In a hidden place between the provinces, deep inside a misty mountain valley, there were several people with ominous auras gathered in a room. Their strength was respectable, most of them being human. Of the few creatures from other races, one of them, a Sylvan, spoke up. “Thalgryn’s move is quite interesting. Did we receive any orders about it?”

A man at the side snorted and mocked. “Does it matter, Evangeline? You or your daughter can’t even deal with that new World Tree. I am surprised that you are still here sitting with us.”

Evangeline glanced at him with a neutral face, her eyes emitting pressure. “We’ve already learned that this new World Tree is far from normal. If we really want to invade the Golden Sap City, we need at least five Level 50s to attack at once with an army. Only strength of that level should be able to suppress that World Tree as she is now. Throw anything less at her, and you will become her food like many others have before.”

An elegant man at the side spoke out, his long black robes having a glint of extravagance. Looking at the others, he spoke. “We don’t have the luxury of sending and revealing so many Third Energy Cycle people. What we need to focus on now is creating a path through the <Wall Forest> to attack the northern area of the continent. Once we manage to do that, we will be able to do a pincer attack with our forces on the west side of the continent and swallow what the Covenant controls.”

Evangeline knew about this plan, but she had her misgivings. “I still feel that we shouldn’t allow that World Tree to develop. This plan will take around a decade or so to carry out. During this decade, that World Tree will develop too far.”

The rest of the leaders in the room glanced at Evangeline, many with disdain. The <Abyssal Void Nexus> was the power that denied World Trees. Therefore, most of their members didn’t really think World Trees were something they should worry about. The first man who spoke against her raised his voice again. Clearly, he had beef with Evangeline. “Sylvan. You are in this room because of your past! You are unlike us humans. So, you shouldn’t overstep your boundaries.” 

Evangeline glanced in his direction, her gaze bored. “Are you done, Marlius? Or is your dick still itching? You are still acting like a cucked loser after I rejected you and had a child with another person. You need to learn how to let go.”

Marlius laughed once. “Good one.” Then, he shook his head and added. “A World Tree is immobile. What can she do, spread her roots? Ten years is nothing but a blink of an eye for World Trees. That’s why they are inferior. A human’s ability to develop during ten years is far superior to any other race. We will be much more prepared regardless of how far that World Tree can develop.”

Evangeline looked around the room, and seeing that everyone thought the same, she stood up and said. “Don’t tell me later that I didn’t warn you. I don’t really feel safe in this area unless that World Tree is eliminated, so I have asked Headquarters to move me to another continent.” Many people in the meeting room looked at her with surprised expressions. Evangeline smiled, ignoring their looks. “They have agreed to my request, so my cute Jolie’s sect and mine will be transferred soon. Have fun dealing with Tianlian Liu Shu. I want nothing to do with her.”

Having said that, Evangeline turned around and left the room. Once she left, a woman asked, her tone serious. “Should we really ignore that World Tree?”

Marlius raised his eyebrow. “Are you going to believe that Sylvan’s words? She is someone who could lie to you if that meant she earned a small advantage.”

The woman looked at him and frowned. “Still, she has never really backed down from a mission she was sent on in the past. This time around, after Jolie failed, she was tasked with taking root in the <White Flower Province>. And yet, she has given up the second she knew that we would not focus on Tianlian Liu Shu.”

The man presiding over the room, who wore black robes with golden details, spoke up at this moment. “If she wants to go, she has the right to. However, her departure should not deviate from our set plans. We have been preparing several centuries for a takeover of this continent. We won’t stray from our path because a small tree has appeared in our way.” The man stood up and turned around, leaving one sentence. “And if the Tree doesn’t move out of our way, we’ll just uproot it so that it doesn’t bother us anymore. Marlius, you are in charge of the main advancement unit. I’ll keep Thalgryn in check.” 

Marlius smirked. “Sure, my <Voidblossom Consummators> will make sure to carry out this project.” 

Meanwhile, in the Deep Prairie Merchant Province, Thalgryn received news that made her eyebrows jump. “Evangeline’s power is leaving? Why?”

The person reporting shook his head. “We don’t know, Madam. However, our spies have noticed that they are actually retreating and probably returning to the Nexus’s main continent.”

Thalgryn put on a puzzled expression and looked upward, trying to piece together all the information that she had. “Hm. The last thing that her power was part of was the attack on the <Golden Sap Province>. Although they didn’t directly participate, manipulating Baron Lorbase to do so, she was present on the frontlines. Had Baron Lorbase won the battle, I am sure that she would’ve taken over Golden Sap City, even if she had to face Verena…” Thalgryn’s intelligent mind turned, and eventually, she muttered. “Is it because Liu Shu managed to mess up her plans? That’s not possible. It must have something to do with her allies. Evangeline is someone who rarely fails to do something she decisively sets out to do.”

The person beside Thalgryn spoke at this moment. “Madam, if it is related to World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu, I would bet that the enemies are still underestimating her. Therefore, Evangeline felt that she should leave the area.”

Thalgryn frowned. “Too extreme. How could they ignore Lady Liu Shu after all her accomplishments? Even if the Nexus is famous for their arrogance when facing World Trees, they are not mindlessly confident.”

The reporting person hummed. “Madam is right. I must’ve thought too deeply.”

“In the first place, what’s the reason for you to reach that conclusion?”

Hearing his boss ask, the man commented. “I heard that Marlius is around. Marlius’ complete arrogance and disregard against World Trees is well-known. If Evangeline is leaving and Marlius is not, reaching such a conclusion is not too far-fetched.”

Thalgryn blinked twice and tilted her head. “That’s… Actually, it's not a bad thought process. Hmm, don’t completely discard it. If that’s true, Liu Shu might not be under attack for a long time, unlike what we expected.”

The helper nodded. “Understood. Without an overwhelming force attacking Tianlian Liu Shu, it will be hard for that free-spirited World Tree to ask for help from anyone. We might be unable to convince her to become our ally.”

Thalgryn groaned. “That silly girl.” She scratched her head and sighed. “I just want to take care of her. She is not tying herself down to anyone! After all, if she can make other World Trees her subordinate, we have no reason at all to fight her…” 

Prarya’s voice spread in the room. “I won’t become her subordinate.”

Thalgryn smiled. “Right. I can bet that Fortuna said those same exact words at one point. Look at her now, stronger than ever and happy.”

“...”

Ignoring the pouting World Tree, Thalgryn’s eyes flashed with worry. “I hope Liu Shu doesn’t pay too high of a price before she realizes that she can’t push through everything alone. We don’t live in a developing world but in a developed one with forces far beyond her understanding.” Thalgryn muttered. “Even with that… Queen. She will eventually hit an insurmountable wall.” 

The helper’s eyes flashed with a hint of confusion. “Speaking of that aspect… We discovered it by pure luck. However, why did you stop us from reporting it, Madam? Such a being is not something that should…”

“Don’t say anything more.” Thalgryn raised her hand, giving the man a harsh look. “It is clear that the Queen is different from those that have appeared in the past. If she were like those in the past, forget Liu Shu's ability to reach her current level. The amount of Experience Points that she has right above her nest would’ve made any other Queen become crazy with greed and attack.”

The subordinate spoke. “Regardless, it seems that <Golden Sap City> will have a few years of peace. All powers are busy, so World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu not answering our offers won’t trigger any conflict.”

Thalgryn nodded. “That’s true… Well, keep an eye on her. Let’s hope that she can use these years to create something that will make it impossible for those three global powers to ignore her, even if she doesn’t ally with anyone.” 

Prarya asked, curious. “Why are you so optimistic about her? I am not weaker than her, right?”

Thalgryn shook her head. “Prarya, you are not weak. Far from weak, you can be considered a powerful World Tree since your tier is D+ Tier.” The muscular woman added before Prarya could speak. “However, Liu Shu is special not because of her high strength but because of everything else.” 

Prarya asked once more. “For example?”

“For example, she has almost a dozen different types of fruits. For example, she can summon creatures above her level in high numbers. For example, her auras influence basically all specialties from agriculture to war. For example, almost all monster races that she has dominated have become intelligent creatures.” Thalgryn smiled faintly. “Do you want me to continue? Because that’s not all that’s special about her.” 

Prarya hummed. “Interesting. I wonder when our roots will clash. I’ll be able to tell her worth better then.”

“Prepare mentally, Prarya.” Thalgryn laughed. “You will be shocked for sure.”

“Hmph.”

Meanwhile, back in Golden Sap City, Flor received news from Amapola, who had gone out to explore with Rose Fairies. “Lady Flor, we’ve discovered tribes of Fairies in the White Flower Forest and Lakeborn Forest. Should we recruit them?”

Flor asked, curious. “Do you see them having the potential of becoming intelligent?”

Amapola shrugged. “I am willing to give it a try. I believe Liu Shu’s aura can help our sisters. Moreover, they were fighting with Fae tribes in some cases, so lending a hand is the least we could do.”

“Fae…” Flor’s face gained a small frown. Even as a Flower Fairy, that didn’t mean she ruled Fae as well. Fae were the antithesis of Fairies, being much more violent and using nature for their benefit instead of what Fairies did. They weren’t a parasitic species, but they could hardly be considered symbiotic. 

Flor nodded. “Let me think about it. Other than that, did we spot any Life Tree? You’ve entered the <Wall Forest> once or twice already, right?”

Amapola shook her head. “We weren’t lucky. We are searching harder now, though. We can also cover more terrain as the number of <Second Energy Cycle> Rose Fairies increase.”

Flor nodded. “Great. Let’s continue our search. Also, don’t relax because we are not being attacked. We need to get our own Level 50s as fast as possible.”

“Understood.”