198 Attack on the Tree (1/2)

”My God! What monstrosity is this? Look at the size of that thing! It's even larger than the elder tree in the west! Who would have thought something like this existed underground?”

”How can you even tell if its larger than the western elder tree? We can't see the top even if we crane our necks.”

The palace guards exclaimed the moment their eyes laid upon the grand elder tree.

The red glow suffused the overgrown tree in a sinister but awe-inspiring presence. Neither the elder tree's crown nor the top of the massive space could be seen. It was like the elder tree had outgrown the space permitted and got suppressed by the earth.

When the group peered at the space above them, all they could see was a sea of crimson leaves gently swaying in the wind generated by the flow of air escaping through existing passageways and crevices in the surrounding walls.

”No, it's definitely larger than the elder tree in the west,” Leon stated confidently.

”How can you be so… oh.”

The trunk of the elder tree to the group was already roughly 1500fts and this was just gauging the trunk visible to them. Based on this information, the elder tree could be well over 2500fts, maybe even reaching the limits of 3000fts.

The entire height of the elder tree in the west only amounts to a mere 1500ft. Although this was already very impressive for a tree, it was nothing compared to what was in front of them. This was a tree that is on the verge of breaking through to new heights.

The universe is cold and unforgiving, but it does not cut off all roads to life. All life has an equal chance of obtaining eternity, even trees.

Elder trees were already greater than ordinary trees, but if it exceeds the 3000ft limit, it will no longer be considered great. Instead, it will be considered extraordinary. However, exceeding this threshold is more difficult than awakeners trying to reach the Celestial Realm.

Without the right conditions and blessings of the world, it was almost impossible for an elder tree to grow beyond the threshold in a world like Gaia. But in the unlikelihood that it manages to break through and cross the chasm, it will become a world tree.

World trees were wonders of the world that can grow to a staggering 30,000ft and its tree saps are so potent and magical it can extend the lifespan of other races by hundreds to thousands of years. It isn't farfetched to say that the birth of a world tree was a blessing to the world.

However, each world would only ever have one world tree. This isn't because the world is incapable of giving birth to more world trees. In fact, it was the opposite. Each world can produce multiple world trees when the right conditions are met.

The world had always followed the laws of the jungle. Its form may change, but never its source. It is an eternal truth.

The elder tree lived its entire life underground in eternal darkness, solely dependent on artificial spirit energy, but deprived of water and sunlight. Leon was curious about what would happen if the elder tree received water and sunlight. Would it have a magical effect like rejuvenating a dehydrated man, dying of thirst and bring itself one step closer to becoming a world tree? After all, life never strays too far from its source.

”Um, we are focusing on the wrong thing, no? What is this strange red glow? It looks sinister, but I feel like its beneficial for my body tempering cultivation.”

The group continued to admire the elder tree for a while until a palace guard voiced his doubts.

”It should be artificial spirit energy. Absorbing it carelessly is dangerous.” Leon stated with a frown. The artificial spirit energy was different to what he had read in Arden's diary. It felt more fiendish like demonic energy.

”Something like that can be created?”

The group was taken by surprise.

”Through the Nova Empire's runic technology, yes,” Leon answered.

”Nova Empire? Is that that the name of the ancient civilization? How do you know so much?” Lilith doubted before her eyes widened. ”Don't tell me you decrypted the ancient language and learned about it from the books you picked up back then?”

Leon took a moment, before he shamelessly answered, ”Yes.”

The group became even more surprised, but after a brief moment, they seemed to have accepted this answer. It felt like there was nothing that the prince couldn't do. It sure is different, having an educated person on the team.

Did the prince owe this accomplishment to the royal university? Maybe they should also study at… Nah, forget it. They had muscles for brains.

The palace guards didn't believe Leon was able to learn an entire language on such a short trip. The prince must have already had some preliminary understandings in the ancient language from his studies at the royal university.

Little did they know, they couldn't be further from the truth. The university didn't have anyone that advanced in their research of the ancient language.

”Um, aren't we forgetting something?” A palace guard asked. They were supposed to be searching for their missing comrades.

”Ah…”

Everyone immediately remembered their objective for coming here, thanks to the reminder. They were too distracted by the elder tree. Priorities.

”I found them. They're just ahead.” Leon quickly confirmed with his [Spirit Eyes].

The two missing palace guards were found roughly 2000 yards ahead by the foot of the elder tree. They were bounded by roots and still in their shameful defecating positions.