even Uncle Chen at Dao Heaven can't hold out!"
"Uncle Chen is trying to..."
Many Dragon Abyss soldiers' eyes reddened, noses stinging, tears streaming uncontrollably down their cheeks!
Wang Gang glared: "Hold it back! Not a single tear!"
"Never show even a hint of grief toward someone who has resolved to die!"
"Because even a shred of sorrow is a desecration of their courage!"
Wang Gang's fists clenched as if trying to crush something!
A look of solitude crossed Chen Daoyi's aged face, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint curve!
"You mongrels! Let me show you the power of life!"
"Burn My Life • Tree Nation Descends!"
The next moment, endless spiritual energy erupted from Chen Daoyi's body!
His feet transformed into roots, plunging deep into the earth, spreading outward like writhing dragons!
Wooden spikes pierced up from beneath the ground, impaling every spirit beast charging toward him!
Chen Daoyi's body was swelling madly, transforming toward lignification!
His torso became a sturdy trunk, his outstretched arms turning into countless branches!
In the blink of an eye, a thousand-meter towering tree appeared in Luocheng!
This was already Chen Daoyi's limit, but he didn't stop, because it wasn't enough!
His own life essence was being extracted and stripped away. The giant tree continued to grow—three thousand meters, ten thousand meters!
All surrounding energy flowed toward the towering tree!
In an instant, a ten-thousand-meter-high giant tree took shape under the moonlight, its canopy reaching the sky, lush with vitality!
Those branches extended outward, like Chen Daoyi's open arms, embracing the people!
Embracing the entire city of Luocheng!
The shattered city was gently cradled in the giant tree's arms in this tender way!
Finally forming a sky-covering green curtain, like a protective shield, covering Luocheng, establishing a lifeline!
Countless beasts outside crashed against the Tree Nation!
But they were all blocked by the dense branches and canopy!
Countless flowers bloomed on the giant tree, silently opening, releasing endless yellow mist!
Chen Daoyi, using the last of his will, released parasitic spores!
Any spirit beast that came into contact with the spores would have mushrooms grow on their bodies, their life force being madly absorbed!
The energy was fed back to the giant tree, which used this power to grow madly, strengthening the Tree Nation's defenses!
The Tree Nation wasn't breached; instead, it grew stronger under the beast tide's assault!
Even the three Dao Heaven beasts, using all their strength to attack and bite, couldn't break through the Tree Nation!
Chen Daoyi's consciousness was already very faint.
He knew he was about to fade away. With his last shred of awareness, he used a brilliant Spring Return Rain of Light!
Outside the Tree Nation, spirit beasts rampaged, an apocalyptic scene. Inside the Tree Nation, endless green rain of light drifted, illuminating the darkness!
As the rain of light fell, everyone's wounds healed rapidly!
Even the countless beast corpses, the incomplete bodies, grew tender green moss and grass...
Luocheng, reduced to ruins, transformed into a vibrant nation of life under the pouring rain of light!
This was Chen Daoyi's final gentleness to the world.
The giant tree finally stopped growing. People could feel as if something had dissipated.
Looking at the giant tree in the city center, shouldering the weight of life, countless people's eyes reddened, tears streaming down!
In the end, Chen Daoyi couldn't bear to evacuate. He chose to use his life to protect Luocheng's million people!
Sobs echoed faintly within the Tree Nation. Even Wang Gang stood at attention, saluting the giant tree!
A child laughed, reaching out to catch the firefly-like green specks, giggling...
Under the Blue Moon, the Tree Nation grew tenaciously, interpreting the power of life in this spiritual calamity where death was the only theme!
Bearing the weight of life!
This Tree Nation was Chen Daoyi's answer to Huaxia, to the world!
Beneath the tree roots, the blood-stained phone still showed the message interface, the screen emitting a faint glow.
...
Recipient: Jiangnan!
"I have only one wish: take care of the Chen Clan for me! I trust you!"
"If you get the chance, go to the monument and tell my Chen Clan ancestor that his 86th-generation descendant, Chen Daoyi, didn't disgrace the Chen Clan..."
The screen slowly went dark, losing its light.
Only the cracked screen remained, along with the bright red blood stained upon it...