Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 335. Meeting a Life Tree.

Verdantia managed to control herself in the end. She was seated on a bed that they had carried and placed in a corner. To not be that aroused, she had placed the short girl between her legs and hugged her from behind. Liu Shu leaned back comfortably and sighed. “It's still so strange.”

Verdantia spoke beside her ear, her voice low and attractive. “What’s strange, Liu’er?”

Liu Shu felt a pleasant chill spread around her body, making her tremble slightly. She blushed and looked sideways at Verdantia. “T-These sensations!” She complained with a huff, wanting to hide her strange feelings. “I feel so hot and tingly each time I am with all of you. When I kiss you, this feeling deepens as well! It makes me want to rub my thighs together. Ugh.” 

Verdantia smiled and hugged the soft body between her arms tightly. “You are so pretty when your cheeks gain that natural rouge~. I really want to take a bite.”

Liu Shu humped and remembered something. Her amethyst eyes shone with a mischievous glow as she spoke. “Verdantia’s flowers are also really pretty~.” 

Verdantia’s calm and teasing face cracked, bringing blood to her face. Verdantia’s flowers were gorgeous and gentle, with many unique qualities. 

For starters, her petals were like gently unfurling vines reaching for sunlight. They were slightly translucent, allowing light to filter through, giving them an enchanting luminous quality. The color was a gentle blend of pastel green and soft ivory, with subtle hints of pale yellow or mint along the edges. Detailed as they were, there were faint, swirling patterns resembling leaf vines, giving the translucent nature an even more impressive fantastical edge.

At the center, a small-delicate blood was contained. They were tiny clusters of pale-green stamens that resembled budding leaves or vines coiling inward. The stem was slender but strong, with an organic curvature that made it seem as if it were winding around objects. The leaves were very soft to the touch, with a velvety texture and a fantastical silvery undertone, giving them an almost ethereal shimmer.

While this was not the first time Liu Shu saw Verdantia’s flowers, their mesmerizing nature was no less impactful for the World Tree. ‘I’ve yet to see Harmonixia’s and Tempestria’s flowers, but I can’t wait to see them. They are all so pretty!’

As she thought of that, she felt her lips being trapped again as the woman behind her coiled like a vine around her. “Liu Shu… You asked for it.” Verdantia knew that she couldn’t reach that last step, but the one before was not a problem. ‘Let’s make this little girl understand whose person she is~.’ If she didn’t do something, her sanity might as well fly high up to the heavens. 

Liu Shu blinked, curious, before feeling a hand slowly reaching down. Her expression became subtle for a few moments before her body started being played like a musical instrument, making her moan a symphony of delight.

Meanwhile, a few dozen people had gathered at the edge of the Wall Forest. Harmonixia looked around and tilted her head. “Lian’er. Where is Verdantia?”

Liu Shu’s voice reached her, peaceful and calm. “She is with my Avatar~. We are having lots of fun~. Hehehe.”

Harmonixia’s expression changed slightly, and then she clicked her tongue, annoyed. ‘I hope she hasn’t gone back on our promise and defiled our little girl! If she has… I’ll prune her most sensitive branch myself!’

Liu Shu was thankful that while her Avatar body was currently spasming in pleasure and being “attacked” by Verdantia, her main body could take that level of pleasure and stimulation yet not show it outwardly. Of course, she was far from feeling nothing. Still, with her current willpower and means, not showing it outwardly was not a problem. ‘Ugh… These Sylvans always end up doing the same! Is it that fun to see me squirming around that much?’ She was complaining, but she didn’t resist at all. ‘... It feels really good, so I will let them be! My core also feels like… like… Thump thump! And my heart is, hum… swelling as well… Hm.’ She complained to Verdantia. “Verdantia, kiss me more!”

Verena’s voice snapped Liu Shu out of her daze. “We will now enter to meet with a Life Tree. Our objective is to get at least around 30 units of [Blossom timber].”

Wert raised his eyebrow and asked. “Didn’t Liu Shu only need three units? Why so much?”

Verena smiled somewhat greedily. “Since we are at it, we might as well try our best to get these materials, right? Moreover, it’s not like the Life Tree will be at a loss. I have also brought a few items that might interest it to change for a few.”

Liu Shu asked, curious. “Do you want a few of them?”

This time, a handsome and stoic middle-aged man answered. His tone had a hint of a smile. “That’s why a few of us came in the first place. Our plan is to give you ten of them and divide the rest. What do you think?”

The man who spoke was Lord Stormrider. He had decided to join this small expedition with them. Knowing that they were probably going to go against a Third Energy Cycle tree, he had even come mounted on his imposing Stormbird. Both he and the bird were in the Third Energy Cycle, a breakthrough he managed not long ago thanks to Liu Shu’s auras and the purity of Ternary Essences produced in her territory. 

The World Tree pondered for a few moments before accepting. “Okay~, if Uncle Stormrider says it, it should be fair!” 

Even though they had past enmities, Lord Stormrider had long forgotten about it and even had a soft spot for the World Tree. This was not because he didn’t love his son much; even if he was useless, he was still his blood. The reason for Stormrider’s forgiveness is that he had received apologies and compensation. He knew how difficult it was for Liu Shu to apologize for matters. She didn’t feel that she was in the wrong, and yet she did it out of respect, earning many points with the powerful man.

Verena asked, curious. “Do you have a plan for the remaining seven units?”

Liu Shu giggled. “I do~. With seven units left, I might be able to finally reinforce the defensive structure at the base of my trunk and give it the ability to create my clothes! After all, being a vine, isn’t it perfect for that!” 

Harmonixia chuckled. “What if you can’t, Tian’er?”

“If it can’t evolve in that direction, I’ll create a new defensive structure around me and use it as a dress! I don’t really lack offense, but my defensive capabilities could certainly be strengthened with one.”

Verena clapped twice and smiled. “Let’s go inside. Remember to follow Lord Stormrider’s and my orders. If our orders conflict, mine will have the priority. We’ve talked about it with each other before reaching this result, so don’t worry.” Her gaze moved toward the leaderless people from Verdantia’s army, and she smirked. “My baby seems to be having fun, so you all will follow my lead. Understood?”

“We will follow your commands, Lady Verena!”

As the group entered the Wall Forest, they saw the land part slightly, revealing one of Liu Shu’s roots. Her voice spread around with a soothing tone. “Follow me. I’ll guide you near the area.”

The group followed without doubting, checking their surroundings for threats. The lower-leveled soldiers easily dispatched the few low-level monsters that appeared, making the march constant and with few stops at all.

The way they were dividing prey was by level. Fighting soldiers with soldiers and generals with generals was a choice taken when Experience Point Earning efficiency was not placed as a priority. If not, those you wanted to nourish would fight their limit-strength monsters to gain as many points of growth as they could. This way of fighting was the most suitable when you wanted the group to last as long as possible in an expedition. 

Their group was neither large nor small, and the area they were going was only in the inner side of the Wall Forest. Many people divided the Wall Forest into outer, inner, and core sections. The Outer sections would have very few Level 40 and above beings. In the inner area, meeting a Level 40 monster was not rare, and meeting a Level 50 one was possible. 

Only in the core areas could you find a strong Third Energy Cycle monster hiding in wait for prey at many corners. 

Regardless, with Liu Shu’s guidance, traversing the location and avoiding poisonous flora or locations was as easy as a walk in the park. Liu Shu had long reached the side of the Life Tree. However, when she approached the first time, she felt a ridiculous amount of hostility. Hence, she didn’t dare continue advancing since her objective was far from killing the Life Tree. She was also not that confident of facing such a powerful being so far from her body. Similar to when she found the Corrupt World Tree in the Dark Aether Swamp forest.

“It is just ahead.”

Listening to Liu Shu, their expressions sifted and became serious. They had been taking it somewhat lightly until now because of how much Liu Shu’s energy relaxed them unconsciously. The sense of protection was extraordinary. 

Verena spoke first. “We’ll advance slowly. We don’t want to startle the Life Tree. Also, stomp your feet as we approach. We should give it a hint that we are arriving.”

Lord Stormrider looked around and sighed. “To think that there was a Life Tree here. If I had known…”

Verena rolled her eyes and chuckled. “That way of thinking is dangerous, Lord Stormrider. Instead of thinking in the past, you should focus on the future.”

Lord Stormrider smiled faintly. “I know. If the result of my past actions was meeting Liu Shu, then they are ultimately the best option for my family’s future.”

Wert commented. “Oho~, you avoided saying it was worth it.”

“I lost one of my sons. Regardless of how beneficial it was what happened in the end, I still lost my son.”

Wert paused and bowed in apology. “My condolences, I was insensitive.”

 Lord Stormrider chuckled. “Don’t worry.”

Suddenly, a voice reached them that spread all around. “Leave! If you are with that being, then I would rather not receive any of you. And if you don’t heed to my warnings… I’ll kill you.”

Verena could tell who the crisp and threatening female voice belonged to. Therefore, she took a step forward and spoke aloud. “Lady Life Tree, we’ve come not to take you over or conquer you. Our objective is much simpler. However, it would mean that we would make rude requests. I wonder if you can at least allow us to speak?”

The Life Tree paused and hummed. “I see… Okay!”

The rest almost slipped. ‘T-That’s it? Was it this easy?’

Liu Shu giggled. “Finally! I thought you would never talk to me!”

“AH! YOU DISGUSTING THING, STAY AWAY FROM ME!”

Everyone’s eyebrows twitched. “D-Disgusting…?” It was the second time she was called disgusting now by another plant.

Of course, there was a particular one who didn’t take it kindly. “Hohoho~. So we have an arrogant one here. Do you want to hear my opinion about it?”