Chapter 186 : Green Temple
The battle was decided.
Not only had the holy water's power been transmitted, but Yi Cheng's destruction of the resin hearts had also caused great impact... Under the girls' cooperation, even Dr. Ma Run, who had assimilated with the Tree of Causality Ruins, was completely defeated.
The surroundings returned to calm, with branches and leaves losing their strength and collapsing onto the floor.
Lonis breathed a long sigh of relief and murmured:
"Is it... over?"
"Yes, it should be over... But this quiet is only temporary. Though the Tree of Causality Ruins has calmed down for now, it could become restless again at any time. We must obtain Green Temple's power to completely control the situation here."
Perhaps Elucia saw herself in Dr. Ma Run's figure?
Lonis noticed her tone was somewhat melancholy and confused.
So Lonis said:
"Yes, I'm ready~~ Master Elucia, let's open the temple together."
Lonis jumped up cheerfully.
This wasn't because she was particularly happy, but because Elucia was unhappy. Lonis wanted to cheer her up with a >_< expression.
However...
"Sigh, Lonis is so foolish it's heartbreaking."
"Wuu..."
"Alright, let's go look at Green Temple's entrance first. I'm fine."
"Oh..."
Lonis walked to the emerald door and, following previous practice, pushed hard.
But...
It didn't budge.
"Eh?"
Lonis thought her strength was too small and pushed hard again... But the emerald door stood like a wall, firmly blocking Lonis's path.
"E-Elucia, what's happening? Do I need to cut my palm again?"
"Mm... But if blood sacrifice were needed, you'd at least sense something... Lonis, can you feel a peculiar power?"
"Power?"
Only now did Lonis notice that though the emerald door was special, she couldn't feel a unique aura like before.
"No, I can't..."
"Yes, that's right. Currently Green Temple has no master, so one must receive certification from an inheritor to enter."
"Does this mean... I'm not qualified?"
"It's not that you're unqualified, but since you've already obtained Flame Abyss inheritance, gaining Tree Abyss inheritance again is difficult... It's equivalent to one person not being able to work two jobs simultaneously. Because obtaining Tree Abyss inheritance also means taking on the responsibility of reforestation and reviving the Boundless Lands."
"Eh?! Then... what do we do?"
Hearing Elucia say this, Lonis suddenly panicked.
She thought she'd be like legendary heroes, automatically gaining magical powers wherever she went. But reality seemed not so simple.
"It's simple. We just need second certification. And first inheritance can be given to someone else."
"Eh?"
"Let's go out and regroup with everyone first. Yi Cheng and Dr. Okali should be safe too."
Walking upward, in the hall where the Tree of Causality Ruins was located, Lonis saw her companions.
But not only Dr. Okali and Yi Cheng—even Suling and Bai Ye had come.
"Suling, how did you..."
"Wah ah ah, Lonis, you don't know—the weather changed outside!"
"The weather changed?"
"Yes, many bare tree branches suddenly grew from the ground, and lots of strange vines appeared, wrapping around the ancient city. We were worried about the situation and came down to provide support..."
Zhou Suling looked somewhat flustered, not having seen such scenes before.
Yi Cheng appeared calm and said: "Yes, that's how it was. After we destroyed all the branch hearts, we met Suling and Bai Ye who came to support us. We just worked together to move the unconscious researchers to a safe place."
"Sigh, everyone's acting on their own initiative."
Though seemingly "scolding," Elucia smiled faintly, showing a very happy expression:
"But this is good too. Let's all go to Green Temple together. Now it's time for the big lottery."
"Big lottery time?"
"Yes, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is right now."
Under Elucia's explanation, everyone came to that emerald door.
Suling was seeing such a place for the first time and couldn't help being amazed:
"This is Green Temple, as famous as Clear Temple at school? It feels... amazing."
"Yes, if you accept the temple's inheritance, you'll gain powerful strength, but at the same time... you'll also bear an inescapable mission."
Yi Cheng sighed and said to Suling: "Suling, I don't recommend you obtain Tree Abyss power, because you still have many future possibilities and needn't be restricted to this."
"Senior Yi Cheng..."
"Then let me do it?"
Compared to Suling's confusion, Dr. Okali seemed much more decisive: "Though I don't know what price must be paid, Dr. Ma Run wanted to obtain this power, right?"
"Yes."
"Then if I obtain it, it would fulfill his wish. After all, Ma Run and I were once colleagues, and we both hoped the Boundless Lands could become green and lush."
......
Dr. Okali stepped forward, her slender fingers touching the emerald door, and magical things happened.
The originally calm door surface, like plant roots growing, manifested countless fluorescent green veins. A soul-touching magical wave spread out, making everyone feel warmth in their hearts.
Like flower fragrance, or like feeling a gentle breeze across endless meadows in spring.
"Did it succeed?"
"No, Dr. Okali failed too."
"What?!"
Though Dr. Okali had exerted all her effort, the emerald door still didn't open.
"This is..."
"Dr. Okali, Green Temple acknowledges your intentions, but as an inheritor, you haven't qualified."
"Wh-why..."
"I don't know either. Perhaps you can't bear loneliness."
Saying this, Elucia sighed.
In fact, obtaining Rainbow Abyss inheritance was extremely difficult... If Lonis loved life and possessed a righteous heart wanting to drive away all filth, she wouldn't have entered Flame Abyss Temple so smoothly initially.
"I can't bear loneliness? Yes... perhaps I truly can't have the resolve to bear everything alone like Ma Run..."
Dr. Okali lowered her head dejectedly.
"Then, Elucia, what do we do? I can't, Okali and Zhou Suling can't either, so..."
"So we must rely on the final savior."
"Eh, savior? Do you mean Senior Yi Cheng?"
"No, Bai Ye... Can I entrust you with the work and mission of reviving the Boundless Lands and accepting Tree Abyss?"
Gazing at the white-haired doll's face, Elucia said with utmost seriousness.