Industrial Cthulhu doesn't believe in the end times.

Chapter 244 Heaven and Earth are Like a Vase

"Have you spun around enough...?"

Inside the tree hole where the tree spirit resided, Su Xun looked at Song Lin with a slightly helpless expression.

At this moment, this dignified commander of the Haiqu Division, the top military and political leader in charge of a large security zone, and a powerful local official, was playing like a child, crawling through a tree hole.

I've walked this path seven or eight times already, and each time I'm amazed by it.

Hearing Su Xun's words, Song Lin, who had just turned around to go through the tunnel again, chuckled and waved his hand, "I'm not going to go through it anymore."

"Can the space inside your tree hollow be divided into layers? This transportation hub definitely needs to be separated from other places. I think this place might become a tourist attraction in the future..."

The tree spirit, whose appearance was no different from that of a human, answered Su Xun's question, "Of course, now?"

"No rush, let's make a plan first."

Before the two, a sand table was placed on the table. This was a testament to Su Xun's skill. His extremely exquisite control allowed him to depict everything on it with exquisite detail. Facing the military map, he almost perfectly replicated the terrain of the hundreds of miles of mountains and rivers. The only difference was that Taodu's main body, a giant tree that covered the mountains and rivers, was added to the map.

After repeatedly deliberating with the tree spirit, they had confirmed the tree's exact shape as much as possible. Only then did Su Xun realize that, in addition to the main trunk, there were actually several branches that had drooped down to the ground and were in contact with it at a considerable distance.

However, during its growth, Taodu deliberately avoided large settlements, making it unclear about the situation in the surrounding safe zones.

In fact, without the help of a map, even Tao Du himself wouldn't know where these places are.

Not only it, but all mutated plants and spiritual life forms like silver, their way of perception is based on spiritual power. The commonly used term 'gaze' is just a metaphor, and it is actually very different from the five senses of humans.

Even humans find it difficult to feel every part of their own body, inside and out.

Unless it is stimulated in some way, such as by the approach and attack of a high-level supernatural being, which is roughly equivalent to someone pricking it with a thorn, it will instantly attract its senses.

"Therefore, I am not capable of absorbing spiritual energy and growing indefinitely."

Tao Du said to Su Xun, "My current size is basically the optimal state for me to maintain my perception and reaction speed. If it were any larger, there would be gaps in my perception range, and my reaction to danger would become sluggish."

“It’s already big enough.” Su Xun shook his head: “If we build a city here, we might need to restrict your growth in the future.”

Without any restrictions, this unprecedented city may face a situation where its infrastructure could be paralyzed at any time.

“It’s alright,” Tao Du said. “As my rank increases, my ability to use spatial abilities will also be enhanced, and then my growth will not affect the surface.”

"That's good."

At this moment, Song Lin had already walked over. Looking at the sand table model on the table, he couldn't help but sigh.

"The world is like a vase."

That's true. If someone who didn't know better saw this model, they might think it was just a bonsai.

"Speaking of which, with such a huge tree standing here, the climate of the surrounding provinces must be changing, right?"

The tree spirit lowered its eyes and said, "I'm sorry, this is beyond my control. When I reach a higher level, I should be able to change this."

Upon hearing this, Su Xun glanced at Song Lin: "What gave you the illusion that the climate hadn't changed before, Master Song? Did you not lead the snow removal this year?"

"Hey, Commander!" Song Lin raised his hand and begged for forgiveness, "I was wrong, I was wrong, I won't say anything anymore!" Su Xun wasn't really angry. As everyone knew, the two of them did have a good relationship. He smiled and slapped the other's hand down: "Of all the division commanders in the entire army, you really are the most talkative."

At this point, judging from the map, the root system of this tree is only slightly larger than the canopy, which is quite different from that of ordinary plants.

"For me, the efficiency of the tree canopy in absorbing spiritual energy is not much different from that of the tree roots."

The tree spirit said, "Moreover, my trunk above the ground is not entirely dependent on the roots, but is fixed in the spiritual energy field. In fact, most of the weight of the canopy is directly supported by the gale."

When Su Xun discussed the gale layer above their heads with others, he would occasionally use the name 'Great Spiritual Power Ring', while the Tree Spirit would always simply say gale, and even use names like 'Nine Heavens Gale', perhaps a habit from the previous season.

Its words answered some of Su Xun's doubts. After all, it's hard to feel the presence of a peach tree when you're under it, but it feels a bit out of place when you look at it on this sand table. Logically speaking, such a huge canopy and such a massive weight would be absolutely impossible for the ground here to bear.

After looking closely, Su Xun asked again, "What about Xinfu? Why aren't your tree roots here?"

This is one of Su Xun's regrets. The fast passage built by Taodu could greatly speed up the migration from there to here.

After the tree spirit gave a brief explanation, Su Xun realized that if he went in this direction, the entire Taimeng Mountain Range would be under a single large rock, and he couldn't take root in that direction quickly enough at his current level.

He had forgotten this point and didn't realize for a moment that such a large sacred tree was actually determined by its geological structure.

"However, I can extend a branch in that direction. After marking out a blank area in advance, I will let the branch fall to the ground and use it to open a passage."

"A tree branch will do?"

"Of course, the root and the crown are not much different to me. They are just tools for absorbing spiritual energy. In fact, opening these channels is essentially transporting you from one part of the body to another, like nutrients."

In other words, this is not a specialized ability, but rather a utilization of one's instincts.

Su Xun seemed to be deep in thought, then asked, "Can the tree roots bear peaches?"

"...That's not possible."

Su Xun laughed, then asked with some curiosity, "What conditions are needed for you to bear fruit? It won't take hundreds or thousands of years like in the books, will it?"

"That depends on what kind of fruit you're talking about."

The tree spirit waved its hand, and a branch suddenly sprouted beside it. This branch blossomed and bore fruit at an extremely fast speed, and in the blink of an eye, two huge peaches grew.

A wooden plate appeared in the tree spirit's hand. It placed the plate under the peaches, and the two peaches automatically fell off and landed in the plate.

Su Xun and Song Lin each took one. Su Xun didn't stand on ceremony and took a bite. He found it to be crisp and sweet, quite delicious for a peach.

Song Lin, who was standing to the side, wiped it off and casually put it in his pocket.

Seeing Su Xun's puzzled look, Song Lin replied, "Hey, Commander-in-Chief, you still haven't settled down. How would you understand me, your father? I have a precious daughter at home... cough cough, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I won't say anymore."

The tree spirit looked at the two with a smile on its face. Another fruit grew on the branch. The process was not like growing a peach at all, but rather like blowing up a balloon.

After handing it to Song Lin, it said, "Ordinary fruits like these, which have no effect, can be ripened quickly by consuming some spiritual energy. You can have as many as you want."

"Fruits that grow naturally under the baptism of the gale layer for a year or more contain powerful spiritual energy and have many effects... As for the peach pit that you planted for me before, which can carry all the characteristics and vitality of the Peach Capital Divine Tree, such fruits require almost endless time to mature. When it matures, the mother tree of the divine tree will also weaken or even wither."

(End of this chapter)