Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 319. Venturing Into the Dark Aether Swamp.

[Process Complete! Do you want to see the <Dungeon System>?]

That sentence made Liu Shu’s thoughts stop for a moment. ‘Already?’ She couldn’t help but feel that time was passing by too quickly. It felt like just a few weeks had passed, and yet, two years had gone by since the day Wert explained to her about <Dungeons>. 

“Everyone, I will excuse myself~! Continue discussing and only call me if there is something very important that requires my attention.”

Liu Shu’s voice spread in the room, making the gathered leaders look at each other in confusion. One of them even asked Flor if she knew what was going on.

“I don’t know. I’ll ask her later.” Flor answered before continuing. “Well, let’s speak about how to strengthen our borders. In my opinion…”@@novelbin@@

While they continued their conversation, Liu Shu focused on the System page. “Show me.”

***

Dungeons: 0

***

“...” 

She was so flabbergasted by the absurd simplicity of the system that even her physical face showed her emotions. “What is this?”

[That’s the Dungeon System.]

“Ha?” Liu Shu looked at that with a troubled expression. Eventually, she sighed and closed it. “Sure, whatever. I guess that I won’t be able to look into it deeply until I discover one of them.” 

She was excited about it at first. Yet, when it arrived, it felt like someone had slapped her in the face, laughed at her, and turned around nonchalantly without leaving an explanation. She didn’t even have the energy to retort or ask questions except one. “Will this system be useful before I encounter a Dungeon?”

[System Hint: No. The System is usually revealed when the user encounters a <Dungeon>. Tianlian Liu Shu has heard of them through other means, leading to the current result.]

“Whatever,” Liu Shu said plainly, not even wanting to discuss it with the System. She looked around her domain and noticed that her roots were about to cross the 100-kilometer mark. Cheerfulness returned to her as she approached this meaningless milestone. “I am about to spread more than 100 kilometers!” She paused and looked at the southern and eastern parts of her domain. “Well, everywhere but in these two directions…”

The <Dark Aether Swamp> and <Wall Forest> stood there like natural barriers. For a long time, Liu Shu hesitated to enter them. The flora living here was bound to be extremely aggressive, and she didn’t want to provoke something that could counterattack. If she met a type of plant that could use her roots to propagate back to her and she couldn’t get rid of it, a root ache would be the last of her worries. ‘I can’t wait forever, though. These two directions are the closest to me toward new places. If I don’t cross them or assimilate them, I’ll be essentially trapped.”

She didn’t like that. She didn’t like that she needed to be cautious when dealing with other plant beings. There was a strange sensation in her heart that told her such a thing wasn’t meant to be. A feeling telling her that every plant-related creature should listen to her and obey her. She chose to venture into the <Dark Aether Swamp>.

In terms of size comparison, the <Dark Aether Swamp> was much smaller. The <Wall Forest> was both wide and long, spanning the entirety of the continent, even spreading into the sea for a few kilometers. Meanwhile, the other location was smaller but riddled with bizarre threats all across it. Initially, it gained its name because it was a zone where Dark Aether Mana was abundant. After many wars trying to take over the place and feeding the forest with the death of countless creatures, it changed.

The forest became carnivorous.

This information she learned came from the many people in her city. As the city grew, schools were opened, and history books and others were soon traded to fill the empty shelves. 

“Hm… But I am a plant. Will they still consider me something or someone that will be eaten?” 

If the Sylvans had heard, they would’ve certainly answered with something along the lines of. “Don’t worry, Liu Shu. You are meaty enough to leave people mouthwatering.”

Liu Shu pushed her Aether Energy through her roots at the sound and pushed forward. “Let’s go on an adventure!”

The soothing prairie changed when she advanced. With her sensitive roots, she could even feel how the soil changed composition. The faintly wet and sweet ground became bitter. A metallic taste transmitted through her roots as the acidity of the ground increased severalfold. The color changed from a gentle brown to a mix of grey and brown, looking as if ashes had coated the ground.

The trees that Liu Shu came across were tall, reaching an average of fifty meters in height. However, their bodies were strangely dry. Liu Shu’s gaze couldn’t help but linger on them. ‘Their vital signs are so faint… It feels like they are dormant. I wonder, what Level are the trees in the outskirts?

***

Name: ---

Race: Young Umbramortus Sanguinae

Level 28

Aether Mana Cores: 3.92/4.41 (441,634) 

Phoer Body Cores: 6.28/7.41 (741,874) 

Anima Energy Cores: 4.07/4.52 (452,885) 

***

“Ho~?” Liu Shu was impressed. This tree was considered common in this forest. And yet, it was a Level 28 Tree with relatively strong stats. “No wonder anyone that is not above the <Second Energy Cycle> is prohibited by other cities from entering this place. The entry-level is already ridiculous.”

While she pondered, Liu Shu’s roots continued forward without caring much. ‘Hm… Strange flavor.’ The change in soil had completed, becoming a strange dark grey, like muddy ashes. The Trees around her were similar to that. Their trunks looked like ash had covered them, and cracks ran through as if a bolt of lightning had struck them. 

“Hm? Their roots are quite… interesting.” Unlike the relatively smooth roots of other trees, these ones were filled with curved thorns that served both for digging and preventing prey from leaving after getting dragged down. With the direction of these hooks, if a trapped person without protection were grabbed, they would need to tear their bodies to shreds in order to escape these trees voluntarily. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Carnivorous Forest… That is such a fitting description. Oh? People.”

After entering a few hundred meters into the forest, she saw a group of five people looking around with tense expressions. They had several artifacts from <Golden Sap City>, increasing the curiosity our World Tree felt. ‘Who are they?’

“Fiera, do we really need to venture deeper? I really don’t like this place.”

Their tones were hushed, as if afraid that making a loud sound would spell their doom. The person that the man called, Fiera, snorted. “Are you afraid of a little forest? You should be ashamed!”

Another man looked at the relatively short woman with an arrogant expression and sighed. “Lady Fiera. I understand that you want to speak with World Tree Liu Shu. However, risking your life in a mission to find a Life Tree for her is just too much, no?”

Slap!

Fiera slapped that man. Her tone carried anger but also determination. “It was thanks to her that I have a life now. It was thanks to Lady Liu Shu that I broke through. I am not someone who repays favor with cowardliness. Moreover! I owe my talent to Lady Liu Shu!”

Liu Shu tilted her head in curiosity. ‘I wonder how I saved this girl? She looks a bit young. However, she is already a <Second Energy Cycle>, so why is she saying that her strength is something I gave her? I don’t even know you…’

The other four looked between each other, a hint of annoyance tainting some of their gazes. “Understood… We will help you.”

Liu Shu, who saw everything, was suspicious. ‘These people mean trouble for this girl. Sigh, why have you come all the way out and trusted them?’

The relatively young human girl and the other four pushed forward for a little while, and eventually, they bumped into one of the many beasts of the dangerous <Dark Aether Swamp>. The beast was tall and muscular, with deep black fur around it and glowing red eyes. The mouth was half open as the lips moved up to show a terrifying row of white fangs.

A growling and menacing sound came out of the beast’s throat, putting the group of five on high alert. Fiera took out a longsword with a solemn face and spoke to them. “Prepare to intercept it. We need to kill it without bothering the trees around us as much as possible.”

The trees of the Dark Aether Forest didn’t have much of a canopy. Most of it was branches with a low density of dark leaves. The Sun was high up in the sky, and the temperature was far from gentle. Liu Shu could see that the group was sweating from the heat. ‘Hm~, the Young Lady seems to be the one that is going to take the attention of the beast. Quite peculiar.’

Fiera lunged forward and the quadrupedal furry beast also attacked. The explosive acceleration of the beast was something that the group didn’t expect. Even knowing that your enemy was fast and being informed, it didn’t mean that they would be able to react perfectly the first time they faced the threat.

Fiera swung her sword, reacting to the incoming claw and clashing with it.

CLANG!

The sound of metal clashing spread like a bell, pushing the young lady a few steps back. “Now, attack!”

Fiera, having taken the attention of the beast, told the others to attack. However, they didn’t help.

Fiera continued clashing weapons with the powerful beast, her stamina and strength slowly depleting. “Hm? Why are you not attacking, Fang!?”

Fang, the leader of the group of four mercenaries, smiled faintly and laughed. “Your payment was generous for hiring us, Young Lady. Sadly, your other riches are far more valuable.” The man snorted. “Moreover, this deep into the Dark Aether Swamp, the annoying World Tree can’t see us.”

Liu Shu figuratively blinked twice. ‘Hm… Do people lure others into the <Wall Forest> and <Dark Aether Swamp> to do evil deeds knowing that I control the entire province?”

It was possible, very possible at that. The fact that crime was basically non-existent in Golden Sap City and the surroundings, thanks to Liu Shu’s intervention, didn’t mean that the evil in the heart of intelligent species could heal. Those who had learned to kill for profit or personal satisfaction were nothing short of beasts in human forms—a thorny rose in a chrysanthemum field. 

Fiera noticed their inaction, and her heart started to race. “Fang, you are not someone like this! I’ve heard many good things about your group! Stop fooling around and help me! If you are angry about what I said before, I understand, but don’t play with this situation!”

As Fiera exchanged blows with the powerful beast, she fell into a clear disadvantage. Her body’s tiredness quickly increased, and the nervousness spreading in her heart did nothing to help her fight rationally. 

Liu Shu observed the entire play with a calm gaze.