CHAPTER 126: GOD FOREST’S SOIL

After the third wave, including the threat of the Evil Spirits, Xu Tao was convinced of one thing.

"We’re extremely lacking in fighters!"

Currently, the number of people who could "decently" fight could be counted on one hand. Ignoring the fact that Xu Tao and Wu Zetian both had strength far above what their levels would suggest, excluding them, the rest could just barely block attacks from a level 500 wave.

And that was with Jehanne in her Bunny Suit taking on most of the enemies.

That’s why he decided on two things.

One was to increase their numbers, and two, to raise everyone’s levels. Thankfully, he had a good idea on how to do both—especially the first one.

Pulling up the main menu, Xu Tao checked his favorite tab—the Gacha Tab!

"I didn’t have time to check it properly while fighting, so this is the first time I’m seeing the banners!" he cheered excitedly.

Before, he was just rolling on Zetian’s banner without knowing who he could get! Now, however, he read the names carefully before selecting.

[UR Ligyron of Φθία Banner is active! Roll 500 times to guarantee getting him!]

[Little Pet, SR Pepe’s Banner is active! Roll 10 times to guarantee getting a cute companion!]

"This banner..." Xu Tao narrowed his eyes, reading the fine print. "Ligyron of... the fuck is that? I can’t read it... And the other banner is another Pepe banner?"

He was expecting something different, but didn’t dare complain. After all, it’s not like this was the last banner they’d ever see.

"First, let’s go with the Pepe banner."

It could be claimed with just one 10x Gacha roll, so he didn’t need much luck or anything. With a casual tap, the roll began and...

"Ugh?! What’s this overpowering golden light?!" Xu Tao groaned, forced to cover his eyes.

The next moment, the result of the roll came out.

[Congratulations! You Received 2x Candy, 3x Bread, 3x Water (1 bottle), 1x Pepe (SR), 1 metric ton God Forest’s Soil (L)]

"...Huh?" Xu Tao gasped. "A Legendary popped!"

Soon, the items fell before him. Aside from the familiar ones, there was an extra cube of dark red dirt, about 60 cm on each side. It was compacted by a thin transparent film that looked like it’d break at the slightest touch—but was somehow strong enough to hold one ton of earth in place and not spill its contents!

What’s more, Xu Tao could feel a thick presence of True Heavenly Qi from the earth within! It was a treasure beyond imagination!

"Pui~!"

Right then, Pepe, who was on standby near Xu Tao, stirred. Its body released a brief glow, before the name above its head changed—suddenly gaining a "+1" suffix.

"Pepe, you..." Xu Tao glanced at the little green creature in surprise. "Did you just get stronger? I can feel that you’ve gotten twice as strong compared to before!"

"Pui, pui!"

However, that wasn’t the only part to be surprised about. In addition to the stat increase, Pepe also gained one specific change that elevated it above its previous state!

BWOOOSH!

From the stump above Pepe’s head, two vines grew forward with great force, whipping the air powerfully, cracking through it. It was a weak attack compared to anyone else’s—but for Pepe, it was a legend-making upgrade!

"Oh! You can attack now! That’s great!" Xu Tao grinned. "With this, your usefulness just climbed up once more, Pepe!"

"Pui~!" The green gourd raised its head, as if proud of the achievement.

Well, rather than an achievement, it was just the bonus for reaching the +1 state... but Xu Tao didn’t want to burst Pepe’s bubble. He just smiled, patted the little guy, and resumed what he was doing.

He quickly checked the curious cube of earth, reading its description.

[

Item Name: God Forest’s Soil

Rarity: Legendary (L)

Type: Miscellaneous

Effect: Earth harvested directly from the God Forest, where the World Tree resides. When infused into the ground and used as farmland, it can let all kinds of plants thrive.

]

"So, it’s good soil?"

Xu Tao sighed, wondering if it was truly worthy of its Legendary rarity. As it was now, all he could expect from it was the True Heavenly Qi infused into each grain of earth. But even if he drained all of that, he didn’t think it would be worthy of being called Legendary...

"Wait, World Tree?" Xu Tao mumbled, recalling something.

He rummaged through his Storage Ring, searching for something, and found it after a while. "This is it!" he gasped, holding a seed between his fingers. It was the "Small World Tree’s Seed!"

"It has the same name in the description, so that means...!" Xu Tao realized, and immediately went to work.

He placed the soil inside his ring and rushed out of the castle, heading toward the center of the clearing. There, he used Telekinesis to dig the earth—roughly 10 cubic meters’ worth—and let it float in the air.

Next, he took out the God Forest’s Soil and removed its plastic-like packaging. "Now, I just need to mix this!"

With careful and precise motions, he mixed the two types of soil together: the rich, legendary soil of the God Forest, and the almost thin soil of Alkryon—along with a few bottles of water to moisturize it.

After making sure it was now a homogenous mixture, he dropped the puffy earth back into the hole he had dug.

With the extra 1 cubic meter added, the earth overflowed by a lot... but it was just right. The aerated earth was loosened and now fit for planting!

Xu Tao walked over the soft earth, leaving footprints as he headed toward the center. Without delay, he grabbed the Small World Tree seed again and carefully planted it an arm’s depth into the mixed soil. He didn’t mind getting dirty at all!

"Now, to water it..."

He grabbed a few more bottles of water and carefully moisturized the area around the seed once more. "Grow big and strong, little seed!"

Xu Tao was highly expectant of it.

After all, not only did the soil contain traces of True Heavenly Qi—even the seed itself was a heavenly treasure-level item. Just imagining the benefits he’d get from the tree it would grow into made him drool!

"...Huh?"

But just as he stood up, he felt an anomaly.

The energy beneath his feet began to stir—almost as if a greedy cultivator was there, sucking up all the Qi that the earth could offer.

"This is...!"

Xu Tao was shocked.

After all, he could see where all the Qi was going—straight into the small seed he had just planted!