In the war between humans and demons, it's not unreasonable for me to absorb demonic energy, is

Fan Tong and the others followed closely behind the spirit sparrow, and the surrounding environment became increasingly strange.

The dense forest seemed to come alive, with mist swirling among the trees, creating a scene like a fairyland.

The bird's song was clear and melodious, as if guiding them in the right direction.

Old Camel followed closely behind, his honest face showing a hint of nervousness, but his eyes were filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Lan Xing calmly analyzed her surroundings, her clear eyes sparkling with wisdom.

Han Xinru gripped the short dagger in her hand, looking around warily, her heart filled with both excitement and some worry.

As they ventured deeper, the fog gradually thickened, as if to completely envelop them.

Fan Tong felt the soil beneath his feet becoming increasingly damp, and the surrounding trees growing ever older, their bark covered with the marks of time.

The sparrow's flight speed gradually slowed down, and it finally stopped in front of an ancient palace.

The palace roof was covered with green moss, and the stone steps were covered with moss, making it look particularly ancient and mysterious.

"Is this the place we're looking for?" Han Xinru asked softly, her voice trembling slightly.

"I don't know," Fan Tong said, frowning. "But there must be a reason why the spirit bird is here."

Just then, an old voice suddenly rang out: "Halt! This is forbidden area, outsiders are not allowed to enter!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw an elderly man with white hair holding a cane standing at the entrance of the palace.

His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, exuding an inviolable majesty.

The old man's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Fan Tong.

"Who are you people, and why are you trespassing here?" The old man's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable command.

Fan Tong stepped forward, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and said, "Senior, we are treasure hunters and have no intention of offending you. It seems that there is a treasure hidden here, and we just want to find out more."

"Treasure? Hmph!" The withered old man sneered. "This is forbidden territory. No outsiders are allowed to enter. If you take another step forward, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Fan Tong took a deep breath and was about to speak when suddenly, the sparrow let out another clear chirp, as if cheering him on.

“Senior, we are not enemies. Please allow us to go in and investigate.” Fan Tong’s voice was steady and powerful.

The old man's eyes sharpened, and he tapped his cane lightly on the ground, making a "thump-thump" sound.

The surrounding air seemed to grow heavy, and the branches and leaves of the trees swayed gently in the breeze, as if waiting for a storm to arrive.

"Are you sure you want to go your own way?" The old man's tone carried a hint of warning.

Fan Tong nodded firmly, his eyes showing no sign of wavering.

The old man withered tree squinted slightly, and suddenly swung his cane, instantly bringing the surrounding trees to life.

The sturdy trees were like sleeping giants being awakened. The once tranquil branches instantly transformed into countless powerful tentacles, sweeping towards Fan Tong and the others with a whistling wind.

The air was filled with the scent of damp earth, mixed with the fragrance of leaves, but this fragrance was quickly overwhelmed by the tense atmosphere.

The old camel cried out in surprise. His heavy body couldn't dodge in time, and a thick tree branch wrapped around his waist like a python, lifting him high into the air.

He struggled desperately, the rough bark rubbing against his clothes, making a harsh sound.

"Help!" The old camel's cry echoed through the forest, startling a flock of birds.

Fan Tong reacted swiftly, drawing his long sword from his waist. With a flash of cold light, a sharp blade of energy slashed towards the branches that were entangled around the old camel.

With a "crack," the branch snapped, and the old camel fell heavily to the ground with a muffled groan.

Ignoring the pain, he quickly got up and, still shaken, brushed the dust off his body.

Dark green sap slowly oozed from the broken branch, emitting a pungent odor.

Surprisingly, the broken branch did not stop growing; instead, it regenerated rapidly at a visible speed, with the new branches becoming thicker and stronger, attacking Fan Tong once again with even greater force.

Fan Tong brandished his long sword, constantly cutting down the attacking tree branches, but he gradually felt his strength waning.

These branches seemed endless; if he cut one off, two more would quickly grow back, keeping him constantly busy.

Upon seeing this, Blue Star quickly joined the battle.

She formed hand seals and chanted incantations. A pale blue spiritual energy surged from her palms, transforming into sharp ice blades that shot towards the withered old man.

The old man withered wood snorted coldly, and with a light wave of his cane, a dark green barrier appeared out of thin air, blocking all the ice blades.

"Overestimating yourself!" he sneered, his voice as harsh as an owl's.

The sparrow circled anxiously nearby, chirping clearly, seemingly worried about Fan Tong and the others.

At that moment, Han Xinru did not join the battle. Instead, she walked towards the old man with the withered tree, her eyes resolute...

At that moment, Han Xinru did not join the battle. Instead, she walked towards the old man with the withered tree and said with a firm look in her eyes, "Senior, we really have no ill intentions. We are a group of treasure hunters who came together for survival and dreams. We have gone through many hardships to get here. If we have offended you in any way, please forgive us. We just want to find this treasure and realize our dreams."

Everyone looked at Han Xinru in surprise; her actions were beyond everyone's expectations.

The old man withered tree lingered on her for a moment, his sharp eyes seemingly assessing her sincerity.

Finally, his gaze softened slightly.

"Do you really think you can handle everything here?" The old man with the withered tree asked in a low voice, but his tone was less threatening.

Fan Tong and the others were pleasantly surprised. Old Tuo quickly brushed the dust off his body, and Lan Xing and Han Xinru also breathed a sigh of relief.

The old man withered the tree and withered it. The surrounding branches quickly receded, and the old camel was finally freed.

Everyone was overjoyed, and their admiration for Han Xinru arose spontaneously.

"Go in, but the dangers inside go far beyond this." The old man's voice carried a hint of warning, his gaze lingering for a moment at the dark entrance to the palace.

Fan Tong and the others exchanged a determined look, then cautiously walked towards the ancient palace. Inside, it was dark and damp, and an ominous aura emanated from it, as if foreshadowing a deeper danger.