Chapter 463 - 41: A Deal with the Crystal Core Giant (Part 2)

Chapter 463: Chapter 41: A Deal with the Crystal Core Giant (Part 2)

(￢?￢)? "Aren’t our military merits recorded jointly by your administrative and military centers?"

"There’s no physical token for military merit, so how did it add to yours?"

Lin Yu was puzzled. He scanned the military merit records in the administrative and military centers with his consciousness, noted Chenxi’s total, and then had her pick another leaf from the Money Tree.

The leaf likewise flickered a few times and vanished.

Lin Yu kept his consciousness fixed on the military merit records. Chenxi’s military merit entry blurred for a moment, and then the value increased by ten thousand.

"Whoa? It actually increased?"

Filled with curiosity, Lin Yu had Chenxi try a few more times. Every time, the numbers in the military merit ledgers of the administrative and military centers changed.

The change happened without any warning, and with no detectable energy fluctuations.

Lin Yu even observed it from the World Tree’s perspective but still couldn’t figure out how the data was changing. He could only conclude that this was a divine ability of the Money Tree, a divine-grade plant capable of altering the very rules of reality.

Dong Lin and Shadow picked a few leaves as well, and just as before, their military merits increased too.

Furthermore, not every leaf added exactly ten thousand military merits. The amount varied depending on the leaf’s size; ten thousand was simply the standard.

Strangely, however, the Money Tree Leaf in Lin Yu’s hand kept flashing without disappearing.

Dong Lin glanced at Lin Yu’s hand, her curiosity piqued. "My Lord, why haven’t the leaves you picked disappeared?"

"I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m the lord and have no use for military merits?" Lin Yu was puzzled too. ’This Money Tree’s ability isn’t all that great...’

The words were barely out of his mouth when the Money Tree Leaf in his hand vanished.

"Your points have increased by 1,000." A message appeared in Lin Yu’s mind. It wasn’t in any language he’d ever heard, yet he understood its meaning perfectly.

Lin Yu instinctively opened the system’s point store. He glanced at his total and then picked another leaf.

This time the leaf didn’t flicker for as long. It flashed a few times and vanished.

Sure enough, his point balance in the store had increased—this time by 999.

"Holy shit! This is incredible!"

Lin Yu gazed at the tree full of coin-like leaves with only one thought in his mind: ’I’ve hit the jackpot!’

"Chenxi, make the arrangements. From now on, no one is to enter this area without permission!"

"Yes!"

"Alright, alright, that’s enough sightseeing. Everyone, dismiss. We’ll continue practicing in the arena tomorrow."

"Before you leave, go ahead and pick some leaves. Consider it a bonus for the last few days’ work!"

...

「More than ten days later」

On the eastern side of the territory, Lin Yu’s avatar led a group of Legendary Heroes out.

After weeks of practice, he had finally gained control over his skyrocketing stats.

Through a process of merging with and separating from his avatar, and with the World Tree supplying the necessary energy, the avatar’s physical stats now matched his main body’s.

Since this was his first time leading a team out of the territory alone—and to the domain of the Crystal Core Giants, no less, who were renowned even to the Goddess—Lin Yu decided it was best to send his avatar.

After they left the territory, Nuclear Crystal Beasts constantly appeared along their path.

Upon seeing Lin Yu and his party, they attacked without hesitation.

These Nuclear Crystal Beasts were tall and imposing, clad in menacing exoskeletons. They had conspicuous Crystal Cores that could unleash a variety of skills.

The sight of a worthy fight filled Lin Yu with excitement, and he charged into battle alone.

Along the way, he fought them one-on-one, and then one-on-many.

Lin Yu was having the time of his life. Fighting against Nuclear Crystal Beasts with such diverse skills, his control over his own abilities reached a new level.

Lin Yu only stopped fighting when they reached the Crystal Core Giant’s castle.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to fight anymore. The main reason was that the Nuclear Crystal Beasts near the castle were no longer the cannon fodder the Crystal Core Giant had sent out. These were the Giant’s elite forces.

And they wouldn’t attack unless Lin Yu’s group showed hostility first.

Attacking them would not only be impolite, but it would also signal that they had come with hostile intentions.

It would be like visiting a client and beating up his dog before you even walk through the door. There’s just no way to spin that in a good light.

Following the intelligence from Pela Tek, the Commander of the Fierce Raptor Druids, Lin Yu passed through a mountain illusion and entered the Crystal Core Giant’s castle.

A human-like statue, about the same height as Lin Yu and the others, came to life as they approached. "Welcome, esteemed guests who have traveled so far! My master awaits you in the castle’s reception hall. Please, follow me."

Lin Yu stared at the "statue" in amazement. Before they drew near, he had sensed no life force from it whatsoever. But now that they were close, the statue had come "alive," possessing the life force and spiritual presence of a true living being.

This was completely different from the robots of the Technology World. No matter how human-like a robot was, it lacked a life force and a spiritual presence; it was, in essence, just a tool. This statue, however, had become a true, living being the moment it activated.

Lin Yu followed the animated statue toward the castle’s center, scanning its body with his Spiritual Power. Unfortunately, a layer of energy within the statue shielded it from his probe.

Lin Yu had a feeling that if he tried to force his way through the barrier, the statue would lose its life.

’Tsk... It even has an anti-theft measure...’

Lin Yu sighed with regret.

Soon, the party arrived at the castle’s reception hall. Passing through the tall, open doors, Lin Yu laid eyes on the Crystal Core Giant waiting for them.

"Hello, guest. You must be the lord of that vast continent," the Crystal Core Giant said, breaking the silence.

Lin Yu countered, "Oh? And what makes you think I’m the lord?"

The Crystal Core Giant let out a hearty laugh. "Through observation, of course. You killed quite a few of my minions on your way here."

"I could see it. By fighting my underlings, your control improved rapidly, and your combat prowess grew just as fast!"

"There’s only one explanation for something like that: you’ve only recently come into this power."

"That’s not something you see from a territory member who became a hero through recruitment or class change. It only happens to a lord who’s received a massive, sudden boost in combat power from a competition reward."

After hearing the Crystal Core Giant’s explanation, Lin Yu no longer saw any reason to hide it and admitted it freely.

"You’re right. I never expected the competition to grant such a massive power boost. I had to train for a long time back in my territory before I felt confident enough to venture out."

"Let me introduce myself properly. I am Lin Yu, Lord of the Divine Wood Territory. And you are?"

"Rock. Lord of Linyin Territory."

"Lord Lin Yu, have you come to my territory seeking to trade?"

"Of course. Based on the reports my people brought back, I’m quite curious about your technology."

"I later confirmed your people’s reputation with the Goddess herself. I didn’t expect your technology would be so highly praised by her."

"However, I didn’t have any suitable goods to trade with you before, so I couldn’t very well send an envoy."

"But now, my territory has acquired something special, so I came as soon as I could."

"Oh?" Rock’s interest was piqued. "And what might that be? Since you learned of our technology from that... *Goddess* of yours and still dare to come trade, I imagine it must be something quite remarkable!"

’A sharp glint flashed in Lin Yu’s eyes. ’The Crystal Core Giant race is as formidable as I thought. Judging by his tone when mentioning the Goddess, they must be a race capable of contending with gods.’

’Either they have their own powerful gods, or their technology is advanced enough to challenge them.’

Lin Yu’s demeanor became even more amiable. "Of course. I’m certain the item I’ve brought to trade will be to your satisfaction!"

With that, Lin Yu had one of his men retrieve a leaf from the Money Tree.

(Once a Money Tree Leaf falls from the tree and is collected, it no longer disappears automatically.)

One of Lin Yu’s Legendary Heroes stepped forward into the middle of the group. He put on a pair of gloves, opened a treasure chest, and picked up a single Money Tree Leaf from inside.

At a signal from Lin Yu, the hero approached the Crystal Core Giant, intending to hand it over.

The statue that had led them there moved to take the leaf, but Lin Yu quickly stopped it. "This item shouldn’t be touched directly by a living being. Perhaps you should wear a glove?"

This only made Rock more curious. He stopped the statue’s advance, bent down, and gently plucked the leaf—which was smaller than his own fingernail—from the hero’s hand.

"This... is the item you wish to trade?"

"What does it do?"

He examined it curiously but could find nothing special about the leaf.

"Just a moment, it’ll happen soon," Lin Yu said. "Its effect varies from person to person, but I assure you, it is valuable to everyone."

The tiny Money Tree Leaf began to flash unceasingly in Rock’s hand.