230 Crisis Call (1/2)

If the scene in the subterranean space was retold by the bards on the streets, many people would be fascinated by the rich imagination, but it would be too ludicrous to believe.

How can a beam of sunlight bring about such great changes? They had lived under the sunlight all their life. Why hasn't anything incredible happened to them?

Many people would think like this, but to begin with, humans cannot be compared to plants. Humans can live without sunlight, but they cannot survive long without due to the environment.

Plants, on the other hand, view sunlight as life itself. All its energy is derived from the sunlight.

The palace guards viewed the beam of sunlight as a beam of sunlight, but to the elder tree and treants, this was not a beam of sunlight but a pillar of lifeforce.

While Leon watched the Elder Tree slowly transitioned its crimson leaves to lush green leaves, his mind was still preoccupied with the treant's transformation.

Their new forms no longer had the resemblance of treants but appeared more like something in between an elf and a nature spirit.

Leon no longer knows how he should define their race. A nature elf? An elven spirit?

Regardless of what they should be called, this was for them to decide. A new race had been born on this day, in this subterranean space.

It was not a regression but an evolution.

This should be considered good news, but worry hung over Elder Evergreen's face. Turning to Leon, the elder asks, ”Will this change affect the treatment process?”

The nearby treants also tuned in to listen.

Indeed, no matter what form they had taken, they were still human at heart and it was in human nature to desire freedom. If they cannot free themselves from the Elder Tree, it would have no meaning.

Leon did a quick inspection on Elder Evergreen and he was awed by his discovery. Every cell in the elder's body was thriving with activity and lifeforce. It was hard to gauge how much lifespan the elder had now.

The problem of petrification seemed to have been resolved by the sunlight. The porous and fibrous structural tissues of wood had all been shed, and what is left is the Elder Tree's photosynthetic tissues, but here lies the real problem.

The photosynthetic tissue had all been assimilated and became one with Elder Evergreen's body. It was impossible to separate now. They had become one entity. Leon wore a weird look as this wasn't exactly a bad thing.

”Treatment is no longer necessary. Your body has assimilated the Elder Tree's cells.” Leon said with a pondering look.

”Then…”

One could see the disappointment hung on Elder Evergreen and his fellow villagers' faces when this was said.

However, Leon wasn't finished as he continued, ”This isn't exactly a bad thing though. Have you heard of grafting?”

”Yes, exactly like that. Previously, your fellow villagers all died from final stage petrification after leaving the Elder Tree because there was no sunlight. The plant tissues within slowly died without the supply of energy, but now, that problem no longer exists. It is getting all the energy it is required from sunlight.”

The Elder's eyes lit up once Leon finished his words.

”Then that means that…”

Leon pointed upwards said with a light smile, ”The surface is yours to roam.”

The villagers were all moved with heartfelt expression. Finally, they can now explore the whole wide world.

”Thank you.”

The villagers all stepped forward to thank Leon from the bottom of their heart after their village chief had done so.

”You all don't have to thank me. I didn't do anything.” Leon shook his head helplessly. He did not believe that he deserves to be on the receiving end of their gratitude.

He did not treat their disease and freed them. That was resolved by nature and not by his own efforts. He was not going to take nature's credit.

”No, you are wrong.” Elder Evergreen said sternly. ”You gave us hope and made this possible, child. Before you came, no one would have even dreamt about the surface, let alone attempt to dig a hole to the surface. We were prepared to rot down here for the rest of our lives.”

The villagers all voiced their agreement with their villager chief. This only happened because they came.

”There's just one tiny problem left we might have to trouble you with, child.” Elder Evergreen said with a pinching gesture, before inching closer and whispered, ”Are we still infertile in this new form?”

Leon was speechless and his lips twitched. He did not have a problem checking before when they were still treants, but now? Sorry, he was not interested in looking at another man's tool.

”Why don't you ask your villagers to test it out? It won't be the same as two blocks of wood banging each other anymore.” Leon said helplessly before cracking a small joke.

Elder Evergreen was not offended by his words and laughed heartily. ”Hahaha, that's right. We are not blocks of wood anymore. Hahaha!”

Suddenly, the entire Elder Tree rattled and shook violently as everyone within the village found it hard to stand straight and staggered. Some even fell to the ground.

Soon after the initial impact, the entire subterranean space began to rumble with the sound of battle.

”What just happened?”

Everyone was alarmed.

Leon looked around but nothing seemed out of place except the gradual color-changing leaves.