Chapter 153 - 111: Bigger, Stronger (2)
"After returning to this world, I used the seeds I brought back to cultivate many plants, which slowly grew into the underground jungle you see now."
Dong Lin briefly recounted his past experiences.
After hearing this, Lin Kong was relieved. "That’s good to hear. Next, we need to perform a simple ritual. You’ll also get to see a spectacular performance!"
As they spoke, the group walked to the base of the Ice Crystal Tree.
After getting permission from Yuan Xiaobo, Niu Armor had already eagerly returned to his territory.
Although Yuan Xiaobo was anxious to return home, he still waited with Lin Yan for Lin Kong’s group. They were both quite curious how Lin Kong would fulfill the conditions he had offered Dong Lin.
"We’re here. This is the place."
Aburara and Dong Lin looked all around but didn’t see anything different about the place.
"Is there something special about this place? Besides this frozen tree, there’s nothing else here."
"Don’t be in such a rush. You know what they say, ’You can’t eat hot tofu if you’re impatient!’"
"What’s tofu?" Mirus asked curiously.
"Tofu is something delicious. The saying just means that if you’re too impatient, you won’t get to eat good food," Lin Kong explained.
"Come on, Dong Lin. Touch this tree with your trunk."
"Huh?" Dong Lin was worried he might knock over the frozen tree. From the way Lin Kong was acting, the tree must be very precious.
"Don’t worry, it’s not as fragile as you think."
Guided by Lin Kong, Dong Lin gently touched the Ice Crystal Tree with his long trunk.
[Do you wish to join the Divine Wood Territory?]
[Join the Divine Wood Territory, and you will gain the new entry "Yao." When your physical attributes reach a certain level, you can choose to undergo the Celestial Tribulation to become a "Yao," gaining attribute bonuses, the ability to transform into a human, and the power to switch between your human and original forms.]
[Join the Divine Wood Territory, and you will receive the Cultivation Techniques "Sun and Moon Breathing Technique" and "Star Technique" to improve your utilization of Spiritual Energy and strengthen your body. More Cultivation Techniques will be released in the future.]
[Join the Divine Wood Territory, and you can gain the right to travel freely between the Divine Wood Territory and the Glacier World.]
[More benefits await you to discover within the Divine Wood Territory.]
Dong Lin looked at Lin Kong, completely baffled. ’Weren’t we just supposed to check out the environment? Why am I being asked to join this "Divine Wood Territory" all of a sudden?’
"Dong Lin, just agree. Once you do, you’ll witness a miracle! The world you wanted to see, one with abundant food and a comfortable environment, will appear!"
"Besides, if you agree now, you’ll be the first living being from this world to apply to join, and you’ll get a reward!"
"But if you really don’t want to join, that’s fine too. I have a backup candidate right here."
As he spoke, Lin Kong patted the Aburara beside him.
Aburara looked at Lin Kong, completely bewildered.
’What are they talking about?’
’It sounds like there’s some benefit that the Mammoth, Dong Lin, doesn’t want. If he turns it down, Mr. Lin will give it to me!!!’
’Mr. Dong Lin, hurry up and refuse!’
Dong Lin didn’t hesitate for long. He chose to trust his instincts and agreed to join the Divine Wood Territory.
A ray of ice-blue light shot from his body into the Ice Crystal Tree. The tree immediately became dazzling, and a seven-colored radiance soared into the heavens.
Bathed in the light, the Ice Crystal Tree grew rapidly, soon surpassing the height of the cliffs surrounding the icy pit.
Its area of coverage also expanded rapidly.
Before long, an absolutely enormous Ice Crystal Tree, like a small mountain, appeared before everyone.
At the same time, a spatial barrier descended from the top of the Ice Crystal Tree, forming a circular shield that enveloped a large swath of the plains. Then, the spatial barrier slowly faded from view—of course, it was merely invisible, not gone.
Dense waves of Spiritual Energy flowed out from the Ice Crystal Tree, quickly filling the area enclosed by the spatial barrier.
Next, the surrounding temperature began to rise. By the time it stabilized, the unbearable, bitter cold was gone. The temperature had risen from over a hundred degrees below zero to merely ten-something degrees below zero. Although still very cold, it was now an environment that an ordinary person could endure.
After that, various plants sprouted from the ice. Their seeds had lain dormant beneath the frozen layer, but now, with the rising temperature and the catalyst of Spiritual Energy, they all burst forth. They evolved rapidly, growing faster and larger under the effect of the territory trait [Towering Giant Trees].
In an instant, flowers bloomed across the fields, and icy trees formed a shady canopy. (The plants adapted to the local conditions, mutating to suit the low temperatures and to absorb and release Ice-attribute Spiritual Energy.)
Dong Lin also underwent a huge transformation. His body grew larger, his fur darkened, and his tusks grew longer. Although his grade didn’t increase, he gained new skills.
[Name]: Dong Lin
[Race]: Frost Mammoth
[Grade]: Legendary (Gold)
[Level]: 30
[Attack]: 160,160
[Magic Power]: 137,280
[Speed]: 48,048
[Defense]: 149,760
[Health]: 436,800
[Skills]: Master Frost Control, Ice Armor, Frigid Gyre, Ice Spear Assault
[Talent]: Savage Beast
[Master Frost Control]: Easily manipulate and control Ice Elements. Ice attacks +300%, status effect duration +300%.
Learning Ice Magic is much easier. Affinity with the Ice Element is increased.
[Ice Armor]: Forms a Frost Armor on the body’s surface. Defense Power +500%, Damage Reduction +30%, attacker’s speed -20%.
[Frigid Gyre]: Summons a frigid cyclone that revolves around your body, dealing 1000 + (Magic Power x 150%) damage to all hostile units and inflicting the "Cold" status.
[Ice Spear Assault]: Summons an Ice Spear, dealing 500 + (Magic Power x 200%) damage to the target.
When thrown at a target, the Ice Spear deals an additional (Attack x 150%) damage.
[Savage Beast]: Final attribute adjustment—Base Health +100%, Base Defense +50%, Attack +10%, Magic Power +10%, Speed -30%.
Among these, [Master Frost Control] and [Savage Beast] were new skills Dong Lin awakened by unlocking his potential after receiving the World Tree’s blessing as the first hero from the Glacier World to join the Divine Wood Territory.
[Master Frost Control] was a brand-new skill, while [Savage Beast] evolved from his original [Glacial Beast] talent. The original [Glacial Beast] primarily provided bonuses to Ice-type skills and was, on the whole, far inferior to [Savage Beast].
Seeing such a great change in the icy pit, Lin Kong breathed a silent sigh of relief.
For the World Tree to annex other worlds, besides the slow method of gradual encroachment and consumption over vast stretches of time, there was another way: to poach the world’s cornerstones to advance its own occupation progress. By various means, it could persuade the world’s original inhabitants to join the World Tree’s faction, thereby acquiring their ’share’ of that world and accelerating the takeover.
As the only Legendary-grade hero in this world that Lin Kong knew of, Dong Lin was not only high-grade but also high-level—a classic protagonist package. He himself carried a huge share of the Glacier World.
That was why, after receiving the message from Lin Yu, Lin Kong had tried every means possible to win him over and have him join the Divine Wood Territory as one of its members.
And indeed, after Dong Lin joined, the World Tree’s occupation progress in the Glacier World leaped forward. The Ice Crystal Tree instantly grew from a small sapling into a colossal, sky-reaching tree. It also brought with it a weakened version of the World Tree’s own traits, creating the spatial barrier that sealed off the frigid winds.
"I feel so much stronger~"
Dong Lin looked at the now-enormous Ice Crystal Tree and the other things around him that seemed to have shrunk, and he jumped for joy a few times.
Powerful tremors spread out from under his feet, knocking Aburara to the ground.
Lin Kong pulled him up and then shouted, "Dong Lin, you’re huge now! How about considering becoming a ’Yao’?"
"If you want to, just touch the Ice Crystal Tree again. You’ll be able to enter the core territory. Once you’re there, someone will tell you what to do."
Dong Lin looked down at his own body and fell into silent thought. ’Now, becoming a ’Yao’ doesn’t seem quite so appealing anymore.’
"After you become a ’Yao’, your Mammoth body will become even bigger and stronger!!"
Dong Lin’s eyes lit up. He bellowed, "I’m going over to see what this world you’ve been talking about looks like!"
Then, he strode into the Ice Crystal Tree and vanished.
Lin Kong chuckled. ’I knew it. What man could possibly refuse the chance to become bigger and stronger?’