Chapter 1
"0"
Consciousness seemed to be torn into countless fragments, scattered in an endless darkness, cold and empty.
The soil was cold and damp, its heavy texture enveloping me, making it almost impossible to breathe. The air was filled with the rich scent of humus, mixed with the smell of grass and damp mud, creating a primal and profound aroma of life.
Countless tiny hissing and wriggling sounds filled the air, like countless microorganisms dancing in the soil, a whisper of life that never ceases. Occasionally, a faint vibration came from afar, like the echo of a beast's hoof, reminding me that this was a brutal battlefield.
Before I could fully regain consciousness, a cold, electronic voice suddenly exploded in my mind:
[Host consciousness intact detected. Binding to the Plant Law System]
[Host ID: Seed 237]
The system-given auxiliary life form "Bud Spirit" is now bound to your account.
[Bud Spirit Activation, Initial Form, Possesses Reconnaissance and Support Functions]
You will enter the ecological instance: Barren Plains as a "special seed".
A faint, pale green light appeared in my mind, slowly rotating like a newly sprouting bud. This was the Sprout Spirit; it could sense my thoughts and emitted a soft, gentle vibration: "...Squeak..."
"Ya Ling, how am I doing?" I asked tentatively.
Its glowing points flickered slightly, responding slowly: "Insufficient nutrients. We suggest you absorb humus or prey nutrients as soon as possible. Enemy activity is frequent. Prioritize scouting the environment and avoid direct confrontation."
I nodded silently, and the spirit whispered again, "I am bound to you, I am your guardian. Breaking the bond will cause me to dissipate."
In this endless darkness of the earth, it is my only companion.
I began to extend my roots, touching the damp, rotting leaves around me.
The soil is thick and sticky, while the decaying leaves are soft and moist, emitting a humus-like fragrance.
[Absorption successful, nutrient value +2]
A warm energy slowly flowed through my body, and I felt the stem gently growing in the darkness.
The bud spirit shimmered within me and whispered, "There is a faint ray of sunlight above, extremely precious."
I tried to stretch my stem upwards, wanting to grasp that ray of light.
Three attempts failed; the soil was too hard, and I couldn't break through. Fourth attempt:
Bang!
A ray of light finally fell on my newly sprouted leaves, and the light seemed to flow into my body like liquid, stirring up a sense of satisfaction I had never felt before.
Just as I was immersed in this light, a piercing "creaking" sound came from afar.
The bud spirit suddenly leaped out of its body, turning into a shimmering point of light, and swam swiftly toward the source of the sound.
The shockwaves spread through the soil, disturbing the senses.
Through the blurred vision of the leaves, I saw it—the Mudtooth Beast.
Its grayish-brown fur was covered in mud, making it look like a hybrid of a mole and a wild boar, and its mouthful of fangs kept gnawing at a tender bud next to it.
The bud trembled a few times, its leaves quickly withered and turned yellow, and then it died.
[WARNING: Herbivore approaching, please respond quickly]
I am powerless and can barely move. How can I face this sudden beast?
The Mudtooth Beast exhaled hot, humid breath from its nose, and opened its mouth, its sharp fangs pointing directly at my leaf.
The Sprout immediately emitted high-frequency vibrations, assaulting its sensory nerves. The Mudtooth Beast panicked and shook its head, its movements instantly slowing down.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, my roots grew rapidly, wrapping around its forelegs like whips.
"suck!"
This is not language, but an instinctive cry. The roots begin to draw sap from its body, and the buds cling tightly to the roots, helping to transform nutrients.
The battle intensified.
The mud-toothed beast struggled frantically, its sharp fangs biting off several roots, and the pain shot through my roots.
An electric current surged through my body, causing my roots to split rapidly and grow wildly like vines.
Sprout warned: "Mudtooth Beasts are huge, powerful, and consume a lot of energy. The longer the battle lasts, the greater the risk."
I endured the pain and used all my strength to wrap it around.
"suck--"
With a continuous flow of fluids entering the body, energy is gradually restored.
The Mudtooth Beast's movements gradually slowed down, and eventually its limbs went limp, causing it to collapse heavily to the ground.
[Defeat the alien creature - Mudtooth Beast (juvenile)]
[Nutrients +15, Energy Concentration Increased]
[Hidden Reward: Root System Strength +1]
[Bud Spirit Nutrients +5, Upgrade Progress Increased]
The mud-toothed beast's corpse slowly decomposed into fertile humus, nourishing me.
The bud spirit gradually glowed brighter within the body, and its mycelial tentacles slowly extended.
"Thank you, 237. The more nutrients I receive, the stronger I become, and I can help you grow."
System prompt:
[Bud Spirit upgrades, unlocks skill: Humus Decomposition]
Sunlight bathed my leaves, and warmth filled my entire body.
However, the good weather didn't last long, and the light overhead suddenly dimmed.
I looked up and, though I had no eyes, I could sense a tall plant spreading out like a giant umbrella, almost completely blocking out the sunlight.
Its root system slowly extends out.
A cold, electronic voice sounded:
[Dungeon Rules Unlocked:]
① Photosynthesis is the sole source of energy, and sunlight determines the growth rate and intensity. In barren plains, tall plants can block the sunlight from low-lying plants, causing the latter to gradually wither and die.
② All plants need to compete for limited sunlight and nutrients, thus restraining each other.
③ Root combat and nutrient absorption are key to survival; nutrients are used to enhance abilities and evolve.
④ Death resets the game; progress can only be saved after passing the "budding stage".
⑤ The system will provide special events based on changes in the environment, and randomly grant or challenge rewards.
This place is home not only to ferocious beasts, but also to fierce competition among their own kind.
The Bud Spirit scanned in a low voice: "The enemy's main root is thick, about three times the diameter of mine, extremely tough, and slow in attack."
My roots slowly unfolded and wrapped around the other's main root.
"suck!"
Heat surged, and the leaves of the tall plants slightly contracted, letting light shine through the gaps.
"Who is it!" The voice reverberated through the soil, filled with fury.
I didn't answer, but clung to it even tighter, sucking out the slightly bitter juice from its body.
[Opponent's nutrient level -3 / Your nutrient level +3]
[Root system successfully entwined, entering a continuous absorption phase]
It began to fight back, its roots sweeping out like snakes, trying to entangle my main root.
I endured the pain, mobilized the nutrients I had just acquired, separated fine roots, and quickly spread out a net.
[Skill Trigger: Strangulation Net Lv1]
Once the opponent's roots touch it, they are entangled and cannot get close.
My other main root continues to draw sap.
"Let me go! You'll attract herbivores!" the other roared.
I sneered inwardly. Having just killed a herbivore, I felt no fear.
Its leaves began to wither and droop. The stem snapped with a "crack," and the entire massive plant collapsed.
The sunlight bathed me again.
[Defeat the competing plant - No. A132]
[Sunlight Weighting +20%]
[Hidden Reward: Vine Growth Lv1]
An unprecedented feeling of fullness bursts forth within me, the stems grow rapidly like bamboo shoots, the leaves unfold, and photosynthesis becomes more efficient.
But the electronic voice sounded coldly again:
[Instance Event: The First Great Migration of the Wasteland is About to Begin]
The seasonal storm will arrive in 12 hours, uprooting any weak or unstable structures.
In the distance, the gray-white cloud wall slowly approached, devouring the sky like a ferocious beast.
More vibrations came from the soil as creatures ran, uprooted themselves, and migrated.
A sharp chill filled the air, as if announcing the imminent start of a brutal cleansing.
The bud spirit within me shimmered faintly, accompanying my roots, and whispered, "Are you ready, two, three, seven?"
I closed the "leaf" and gathered my will in my heart.
A secret that the system had never explained in detail surfaced in my mind:
[Ultimate Goal: To become the Mother Tree, control the Barren Plains, transform the ecosystem, and dominate the world]
The mother tree is the only entity that can control the flow of sunlight and nutrients, possessing the power to reshape the environment and dominate all things.
To become the mother tree means endless growth, endless domination, and endless life.
I grip my roots tightly, facing the storm, facing the unknown fate.
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