Year after year went by, and soon, she was 134 years old. During this year, she noticed a certain someone's essence becoming increasingly active. Her gaze moved, looking quite eager, and fell into the previous territory of the
There, a gargantuan azure rose-shaped World Tree stood tall, soaring to incredible heights and almost touching the clouds. The stalk of the rose-shaped World Tree was that of a woman with soft, green skin.
It was clear that during the last few years, she had transformed into a new, more comprehensive form, her species evolving into a new path.
The World Tree, which had been still for decades, stirred awake, slowly opening her eyes. Once she did, the world's essence around her trembled, as if chanting for the World Tree's awakening.
"Awake, at last. I wonder, how long has it been?"
Hearing the firm yet gentle older-sister-type voice, Liu Shu felt a touch of nostalgia. She poked her with her roots and spoke, her voice vast and gentle, with a touch of maturity it didn't have back then. "Good morning, Big Sister Azure Rose. How was your sleep?"
"This voice… Liu Shu?" Azure Rose asked, slightly confused. "Don't tell me that I've been away for centuries. You sound so different…"
Azure Rose then expanded her view, using Liu Shu's roots as she had in the past, and her gaze moved toward the previous Golden Sap City. Once she reached there, she saw the gargantuan World Tree that soared like a heavenly pillar, startling her. "Branches in the sky… aren't I like a normal flower in front of an average tree in terms of size?"
"Hehehe. I am indeed quite big~."
Azure Rose sighed with emotion. "Quite is an understatement… Tell me, dear, how long have I been asleep?"
Liu Shu checked, and she hummed. "Around… 57 years. Something like that, yup."
Azure Rose was confused. "That little? How come you've become… so large?"
Liu Shu giggled. "Wasn't I always quite big for a World Tree of my level~?"
Azure Rose couldn't refute that, so she just accepted it. She was, after all, a millennial World Tree. So, her temperament was forged through countless events during her long life.
"What a shame. Here I thought I would be able to help you when I woke up. With my Little Level 149 body, I probably won't help much, right?"
"Level 149?" Liu Shu was startled, and she quickly checked her System Page. "Wow! You even have around 84 million Experience Points left! Why have you not upgraded to… Ah! Energy Cycle."
Azure Rose smiled. "Exactly. Also, I thought about upgrading some of my skills as well as getting accustomed to my body. If I rush to Level 150, my Completion Rate will be too low."
Liu Shu wowed in her mind. 'As expected of an ancient Big Sister!'
"So, you've become a…
Azure Rose chuckled. "Yes. I guessed that we would be facing enemies on many fronts. So, what you need the most is someone who can be everywhere and offer some support to balance the battlefields. My new skills all lean toward my previous skill of creating mini clones of myself."
Liu Shu nodded. "Your skill is even stronger than my
Azure Rose smiled. "I think it is quite good. I gain one
Liu Shu's roots climbed up Azure Rose's body, giving her a gentle hug. She smiled brightly. "Thank you, Big Sister Azure Rose!"
Azure Rose, an almost 4,000-year-old World Tree, finally felt the elation of pushing forward again. After being stuck at Level 99 for several thousand years, Azure Rose had felt stifled. Now, though, she could finally spread out through Liu Shu's domain and gain strength again.
At this moment, a cold but soft voice reached them. "Oh? You are awake, Azure Rose?"
"Warlya? So, I wasn't the first to wake up."
Warlya spoke with a smile. "You are the second, though. Celestial Lotus and Skyflower are still asleep."
Liu Shu checked on them and smiled. "They will wake up soon! At most, five more years!"
Azure Rose, who had been checking everything, was a bit confused. "What are all those screens? Are they the famous computers that the Nexus used?"
Ceperet had been somewhat stuck technology-wise due to the fight between the Covenant and Nexus, preventing the planet from developing until one side won. So, Azure Rose, who was checking on her population, was feeling quite out of place.
Liu Shu laughed. "It seems that I will need to create some sort of manual for you and the other two. Warlya was also quite lost at first."
"Speaking of which." Azure Rose looked at Warlya's figure with a confused look. "You are quite small for your level, no?"
Warlya laughed. "You chose to separate yourself in all battlefields. I chose to focus all of my strength in the frontlines."
Then, she explained her World Tree Of War species. After listening, Azure Rose sighed, full of emotion. "Your choice shows how much you trust Liu Shu. I don't think my old self would be able to choose like you if given the option."
Warlya spoke gently. "Liu Shu gave me a second life. So, this life will be used to serve the little one wholeheartedly."
Liu Shu happily listened, feeling sweet and warm inside. She really liked her big sisters, as they were all gentle and caring toward her. 'Those efforts back then to bring them all into my domain were worth it!'
The following years became quite busy for everyone. Azure Rose's awakening meant that the other two were close. Moreover, the Mantis King and Cicada King were also nearing, about to arrive in Ceperet.
Liu Shu, knowing about it, participated personally in the government for a little bit, setting up everything. After much discussion, Liu Shu chose to send the more warlike Mantis King to settle in Vorathen first, and the gentler Cicada King to settle in Nualis.
That way, each of them would have one main world, so to speak, from where they would later integrate into the Golden Sap Empire.
'I need to open up the other worlds as soon as possible.'
Sadly, the final three worlds of her Solar System needed quite a bit of work to become habitable. 'Still, the Cicada species should be quite compatible with the new environment I created in the gas giant.'
After a bit longer, four years and five years, respectively, Celestial Lotus and Skyflower both woke up.
When Celestial Lotus woke up, her closed-in petals unfurled gently, creating an incredibly gorgeous spectacle. Her light spread out, and everyone received her buffs, which were all related to elemental affinity.
[Congratulations! You've been affected by
When Liu Shu read this one simple, but brutally powerful buff, she was stunned for a moment. "Branches above, it seems that none of my Big Sisters have decided to take a normal path."
Affinity, one of the hardest things to raise, as it was almost fully decided at birth, became a society-wide buff. Liu Shu also gave several buffs of this kind, boosting a few elemental affinities. However, she did not come close to giving an all-round boost like her.
Celestial Lotus spoke to Liu Shu, her elegant voice having a touch of pride. "Not bad, right, Little Liu Shu?"
Liu Shu giggled, playing with Celestial Lotus's several petals. "Not bad! Not bad! Big Sister Celestial Lotus has indeed given me a nice surprise~."
Azure Rose spoke as well. "The young little lotus has grown into this now? Quite surprising."
Celestial Lotus humphed. "You are lucky Skyflower stopped me from going to war with you back then, or I might've become the True World Tree before Little Liu Shu was born."
Azure Rose snorted. "It seems that your ego is as big as ever, little Lotus. I was fighting the Nexus's main continent even before you were born. At that time, Skyflower was quite active as well. You don't know how easy you had it."
Warlya looked at these two and chuckled. "You two, stop it. Next year, Skyflower should wake up as well. You can continue when she wakes up."
Azure Rose spoke a bit unnaturally. "Better not. While that old tree is gentle, when she is angry, even I dare not make a peep."
This time, Celestial Lotus didn't counterargue. Skyflower was not only the oldest but also the one who had gone through the most bloodshed among them. After all, she was a World Tree sent by the Covenant to hold back the Nexus's offensive in Ceperet. The fact that she guarded Ceperet for over 5,000 years was something no one could take away from her.
And so, a year later, another large stir occurred, the system showing two prompts to everyone.
[Congratulations! You've been affected by
[Congratulations! You've been affected by
Liu Shu and the others heard those two prompts, and their lips twitched. 'Another two ridiculous domain-wide buffs.'
No complicated effects, just raw number manipulation. Liu Shu couldn't help but wholeheartedly admire these four. Each and every one of them brought to the table something non-negligible.
Skyflower's gentle and vast voice reached them, carried by the wind like a gentle whisper. "It seems I am last. Sorry for making you wait so much, Little Liu Shu. Now, I am here to protect your skies."
Liu Shu internally swooned. 'That sentence is so cool!'
"Good morning, Big Sister Skyflower! Hehehe. Did you have a good sleep? What is your species called~?"
Skyflower used her roots to gently caress Liu Shu's and answered gently. "My species is called
Liu Shu received a prompt.
"...Wow." Liu Shu was truly surprised. Skyflower's three titles were a comprehensive set of titles that could be summarized as "I am stronger than you! What can you do about it? Don't like it? Land somewhere!"
Skyflower looked at the other three main World Trees and hummed. "Not bad. You three have evolved into something powerful. From now on, let's fight together and help Liu Shu defend her domain."
Warlya, Celestial Lotus, and Azure Rose all answered with a solemn tone. "We will, Skyflower."
Liu Shu honestly felt as if she had suddenly gained four big thighs she could cling onto. Then, Liu Shu smiled. "Here, my buffs!"
Skyflower suddenly saw a list of buffs ding her System Page one after another, and the old World Tree felt her brain pause for a moment. '... It seems Little Liu Shu was not doing nothing while I evolved…'