LOL: Let me touch your steel

Chapter 277 Spiritual Tree, Emperor Willow

The forest is Ionia's green treasure house. Layers of leaves interweave into a dense green curtain, blocking out the noise and disturbance of the outside world. Being here, you can clearly feel the abundant magic, the peace is full of tenderness, just like the embrace of nature, enough for everyone to enjoy the tranquility and harmony.

"The Vastaya here are somewhat different from those who appeared in Navoli City. They are the ones who are more hostile to humans. However, when the Blossom Spirit arrives, they will restrain themselves and will not do anything extreme."

"The premise is not to provoke them proactively."

Sheng walked in front to lead the way, taking Zhang Xu, Sarah and Seti with them through a jungle.

Just as Sheng said, there are a lot of people in the jungle now. Most of them are Ionians who come to pray in front of the spirit tree. Of course, there are also outsiders like Zhang Xu who just come to join in the fun.

The arrival of the blooming spirit was very irregular, and some people might not even encounter one in their entire lives. Now that there was this opportunity, it would naturally attract the attention and curiosity of many people.

Looking at the figures in the jungle, Sarah tilted her head in confusion: "Those clothes... they should be Noxians, right? You actually let Noxians get close to the spirit tree? Aren't you afraid that they will do something to the spirit tree?"

Looking in the direction of Sarah's finger, there was indeed a guy dressed in a mage robe with a very obvious Noxian emblem printed on it.

Sheng took a quick look and quickly looked away:

"After the Noxian invaders retreated, many Noxians chose to stay. Perhaps they felt guilty, or perhaps they became puppets. In any case, in this land now, people dressed in Noxian costumes will not be discriminated against too much."

"As for what you said about destroying the spirit tree... I think you are worrying too much."

Sheng smiled, his smile full of confidence: "If the spirit tree could be destroyed so easily, then the Spirit Blossom in Ionia would not have continued forever. Moreover, the Spirit Blossom is a festival for the entire Ionia, including all the forces in Ionia and the Vastaya."

"Destroying the tree will not demoralize the Ionians, but will only inspire them to fight even harder... Here we are."

As he spoke, Sheng, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped.

What came into view was a magnificent scene, like a painting carefully carved by the world's most famous painter. It was a standing spiritual tree, and next to it was a clear pool of water, showing a dark blue color. The spiritual tree and the pool complemented each other and together constructed this beautiful picture.

There is a very wonderful yet gentle power emanating everywhere here, and this power is the bridge and medium between reality and soul.

The crystal clear buds on the sacred trees exude fragrance, and the sweetness in the air is refreshing. The pink petals appear more delicate and moving under the sunshine, gently falling from the branches like a beautiful movement, the light dance and the elegant colors complement each other, embellishing the entire jungle with more tenderness and romance.

There were many figures around the spirit tree, but none of them could distract their attention.

When they come here, everything else seems to be out of their sight.

"What a nice view..."

Sarah couldn't help but sigh. This scene was so beautiful. Whether in Bilgewater or Shurima, it was impossible to see such a scene.

Even in Sarah's mind, this picture surpassed the magical realm of Bandle City.

Sarah couldn't help but look back at Zhang Xu. A pink petal fell quietly, brushed across his cheek, and finally landed in front of her. Sarah reached out her hand, held the petal in her palm, and a bright smile bloomed on her face unconsciously.

Although Zhang Xu was also amazed by the beauty of this place, he was more interested in the power emanating from it.

A power that can communicate reality and soul...

It sounds like an incredible power.

It’s a pity that this kind of power is not so easy to master.

Zhang Xu shook his head, shifted his sight, and began to observe the figures under the spirit tree.

Sheng was right. Most of the people here were humans, with only a small number of Vastaya. Now was not the moment when the Blossom Spirit would actually arrive. It was foreseeable that it would be a lively scene when the Blossom Spirit arrived.

Zhang Xu looked around, taking in everything.

Soon, a strange figure came into his sight.

It was a guy completely different from the others. He was neither a human nor a Vastaya, but a tree - to be precise, half human and half tree.

He looked very tall, just like a tree man, with his limbs covered with thick bark and branches, and his face was full of various lines, just like the wrinkles on an old man's face.

A magic from a completely different world seemed to be constantly flowing in his body.

Zhang Xu's pupils shrank slightly, and a name instantly appeared in his mind.

The Green God, Ivern - or the Willow of Ionia.

Ivern's existence is unique. Long, long ago, he was not what he is now. He comes from the ancient Freljord and belongs to the same period as the distant three sisters.

He was a famous brave warrior. In order to overthrow the hated Iceborn, he and his people, after a long and careful conspiracy, finally set sail eastward to Ionia.

They massacred more than a dozen coastal settlements before discovering a sacred grove - Omikayalan, or 'Heart of the World'.

After paying a heavy price, Ivern finally found Ionia's legendary relic, the Imperial Willow.

He cut down the huge tree, trying to gain powerful strength from it and return to his hometown to fight against the three sisters.

The tree did fall down, but it also released an extremely terrifying turbulence of life energy.

Ivern the Merciless was destroyed in an instant.

When he woke up again, he had become what he is now. He became the remaining Emperor Liu in the world.

He heard the hills cry, the trees wail, and the moss weep. He reflected on his mistakes, his ruthlessness. Ivern was heartbroken, and he cried and begged for forgiveness.

Since then, Ivern has been wandering the wilds of Runeterra, and wherever he goes, there is life.

so...

Is the arrival of the Ionian Spirit Blossom also due to Ivern?

"Who is that guy...?"

Chapter 278 Mark

"Di Liu?"

Sarah frowned and almost immediately thought of the sacred tree in Bandle City.

The two sound very similar.

Even Sheng beside him tilted his head and raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Emperor Liu?"

There have always been rumors about the Imperial Willow in Ionia. It is said that a long, long time ago, the Imperial Willow was located at the "center of the world" and contained unparalleled magical power.

But no one has ever seen the Emperor Willow, and no one has ever discovered it. It seems to exist only in ancient legends. Many people even think that it is just a legend and not real.

"To be precise, it's the remaining Emperor Willow."

Zhang Xu quickly looked away, he was actually not interested in Ivern.

At best, he is just a demigod who loves harmony with nature.

However, the arrival of Zhan Ling this time may be closely related to the existence of this creature that can cultivate a lush forest.

Zhang Xu walked slowly towards the spirit tree, a magical tree that was much larger than he had imagined.

An abundant amount of magic instantly lingered around Zhang Xu's body. He didn't even need to feel it carefully. This abundant amount of magic naturally continued to flow into his body.

Zhang Xu tried to mobilize this power, but... it seemed to be in vain.

Not a single reaction.

"Communicating in the spiritual realm is not so easy to do."

The ups and downs of the voice suddenly rang in Zhang Xu's ears. Looking towards the source of the voice, Zhang Xu saw Aiweng.

He didn't take Ivern too seriously, but he took the initiative to find him.

"Okay old woodcutter, what should I do?"

Zhang Xu didn't know what Ivern meant, but since this guy had come to him, there was no reason for him to be polite.

"I can sense that there is a terrifying power in your body. Logically speaking, a being like you should have been able to communicate with the spiritual realm a long time ago."

Ivern looked at Zhang Xu with some surprise. After becoming the remaining Emperor Willow, he gained unimaginable magical powers. Now he can easily communicate in the spiritual realm.

Not only him, but almost all the well-known demigods in Runeterra can do this. For example, Volibear, Ornn, and Anivia in Freljord can enter and exit the spiritual realm freely.

Some demigods even spend more time in the spiritual realm.

But Zhang Xu is an exception.

To be precise, all the guys in Shurima who have demigod powers are exceptions.

If I were to explain it in simple terms, it would be...

A bunch of rough men who practice physical cultivation, expecting them to understand the twists and turns of the spiritual realm? If they could understand, they wouldn't have been eroded by the void and their spirits would have gone wrong and eventually become dark descendants.

"It's not difficult to communicate with the spiritual realm. It's enough to just feel the power."

Ivern lifted the branch, and the old and new branches intertwined to form Ivern's arm. He pointed at the tall spiritual tree and whispered, "Feel it with your heart, feel your spiritual world."

“When your spiritual world resonates with the spiritual realm, you can truly communicate with the spiritual realm.”

"It's that simple?"

Zhang Xu looked at Ivern in disbelief. He had always thought that being able to communicate in the spiritual realm was a very noble thing, but the result was... that simple?

"For someone of your level, communicating with the spiritual realm is indeed a very simple matter. Your strength is already enough to support you to do this, but you have never been exposed to it before."

"Well... this lady can also try it. However, for the two of them, communicating in the spiritual realm becomes a very difficult task."

Ivern pointed at Sett and Sheng beside him, but what he said was obviously not so pleasant to hear.

"These words...seem a bit hurtful."

Sheng touched the back of his head, but there was no embarrassment on his face. His biggest characteristic was that he was very self-aware, so he chose to follow Zhang Xu without hesitation.

"Hurtful? I don't think so."

Seti shrugged, with an indifferent look on his face: "At least, most people here can't do it."

Amid the conversation between Seti and Sheng, Zhang Xu closed his eyes and began trying to communicate with the spiritual realm as Ivern had said.

Some powers in Runeland always like to do such idealistic things...

It's really a headache.

As the chaotic thoughts gradually faded away, Zhang Xu's mind gradually calmed down.

Then... Zhang Xu felt the feeling that Aeon described—the feeling of the spiritual world and the spiritual realm intersecting. It was as simple as taking off pants. It was a natural thing.

Although he did not open his eyes, Zhang Xu still saw a blurry world.

A foggy...field?

A very wonderful feeling.

Zhang Xu looked around at his spiritual realm. Everything here seemed to be under his control, just like... a replica of the world of nothingness.