Slime True Immortal

Eserin's fingertips unconsciously traced across the parchment, distant memories surfacing in her mind.

War Treants.

The advanced units of the elven legions, each requiring extensive time and the tempering of war to cultivate, each one incredibly precious. Only the ancient elves far away in the Ancient Tree Council could afford to raise them.

If one traced the origins of the Oak Guards in the Dryad domain, they might be considered descendants of War Treants, separated by who knows how many generations, with limited potential. The chance of them transforming into a transcendent existence was minuscule.

However, after interacting with those miraculous Slimes and witnessing their strange magic, a vague feeling had arisen in Eserin's heart.

Perhaps, cultivating a high-level unit comparable to a War Treant wasn't limited to following the ancient traditions.

"This place is becoming increasingly unstable..."

She sighed softly, taking out a magical leaf emitting a mysterious power. Rubbing it between her fingers, her thoughts drifted toward the future of the domain.

Although nominally, Viola was the lord of this forest, that inherently lazy and carefree lord had essentially dumped almost all administrative duties onto her in daily life.

And the more it involved major decisions concerning the domain's future development, external relations, and such, the more Viola preferred to wash her hands of it and let Eserin make the calls. This gave Eserin quite a headache.

To protect this tranquil paradise surrounded by treacherous swamps, they needed to seek even stronger, more reliable power.

Precisely because of this, she was quite intrigued by the Slime Kingdom's concept of Rune Oak Guards.

This might be a shortcut to rapidly enhance the domain's defensive strength.

"Little Flower, can you contact His Majesty?" Eserin gathered her thoughts and transmitted a message through the gel communicator clipped to her pointed ear to Little Flower far away in the Eastern Swamp.

About a minute later, Little Flower's soft, sleepy voice came through the communicator. "Not yet. Big Brother seems to be busy all the time;

the communicator isn't responding. Miss Eserin, do you have other matters?"

Eserin responded, "Regarding the alchemical energy circuit formula for the 'Rune Oak Guards,' I have optimized and refined it based on the energy characteristics you provided. Theoretically, it should effectively improve the transmission and conversion efficiency of that mysterious energy within the oak tree's body."

"However, the Magic Leaves currently mass-produced and provided to me by your domain have a certain attribute conflict with the Oak Guards, preventing connection with the energy circuit."

"I need more Magic Leaves as samples for further testing and adjustments."

After the message was sent, a good while passed before Little Flower's voice came through the gel communicator again, this time sounding a bit more awake.

"Ah! Uncle Anvil just told me that Big Brother has already left the mining area and is heading to the Dryad domain. He should be arriving just about now."

Almost as soon as Little Flower's words fell, the air beside Eserin distorted. Viola's spirit form materialized silently, like a reflection in water.

She lazily leaned over the edge of the large rock Eserin was sitting on, propping her chin with her hand. "Eserin, have you decided?"

"You should know what sharing knowledge means in elven tradition, especially knowledge concerning ancient trees. Even among elves, it's not something that can be taught casually."

Eserin stood up and respectfully performed an elven bow to Viola. "Lady Viola, elves are never stingy about spreading knowledge and wisdom to intelligent lifeforms who love nature."

"Of course, excluding those stubborn, rigid old fogies in the Ancient Tree Council who treat knowledge as private property."

Hearing this, Viola couldn't help but let out a soft "pfft" of laughter.

For the usually calm and polite Eserin to call them 'old fogies,' it seemed those old fellows had given her quite a hard time and thoroughly annoyed her during her studies at the Ancient Tree Council.

"Alright, alright," Viola waved her hand, her expression becoming slightly more serious as she reined in her smile. "Actually, I have an idea too."

"Tell me, after staying in this forest for so long... shouldn't we also consider finding a reliable kingdom to... you know?"

Eserin was momentarily stunned, then quickly regained her composure, analyzing, "Those Slimes... are indeed interesting, but they might not be able to emerge from these swamps."

Viola tilted her head, curiously pressing further. "Then what do you think would count as reliable?"

Eserin pondered for a moment before replying, "Then let's wait for the true Slime Kingdom to be born."

"A true king capable of establishing order within the swamps is worthy of my offering of elven knowledge and loyalty, and worthy of the Dryad domain forging a solid alliance with."

Viola chuckled. "Looks like you think quite highly of that Slime King."

Eserin paused, then fell into silence.

Indeed, if someone had told her a few years ago that a Slime could become a king, she would have thought it was some absurd tale concocted by a destitute bard to earn drink money.

And now, she actually believed a Slime possessed the makings of a king.

"Alright, that little lord has arrived. Go greet him." As Viola spoke, she prepared to leave.

"Aren't you coming with me to receive him?" Eserin asked.

After all, it was a formal visit by a "King." For the lord not to appear seemed somewhat discourteous.

Viola waved her hand, wearing an expression that said "spare me."

"That's so tiring. Plus, there'd be so much polite small talk, hypocritically complimenting each other. Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

"Just say I'm engaged in important meditation, or sleeping. Make up any excuse to brush it off."

Eserin wanted to persuade her further, but Viola's spirit form had already rapidly dissipated under the moonlight.

She could only shake her head helplessly.

Summoning Old Bloom, who was on night watch, she then went with him to the main entrance connecting the dungeon to the Dryad domain.

They hadn't been there long when they heard the sound of flapping wings from within the passage.

Immediately after, Chen Yu, riding on Little Ka's back, flew out from the dark passage and landed with a soft "plop" on the soft grass before Eserin.

"Welcome, Your Majesty," Eserin greeted with an elegant bow. Old Bloom also gave a slight bow beside her.

Chen Yu wobbled his body in acknowledgment, then followed Eserin's lead to her mushroom-shaped wooden cabin built beneath a tree.

Inside the cabin, Eserin didn't engage in excessive pleasantries. She got straight to the point, explaining the difficulties encountered in constructing the "Rune Oak Guards."

"The Magic Leaf attributes aren't compatible?"

Chen Yu couldn't help but mutter to himself.

The Magic Leaves currently mass-produced in his domain were all earth-attribute, which indeed didn't seem to match the oak trees.

But in other words, if he could draw wood-attribute Magic Leaves, perhaps Eserin would have a way to forge a true Rune Oak Guard.

This was undoubtedly good news for Chen Yu.

Wood-attribute talismans—Xu Xuan Heaven had plenty of those, as many as he wanted. He just needed to go back and look for them...

So he decided to stay in the Dryad domain for now, his consciousness returning to Xu Xuan Heaven to make purchases through the night.