Seraphina and Obsidianis walked out of the compound, and once they did, a sigh full of complex emotions escaped them. Liu Shu’s avatar had already gone to sleep, and now, they were looking up at the clear night sky with thoughtful eyes.
“Good job.”
Looking at the side, both Sylvans noticed Cinderielle and the other three looking at them. Obsidianis laughed with a defeated look. “It seems you were right. We were truly rushing far too much.”
Tempestria asked, amused. “Are you not afraid Liu Shu will hear you?”
“From what I’ve noticed, Liu Shu is quite respectful of the intimacy of her close people, and unless actively called, she will not pay attention.”
Cinderielle laughed. “It seems you noticed.”
Verdantia snorted. “You two are lucky.”
“Lucky?” Seraphina was a bit curious. That choice of words was quite strange.
Verdantia, who was the most possessive of Liu Shu, glanced at them with unkind eyes. “Yes. Lucky. If it weren’t you two, there would be no way for us to accept others. So, you are lucky.”
Obsidianis smirked. “Such cryptic words. I am getting curious now.”
Harmonixia shook her head. “It’s too early to show for now. Still, Verdantia’s words are not wrong. Anyway, let’s move and talk.”
“Sure. What do you want to speak about?”
Tempestria comnted. “The imdiate future.”
The six of them moved together, entering Green and going to one of the free balconies where the breeze flowed gently, and they could admire the night sky.
Cinderielle placed a few late-night snacks and cups of tea before they all sat down. Seraphina gently stirred the cup with a wooden spoon and spoke. “So, what did you want to talk about?”
Verdantia spoke up, taking the lead. “A few things. For starters, the Covenant and Nexus situation.”
Obsidianis blinked, a touch confused. “What’s there to talk about?”
Verdantia asked back. “What’s your opinion on the reaction from both sides? While your mother and the others like Elyne had made their guesses, you two are higher-level, so you should know more, right?”
Seraphina took a sip and then sighed. “You are not wrong, but also not right.”
“Hm?”
Obsidianis smiled. “Have you forgotten that we were thrown to a sect to train?”
“Ah. Right.”
Verdantia pondered, and Tempestria took over. “Even then, you two should know so extra details, right? Second Ascension powerhouses are not small fries on either side.”
Obsidianis answered. “You are half right again. Star Emperors are not common at all, but Second Ascension powerhouses are much more nurous.”
“I don’t understand. What is the difference?”
“Talent.”
A simple but powerful word. Harmonixia nodded. “Alright, that word can truly explain it. I ask, then. What is your opinion on the Covenant and Nexus?”
Seraphina frowned while Obsidianis was direct to her implication. “Are you asking whether we are on the Covenant’s side or on yours?”
Cinderielle sighed. “You are quite blunt.”
Obsidianis laughed. “What’s the point of dragging things out and poking at each other? Since we will be future… sisters, we should be honest with each other.”
“Sisters…” Cinderielle was speechless. “Do you have so strange kink?”
Obsidianis tilted her head. “Isn’t that what won in the sa harem usually call each other?”
Verdantia asked back, confused. “Where did you hear that?”
“Novels.”
Seraphina sighed. “Excuse her. While she looks like that, she is quite an avid reader of books. She knows so strange concepts.”
Tempestria smiled. “Oh? I also like to read books. What are so you are reading lately?”
Obsidianis spoke shalessly. “.”
“...”
Seraphina rubbed her forehead and sighed. “I left a little detail out to give you so face. Either way, she is quite an avid erotica reader.”
Tempestria, who was more of a fantasy-type reader, smiled a touch awkwardly. “I see…”
Obsidianis blinked at them, her dark eyes pondering. “...Don’t you do naughty things with Liu Shu all the ti? I’ve seen her go through the pregnancy cycle over 20 tis during the last eight years! You are basically pumping her full of—”
“Obsidianis.” Seraphina felt her cheeks heat up a bit. “Let’s change subjects, yeah?”
Verdantia, though, was not soone to ss with and raised her eyebrow. “With that body, would you leave her alone? She basically squeezes us almost daily, for your information.”
Obsidianis’s eyes lit up. “Really? Honestly, I’ve always been a bit big, so it can be a problem.”
Harmonixia frowned. “Are you experienced?”
“Huh? No.” Obsidianis answered as if disgusted. “Why would I mix bodies with anyone other than Liu Shu?”
Tempestria was confused. “Then, what’s the problem?”
Obsidianis sighed. “It’s a bit too big to pump with one hand while reading. I’ve always fantasized about having my future wife do it while I read. It’s one of my dreams.”
Tempestria, Verdantia, and Cinderielle were stunned, while Seraphina just felt embarrassed. anwhile, Harmonixia whispered, her blue-purple eyes gleaming. “That’s… not a bad suggestion.”
“Right?”
“Alright, let’s straighten the twisted subject once more, should we?” Cinderielle sighed. “Since we are here to be blunt, let’s be blunt. The Covenant needs to go, and there is no way around it.”
Seraphina and Obsidianis paused, their expressions becoming serious. Seraphina spoke, confused. “Why do you think so?”
“Because they have a True World Tree.” Cinderielle’s answer was simple. “While I believe Liu Shu can befriend normal World Trees, a True World Tree is a World Tree that has basically survived the free-for-all for survival, crushing dozens of other World Trees in their way to supremacy.”
Obsidianis asked. “Even then, are you confident? From what I know, the Covenant, while being soone with weaker overall military power, stands strong because that True World Tree is a World Tree.”
“That’s not a problem.”
It was Tempestria who answered. “Liu Shu’s ability to absorb and transform Experience Points is… unmatched. Level Difference can be shortened quickly. We only need to stall until that ti, and we won’t have any problems.”
Seraphina humd. “You are confident.”
Tempestria shrugged. “I’ve seen Liu Shu rise from a town World Tree to what she is just a little over a century. That kind of speed is naturally far above what I’ve been hearing from others. Moreover, we have an advantage, within Liu Shu’s domain, ti goes two tis faster.”
Obsidianis comnted, her face full of wonder. “Honestly, that’s incredible. I’ve never heard sothing like that being possible. From what I know, ti manipulation skills are basically unknown, right?”
Verdantia smiled smugly. “Does it matter? Our Liu Shu is just that exceptional.”
Seraphina shook her head. “Alright, that aside, Liu Shu’s biggest strength is not that. Her biggest strength is that World Trees and Life Trees can live within her domain. Usually, World Trees fight each other to the death, and Life Trees are purged and then allowed to be born again only after the World Tree becos a True World Tree.”
Obsidianis nodded in full agreent. “Liu Shu is unique in that regard. That’s her advantage.”
Tempestria warned. “We can’t make it public. While it sounds good from our perspective, from the perspective of other World Trees, she is a nace that might be overtaking World Trees as so kind of cosmic hivemind. Once it gets known, it will cause quite a big ruckus, and resistance toward Liu Shu from World Tree powers will increase significantly.”
They all knew that World Trees were rivals, but with Liu Shu around, that instinct got perfectly suppressed. Even during the last century, no one has really seen any World Tree fighting out of hatred.
Sotis, World Trees would play-fight over resources and such, but it was clearly not sothing they did to kill each other.
Therefore, Liu Shu’s existence was a threat. After all, if it were accepted that Liu Shu could unify World Trees, both sides of the coin would beco hostile.
Those who didn’t like World Trees would absolutely hate a true coalition between World Trees.
Those who ford part of the World Tree civilizations would be reluctant and against becoming subordinates of a weaker civilization.
So, in a way, Liu Shu was the link that most in power never wanted to see succeed, but she was who most normal people desired to appear.
At the end of the day, the more this information was delayed from spreading, the better the result for Liu Shu. Even then… Seraphina comnted. “That will probably be hard to hide.”
Verdantia frowned. “Do you know sothing?”
Seraphina nodded. “While I am unsure of how the Covenant will react to Liu Shu’s victory against Rhazor, they will at least send another envoy party to check on us personally. I am sure that Aunty Veyra and the others have already been outed as either having betrayed the Covenant or becoming affiliated with the Golden Sap Empire.”
Tempestria leaned back, both her hands holding the wooden cup. “What’s your advice.”
“Do nothing and act servile.”
Cinderielle chewed that word. “Servile… Explain.”
Seraphina sighed. “Let’s be honest. The lucky thing is that Liu Shu currently doesn’t have any presence in the interstellar environnt. While she has been active for around a century, Liu Shu has not reached out for her second Solar System. I am not really aware of why, since with her spread power, that should not have been a problem.”
Tempestria answered that. “That’s because Liu Shu spreads differently compared to other World Trees.”
“Hm?” Obsidianis tilted her head. “How different?”
“Other World Trees spread so roots in all directions, right? Like, they do not go full-dinsional underscale.”
“That’s normal. No matter how much a World Tree’s roots can spread and grow through essence, there is a limit.”
Tempestria laughed. “Liu Shu doesn’t seem to have that restriction, though. Her rootnet is incredibly comprehensive. To be honest, if she had any detection skill, I doubt those assassins would’ve ever reached Ceperet during the war.”
Obsidianis and Seraphina, while they’ve been working in Liu Shu’s governnt for a few years, they were still far from becoming a top influence. After all, they needed to show their talent and such.
Regardless of their strength and origin, in the workplace, only competence was promoted. Naturally, as higher-level people had better , it tended to show in the governnt positions.
Those above were higher-level than normal workers because they were simply physically stronger and ntally sharper. A Level 10's work efficiency is incomparable to that of a Level 100’s.
Therefore, while the light and darkness Sylvans were clawing their way up at ridiculous speed, they were far from being in a position even near Cinderielle’s and the others. So, they lacked so core information.
Of course, their connection to Liu Shu was not for nothing. Like today, there were tis when Veyra, Elyne, or so other people would tell them about things when they asked. It was clear to most that their attempts at courting Liu Shu were slightly fruitful.
Seraphina humd and comnted. “Alright, even then, I want you to be careful. Liu Shu needs to grow, but all of you need to do the sa as well. Do not slack, because the powers in the interstellar environnt are far stronger than you can imagine. Covenant and Nexus are like two children playing in a playground that the adults built for the younger ones to vent while growing up.”
Those last words were quite chilling, but they were the reality.
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