From a local perspective, how did it feel to be invaded by a developed True World Tree? This was a question Liu Shu often mulled over. Was there fear? Was there awe? Or perhaps, a complex mix of all.
What about local powers? Liu Shu had some experience with Nualis, but the current her was incomparable to back then.
If at that time, her presence could be described as overwhelming, how would people feel with her current self?
The result was currently developing in front of Liu Shu in real time. The Beartaur clans living underground were lying flat on the ground. They didn't understand what they were prostrating to. They didn't understand why.
Even the strongest individuals, creatures Liu Shu had taken into account when minutely releasing her presence, had frozen, petrified with fear.
"In a way… I somewhat understand why some societies demonize our species."
There was a way to gently invade these worlds. However, the resistance, time, and effort needed couldn't even compare to Liu Shu just… showing up personally.
With a single thought, the current Liu Shu had grown to the point that she could bring an entire sub-level 100 world to its knees. So, she did so.
Looking at the frozen Beartaurs in front of her, Liu Shu smiled apologetically. "In truth, I would not mind sending dignitaries and slowly taking over. Sadly, I am in a position where I need to move onward. Therefore…"
Looking up, Liu Shu tore the skies of the entire world, her roots manifesting and falling like heavenly pillars. Those pillars struck the ground relatively gently, causing only massive earthquakes.
All creatures outside the subterranean environment looked up, frozen.
Whether it was a predator about to catch its prey, or the fleeing prey.
Whether it was the intelligent species on this planet hunting, or the local World Trees, which had been slowly developing.
Every creature in the world either felt or saw Liu Shu's presence, and in the next moment, tremblingly awaited for the descent of the divine creature.
As said before, during Liu Shu's early days, Level 100+ creatures couldn't easily show their strength in non-True World Tree-controlled worlds because their power would cause a vast catastrophe.
A world's durability and ability to withstand impacts before that was just "normal," so for creatures with the strength to level mountains with a punch, such an environment was brittle to the extreme.
There was only one exception to that rule: World Trees.
As a True World Tree conquered or descended into a world, its energy would seep into the planet. The deeper that the True World Tree buried itself into the world, the more stability it would bring. This was a consequence of their roots becoming the very foundation that the world would cling to.
It was like comparing a column of cement to one with steel bars inside.
The chieftain and his wife looked at the petite, two-legged wooden female with a trembling heart. Liu Shu then spoke, and her voice echoed throughout the entirety of the world.
"I am the Heavenly Willow, your new leader. My envoys will arrive in the near future; be sure to welcome them."
A declaration with her true voice, a message that all creatures, regardless of language or culture, understood. Then, Liu Shu's avatar uncoiled slowly and disappeared.
In the first place, she had appeared not to discuss, but out of curiosity for these lifeforms. She had confirmed that their language was decently developed, and their intelligence was high. The female had shown caution, wit, while the man had shown patience and opportunity grasping.
That spear strike had been quick, powerful, and silent. A calculated attack not done out of fear, but to protect his family.
Therefore, the few things Liu Shu found in a "absorbable" species were found in the Beartaurs: Family cohesiveness, intelligence, moral boundaries, and social structure. Beyond that, Liu Shu's specialized education system was built to deliver and mold them.
Thinking of it, Liu Shu smiled a bit proudly. 'I am quite proud of the education sector of my empire.'
She had managed to make "old" or "retired" professionals take the mantle of professors, even in kindergarten and such. Beyond that, Liu Shu felt a bit bad, but the professors had a certain "freedom" when punishing bad behavior.
Since the schools were Liu Shu's children, there was no case of teachers going overboard. At least not yet. Moreover, the children behaved properly, having been taught at home.
"Either way… Next world!"
This Solar System had five "life force" zones and nine planets. Her roots, while visiting this frozen world and observing, had already arrived at the next world.
"A Gas Giant… There are no signs of life here, though. I wonder if I will find something."
The azure marble of swirling gases caught Liu Shu's attention, and her roots dove right inside. "Hmm…? There are some microbes and simple life living in the clouds. Sadly, no complex life here."
It was a quick scan, but there truly was nothing. Even then, Liu Shu decided to bring a bunch of air from this Gas Giant back to Tiravel to foment the environment. "As for terraforming… I will put it on hold for now. Unless necessary, there is no need to terraform every world I come by."
Next, another Gas Giant. This one was large enough to put Tiravel back at home to shame! At least three times as large as Tiravel, and with reddish, black clouds. "More than a Gas Giant… it looks like a failed star."
The next one was a rocky planet once more. This one was quite cold as well, but the surface was silverish instead of white. Looking inside, Liu Shu noticed that the oceans were not of water, but of Nitrogen and Oxygen. The atmosphere was basically pure Hydrogen, making it a barren land.
"What a strange Solar System. The furthest world has life, but the next three don't. Since there are only five left, I am guessing that all those will have intelligent life. Will there be humans or Sylvans in any of them?"
These two species were quite common, so she was curious. The next world failed to have an intelligent species, but life was abundant.
It was a jungle world with massive creatures both on land and water. "Wow… there are even some at Level 99. I can sense one… two… five! Five whole World Trees at Level 99 fighting for supremacy as well!"
If Liu Shu had to describe this place, she would say that it looked like a giant Duneon!
"Well, taking over is no different than the rest, though."
Her roots descended from the sky, but as she did, something surprising happened. The Level 99 World Trees, having grown through conflict, attacked her!
Liu Shu was stupefied. Seeing the various elemental, soul, and even summon creatures rushing at her giant roots, she could only gasp in admiration at their courage. "Well, you have not grown in a wild world for nothing! Hello, I am Tianlian Liu Shu!"
The World Trees, the only intelligent species in this primitive world, spoke to her vocally in their self-made languages.
"What are you, calamity!? Begone from my world!"
As if answering, another World Tree snapped. "Your World!? You are about to lose half your roots, and you are still bragging!?"
A calmer but incredibly authoritative one reached them. "You both are still at each other's throats when a calamity is descending? I envy your leisure."
Liu Shu laughed, her voice covering the entire place. "Alright, little ones. I am a True World Tree, one who has long since surpassed Level 99. So, you should know what this means."
She called them "Little Ones," but these five seemed even older than Skyflower, who was over 5,000 years old. Not to mention, there were a few other Level 90 World Trees around the world.
'Speaking of which, this world is quite large for a rocky world! I thought Ceperet was rather large among them, but this one is at least 50% larger.'
Hearing her words, one of the World Trees that had been silent voiced out. "What are you going to do now? Erase us?"
They had lived long, and even if this was a primitive world, it created a strange society of Life and World Trees to communicate with each other. So, they created a language to speak among each other and lived quite exciting lives while fighting among each other.
Liu Shu chuckled. 'In a way, they are like a group of mythological gods waiting for humanity or other intelligent species to appear. Fascinating.'
"I won't. Also, while I call you little ones, I am probably the youngest one among us."
The first World Tree that attacked her, which, by the way, was still pulling at her massive roots like a child trying to move an adult's leg, asked snappily. "Why lie? Are you saying that you'll allow us to survive? We are World Trees! Even if you see us as insignificant, don't deny our species! Also, why is your bark so tough!? Break for me! Breaaaaak!!!!"
Well, nothing happened regardless of how passionately she shouted.
Also, in a twisted way, Liu Shu understood how the snappy World Tree reached her conclusion of being "looked down upon" as a result of sparing them. To put it simply, the World Tree thought that Liu Shu was treating them like weeds.
So, Liu Shu's voice spread around the world softly, explaining a bit about herself. Also, since there were no intelligent species to convert, and World Trees counted as individuals in terms of faith, she didn't bother putting on airs.
Once she explained about herself and the outside, which took around a week of talking back and forth, the taciturn World Tree spoke, incredulous. "So… we can really live?"
"Live, of course! I will also move you to spacious worlds without World Trees when I find some in the future. Together with the… 32 World Trees in this world, I know less than 100 of them. So, I am sure that I will be able to divide you, Big Sisters, around."
The snappy World Tree laughed. "Haha! I will become the ruler of this World when all of you are gone!"
Liu Shu used an appropriately sized root to slap her trunk. "I am the ruler, don't get ahead of yourself. Even when I call you Big Sister, that's because you are older, not because you are stronger!"
The snappy World Tree pouted. "Whatever. Also, what about our darlings?"
In her heart, even when her temper was quite volatile, she was a World Tree who loved all life within her domain. Liu Shu reassured them. "Don't worry, I won't touch the environment here much. With my blessings, this world can grow in a wild direction and become something like a controlled hunting ground. As for natural resources, there are plenty of worlds to get them from. These kinds of primitive, clean worlds are too rare to colonize."
In a way, what Liu Shu wanted to create here was a "World Zoo" with appropriate "hunting zones."
Hearing her more detailed explanation, they didn't appear against it. After all, the hunters wouldn't be protected. So, this was going to be a fair environment to fight.
"Alright, from now on, this world is going to go through quite a change, so brace yourselves."
The World Trees nodded, and a second later, Liu Shu's presence descended. "Activate all blessings and sow
With those worlds, all creatures felt their bodies surge with strength, their bestial minds having something "click" into place. Then,
Seeing the ternary essences churn as if twisting almost all around the world, Liu Shu laughed in disbelief. "I expected a change, but not a literal storm of ternary essence sweeping the globe…"