Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 348. Marlius Makes a Move.

“She failed?”

Marlius was drinking wine leisurely in his residence when this news reached him. The man kneeling in front of him nodded and spoke at length. “Lady Lyara tried taking control over the Golden Sap Province’s World Tree. However, the result was failure. From what we’ve gathered, Lady Lyara didn’t hold back at all, using the <Three Splitting Curse Orb> in the process. We are unsure of how the World Tree did it. However, she resisted and managed to reverse the situation. Lady Lyara’s group has probably been annihilated.”

Marlius frowned. “Annihilation…” He shook his head and snorted. “That woman has failed me. While she wasn’t that strong, she was very useful. Not many people can reach her degree of expertise in curses.” He felt his heart ache slightly at the loss of talent. “Ah. I am going to get scolded for this… Sigh.”

Looking around the luxurious room, he shook his head. This place was the room of a high-ranking official of a city. He had been bribed and was in cahoots with the Nexus powers, allowing them to move through his territory. Marlius stood up, his defined facial features and arrogant disposition on full display. “Since she has failed, we will leave it alone for now. Our priority is the path through the Wall Forest. How is that going?”

The assistant answered immediately. “Lord Marlius, we managed to complete it last week. The path is safe and also able to transport many people at the same time. There is a particularly strong Life Tree around the area, through which we have extended the path rather effortlessly. This Life Tree won’t attack anyone, and her intelligence is also lacking, so deceiving her is easy.” He paused and remembered something. “Speaking of that Life Tree, I remember reading somewhere that some of our teams had tried taking it over, but they were easily wiped.”

“Oh?” Marlius smiled. “I have not exercised in a while. A high-level Life Tree feels like the greatest target. Guide me there.”

Deep inside the Wall Forest, the Life Tree was currently speaking with Liu Shu. “U-Um, Little Sister World Tree, are you sure you don’t want to eat me?”

Liu Shu sighed and answered. “How many times do you need to ask? We’ve known each other for many years already, and you still don’t trust me! You are really getting on my nerves!”

The Life Tree chuckled. “I see~. I see~.” She already trusted Liu Shu a lot, and this question was nothing but the Life Tree bantering with her. To reach this point, Liu Shu had spent a great deal of effort. After all, the Life Tree was extremely untrusting. Of course, her inherent gentleness as a Life Tree made it easy to chip away at her defenses slowly as long as their intentions were pure.

Liu Shu commented. “Recently, I am seeing more and more activity in the Wall Forest. Is something about to happen?”

The Life Tree didn’t think so. “There are many people going back and forth. Moreover, a few of them had approached me to make deals!” The Life Tree spoke happily. “If it were in the past, I would’ve rejected them straight away! However, since Little Sister World Tree has proven to be much gentler than I imagined, I have been trying to be more generous and open-minded.”

Liu Shu frowned slightly. She didn’t really like it too much. “Life Tree, you need to be careful. Recently, there have been many evil people lurking around. It seems that a big thing is about to start. You should now, more than ever, not trust people!”

The Life Tree chuckled. “How can there be so many evil people? I am sure that it will be fine!”

As both of them spoke, the Life Tree suddenly spoke. “Oh? There are a few people entering my domain!”

Liu Shu had a bad premonition, and her nerves tightened. This kind of feeling was very similar to the one she had before Lyara made her move. It seemed that after building the <Temple Of Destiny>, this kind of premonition was an instinct that she had developed. “Life Tree, don’t let them in.”

Before she could answer, the Life Tree heard the other part speak. “Lady Life Tree. We noticed your existence, and we’ve come to present some offerings. Life Trees are the source of life for many creatures, and I admire you for that.”

The Life Tree listened and looked over. Her gaze was far from being as clear as Liu Shu’s, but she could easily distinguish people by their auras. ‘Oh. There are a few strong people!’

Without thinking much, the Life Tree agreed. “Okay. Come over!”

Liu Shu extended her sensing range and focused her World Tree Eye on them. The skill allowed her to see beyond the length of her roots as soon as she focused, but not much further away. Looking over, she noticed the group of people walking forward with a few boxes, and her entire body erupted in chills. “Life Tree! These people are dangerous! Quickly attack them!”

The Life Tree was startled by the words of the World Tree. She had met more people during these years, and while the World Tree had always warned her not to be careless, she never overreacted like today. Between this group of people and the World Tree, the Life Tree actually decided to listen to its natural predator. 

Of course, she didn’t start attacking straight away and gave them a warning. “Little people, it seems that I can’t meet you. Leave the offerings where you are at right now, and I will collect them in the future.”

The group approached was Marlius and the rest. Once they were stopped, Marlius rubbed his own head and sighed with a snort. “I told you that this method of approaching it wouldn’t work. Even if the Life Tree is not as clever as a World Tree, they easily sense abnormalities.”

The Life Tree that almost sold her own life while counting the money herself looked on blankly. “Wow. Are you really bad people? I didn’t want to believe it, but that makes so much sense.”

Liu Shu urged the Life Tree. “What are you waiting for? We don’t know what’s in those boxes; attack them with your roots and destroy them!”

The Life Tree was hesitant. She still remembered the scene when she attacked Lord Stormrider when the other party only had good intentions. Her guilty conscience from back then was fresh for the Life Tree. Moreover, as a Life Tree that has lacked the goodwill of the world, she was somewhat addicted, or better said, attached to that feeling. Hence, she held back from attacking, making our World Tree so anxious that her roots were wriggling. 

Seeing the situation, Liu Shu quickly used her energy and summoned 11 Arobreal Winged Serpents. Ten of the serpents were all Level 49, while the 11th member was Ophion, who had reached Level 50 a while ago. The second Ophion appeared, the energy around it whirled and submitted to his presence. His attributes were terrifying to that degree.

Marlius opened one of the boxes and stuck his hand inside. From that large box, Marlius took out two elegant and powerful scimitars. They had one meter long blades, with a gentle curve along the edge, giving them a noble bearing. It was clear that these scimitars were far from normal.

When the Life Tree saw weapons being picked from the boxes, her hesitation was substituted by shock and a slight sense of fear. “You… Who are you?”

Marlius laughed and actually presented himself. “I am Marlius, the Sect Master of the <Voidblossom Consummators>. Today, I will hunt you down, Life Tree. That way, all the obstacles in between the east and west sides of the continent and the invasion will begin! Sorry, but you need to die.”

The Life Tree stopped hesitating and attacked. A woman by Marlius’s side stuck her staff onto the ground and muttered an incantation. “Stop the control and reverse the seniority. <Controlling Earth>.”

The Life Tree’s roots, which were about to surface to attack, suddenly became stuck. ‘Huh? What is wrong?’ The Life Tree tried to take control over the earth around Marlius, but it was useless.

Marlius walked forward with a smirk and chuckled. “An insignificant Life Tree actually wants to fight back? Didn’t they say that all Life Trees were gentle? What a joke! Hahaha.”

Liu Shu looked at the situation, and a trace of solemnity flashed through her eyes. “Life Tree! Quickly come under my domain! I have many auras that can help you as long as you give me the go-ahead!”

“No!” The Life Tree rejected Liu Shu. “I… I don’t want you to swallow me! I have fun speaking with Little Sister World Tree, but I won’t let you swallow me even if you ask me.”

“What swallow!?” Liu Shu was so anxious that she was stumbling over her words. “I don’t want to swallow you! I want to assimilate you! Come on, Big Sister, let me help you!”

The Life Tree stubbornly denied her help. Marlius’s group had reached by her side long ago. 

While the few Aether Mana experts could seal the Life Tree’s ability to use her roots to defend herself, they were unable to do the same with her branches and other skills.

The Life Tree spoke coldly with a hint of nervousness. “You should leave! I don’t want to kill all of you.”

Mariuls laughed. “Leave? Kill us? You are overstimating yourself. Your roots are useless, so come and attack with your branches.”

The Life Tree sighed, and her melodious voice spread around. “<Life Orb Rain>.”

[You’ve been affected by <Life Orb Rain>! You will be recovering 60,000 Phoer Shards per Orb that hits you!]

Marlius’s group was confused. This skill was a healing skill, and when it landed on them, they could feel its healing nature. Marlius blinked and asked, confused. “Are you trying to show me how useful you are before I kill you?”

The Life Tree didn’t answer and targeted all of them. “<Heart Of The Forest>.”

[You’ve been affected by <Heart Of The Forest>! You will be recovering 40,000 Phoer Shards per second! Duration: 60 seconds.]

Marlius shook his head. “These are indeed incredible powerful healing methods. However, you are far from being able to convince me.”

“<Spirit Of Health>!”

Another notification popped in their eyes. 

[You’ve been affected by <Spirit of Health>. You will naturally gather healing spirits around you every five seconds. For each spirit, the healing you receive will be augmented by 10%, and you will heal for 100,000 Phoer Body Shards.]

Liu Shu looked at the Life Tree’s antics, utterly confused. ‘What is she doing?”

Meanwhile, Marlius sighed and shook his head. “I don’t understand what you want to do. However, it doesn’t matter. Die, <Double Scimitar Tree Cutter>.”

He slashed forward with his two swords, creating two enormous sword lights that struck the Life Tree straight on.

BANG! BANG!

[-1,240,500]!

[-1,345,000]!

Bark splintered and flew out. Two large gashes appeared on the towering body of the Life Tree, making sap flow down. Liu Shu’s core squeezed with worry. “Life Tree!”