CHAPTER 512: CHAPTER 465: I AM YOUR GRANDFATHER!

The night sky is clear, a faint moon and stars scattered, not a cloud in sight.

Because "Treasure Tree Bay" happens to be located on the magic element node of the Southern Continent, the continuous iron oak forest here has a highly active magic element presence, if quantified it would surpass that of the New Continent.

For certain specific rituals, this is a precious feng shui location hard to find. And as the mysterious source of the "Vitalist School," the Life Tree has an excellent affinity with this place.

Deep in the dark oak forest, at the foot of a wind-sheltered bluestone rocky hill, where a naturally formed cave seems to have emerged as if the hard rock grew automatically, faint green extraordinary spiritual light leaks out.

Floating in the air, like a gleaming river.

At the narrow entrance yet expansive inside, two figures dressed in wide black wizard robes pull down their hoods to cover their faces, quietly fixating their gaze on another figure within the cave.

The mysterious attire reflects eerie green light, resembling a villainous cult performing a ritual for an Evil God with a sinister aura.

On the rock wall deep within the cave, a piece of pure white beast hide painted with a colorful "Life Tree Pattern," seems to be alive, moving automatically in the absence of wind, continuously pouring out green life-filled radiance.

Jingle jingle jingle...

Then, accompanied by the sound of countless copper bell fruits from the Life Tree, the noise waves like ripples surge into the body of the person sitting cross-legged below. Synchronizing with his simplified [Desperate Thunder Swordsmanship] breathing technique, it slowly permeates his body.

At this moment.

Gel, with his upper body bare, apart from the usual ink jade-green totem engraving, has an added blue-black fine line running through his spine, originating from the shuttle-shaped generator located at the sides of the spinal cord from the demonized creature electric eel — [Symbiont: Thunder Core].

After acquiring part of the knowledge from the second volume of "Flesh Sacrifice," Aiven further improved this pathway.

And as the power grows stronger and the accumulation of knowledge becomes more abundant, this kind of improvement will occur countless times, leading the paths of "Wizard" and "Knight" to complement and strengthen each other continuously.

Now "Treasure Tree Bay" has completely become the territory of the Tulip Alliance, as long as one does not touch the priceless "Treasure Trees," merely borrowing the venue poses no problem at all.

Before heading out to find someone to test the cannon, given this rare good weather on the coast, Aiven chose to prioritize assisting Gel in holding the [Life Tree Totem Warrior·Modified] advancement ceremony.

Although Gel does not have wizard qualifications and cannot achieve self-sufficient divine power like a [Branded Swordsman], he can still advance using the Tier 3 Totem Warrior conventional method like Great Sea Shark Oveg.

Even though the previous process of will interfering with reality to condense into Combat Qi experienced a failure, the physical body underwent a new transformation as well. Surpassing the critical point, it fully reached the standard for advancing to a Tier 3 Totem Warrior.

Because the path of a Totem Warrior originated as a vessel for the Totem God, during advancement it does not have strict soul requirements, demanding "belief" while the physical strength meets the standard.

And this pattern crafted meticulously by Aiven substitutes the function of the Totem Pillar, connecting this place with the mysterious source within the Sea of World Consciousness, conducting partial synchronization for Gel’s soul.

In comparison with a Totem God.

The "Life Tree," devoid of subjective consciousness, certainly would not impose peculiarities into his soul, causing the body to remain the same while the soul transforms into a different form...

At this point.

Gel, with his eyes tightly shut, seems to fall into a dream.

In a magical world.

Sometimes transforming into a stag running across the land, hooves thundering faster than the swift wind;

Sometimes transforming into a shark roaming the ocean, rivaling whirlpools and deep-sea demons;

Sometimes transforming into an eagle soaring in the sky, the sun above while white clouds lie below;

Sometimes...

He gradually perceives the full picture of this world, vast lands, emerald tree seas, endless mountains, expansive ocean, crystalline glaciers... a scene of majestic and primitive nature with occasional traces of human civilization, yet far from mainstream.

Freely wandering in this world, Gel feels as if his heart has broadened to match this world, even feeling a sense of immersion within.

If Aiven were here, he would discover that this is actually the first realm among the four layers forming the Tree of Life: "Material Realm," also known as "Material World."

Symbolizing the land among the four cornerstones forming the world.

Corresponding to the world of human existence. Souls here gain a physical form, the primitive light fragments, beginning to crystallize into matter, natural world, and human existence.

Abstract ideas manifest into concrete entities. Also aligning with the bottom three original essences in the Life Tree: "Radiance," "Foundation," "Kingdom."

When Aiven broke through as an Official Wizard, he had already established himself in the first realm, using the iron oak to break through to the second realm. Whereas Gel, although advancing to Tier 3, remains in the first realm.

The comparison between them reveals disparity, as the physical side professions offer no aid in cultivating the "Extraordinary Source," similar in practice to the protecting Daoist Soldier.

After wandering freely in a seemingly limitless world for a while, almost immersing entirely and forgetting everything, Gel begins to hear faint talking beside his ear.

"The spiritual light of the Life Tree has receded. Is Colonel Gel Tier 3 now?"

"It might take a while, as synchronizing one’s soul with the mysterious source requires an adaptation period. But the qualitative change is complete, there will be no further surprises."

"Oh, that’s good."

The promotion of a Great Knight is fraught with difficulties, likewise, Tier 3 Totem Warrior is not much easier, it’s just that Gel’s unique experiences give him a greater guarantee.

At this point in the ritual, the two anxious observers finally exhale from relief.

Patiently waiting for Gel to awaken, they also start chatting idly.

"By the way, Aiven, has the alliance signed your penicillin procurement agreement?"

"Ha, it’s already signed. Guess how much profit it garnered."

"Hmph, not guessing."

Aiven smugly extends his right hand, gesturing a sign.

In the girl’s involuntary exclamation, a devilish whisper gently rings in her ear:

"Exclusive agency rights for Far Sails Territory... Interested?"

After the effects of penicillin were verified, large orders were naturally placed.

In this world, there’s no pricing reference, but after World War II on Blue Star, importing a vial of penicillin cost around one or two gold, making it precious. However, for Aiven, almost all the costs were just the sugarcane abundant in the New Continent.

After much consideration, a preferential procurement price was given to our Kingdom: medicine sufficient to save a critically injured soldier cost only five Golden Lions (equivalent to an ordinary navy soldier’s five-month salary), whereas within the Tulip Alliance, it was eight.

Without bargaining, the alliance placed the first order covering ten thousand people, with the exchange condition being that no sales would be made externally during wartime.

Even when treating soldiers as mere numbers, certain upper echelons could calculate that selling an Anuma slave to the New Continent could fetch 60 Golden Lions, and a soldier who has experienced the flames of war is undoubtedly far more valuable than a slave. This deal was indeed profitable.

Back when Olivia was visiting the penicillin production factory, she was highly optimistic about the development prospects of this medicine, especially since Aiven had already excavated a corner of the glittering gold mine.

As someone both rich and poor from Aimoer, Olivia had almost no resistance to such temptation. The moment she heard the figure, her cheeks blushed slightly, and her beautiful blue eyes seemed to have golden sparkles twinkling.

It seemed as if she were already living in a palace constructed of gemstones.

Mother’s suggestion wasn’t...

"Uncle is awake!"

Suddenly, Aiven’s voice startled her out of her fantasy, and she focused her gaze.

Gel, sitting cross-legged on the stone platform, slowly opened his eyes without exhibiting the brief madness symptoms that Zinaro had earlier. Clearly, the inability to condense Combat Qi didn’t mean Gel’s will had weakened, and he easily controlled the new power after completing his ascension.

Though his gaze was still somewhat scattered, as if immersed in another world and hadn’t yet come to his senses, after a while he slowly opened his mouth and curiously asked Aiven, who had already approached him:

"You... you are...?"

"Me? Uncle, I am your granddad!"

Surviving a disaster (rescue from loss of control) and encountering a peerless master (himself), being taught divine skills (Life Tree Totem Warrior), reborn as a top-notch expert (Tier 3 Extraordinary), perfectly seamless.

Yes, I am your granddad!

Thunk—

Unexpectedly, Olivia came up from behind and gave him a heavy elbow to the ribs, along with a fierce side-eye.

’Enjoying a little prank?’

’Yes.’

With thick skin, feeling no pain, Aiven chuckled awkwardly and leaned close to Gel, quietly pulling down his hood, revealing a strikingly handsome face:

"Ahem, Uncle, I’m Aiven!"

...

Half an hour later.

Boom—

Chirp.. chirp.. chirp.. chirp..

In another mixed forest outside the oak grove, fallen and charred trees were emitting green smoke.

Only the dazzling blue electric light persistently emitted clear bird songs like thousands of flying birds.

Two tall figures stood on either side of the black pit.

The divine power on Aiven’s body slowly subsided, and he looked at the blue-white electric Thunder Eel entwined around Gel’s arms, undulating and swimming. Although the essence stems from the life magnetic field’s electric light, under the symbiont’s control of lightning, it seemed like a living electric eel.

"Show!"

Name: Gel Cooper

Gender: Male

Tier: Tier 3 Life Tree Totem Warrior

Attributes: Constitution 5.2 Strength 5.6 Agility 5.4

Skills: Military Swordsmanship, Totem Engraving (Swift Run, Steel Wrist, Thunderbolt)

Unlike the initial "Life Tree Totem Warrior" Zinaro, the skill tree for Gel’s Thunderbolt skill is innate.

Because the Symbiont: Thunder Core parasitic within him originates from the demonized creature level electric eel, this creature has three different types of electric discharge abilities:

Low-pressure pulse for sensing the environment;

A short sequence composed of two or three high-voltage millisecond pulses released during hunting (known as double pulse or triple pulse);

High-voltage high-frequency pulse discharged during predation or self-defense.

Gel now possesses the capital to contend with a Great Knight!

After the Steel Knight was slain, the quantity of Tier 3 Extraordinary on both the enemy and our side witnessed a major reversal.

Upon receiving Aiven’s affirmative nod, Gel’s cold face finally couldn’t maintain its composure.

"Ah—"

Blue-white electric light splashed over his body, and with a long howl, the entire pitch-black mountain forest vibrated rustlingly.