Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 230 The Seeds of the Tree of Life Cooperation Framework Reached
Chen Mo had heard of the Tree of Life before, but that was all he knew.

I've never even smelled it.

In the histories sung by bards, the Elven race was able to retreat into the vast Dark Forest and survive tenaciously, despite being attacked from both the north and south by human forces, thanks to the protection of the supernatural power of the Tree of Life.

Of course, the standard narrative of the Elven race is that their 100,000 warriors and 8,000 magic archers defended the Elven holy land. Anthony, the most knowledgeable foreign academician in the Vast Ocean Territory, scoffed at this.

"If they were that capable, they wouldn't have lost their own capital and had to hide in the woods eating leaves!"

Chen Mo deeply agreed.

Humanity has no idea what the Tree of Life is or what it looks like, since the Tree of Life in the Starry World doesn't have any obvious features like a canopy stretching for miles or a pillar reaching the sky.

Apart from elves, or even more strictly speaking, apart from the royal moon elves among the elves, almost no other race has ever seen its true form.

From beginning to end, this supreme holy land of the elves, which the elves call Silvermoon Forest and the humans call Dark Forest, has never been open to any other race.

Only a few humans had gleaned fragments of unreliable information from the companions or captives of the Moon Elves. Now, Ysera Brightwing, who was responsible for guarding the Tree of Life among the Elves, slowly revealed the truth about the Tree of Life to the lord.

"That's a mischievous old man!"

As Isera described, a peculiar image gradually became clear in Chen Mo and Liu Shuang's minds.

Simply put, the Tree of Life is no different in appearance from other common evergreen broad-leaved trees in the Silvermoon Forest. It blends into the vast and boundless forest, just like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

If it weren't for some special connection with the Elven royal family, even if it were right in front of you, you would never be able to distinguish it from the thousands of "imitators" around it.

Chen Mo couldn't help but interject, raising a question that all first-time listeners would have: "Excuse my bluntness, Elder Ysera, once it's found the first time, won't we know the location of the Tree of Life afterward? How could it possibly run away?"

"Yes, Lord Chen Mo, you are right!"

Isera lowered her clasped hands and nodded slightly: "It can not only run, but it runs very fast!"

According to Ysera's description, the Tree of Life loves to wander around. When the Elven royal rangers responsible for guarding it finally find it after going through great hardships, this "old fellow" will not obediently stay there to accept protection, but will try every means to sneak away and escape.

Chen Mo and Liu Shuang envisioned a scene in the depths of a quiet, moonlit forest: an ordinary-looking tree furtively peered around, then carefully and slowly pulled out its tangled roots, trying to silently disappear from the elves' sight.

Upon sensing the approach of the elven ranger, it would instantly stop, all its branches and leaves ceasing to tremble, perfectly disguising itself as an ordinary and quiet tree.
Once the vigilant forest ranger is out of sight, it will continue its stealthy escape...

The whole thing felt like playing a game of "Red Light, Green Light"—and it was a real game of "Red Light, Green Light"!
"Then why don't you keep someone watching over it, or... mark the tree?"

"Your Excellency, everything is a natural arrangement!"

Ysera held her right hand out to the side, and a faint green light appeared in the air, transforming into the shape of a small sapling.

"The movement of the Tree of Life is the king of the forest patrolling its territory."

"Where its footprints reach, the life force it leaves behind keeps the entire Silvermoon Forest vibrant and full of life. Among those withered and dead ancient trees, under the soothing touch of the Tree of Life, precious 'Tree-Man Hearts' will be nurtured, becoming new and loyal guardians of the Silvermoon Forest!"

"The heart of the treant that the elves gave to the vast sea originated from here."

“Every newly born tree-person is a child of the Tree of Life and an assistant to the Elf race. Therefore, we must give the Tree of Life enough respect and allow it to roam freely in the Silvermoon Forest.”

During the last visit of the elves, they gifted Lord Chen a batch of Treant Hearts. These can be cultivated in suitable soil to produce Treants capable of fighting independently. When used in conjunction with the Fountain of Life, they can even foster simple intelligence in the Treants, making them helpers of the cultivators and enabling them to accept the cultivators' commands.

These treants are widely distributed throughout every corner of the forest and are important helpers for the elves in controlling the Silvermoon Forest.

Therefore, it makes perfect sense to let the Tree of Life roam around; it's like letting it reproduce everywhere.

Chen Mo really wanted to ask, "Why can't you let others see you having a baby? Why do you have to do it secretly? Are you shy?"
However, seeing the somewhat troubled expressions on the elves' faces, Chen Mo decided to stop while he was ahead and quickly changed the subject.

"Thank you for your explanation, Elder. So, what exactly is the seed of the Tree of Life, and what is its purpose?"

Isera breathed a sigh of relief, and the wrinkles on her face came to life.

"That's right, Your Excellency. Although the Tree of Life likes to roam the entire forest, it returns to the Fountain of Life every now and then to receive its nourishment."

That makes perfect sense. Trees can run, but the Fountain of Life can't. So the elves can let the Tree of Life roam freely, as long as they keep watch over it periodically.

"Each time it drinks its fill of the Fountain of Life, it will give rise to some seeds of the Tree of Life, which can also be called the fruits of the Tree of Life. During the next period of time, it will silently scatter these seeds in every corner of the forest."

"That is the convergence of psychic energy! The essence of nature! The manifestation of the laws of life!"

The elf's voice echoed in the hall like an aria. Chen Mo pondered for a moment, then continued to ask:

"So... will the seed of the Tree of Life develop into another Tree of Life?"

Isera shook her head slightly: "No, no, it can't, it doesn't even usually sprout!"

"There is only one true tree of life in any given time; there will never be a second one."

"Only when the existing tree of life perishes at some point and returns to the embrace of nature will the radiance of the god of nature shine upon the scattered seeds, guiding one of them to take root, sprout, and grow into a new, unique tree of life."

I understand now. The mechanism of queen ants or queen bees is manifested in a different way in plants.

At this point, the situation has been basically clarified. The so-called Tree of Life is just an old man who likes to wander around, and the so-called seeds or fruits of the Tree of Life are actually backups of the Tree of Life.

According to the elf's interpretation, this backup has some magical effects, at least it can greatly increase one's leveling speed.

Speaking of advancement speed... this is a perpetual source of pain for Chen Mo.

Upgrading from a prospective apprentice to a Moon Wheel Mage in just a few years seems decent, but compared to other professionals in the Starry World, this speed can only be described as "stumbling".

This is not to say that Chen Mo is stupid. In fact, in Black Crow Castle, although he started late and had a poor foundation, his cultivation speed was above average. At the Hal Magic Farmhouse Learning Center in the Creek Moon Federation, Chen Mo, who cultivated diligently, could also be considered one of the best in the Micro-Light Group.

However, the lord's status and environment are different now. He has reached a relatively high level. The professionals here are the best of the best who have fought their way out from countless low-level professionals in the Starry World.

Just like a student who can consistently rank in the top five in a rural school, they might barely manage to maintain a mid-range ranking in a county school, but by the time they get into a top-tier city school, they'll be at the very bottom.

And in this class, there is also someone like Liu Shuang who is unreasonable.

Upon hearing the name Liushuang, Chen Mo's heart stirred.

"Is that seed useful for Frost Flowing? Will it help her improve faster?"

Elder Isela Mingyi forced a somewhat complicated smile, but the answer she gave made Chen Mo's heart sink instantly.

“Your Excellency, Liu Shuang has no need for such a thing. She is a true genius. As long as she cultivates and improves normally, she has already surpassed the improvement limits that the Seed of Life can provide!”

Chen Mo was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Sure enough, this girl is the main character! Luckily, she's on our side now!

In the following time, the two sides had many detailed discussions. The most important point was that the elf needed to explain to Chen Mo the mechanism of the Tree of Life seed.

The Starry Continent has developed a systematic approach to training professionals, with a whole set of accelerated learning methods within aristocratic circles. These methods can be tailored to each child's individual talents, allowing for different forms of "forced growth."

For example, applying medicine externally or taking it internally; using special techniques to infuse and cleanse the marrow; or entering various special cultivation environments, etc.

However, most methods of forcibly increasing speed have a significant side effect: while increasing speed, they lower the upper limit.

A professional who can reach the sixth rank through thirty years of steady cultivation but forces themselves to accelerate their progress in the early stages and completes the first transformation in just a few years will most likely be stuck at the fifth rank bottleneck for the rest of their life, unable to make any further progress.

Thanks to the reports from Loma and Selir, who were stationed by Chen Mo as guards and observers, the elves had a good understanding of the cultivation background of this Lord of the Vast Sea. He was a professional with ordinary talent but extremely strong willpower and quite good luck.

Through his own hard work and with the help of some suitable resources, Chen Mo gradually and steadily improved his skills.

The lord's "food" is the basis for the elves' pursuit of cooperation.

The lord is not only bad at it, but also very persistent, refusing to take shortcuts that have side effects.

What others may not know, Chen Mo has always kept in mind that if he has the opportunity to reach a higher level in the future, he still wants to use the bloodline altar to meet with his elders and comrades back home. How could he possibly give up his growth potential!
For elves, this situation could be considered a prime customer for the Tree of Life seed.

Even if the seed of the Tree of Life doesn't sprout, it will still form a very mysterious spiritual energy field around it. Within this field, plants will grow more lush, animals will grow stronger, and even professionals of relatively average skill will see a significant increase in their cultivation speed.

Most importantly—it has no toxic side effects!

Having explained the mechanism, Iona and Ysera looked at Chen Mo with confidence and smiles, awaiting the lord's response.

Then, the elves saw a look of melancholy, regret, loneliness, and even a touch of resentment on the young lord's face.

The main hall of the city lord's mansion was very quiet, with only the faint sound of the wind coming from outside the window. After a long while, Chen Mo let out a sigh that was long enough to make even an elf's heart skip a beat.

"Ugh--"

This sigh, after countless twists and turns, was filled with endless emotions.

“I always thought that… after so many things, our Han Hai Territory, myself, Chen Mo, and the Elf race were already close friends who trusted and helped each other.”

"Last time you asked for the method to make a compound bow, I didn't mention any conditions and directly obtained the complete set of techniques from Cyber ​​Industries King. I thought I would be treated like an elf, but I didn't expect..."

"Forget it, my skill level is too low, how can I blame anyone? In the end, it was just my own assumptions!"

This heartfelt performance completely stunned the two experienced elven elders.

After a brief silence, the oldest of them, Iona, hurriedly offered an explanation.

"No, no, no, Your Excellency, please don't misunderstand! It's not that we elves don't consider our friends, it's just that... it's just that this seed of the Tree of Life is a secret that the elves don't share! Even within the Silvermoon Forest, only a handful of elves know of its existence!"

"Moreover, the number of seeds of the Tree of Life is too small, far too small!"

Simply put, the old tree of life is incredibly good at hiding its seeds. It can bury a seed in dead branches, leaves, humus, and soil, and it will look and smell exactly the same as any other seed from the same tree.

Often, it is only after a long time that one notices that the surrounding trees are growing significantly differently, and then one can guess that there may be seeds of the Tree of Life here.

Guessing doesn't mean you can find it.

Finding the seeds of the Tree of Life is like archaeology; it requires a high-ranking druid to use their abilities to patrol the area and find even a tiny bit by taking advantage of the differences in the psionic environment.

“Even if we find them, we dare not use them lightly! These seeds have unparalleled value to the entire forest. They can nourish the soil and promote plant growth. Their significance to the forest itself far outweighs the benefits of directly using them on a particular living being!”

“And most importantly,” Iona said, her tone becoming more earnest, “seeds that don’t sprout cannot absorb nutrients from the outside world through their roots like normal plants do, and the psionic energy they contain will slowly dissipate over time.”

"Once they are all used up, the seeds of the Tree of Life will be completely annihilated, becoming a rare treasure that is lost with each use!"

In the world of elves, the use of any one of these requires the joint discussion of the Silvermoon Elder Council!
In her haste, Iona spilled out everything she could tell. Chen Mo remained expressionless and nodded slightly.

Of course, Lord Chen Mo was just making a show of it; it was just a negotiation, nothing shameful.

After this heartbreaking performance, Chen Mo announced that he would triple the number of the Tree of Life seed that the elves had originally prepared.

“Three, at least three. Don’t think I’m asking for an exorbitant amount. Let me explain the reasons to you.”

“That’s right. At my level, one seed should be enough. However, I’m responsible for the safety of the entire Vast Ocean and Cloud Mist Territory. For a long time to come, I will also be responsible for the transportation and supply of important components for the Elven compound bow. So, before using the Tree of Life seed, should we take one out and conduct a rigorous safety and compatibility test to prevent any accidents?”

Iona and Ysera exchanged a glance, then hesitated slightly before asking, "Then... there's one more?"

Chen Mo twitched the corners of his mouth, wanting to laugh but unable to quite manage it, his explanation tinged with a hint of teasing:

"As you all know, the reason I was able to gain support from the industrial monarch of another world is because I have been diligently collecting all sorts of novel gadgets for him, and that great being loves these things!"

This is absolutely true. From the Council of State to the Mercenary Guild, a major task of the Vast Ocean Territory has been collecting all sorts of materials, from rare and precious items to local products.

For a time, Selil, who was sent by the elves to act as a spy, made a fortune in the mercenary guild by collecting various rare plants from the Silvermoon Forest.

"So, with such a miraculous seed, shouldn't I send one to the industrial king? If I were to hide it like some others, why should I help you obtain parts for the compound bow?"

Iona blushed slightly, a rare occurrence for her, but being a seasoned veteran, her self-adjustment was unparalleled.

"The lord is right, we were shortsighted!"

"However, these seeds are extremely rare. I only brought one this time. Please accept it, my lord. I will rush back tonight and ask the Silvermoon Elders to decide whether to try to get two more for you."

"If the elders do not approve, this seed will be given to the lord as an apology to Lord Chen Mo for our elves' hesitation and lack of sincerity in this matter!"

This series of attacks and counterattacks instantly turned the tide of the previous passive situation.

What a long-lived species that has lived for hundreds of years!

There was still one more step to take, Chen Mo said nonchalantly, touching his nose.

Upon receiving the signal, Liu Shuang immediately moved closer, tilted her little face up, and tugged at Chen Mo's sleeve: "Chen, Chen Mo, my aunts and uncles have always been very good to me. They even gave me so many [Eternal Song of Life] before. Please help me out!"

Chen Mo looked at the little girl with a doting yet helpless gaze and nodded slightly.

"Okay, I'll try my best!"

The two parties stood up and shook hands, and the deal was finalized.

Subsequently, the first seed of the Tree of Life was sent to the city lord's mansion in the vast sea.

(End of this chapter)