DKIE CH81: The Tree Core

The lights were brilliant, and cups were raised in toast. An excellent capitalist never makes empty promises. After his verbal thanks, Luka took out another carefully prepared gift… the latest prototype of the “The Beloved Three-and-a-Half-Year-Old” merchandise. When you pressed its soft white belly, the cub would let out an “Awoo, awoo” cry. As expected, the new merchandise was a big hit with the dragons.

Rio immediately sent a picture to the absent Berlanie. For no other reason than to show off. He was the one who had gotten Berlanie into the cub fandom, and he had almost let that rascal surpass him. Berlanie’s defenses crumbled instantly, and he greatly regretted not participating in the movie.
[Berlanie: [Divine Dragon Wags Tail] [Slaps you in the face with it].]
Pleased by the jealousy of his fellow fan, Rio lowered his head and continued to study the merchandise.

The celebration banquet ended when the bright moon was high in the night sky. Isa was in a playful mood and had the waiter randomly select someone to pay the bill. Quill was the unlucky one chosen and was now settling the tab. The staff wasted no time, running to the lakeside to pick a beautiful spot, while the dragons happily took glamorous photos of the merchandise.

After the last few cups of wine, Luka felt a bit lightheaded. He stood by the railing, letting the breeze cool him down, watching the moonlight glitter on the water’s surface as he waited alone for Quill to come out.

A large hand suddenly rested gently on his head. Luka turned around. Rio had appeared behind him at some point, his eyes deep with concern. “Something on your mind?”

Luka was silent for a moment before asking the question buried in his heart. “How long does it usually take for a dragon to decide to develop a relationship?”

Rio’s smile froze slightly. Such a well-behaved cub was showing signs of being snatched away. Although he was mentally prepared, he still wanted to give the wild kid from outside a good beating. Rio sighed and answered, “A month, a year, three to five years… it varies.” There was no fixed answer to such things.

Luka blinked. “So short?” Given the dragons’ long lifespans, he was surprised they didn’t take longer to make such a decision.

Rio chuckled. “If you don’t recognize the other person for who they are at the beginning, you most likely will only recognize them after you’ve been hurt.” It had nothing to do with time. He paused, then added, “But your judgment has always been very accurate.”

Footsteps approached from behind, and Luka subconsciously stopped the conversation. Quill walked out from the restaurant entrance. “The owner said he really liked your movie and rounded down the bill for me.” Quill had never liked small favors, and his life’s principle was to never ask for change. Mentioning it now was clearly to make Luka happy, to let him know that he had fans everywhere.

Staring at Quill for two seconds, Luka suddenly felt that perhaps his judgment really was good.

After a brief gathering came the parting. More and more tourists were traveling to the demon realm fiefdom, and the construction of the new city in the safe zone was urgent, so the dragons left that same night.

Luka returned to the inn and fulfilled the promise of a small benefit he had made at the press conference. While the entire internet was waiting for a response to the romance gossip, he posted a well-designed nine-palace grid.

[Luka’s Review: “The Real and Fake Young Master” Part II is about to be broadcast across the continent! See you on the fourth! Here’s a set of sticker packs~ Comment to pick three lucky winners to share 6666 gold coins.]

[Passerby Confusion] [Many Lotuses] [Me, are you sure it’s me?]… The set of adorable, dazed-looking stickers was very eye-catching. The movie had just finished showing, and the comment section quickly became lively. Viewers who had seen it jumped out to explain.

[I can’t, this is killing me.]

 [Let me explain the source of the ‘Passerby Confusion’ image. The noble young master was discussing where to go next with his companion when the real young master’s older brother suddenly appeared and said coldly, “Please respect my brother. Don’t talk about irrelevant things at a funeral.” The noble young master was completely stunned.]

 [This ‘passerby’ expression is a perfect representation of me! Forcing a group of strangers to come back and cry at a funeral just because of family power is seriously messed up.]

The sticker following [Passerby Confusion] was aptly named [Funeral Hall Discipline Committee]. The discipline committee, of course, referred to the older brother. Official commentary is the most lethal. In an era without official memeing, Luka’s move successfully bridged the distance with netizens while bringing more attention back to the plot itself.

Seeing the good effect, he logged out of the terminal and began to study a map. “It’s quite a distance from Moha County to the Elf Island.” Before he came, the Dwarf Clan Chief had agreed to improve the terminal technology. The specific cooperation details needed to be discussed with the Elf King and the Saint, and the agreement had to be signed in person. Now that the movie was taken care of, Luka wanted to go along and handle some personal matters as well.

The terminal vibrated.
[Rest [Serious].]

The two words were concise and to the point. The sender was right across from him, looking equally serious. Grand magi didn’t need much sleep, but Luka had been working at high intensity all week and had barely closed his eyes.

Luka gave a salute. “Yes, sir.” Not understanding the gesture, Quill now had a “passerby confusion” look on his face. After making sure Luka was in bed and resting, he put aside his confusion and began to cultivate.

Lying on the soft mattress, Luka’s gaze shifted slightly, happening to sweep over the other’s focused brow. In the past, the two of them had often slept in the same bed. It was only recently that whenever he was resting, Quill was almost always busy with other things. Luka belatedly realized that this was a deliberate staggering of their schedules. He found it strange; necromancers were not a conservative race.

If you have a mouth, you should ask. Luka tapped his finger lightly on the side of the bed and said directly, “Are you avoiding me?”

A soft rustle hit his eardrums. Quill opened his eyes, saw his question, and said, “To avoid disturbing your rest.” Back then, they were just temporary survival partners. Times were different now. If he lay beside him again, the other might feel a little uncomfortable, or nervous.

No one could resist such sincere and thoughtful details. Hearing this, Luka mumbled, “I won’t be disturbed.” He really did have trouble expressing embarrassing things. As soon as he said it, his cheeks flushed, and Luka immediately turned over.

A cool breeze slipped in as the blanket was lifted a corner, but it was quickly blocked, and another presence appeared beside him.
Luka: “???”

Quill really hadn’t hesitated at all; his movements were crisp and decisive. The bed wasn’t large, and Quill was lying flat on his back. Luka only needed to turn slightly to touch him. In fact, they were already touching a little, the temperature of the small patch of skin on his back rising.

Luka wasn’t used to sleeping on his side, so he turned his body back over, but with his head facing the wall. The collar of his Western-style pajamas was rather open, his long hair was scattered, his collarbone was half-exposed, and turning his head elongated the line of his neck.

Catching just a glimpse from the corner of his eye, Quill felt the air he exhaled was almost scorching. Before he lost his reason completely, he tried to focus his thoughts on other things, but with little effect. In the end, he could only think of things of a much larger scale.

Outside, a sudden spring rain fell. Separated by a small space, Luka closed his eyes for a long time, also trying to distract himself with his thoughts. After an unknown amount of time, he inexplicably felt that Quill wasn’t asleep either.

Luka asked tentatively, “Are you asleep?”

“No,” Quill replied instantly. “Thinking about something.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“How to slaughter the Demon King and the Saintess.” Those two were largely responsible for Luka’s helplessness in matters of the heart. Even today, they were still thinking about sucking all of Luka’s blood dry.

“Stop thinking about it.” After tossing and turning for most of the night, Luka said softly, “I’ve already figured it out.”

“…”

On the fourth, the second part of “The Real and Fake Young Master” officially premiered. While the public was focused on the 3D blockbuster, Luka and the Dwarf Clan Chief quietly set off from Winton Bay, taking a flood dragon ship to the Elf Island ahead of schedule.

Before boarding, Luka said, “I’ve definitely lost weight.” He had been stared at by countless pairs of eyes recently, and his back had been stared thin.

Quill understood his dry humor and replied, “You are a third thinner.” The Dwarf Clan Chief, with his scientific mindset, couldn’t see where he had lost any weight.

The flood dragon ship set sail in secret. Midway, Luka sent a message to the Elf King about his impending visit. The ship was equipped with an accelerator, shortening the entire voyage by more than a day.

From a distance, a vibrant patch of green came into view, with unique flowers in full bloom. This time, not only did no forest rangers stop him, but they also happily shouted inward, “Luka’s here!”

Luka’s eyes instantly sparkled. He loved it when people called him that. “My reputation among the elves seems to be quite good.”

Quill said, “You bring them vast benefits. It’s only natural that you’re popular.” Since the life elixir scandal, the elves felt an extra layer of gratitude towards Luka. Even the extremely vain Dwarf Clan Chief didn’t deny this, just snorted coldly.

Hearing the sound of running from the forest, Luka became even more excited. Were they coming to greet him personally? He quickly straightened his clothes. With his head held high, Luka strode forward. As he disembarked from the flood dragon ship, Quill deliberately fell half a step behind, letting him enjoy the greatest glory alone.

The moment Luka set foot on the island, music began to play. The sound of suonas, full of great joy and great sorrow, came flooding over.

“…”

On the treetops stood elves with golden hair and green eyes, old and young, each holding a suona and playing with their long necks tilted back. Luka had first become famous because of the suona. For this reason, despite finding the instrument’s style a bit crude, the elves had still arranged a suona piece. The Elf King stood on high, elegantly conducting. Below, the elven children were playing with all their might, their faces red, but with great respect for the music, they played very seriously.

The sound of the massed suonas was like a landslide, heart-wrenching. While playing, all the elves looked at Luka with smiling eyes.

Luka: “…” His steps faltered, and he retreated half a step amidst the welcoming music, his back hitting Quill’s chest.

Quill, worried he would fall, told him to walk properly, but with the rolling sound of the suonas, Luka only heard “fare well.”

An entire island of elves was playing the suona to cheer him on. Luka felt his soul floating in the heavens. He dimly recalled the fear of being dominated by the mournful farewell song before he left the island last time.

As the leaves in the forest rustled and shook, when Luka’s soul finally returned, he found that he had already followed the group and was standing under a giant mushroom house. The Elf King was speaking coolly to the Dwarf Clan Chief, whose ears were nearly deafened, mentioning that the Saint was also very interested in the collaboration and wanted to have a video conference later. The dwarves were more restrained in front of the Elf King and didn’t argue or cause trouble. This king was known for his bad temper; he had killed the previous Beastman King without a second thought.

“One of the composers for the movie ‘God of Forging’ is from the elf race,” Luka said at the right time after coming to his senses. “I believe this will also be a pleasant collaboration.” With a common topic, the atmosphere improved somewhat.

The elves had already prepared a reception banquet, but the Dwarf Clan Chief proposed exchanging some mineral resources first. The Elf King nodded in agreement. An elder led the Dwarf Clan Chief to Moonlight Mountain.

Once the Dwarf Clan Chief was gone, a pair of green eyes turned to Luka, and the Elf King’s tone became more relaxed. “I’ve composed a new piece. Let’s exchange ideas.”

There were still many elves around. Luka thought for a moment and asked, “Could we speak in private first?” He whispered a few words. Soon, Luka had successfully borrowed 18,000 steps worth of walking. They walked all the way to an underground river, following its winding path. In this place untouched by sunlight, abundant green points of light floated in the air.

Unsure why he wanted to come here, the Elf King still led Luka. Along the way, Luka said, “The Demon King has gone to the human domain.”

The Elf King’s expression didn’t change much. “He might be planning to cooperate with the Holy Court.” The Saint had forcibly dismantled the Holy Court’s power by re-establishing the Outer Court. A falling out was inevitable, and the Holy Court would surely seek a powerful external ally. The Demon King was the only remaining existence who could rival the Saint.

The Elf King said casually, “I wonder what the Holy Court will use to persuade the Demon King to get involved in this mess.”

Behind them, Quill’s gaze suddenly turned cold, but Luka said calmly, “Me.”

The Elf King turned his head with a hint of confusion. As they spoke, they were about to reach the Wisdom Tree, surrounded by green points of light.

Luka said slowly, “The Tree of Life is an evil entity sealed by the Human Ancestor. The Holy Court most likely wants to feed me to it. During the process of consumption, the Tree of Life will become weak, and the Demon King can take the opportunity to possess it.”

The Elf King’s expression faltered. “Feed you to a tree.” What kind of parents could come up with such a venomous idea?

Luka nodded. “My soul is rather special. It might be able to heal the wounds the Human Ancestor left on the Tree of Life.” Ahead, the Wisdom Tree’s countless branches moved without wind, and new buds sprouted from its protrusions. Luka’s face showed no trace of sadness, as if he were talking about something that didn’t concern him, his thoughts unreadable.

The amount of information was huge. While the Elf King was still trying to sort through it and make a judgment, Luka asked, “How about we let the Wisdom Tree devour the Tree of Life?”

This time, it wasn’t just the Elf King who was briefly stunned. All the dancing branches froze in place, and the surrounding points of light stopped moving. Ever since the Wisdom Tree became the central hub of the network, its anti-aging effects had been remarkable. Some places that had been dead branches began to show new life. But now, this ancient Wisdom Tree was astonished.

“When the Saint officially initiates the civil war, I will do everything I can to hold back the Demon King, giving the Wisdom Tree enough time to devour.” Luka said with a smile, “We destroyed one of the Holy Court’s trump cards last time we cooperated. Why not keep up the good work and destroy the remaining one?”

The best way to win is to bring in an unexpected ally, just like those ancestral souls. The Wisdom Tree, as the foundation of the elves’ survival, was positioned more as a support role. In any war throughout history, it was the object of key protection. Even the Holy Court would never expect it to go into battle.

Silence fell. The lively rabbits and squirrels under the tree sensed that something was wrong and all ran away. After a long moment, the Elf King broke the silence. “Sending the Wisdom Tree to the battlefield, do you know what that means?”

Luka nodded. The focal point of the Demon King and Saintess’s conspiracy was himself. In any major war, he would be the first to bear the brunt. Luka was unwilling to take this risk. Soldier against soldier, tree against tree—a risk hedge was much better. Of course, for the elf race, behind the risk of this whole affair lay a huge opportunity.

The Elf King said, “If the Wisdom Tree successfully absorbs the power of the Tree of Life, it will very likely become a bona fide god.”

Luka blinked. “So what?”

Those two words left the Elf King stumped. After a moment, his gaze became somewhat meaningful. “With the speed of your rise, it’s highly likely that you will become a god in the near future.” Using the Wisdom Tree to counter the Tree of Life was not a particularly difficult idea to come up with, but even Quill hadn’t considered this direction. The Wisdom Tree itself would never have thought of it.

A god represented supreme power and dominance. Any race that discovered another race had a chance to ascend to godhood would do everything to stop and compete for it, to prevent a threat to themselves.

“If the Holy Court wins, my race will not fare well either,” the Elf King said slowly. “You could have easily used these stakes to have us assist you in possessing the Tree of Life.”

Luka’s throat moved. Possess the Tree of Life. Was he crazy? He had a slim waist, long legs, a good body, top-tier features, and was young. Why would he be so foolish as to want to possess a tree that had once indiscriminately killed innocents? He would literally puke. Besides, letting the Wisdom Tree possess it had another great benefit: if there were any residual souls of those who died unjustly inside, the Wisdom Tree could help purify and free them.

At that moment, a fresh branch whipped out, sweeping the Elf King a thousand meters away. You little brat, what are you talking about?

Several other branches gently extended in front of Luka.
[This wise little friend, let’s talk.]

An ancient,沧桑 (weather-beaten) voice suddenly appeared in his mind. Luka was a bit dazed, only realizing a moment later that it was the Wisdom Tree. Holy crap. You can talk, old one!

[Little friend.] The ancient voice suddenly became somewhat serious. [I will only ask once. Are you truly willing to help?]

Luka marveled that it was truly the Wisdom Tree; just its voice could clear one’s mind. “Let’s help each other.” He himself was unwilling to bear certain risks, so he would let those who desired the benefits bear them. What’s more…

He only said two words: “‘God of Forging.'” Just as the movie said, if he were to believe in a god, he would only believe in a god who taught him how to become one. Luka never had any chuunibyou thoughts like “after me, there will be no gods.” After all, only a very few beings could truly become gods. Even if it successfully devoured the Tree of Life, the Wisdom Tree would need a long time to digest it. At his current cultivation speed, he was confident he could achieve godhood before it did. Quill would also become a god sooner or later; they had no need to fear any danger.

The Wisdom Tree was skilled at capturing all kinds of emotional changes. Confirming that Luka had no intention of being forced, the voice came again, but this time, it was even grander:
[In the name of the tree, wisdom will be with you.]

Instantly, countless green points of light turned into swirling smoke. The tree trunk became somewhat ethereal. Amidst the flowing light, the Wisdom Tree condensed a nearly transparent green stalk, no more than three inches long. It had no flowers or leaves, yet it emitted a dazzling fluorescence, looking incomparably sacred.

Quill squinted. “The Tree Core.”

The Tree Core? Luka looked at the green stalk floating in front of him. After Quill gave a slight nod, he prepared to reach out and touch it. However, at that moment, another branch extended over, holding a thin piece of paper in its fork.

Luka looked closely: a disclaimer agreement.

Subject Matter and Responsibilities

1. Party A (Luka) promises to help Party B (Wisdom Tree) absorb the Tree of Life. Party B is very moved and gifts Party A one Tree Core.
   
2. If Party A, after receiving the Tree Core, suffers a lightning strike upon enlightenment, or becomes so smart that he finds everyone around him stupid and thus has no friends, or other unforeseen circumstances, Party B shall not be held responsible.
   
3. The final right of interpretation belongs to the Wisdom Tree.
   

“…” It was quite compliant with regulations.

In any case, judging by Quill’s earlier hint, it should be a good thing. Luka chose to sign his name. The Wisdom Tree also quickly signed with a branch in a fluid motion.

The moment the contract took effect, the green stalk instantly melted into Luka’s palm. He turned his hand over and saw that his palm was empty, but where the stalk had disappeared, a new palm line had appeared. It was growing at a visible rate, its trace getting lighter as it went down, only stopping when it reached his wrist, seemingly still spreading in the pattern of his skin’s texture.

An inextinguishable green flame appeared inside his body. The flame drooped down, and a small figure sat cross-legged, hugging the fire. Luka’s heart shook.

The magic formation diagram automatically appeared under his feet. Another slot had appeared on it, and next to it was the faint outline of another slot. Staring at the magic formation diagram for two seconds, Luka belatedly realized.

He had… broken… through.

He was at least two steps away before, but he succeeded in one go?! Without even asking the person’s opinion, without the person even knowing, it just forced a breakthrough? Even a machine gun doesn’t break through this fast!

Luka’s Diary Guide:

Aha, I broke through. A nine-palace grid~ [Question Mark] [Lop-eared Bunny Head] [Waving Hand] [Panda Head] [Go for it] [Scattering Flowers] [Calico Cat Head] [Panda Head] [Shrug]
Friends like Alex, the dragons, the elves, and the Saint gave a like.
Alex: Even the most ordinary selfie can capture your beauty!
The Demon King and the Holy Court left a dislike.
Alec briefly reanimated to leave a row of upright-walking zombie dislikes.

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