Chapter 23
The abnormal fluctuations in the Third Domain Valley lasted only three days and nights before they were detected remotely by the Light Tower of the Light Domain.
The Grand Priestess of the Light Domain immediately convened an emergency council. Beneath the circular light screen, the elder vines whispered among themselves:
"That energy does not belong to us."
"It can disrupt the frequency of the light, which is a blasphemy against the order of the holy light!"
"Who is pulling the strings in the shadows? Could it be a new weapon from the Dark Root?"
Finally, the Great Ritual Vine struck the ground heavily with its roots, announcing the conclusion:
"Whoever it is, the free rhythm must be destroyed."
The realm of light cannot tolerate disordered populations; otherwise, order will collapse.
A resolution was issued:
Establish the 'Light-Cutting Team' to track down and eliminate all places with unusual rhythms.
Meanwhile, in the underground council chamber of the Black Tide, the Dark Root leader, "Deep Corruption Master Vine," also received a report:
Hundreds of patrol pods have gone missing, some even being decomposed into nutrients.
The shadowy vines were growling in a low voice:
"This is a new threat."
"It can actually divert the energy of the black vines? That's the potential of a mother tree!"
"Who planted new roots in the center of the continent?"
Deep-rotted main vine said in a deep voice:
"Someone on the dark web is manipulating underground water veins. This isn't a technique from the Light Domain..."
I suspect that another lineage of the mother tree is awakening.
The conclusions regarding dark roots differ from those regarding light domains:
Instead of destroying it, they planned to capture and utilize it, and intended to send their most skilled infiltration agents, the "Rotten Sprout Walkers," to infiltrate the valley.
Ironically, while the Light Domain and the Dark Root remain openly hostile to each other, they both raise a common issue in their private high-level meetings:
"If we allow the Third Domain to grow unchecked, it will soon threaten all our foundations."
Thus, an unprecedented proposal quietly emerged:
At the next meeting of the Mother Tree Council, Light and Darkness will temporarily ally and propose a joint operation to 'hunt down the Third Domain'.
The Mother Tree Council—the oldest power center on the continent—has only ever been opened when the balance of power is truly shaken.
Today, the power of the Free Root Network is enough to shake up the continental landscape, forcing light and darkness to put aside their hatred and face this new force together.
However, the Mother Tree Council not only includes representatives from the Light Domain and the Dark Root, but also shadow councilors from other minor factions.
Once the news gets out, the Third Valley may face its most intense hunting storm after the next council meeting.
In the valley, Seed 237 and Sprout 12 continue to lay out new free root networks, giving the Wind Feather Moss community and the Free Flower Spirit a long-lost sense of belonging.
Unbeknownst to them, the eyes of the entire continent were now on them.
Sprout 12 gazed into the distance, his expression complex.
“237, I guess you’ve already sensed it… We’ve just sprouted, and they’re already going to crush us with the power of the entire continent.”
Seed 237 did not speak, but simply burrowed its roots deeper into the stone veins.
Within him, the rhythm of the Mother Tree's potential grew clearer and clearer, as if whispering:
The roots of freedom can only truly take shape in the storm.
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