Walker Of The Worlds - Chapter 2734

2734  Meeting The Guardian Of The Forest

The rings, once distant protectors, now hugged his soul closely, leaving only the slightest gap between them—a near-complete barrier.

"Is this a bottleneck?" Lin Mu pondered, his instincts whispering that this final step would not be easy to take.

Still, he felt a deep satisfaction.

"If it’s this much, it’s enough." A small smile graced his lips as he closed his eyes. "Time to head back."

His soul returned to his body, and he awoke to the breathtaking beauty of the forest.

But he was not alone.

A towering presence loomed before him—a majestic creature standing over ten meters tall.

Even larger than Shrubby.

Its coat, a tapestry of dark green fur, shimmered with an ethereal glow, vines curling around its muscular frame like living armor. Two piercing green eyes met Lin Mu’s gaze, filled with an ancient wisdom that transcended words. A deep and powerful aura surrounded it, exuding both dominance and serenity.

Its horns—colossal and spiraled—looked as though they had been sculpted by the very heart of the forest, woven from countless branches and vines, their edges crowned with delicate flowers that pulsed with life. Around its neck hung a garland of living blossoms, their scent a soothing balm that seemed to resonate with the very essence of the woods.

Lin Mu needed no confirmation.

"The Deep Wood Ram… The Guardian," he whispered.

The beast stood there, unblinking.

Waiting.

Lin Mu observed the creature but felt no threat from it. If anything, a strange curiosity flickered in its luminous eyes, as though it were studying him just as intently.

Beyond its immense presence, Lin Mu could sense something else—an overwhelming power. It was unlike anything he had ever felt from a beast before. The sheer force of its aura, though not hostile, was staggering. It flared around the creature like an invisible storm, raw and untamed, yet perfectly controlled.

One look was enough for Lin Mu to know the truth.

He had felt such an aura from only a handful of individuals before: Emperor Feng, the Huiqing Emperor, and the Holy Topaz Emperor.

’Transcendent… It’s a Transcendent beast!’ Lin Mu realized, his heart pounding in awe.

He had read about the guardian of the Deep Wood Rams being powerful, but he had not expected it to be this strong. From historical accounts, the position of the guardian was passed down among the leaders of the Deep Wood Rams over generations.

After all, even powerful beasts had limited lifespans and would eventually perish. The texts mentioned that the guardian was typically at the Seventh Tribulation Stage of the Immortal Realm, but none had ever suggested they could ascend beyond that.

’How did it reach the Transcendent Immortal Realm? Wouldn’t the people have realized it?’ Lin Mu wondered.

A Transcendent Immortal Tribulation was not something that could be concealed. Even if it occurred thousands of kilometers away, powerful experts would sense it.

A Seventh Tribulation Stage Immortal Realm beast and a Transcendent Immortal beast were worlds apart. A single Transcendent Immortal beast could overwhelm dozens of lesser immortals and threaten entire empires on its own.

All such beasts were closely monitored, and if they were deemed a threat, they were eliminated.

’Does the Shanxi Empire know but choose not to act because it is a guardian?’ Lin Mu speculated.

Just as these thoughts filled his mind, a voice resonated within him.

"Human."

Lin Mu’s eyes widened.

"You can… speak?" he asked, astonished.

"I can." The Guardian replied.

It was then that Lin Mu realized he wasn’t actually hearing the voice with his ears—it was speaking directly into his mind.

"You’re communicating with me through my thoughts? Telepathy?" Lin Mu had encountered techniques that could achieve such feats, but they were exceedingly rare.

"I am merely speaking to you the same way the plants spoke to you," the Guardian replied calmly.

"The way the plants did… The Litany of the Verdant Forests." Lin Mu understood immediately.

"To think there would be a human who can listen to the voices of the forest." The Guardian’s voice carried a note of genuine surprise. "The children reported a strange human beckoning to them. I hadn’t expected it to be someone granted the approval of the forest itself."

Lin Mu hesitated. "Did I cause trouble?"

"No. But it was certainly… interesting." The Guardian said. "There has not been a human capable of this in any record I know of."

The towering beast took a slow step forward, lowering its head to study Lin Mu more closely. Despite its immense size, there was no aggression in its movements—only measured contemplation.

"The humans of the city are fine, but others are often greedy. Their hearts are tainted, and the forest rejects them. Yet… you are different."

He had never imagined that the Litany of the Verdant Forests would have such an effect, nor that it would be recognized by a being of this caliber.

"Regardless of the reason, it appears that your presence here has been of benefit, just as mine has," the Guardian continued.

"My presence? How?" Lin Mu asked, intrigued.

"A strange energy had been plaguing the forest. Corrupting its residents." The Guardian’s voice grew heavier.

Lin Mu narrowed his eyes, recalling a troubling encounter. "The Fang-Thorned Deer?"

"Them, and more," the Guardian confirmed. "They were not of this forest. But since your arrival, they have begun to disappear, and no new ones have taken their place."

Lin Mu absorbed this revelation. "And the strange energy?"

"It, too, has faded," the Guardian stated.

A deep silence settled between them. The Deep Wood Ram turned its gaze toward the distant horizon as if contemplating matters beyond Lin Mu’s comprehension.

Finally, the Guardian spoke again. "I will not take up more of your time. I must return to my clan."

"Of course," Lin Mu replied respectfully.

"But before I leave, there is something I have for you." The Guardian’s voice carried an air of finality. "A gift… that is what you humans call it."