Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 233 Budding Leisurely Life: Dongxia's Afforestation of Mountains (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The laboratory's monitoring room was packed.

In addition to the research team, associate research team, and assistant research team led by Academician Zheng Yuanhang, the administrative leaders of Laboratory No. 1, the head of the garrison responsible for guarding the area, and the head of the security department responsible for internal auditing and counter-espionage, who all rushed to the scene, also quietly sat in the back row.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the huge screen directly in front of them.

Time passed second by second, and in the monitoring screen, the green "bud" placed on the low-position control panel remained motionless, just like an ordinary plant seed that had been forgotten there.

"I hope it's not really broken!"

The old academician frowned, muttering to himself, restless and fidgeting, and would stand up and walk around every now and then. Yu Suhuai, who was beside him, quickly comforted him: "Professor, don't worry, after it fell, it crawled a long way, didn't it? It's alive, it's alive!"

Academician Zheng Yuanhang nodded and slowly sat down.

A few minutes later, the old man stood up again: "I hope you're not really hurt!"

"..."

Fortunately, the "Seed of the Tree of Life" did not disappoint everyone in the end.

After being sealed in the laboratory for about twenty-six minutes, the "leaf bud" moved.

The outermost leaf, at an extremely slow pace, revealed a tiny crack, exposing the tender green color inside.

Then, the second leaf, the third leaf... the leaves surrounding the slender central branch unfolded gradually and gracefully, as if awakening from a deep sleep.

Once unfolded, the "leaf buds" resemble a miniature, graceful fern. Although only a few centimeters tall, they exude a translucent, lustrous green hue.

It tentatively tapped the glass operating table beneath it with its outstretched leaf tips, and then began to move.

Dozens of eyes widened instantly in the monitoring room, and even their breathing became softer and longer, for fear that the slightest interference would disturb this historic moment.

This little creature uses its alternating leaves for support as it moves forward, its posture undulating with a slowness characteristic of plants. Because the low-level operating platform is only twenty centimeters high, and the edges have been thoughtfully built with a "slide" leading to the ground, landing is naturally no problem. The little guy pauses on the ground for a moment, its small leaves at the top swaying from side to side a few times, and soon, it heads straight for the western shelf.

In about half a minute, he climbed up the steps to the second shelf of a shelf and lay down on the only translucent container on that shelf.

"It's searching for the fountain of life!"

That's right, this is the crystal jar containing the "Fountain of Life" sent from the Starry World.

The little creature quickly reached the second level by following the pre-prepared, stepped structure that made it easy for it to climb. It first climbed around the crystal jar, and then tried to pry open the jar with the tip of its leaf.

That was clearly a sealing method unique to the Elven race, airtight and seamless.

Once, twice... The little guy used all his strength, and all the leaves on his body seemed to sway back and forth because of the effort, but the jar did not move an inch.

It seemed to be getting a little impatient and changed its strategy, starting to use its slender "body" to ram into the can.

"Clang... Clang..."

This really terrified Academician Zheng Yuanhang.

Your Experiment 1 is attacking Experiment 2, what should you do?

Fortunately, the elf's crystal jar was sturdy enough that the newly hatched "Tree of Life Seed" failed to make any progress.

The little thing started trying to push the jar out again.

This is a bit too much; it's like someone who can't get water starts smashing the tank.

Unfortunately, it still didn't work out.

The shelf has a raised anti-slip metal plate at the front. For the "tree of life seed" that is only a few centimeters tall, turning the crystal jar over this obstacle is no less difficult than a person turning a building over a three-meter-high wall.

After trying again with all its might, it barely managed to lift the crystal jar by a tiny crack before finally giving up in despair.

It remained motionless for a long time before slowly crawling back into the petri dish on the lower operating table, curling itself into a ball, and remaining motionless thereafter.

The "seed of the Tree of Life" is tired and should be going to sleep.

But that night, none of the people involved in Dongxia's affairs were going to get any sleep.

The No. 1 Laboratory of the Starry Sky Biology Research Institute of the Xia Kingdom Academy of Sciences initiated an emergency Class A special communication meeting, which even alarmed the two leaders in Chang'an Prefecture, who joined the meeting via video.

The meeting room was brightly lit and the atmosphere was lively. Top experts from the East Xia [Cihang] Engineering Department, specializing in biology, physics, chemistry, materials, psionics, and even astronomy and space theory, gathered together. Everyone was staring at the latest short drama clip playing on a loop on the big screen—"Little Sprout's Attempted Water Escape"!
We have a guess!

Professor Wu from the Fanxing Historical and Cultural Research Institute was the first to request to speak.

“In the letter from the Wanderer, it was mentioned that the Elven race said that there can only be one Tree of Life in any given era.”

"After careful examination of this statement, we believe there is a great deal of room for interpretation."

"The concept of 'era' emphasizes the element of time. So, is it possible that the star field where we, Dongxia, are located, and the universe where the Starry World is located, are actually no longer in the same time dimension?"

"According to the theory that 'time is contained within space,' the vast span of space causes a vast span of time. The difference in the spacetime dimension allows the Tree of Life to sprout on Earth."

This statement had a certain air of authority, indicating that the Institute of History and Culture was quite influenced by the fantastical world of Starry Sky.

The experts at the Institute of Biology continued to use scientific theories to analyze the situation.

“We believe it’s not that mysterious. The elves have said that once the Tree of Life dies, one of its seeds will grow up and become the successor Tree of Life. In terms of biological principles, this is called pheromone suppression.”

"Now, this seed has traveled across countless galaxies to reach us. The pheromones from the starry world can no longer suppress it here, so it has sprouted. I think this is the correct explanation!"

The Psionic Research Institute also chimed in: "Is it possible that the lack of psionic energy in Earth's environment might cause some different changes in special plants like the Tree of Life? For example, what about the pheromones that the Institute of Biology just mentioned? What if these pheromones are transmitted through psionic energy?"

"Does the fact that we lack psychic energy here actually prevent these pheromones from working?"

This immediately sparked a new round of brainstorming.

"According to your logic, if we can control environmental variables, wouldn't it be possible to... mass-produce the Tree of Life?" a botanist asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"A comparative experiment! What we need most right now is a comparative experiment!" the researcher from the Institute of Biology immediately emphasized. "If [Wanderer] can get one or two more seeds of the Tree of Life, many questions will be answered!"

"Of course, if it's inconvenient for [the traveler], then we'll have to pin our hopes on successfully cultivating this 'seed' and conducting comparative experiments once it blossoms and bears fruit!"

Another plant physiology expert chimed in, raising a very practical question: "Hey, speaking of flowering and fruiting, do you think this tree of life needs pollination?"

“We’ve never seen an adult, and this juvenile doesn’t have any sexual characteristics. We don’t know if it has a distinct pistil and stamen, or if it’s self-pollinating or cross-pollinating. What if it’s the only tree and doesn’t bear fruit?”

A low chuckle rippled through the room, slightly easing the tense atmosphere.

Soon, a practical problem came to the forefront.

"The Psionic Institute just mentioned that the environment might cause mutations. We have no way of knowing the direction of these mutations. What if... what if some unpredictable trouble happens?"

"For example, will it secrete some unknown harmful substance? Or will it become hallucinogenic or aggressive after it grows? Or perhaps its root system possesses unimaginable destructive power?" "It's just a tree, at most a sapling right now, how much trouble can it possibly cause?"

"It's wise to be cautious about the enemy's strength, but we still need to make the necessary preparations!"

The "Stargazing" group also raised their hands to express their opinions: "We have now entered a new and unknown territory. Previously, 'Wanderer' had been doing his best to lay the groundwork for us and had also given us various risk warnings."

"For example, with the undead creatures, they had already completed the work of appeasing and guiding them in advance, and they also clearly informed us of the number and level of each batch of undead creatures, which greatly supported our work!"

"But the seed of the Tree of Life is an exception!"

"【Wanderer】could not have foreseen that it would sprout on Blue Star, nor could the elves, so there is no information about its tree-like form, and therefore no risk warnings or operational suggestions can be given. We can only figure it out ourselves."

"We now face a major problem: should we immediately report this situation to [Wanderer], and should [Wanderer] consult the spirit about this situation?"

This is yet another key and difficult issue.

Without explanation, if one tries to figure it out on their own, who knows what unpredictable things might happen? After all, in the elves' concept, all they've provided are seeds; there's no need to explain the habits of the Tree of Life.

And if you tell the spirit...

Who knows how the elf will react? What if it turns hostile and demands to take it back?
Also, there's the issue of what to do with the seeds that are left on the table.

Should we give this sapling a drink from the fountain of life? How should we do it—should we offer it a drink, or should we let it "steal" it itself?
What if this little bit of the Fountain of Life isn't enough for it to drink? Should we exchange it with the elves?

Logically speaking, saplings need to be placed in a natural environment to grow, but where should they be placed? And how should they be placed?
What if it runs away? What if an accident happens?
Every single thing, every single detail, is incredibly complex and multifaceted!
Ultimately, all the issues were decided by the bigwigs at the top.

"Based on current observations, the seed of the Tree of Life, which we have named 'Sprout,' exhibits a clear instinct for seeking advantage and avoiding harm, as well as rudimentary intelligence. No aggressive or uncontrollable risks have been found so far."

"I suggest that we first demonstrate goodwill by providing a favorable and safe growing environment. At the same time, we must prepare all possible contingency plans to ensure absolute control. Related projects and research should be promoted with the highest priority!"

The meeting lasted for more than four hours, until the sky was bright, when everyone yawned and staggered out of the venue.

Next, a massive project was launched.

Dongxia plans to create a "pseudo-Silver Moon Forest" in an area with similar temperature, humidity, and climate to the Starry Continent.

Of course, the scale cannot be that large. The first phase is planned to cover 10 square kilometers, of which the core area is 3 square kilometers and is designated as the Ziyun National Nature Reserve.

The "Stargazing" team spearheaded a frenzied construction process, involving dozens of departments.

What needs to be done in the forest? Quite a lot!

The trees here are similar to the evergreen broad-leaved forests of Silver Moon Forest. The Stargazing team mobilized a large number of people and, under the guidance of botanists, conducted a comprehensive search several times, taking full-body photos of every tree, scanning its features, recording its location, and even clearly noting how many insect holes were on the trees.

The animals, of course, were not spared either.

"Pay special attention to those bears and wild boars that like to rub against small trees. Get them all outside the enclosure and tag them with GPS trackers!"

"And you birds too, keep an eye on things, don't let a single woodpecker enter this woodland!"

"Yes, this area may be inhabited by Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Three-Toed Woodpeckers. Catch them all, catch them all!"

"What did you say? Second-year middle school students, and even lower-level ones, are no good! Is this the time to talk about this? Everyone, get out!"

"Even if a giant panda comes to rub against the tree, it has to be dragged out, and anyone who resists will be shot on the spot!"

"..."

"The humus layer on the forest floor needs to be thickened and spread more evenly! In the core area, some of the vines that easily entangle trees and may cause problems should be cleared away, but the natural appearance should be maintained!"

"Engineering Department! Where are the engineers? These are the newly updated blueprints. There are 64,000 high-definition, infrared, and low-light cameras, along with matching vibration and sound sensors! Two days! Only two days! They must all be disguised, installed, and tested!"

"Not even one less!"

"Is the fire protection system connected? This cannot be taken lightly. The heat and smoke alarm systems must be properly installed!"

"Yes, at least twelve firefighting helicopters should be deployed, firebreaks should be constructed according to the route map, and all-terrain fire trucks should be able to reach any location in the core area within five minutes!"

"I know evergreen forests are not easy to catch fire, but they are not impossible to catch fire. I'm giving you a bottom line: even if this place is bombed by a full-scale incendiary bomb, you still have to rescue one of the trees inside!"

"Don't just shout slogans at me. As long as people are here, the forest will stand; even if people are gone, the forest must still stand!"

"What did the plant disease and pest control experts say? The inspection isn't finished yet? Call the head of the Botanical Institute and tell them to hurry up. By tomorrow noon at the latest, no one will be allowed to enter the core area!"

"The signal tower and weather station will be tested for the last time tonight! Conduct a thorough self-check and make sure nothing goes wrong. The Institute of Biology's No. 1 laboratory will be moving in tomorrow!"

During this busy construction period, the seed of the Tree of Life, named "Sprout," has been living a pretty good life lately.

The laboratory became its private palace, with over a dozen flowerpots filled with fertile, humus-rich soil from various regions, where it could sleep wherever it wanted. Nutrient solutions of various proportions were neatly arranged in a row, so it could eat wherever it pleased.

Of course, its favorite is the "Fountain of Life" tank, which has the shallowest water level and the least amount of water.

Dongxia couldn't bear to feed him, but she couldn't bear to feed him too much either, so she could only supplement him with a small amount of the Fountain of Life at fixed times and in fixed quantities every day.

However, despite the excellent conditions and the fact that the little guy has everything he needs from the Fountain of Life, he still has a strong sense of "stealing".

Whenever someone comes, no matter what it is doing at the time, it will immediately shrink into a corner as quickly as possible, wrap itself up like a "bud", and pretend that it is still a newly cracked seed, completely ignoring the reality that it has grown to more than 20 centimeters tall and has a graceful posture when its branches and leaves are spread out.

It's pure self-deception.

Once the staff leaves, it quickly unfolds its blades and, with increasingly agile movements, "whoosh" up the shelf and begins to probe each water tank.

It can find the water tank of the Fountain of Life immediately and drink up that meager amount. As for the other nutrient solution tanks, it has to try them one by one.

"Sprout" shows a clear preference for nutrient solutions. One formula rich in trace potassium is its favorite. Every time it finishes a trial, it puts most of its body in it and emits a faint green fluorescence while taking a bath.

It disliked the ratio of the nutrient solution in the No. 7 tank very much. Every time it probed with the tip of its leaf, it would hurriedly shake its leaves and sway its body, just like a cat shaking off water.

But even though the staff never changed the location or color of the sink, it would still go over and try again every day, and then continue to malfunction.

I don't know if it's because I'm naturally suspicious or because I have a terrible memory.

After drinking its fill, it will usually climb back to the flowerpot area, test the soil in each pot one by one, and then crawl into its favorite hole to sleep. Staff will come in during this time and move it outside to bask in the sun for a while.

But today, it left the lab and never went back.

The car drove directly into the belly of the plane, and the chubby girl swayed her round body as she delivered "Sprout" to the military base adjacent to the nature reserve.

The helicopter landed directly on the helipad in the core of the Ziyun Nature Reserve. Amid the reluctant gazes of the experts, "Mengya" was delivered to the woodland outside the building complex in the core area of ​​the reserve.

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, and sunlight cast dappled, swaying spots of light across the forest, also illuminating the tiny sprouts.

Thus began Bu Ya's brand new life on Earth.

(End of this chapter)