Chapter 161: The Greedy Genesis Seed
I opened my eyes to find myself back in Han Renyi's body, standing before the Ancestor's Tree at the Three-Leaf Clover Sect. The transition from the crystalline heart-space had been seamless – one moment discussing plans with Astralis, the next materializing here in the physical realm. Han Renyi's consciousness remained asleep, still recovering in that strange space between worlds.
Looking up at the massive tree before me, I couldn't help but smile at how it responded to my presence. Its branches swayed with obvious excitement, despite the complete absence of wind. If trees could wiggle with joy, this one was definitely doing its best impression.
"Someone's happy to see you," Astralis commented, materializing beside me with a faint shimmer of starlight. In the physical world, he looked somehow both more and less real than he had in the heart-space, but the stars in his hair were barely visible now.
"Well, we did have quite the bonding experience," I replied, remembering how the tree had helped me put the Seventh Ancestor in his place.
Though I suspect it had more to do with the World Tree Sutra's influence than my sparkling personality.
"Shall we begin?" Astralis asked, his boyish features taking on that serious expression that always looked slightly out of place on his young face.
I nodded and stepped forward, placing my palm against the tree's enormous trunk. The bark felt warm beneath my touch. Closing my eyes, I focused inward, reaching for the familiar energy of the blue sun in my inner world.
The connection formed instantly, like two old friends reaching out to clasp hands. I felt the moment my eyes began glowing with that distinctive blue light – not that I could see it myself, but the sudden gasp from a nearby sect disciple told me everything I needed to know. Poor kid had probably just been heading out for morning practice, only to stumble across what looked like that same mysterious figure from before back but now communing with their sacred tree.
The energy flowed smoothly from my blue sun into the tree, and the response was... spectacular.