Just then, a White-Haired Girl suddenly appeared in the courtyard opposite his.
She was tall, with an exquisite figure, and a snowy aura enveloped her entire being. No matter how one looked at her, she was a beauty sculpted from ice and snow.
"Is that..."
"Ling Luochеn, one of the Shrek Seven Devils."
Chu Ge immediately recognized her. With those distinctive features, he truly could not think of anyone besides that Ice and Snow Girl.
Her fame was on roughly the same level as the Flame Witch, Ma Xiaotao, though slightly less widespread. He had not expected to meet her first.
"This is..."
While he studied her, Ling Luochеn's gaze also fell on him, a trace of confusion appearing on her face.
When did someone move into the courtyard next to mine? Was it just these past two days, or...
"Hello, senior."
"You must have just returned to the Inner Court after completing a training assignment outside the academy."
Ling Luochеn spoke with a calm expression, as though something had occurred to her.
"Get some rest. Goodbye, senior."
After saying that, she showed no intention of lingering and simply disappeared from his sight.
She was not good with words to begin with, but since she had stopped in front of him, leaving without saying anything would have seemed rude.
"Huh?"
Chu Ge scratched his head in bewilderment as he watched her leave, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
He knew this girl did not like talking. At the very least, she would certainly be that way toward a stranger like him.
But that really was a little awkward!
"That's not important."
"For now, I still need to figure out what's going on with the Golden Ancient Tree..."
Chu Ge murmured to himself.
The Golden Ancient Tree stood at the very center of Sea God Island. It was also the greatest opportunity the entire Inner Court offered its new students, making it immensely significant.
Following the exceptionally dense life energy and that faint sense of a summons, he soon arrived beneath the tree.
It was an enormous tree, towering almost into the clouds.
The moment he arrived, powerful vitality flowed into his body of its own accord. The feeling was indescribably refreshing.
"This feels great."
As a Life-System Soul Master passing through, such pure, concentrated life energy was perfectly to his taste.
Yet aside from this incredibly warm energy, he did not seem to sense anything special.
His current situation was probably no different from that of any other prodigy who came here.
"Looks like..."
"What I thought was a summons was just me getting ahead of myself."
Chu Ge sighed softly, sounding somewhat regretful.
Although he had never held out much hope, he still could not help feeling a little disappointed by the result.
His system really was unreliable. If he had the plane spirit's support, his path would be smoother.
"In that case..."
"I won't linger here..."
Chu Ge took one last look at the Golden Ancient Tree before him and said with a smile, then prepared to leave.
Just then, however, that somewhat familiar presence from earlier appeared in his perception once more.
"There's no mistaking it."
"It definitely has a consciousness."
Chu Ge abruptly turned back toward the Golden Ancient Tree, his face lighting up with delight.
The Golden Ancient Tree was conscious, and it even had the courage to call out to him. That meant it could absolutely become a powerful source of support.
His knowledge of Douluo II was not particularly deep, and he did not yet know how Tang Hao had stolen the plane, plucked the fruit of others' labor, and become the Plane God. But since it had not happened yet, there was every possibility of preventing it.
"You're conscious, aren't you?"
"Golden Ancient Tree."
He looked at the Golden Ancient Tree before him and tried to communicate.
He did not merely speak aloud; he also projected his thoughts, clearly more than willing to have an in-depth exchange with it.
Yet the Golden Ancient Tree remained as still as ever. Only the faint rustling of wind passing through the surroundings could be heard. It gave no response.
"Golden Ancient Tree, can you hear me?"
"Are you there?"
"Moshi moshi?"
"What are you dong-dong-dong?"
Before long, bewilderment appeared on Chu Ge's face. Staring at the enormous tree, he sank into thought.
Seriously, how was he supposed to communicate with this tree?
Its ability to convey its wishes to him meant communication had to be possible. But where was the method for doing so?
"Or am I approaching this the wrong way?"
Chu Ge pondered that, but another question arose: just what approach was he supposed to use?
And so, a man and a tree stood facing each other, caught in a strange atmosphere.
"Looks like I'll have to go back and think of something else. I wonder if that fellow Tian Meng has any ideas."
"I'll come see you another time."
Chu Ge sighed helplessly, thinking to himself.
Staying here was no solution. He might as well go look for the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm tomorrow.
Although the fellow had gained his cultivation and strength by eating, sleeping, then eating again, he did at least consider himself a Wisdom Soul Ring.
"I'm off, Golden Ancient Tree."
Chu Ge took one last look at the Golden Ancient Tree and bid it farewell. Yet the instant he turned around, a sense of dejection suddenly emanated from it.
"Why are you sulking like a little girl?"
Chu Ge sank into thought, then helplessly turned back and reached toward the tree, trying to comfort it as though patting someone on the shoulder.
However, the instant he touched the trunk, Chu Ge's expression changed. In his perception, everything around him seemed to undergo an earth-shattering transformation.
He no longer seemed to be in the Shrek Inner Court, nor anywhere near the Golden Ancient Tree. Instead, he was in another world, a world enveloped in golden hues.
The place brimmed with such rich vitality that he was momentarily overwhelmed. Yet the presence that had drawn him earlier seemed absent.
Or perhaps it did not want him to see it.
Chu Ge did not know what happened afterward. He only knew that his mind soon relaxed. Once he had peacefully drifted into a deep sleep, a tiny figure wrapped in green energy cautiously approached him within that world, studying him with curiosity.
"So familiar."
"Such a comforting presence..."
The tiny figure murmured softly, quietly watching him. Finally, as though a little embarrassed, the figure stepped forward and gently smoothed his tousled hair before disappearing.
Chu Ge knew nothing of this.
A little while later.
"Hey."
"Are you all right?"
While he was still groggy, a cool, clear voice reached his ears. He opened his eyes. Wasn't this Ling Luochеn, whom he had met yesterday?
"Why did you fall asleep here?"
A hint of hesitation showed on Ling Luochеn's face.
At first, she had assumed he was cultivating here. But what Soul Master cultivated lying down?!
Getting stronger just by lying flat?
Surely that couldn't be possible.
(End of chapter)
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