It needed to be surrounded by an ample supply of cosmic energy.
Lu Ming didn't dare to act recklessly. If he killed the Life Fruit Tree, he'd be kicking himself for a long time.
"Master..."
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out in Lu Ming's mind.
He paused, taken aback.
"Little Thunder? What is it?"
Little Thunder was the name Lu Ming had given the Thunderlight Vine.
"Master."
The Thunderlight Vine sent another thought, tinged with affection and dependence.
"I might have a way to transplant this Life Fruit Tree..."
Lu Ming's interest was piqued. "Oh? Tell me about it, Little Thunder."
"Master, the Internal Worlds of plant lifeforms are different from those of other lifeforms,"
Little Thunder explained.
"My Internal World consists primarily of a Forest of Life, brimming with vitality, and a Sea of Thunder. The Forest of Life is naturally suited to growing all kinds of plant life. The life energy in its soil and air is even richer than in many places outside."
It paused, then continued sending its thoughts. "As long as we do it carefully, I can move this Life Fruit Tree into my Forest of Life together with the soil around its roots and even part of the surrounding ley lines. I'm more than ninety percent confident it will survive and continue growing. As for supplying it with cosmic energy..."
Little Thunder's thoughts carried a note of confidence.
"I'm at the peak of the ninth rank of the World Lord Level. My Internal World runs in a self-sustaining cycle, and Cosmic Force flows without end. That's more than enough to sustain the Life Fruit Tree. You'll only need to provide some special Nutrient Solution to promote its growth later. I believe it won't merely survive—it may even grow better!"
Lu Ming's eyes lit up.
Of course! How had he forgotten?
The Thunderlight Vine was a plant-type Special Lifeform. Its Internal World was one of the best environments for growing plants!
It was far larger and more stable than an ordinary World Lord's Internal World. It could easily accommodate a Life Fruit Tree!
And having the Thunderlight Vine, itself a plant lifeform, handle the transplant would surely be far more skillful and gentle than doing it himself.
"Hahaha! Excellent! Little Thunder, you really are my lucky star!"
Lu Ming was overjoyed. This was the perfect solution!
Without hesitation, he searched the Virtual Universe Network and placed an order for premium Nutrient Solution made specifically to nourish Life Fruit Trees.
"Fruit Heart Morning Dew."
This Nutrient Solution was extremely effective, but its price was exorbitant. He bought enough to last for hundreds of years, spending a full 360 billion Universe Coins!
"Order confirmed. Your goods will be delivered to your address on Azure Mist Planet within one month."
The system's notification sounded.
A month was no problem. The priority now was to finish the transplant!
"Little Thunder, no time to waste. Get started!"
Lu Ming gave the order.
"What should I do?"
"Master, just keep watch nearby. Leave the transplant to me."
Little Thunder's thoughts brimmed with confidence.
"All right."
Lu Ming leaped straight into the air.
The next moment, Little Thunder began its work.
The Thunderlight Vine wrapped around Lu Ming's body began to glow faintly. Then hundreds of vines, flickering with dark golden arcs of electricity, unfurled from behind him like living tentacles, weaving together in the air.
The vines immediately plunged downward, their force gentle yet irresistible.
Rumble...
They easily broke through the soft layer of humus and the hard rock beneath, rumbling as they drove deep underground.
Through his senses, Lu Ming felt the vines extending at an astonishing speed: a hundred meters, a thousand meters, several thousand... They weren't burrowing blindly. Instead, they skillfully skirted the Life Fruit Tree's main roots, forming a vast encircling net as they spread deeper and farther through the soil and rock.
Lu Ming immediately understood Little Thunder's plan—it intended to "pack up" the Life Fruit Tree along with the entire expanse of land and ley lines it depended on!
That would minimize damage to the tree's root network and energy supply during the move.
The process lasted about two minutes. At last, the vines, which had burrowed nearly ten thousand meters underground, stopped extending and formed a "cage of roots" around the enormous mass of soil and rock below.
"Master, it's ready."
Little Thunder sent its thoughts.
"Begin!"
Lu Ming ordered.
Buzz—!
Every Thunderlight Vine that had burrowed underground blazed with dazzling emerald light, surging with immense life energy!
At the same time, a powerful force of the world coursed through the vines and acted upon the vast mass of land they had enclosed.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!
The earth shook violently as a powerful earthquake struck!
Centered on the Life Fruit Tree, the ground began to rise across a radius of several kilometers. Huge cracks spread outward like a spiderweb!
Towering ancient trees toppled, rivers changed course, and the whole landscape was turned upside down!
Amid deafening rumbles, a massive block of earth, more than ten kilometers in diameter and several kilometers thick, was forcibly torn from the ground by countless Thunderlight Vines and slowly lifted into the air!
The Life Fruit Tree and its enormous root network, along with the special soil that nourished it and part of the ley lines, remained intact inside, like an enormous potted plant.
Once the huge block of earth and rock had risen high enough to separate completely from the ground below, the light around the Thunderlight Vines flared!
Whoosh!
As if by magic, the immense block of earth carrying the Life Fruit Tree vanished from sight, successfully taken into the Forest of Life in the Thunderlight Vine's Internal World.
All that remained was a bottomless pit in the ground and a swath of utter devastation around it.
The Thunderlight Vines quickly withdrew and wound themselves around Lu Ming again.
"Master, the transplant is complete for now. The Life Fruit Tree has settled safely in my Forest of Life. Its condition is stable, and it shows no signs of distress. We only need to water it with Nutrient Solution regularly from now on."
Little Thunder's thoughts were filled with joy.
Lu Ming looked at the enormous pit below, then sensed the Life Fruit Tree thriving in the Thunderlight Vine's Internal World, still radiating immense vitality. A radiant smile spread across his face.
"Beautifully done, Little Thunder!"
He praised it without holding back.
"You've done a great service this time!"
The priceless Life Fruit Tree was now completely his.
"Come on. Let's keep exploring and see what other surprises await us at the heart of this secret realm!"
With the major problem solved, Lu Ming was in high spirits. His figure became a streak of light as he continued deeper into the secret realm.
He had gained this Life Fruit Tree.
Lu Ming definitely couldn't keep it all for himself, but for the sake of the upcoming sacrifice, he couldn't tell He Ya and the others about it.
Still, he would make it up to them later with something even more precious.
Lu Ming was carefully searching the skies above a mountain range unusually rich in energy, trying to find any other possible treasures.
Suddenly, the cool voice of the Intelligent Life Azure Kite rang out in his mind.
"Master, I've received an urgent message from Domain Lord Carlos through the Virtual Universe Network."