The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

“They no longer worshipped faith, no longer felt gratitude for blessings. Fear replaced reverence, and wariness filled their hearts. In the end… they chose to seal me away, imprisoning me in place with cold chains and powerful magic.”

He instinctively hugged his arms tighter, as if he could still feel that bone-chilling loneliness. "Father, can you imagine? In the endless years, all I could sense were cold chains, empty silence, and... hostile and wary gazes from all directions."

"That deep-seated loneliness and desolation... My only wish is to go out, see the world beyond the seal, and feel what the wind of freedom tastes like..."

“But how could I possibly break free from these heavy shackles?” He raised his head, a faint light rekindling in his eyes. “Until… your arrival.”

The boy's tone became fervent: "Your arrival is like the first ray of sunlight piercing through thick clouds, illuminating my silent world."

“Your breath…your breath, like a mother’s, carries the most genuine compassion for life. I can feel that you will not reject any prayer from the deepest, purest part of life. Just like a mother.”

He emphasized urgently, "At that moment, I knew this was my last chance, Father! I had to seize it!"

His deer ears trembled slightly with excitement: "I have concentrated all my remaining, most essential intelligence into a very ordinary leaf."

"It fell from the branch, carried by a wind that came from nowhere, drifting and drifting... for a very long time, and finally landed in this place, a place with magical power."

"I crave them! These energies drive me crazy, an urge to break free!"

"They can make me more than just a tree that can't move. I want to change. I want to have a form that can walk, touch, and express myself!" The boy's voice carried a resolute determination.

“I know my rampant growth may have aroused disgust again... but it doesn’t matter. They are already annoyed with me enough. It doesn’t matter if they hate me a little more. As long as I can stand in front of you, nothing else matters.”

He took a deep breath to calm his overly excited emotions, and his deer ears slowly drooped down. "When my consciousness was finally able to stabilize in this energy field and I was able to barely make a call to the outside world, the first thing I did was call out to you, Father."

His eyes were filled with unbelievable gratitude: "And you...you really responded! Just like my mother responded to me when I was young and ignorant! Your voice pierced through the barriers of space and answered my desperate plea!"

The boy's hand unconsciously gripped Russell's sleeve, as if afraid he would disappear. "As your breath draws closer, becomes clearer… that shared warmth, that vast life force…"

"The last bit of hesitation and panic in my heart disappeared, even though I didn't have a physical body at that time, just a weak consciousness."

"But I am absolutely certain. You and Mother are of the same great origin, how could you refuse such a humble yet fervent prayer from a child?"

He looked up, his eyes filled with pure trust. "Isn't this just common sense? Besides..."

His fingers brushed lightly across his eyes, then pointed to Russell's eyes: "The abundant power you poured into me when you sculpted my body is your power."

“It flows in my blood, shapes my flesh and blood, and gives me these eyes that are exactly like yours! Isn’t this the most powerful proof? Father…” His voice trembled slightly at the end.

However, after the initial excitement, a sense of unease quickly crept onto his face.

He lowered his head, his voice suddenly becoming low, filled with deep self-reproach and hesitation: "But...but now I understand. Father...how selfish I was to force the identity of father onto you like this."

“Even if back then I just needed recognition and longed for warmth... that shouldn’t be a reason to force it.” He released his grip on Russell’s clothes, his small shoulders slumped, and he looked incredibly vulnerable.

“No one likes being forced into a role and responsibility, no matter who it is. I…I understand. So, Father…no, sir,” he changed his words with difficulty, his voice barely audible.

“If you are unwilling to acknowledge me now, unwilling to be my father… I completely understand. You are free to leave here and forget everything that happened here. I assure you, I will never bother you with this matter again.”

He raised his head, trying to force a smile, but it looked worse than crying: "Even so, I am still incredibly grateful to you. You gave me this perfect body that allows me to walk in this world, and you answered my call in my despair."

"You are like a mother, gently watching over and protecting all life in the world. Perhaps... in your eyes, all the suffering beings in this vast sea of ​​stars are your children?"

"You have already done me an immense favor by creating my body. I... dare not ask for more."

The boy straightened his back, as if encouraging himself, "I will use this power well, and use this body to do the good deeds I can, just like you did in Luofu, to heal suffering, to soothe wounds... to find a peaceful place for those lost souls..."

Russell listened quietly as the boy's story shifted from fervent to humble, and he understood what was going on.

The true form of the antler-adorned youth before us is probably the Jianmu tree, the source of endless trouble that was sealed away on the Luofu Immortal Ship and caused countless storms.

The "mother" he mentioned undoubtedly refers to the pharmacist.

In this light, it is surprisingly logical that he regarded this messenger, who also wielded the power of abundance, as his father.

Seeing the boy's forced strength yet undeniable vulnerability and helplessness, Russell felt a pang of pity.

Such a life, possessing immense power yet with a mind as pure as a blank sheet of paper, would have unimaginable consequences if it were to lose its guidance and wander outside.

If he were to be misled by those with ulterior motives, like Huanlong in the Immortal Ship now, the abundant power contained within him would be enough to unleash a monstrous wave, becoming a disaster even more terrifying than the out-of-control Jianmu.

Even if I were to take action to clean house by then, how much regret would I feel? If I had been able to teach them back then, how could such a disaster have occurred?

It's better to take responsibility now than to regret it later. Besides…

Russell's gaze fell on the boy's jade-colored eyes, which were exactly like his own.

These eyes, this abundant power flowing within the boy's body, largely stem from his own gift to them.

In this sense, calling oneself "father" doesn't seem like an exaggeration.

Having made up his mind, Russell reached out and gently placed his warm palm on the boy's soft hair, stroking it with a soothing touch.

“Alright,” his voice was gentle yet firm, dispelling the gloom in the boy’s words, “now, tell me your name. I suppose you probably don’t have one yet?”

"No...no." The boy suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with incredulous hope. Yet, fearing another rejection, he shook his head vigorously.

"A name... wasn't important to me before. Perhaps it will be in the future... but... but I wouldn't dare trouble you..."

“How can that be?” Russell interrupted him, his tone carrying an undeniable gentle smile. “I am your father. Since your mother is not here right now, the responsibility of naming you naturally falls on your father.”

He paused for a moment, his fingertips brushing against the boy's slightly cool antlers. "From now on, you will be called 'Lin.' 'Lin' as in 'rain after a long drought.' May your deeds in this life be like timely rain, nourishing parched hearts and fostering the growth of all things. What do you think, Lin?"

“Lin…” The boy—Lin—murmured, repeating the syllable. His jade-colored pupils suddenly widened, filled with shock, ecstasy, and a hint of cautious confirmation.

“You…you mean…you’re willing to be my father? You…you acknowledge me?” His voice trembled violently.

“Otherwise?” Russell asked with a smile, gently tapping Lin’s eye with his fingertip. “Look here. You have inherited my power of abundance. This power flows in your blood, just as my blood flows in your body.”

“Look into our eyes again, isn’t this the deepest bond?” His tone carried a matter-of-fact certainty. “Moreover, according to the principles of reproduction, if I hadn’t responded to your call, if I hadn’t shaped you, you might still be a sleeping Jianmu tree.”

"In a sense, I personally brought you into this new world where you can perceive, express, and walk in the world."

"So, as your father, it is my responsibility to take care of you and guide you forward. I will never shirk my share of responsibility; in fact, I bear far more than I should."

He lifted Lin's chin, making him look directly at him. "So, lift your head, my child. You will never feel inferior in front of me."

"Then...then from now on..." Lin's voice was filled with great uncertainty and anticipation, "...can I call you father in front of others?"

“Of course!” Russell’s answer was firm and resolute, carrying a strong sense of protection. “Since I am your father, what is there to be afraid of admitting?”

"As for those who dare to slander you or hurt you because of this..."

Russell's eyes instantly sharpened like knives, and his aura tightened slightly, as if an invisible pressure was spreading out. "Don't worry, I'm here."

"Father!" Overwhelming joy swept away all of Lin's restraint and unease like a torrent.

He lunged forward and hugged Russell tightly with all his might, his small body trembling slightly with excitement, his arms wrapped tightly around him.

"Is this feeling... real? Am I dreaming? You really... really won't leave?" He buried his face deep in Russell's clothes, his muffled voice trembling with sobs.

"Of course it's true, silly boy." Russell's heart softened completely. He steadily hugged the trembling boy in his arms, his broad hands carrying a soothing power, gently patting Lin's thin back.

At the same time, with a slight thought, he channeled his abundant power, and a well-tailored, elegant robe with a distinctly Luofu Immortal Boat style instantly covered Lin Chiguo's body.

The soft fabric clung to the boy's body, with subtle vine patterns symbolizing vitality and healing embroidered on the sleeves and hem.

“Alright,” Russell gently stepped back a little, straightened Lin’s clothes, and said in a gentle but instructive tone, “It’s not appropriate to stand here naked. Remember, in a civilized society, dressing appropriately is a sign of respect for others and for yourself.”

"This is the first lesson I'm teaching you as a father."

"Yes! I remember, Father!" Lin looked down at the clothes that had suddenly appeared on his body with curiosity, carefully touching the smooth fabric, his face showing undisguised excitement and obedience.

Russell looked at the revitalized Lin, then glanced around—the branches of the Jianmu trees that had grown wildly due to Lin's incubation were still intertwined, exuding a rich vitality.

The enormous furnace of creation was also tilted to one side by the force of the impact.

“Sigh,” Russell sighed helplessly, with a hint of a father’s indulgent affection as he cleaned up the mess left by his naughty child.

"It seems I'll have to clean up the mess you made when you hatched." He raised his hand, and a gentle yet powerful emerald-green energy gathered in his palm.

The light wasn't dazzling, yet it contained the immense power to reverse life and death. He casually waved his hand lightly at the rampant growth of the Jianmu trees around him.

A miracle occurred. Those enormous branches and vines, which had been spreading wildly and seemed to pierce through space, appeared to have been turned back on.

They shrink and curl back at a speed visible to the naked eye, their thick branches become thin, and their lush leaves wither and fall off rapidly, eventually shrinking back to the ground or even disappearing altogether.

In just a few breaths, the space that had been submerged by the green tide quickly returned to its open state, leaving only traces of freshly turned soil on the ground.

The heavy furnace of creation seemed to be supported by an invisible hand, steadily and silently returning to its original position.

The raging vitality that permeated the entire space instantly subsided, becoming gentle and orderly.

“Let’s go,” Russell nodded in satisfaction and naturally took Lin’s hand. “The effects here will soon be smoothed out by the space’s own adjustment mechanism, in about ten minutes.”

"Now, let me show you this colorful and civilized world that you've never truly experienced before." He pulled Lin forward, the boy's steps still a little clumsy, but he followed closely.

After taking only two steps, Russell suddenly stopped, as if he had remembered something important.

"Father?" Lin immediately looked up at him nervously, her deer ears perking up alertly. "Have you forgotten something important?"

Russell turned to face Lin. His face was devoid of the previous sternness or helplessness, replaced by a pure, warm, and gentle expression.

He opened his arms and gently embraced the still somewhat bewildered boy. The embrace was warm and firm, filled with silent affirmation, deep affection, and a sense of ritual as a new life was solemnly accepted.

He bowed slightly, and beside the boy's soft antlers, whispered in the gentlest and most solemn voice:

"Welcome to this colorful world, Ah Lin."

The warmth of this embrace, the weight of this acceptance, felt like traversing an endless sea of ​​stars.

This overlapped with a distant, radiant figure in Russell's memory—the moment when the Star God Pharmacist opened his arms to him.

At this moment, he passed on this tenderness and responsibility from the star god to the newborn, innocent child in his arms who belonged to him.

Image: "Put a Golden Orchid Lady", Location: "Images/1758216512-100445955-113867043.jpg"

Today's first 5k chapter, let me see if I can write another one? Oh no, tomorrow is Hedgehog Cat's 10th anniversary, I'll try to finish all the remaining chapters in these 10 days.

The Golden Branches Through the Ages: Chapter 165 A Brief Moment of Warmth

"Hey! Look over there at Jianmu!" March 7th suddenly pointed into the distance, her voice filled with surprise and doubt, "Is...is it withering?"

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to it. They saw that the Jianmu tree that had grown in the distance was undergoing an incredible transformation.

The strange flowers blooming on its branches withered and died at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the huge roots that were originally shining with a rich life-giving luster and wriggling like living things quickly dimmed and became gray and stiff.

And it is shrinking and degenerating at a slow but clearly visible rate, as if time is flowing backwards on it.

"Hiss...this..." Master Gongshu stroked his beard, his eyes wide with amazement.

"I've lived most of my life, and I've seen Jianmu trees grow wildly and even been sealed away, but this thing that grows out and then shrinks back on its own... This is truly the first time I've ever seen anything like it! How strange and wonderful!"

"It seems that the Mr. Russell you mentioned does indeed have extraordinary abilities. He wasn't lying to me; he's genuinely here to help the Cloud Cavalry solve their problems." His evaluation of Russell was clearly much higher.

“Hey, hey, Master Gongshu!” March 7th said, hands on her hips, with a “you’re just stating the obvious” expression. “If Mr. Russell is a bad person, then there are no good people in the entire universe, right? He’s Huai Xiu! The universally acknowledged good person in the Abundance Envoy! A walking moral benchmark!” Her tone was full of admiration.

Walter adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm yet sharp: "In any case, it's a good thing that the anomaly at Jianmu has subsided. It seems that Mr. Russell's problem has been resolved."

“We need to hurry over there; there are some key details that need to be confirmed in person.” His voice carried its usual reliability.

"Yay! I'll listen to Uncle Yang!" Xing jumped up immediately, her eyes sparkling, as if she could already see the scene.

"It would be wonderful if I could meet Mr. Russell here! Maybe... hehe, he would even give me some sweet candy?" She licked her lips, revealing her true foodie nature.

"Hey! All you ever think about is eating!" March 7th sighed helplessly, both amused and exasperated by her friend's occasional eccentricities.

The resolution of the Jianmu crisis significantly eased the atmosphere within the team, and the tension dissipated considerably.

However, amidst this relaxed demeanor, Tingyun's elegant smile appeared somewhat forced.

Others might only see the decline in the power of the Jianmu tree and assume that the crisis is over.

But Tingyun—or rather, Huanlong, the Great Lord of Annihilation lurking beneath her elegant exterior—perceived it more clearly.

That newborn life force, greedily absorbing the essence of all the surrounding trees, could not escape her perception.

Russell created a completely new life form out of thin air in that chaotic energy field.

A complex and indescribable emotion surged within her.

Envy? Yes, the power to create perfect living bodies is exactly what she has always dreamed of.

But more than anything, there is a cold sense of reality—Russell, this walking miracle of abundance, whose stance and her path of destruction are naturally opposed like light and shadow.

This envoy has repeatedly and publicly proclaimed the idea of ​​throwing destruction into the cosmic trash can, making him one of the most troublesome enemies of the future.

However… Huanlong’s thoughts raced. Russell’s forced scramble to put out fires meant that the Luo Fu Immortal Ship was currently short of high-end combat power and internally vulnerable, didn’t it?

This might... subtly increase the chances of success for her other plan.

Unbeknownst to her, while she was making her plans, General Jing Yuan of the Divine Strategy Army had already quietly laid another trap.

Under the guise of supporting medical care, compassionate doctors have spread like seeds throughout the streets and alleys of Luofu.

The medical legion of five million, together with the well-prepared Cloud Cavalry, formed an invisible net that stretched from heaven to earth.