During the orbital bombardment, Xi Yan had specifically ordered them to avoid the Tree of Life in the center. As a result, a group of Plant People who had escaped by sheer luck had gathered beneath it.
Xi Yan's projection hovered in midair. Below him, a mob of Plant People waved their tentacles in impotent rage. Xi Yan took off his translator and listened to their noisy babbling, having the time of his life.
Soon, the Army finished searching the entire Preserve and rushed to the Sacred Tree.
"Marshal, sir!"
"Hey, Marshal!"
The Army surrounded the enormous Sacred Tree so tightly that nothing could get through. Ignoring the Plant People sheltering beneath it, they greeted Xi Yan in the air.
"Hello, my soldiers!"
Xi Yan happily returned their greeting.
"Kill them! Leave not a single Plant Person alive!"
"Kill!"
The soldiers raised their Personal Red Lasers, and dazzling beams instantly pierced every last Plant Person.
That marked the end of the Plant People's civilization.
Xi Yan guided his projection down from the air to the ground.
"The Sacred Tree! The Sacred Tree!" Several scientists ran past him, howling with excitement as they lugged a mountain of equipment toward the towering tree.
[Imperial log: Sacred Tree] [This Sacred Tree on Amat Eiro II has been growing on the planet for a very long time. Our initial estimate was a few thousand years, but after careful testing, our scientists believe the tree may be even older than we imagined. With detailed research, perhaps we can glean something from it.] [Xi Yan's directive: Easy. I'll provide the funding.]
The little Preserve bustled with activity. What a picture of thriving prosperity it was.
Xi Yan stood there admiring it for a while, naturally overcome with excitement.
At last!
*He had personally wiped