Chapter 73: An Unexpected Encounter—Guardians of the Forest!-Mass Job Change: My Skills Are All Forbidden Spells with a Ten Thousand Times Boost(By the banks of the Ruoshui River, the wine cups drift along the gentle current.)

"I really envy you. All you had to do was meet the Forest Guardian and that was it," Lin Han said, spreading his hands. "I still have to compete with those two big brothers for the Guardian’s Heart. Honestly, it's a tough spot for me. Looks like I'll have to wait for another chance to attempt the third transition."

Du Wanting looked at Lin Han and said, "Don’t lose hope. What if the Guardian’s Heart ends up in your hands?"

"Forget it," Lin Han replied helplessly. "If I have to fight those two for it, they'll tear me apart. Who knows what might happen."

"Are you leaving now?" Du Wanting asked.

"Leaving?" Lin Han responded, "Who knows—maybe, as you said, I’ll snatch the Guardian’s Heart after all."

"Let’s go find the Forest Guardian," he said. With that, the two of them ventured deeper into the forest. Lin Han, constantly observing with the Eye of God, immediately locked onto the Forest Guardian's location.

It turned out it wasn’t far from them at all.

"Is that...?" Du Wanting covered her mouth, hardly daring to breathe. "Is that the Forest Guardian?"

Lin Han replied gravely, "Yes, that's it. I never expected the Forest Guardian to be a plant-type monster. That massive willow must be several centuries old by now."

If Lin Han hadn't sensed it himself, he would never have believed that the Forest Guardian was actually a willow tree. Its presence matched the intelligence reports—its strength was nearly at the platinum level. Even if those two big brothers came, they might not be able to handle it.

So this was what a true S-rank mission looked like!

As the two were still in shock, the willow branches suddenly lashed out wildly, stabbing straight toward them.

"Careful!" Lin Han shouted, pushing Du Wanting aside. He drew the dagger from his waist and sliced the willow branch clean in two.

So tough!

He hadn't used his full strength, but it was enough to instantly kill a silver-ranked monster. Even so, cutting through the branch took significant effort. Yet for the Forest Guardian, losing a branch was nothing—it didn’t care in the slightest.

"Gao Chong, are you alright?"

Du Wanting scrambled to her feet, quickly channeling her power, transforming instantly into a warrior.

Lin Han said, "You need to go. I’ll hold it off—head in that direction and find Brother Wang and the others."

"I can’t leave you here alone!" Du Wanting declared, her eyes unwavering.

...Oh, dear ancestor, just go or I won’t be able to cast a forbidden spell.

"You need to go, now! The Forest Guardian’s strength and speed are beyond what the two of us can handle. Even with your warrior transformation, do you think you can last longer than me—a level twenty rogue?"

"If you don’t leave, we’ll both die here!"

Lin Han spoke solemnly, "Trust me, as long as I keep dodging, with my abilities, I can hold out until you get back with help."

"Besides, your task was only to locate the Forest Guardian. This has nothing to do with you personally."

Du Wanting knew he was right, but she still hesitated. "Facing such a powerful monster alone, I’m afraid you won’t last long enough. And I don’t even know where they are."

Lin Han pointed, "That way. I checked the terrain earlier—if they’re anywhere, it’ll be there."

"Go. The sooner you return, the sooner you can save me."

Du Wanting, after another moment of hesitation, finally made up her mind. "Alright. Gao Chong, hold on a bit longer. Wait for us."

"Don’t worry, I’m not that easy to kill." As soon as Lin Han finished speaking, Du Wanting dashed off in the direction he indicated. Only then did Lin Han finally feel relieved.

Suddenly, a sense of dread swept over him—a terrifying aura surged into his mind.

Who is it, carrying such a horrifying presence?

The Eye of God instantly activated at full power, and the entire map of the Diamond Forest appeared in his mind. At the forest's edge, someone was flying at high speed toward Wang Qian and the others.

"Si Lintian!"

Lin Han frowned. Why was that old man here? Had he been discovered?

Impossible. His hiding was flawless; there was no way he could have been found. Unless Du Wanting’s message had drawn the attention of the authorities?

There was no time to dwell on it. Whatever the case, it no longer mattered much to him. He had already found the Forest Guardian, and everything else would be easier from here.

Previously, Lin Han had worried his forbidden spell might hurt others. Now, with the formidable Grand Magus Hantian present, things had become much simpler.

He could finally act without reservation.

The Forest Guardian, seeing its prey begin to flee, furiously lashed out with its branches, attacking Lin Han relentlessly.

Lin Han's gaze turned icy. He reached out with his bare hand and grabbed a willow branch.

As the Guardian tried to yank it back, Lin Han held fast, scoffing, "I held back before only because I didn’t want to reveal my true strength."

"Forest Guardian, now there’s only the two of us here. You’d better be careful!"

With a powerful tug, Lin Han made the entire willow tremble, its roots—buried hundreds of meters deep—beginning to loosen.

"It looks like the white glow inside you must be the Guardian’s Heart," Lin Han murmured as he spotted his target. "In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony."

The Forest Guardian's trunk began to shudder violently, and the ground started to ripple.

Calling for reinforcements?

Lin Han remarked calmly, "So, as the overlord of this forest, you can command all the monsters here."

Now, with the forest’s monsters converging, things were getting complicated. He would have to wait a little longer, until Du Wanting got closer to Si Lintian.

Otherwise, they’d all get caught up in the fight.

...

"Senior Si Lintian, there’s someone ahead... It’s... Du Wanting, but I don’t see Gao Chong," someone said.

Du Wanting’s heart leapt with relief when she saw them. She hurriedly said, "Gao Chong is holding off the Forest Guardian—I came to get you. Hurry!"

Everyone froze in shock.

The Forest Guardian!

"Gao Chong is holding off the Forest Guardian alone? That’s suicide! That thing is almost at platinum level!"