Ery followed the familiar voice into the inner garden.
The mont he stepped past the vine-carved archway, the world shifted into sothing wondrous. The air itself seed alive—brimming with the scent of blossoms, dew-kissed leaves, and the faint vibration of spiritual energy humming through every root and branch. Along the stone path, he saw the familiar, extraordinary plant-creatures. Their humanoid forms were built of bark and vine, their eyes glowing with erald luminescence as they moved with slow, deliberate grace. Each tended to the flourishing beds of herbs, pruning blossoms or watering soil with streams of condensed mist from their palms.
It stirred sothing deep in Ery. His fascination with the Arbor Master’s work had never faded, and now, standing here again, it returned in full force. Few living beings could create life so intricately woven with spirit and nature. This was not cultivation alone—it was artistry.
At the heart of the garden stood the simple yet elegant wooden house Ery rembered well. Its roof was layered with living moss, and white flowers trailed down its eaves. As he approached, a figure stepped out onto the porch. An old man with silver-white hair and a long beard, his fra slightly stooped yet radiating a strength beyond mortal reckoning. His eyes, bright and kind, carried the warmth of spring sunlight.
"There you are..." Linnaeus, the Arbor Master, greeted with a smile that seed to dispel all distance and ti. "How long has it been?"
Ery bowed respectfully. "Senior, it has been far too long. I apologize for not coming to see you sooner."
The old man laughed, his voice rich and hearty, like a grandfather amused by a child’s earnestness. "Hahaha! And what are decades to cultivators like us? A fleeting breeze, nothing more."
His gaze swept over Ery, lingering for a mont as if peeling away layers of disguise. His smile softened, but his tone gained weight. "Impressive. Already a Two-Cosmos realm, and an unusual one at that."
Ery was not surprised. To many, Linnaeus seed a harmless old gardener, but Ery knew better. Even Grand Magus Yvere of the Academy spoke of him with respect. To have reached such an unshakable mastery over life and nature—it would not be strange if Linnaeus was, in truth, a supre figure in hiding.
"Co, sit," Linnaeus said, gesturing toward the porch. "We’ll share a cup."
Humanoid attendants of woven vine and glowing sap moved gracefully to serve them drinks. A fragrant steam curled up from the teapot, filling the air with a fresh, soothing aroma.
"Try this," Linnaeus said, pouring the golden liquid into delicate cups carved from crystalized leaves. "This is Verdant Spring Dew, one of my favorites."
Ery lifted the cup to his lips. At the first sip, his entire body seed to reset. A tide of pure, vibrant energy surged into his ridians, flowing like a cool river through every channel, washing away fatigue and sharpening his senses. Even his soul felt as though it had been gently polished.
"Incredible..." Ery murmured.
Linnaeus chuckled. "Hahaha! I’m glad you enjoy it."
They spoke for a while, about trivial things, about growth and journeys. Yet Ery had not co rely to share tea. At last, he reached into his spatial pouch and summoned a figure—a small Chizpur stone creature.
"Kuang... kuang..." The creature chirped, its rocky body gleaming faintly under the garden’s light.
As expected, Linnaeus imdiately leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with rare intensity. He rose from his seat and studied the Chizpur closely, running his fingers along its ridged form as if every groove was a revelation.
"I see you have been making a good use of my teaching.. Very good... very good indeed." His voice carried reverence. Then, he turned to Ery, his expression demanding. "There are more, aren’t there? Show ."
Ery hesitated. He had an entire village of them hidden within his domain, but revealing his private sanctuary to another—even Linnaeus—was no trivial matter. He also wasn’t sure if its possible to bring such a figure into his domain.
As though reading his thoughts, Linnaeus smiled knowingly. "You certainly won’t mind if I co visit, will you?"
Before Ery could answer, the space behind the Chizpur, the spot where it ca from stirred, rippled and opened of its own accord. A widening gate unfolded in the air, shimring with nature energy.
Ery’s eyes widened. He had closed that passage himself. For Linnaeus to open it, and so effortlessly, without causing harm or resistance, spoke of a power beyond spatial mastery. It was as if the Arbor Master had tuned his essence to match the frequency of Ery’s domain, slipping into harmony rather than brute-forcing his way in.
It was no longer a suspicion. The Arbor Master was not simply a powerful figure—he was a supre existence.
Linnaeus glanced at Ery, his expression playful. "After you."
Despite his unease at allowing soone into his personal domain, Ery was just as curious to know what the Arbor Master would think of his domain. At the sa ti, this was the best chance to reveal his true purpose for seeking Linnaeus.
Together, they stepped through.
They erged high above a vast landscape. Ery’s domain stretched beneath them like a miniature continent. Clouds drifted lazily below their feet, parted by a horizon that seed impossibly wide.
"Remarkable..." Linnaeus whispered. "I have never seen a two cosmos Grand Magus domain this vast."
Indeed, since Ery’s breakthrough to the Two-Cosmos realm, his domain had transford. Its size had expanded fourfold.
[Domain size: 1982 square miles]
The north was dominated by jagged mountain ranges, their peaks veiled in mist. The south was a sea of endless forest, dense with towering trees and hidden valleys. Between them wound a massive river, splitting the land and feeding into a glittering lake at its heart.
From the east blew sharp, icy winds, carrying the sting of snow from glacial mountains and frozen woods. From the west burned dry heat, spilling out from volcanic ridges and desert plains. The four climates clashed and coexisted, shaping a world of balance and extres.
Within it, life thrived. On the northern banks of the river stood the orc settlent, their numbers now swelling close to ten thousand. Their rough-hewn buildings clustered together into a burgeoning town, smoke rising from forge and hearth. In the south, nestled within the forests, the Chizpurs had ford their own village, numbering a little over five hundred.
Linnaeus’ gaze fixed there, his eyes bright with wonder. Yet as he scanned the domain further, his expression abruptly shifted. His composure broke.
On a southern forest hilltop, a tree unlike any other spread its branches skyward. Its leaves shimred with faint golden-green light, its trunk exuded ancient power, and its roots pulsed with the rhythm of creation itself.
Linnaeus hovered closer, disbelief etched across his face. "A Heavenly World tree.... To think one of them lives in your domain... Incredible."
Beside the great tree stirred a massive bear-like beast, its fur bristling as it sensed their arrival. As he close in to the Elysian tree, his eyes wander upon a smaller tree growing nearby.
Ery stepped forward, his heart pounded. "Senior... this is the true reason for my visit."
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