Sigh, brat.

In the heart of Dugu Bo's garden, I found myself surrounded by a lush, vibrant paradise of flora and fauna that could make anyone's jaw drop.

The colors and fragrances were so enchanting that it was tempting to get lost in this heavenly playground.

But, alas, I had a mission to accomplish, so I couldn't get too carried away.

I decided to use my tree-friends as a sort of undercover surveillance squad, sneaking my awareness through them to detect any hint of Dugu Bo or nosy neighbors.

Luck seemed to be showering me with good fortune today, or maybe the universe was just giving me a friendly wink, because there wasn't a soul to be sensed.

'I hope Lady Luck will always be on my side.'

The serenity of the garden was intact, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief.

But I wasn't about to let my guard down just yet.

With caution still my trusty sidekick, I went ahead and fortified the garden's borders.

My roots became the sentinels, intertwined to create a sort of early-warning system that would ping me if any unwelcome visitors decided to crash the party.

It was like putting up invisible 'Do Not Disturb' signs all around.

With the security detail sorted out, I could finally turn my attention to the real star of the show—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the remains of the Dragon Kings.

This was the jackpot, where I could have a chit-chat with the immortal herbs and maybe even score some personal growth in the process.

So off I trotted to meet this legendary well, my spirits high and my hopes even higher.

The well itself was like a piece of art, an oval pool where hot spring waters swirled in dazzling contrast.

One side was pure white, and the other was a fiery vermilion.

It was like yin and yang doing their synchronized dance, but refusing to step on each other's toes.

Talk about maintaining personal space!

But this well wasn't just about the looks.

It had some serious mojo when it came to spiritual energy.

If you were a regular human—or any regular creature for that matter—and you hung around the well for too long, you'd basically get a divine beatdown.

Your body would be hammered by two different Heavenly energies, and if you didn't make a run for it, your poor self would go kaboom!

Now, for most folks, that would be a one-way ticket to disaster.

But me?

I had some pretty hefty vitality in my back pocket, and I felt like I could tango with these energies without breaking a sweat.

'Because I will break a sap.'

Plus, I had this sneaky suspicion that I could actually turn this potential hazard into a fantastic advantage.

As I hung by the well, I could feel my bark getting a bit sturdier, like a leafy version of Popeye gulping down spinach.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to get me excited.

I was pretty sure that if I dipped into the well and made it part of my system, I'd be like a living, breathing fire-and-ice-resistant superhero.

And hey, who wouldn't want that kind of upgrade?

It was like the universe was saying, 'Hey Verdalor, go wild and grow strong!'

So, with a grin on my bark and a twinkle in my eye, I stood there, ready to dive into this well, a colorful song of Fire and Ice.

So, as I approached the well, I decided to do some good ol' bonding with the immortal herbs nearby.

They were like the cool kids in the garden, and if I could get them on my team, I'd be unstoppable.

I reached out with my inner vibes, sending out a friendly 'Hey there!' to these immortal herbs.

My offer was simple—I'd be their guardian, their buddy, and all-around cool guy if they'd help a fellow out.

Then, I realized that most of the immortal herbs were still in their infancy.

Perhaps due to the restrictions of their bloodlines, they had always played a supporting role for others. But with me, their lives were about to change.

"Hello, can you understand me?"

I greeted the leaders of the immortal herbs: Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.

"Huh!?" the Infernal Delicate Apricot asked.

While Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass greet me back, "Hi~"

"Who are you? I sense immense vitality from you!"

"You feel it too, Yi Da? It's so comforting, isn't it?"

'Oh, so the Infernal Delicate Apricot's name is Yi Da.

Just to be safe, I activated my Nurturing Aura so they would feel more at ease with me.

"My name's Verdalor.

I'm a 100,000-year-old World Tree, and I've come here to save you from humans!"

""Huh?""

"But they haven't disturbed us at all. How can you save us if we're not in danger?" Yi Da asked.

"Yeah, yeah! How?"

These immature brats, I thought.

What can I do?

Plant spirit beasts are often naive and innocent.

Our spiritual energy cultivation is the most challenging, especially when compared to animal spirit beasts and humans.

It's also due to our long lifespan, thus, our mind maturity will be slower than them.

"They're not disturbing you because humans are still unaware of your value.

If they find out, they'll harvest all of you, and your cultivation will plummet to near zero!

And why would I lie to any of you?

We, plant spirit beasts, are like brothers and sisters.

Come with me; I plan to create a sanctuary for us, and I need your help."

""Gee~""

"But we don't want to leave. Here, our cultivation speed increases tenfold!" Ida exclaimed.

"True, true! It's tenfold, tenfold!"

'Why they're acting like a stubborn kid and annoying brat!?'

Sigh, then I'll just give them some 'lolipop' to entice them.

It should work, right?

I tried my best to answer their queries, explaining that with my help, they'd have a formidable guardian, and they'd be part of something bigger and better than just being garden ornaments.

"I can also increase your cultivation speed.

Not only that, I can help strengthen your spiritual energies and consciousness levels!

So your mind maturity will be faster!"

"Huh, I don't believe you!"

"Eh? Why don't you believe him, Ida?"

"Shut up, Ou Mige! I just don't feel it!"

'Oh, so the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass's name is Ou Mige.

Why does it seem like their nicknames are just abbreviations of their names?'

"Hahaha, you're just being stubborn!

Hey, hey, is it true that you can take us from here and assist with our cultivation?" Ou Mige asked me excitedly.

"I swear on my beautiful bark that it's all true!"

'It's true because I don't need to consume their essence; that would kill the golden goose and only yield one or two golden eggs!'

"Then can we bring all our friends here?"

"Of course! That's been my goal from the beginning!"

"Then we agree!"

"Ou Mige!"

"Hihihi, relax, Yi Da.

We can trust him!

And don't you want to cultivate faster and explore the world?"

"Tsk! Okay, old man.

We agree, but how can you transport all of us?"

"Great!

You don't have to worry about that.

Can you let your friends know before I bring you all out of here?"

After several persuasions and promises, Yi Da and Ou Mige informed me that everyone was on board to follow us.

It was as if they could sense the sincerity in my words.

Gradually, their resistance crumbled, and their curiosity won the day.

I made a pact with them—I'd be their protector, their buddy, and a partner in this new adventure.

It was a win-win deal.

'I think, in addition to the promise of increasing their consciousness levels, they also want to embark on their own adventure.

And as a tree spirit beast that can transform into treants, they see following me as the closest thing to achieving a more mobile form!'

Amused by their childlike dreams, I instructed Yi Da and Ou Mige to prepare themselves, as they might feel disoriented for a while.

"Are you all ready?"

""Yes!""

""Yes, sir!""

""Let's go!""

""Hihihi!""

"Then, don't be afraid.

You might feel strange at first, but you'll adapt soon enough, okay?"

"""Aye, aye, sir!"""

With everyone onboard, it was time to put my skills to good use.

I focused my spirit energy on creating a connection, like an invisible bridge, between me and the herbs.

"WORLD TREE: WORLD'S BRIDGE!"

I enveloped them in my spirit energy, including their extensive roots that spanned hundreds of meters, and with a gentle whoosh, I transported them into my inner world.

The transition was seamless, and as they appeared in my inner world, I could feel their energies merging with mine.

I looked around at my newfound companions, each one with its own unique personality and abilities.

Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, with its childlike curiosity, was already exploring the inner world, while Infernal Delicate Apricot remained a bit reserved, like a teenager sulking in a new environment.

But I was confident that, with time, we'd all get along just fine.

With the herbs safely by my side, I felt a surge of excitement.

Now, it's time for me to get my precious fertilizers!