Chapter 3

The desolate plains stretch endlessly, covered with sparse yet tenacious vegetation. Here, each plant follows its own "rules of life": absorbing sunlight, competing for nutrients, maintaining root stability, and endlessly cycling through life and death.

The ecology of the plains is not chaotic, but rather a precise hierarchical order. Low-lying plants such as ground cover grass and soft-leaved buds are distributed in the understory. They are flexible and productive, but they have limited sunlight and nutrients and cannot grow well if covered by tall trees or shrubs.

The mid-level plants consist of tall grasses, vines, and shrubs, which compete for sunlight through height and leaf expansion, while also competing with the bottom-level plants for nutrients. A delicate symbiotic and competitive relationship exists among the mid-level plants: some vines climb with the help of the shrubs, while the humus from the bottom-level plants provides them with the energy for growth.

The dominant species at the top—giant trees resembling mother trees with shadow-like leaves—spread their enormous canopies, almost completely blocking out the sunlight below. Their deep root systems not only absorb nutrients but also actively suppress the growth of surrounding plants, forming a natural dominance.

Herbivore communities also exist on the plains, moving among the grass and soil, preying on lower plants or decaying dead leaves, and recycling nutrients back into the soil through their excrement. A dynamic balance exists between herbivores and plants: over-predation triggers plant retaliation or strangulation by vines, while insufficient plant populations lead to herbivore migration.

Furthermore, the plain possesses a unique micro-ecological network: mycelia connect the root systems of different plants, forming an underground information and nutrient flow system; microorganisms decompose dead leaves and corpses, returning nutrients to the soil in the form of humus. Every plant is sensing, competing, absorbing, and fighting back; this plain is like a giant chessboard of life, where any weak entity can be swallowed up in an instant.

Seed 237 was born in such an environment: short and small, almost unable to directly receive sunlight, but the energy hidden in the soil and the assistance of the bud spirit gave it the opportunity to change its own destiny. The bud spirit vibrated gently within its body: "237, this is the original ecological order of the Wasteland Plain. Only by understanding it can you know how to carve out your own territory."

After defeating the Shadow Leaf Mother Plant, the sunlight shone down on the Wasteland Plains once again. I felt the energy within my body surge, and the Bud Spirit grew from its initial form to its intermediate form, shimmering with an even stronger light.

[Skill Unlocked: Photosynthesis Enhancement]

[Bud Spirit Skill: Light Blade Slash]

[Hidden Skill Unlock Condition: Domain Opening Lv1]

I tried to concentrate the nutrients and light energy within my body, and my roots rapidly expanded in all directions, spreading out like an invisible energy net. The soil on the ground trembled slightly, and pale green light patterns floated in the mud.

[Domain Unlocked: Primary Light Domain]

[Range: 3 meters in radius]

[Effect: Increases photosynthetic efficiency by 30%, accelerates nutrient absorption, and prevents low-level plants from invading]

The vines stretched along the edge of the light field as if they were alive, forming a natural barrier. Bud spirits flew forward, scanning for nutrients and potential threats.

“The domain is complete,” Bud Spirit whispered. “Within this area, you will have exclusive access to sunlight and humus. Any plant that gets too close will feel the stress and its growth rate will decrease.”

I lifted a tender leaf, feeling the sunlight converge on it into a stream of light, warm and powerful. In this realm of light, the plant's growth rate was twice as fast as outside, and my roots were rapidly deepening and expanding in the soil.

Soon, a small herbivorous beast attempted to enter the light domain, but was easily blocked by the vines. The Sprout Spirit swiftly activated its Light Blade Slash skill, forcing it back and simultaneously decomposing its genitals into humus, which automatically converted into nutrients.

As the light field gradually expanded, I began to try combining more skills with the abilities of the Bud Spirit:

Enhanced photosynthesis + root strangler net: forms an active defense net at the edge of the light field, automatically absorbing nutrients that enter the area.

Vines Growth + Light Blade Slash: Launch a preemptive attack on any creature attempting to intrude, either repelling it or converting it into nutrients.

Humus decomposition: rapidly decomposes dead organisms or fallen leaves into nutrients, enhancing resource recycling efficiency.

As the light domain expanded, I felt my inner potential awaken: the stem grew thicker, the leaves absorbed light energy more efficiently, the roots spread rapidly in the soil, and I could even sense the movements of distant competitors. The bud spirit swirled within me, its light as intense as flames: "Two, Three, Seven, your abilities have begun to reflect the potential of the mother tree, and ecological control is starting to emerge."

I took a deep breath of the earth and sunlight mingling together, my heart calm and resolute: "No matter how many challenges there are, I will transform the Barren Plains into my own domain, let the light and nutrients flow to me, and let my life force cover the entire world."

The roots wriggled, the vines stretched out, and the leaves in the center of the light field shone with an unprecedented green light.

The boundary of the light field, which was originally just a faint halo, now resembles a burning dawn, slowly expanding outwards.

However, the expanding light not only awakened the sleeping seeds but also disturbed the ancient overlords deep in the plains.

First came hordes of herbivorous crustaceans—their black shells reflecting sunlight to prevent moisture evaporation, yet they greedily devoured the leaves. Heads bowed, they surged forward like a torrent, crushing the soil and severing the young shoots.

Following closely behind is a large group of competing plants – the "Shadow Vine Alliance".

Their roots meander underground like snakes, and their vines climb to the outer edge of the light field like shadows, releasing light-blocking leaves in an attempt to completely cover the light source of 237.

The bud spirit urgently transmitted a message through the root system: "The light has been cut off, and the light domain will shrink! We can't survive for more than three days and nights!"

Seed 237 remained silent for a moment, but its roots quickly penetrated deeper, initiating the first global allocation—"light flow guidance".

Every ray of light in the field of light was drawn to the southeast, forming a blazing "wall of light." The high temperature cracked the leaves of the first wave of shadow vines, forcing them back from spreading.

However, the shadow vine does not rely solely on its vines and leaves; its underground root network has penetrated into the soil layer of the light domain, cutting off water veins and some nutrients.

Some of the herbaceous allies within the light domain began to wither and turn yellow, and some even turned to the shadow vines to survive.

Just as the situation was on the verge of collapse, Seed 237 felt an ancient vibration deep within its core—the potential of the Mother Tree was awakening.

That is a force different from ordinary photosynthesis: the "population" of the domain.

It temporarily connects the plant roots within the light field to its own root network, forming a unified "nutrient cycle" so that all plants, whether herbaceous, shrubby, or low-growing vines, can share energy and water.

In an instant, the light domain became a living defensive fortification:

Herbaceous plants accelerate leaf growth, creating more light-reflecting surfaces that dissipate shadows and provide shade.

Thorny shrubs grow outwards, forming a natural barrier against crustaceans.

The mycelial network beneath the soil expands rapidly, invading the roots of the vine and reclaiming the severed water veins.

On the third day and night, the impact of the shelled beasts began to weaken, and the shade-blocking leaves of the Shadow Vine Alliance withered in large areas.

The light field of Seed 237 not only preserved the boundary, but also extended several feet after the war.

Bud Spirit said softly, "This... is already the prototype of the mother tree."

Seed 237 remained silent, knowing that this was only the beginning of the ecological battle on the plains—the closer it got to the mother tree, the more brutal the challenges would be.