It exuded an ancient life force, like a sacred tree straight out of myth.
"Fardorn, it’s been a while." Chen Yu greeted his old comrade, with whom he had once fought side-by-side against the Filth Descendant Army.
Fardorn responded by slightly swaying his branches, producing a low, pleasant rustle of leaves. A silver halo rippled across his body like waves on water, as if respectfully greeting Chen Yu.
Oldes froze in place.
He hadn’t seen this Ancient Tree the last time he came to visit Violet.
Feeling the natural aura emanating from Fardorn up close...
’This... This oak tree is actually nearing the Gold rank?!’
’Did Violet find a way to cultivate a War Ancient Tree?’
’No, that’s not right...’ Oldes focused his senses, his brow furrowing even deeper.
The aura emanating from Fardorn was not entirely the same as the War Ancient Trees cultivated by the Ancient Tree Council that he remembered. War Ancient Trees focused more on pure strength, defense, and physical destruction, their bodies like mobile fortresses, filled with a sense of savage might and weight.
And while the Fardorn before him was equally tall and strong, what he radiated more was a sense of profound wisdom.
’This isn’t like a War Ancient Tree. It’s more like a Mage among Ancient Trees—a never-before-seen Ancient Tree pathway?’
A storm of shock raged in Oldes’s heart.
"How... How on earth was this accomplished?" he murmured unconsciously, his gaze fixed on Fardorn as if trying to see through its every leaf and every line of bark.
’I’ve only been secluded in the Silver Song Forest for a few decades, engrossed in studying Ancient Tree Runes and Natural Magic. How has the outside world changed so fast? So fast that an old fossil like me is about to be left behind?’
Perhaps no one understood the value and significance of an entirely new Ancient Tree pathway better than the Forest Sages, who had dedicated their entire lives to studying the ways of nature and life.
Leaning on his hayfork, Old Bloom chuckled, his tone filled with pride for his old companion. "It’s all thanks to His Majesty and Miss Ithilien. They revitalized Fardorn and helped him find a new path for growth."
He walked over and gently patted Fardorn’s rough but warm trunk with a withered, bony hand, as if patting an old friend on the shoulder.
Fardorn also gently lowered a few low-hanging branches, brushing Old Bloom’s straw hat with soft, silver leaves. They made a soft rustling sound, as if in response to his words.
"Your Majesty?" Oldes sharply caught the key word in Bloom’s speech and looked at Chen Yu, who stood nearby on his Stone Sword with an "innocent" look on his face.
’This new Ancient Tree pathway... it’s related to His Majesty, the Slime, standing beside him?’
Seeing that Chen Yu didn’t stop him, Old Bloom happily continued, "You didn’t know? Fardorn is the leader of His Majesty’s Ancient Tree legion, personally cultivated by His Majesty and Miss Ithilien."
Oldes let out a light cough, trying to hide his inner astonishment, but the sudden light that flared in his eyes betrayed him.
’Not only is he a Forest Sage himself, but he can also cultivate an Ancient Tree of an entirely new pathway. This Slime has more secrets than I thought.’
He even had a premonition that if these Slimes really did join the Forest Sages’ Association... it might bring unprecedented change and vitality to the ancient Association.
If Chen Yu wasn’t right there beside him, Oldes would have wanted to set up a Magic Array on the spot to urgently convene a meeting of the Sages and report this stunning news.
After great effort, he managed to calm his excited heart. By then, they had walked out of the forest path and arrived in a wide, open clearing.
This was where the Grimlins lived, dotted with colorful mushroom houses. It was also the Tree Spirit Territory’s Green Field Square, where guests were received.
Ithilien was directing several Elves and Grimlins, setting up an open-air banquet on the grass.
A long table was covered with a clean white linen tablecloth, already adorned with fresh fruits, baskets of berries, jars of honey, and sparkling crystal goblets.
Seeing Chen Yu and the others approach, Ithilien went up to greet them, performing an Elven bow.
"Your Majesty. Sage Oldes."
Before Chen Yu could respond, a figure as short as a barrel emerged from a nearby mushroom house, letting out a hearty, booming laugh.
"Your Majesty, I’m here too!"
The voice belonged to Anvil.
For once, he wasn’t wearing his smithing leather apron. Instead, he had changed into a relatively neat brown linen shirt and suspenders. His messy red beard also seemed to have been carefully combed and tied into neat braids.
And behind him, little Erin poked her small head out from behind a low wall in the mushroom house’s yard, which was covered in lush green vines.
Today, she was wearing a small, Elven-style dress sewn from soft linen. Her long hair was meticulously woven into intricate braids, adorned with a few small, white wildflowers.
Her big, lake-blue eyes darted about lively. When she saw Chen Yu, they instantly lit up. A bright, happy smile spread across her face, and she waved her little hands energetically.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
She still didn’t understand what "Your Majesty" meant; she just thought it was fun to shout.
Huh?
Chen Yu was a little surprised.
’I never would have thought that guy Anvil had a talent for taking care of children.’
After not seeing her for over a month, he saw that little Erin’s once pale and thin face was now rosy and full, glowing with health.
The timidity and unease in her eyes were completely gone, replaced by the curiosity a child should have. It seemed she had completely adapted to her new life in the Slime Kingdom.