World Occult Usage Guide

Chapter 286 The World Tree's Invitation

After three internal tests and one closed beta test, the [World Tree] system has been adjusted to differentiate between ordinary people and mystics, and is approaching perfection.

The system's voice can only be heard in Lin An's mind, so other users must be able to understand French, which is a basic requirement for using the [World Tree].

Lin An first asked about the literacy rate of the chiefs, and unsurprisingly, it was 0%.

The elder of the spotted lion tribe is an anomaly. Without her, the tribe rarely comes into contact with outside languages; they can't even understand them, let alone read them.

At this stage, the various items can only be explained and conveyed to them verbally by Lin An and the people of the Spotted Lion tribe.

Lin An raised his hand, and a series of green, fluorescent data appeared. The green reflection left an eerie color on the weathered faces of each chief, as if someone had used neon lights to illuminate ancient murals.

Many people jumped up in fright, the sound of plastic chairs overturning echoed everywhere, and they stared at the floating data with terrified and unfamiliar eyes.

The Matrix-like sci-fi vision was reflected in their dark pupils, as if time and space had converged thousands of years apart.

"What kind of witchcraft is this?"

The tribespeople, who had never even used a computer or mobile phone, blurted out that this was something only gods could do.

“‘Alien technology’… never mind, this is the wisdom passed down to me by the ghosts of my ancestors,” Lin An explained as best he could. “Everyone, calm down and sit down first.”

The people of the Southern Continent firmly believed in the existence of myths, and this belief became even more ingrained after "Comerth" brought the legends to life.

The chiefs had never seen modern technology, but they had seen the ancestral spirits' great wads more or less with their own eyes.

The chieftains stared intently at the data, their minds racing with a myriad of thoughts as they tried to accept the bizarre reality before them, a flicker of fear crossing their eyes.

Forced by Lin An's pressure, they had no choice but to wait anxiously.

The chair made a creaking sound against the floor, which was irritating. Lin An casually turned the Philosopher's Stone, and the plastic instantly turned into gold.

For a moment, the tent was filled with golden light, almost blinding all the chiefs. They touched the cold metal beneath them in disbelief, when Lin An spoke.

"The World Tree is an organization where humans and gods coexist, dedicated to establishing a mutually supportive relationship between its members who possess mysterious powers and ordinary people."

He casually raised his hand, and the [Bone of the Grinder] instantly transformed into a bleating sheep. Ap, who was always ready, swiftly and skillfully dragged it out of the tent and turned it into a kebab.

The aroma was irresistible. People accepted the food offered by the lion tribesmen in a daze, while listening to Lin An briefly introduce the six major parts of the World Tree.

Hearing something from others is one thing, witnessing it with your own eyes is another.

Watching Lin An effortlessly conjure up their most prized meat, turning lead into gold with a mere flick of his wrist, the chieftains were utterly bewildered.

Without a doubt, this deity's power far exceeded their imagination.

"I'm sending out recruitment notices to every tribe. You can apply for either a 'human' or 'god' position. Submit your application... cough, explain your situation to the administrative department, and we'll conduct a preliminary evaluation based on your resume."

Lin An pushed away the skewers of grilled meat that Mei Zuo offered and continued speaking.

"After you join [World Tree], we will arrange a 4-week onboarding training. If you pass the assessment, you will receive a new employee ID card and be assigned to one of the six different departments based on your performance during the training, where you will begin a three-month trial period."

"If you fail any part of the process, I regret to inform you that the World Tree will be unavailable to you. However, you can still exchange 'ash leaves' for the World Tree's services."

"Fragrant Leaf" is a virtual currency invented by Lin An, and those who follow him will use this currency for transactions.

"However, the World Tree only provides services to tribes near the facility. In other words, you need to follow me to receive the protection of me and my companions."

Looking around, Lin An saw a series of confused faces and gave Maye a wink.

“Maye, you translate this.”

“Yes, Ancestral Spirit.” Meyer bit her lip almost imperceptibly. “Greetings to everyone. My name is Meyer Lion, Minister of the Civil Service Department of the World Tree.”

Maye translated Lin An's words flawlessly into a speech the chief could understand, and they suddenly realized what he meant, whispering among themselves.

"As long as you join the World Tree, you can receive the protection of the rangers like the Lion Tribe? This is a treatment that the Ancestral Spirit Totem has never received before. Those Ancestral Spirits want to be above everyone else, making tribes without Ancestral Spirits feel inferior and struggling to survive."

"Not only that, we can also benefit from the ranger's great tavern, and he will help us cross the Kalenga Line and become new ancestral spirits!"

"But if we do that, won't there be no distinction between tribes? This..."

Some were excited and eager to try; others frowned and were worried.

After giving everyone ten minutes, Misuru stomped her foot, and the buzzing sound fell silent.

Would you like to join [World Tree]?

Before the chief could respond, Lin An dropped another bombshell.

“I know this is rushed, but you have no time to think about it. Because I will be moving my entire tribe to Mbanbuka in three days, and if you want to follow me, you have to be prepared to leave the rainforest.”

Misuru found the Red Poppy Merchant Guild's office in Mbanbuka, and Lin An immediately decided to attack it as his first stronghold in Bantu City.

Rainforests are too unsuitable for survival.

These words struck the chiefs like a thunderbolt, and the huge tent fell silent for a moment.

The tribespeople were not isolated from the world. As times progressed, they traded with city dwellers at the Mazuz market in order to obtain supplies, and some even went to Mbanbuka.

The houses offering shelter from the rain, the clanging tricycles, and the vendors' dazzling array of goods captivated them, yet they felt helpless.

Most people are used to life in the rainforest and don't have the courage to take the initiative to leave.

The silence lasted for a long time before people started to speak one after another.

“I follow you, ranger.” The first chief to speak was from the chimpanzee tribe. “The ancestors of the chimpanzees were not native to the rainforest; they were forced to come here by war.”

“We are too,” another chief chimed in. “Because of the endless wars, our ancestors had to cross the turbulent Lualaba River and plunge into the perilous rainforest.”

“Forest ranger, if there’s a way to return to the city without having to participate in the war…” the third chieftain took a deep breath, “I want to join the World Tree.”

The first group of people to respond to Lin An were all "non-native" people of the rainforest. They were terrified by the two hundred years of war in modern times and hid in the rainforest where tanks could not enter, where they have lived for generations.

After carefully weighing the pros and cons, they decided to take this opportunity to leave with Lin An.

Lin An gave Misuru a wink, and the latter patted his chest and confidently assured him, "Under the protection of the World Tree, Bantu will become greater every day!"

Hearing Chief Lion's guarantee, how many chiefs were willing to accept the World Tree's arrangements and follow Lin An, even if it meant leaving the rainforest and entering city life? They no longer wanted to, and dared not, experience the Countess's strange and unpredictable mystical magic again.

Meyer confirmed the first batch of names, and then someone else spoke up.

“Great, great Kalenga Mpengu.” The speaker was an elderly woman, with a girl sitting beside her who had witnessed Lin An’s battle with the Countess. “We have lived in this rainforest since our first ancestors opened their eyes.”

“If you want to stay, no one will stop you,” Lin Anping said calmly. “I’m not some uncle who eats fries with mayonnaise.”

“You told us that a mysterious and mesmerizing era was coming, with ghosts running out of the underworld, the energy of the cross expanding, and the worlds of life and death intertwining.”

The elder raised his hand and patted the head of the girl beside him.

"And I believe in you, Ranger, whether it's the future you describe or your promise to protect us. We don't want to see war break out and be powerless to stop it."

Hearing her words, people's minds began to stir.

Without a doubt, Lin An is the strongest ancestral spirit they have ever seen.

Having such a powerful figure by your side is definitely a safe bet.

A few chieftains accepted the invitation from the World Tree, while the rest remained silent.

They have lived in the rainforest for generations, filled with fear and wariness towards the outside world.

He turned to the two Pygmy mystics.

The Pygmies are the earliest inhabitants of the rainforest region, older than any of the Bantu peoples currently living there.

More than 4000 years ago, the Egyptians brought a record from the forest west of the Moon Mountain, saying that there was a race of dwarfs there who sang and danced to their gods, flew through the forest, had the ability to become invisible, could hunt elephants, and had tails.

When Lin An saw this ancient people with his own eyes, he discovered that many of the legendary things had come true in strange ways.

The Pygmies wear loincloths made of tree bark that look like tails; they are short in stature and can move freely in the forest as if they were invisible; and they are indeed skilled at hunting elephants.

They are the rainforest's beloved children; they have a way of surviving regardless of whether there are cities or not.

Sensing Lin An's gaze, the pygmy boy said, "Forest ranger, Mama and I have discussed joining your tribe before."

That was an unexpected answer.

“I have personally witnessed the Lion Clan prosper and become wealthy under your leadership.” The Pygmy boy smiled. “Forest ranger, the rainy season is approaching.”

Lin An didn't interrupt, and the woman sitting with the boy spoke slowly and deliberately.

"The rainy season is usually the most difficult time. The Kuba River has fierce and rapid currents. It is a beast that will devour anyone it chooses. Once you are submerged, even the best swimmer will not escape death."

"The increased rainfall has changed the habits of the surrounding plants and animals, making gathering more difficult. Of course, the wisdom passed down from generation to generation has given us a sufficiently rich diet, so as long as there are no major accidents, we will not starve to death."

"The most terrifying thing about the rainy season is the various infectious and tropical diseases that come with it. The hot and humid environment allows fungi, insects, and parasites to multiply in large numbers. When we get sick, we can only pray for the protection of our ancestors and gods and leave it to fate."

After saying this, the woman shook her head slightly.

“I don’t want my descendants to continue living like this. I’ve heard that there are some white herbalists in Mbanbuka, and a huge shamanic altar. I want my people to have the opportunity to see it too.”

“That witch doctor's altar is called the Public Hospital, and as for the white herbalists, they are well-trained doctors and nurses.” Lin An extended his hand. “Welcome to the World Tree.”

"Thank you." The Pygmies gestured, as they did not shake hands. "The rainforest has nurtured us for thousands of years, but it's time for the fledglings to say goodbye to their parents."

The Pygmies' attitude shook the mindset of the indigenous people.

Since even the most senior Pygmies feel they should experience the modern facilities of this new era, what reason do they have to remain stagnant?

Three or four more tribes decided to follow Lin An, while the rest shook their heads firmly.

These people do not want to abandon the way of life left by their ancestors; they only want to continue living a simple life of hunting, gathering, and performing sacrifices, even if it means that civilization will forever remain in a primitive society.

Lin An didn't try to persuade him; after all, he believed that the power to decide his own destiny was in his own hands.

The "boss recruitment" was a great success, with more than 6,000 people choosing to follow Lin An, which is about one-sixth of the rainforest's population.

The other chiefs either politely declined for various reasons or simply did not come, such as the buck-toothed man and the scarred man whom they had met briefly at the ancestral spirit gathering.

As members of the Ancestral Spirit Totem, these ancestral spirits enjoyed a few months of power and influence thanks to the glory of "Komoss," but they did not want to be subordinate to Lin An.

Lin An was too lazy to insist. He had no shortage of henchmen from the Mysterious Ones, especially two of the Strange Tales level.

One can only hope that these tribes survive in this crazy era as the orbit of "Comerth" gets ever closer.

Maye skillfully used the snake symbol to compile the tribal roster.

There are 300 spots available for the World Tree event this time. We believe that with Meyer's review process, the best employees will be selected.

As night fell, the meeting concluded, and the chiefs took their leave, carrying the news back to their respective tribes.

For many, tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.

After finishing a series of tedious tasks, Lin An fell asleep wearily in the tent of the Red Poppy Merchant Guild.

He lay on the simple bed and opened the control panel.

The measured value increased by 3, and the current value is 46.5.

The road to integration is long and arduous.

Without contact with powerful families, it's impossible to improve quickly. I really don't know what my father was thinking, letting him stay in the rainforest and "hide" to develop. Isn't that a waste of time?

Lin An sighed inwardly and then picked up the silver-white communication device that was making a "ding-dong" sound beside him.

Its storage appears to be running out.

Before shutting down the device, Lin An dialed it again, hoping to hear his father's voice on the other end.

The person who answered the call was Atiksha again.

“Namster, my friend,” he said, “has the Red Poppy Merchant Guild bothered you?”

(End of this chapter)