Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 339. Completing the [Temple Of Destiny].

When Liu Shu started building the <Temple Of Destiny>, she focused wholly on building it. She even closed the <Core Room>, not allowing anyone to bother her. Liu Shu knew from the <Temple Of Summoning> that each of the Temple-Level structures was going to be essential for her future achievements. 

When creating a tree structure, Liu Shu first needs to create a seed by refining different materials and using her unique type of World Tree Aether Mana to stimulate it. Once she did so, the seed would gain life and would start growing. Most of the highest-level materials would be used during this first step. 

The second step was transforming the other materials into essence and slowly and gently pouring them into the tree structure in a specific order and at a specific pace. The process needed to be done slowly and carefully since a single misstep could affect the final outcome. Thankfully for Liu Shu, <World Tree Wisdom> helped a lot by neatly compiling the information about it and her previous experiences. 

Therefore, until now, Liu Shu has yet to fail in building a tree structure, even when, theoretically, the success rate was not one hundred percent.

Her Aether Mana and Anima Energy constantly poured into the building, and the seed sprouted, growing at a tremendous pace. The tree didn’t just grow vertically as its body and bark expanded around it, creating a structure from the bark. The combination of tree and building was mystical yet pleasant to the eyes. 

The <Temple Of Destiny> had beautiful white and pink tones of bark highlighting the corners and borders of the building. Overall, the main color was a light brown, and the bark was also smooth and polished. The canopy of the massive tree was filled with Peach Blossom like leaves and with white flowers. 

A few months passed when Liu Shu finished the building and nourished it to her own level. Once she did so, an aura of power swept around the entire city, originating from the <Temple>. 

[Congratulations on building <Temple Of Destiny (D Rank)>!!]

[<Runic Living Wood City> Tier Up has triggered! <Temple Of Destiny (D Rank)> is enhanced to <Temple Of Destiny (D+ Rank)>!]

[<Wonder Tree Building> activates! <Temple Of Destiny (D+ Rank)> is enhanced to <Temple Of Destiny (C- Rank)>!]

[<Seedling World Builder> activates! 10% material cost reduction, returning materials, rounded down.]

[<Runic Living Wood City> second effect activates! You are able to choose a predetermined <Runic Field> to be active in your newly built <Temple Of Destiny (C- Rank)>!]

[Options have been modified and enhanced due to the extraordinary quality of the <Temple> building.]

[Choose among the following two options.]

<Blessed and Cursed Bark Runic Field>: The <Temple Of Destiny> will shed <Blessed Bark> and <Cursed Bark> periodically. The shed bark can be used to create any type of item through <Woodcrafting>. These items will all have a hidden Destiny-stat that affects attributes or skills. 

<Temple Oracle Runic Field>: The <Temple Of Destiny> will be able to have an appointed <Sylvan Oracle>. The <Sylvan Oracle> will receive several personal blessings, and they will be able to grant buffs and curses affecting <Destiny>. 

Liu Shu read all the messages slowly, and her mind became tangled. ‘Ugh… both of them are so good!’ She knew how important powerhouses were in the World. For example, a single Third Energy Cycle would be able to deter a group of high-leveled Second Energy Cycles from attacking even when they could win. After all, sacrifices were almost inevitable facing such a disparity in powers. 

Before she continued thinking, she asked a very important question. ‘System, can a World Tree be chosen as the <Sylvan Oracle>?’

[No. Only a being from the <Sylvan> race can be chosen as the <Sylvan Oracle>.]

Liu Shu grumbled. ‘Tsk. What a shame.’

With that option out of the list, Liu Shu became much less excited about the second option. ‘If I choose the second Runic Field, I will be able to create a powerhouse. Most likely, they will grow as fast as I do, and they will become extremely powerful, being able to affect thousands of beings as my influence and the influence of the <Temple Of Destiny> grows. However… what if this person is killed?’ 

Liu Shu sighed in annoyance just thinking about that situation. ‘If that person is killed, all the resources spent on them will be for naught. Of course, this logic applies to all powerhouses. However, this one is specially nurtured to be part of a central building of my domain. The resources are naturally incomparable compared to others. Not to mention, that person will for sure be someone I care about, so their death will also hurt me emotionally… I might even develop the risk of being afraid to develop attachment towards them, creating a strange wall between.’

She then looked at the other option. ‘Meanwhile, the <Blessed and Cursed Bark Runic Field> will benefit us greatly. <Blessed Bark> will surely be a high-ranked material that will follow the <Temple Of Destiny>’s <Tier> as it develops. Adding it to accessories and other types of small items is neat and can create another attraction that makes other powers reluctant to attack me. As for the <Cursed Bark>...’ Liu Shu smirked maliciously. ‘Heh. That’s an item with many possibilities.’’

If Liu Shu had to summarize both options, it would be a balanced option against a high-risk, high-reward option.

She pondered deeply, and eventually, she decided to go with the <Blessed and Cursed Bark Runic Field>. She reasoned that the benefits of this one field would be much more tangible, and she would also be able to aid her closest people equally. Not to mention, the <Cursed Bark> was a fascinating material with a myriad of uses for schemes.

Moreover, as another drawback of the Oracle option, she mused that if she chose one of the four Sylvans, the other three would nag her to death! Then, if she decided for a Sylvan outside those four… Liu Shu felt a strange shiver of fear spread through her body. ‘They will bully me until I ask for forgiveness!’

After the reasoning was done, she informed the system. ‘System, I want the <Blessed and Cursed Bark Runic Field>.’

[Runic Field Selected! Finishing <Temple Of Destiny>]

[...]

[...]

[...]

[Completed.]

WHOOOM!

A ripple spread out from the <Temple Of Destiny>, covering distances far beyond her own roots. Liu Shu was unsure of how far the aura had spread, making her awed. 

Once this aura spread, the people in Golden Sap City saw a message appear in their eyes.

[You are being affected by <Temple Of Destiny>! You’ve received <Destiny Blessing>!]

<Destiny Blessing (C- Rank)>: While under the influence, you will be able to defy a set destiny if you have one. 

Destiny stat +25%.

You are slightly more likely to have lucky things happen to you.

Flor received the buff and raised one eyebrow. “Hm? Wasn’t there an extra line of text in this one when she explained it to us?”

Mariane thought about it and eventually remembered. “Right. There was a sentence about bad luck. Is it hidden?”

Flor chuckled. “Probably. If not, the effects would cause quite the commotion.”

Mariane giggled. “Commotion, eh? I think it will cause one regardless if it shows that last sentence or not. Look.”

Flor glanced down, and her eyebrow twitched. Many people were bowing down and crying in joy and awe. The ones with stronger wills spoke with each other. “Lady World Tree is as ridiculous as ever.”

“Right. Should we go and try the lottery down the road? With this buff, we can probably create a profit.”

“Heh. The owner of the establishment also has the buff, stupid! More like us gaining a profit, the owner might even steal our pants from the betting!”

“... I didn’t even think about that. Thankfully, I have you. Otherwise, I would be like them.” The second man pointed at a group rushing toward gambling houses.

An exclamation came from the side, prompting Flor and Mariane to look over. 

“Of course! Of course! So that’s how it was! Hahaha. I will be able to advance to the next level!”

Mariane tilted her head, her moth antennae bobbing with her movement. “Hm… Sudden inspiration… Is that a coincidence?”

Flor clicked her tongue. “How can that be? The main text of the blessing seems to be the most important.”

Mariane read it with a mutter. “While under the influence, you will be able to defy a set destiny if you have one.” Thinking about it, Mariane felt a chill of excitement. “This text might be much more influential than we thought.”

Flor nodded seriously. “Any person in a bottleneck might have a lucky chance that pushes them over that small limit. Once a person overcomes a bottleneck, they usually advance by leaps and bounds. After all, someone who has been stuck will practice all their skills from the bottom up, trying to overcome it. The foundation of those trapped in bottlenecks far overcome geniuses that push through everything without stopping.”

Mariane agreed. “That’s why I sometimes like to review the low-level Runic books. No matter how talented, rushing ahead will only destabilize your foundation.”

Flor smiled slightly. “Well, there are always exceptions…” Her gaze moved toward the towering World Tree, making Mariane click her tongue.

“That ability she has to digest information as if she is digesting food is too strong. She doesn’t count!”

“Well, we do agree on that regard. Haha.”

Mariane asked Flor. “Now that she has created the Temple, she will probably complete the Quest, right?”

Flor looked at the moth with surprise. “Oh? You know about the quest?”

Mariane giggled. “Of course! Liu Shu and I are really close, and we talk often~. She asks me for advice quite frequently too!”

Flor chuckled. “That’s interesting.” Her gaze became probing as she asked. “Has she asked anything regarding the Sylvans?”

Mariane laughed. “Are you worried?” Mariane saw Flor’s expression gain a hint of embarrassment and commented. “Nothing much. She is exploring her newly acquired human body with the Sylvans… Hey, don’t put on that face. They have not crossed that final step yet.”

Flor’s gloomy face relaxed a bit. Then, she sighed. “I don’t mind if they are intimate and kiss and such. However, if they really want to go all the way, they should wait a few years! No, it will take a few decades! No… How about a century or two?”

Mariane started sweating coldly. “You are too protective, Flor.” Then, she calmed the Flower Fairy. “These four Sylvans are madly in love with her. They would rather become eunuchs than hurt Liu Shu. Unless the big girl shows dislike or lack of understanding, they won’t cross any line.”