Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 336. A Life Tree’s Inherent Nature.

When Harmonixia’s words were spoken aloud, it felt as if the surrounding temperature had dropped a few degrees. Looking over, the elegant Music Sylvan’s face was utterly cold, and a sneering smile hung on her lips. Even the Life Tree became silent, feeling a small chill go up its trunk. ‘T-This weakling… Why does she have this kind of terrifying aura!?’

Still, the Life Tree had a natural aversion toward World Trees. After all, most, if not all, World Trees would always dominate areas violently and not let any big plant life survive; this included Life Trees. Hence, the Life Tree spoke back rather innocently. “Even if I am afraid of your aura, I am not letting that big ugly thing come near me! I don’t want to die!”

Harmonixia took her song instruments with a cold smile, but before she did anything, Verena approached and tip-toed slightly to pat her head. ‘I don’t know why all the Sylvans attracted to Liu Shu are this tall…’

Harmonixia paused and looked at Verena with a frown. “Why stop me? We just need a few of its branches, but if we take the entire thing back home, it will probably be useful for developing something.”

Verena showed a slightly helpless expression. “You! Aish. Harmonixia, we can’t kill the Life Tree without reason, or we will have a chance of gaining a negative title. You don’t want to carry that title for the rest of your life just because of a small disagreement, right?”

Harmonixia snorted. “If it is for Lian’er, I don’t mind at all.”

Liu Shu felt warm inside, but she also didn’t want Harmonixia to carry such a thing. Hence, she spoke softly and used a few vines to gently coil around her arm and waist. “Don’t do that. This Life Tree’s intelligence also seems to be slightly lacking. So, she is reacting from pure instinct. I am happy about your feelings, but you are overreacting.”

Harmonixia’s anger disappeared as if it had never existed, and she nodded obediently. “Okay.”

The rest could feel their eyebrows twitching. ‘Isn’t that too easy!?’

Verena chuckled and shook her head. “Really… I don’t know how to feel. You and my girl are completely tangled by Liu Shu.” Then, she walked toward the Life Tree and spoke gently. “Life Tree, we are not here to dominate you or harm you. We just want a few of your branches to get 30 units of [Blossom Timber]. We can give you items that will be very beneficial in return. What do you think?”

The Life Tree humphed, its voice spreading around with a hint of doubt. “As if I will believe you! You people under World Trees are always scheming and trying to dupe us plant-life just because our intelligence is not that high! I have been deceived in the past. I won’t be deceived again!”

Verena sighed and crossed her arms in thought. ‘Pushing the matter will only raise the Life Tree’s walls, so I can’t be forceful. What method can I use to tempt it enough to give us a chance?’

Verena thought of that because the Level of this Life Tree was far from being low enough to amble inside and just confront it. Even with a few people in the group who had strength in the Third Energy Cycle, Verena was not too confident.

Liu Shu saw that everyone was without ideas, so she spoke to the Life Tree. “Hey, I will give you some of my fruits. I know that plants can take them as well since Fortuna and Lakeborn could, so I will give them to you in exchange for the 30 units of [Blossom Timber]. We can even make more trade in the future as long as you are willing.”

The Life Tree snorted. “My [Blossom Timber] is too valuable to exchange for a few fruits! After all, I am a Level 64 Life Tree! The likes of you can’t even touch me!”

The group sucked in a cold breath. A Level 64 Life Tree was certainly not something they could face without facing serious consequences. While Life Trees lacked the raw offensive power most World Trees had, once inside its domain, it could efficiently deal with same-level beings. 

Liu Shu commented leisurely. “How about a fruit that increases your Aether Resonance permanently?”

“Eh?” The Life Tree blurted. “You have something like that?”

Liu Shu giggled. “Of course I do! I have been wanting to tell you about it, but you have ignored me all the time, even blocking my mental transmisions.”

The Life Tree became somewhat flustered. “W-Who would listen to a World Tree!? Isn’t it normal to block such things when they come from your species? I thought you were being arrogant like other World Trees and trying to make me submit!” Reaching here, the Life Tree paused and exclaimed. “Ah! I almost fell for it again! Stupid World Tree, I won’t fall for your schemes! What are you planning!?”

The people around almost fell to the ground even when standing still. ‘This poor darling must’ve suffered terribly in the past to be this wary.’

Liu Shu sighed and spoke to Lord Stormrider. “Uncle Stormrider, can you mount your bird and fly over the Life Tree, dropping one of the fruits? I think this is the fastest way to convince it.”

Lord Stormrider crossed his muscular arms and hummed. “Liu Shu, it’s not that I don’t want to. However, what if it has ranged attacks?” 

The Life Tree humphed. “Right! Also, why are you speaking about it in front of me!? Are you trying to scheme with false tactics and then use others!? You are so perverse! I won’t fall for it, I tell you! I woooonnnn’ttt!!!!!”

Everybody felt a hint of pity for the poor tree. Liu Shu couldn’t deal with the poor traumatized thing and coughed. “Please, also take a few of the calming medicine and drop it. The Life Tree won’t attack you.”

“Aha! You think that I will attack him if you say that, right!? Heh! I’ve seen through your schemes, evil World Tree! I definitely won’t attack him and allow your plans to go to waste! Hehehe. I am smart as well, see!?”

“...” 

Speechlessness was the only emotion that could adequately express the absolute befuddlement they were feeling. Lord Stormrider, as cold of a man as he was, also felt a hint of pity and took to the skies with the fruit. 

As he flew over, he heard the Life Tree speaking mockingly. “Heh! Do you really think I will fall for it!? I won't, you hear me! I will absolutely not fall for it! Come over then, you are too weak to hurt my bark either way, so let’s see what you can do! Hahahaha!”

Lord Stormrider arrived at the place where the Life Tree was located and couldn’t help but show a hint of awe. ‘This place… It is truly gorgeous.’

Life Trees were different from World Trees in many aspects. The first and most glaring one was size. Even as strong and old as this Life Tree probably was, its height barely reached 150 meters. It was by no means small, but any World Tree that reached Level 25 would be far above that height already. 

The second discrepancy between both kinds of trees was the extent to which they could spread their root net. A World Tree could, as the name of the species says, cover the entire World with roots coming from a singular being as long as the strength permitted it. Life Trees could, at most, cover a forest with their roots. 

The third difference was their immediate surroundings. Unlike World Trees, who needed skills and titles to create auras, Life Trees were born with them. A Life Tree’s surroundings would always be exuberant of life, and they would have an innate healing aura around them regardless of their origin. Therefore, the flora and fauna around them would always look extraordinary and full of life. 

The final major discrepancy was their personal strength. A Life Tree was by no means weak. However, they were far from a World Tree’s ability to fight an entire army by themselves. Approaching a Life Tree was not that hard, even if defeating it was a challenge. 

Even then, Life Trees were not as wanted by powers as World Trees, so this lack of absolute presence and fighting strength in their domain didn’t really affect them. After all, unlike World Trees, which Intelligent Species greedily sought after, Life Trees were considered closer to an oasis. It was a nice place to rest and perhaps build a small town around, but not a location for a Capital City to be located.

Lord Stormrider thought for a moment and told his mount to land in front of the Life Tree. The Life Tree’s soothing but distrustful voice reached Lord Stormrider. “W-What are you doing? I am not attacking you, so don’t provoke me!”

Lord Stormrider smiled and took out a beautiful fruit from his pouch. “Lady Life Tree, I know you distrust the world, and most likely with reason. Something horrifying must’ve happened to your esteemed self in the past. However, I swear on my pride as a family head that we are not here to cause harm or trouble. We truly only want the [Blossom Timber], and once we get it, we can retreat and never return if you wish so.” 

The Life Tree paused, feeling its Tree Heart slightly uncomfortable. Hearing such words, she was naturally slightly moved. Life Trees were inherently gentle, one of the gentlest species in the entire world. They would only be violent if you provoked them a lot. For such a gentle being to be so wary, it was natural to conclude that something very unpleasant happened in the past, making even this majestic and gentle being act out at the mere presence of others. 

The Life Tree looked at the fruit that Lord Stormrider had placed at the base of her trunk, the distrust in her heart clouding her reason. When Lord Stormrider stood up after placing the fruit, her heart constricted with remnant fear, and she struck him with one of her branches. “Get away!”

BOOM!

Lord Stormrider felt as if a massive hammer hit him and flew off like a meteor, impacting the distant trees. A terrifying number popped in his sight. 

[-1,254,500]!

Lord Stormrider felt like half his ribcage had collapsed.  ‘C-Crap. Truly horrifying strength.’ The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as he coughed twice, smearing the green grass with drops of red. 

The Life Tree had reacted instinctively. However, once she attacked, her entire being felt as if a dark thing was engulfing her. ‘D-Did I kill him?’ Worry engulfed her heart. “A-Ah! Y-You, are you alive?” The Life Tree started blaming herself, but when she saw Lord Stormrider coughing, she felt a wave of gladness, and she quickly cast a spell. “I am sorry. I-I, I really didn’t mean to! <Heart Of The Forest>!”

Lord Stormrider saw a message appear in his sight. 

[You’ve been affected by <Heart Of The Forest>! You will be recovering 40,000 Phoer Shards per second! Duration: 59 seconds.]

[+40,000]

[+40,000]

[+40,000]

Lord Stormrider’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. ‘W-What!? That’s 2,400,000 Phoer Shards per minute!’ As he said so, a warm energy current spread around his body, mending his wounds at a terrifying rate. 

While Lord Stormrider was frozen solid from the scare he received after receiving the effects of that skill, the Life Tree looked at the fruit and decided to analyze it out of guilt. ‘P-Perhaps… they are not trying to hurt me?’

Even after all of what she had gone through, her nature wouldn’t change. Following that, she looked at the fruit’s effects, and her Tree Heart felt shocked. ‘H-Huh? Are they really telling the truth? They weren’t lying?’ This only made her guilt increase more. ‘Ah. I am so silly! Ugh…’