Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 256. Second Energy Cycle World Tree Powerhouse.

When Liu Shu started her Level Ups, her conscience was swallowed into the place she had been sent many times before. It was a dark place where the body of a relatively small tree could be seen. Tendrils of energy surrounded this tree as it manipulated the essence around it.

Liu Shu understood that this was some kind of representation of herself. She was quite surprised to see that, unlike her towering figure out in the normal world, she looked like a very young sapling here—a tree that had just become a tree and had lots and lots to grow. 

For the first Energy Cycle, Liu Shu had to create paths for the energy to flow, allowing it to feed everything that was under her domain. That allowed her to create the massively complex yet impressively efficient root net she currently uses. It also helped her develop a <Perfect Energy Cycle>, giving her the <Perfect Cycle> title that helped her be unable to create anything below the ninety percent completion level.

Now that she was tackling the <Second Energy Cycle>, the system spoke to her with its usual emotionless voice.

[You have started the process of breaking through into the <Second Energy Cycle>. Do you want to create an automatic <Second Energy Cycle> or do it manually?]

The same message that appeared when she first approached Level 10 appeared in front of her, and Liu Shu naturally chose to do it manually.

[Manual <Energy Cycle> creation chosen. Analyzing structure…]

After she chose it, the imagery in front of her changed, transforming into an illusory image of herself.

The gigantic tree looked very small when compared to the full extent of her own roots. The massive root net that covered kilometers around her was so complex and fantastical that Liu Shu couldn’t help but admire it. ‘I made all of this?’ 

Liu Shu rotated the image with her mind observing the complex root network. In her mind, the different nodes and locations where she had significant control points appeared, and while for any other creature, this mess would look like an entangled and disorderly system, Liu Shu could perfectly spot which roots reached where and why. 

‘So, what do I need to do for the <Second Energy Cycle>? It usually would be the creation of the <Ternary Cores>. However, those are already created…’ 

[Analyzed. Detected a semi-completed <Second Energy Cycle>, with a completion rate of 90%. Do you want to keep it and break through?]

‘No.’ Liu Shu answered without a doubt. That was the minimum guaranteed by her title, she wouldn’t conform with that completion rate.

[Understood. <Second Energy Cycle> will be completed when your soul and body get connected. Good Luck.]

‘... My soul?’

Liu Shu observed the imagery in front of her and didn’t see a single trace of her own soul. ‘Hm…’ Confused, she zoomed in into her own body, and when she was looking at her main body, the World Tree managed to see something at the center of her body. ‘That’s… My core?’

Her elusive core, which she knew she had due to the A Rank skill, had yet to receive a single point of proficiency. Until now, she had been focused on trying to understand how to use it, but she never had any real success. All the “uses” were just an instinctive use of it, never intentional. 

‘So… Is my core the hint to connect my soul and my body…? My soul… my soul… Hm?’ Liu Shu paused, her mind flashing with a realization. ‘That small tree? That should be my soul.’

Zooming into her own body and magnifying the hidden core in front of her, Liu Shu saw in its center a very petite penta-colored light surrounded by a golden glow. The red, yellow, blue, pink, and green colors emitted by the light looked very similar to the ones that Liu Shu manipulated in the past.

‘So… Do I need to connect my outer cycle with this? But… It is already connected, no?’

The World Tree was a bit confused and continued observing it, curious. She naturally was not still while looking at it. She tried to extend some internal energy paths toward the core without apparent success.

‘Energy cores… My soul… My core…’

After many trials and errors, Liu Shu got a reaction from her own core. ‘Oh? So, I don’t need to connect the paths to the core from the outside, but I need to create paths out from the inside of the core to the outside…’ 

Zooming in even more, Liu Shu’s sight shifted, and the small tree surrounded by lights and energy appeared in front of her again. ‘Let’s see… What did I do…? Where are you different from before…? Oh! I found you!’

One of the small tree's many roots was piercing into space, and following that root, she would flash outside right at the edge of her core. Looking at that place, a ghostly white light ray seemed to come from nowhere. Liu Shu cautiously approached one of her body's energy paths and eventually latched them together.

A profound sensation made Liu Shu’s soul take a deep breath of energy, spreading throughout her body. The sensation of connection with everything around her exploded, magnifying to a degree that she couldn’t explain with words. 

It felt like she was looking through a fog before, and now the atmosphere had cleared, revealing the scenery around her. The illusory image that before featured just her own body and everything connected to it changed, showing many things her roots touched. And yet, instead of being more messy, the incredibly powerful mind of the World Tree was able to process everything. 

‘So, that’s what I need to do…’

With that in mind, Liu Shu sank deep into her soul and slowly and gently pierced the space around the <Soul Tree>. Slowly, the core inside Liu Shu’s main trunk started releasing the energy inside her soul and mixing it with her body.

Once done, Liu Shu heard a single notification.

[<Second Energy Cycle> completed! 96% completion rate! Do you want to break through?]

Liu Shu frowned. ‘Ninety-six? Wisdom, where have I erred?’

[<World Tree Wisdom (SSS Rank)> activates! Analyzing…]

[Wisdom: The <Soul Tree> is not completely connected with the outside.]

‘Huh?’ Liu Shu checked and saw that all the roots of the <Soul Tree> were indeed connected. However, it was impossible that her own skill would lie to her, so she observed the tree, and eventually, her gaze landed on the small tree’s canopy. ‘The branches? Do I need to connect the branches as well?’

With that in mind, she turned down the System’s suggestion to complete the <Second Energy Cycle> and started working with the branches. Liu Shu could spot four very particular branches between the few of them. ‘Those are the <Sylvanium Branch> and the rest…’

So, instead of connecting them with surrounding energy paths, she decided to create one that descended directly from each of the branches and connected with the <Soul Tree>’s branches.

Once she connected the <Sylvanium Branch> in her soul and body through a direct energy path, Liu Shu’s mind sharpened even more. She chuckled softly, knowing she was going to succeed. ‘So, it was this. Of course, I would need to connect everything.’

Liu Shu connected all her branches, patiently going one by one. 

[<Second Energy Cycle> completed! 100% Completion Rate! Do you want to break through?]

‘Do it.’

After she said that, her consciousness woke up, and it was at that time that she saw Flor’s changed figure. She couldn’t help but focus on that instead of her level-ups.

Once she refocused, Liu Shu observed her system messages, and her core almost jumped in fright at the numbers.

[Level Up!] x4

[Aether +7, Physique +9, Anima +8, Willpower +10, Destiny +100] x4

[Accessory Level Up!] x4

[Aether +36, Physique +40, Anima +40, Willpower +40, Aether Mana Shards +1512, Phoer Body Shards +1692, Anima Energy Shards +1692] x4

‘Huh? What is this lame way of showing it? MAKE IT MULTIPLE!’

[...]

[Level Up!] 

[Level Up!] 

[Level Up!] 

[Level Up!] 

[Accessory Level Up!] 

[Accessory Level Up!] 

[Accessory Level Up!] 

[Accessory Level Up!] 

Liu Shu would’ve been grinning widely if she had a face to show emotions. Well, her gently flailing branches were quite a clear indication of her mood. ‘Better~. Now, continue!’

[Materializing <Second Energy Cycle>! <Second Energy Cycle> will be automatically rebuilt every 25 Levels!]

‘So, the first is every 10 Levels, and this one every 25… At Level 50, there will be another big power-up!’

[<Second Energy Cycle> materialized! Receiving stats!]

[Aether +750, Physique +1000, Anima +750, Willpower +1000]

[<Second Energy Cycle> materialized! Unlocking Potential!]

[Aether Resonance +27%, Physique Refinement +36%, Anima Affinity +27%]

After reading those numbers, Liu Shu felt that she was in a dream. ‘Huh!? HUH!? T-That’s half of my previous stats!?’

[Congratulations!…]

‘THERE IS MORE!?’

[...Your <Cerulean Bloodsap> has spread thoroughly throughout your entire body, making you immune to all illnesses and poisons below B- Tier and your current level. You’ll receive a new fruit once <Nature’s Gift (E+ Rank)> reaches <Nature’s Gift (D- Rank)>!]

‘O-Oh… I’ll need to prioritize it then…’

[Congratulations!…]

‘BRANCHES ABOVE! MORE!?’

[…During your subconscious activity, you’ve gained large amounts of proficiency; many skills have reached the MAX Level.]

‘Oh… That’s nice.’

[Congratulations!...]

‘WHAT NOW!?’

[...While you were Leveling Up, your subconscious killed many creatures, earning a total of 48,904 Experience Points! After taking into account daily Experience gain, your current Accumulated Experience is 399,971.]

‘WHAT DID YOU DO WISDOOOOOM!?’

Reading all of that, Liu Shu then looked at her system and prepared her little soul. ‘Oh, branches above, let my little soul survive the shock I am about to receive…’

***

Name: Tianlian Liu Shu

Titles: 

<Awakened>

<World Tree>

<Forest Ruler>

<Defender>

<Wonder Tree Building>

<Seedling World Builder>

<World Tree Town>

<Perfect Cycle>

<Touched By Dimensions>

Hidden titles: [10]

Race: World Tree.

Energy Method: Basic World Energy Gathering (Gathers Experience Points*Level per day*(Complete Energy Cycle+1). Currently 75 Experience Points Daily.)

Level: 25 [0/59,220]

Aether Mana Cores: 14.18/14.18 (1,418,820) (+51,100/Hour)

Phoer Body Cores: 22.26/22.26 (2,262,562) (+81,500/Hour)

Anima Energy Cores: 13.99/13.99 (1,399,263) (+50,400/Hour)

Attributes: Aether 3288 (1375+1913), Physique 4584 (1825+2759), Anima 3335 (1400+1935), Willpower 2875 (1850+1025), Destiny 2500 (2500)

Affinity Percentage: Aether Resonance (70), Physique Refinement (95), Anima Affinity (65)

Resistance Percentage: Aether Resistance (60), Physique Resistance (66), Spiritual Resistance (60), Mental Resistance (64)

Summoning Affinity: Summon Cost (-64%), Summon Enhancement (+20%), Summoning Invoking Time (-64%), Summon Upkeep (-64%).

Talents:

<Enchanted Growth (E+ Rank level MAX)>

<Runic Living Wood City (D- Rank Level MAX)>

<World Tree Calling (E+ Rank Level 5 [1,540,000/ 2,250,000])>

<Nature's Gift (E+ Rank Level MAX)>

<Weeping Willow’s Aether Barrage (E Rank Level MAX)>

<Land Modifying (E Rank Level MAX)>

Passive Skills:

<World Tree Heart (A Rank Level 1 [10/589900])>

<World Tree Eye (C Rank level 3 [1,598,000/3,888,000])>

<World Tree Wisdom (SSS Rank Level MAX)>

<Cerulean Bloodsap (B- Rank Level 1 [98,500/248,900])>

<Charm of the Seedling (E Rank Level MAX])>

<Root Manipulation (E+ Rank Level MAX)>

<Seedling World Builder Aura (E+ Rank Level MAX)>

<Mind Echo (E Rank Level MAX])>

<Runic Coverage (D- Rank Level MAX)>

Accumulated Experience: 299,971

Currency: Sylvanium Shards [6006], Etherium Shards [6000], Ascendium Shards [4985], Celestium Shards [6056], Cognium Shards [4939], Lir [220], Tyn [383], Bren [441], Syl [129], Arbor [0].

***

‘???’

Liu Shu observed those numbers and made no sense of them. ‘3000 Aether… 4500 Physique… 3300 Anima… 2800 Willpower… 2500 Destiny… Look at the numbers of Cores…’

After looking at those numbers with a lost gaze, she snapped out of her daze with a start. ‘Hwauah!? THOSE ARE MY STATS!?’ Liu Shu laughed in her mind like a crazy person. ‘EILA, I DARE YOU TO COME AGAIN! WHAHAHA! LET ME SLAP YOU LIKE A LITTLE BUG!’

Thinking of the peace of mind that these very big numbers gave her, Liu Shu almost sobbed. ‘Big numbers are the best! QAQ!’

Meanwhile, outside, the citizens didn’t know what to do when the gigantic World Tree’s branches were dancing strangely in evident enjoyment about something. 

Someone commented, unsure. “Lady World Tree seems… Happy?”

A woman at the side laughed gently. “Even though Lady World Tree is so majestic… She looks somewhat cute.”

Other people around couldn’t help but agree, even though some thought such thoughts were disrespectful.