Ling Xi, Wood Spirit World

Ram stood transfixed as the mysterious figure emerged from the dense forest.

She appeared to be around 18 or 19 years old, with striking red hair, a beautiful face, and elegant horns that added an air of mystique.

She wore a green leafy headband that exuded an ethereal charm, harmonizing perfectly with the natural surroundings. 

Without further thought, Ram activated his Spiritual Eye.

[ Name: Unknown]

[ Race: Forest Spirit]

[ Level: ???]

[ Skills: ???]

"Forest Spirit?" Ram murmured, curiosity and awe filling his voice as he looked at the girl in front of him. He couldn't determine her level or skills; the Spiritual Eye revealed only her race.

He knew that Forest Spirits were advanced evolutions or mutants of wood spirits, more powerful than their ordinary counterparts, much like the difference between a Rare profession and a Hero profession, but he never expected to see one in this mysterious place.

"Hey, are you a new wood spirit?" The girl's words echoed in his mind, not as an audible sound but as a direct thought.

She paused, examining him closely, and her voice took on a sharper edge as she proceeded. "No, you're human, aren't you? What's your name?"

Ram was shocked that she could discern that he was human with just a single glance.

At the moment, he was disguised in Bio-Armor; aside from a few patches of human skin, his body was encased in bark, making him indistinguishable from most wood spirits.

Even he would not have recognized the difference without using his Spiritual Eye, yet the girl before him had effortlessly perceived it.

The Forest Spirit chuckled, her laughter blending with the rustling leaves.

"Don't worry, you are safe here. Although it's rare for humans to enter the Wood Spirit World, you are not the only one. I am Ling Xi," she said, pausing before repeating her question again.

"What's your name?" Her soft voice echoed in his mind.

Ram let out a soft sigh of relief. Despite his confusion about the Wood Spirit World she mentioned, he responded, "You can call me Ram; I am a Spiritual Planter. Could you explain why I am here? And where is this place?"

"As I've previously mentioned, you're currently in a Wood Spirit World. You were brought here by the summoning of the Heart Wood Tree," Ling Xi elaborated as she led him through the vibrant forest filled with trees more than 10 meters high, toward a colossal tree.

The tree's size was breathtaking, reaching more than 90 to 100 meters in height. The trunk alone measured about 15 meters in diameter, showcasing its ancient and enduring nature.

They navigated from tree to tree, swinging or sprinting across the massive branches.

Initially, Ram struggled to match Ling Xi's pace, but as he progressed, the extra physical strength he had acquired from Groot made his movements swift and steady, and his sense of balance gradually enhanced.

According to Ling Xi, they are now in an independent space, created by one of the Life Spirit Trees known as Wood Spirit World.

He was summoned here to defend this Spirit World against the cursed creatures that threaten it.

Moreover, it's not only him; the Heart Wood Tree possesses the ability to summon all the powerful wood spirits within a certain proximity to the Titan Wood Trees.

They soon arrived at a small village that seemed to be a part of the large tree itself. Treehouses were woven into the large branches extending from the center, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

The landscape was dotted with plants that emitted a soft, glowing light. As Ling Xi spoke, Ram looked amazed at the thousands of wood spirits wandering freely around them.

Each wood spirit possessed a unique appearance, some resembling different monsters while others took human forms. 

Ling Xi led Ram to the heart of the grove, where a colossal tree stood with its massive roots woven into the earth and branches reaching for the heavens.

"This is the Heartwood Tree, the core of our village. It connects all wood spirits and serves as a nexus for our shared consciousness," Ling Xi explained as Ram looked at the aura emanating from the huge tree towering majestically.

The surface of the tree was covered with intricate patterns, emitting a soft, pulsating glow, casting a gentle luminescence that illuminated the entire grove.

Numerous branches extended gracefully from the central trunk, spreading out in all directions for thousands of meters hosting tree houses for various wood spirits.

Each branch bore clusters of vibrant leaves, their elongated ovals shimmering in the ambient light.

Small, luminous flowers dotted the branches, adding bursts of color to the verdant display.

Below the surface, the tree's roots spread out in a vast network, intertwining with the earth, these roots, infused with vitality, pulsed with the life force.

[ Name: Heart Wood Tree]

[ Level: Gold (Tier-4)]

[ Race: Ancient Spirit Tree]

[ Quality: General]

[ Physique: 170]

[ Spirit: 321]

[ Skills:

 [Nexus of Unity]: The Heartwood Tree serves as the central hub for the shared consciousness of wood spirits, allowing them to communicate and connect.

 [Echoing Whispers]: The Heartwood Tree can communicate with other ancient spirit trees across vast distances, sharing knowledge and insights.

  [Wood Spirit Guardian]: The Heartwood Tree can summon distant wood spirits to protect the spirit world.

  [Vital Essence Flow]: The tree channels Life Essence from the surroundings, sustaining the life and energy of the wood spirits it's connected with.]

"Interesting, the Spiritual Eye seems to be able to check details of Gold-level entities," Ram pondered silently while examining the Heart Wood Tree.

However, when he attempted to appraise Ling Xi's information again out of curiosity, the familiar string of question marks persisted. "Is she beyond Gold level?"

"The Heart Wood tree is a variant similar to the Titan Wood tree, born from the seeds of Life Spirit Tree.

However, unlike the Titan Wood tree, the Heart Wood trees can only thrive in this Spirit World created by the Mother Tree," While Ram was still confused, Ling Xi explained, bringing him back to his senses.

"This is the Heart of the village, home to numerous similar villages within the Wood Spirit World, inhabited by hundreds of thousands of wood spirits. It embodies the collective wisdom of generations and acts as our spiritual epicenter."

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