Chapter 74 All things in the world have a spirit
“Little girl, those wood-type crystal cores containing pure life energy in your supplies are the nutrients that awakened my dormant consciousness, nourished my divine tree, and helped me to be born and grow. If it weren’t for the continuous infusion of the abundant and pure life force in the wood-type crystal cores, I would still be just an ordinary divine tree without intelligence, and I wouldn’t be able to talk to you here. All of this is because of your gift.”
Wood-based crystal core!
Xu Zhili's heart sank suddenly.
This is indeed the type of crystal core she accumulated the most of in the apocalypse.
Although the direct replenishment effect of wood-type crystal cores on mental energy is far less immediate than that of extremely rare mental crystal cores, these wood-type crystal cores have played an unexpected and crucial role in countless life-or-death situations—they can gently soothe Xu Zhili's mental trauma.
She couldn't understand why, according to common sense, crystal cores and ability users should work in the same way, so why were wood-type crystal cores also effective for mental ability users?
Moreover, it is precisely for her that the wood-type crystal core can not only soothe mental trauma but also enhance perception. What is the reason for this?
It provides slow but sustained energy when mental energy is depleted, and even in certain special circumstances, it unexpectedly expands her mental perception range, allowing her to avoid fatal dangers in advance.
Each wood-type crystal core is imbued with the sweat and blood of her battles, serving as her guarantee of survival.
But now, she never imagined that her treasured accumulation would be quietly "fed" to this tree of unknown origin in front of her!
A surge of anger, a feeling of being stolen from and offended, rose instantly.
"A gift?"
Xu Zhili's voice was as cold as ice. Her eyes were sharp and cold, her brows furrowed as she questioned, "You call this a gift?"
"You took my hard-earned life-saving resources without my consent. How is this any different from a robber taking advantage of my misfortune?"
"Those crystal cores were obtained by crawling back from the brink of death time and time again amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood."
She threw herself into countless fierce battles with zombies, and repeatedly navigated the complex and unpredictable human nature.
The Tree of Life swayed its branches gently, making a rustling sound, which this time sounded more like a long sigh, carrying a wisdom that had weathered many storms.
"Young lady, you are mistaken."
Its voice remained calm, yet contained a peculiar penetrating power: "What do you seek by collecting crystal cores in the apocalypse? Nothing more than survival and power. I was born here, and although I absorbed your wood-type crystal core, this is not plunder, but rather the beginning of a... symbiotic opportunity."
"This is a divine opportunity, a karmic connection in the dark. Moreover," its tone rose slightly, carrying a powerful confidence, "when I truly grow up, the rewards I will give you will far surpass those consumable crystal cores. Those are merely the foundation, while I can build a bridge of protection for your life."
"Words are no proof!" Xu Zhili retorted without backing down, a cool smile curving her lips.
"You say you can give me more? What a boastful tone! But I don't even know what you are or what your abilities are. Why should I trust a 'tree spirit' of unknown origin who even stole my things?"
She deliberately emphasized the words "stealing food".
"Tree demon? Ha..."
The Tree of Life seemed to smile at the name, and then its voice became more solemn and grand than ever before, as if an ancient bell was echoing in this spiritual space, each word carrying a heavy weight.
"My name is 'Tree of Life'."
"My ability—to nurture the 'fruit of life'!"
As it proclaimed, the entire giant tree seemed to be illuminated by an invisible force, the flowing golden light on its trunk became even more dazzling, and the glass-like leaves on its branches moved without wind, emitting a clear and melodious hum.
The bright blue dewdrops hanging from the tips of the leaves shone brilliantly, and when they fell, they bloomed with a visible, vibrant green halo, like miniature fireworks of life.
"Pluck the Fruit of Life. This fruit dissolves upon contact with water, and its power can bring the dead back to life, heal the wounded, nourish all things, and unleash their potential. The efficacy of a single mature Fruit of Life is equivalent to the combined power of a thousand of your wood-elemental crystal cores! Moreover, its power is gentle and pure, without any side effects; it is the true power of the origin of life."
Then, the Tree of Life began to tell Xu Zhili about its ancient and mysterious origins.
Its voice carries a sense of nostalgia for the past: its roots are deeply embedded in the core of the earth, able to purify polluted and eroded soil, and to give birth to a lush oasis in barren land.
Its flower buds contain the most exquisite "essence of life" in the world, which can revitalize dying creatures and allow withered trees to sprout tender green buds again.
In ancient times, it was revered as a sacred totem by our ancestors. Its tough branches could be made into powerful magical artifacts that contained vitality, and its crystal-clear leaves, when ground into powder, were a holy medicine that could heal all kinds of injuries.
It is a symbol of the cycle of life, and has silently protected the continuous life of this land.
As Xu Zhili listened to this mythical description, her heart began to pound uncontrollably.
To bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded!
Purify the land!
Create an oasis!
Each of these abilities is nothing short of miraculous in the apocalypse!
If this is true...
That is indeed far more valuable than wood-based crystal cores.
Her yearning for a stronger, more fundamental life force was completely ignited.
This may be the opportunity for her and her family to truly gain a foothold in this era, and even change their destiny!
However, behind every great temptation lies a bottomless trap.
In the forty years since the apocalypse, she has witnessed too many deadly temptations disguised as beauty.
Xu Zhili forcibly suppressed the burning desire in her heart, her eyes sharp and calm. She took a deep breath, and although it was just a mental action in the mental space, she asked in a deep voice, "Then, what is the price?"
"You said you need me to provide nourishment for you to grow and bear fruit. What exactly do you need? Don't tell me it's some unreasonable or impossible request, or that I need to pay the price of my life or soul!"
Her voice carried an unmistakable scrutiny.
There's no such thing as a free lunch, especially when faced with such a huge temptation.
The Tree of Life seemed pleased with her caution, its branches swaying gently, making a pleasant rustling sound.
"The conditions are not harsh, and you don't need to sacrifice your life or soul. I'm not the kind of person who would resort to underhanded means."
Its voice returned to its previous calm, "All things in the world have a spirit. Those that radiate unique light, you only need to find and bring back items containing special energy for me in the real world, such as rare minerals containing the essence of heaven and earth, or even the core essence of some powerful mutated creatures."
Anything containing pure energy can serve as my nourishment. By absorbing this energy, I can accelerate my growth, condense the fruit of life, and every fruit that grows on the tree belongs to you.
Xu Zhili fell into a long silence.
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