Mother Tree of Life
Chen Chuan looked down at his left hand. Green patterns flowed slowly beneath his skin, like living things. He could feel an unfamiliar power in his blood, intertwining and merging with his life force. It was a wondrous sensation, as though he possessed both human flesh and blood and the resilience of a plant.
"How does it feel?" Liya asked softly, her gaze resting on the patterns on the back of Chen Chuan's hand, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Very warm, like something is growing." Chen Chuan tried moving his fingers. The patterns glowed faintly with his movements, then gradually faded.
Liya nodded in satisfaction. "This is the initial fusion between you and the Life Seed. Over the next week, you'll experience a series of changes. Your body will gradually adapt to the new power. You may become drowsy, develop a larger appetite, or have vivid dreams. These are all normal."
She picked up a small crystal bottle from the table. It contained a pale green liquid. "This is Life Nourishing Liquid. Drink one small bottle every day, and it will help your body accept the seed's power."
Chen Chuan took the crystal bottle. It was cool to the touch, but the liquid inside gave off a warm aura. He asked curiously, "How long will these changes last?"
"Until you can fully control this power. That should take about a month," Liya explained. "After that, you can practice the Tree of Life Meditation Method.
"As for the Tree of Life Meditation Method, once you enter the academy, you can collect it from the academy library."
Chen Chuan tightened his grip on the crystal bottle, making the liquid inside sway and ripple. He felt that the green patterns on the back of his hand seemed to be resonating in some way with the Life Nourishing Liquid in the bottle.
"Remember," Liya said, suddenly lowering her voice, "no matter what you hear afterward, don't stop drinking the nourishing liquid. Especially in your dreams."
Chen Chuan's heart tightened, and he was about to ask more, but Liya had already risen and walked over to a mirror in the corner of the tent.
"The teleportation array is behind it." She pointed at the mirror. "When you're ready, pass through it, and you'll reach the Life Academy."
Chen Chuan looked at the mirror. Its once-calm surface suddenly rippled, and it no longer reflected the inside of the tent, but a lush forest instead. Towering trees rose straight into the clouds, their trunks covered in mysterious runes.
Chen Chuan took a deep breath and stepped toward the mirror.
The moment his fingertips touched its surface, a wave of intense dizziness struck him. He felt as though he were being pulled into an endless tunnel. The scenery around him shifted rapidly before finally settling on the mysterious forest.
The forest air swept over him, the fragrance of damp earth mingling with the fresh scent of grass and trees, lifting Chen Chuan's spirits. He stood in an open meadow. In the distance stood several buildings with an antique charm, blending perfectly into their natural surroundings. A few small, entirely emerald-green birds flew overhead, a faint light shimmering between their feathers.
"Welcome to the Life Academy." A gentle voice came from behind him. Chen Chuan turned and saw a young woman in a green dress. She had long hair as green as a forest and eyes as clear as lake water.
"I'm Ailin, the gatekeeper here," the woman said with a smile. "It looks like you've already fused with the Seed of Life. I can sense that unique aura about you."
Chen Chuan unconsciously clenched his left hand, the green patterns flickering in and out of sight. "It really is a wondrous feeling."
Ailin nodded. "The Seed of Life will grow inside you as you progress in the meditation method. When you become a First-Rank Life Wizard, the Seed of Life will become a Tree of Life. It will develop different abilities and spell affinities according to each person's characteristics.
"Some excel at healing, some specialize in controlling plants, and others can communicate with animals. Your path will gradually become clear as your Tree of Life grows."
She pointed toward an ancient tree in the distance, towering into the clouds. "That is the academy's Mother Tree of Life. All the Life Academy's magic was derived from studying the mother tree.
Ailin's words carried an ancient wisdom. She turned her gaze toward the distant mother tree, her eyes filled with deep reverence. "Every Life Wizard's growth is closely tied to the mother tree. It is not only the source of our power, but also an extension of our lives."
Chen Chuan followed her gaze and saw the ancient tree shimmering with a soft green light in the sunlight. Some kind of energy seemed to flow among its leaves. He felt a faint pulse from his left hand, forming a strange resonance with the distant mother tree.
"This feeling..." Chen Chuan stared at his hand in surprise. "There seems to be some kind of connection between the mother tree and me."
Surprise flashed in Ailin's eyes, then turned to delight. "It seems your Life Seed has already begun to form a connection with the mother tree. That's very rare. Usually, it takes some time studying at the academy to reach this point."
She led Chen Chuan toward the academy, her steps light, as though she were one with the surrounding grass and trees. Along the way, Chen Chuan noticed that the plants here seemed more vibrant than those outside, every leaf gleaming with the luster of life.
"There's a special energy field in the academy that we call the 'Life Aura,'" Ailin explained. "It can speed up the growth of plants and allow Life Wizards to absorb energy more quickly."
They passed through a sea of flowers, the colorful blossoms swaying gently as they walked. Chen Chuan reached out and gently touched a small blue flower. Its petals immediately bloomed with a soft light, as though responding to his touch.
"You have a strong affinity," Ailin said approvingly. "Many apprentices take a long time to reach this point."