Chapter 14
In the deepest part of the mainland,
There was no light, and no air.
Only the labyrinthine black roots form a shadowy temple.
This is the Dark Root Council.
Beneath the dome formed by intertwined black roots, more than ten ancient dark root masters cast illusory shadows.
They do not appear in physical form, but rather gather consciousness here through the dark web of roots.
The dark roots whispered incessantly, like countless suffocating bubbles in a deathly swamp.
"The one who pursued his heart... has failed."
"How could an immature seed bloom into a flower of the soul?"
"The Mother Tree's mark... no, it should have been severed, how could it awaken again?"
Parliament was thrown into turmoil, and whispers grew increasingly chaotic.
Elder Riftroot advocates for a direct, comprehensive invasion.
"Now that the signs have appeared, we should immediately turn the light domain into nourishment. If we let it grow, the consequences will be endless."
The 'Infiltrator' replied, "Perhaps this is not a threat, but a pawn. If we can subdue its core essence, we can then use the potential of the Mother Tree for our own purposes."
The oldest "dormant root" slowly opened its mouth.
"The mother tree is no accident; there may be ancient relics behind it. Acting hastily will only disturb the hidden power."
First, we lay out more detailed monitoring seed pods, keeping a close eye on every water vein—making the seeds believe they are still growing in secret, while we are their true soil.
Finally, the black roots intertwined to form a mark, which slowly sank into the earth:
The fragments of the Heart Chaser have been recovered and will be reforged with more soul fragments.
At key water vein nodes in the plains and adjacent hills, the Dark Roots have begun to bury tens of thousands of "listening pods".
A new apostle will be sent to the surface, not in the name of war, but under the guise of trade and alliances.
The black roots intertwine and eventually converge into a single sentence:
"If the mother tree is to grow... let it bloom in the shade."
As the gathering dispersed, a voice still whispered in the darkness:
"The seed of the Light Domain... is named 237."
It is not the only one.
If it can bloom, perhaps other forgotten seeds are also waiting to awaken.
Black ripples spread outwards, and the very roots of the continent seemed to tremble quietly.
Plains
The sky was an excessively blue.
Above the light and wind of the earth, a strange figure quietly appeared.
He called himself the Apostle of the Binding Vine.
It appears as a slender vine, with silvery-white leaves and glistening pods hanging from its inflorescence.
If you don't look closely, you might almost mistake it for a new species originating from the Light Domain.
However, at first glance, the veins of the Bean Sprout 12 leaf wrinkled:
“This aura… is not right. Its sap flows differently from that of the plants in the Light Domain; it’s more like… it has been deliberately blended.”
Seed 237 did not reveal the truth immediately.
Because the other side chose to make its appearance at the Plains Council Hall—a neutral location openly recognized by all factions.
The Binding Vine Apostle spread out its tendrils, its voice soft yet carrying a certain unsettling rhythm:
"Seeds of the Light Realm, I come to pay my respects on behalf of the Tide Abyss Alliance."
I heard that you repelled the Heart Chasers; this power is enough to make the entire continent take notice.
But strength without the nourishment of the soil will only wither...
We are willing to share a section of the watercourse with you, exchange nutrients, and build the future together.
He deliberately avoided the term "Dark Roots" and instead fabricated a "Tide Abyss Alliance".
Such lies, if not investigated thoroughly, can confuse the public among various factions.
Ya Ling couldn't help but whisper:
"Master, he's lying! Sharing the water veins is tantamount to letting him spy on us!"
Sprout12 held her down:
"Don't rush, listen carefully. He's not here to negotiate, he's here to test us."
Seed 237 slowly unfolded its light field, and the translucent thin light extended along the boundary of the plain conference hall.
Under the light, the vines within the Bound Vine Apostle's body were faintly visible, resembling an inverted net of roots, winding with hidden black currents.
237 calmly opened his mouth:
"Sharing the waterway? Or sharing the constraints?"
If you truly want to build a future together, why bury the tendrils in the shadows instead of letting them reach for the light?
The vines of the Binding Apostle trembled slightly, but quickly returned to their gentle state:
"Ha...you are indeed qualified to inherit the mother tree's demeanor."
But you must understand, this continent has more than just a sunlit side.
Just as the two sides were exchanging words, the Bound Vine Apostle suddenly released a hidden signal, preparing to transmit the light flow data within the light domain back to the Dark Root Council.
However, Sprout 12 had already been operating outside the field, quietly laying down a signal break loop between the surface and underground.
That backflow channel snapped instantly.
For the first time, a cold glint appeared in the eyes of the Binding Vine Apostle.
Seed 237 immediately seized the opportunity to unleash the initial power of the mother tree's potential:
In the center of the light field, an unnamed illusory light root appeared, spreading outwards and suppressing the fluctuations of the dark root.
All the plants in the field felt this unusual pressure.
The Binding Vine Apostle ultimately chose to retreat, leaving behind a profound statement:
“The seed of the light domain…you can suppress it once, but you may not be able to suppress it forever.”
The mother tree's path can only truly take root when nourished by darkness and blood.
He transformed into several silvery-white vines and vanished in the wind.
However, where he disappeared, a translucent empty pod remained, quietly buried in the soil.
That was a "spy" planted by the Dark Roots—a long-term, lurking surveillance device.
Sprout 12 picked up the empty pod, his expression serious:
"He has retreated, but Angen will not give up."
This is just a test... the real shadow is approaching.
Seed 237 raised its gaze, and the thin film of the light field trembled slightly in the wind.
He had come to understand that the Mother Tree's potential lay not only in dealing with allies in the light, but also in contending with enemies in the shadows.
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