Chương 357: Wisdom's Attempt at Gathering Forces. Domain-Wide Sylvan Quest!

Domain-Wide Sylvan Quest!

[Corruption Rate: 1%]'Corruption?' Liu Shu was confused. Moreover, as soon as that text appeared, Wisdom and the System started going back and forth. [Wisdom: Unlock part of the <Hidden Title>, Tianlian Liu Shu can't be corrupted.] [Unable to proceed with the directive. Not enough authority.] [Wisdom: Corruption should not be able to affect Tianlian Liu Shu. Activate a weakened version of the <Hidden Title>.] Liu Shu could hear a slight anger in the usually indifferent voice.

Sadly, the system was not compliant this time around. [Unable to comply. Natural corruption can't trigger the conditions or even a weakened version of that <Hidden Title>, the reasons are not enough.] [Wisdom: … Activate it.] [Unable to comply.] [Wisdom: …] [Wisdom: Tianlian Liu Shu, don't fall to corruption. <World Tree Wisdom> will try to cushion the side-effects of the corruption like mood and personality changes. Deal with the enemy Corrupted World Tree before you lose your mind beyond the limit.] [Time Left before Corruption reached 75%: 17 Days.] [Wisdom: Creating <Sylvan Quest>...] [Not enough authority.] [Wisdom: Don't rush. Check the details and then issue the <Sylvan Quest> if you find it appropriate.] [Analyzing…] A noticeable clock appeared in the corner of her vision, and Liu Shu realized that she was unable to hide it. The clock showed an extra 13 hours beyond the 17 days.

Making quick calculations, Liu Shu knew that she needed to conquer the Corrupted World Tree 17 days from today at midnight. If she was unable to achieve that… Liu Shu didn't know what was going to happen, but it was something that she didn't want to find out.

'I wonder what quest they are crafting?' Knowing that there was something on the line beyond a showdown between her and a powerful enemy, Liu Shu quickly thought of communicating with the others. However, she didn't need to as a message popped in her sight. [Wisdom: <Sylvan Quest: Fate Of The World Tree> has been given to everyone in Tianlian Liu Shu's domain.]'Huh? Everyone?' BOOM! A powerful counterattack from the Corrupted World Tree took Liu Shu's attention, and she frowned.

'I don't have time to check anything else. <World Tree Calling>!' [New <Sylvan Quest: Fate Of The World Tree>] [Tianlian Liu Shu is fighting against a powerful Corrupted World Tree. During the battle, Liu Shu's defenses failed to protect her, and the enemy is trying to corrupt her. Fight against the <Dark Aether Swamp> and save her! Corruption Rate: 1%] [Conditions: Only Level 24+ are able to accept the <Sylvan Quest>.] [Objective: Defeat the Corrupted World Tree before the deadline: 17 Days and 13 hours.] [Reward 1: +1 Level.] [Reward 2: Affinity with World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu +10.] [Reward 3: You'll gain <Title: Gratitude>.] <Gratitude>: Your heroic spirit and deeds won't go unnoticed. When dealing with people honestly, you will receive a 20% increase in your ability to convince people. +10% Experience Points Gained inside World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu's domain. +5% Stats inside Tianlian Liu Shu's domain.

You'll be able to enjoy all of World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu's buffs to the fullest as long as you don't betray her. [Failure: You'll gain <Title: Doomed World>.] <Doomed World>: Having been unable to protect the last hope, you will be unable to hide your stats page anymore and have an aura of darkness follow you. Stats -10%. Your <Energy Cycle> completion rate will be capped at 40%. [Do you want to take on this quest? In case of taking the <Sylvan Quest> and not participating properly, there will be an additional punishment regardless of the result of the <Sylvan Quest>.] [Punishment 1: -5 Levels.] [Punishment 2: Overall stats -20% for 1 year.] Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. [Punishment 3: You'll gain <Title: Mark of a Coward>.] <Mark of a Coward>: You promised to help a World Tree but then decided against it, showing your lack of commitment and opportunistic behavior. Your natural affinity with others decreases, and first impressions about you won't be positive. Experience Points earning rate -10%. There was a huge uproar in all the cities and sects inside Liu Shu's domain.

"What!? Lady Liu Shu is fighting against the <Dark Aether Swamp>?"

"Hey. Aren't these names too exaggerated? The hope of the world? Doomed World? Heh, the System is too funny. Who will participate with such harsh failure conditions?"

"How could you say that!? We need to go and save Lady Liu Shu! Haven't you been receiving her blessings and benefits during all these years!? Now it is the time to return at least a little bit of what she has given us!" However, at this moment, the ugly and selfish side of the human heart shone like never before. A man answered, angered.

"What does whatever happens to the World Tree have to do with me? If she fails to even deal with something like this, won't I be making a loss living near her?" A woman shouted.

"Right! She is supposed to be the guardian of our cities! If she can't protect herself, are we supposed to protect her?"

"If she orders us to help, I'd rather leave this place! I am sure that there will be other places where my skills will be useful."

"If you are so heroic, why don't you go and fight!? I've spent too many years reaching Level 25. I won't lose my life for something like this. Worst case scenario, I'll move!" Other people retorted.

"Ungrateful bastards! Even a dog knows how to return kindness when they are fed!"

"Do you really believe that you could've reached Level 25 without the exotic products that are sold in the Golden Sap Province!? Delusional!"

"If you are not willing to protect the World Tree, what the hell are you doing here!? Leave now! Nobody wants cowards like you!"

"<Mark of a Coward> is indeed a good name for that title. It should be given to everyone who doesn't participate! Useless pigs!" The back and forth between the population almost made a riot start. Thankfully, Ignatia's children appeared to quell the unrest. A swarm of ants poured out of the nest and quickly separated the groups about to fight. There were some people who thought too highly of themselves and had never seen the brutality of the ants, so they resisted. A Level 34 woman shouted shrilly.

"What are you doing pushing me away, insect!? You dare to block my way!? <Ice Pike>!" The ant that was separating people gently and carefully with her mandibles was taken by surprise, and before she could react, a massive ice projectile struck her. The strength behind the attack was too much, and her carapace gave in. The Level 20 ant was brutally impaled and instantly killed. Everyone around suddenly turned silent.

'S-She killed an ant!? Is she crazy!?' The woman sneered and looked around.

"If another ant dares touch me, see if I don't slaughter all of-." BOOM! A terrifying aura spread around in the sky, choking the next words that she was going to say. Terror filled her heart as her body screamed to her to flee. Quickly looking in the direction of whatever was making her so afraid, she spotted a fairy hovering right above her. The facial expression of the pink-winged fairy almost made her pee herself in fear. Flor descended on that location.

Her face was twisted with wrath as her eyes looked at the woman crawling away from her. Then, her voice boomed in the entire city thanks to her Aether Mana spreading the sound far and wide.

"Whoever injures one of our precious ants, DIES!" Then she waved her hand, and Spatial Aether Mana burst forth mercilessly. BOOOM! The Level 34 woman couldn't even scream before she was splattered on the ground like a bug being stomped. Everyone around couldn't help but look at the angered <Flower Fairy> with fear and deference. Flor descended by the side of the ant and caressed the head of the immobile ant. With a slightly pained tone, Flor whispered.

"Sorry, child. I couldn't react and was unable to protect you." Then, her voice spread around the entire city once more.

"Participating in the <Sylvan Quest> is not mandatory! Those who don't want to participate can choose not to! There won't be any punishment as well! For those who participate, the <Golden Sap City> will reward everyone with a one-year tax exemption! Moreover, they will have priority when buying any material produced by World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu!" Flor added one more sentence.

"These rewards will be given out regardless of the outcome of the mission!" She was assured to say this sentence because the <Sylvan Quest> itself had terrifying enough punishments for failure. Once someone accepted this mission, not participating was not an option. Not to mention, she could also see what the System had done to maximize participation. It gave just +1 Level. However, the lower limit of participation was Level 24.

The number of Level 24s stuck because they were unable to breach that bottleneck was in the tens of thousands just in Golden Sap City. Not to mention, Level 29s, 39s, and 49s were also not few! There might be a few hidden dragons and crouching tigers at Level 59 that might become interested in participating! Those people would be practically forced to participate since the +1 Level with no strings attached was too tempting.

Then, affinity was just like sweet candy for any person who thought of Liu Shu as a superior being, like a goddess or something similar. Gaining affinity with a World Tree meant that when interacting, the World Tree would have better impressions by default. It was a matter of changed perception. Finally, the title <Gratitude> was terrifyingly potent. The comparison between someone with that title and someone who didn't have it was vast enough to snowball the other person out of sight.

The Experience Points and stats were powerful benefits, but the primary and definitely most influential benefit was the 20% increase in the ability to convince people. For any business, any buy/selling action, when trying to climb the social ladder, or when interacting with people, this small push was the little push that might turn a no into a yes. Galia looked at how people started calming down under Flor's management, and she felt gratified.

'Indeed, Lady Liu Shu's mother is not just a vase.' Looking at the <Sylvan Quest>, Galia directly chose to accept it. During the last few days, she explored the area and saw how the city and surroundings were being developed. The allied powers had incredible potential, and the World Tree's might was beyond her imagination. After all, the ongoing fight was between a Level 60+ Corrupted World Tree and a Level 40+ World Tree.

The twenty levels in between were like an unbreachable chasm for most, but Liu Shu had the initiative and managed to keep it for the entirety of the week. Regardless of the debuffs a Corrupted World Tree had when facing a normal World Tree, Galia was under no illusion that Liu Shu's achievements were an easy or effortless feat. Two pillars of green light appeared by the World Tree's side, and two piercing hissing sounds echoed out with terrifying strength.

Looking upward, she saw two massive Arboreal Winged Serpents rushing toward the horizon at a ridiculous speed.

"Two Level 50 summons… Haha, she never ceases to amaze me." Then, she shook her head and spoke to Cestia, Fertalia, and the others.

"Let's go. We have a Corrupted World Tree to uproot."