After knowing that such a powerhouse was coming their way, King Sarish and Chost didn't seem too rattled. They were, of course, surprised, but they took in the news much easier than Liu Shu had expected. When she asked about it, Sarish answered. "While Zerrek didn't speak about many details, he spoke about your current enemies. Now that I see these buffs, it is only normal that your enemies want to stomp you to death before you grow."
Chost added. "What's strange is that only one Star Emperor is coming your way." He spoke, a pondering expression in his eyes. "If it were me, I would've sent at least three or four to make sure. Even if you lose some frontlines because of it, it is worth it as long as I can make sure you are not given a chance to grow."
Sarish very much agreed with Chost. If Liu Shu were his enemy, he would honestly feel quite a bit of despair. The number of auras this World Tree could give was too many.
Liu Shu pondered and nodded. "I see. So you were somewhat expecting it to a certain extent."
Sarish smiled at Liu Shu. "There is no free lunch in this cosmos. You are giving us such a good thing. It will naturally be because of something. Otherwise, you might as well wait until you encounter our forces naturally and assimilate us."
Here, Sarish made a small misinterpretation, something Liu Shu corrected with a smile. "Still, that's not entirely why I wanted you to come. While it is true that I wanted to grow my forces as much as possible, your three children had shown great positivity when joining my Empire. The mantis, cicada, and hornet kin had assimilated themselves, taking in our customs, and the grand majority had not caused any trouble. You, insectkin, are a species as adaptable as humans. Something I really appreciate in my citizens."
Xakira, who had been hugging Liu Shu from behind, smiled deeply as she tightened the hug a bit. This was the reason Xakira became so fond of Liu Shu. She, as a True World Tree, didn't look at them with any judgment whatsoever. She only judged by how they acted, and that was something the insectkin, quite widely discriminated against because of a lack of distinction with their hive-minded relatives, greatly treasured.
Sarish then looked to the side, where another insect woman was standing, and asked. "So, I will be the first to address the elephant in the room." He asked, cautious. "Are you, by any chance, a Humanoid Ant Queen?"
Ignatia, who had been hugging her little fairy wife, looked over and smiled. "Hello, I am Liu Shu's mother, the Humanoid Ant Queen of the Golden Sap Empire."
Sarish's facial muscles spasmed for a moment, and then he forced an incredibly stiff smile. "I-It's great to meet you, Miss Ignatia."
Chost decisively decided not to look over, feeling a bit of fear from meeting this legendary species, which, even among Hive Mind-type insects, was feared.
After all, ants were a collective, but not a hive-mind in the truest sense. They were like a group of individuals that would unhesitatingly follow the instructions of the Humanoid Ant Queen. Each of them had will, but they also were individuals who performed on their own, advanced, and evolved.
Ants led by a Humanoid Ant Queen were basically the final evolution of what a perfectly structured human society looked like. That was terrifying, as the potential was basically endless.
It was well known that if humans someday miraculously set aside their greedy nature for individual gain and banded together, setting aside distinctions, they would most likely take over the entire galaxy in just a few thousand years.
Thankfully, the negatives were there to drag human progress, or all other species would only be able to cry.
Liu Shu commented. "So, my plan is this for you two."
Then, she explained her intention of sending the mantis-kin to the slightly more hostile Vorathen, while the Cicada would settle in Nualis. She also explained her reasoning, and she also reassured them that this was more of a suggestion than an order. Anyone who wanted to live in another world of the Golden Sap Empire would just need to apply at their local government branch and follow the standard procedure.
Hearing such a thoughtful explanation, Sarish and Chost easily agreed. They, as rulers, naturally saw through Liu Shu's good intentions of giving them a place where they could settle and also build an advantage without clashing with each other.
Plus, since the access was not restricted, they could easily move around.
Sarish looked at Xakira and spoke. "By the way, Xakira. You've been away for a while, and some of your daughters over there are starting to become a bit reckless. I heard that some of your government branches have begun to falter, saying that you are getting too old, which caused you to accept becoming part of another force to hide your weakness."
Xakira tilted her head, puzzled. "My first question is, how do you know? And my second question is, which daughter is being so rebellious so suddenly? I thought I killed all of them before leaving."
Due to their culture, Xakira's words were not too outrageous. After all, her daughters were after her neck, so she naturally would sometimes weed out those who showed too much ambition without strength.
Xakira lamented. 'In this sense, Xalis was truly a model daughter. She just said, "This is not for me. I will be a pirate and build my own force," and she did just that. Among all her sisters, she is up there in terms of personal strength.'
Liu Shu looked up, her face almost buried in the woman's two bundles of softness. While she didn't have exaggerated curves, her stature made her otherwise slender body look quite… ample.
"Do you need my help?"
Xakira looked down at the little beauty, and she smiled. "How will you help?"
Liu Shu smiled. "I will help you complete your
Xakira laughed and pinched her soft cheek. "You clever little girl. You just want me to fight that Star Emperor for you, right?"
Liu Shu giggled. "Hehehe. Will you, Xakira?"
"Of course!" Xakira agreed easily. Her lips tugged up in an excited arc. "I really want to see how strong a Star Emperor is."
Xakira then asked. "How will you help me, by the way?"
Liu Shu blinked and smiled. "I will let you eat my resources without cost for a bit."
Everyone was a bit confused, even Xakira, who had been living for a few decades in Liu Shu's Golden Sap Empire. Liu Shu explained softly. "My
She even added. "Also, making this bathtub with my own living roots, you will also benefit from the benefits of my
Flor, hearing from the side, asked with a stunned look. "Why didn't you inform me of this before?"
Liu Shu pouted at Flor. "Do you think I wouldn't inform you of something so good, Mom?"
Flor realized and blinked. She frowned. "So, what's the caveat?"
"Consumption." Liu Shu used a single word. "The fruits I will need to mix with my sap are in the tens of thousands. That's the production of strong fruits. Of course, I do know that my current production is ridiculous. However, if we want to support this kind of consumption regularly, I need to first push my
Ignatia added for Liu Shu. "Also, letting someone bathe in your sap within your living roots is too dangerous. Even if you are willing to do it this time for Xakira, I am not willing for you to do it for those who have no personal relationship with you, Liu Shu. It is very easy to mix something unpleasant during one of those baths."
Flor realized, and her eyebrows instantly scrunched up. She looked at Xakira with a slightly displeased look. Xakira's lips twitched as she sighed. "Aren't you seeing our current position?" She even lifted Liu Shu up, hugging her like a little girl and pecking her cheek. "See? I love her so much. What can I do to her?"
Liu Shu blinked and then easily swung her arms around Xakira's neck. She wondered why they liked holding her like this so much. Still, since it was comfortable, she gladly accepted the gesture.
Seeing the happy little girl held in Xakira's arms, Flor didn't know whether to scold or just sigh. In the end, she sighed and shook her head. "Alright, I know. Still, you will be under supervision during the whole process."
Xakira had no problem. Then, holding Liu Shu, she looked at Sarish and… she smiled smugly. "Heh."
Sarish's veins bulged for a moment, very easily understanding that taunting laugh. He held it in for the sake of not looking too volatile in front of Liu Shu.
Little did he know that Liu Shu had already labeled him as "easily angered" in her head.
So, while preparing the newly named
The place Liu Shu chose to create this
There was a set of stairs leading down, and in the place of the lake, Xakira could only sigh in amazement. Liu Shu's root was split open here, creating a controlled lake. The scent of the Cerulean Bloodsap, the blue lights coming from the lake itself, and the surrounding wooden structure to hold the cave, was endlessly charming.
"You built this in a day?"
Liu Shu, thinking Xakira didn't like it, spoke with a bit of embarrassment through her main body. "Sorry, Xakira. It was a bit rushed."
"Nono. This place is gorgeous. I really like it." Because of the nature of the ritual, Xakira had cleansed herself, and now, she had also dropped most of her clothes for better skin-to-liquid absorption.
She was not embarrassed since Liu Shu was a World Tree. Then, Liu Shu spoke softly to her. "Alright, Xakira. Step inside. Then, sit cross-legged on the platform at the center, and let yourself go. Don't worry, I will hold you still and do everything else for you. You just need to focus on the breakthrough."
"Got it." Xakira took a deep breath and she stepped into Liu Shu's slightly viscous but full of energy blue sap.
Around the lake, Ignatia, Verdantia, and Cinderielle stood, their faces a bit serious.