Fortunately.
Although this enlightenment had consumed quite a bit of vitality, the gains were not small either.
After letting out a series of creaks, the two enormous White Oak Trees began to grow even further.
Pale green spiritual light emerged from their thick trunks, while their branches swayed continuously up and down, stirring up fierce winds throughout the valley.
Several peregrine falcons that had been preening each other atop the Willow Tree's canopy—
were startled awake by the sudden commotion.
They flapped into the sky, chirping noisily as they looked at the White Oak Trees with surprise and wariness.
"Don't worry..."
Su Heng smiled and extended a long Willow Branch, brushing it over the peregrine falcons.
Enlightening those peregrine falcons had originally been nothing more than a casual whim.
Unexpectedly, those little fellows, barely half a meter long, turned out to be remarkably responsible. Day and night, they watched the surroundings of the valley.
Whenever there was the slightest disturbance, they would take the initiative to report it to Su Heng.
The White Oak Trees were enormous, and it took longer for the Life Enlightenment talent to fully take effect.
Su Heng was in no hurry.
As he used Super Absorption to draw nutrients from the Mutated Wild Boar and replenish what he had just spent, he cautiously remained on guard against the surrounding environment.
About three hours later, the mutation of the two oak trees was finally complete.
The mutated oak trees had not changed much in height, but their branches had become far thicker and sturdier. Their bark had grown rougher as well, covered in fresh wrinkles. Under the moonlight, it faintly gleamed with an alloy-like luster, giving off an impression of toughness and solidity.
Mutated White Oak Tree Life Level: 1 Status: Good Vitality: 7.43 Talent: Guarding (Common Quality): The trunk becomes sturdier and can swing and lash within a small range.
The oak trees possessed even more vitality than the Second Template Willow Tree, and the power granted by their massive bodies could not be underestimated.
If one of their branches came smashing down directly, the force would be absolutely terrifying. An ordinary beast would probably die from a single hit.
Even a Mutated Creature like the wild boar from earlier would likely collapse on the spot if it were carelessly struck by these two Mutated White Oak Trees.
Overall, although enlightening the two Mutated White Oak Trees had cost Su Heng a great deal of vitality, the returns were quite good and highly satisfying.
"Next, I need damage and support."
Su Heng searched the valley for creatures that might bring benefits to himself and his dependents after mutating.
Very quickly, he found his target.
It was a cluster of small, trumpet-shaped Morning Glories growing beside a large patch of rocks. Several beautiful colorful butterflies rested on their multicolored petals.
"It's you, Morning Glories!"
Small creatures like these required very little vitality to enlighten.
Su Heng was merely trying his luck. If these Morning Glories or butterflies could awaken support-type talents after succeeding,
that would naturally be the best outcome.
But even if they failed, there was basically no loss.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several Willow Branches, carrying hazy spiritual light, shot toward the Morning Glories and butterflies.
A few butterflies were startled and fluttered away into the distance. Pale green spiritual light, like scattered stardust, settled on their wings. The butterflies merely appeared a little more energetic and did not become awakened Mutated Creatures.
Whether an awakening succeeded was actually easy to determine.
Creatures awakened through the Willow Tree's Life Enlightenment talent seemed to be automatically recognized by the system as dependents of the Willow Tree.
Their attribute panels would appear before Su Heng.
However, Su Heng could not learn the specific talents of other Mutated Creatures.
Otherwise, with that ability alone, Su Heng would be able to seize the initiative in every future battle.
The butterflies resting among the Morning Glories all flew elsewhere. Not a single one had awakened successfully.
Instead, the cluster of Morning Glories below, merely touched by some of the pale green spiritual light, began to grow rapidly. A soft rustling spread as their vines extended, and their slightly closed petals bloomed in full. Wisps of mist curled around them, making them look dreamlike and beautiful beneath the Red Moon.
"Interesting..."
Morning Glory Life Level: 1 Vitality: 0.24 Talent: Haze (The petals can release mist with hallucinogenic effects. In environments with dense mist, some creatures may be poisoned.)
Wild Morning Glory petals already contained a faint toxin.
Now that they had awakened a related talent under the Willow Tree's enlightenment talent, it was within expectations.
"This talent is quite good!"
Su Heng's eyes lit up, and a surge of delight rippled through his heart.
The toxicity brought by the Morning Glories' hallucinogenic talent was secondary; judging from the description, it should be quite weak.
But releasing mist with hallucinogenic effects...
I'm not expecting this little bit of mist to make Mutated Creatures hallucinate. As long as it can reduce the Willow Tree's presence while it has yet to fully grow, that will already be good enough.
This valley was neither particularly large nor particularly small.
It was roughly two or three kilometers from entrance to exit, while the widest section in the middle was nearly a kilometer across.
Trying to cover the entire valley with a single Morning Glory was nothing but wishful thinking.
It could not even cover the Willow Tree in mist.
"Again!"
Morning Glories liked to grow in warm, humid places, and the environment of this valley was highly suitable. Large numbers of Morning Glories grew along both sides of the valley.
Enlightening one Morning Glory consumed less than 0.01 vitality.
Su Heng tried several dozen times, spending nearly 0.5 vitality. Around ten Morning Glories were successfully enlightened.
That was already a very good haul.
Almost visibly, a faint mist began to appear within the valley. It gathered without dispersing, and as time passed, it showed signs of growing denser.
"Let's enlighten a few more butterflies. I refuse to believe it!"
There were only around a dozen butterflies living within the range of Su Heng's Willow Branches, and several had already flown away in fright.
Now, fewer than ten remained for him to choose from.
The vitality consumed to enlighten butterflies was even less than that needed for Morning Glories, to the point of being nearly negligible.
Su Heng was generous. Around ten branches shot out at once, landing beside those butterflies.
Failure, failure, failure, failure... success!
Among the dozen or so butterflies, two mutants appeared. The success rate was not high, but fortunately, there was practically no cost.
"This..."
Moreover, when the talent panels of the Mutated Butterflies appeared before Su Heng,
they truly gave him another surprise.
Thanks to Woyu Yu and Wen Cangtian for the two monthly tickets.
Before you continue