Chapter 29: Patterned Wood, Wings
As Du Xin waved his hand, a surge of pure life force erupted from deep within the earth, pouring madly into the Tree of Life. Fueled by this influx of power, the tree's withered leaves plumped up and revived; a vital essence of life radiated outward from the foliage, followed by a period of explosive growth.
The trunk grew thicker, and the canopy soared higher. A colossal tree—a thousand meters in diameter and three thousand meters tall—suddenly stood within the Monster Beast Forest. Yet, despite its immense size, the Tree of Life did not appear out of place. The vital essence it exuded during its growth nourished every living thing in the vicinity—including all the surrounding trees—causing them all to grow taller as well. It was as if an entire mountain range had suddenly risen in height.
Correspondingly, the elves in the area also grew stronger. Even two elves who had appeared on the verge of death were restored to the vigor of their prime; their life force became deep and steady, and their aura grew immensely imposing—bearing all the hallmarks of a Seventh-Tier powerhouse.
Meanwhile, the monster beasts touched by this radiating life essence—creatures that typically required reaching the Fifth Tier or higher to acquire even the rudimentary intellect of a child—suddenly gained a spark of true sentience. Now, thousands—perhaps even tens of thousands—of monster beasts possessed intelligence; it was a miracle beyond imagination.
"Won't this pose a danger to the human world?"
Having already realized that Du Xin's origins were extraordinary, Xian Yue was not particularly surprised by his feat of rejuvenating the Tree of Life. Instead, upon seeing so many monster beasts suddenly endowed with intelligence, she began to feel a deep sense of apprehension for humanity. As a mid-ranking official within the Mage Guild—and specifically a mage of Yu Bei City—she understood all too well the terrifying implications of monster beasts acquiring intelligence.
"It won't. There are those deep within the forest who will keep them in check. In fact, once they possess intelligence, they will likely pose far less of a threat to humans."
Xian Yue remained skeptical of Du Xin's words. The animosity built up over hundreds, if not thousands, of years could not simply be erased in an instant. As someone who had grown up in Yu Bei City, she was all too familiar with the inherent brutality of monster beasts. "My Lord is right. Just like our own elven kin, intelligent magical beast races do not attack humans unprovoked. However, humans cannot be allowed to remain in a zone of absolute safety; only through constant threat and adversity can they truly prepare to withstand the cataclysm that awaits two hundred years from now."
Noticing the skepticism in Xianyue's eyes, the Pixie Patriarch—who had long since completed his metamorphosis—stepped forward to offer an explanation. His diminutive frame had grown noticeably larger, and the delicate wings upon his back had lengthened; as he hovered in the air, the elemental energies swirling around him felt vibrant and dense.
"Your current appearance does indeed set you apart from the standard elven race. The Tree of Life here is now every bit as mighty as the Great Tree of Life far to the south. The only difference is that your people—the pixies—are slightly less powerful than the standard elves. Hmm... perhaps you should adopt a new name: the 'Fairy Clan'!"
The entire Fairy Clan bowed down in reverence before Du Xin. It could truly be said that Du Xin had single-handedly reshaped the political landscape of the entire Magical Beast Forest, forging a formidable new power bloc within it.
"Very well. With these matters settled, it is time for me to embark upon my journey around the world."
Holding Xianyue close, Du Xin addressed the Fairy Patriarch before turning his attention back to Xianyue herself.
"Let's head to the Rose Kingdom first; it's the perfect opportunity to fulfill the promise I made to you. Oh—speaking of which, it's hardly proper for me to be carrying you around like this all the time. Why don't you go ahead and absorb that *Wenmu* wood first? I'll add a little something extra to it for you."
As he spoke, a wisp of gray mist drifted from Du Xin's fingertips and seeped into the *Wenmu*—none other than the World Force, a power rarely seen in recent times.
With that, Du Xin flew up to perch upon one of the Tree of Life's massive branches. The colossal main limb was so broad it resembled a small public square; under Du Xin's guidance, Xianyue sat herself down upon it.
"Now what? What exactly do I need to do? Is there anything specific I should watch out for while absorbing it? Will it be painful?"
Having barely settled into her seat, Xianyue fired off a rapid-fire series of questions. After spending so much time in Du Xin's company, she had long since shed the reserved and aloof demeanor she displayed when they first met; in his presence, she was now completely unguarded.
"Uh... well, you just eat it, I suppose. It shouldn't hurt at all! As for what makes it 'different'... I imagine it'll probably just taste a bit sweeter!"
Du Xin scratched his head as he replied.
"Then why did you make me strike such a dramatic pose?"
"Because life needs a sense of ceremony!"
Du Xin declared with utmost solemnity, as if the matter at hand were a grave and formal ritual. "..."
An awkward silence settled over the air. After a moment, Xianyue finally recovered from her bewilderment; to hear him describe such a priceless treasure as if it were merely a piece of candy was enough to make anyone's blood boil.
Having swallowed the Six-Patterned Wood, Xianyue finally understood why he had called it "a little sweet." The instant the wood passed down her throat, it dissolved into a surge of pure Wood Essence—along with a potent Life Essence. Indeed, nothing remained in her mouth but a faint, delicate fragrance and a subtle hint of sweetness.
However, in the very next instant, Xianyue experienced the true power of the Six-Patterned Wood. A surge of vital energy erupted within her body; her spiritual aura began to climb ceaselessly, quickly surpassing the limits of the Fourth Tier. It rose past the Fifth Tier, finally coming to a halt once it reached the Sixth Tier. Yet, the Six-Patterned Wood—or rather, the entity using the wood as a vessel—bestowed upon Xianyue something far beyond mere power. A pair of translucent, crystalline wings—resembling the delicate membranes of a cicada—burst through her clothing and unfurled from her back. As they began to flutter gently, her torn garments parted, inadvertently exposing her bare skin.
"Ah!"
Following the initial mix of surprise, shock, and panic, a piercing scream ripped through the entire forest. Xianyue glared at Du Xin, her face flushed with a mixture of shame and indignation. Du Xin, who had by now managed to change into fresh clothes, still wore a lingering blush on his own face.
"Tell me—was that on purpose?!"
"I honestly had no idea!"
Confronted by Xianyue's interrogation, Du Xin threw up his hands in a gesture of helplessness, shaking his head vigorously.
"You've never even eaten one yourself, yet you knew it was sweet! How could you *not* know that it would make wings sprout?! You definitely did that on purpose!"
Faced with Xianyue's accusations, Du Xin could only shake his head helplessly. He *had* intentionally added the wings to the formula himself; however, at the time, he truly hadn't anticipated that things would unfold quite like this. Yet, looking back on it now, he couldn't help but silently mutter to himself: *Well done!*
Just as the two of them were bickering, a faint green glow appeared within Xianyue's mind. Neither of them seemed to notice—though in Du Xin's case, it was because he had already known it was coming, while Xianyue simply failed to detect it at all. After the initial flush of shame and indignation subsided, Xianyue became utterly captivated by the sheer excitement of having sprouted wings. To ensure her modesty remained intact, she had deliberately cut two slits into the back of her clothing. The wings felt as if they were a natural extension of her body; Xianyue discovered that, much like her arms, they were completely under her command—flying felt as effortless to her as simply grasping an object with her hands.
Time drifted by, and before they knew it, evening had fallen. Du Xin and a now-weary Xianyue sat perched atop the canopy of the Tree of Life. The lingering glow of the setting sun bathed the entire Monster Beast Forest in its light; in the distance, a vast bank of mist shimmered with a golden radiance—the very spot where Mirror Lake had once lain. From deep within the forest, the roars of beasts occasionally echoed through the air. Then, a massive, ice-blue bird swooped into view—Du Xin's former mount, the Ice Falcon. Du Xin summoned the Ice Falcon and channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into its body. Instantly, the creature's power began to surge explosively. In less than half an hour, it had ascended to the rank of a Sixth-Tier Monster Beast. Unlike other beasts, however, it did not grow larger in size; on the contrary, it actually became smaller. Yet, its speed increased exponentially—from a distance, it appeared as nothing more than a fleeting blue streak.
"You stay here," Du Xin told the Ice Falcon.
The bird flew over and nuzzled against Du Xin's hand, appearing reluctant to leave his side.
"It is better for you to remain here. I must be going now. Deep within this forest lives a horse with a horn on its head; he is a formidable creature, and he will look after you."
Had Youmeng—the unicorn—overheard Du Xin's description of him, he likely would have coughed up blood in indignation. The Ice Falcon, however, seemed to grasp the meaning of Du Xin's words; it settled onto a branch beside him, and there—the two humans and the beast—they sat together, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon and the starry firmament filled the night sky.