204: Chapter 204 The Third Soul, Ancient Forest Dragon Soul

31 hours since [Heavenly Court - First Generation] jumped from the Arctic Ice Field.

On the holographic star map, a lush green Star Domain was slowly unfolding. It was an ancient life star on the southeastern edge of the Eternal Star Domain—no cities, no technology, only an ancient forest covering the entire planet.

[Eastern Desolation Ancient Forest · Eternal Star Domain Forbidden Zone No. 3]

[Coordinates: Eternal Star Domain · E-174, S-093]

[Danger Rank: ★★★★]

[Core Threats: Ancient Tree Guardians (Rank 79-83 Elite) × 47]

[Hidden Threat: Ancient Tree of Life (???)]

———

Lin Ye stood in the center of the command bridge.

He looked at that lush green Star Domain.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Wood Dragon Soul," he said.

"It's related to life."

———

Yun Qianxue stood up from the medical station.

"Life," she said.

"My specialty."

———

Lin Ye looked at her.

3 seconds.

He nodded.

———

Minute 17.

[Heavenly Court - First Generation] passed through the life barrier on the outskirts of the ancient forest.

That barrier wasn't an energy shield.

It was "pollen."

Pale green pollen, about 0.1 mm in diameter, infused with life energy.

They covered the entire atmosphere of the ancient star.

Thickness: 17 kilometers.

Any creature passing through this pollen layer would be "marked."

[Life Mark · Ancient Forest Rules]

[Effect: After entering the ancient forest, for every creature killed, your maximum HP is permanently reduced by 1%]

[Stack Limit: None]

[Warning: This rule applies to "Destroyers"]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "permanently -1%."

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Everyone," he said.

"After entering the ancient forest, you are not allowed to kill any creatures."

———

No one spoke.

But nine people, nine pairs of eyes, were all looking at him.

———

The hatch opened.

Fresh air, carrying the fragrance of vegetation, rushed into the cabin.

The air temperature was 17°C, humidity 70%, oxygen content 31%—more suitable for breathing than Earth.

Lin Ye was the first to step out of the hatch.

———

He stood at the edge of a forest.

Behind him was the silver-white hull of [Heavenly Court - First Generation].

Before him was an endless expanse of green.

Those trees were no ordinary trees.

Each one was about 300-500 meters tall, with a trunk diameter exceeding 17 meters, and a canopy that blotted out the sky.

Countless fine, pale green threads of light flowed slowly across the trunks.

That was life energy.

———

[Eastern Desolation Ancient Forest · Structure]

[Coverage Area: Approx. 17 million square kilometers]

[Layers:]

[1. Outskirts (0-100 km): Sparse ancient tree area, Wood Spirits (Rank 75 Common) active]

[2. Middle Layer (100-1,000 km): Dense ancient tree area, Ancient Tree Guardians (Rank 79-83 Elite) patrolling]

[3. Core (1,000-1,700 km): Ancient Tree of Life area, Wood Dragon Soul location]

[4. Forbidden Land: ??? (Sleeping place of the Ancient Tree of Life's true body)]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "Ancient Tree of Life's true body."

3 seconds.

He thought of the Flame Dragon.

He thought of the Frost Dragon.

At every dragon soul location, a Saint-Grade existence lay sleeping.

This place was no exception.

———

Minute 1.

Lin Ye led the team into the forest.

No flying.

No teleporting.

No using any skills that might "harm" the forest.

They simply walked.

———

Minute 17.

They encountered their first Wood Spirit.

It was a creature about 3 meters tall, composed entirely of vines and leaves.

It stood beneath an ancient tree.

Looking at them.

———

[Wood Spirit · Rank 75 Common]

[HP: 47,000]

[Trait: Symbiosis with the forest; when damaged, it will call all surrounding Wood Spirits for support]

[Current Status: Curious (Non-hostile)]

———

Lin Ye stopped.

He looked at the Wood Spirit.

3 seconds.

He reached out his hand.

Not to attack.

But to "communicate."

[Chaos Wood · Passive]

[Type: Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body branch attribute]

[Current Rank: Elementary]

[Effect: +1 Rank to initial reputation with Wood-type creatures]

———

The Wood Spirit looked at his hand.

Looked at that hand devoid of hostility.

3 seconds.

It extended one of its own vines.

Gently touching Lin Ye's palm.

———

[System Prompt: You have established a friendly relationship with the "Wood Spirit"]

[Current Relationship: Friendly]

[The Wood Spirit makes way]

———

Lin Ye nodded.

Continued walking.

———

Minute 47.

They Pass through the perimeter.

Arrive at the middle level.

[Middle Layer · Dense Ancient Tree Area]

[Ancient Tree Density: Approx. 17 trees per square kilometer]

[Ancient Tree Guardian Patrol Density: Approx. 3 per square kilometer]

[Current Status: Undisturbed]

———

Lin Ye stopped.

He looked ahead.

There, a tree larger than all the other ancient trees stood.

About 800 meters tall.

On the trunk was a face.

[Ancient Tree Guardian · Rank 81 Elite]

[HP: 370,000]

[Traits:]

[1. Forest Symbiosis: Recovers 5% HP per second while in the forest]

[2. Root Entanglement: Can summon underground roots to bind targets for 3 seconds]

[3. Light of Life: Can heal all surrounding friendly units, recovering 10% HP per second]

[4. Wood Dragon's Protection: Blessed by the Wood Dragon Soul, immune to all "lethal" damage once]

[Weaknesses:]

[1. Fire Damage +100%]

[2. Will not actively attack while in a "non-combat" state]

———

That face looked at them.

Its eyes were two clusters of pale green light.

It spoke.

Its voice was like the rustling of wind through leaves.

———

"Outsiders."

"You carry the aura of the Frost Dragon."

"You carry the aura of the Flame Dragon."

———

Lin Ye stopped.

He looked at that face.

"We have come for the Wood Dragon Soul," he said.

———

The Ancient Tree Guardian was silent.

3 seconds.

It laughed.

The laughter sounded like leaves rubbing together in the wind.

"Take?" it said.

"Do you think the Wood Dragon Soul is like the Flame Dragon Soul, hidden somewhere waiting for you to take it?"

———

Lin Ye did not speak.

———

"The Wood Dragon Soul," the Ancient Tree Guardian continued.

"Exists in symbiosis with the Ancient Tree of Life."

"To obtain it, you must pass the 'Life Resonance' trial."

———

"What trial?" Lin Ye asked.

———

The Ancient Tree Guardian raised a branch.

Pointing deep into the forest.

"Go to the core area," it said.

"Find the Ancient Tree of Life."

"Earn its recognition."

———

It paused.

"If it does not recognize you..."

"You will die."

"True death."

"Not the resurrection found in games."

———

Lin Ye did not speak.

But he took a step forward.

———

Hour 2.

They arrived at the edge of the core area.

[Core Area · Location of the Ancient Tree of Life]

[Range: 100 km radius]

[Life Energy Concentration: 100 times that of the outskirts]

[Current Status: With every step, HP +1% (Auto-recovery)]

———

Lin Ye stood in place.

He looked ahead.

There was a tree.

A tree he had never seen before, one that defied description.

[Ancient Tree of Life]

[Height: Approx. 17 km]

[Trunk Diameter: Approx. 1.7 km]

[Canopy Coverage: 50 km radius]

[Rank: ??? (Above Saint-Grade)]

[Status: Sleeping / Semi-awake]

———

Its trunk was pale gold.

Every leaf was glowing.

That light wasn't ordinary green light.

It was "life."

Pure life.

———

Lin Ye walked beneath the tree.

Standing before it.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Ancient Tree of Life," he said.

"I have come for the Wood Dragon Soul."

———

No response.

———

He said it again.

Still no response.

———

Su Qingyue walked to his side.

Her left hand grasped his.

3 seconds.

She let go.

"It's waiting," she said.

"Waiting for what?"

———

Lin Ye was silent.

3 seconds.

He closed his eyes.

[Chaos Wood · Full Activation]

[Cost: 30% Divine Power]

[Effect: Adjust one's own life fluctuations to synchronize with the ancient tree]

———

He began to adjust.

Heartbeat.

Breathing.

Blood flow.

Divine Power circulation.

———

Second 1.

His heartbeat went from 47 bpm → 17 bpm.

Second 3.

From 17 bpm → 7 bpm.

Second 7.

From 7 bpm → 1.7 bpm.

———

That was the heartbeat frequency of the ancient tree.

———

Second 17.

His heartbeat was completely synchronized with the ancient tree.

1.7 seconds per beat.

———

A pale golden light lit up on the trunk of the ancient tree.

The light rose from the roots.

Ascending along the trunk.

Passing through the canopy.

Finally, at the top of the canopy, it condensed into a green orb of light 3 meters in diameter.

Within the orb was a pale green, swimming dragon-shaped phantom.

[Wood Dragon Soul]

———

It slowly descended.

Floating before Lin Ye.

———

Lin Ye opened his eyes.

He looked at the orb of light.

3 seconds.

He reached out his hand.

Touching it.

———

[System Prompt: You are undergoing the "Life Resonance" trial]

[Trial Content: Connect your own life energy with the Wood Dragon Soul]

[Connection Duration: Must last for 17 minutes]

[During the connection, you will experience 470,000 years of the "Ancient Tree of Life's" memories]

[Those who cannot endure will be consumed by the Wood Dragon Soul]

———

Lin Ye did not hesitate.

He grasped the Wood Dragon Soul.

———

Second 1.

His consciousness was dragged into a green Void Realm.

There were countless images there.

The birth of life.

The growth of life.

The aging of life.

The death of life.

The... Reincarnation of life.

———

He saw the first ancient tree.

That was 470,000 years ago, a newly sprouted seedling.

It began from a single seed.

Absorbing sunlight.

Absorbing water.

Absorbing nutrients.

Growing slowly.

———

It watched the creatures around it.

Watching them be born.

Watching them grow.

Watching them die.

Watching their corpses turn into nutrients to nourish new life.

———

470,000 years.

It watched for 470,000 years.

———

Lin Ye felt it.

It wasn't numbness.

It was "acceptance."

The Ancient Tree of Life accepted everything.

Including death.

———

Minute 7.

He saw a different memory.

Flame Dragon.

Frost Dragon.

Wood Dragon.

Gold Dragon.

Earth Dragon.

Five Saint-Grade Dragon Clan members gathered beneath this tree.

They were discussing something.

He couldn't hear clearly.

But he saw the look in the Wood Dragon's eyes.

There was worry in those eyes.

———

Minute 13.

He saw an even stranger memory.

A seed fell from the canopy of the Ancient Tree of Life.

That seed was no ordinary seed.

It was "golden."

The golden seed fell into the soil.

Sprouted.

Grew.

Became a small tree.

On the trunk of that small tree was a line of words.

[Successor]

———

Minute 17.

The memory ended.

Lin Ye opened his eyes.

———

The Wood Dragon Soul had already merged into his palm.

[System Prompt: You have obtained "Wood Dragon Soul" × 1]

[five elements dragon soul Quest Progress: 3/5]

———

But that wasn't all.

Inside his body, the [Chaos Wood] mark was undergoing a change.

[Chaos Wood · Advancing]

[Original Rank: Elementary]

[New Rank: Intermediate]

[Advancement Effects:]

[1. Affinity with Wood-type creatures +2 Ranks (formerly +1 Rank)]

[2. Unlocked new skill "Life Resonance": Can perform deep communication with any plant, lasts 30 seconds, cooldown 60 seconds]

[3. Unlocked new skill "Wood-Healing Halo": All friendly units within 30 meters recover 1% max HP per second, lasts 30 seconds, cooldown 300 seconds]

[4. Unlocked passive "Life Perception": Can perceive any life fluctuations within a 1 km radius]

[5. Unlocked hidden effect "Wood Dragon's Blessing": Recognized by the Wood Dragon Soul; in forest environments, all attributes +30%]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "Wood-Healing Halo."

Recovers 1% max HP per second.

Lasts 30 seconds.

That's 30%.

The team's healing capability had improved.

———

He turned around.

Looking at the nine people behind him.

Yun Qianxue stood there.

Her eyes were startlingly bright.

———

"1% per second," she said.

"That's faster than my healing spells."

———

Lin Ye nodded.

———

Shi Potian walked over.

He raised his left fist to his chest.

"30%," he said.

"Enough for me to tank for 3 more seconds."

———

Lin Ye looked at him.

3 seconds.

He reached out his hand.

Grasped that fist.

———

Minute 18.

They left the core area.

As they passed the Ancient Tree Guardian, it spoke once more.

———

"You passed," it said.

"The Wood Dragon Soul recognizes you."

———

Lin Ye stopped.

He turned back.

Looking at that tree face.

"The Ancient Tree of Life," Lin Ye said.

"What... is it waiting for?"

———

The Ancient Tree Guardian was silent.

3 seconds.

It spoke.

"Waiting for you," it said.

"Waiting for everyone who is recognized."

———

Lin Ye did not speak.

But he knew.

Flame Dragon.

Frost Dragon.

Wood Dragon.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for what?

He didn't know.

But he would find the answer.

———

[Chapter 204 · End]