Chapter 11 - Chapter 11 · The Life Poem of Emerald Rainforest

South America's rainy season arrives unannounced. When Team Rebellion's SUV turns into the "Emerald Rainforest," bean-sized raindrops pound the roof, and fluorescent green spiritual pattern spores float in the arcs of the windshield wipers—"life seeds" activated by the rainforest's spiritual energy, said to heal any wound but also turn the greedy into plant puppets. "Welcome to the 'Green Sea'," says the feather-crowned Indigenous elder driving, his spiritual pattern core embedded in a chest bone carving, dark green patterns on its surface matching the rainforest vines. "Here, every leaf breathes, every raindrop holds pattern memories." Xiaotao presses her face to the window, her Starmoon Meteorite bracelet glowing deep blue: "I sense... so many patterns singing." "That's 'Life Resonance'," the elder's voice creaks with age. "Three hundred years ago, pattern users here created this rainforest with 'Life Spiritual Patterns'—at the cost of their lives." As he speaks, the rainforest falls silent. All birdcalls, insect chirps, and rain vanish; even raindrops hang mid-air. Lin Ye's spiritual pattern core trembles violently—he senses an ancient power awakening: sealed Life Spiritual Patterns surging from the earth, weaving a green light net through the rainforest. "Stop the car!" Ajiu's Shadow Raven bursts from her hair, claws gripping the roof. "Something's ahead!" They disembark to find an opening in the rainforest where a row of "beings" formed from vines and flowers stand. Their faces bear tree-burl patterns, eyes are berry-red, and wrists are wrapped in glowing tendrils—legendary spiritual pattern users backlashed by Life Spiritual Patterns. "Are they...?" Sakura's Sakura Patterns pinken. "Guardians whose consciousness was devoured by patterns?" The lead "Vine Being" raises a hand, vines coiling toward Lin Ye. Lin Ye meets them with a flaming fist, Burning Heaven Flame Patterns roaring—but the golden flames slide off like water on rubber. "This is Life Spiritual Patterns' nature," the elder's bone carving warms, green light from his core merging with the rainforest. "They consume all attacks, converting them to life force." Ajiu's Shadow Ravens dive, their wings tearing at vines, but the Vine Being entangles their claws with tendrils. Xiaotao's bracelet blazes, blue energy freezing the vines—only for vine sap to corrode the ice instantly. "Need purification!" Lin Ye recalls his great-grandfather's memories. "Life Spiritual Patterns aren't enemies—they're unbalanced guardians!" He relaxes his fist, letting vines wrap his wrist. Burning Heaven Flames course under his skin, spreading through the vines—not burning, but like spring melting snow, gently stripping away their rage. "Team Rebellion, coordinate!" he yells. "Xiaotao, stabilize spiritual energy with Starmoon; Ajiu, sever negative links with Shadow Ravens; Sakura, awaken their consciousness with Sakura!" Xiaotao's bracelet glows blue, Starmoon energy flooding the vines to form a stable light cocoon. Ajiu's Ravens become a dark purple mist, tearing through vine crevices to sever twisted pattern links. Sakura's Patterns bloom into cherry trees, pink petals falling to reveal human contours on the Vine Beings' burl faces. "They're crying..." Ajiu whispers. Lin Ye's core blazes, golden flames wrapped in pink Sakura, blue Starmoon, and purple Shadow energy surging into the Vine Beings' cores like a dragon. Vines peel away, revealing pale skin—these are the three-hundred-year-old pattern users, their cores long shattered, residual consciousness trapped in plant shells. "Finally... free..." the lead pattern user murmurs, his fingers turning to ash, merging into rainforest soil. "Life Spiritual Patterns... should have been... guardians..." When the last Vine Being dissolves, birdcalls return. Lin Ye's wrist core warms, dark green patterns like rainforest vines appearing—marks of Life Spiritual Pattern resonance. "So this is..." Sakura's eyes redden. "Life Spiritual Patterns' mission is to guard life's cycle." The elder takes a bamboo tube from the car, containing a verdant seed: "This is the 'Life Spiritual Pattern' crystal. Three hundred years ago, guardians used it to revive the rainforest. Now, it returns to true guardians." As Lin Ye takes the seed, he senses its energy resonating with his core. Rainforest vines bow to him, flowers bloom more brilliantly than ever, as if celebrating. "Where to next?" Ajiu kicks a nearby vine, her Raven preening in her hair. "The Andes Mountains," the elder points distance. "Legends of 'Fire-Ice Spiritual Patterns' there—a miracle where snow and volcanoes coexist, maybe answering your questions about 'pattern balance'." Xiaotao leaps excitedly, her bracelet glowing blue: "I heard pattern users there grow fire flowers in snow!" "I'll prep climbing ropes!" Ajiu pats her bag. "Bring enough hot cocoa—Andes nights are freezing." Sakura smiles, Sakura Patterns blooming as tiny flowers on her fingertips: "I'll warm everyone with cherry blossoms." Lin Ye gazes at his Rebellion core, sensing global pattern vibrations—like countless heartbeats resonating in clouds. He touches the core, murmuring: "Pattern meaning lies not in temples or deserts." "Then where?" Xiaotao tilts her head. Lin Ye looks into the rainforest, where fireflies carry lanterns, tree frogs leap on leaves, and even soil breathes spiritual energy. "Wherever life blooms." The SUV starts again, wheels crushing wet earth, leaving fading tracks. Team Rebellion's patterns shine in the sun, weaving with rainforest green into a new totem—a star trail to the future, unfurling at Emerald Rainforest's edge.