Chương 800: Four Ascension Paths.

Liu Shu sank deeply into her existence. Her mind quickly focused on a single whole, and after a long time, she felt an intense sense of clarity. Having her mind in so many places at once, even when she had the ability to, was slightly tiring. If she were not a World Tree, she might've developed secondary personalities. Now that she had refocused, she noticed that this truth might not be too far off.

"The way I act as myself and with my Avatar are… different." She wondered if this was a sign of bipolarity? Shaking her head, Liu Shu sighed and focused on the path in front of her… her <Second Ascension>. A System Message appeared in her eyes. [Tianlian Liu Shu is breaching the 200th Level. <Second Ascension> has become available. Please choose one of the following <Ascension Paths>.] She recalled that in this message, when crossing Level 100, there was an additional line telling her to wait because the paths were being evolved. Recalling how the System didn't do the same this time, she felt somewhat scammed. After all, if she had a choice, she would've probably chosen the Completion Percentages of her <Faith> skills to be poured here. As long as the skills were S- Rank, Liu Shu felt it was sufficient. S+ Rank was a bit too much!

Ascension was, after all, something that occurred once, and that's it. Missing out on any improvement here was a permanent miss of potential!

"Well, I can't do anything about spilled sap. Let's instead focus on the new paths I can choose. Ascension Paths for <Sapling Eternal Universal Tree (Mythical)>: [Juvenile Eternal Everbloom Universal Tree (Mythical)] [Juvenile Eternal Axis Universal Tree (Mythical)] [Juvenile Eternal Abyssroot Universal Tree (Mythical)] [Juvenile Eternal Ethereal Universal Tree (Mythical)] Liu Shu read through those names and was momentarily stumped.

"... Shouldn't there usually be a bad option or so among the options? Clearly, these four are exactly at the same level." The System's message flashed in her mind.

"So, is it true that it can't be upgraded anymore than this?" Looking at the <Mythical> species rank, Liu Shu was a bit unconvinced.

"Couldn't you upgrade them to a <World Core> species or something?" Her grumblings, though, were just that, complaints. Nothing would change. Instead, she sighed and opened each of them, wanting to see what these were about.

"All of them have the Eternal suffix, so will this become permanent?" She didn't know how many <Ascension> there were, but if permanent suffixes appeared one after another, the final name would be a tremendous mouthful…

"Alright, enough. Show me the first one!"

Race: Juvenile Eternal Everbloom Universal Tree (Mythical) Titles: <Everlasting Spring> Talents: <Life Essence Manipulation (S+ Rank)> Passive Skills: <Boundless Vitality (S+ Rank)> Description: A Universal Tree whose existence embodies infinite vitality and eternal flourishing. Wherever this Universal Tree takes root, life endlessly expands and ecosystems evolve toward perfection. Its leaves contain inexhaustible life force, and even dying worlds can be restored beneath its canopy.

Legends say that if this Universal Tree were to reach maturity, all life across the cosmos would bloom under its branches, creating an eternal age of growth without decay.

Liu Shu blinked, confused.

"So few skills?" She recalled that the first <Ascension> each had like three <Titles>, four <Talents>, and two or three <Passive Skills>. Now, the numbers had been reduced to one, one, and one! Although thinking about all the new skills she had acquired, her gaze became a bit relaxed.

"Honestly, I already have a ton of skills. Gaining too many would be… overwhelming. I might not even know what skill to use in each situation in the end." Liu Shu refocused and read the description once more.

"It doesn't sound bad… Still." Her gaze moved toward her <Touch Of The World> skill.

"In terms of Healing, this one is more than enough. Plus, I have World Saint Bloodsap and my Arborarchy skills for plant growth and such. Choosing an <Ascension> that furthers boosts these would be quite… redundant." A small sigh of relief escaped Liu Shu.

'Alright, instead of four, there are three <Ascension> instead.'

"Next, System."

Race: Juvenile Eternal Axis Universal Tree (Mythical) Titles: <Center of Existence> Talents: <Force Essence Manipulation (S+ Rank)> Passive Skills: <Immutable Foundation (S+ Rank)> Description: A Universal Tree that acts as the axis upon which reality itself stabilizes. Its roots anchor dimensions while its crown upholds the heavens, creating harmony between worlds and planes of existence.

Merely standing near this Universal Tree brings an instinctive sense of stability and inevitability, as though the cosmos itself bends around its presence. Should it ever reach maturity, this Universal Tree would become the central pillar of existence, supporting galaxies, dimensions, and cosmic laws alike.

"... Wow." The description honestly left Liu Shu breathless.

"A being that is the center of existence itself, everything revolving around it." She was honestly stunned by this <Ascension>. She had not expected to be such an overwhelming being just from the name. She felt quite tempted by this option.

"It just synergizes well with my <Eternity> attribute. If I am an immutable, eternal, and among those, central existence, isn't that the position of a creator?" Her gaze couldn't help but linger on that evolution for a moment longer before moving on.

"Let's see the others. Choosing without reading the rest would be beyond reckless." This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Next, System."

Race: Juvenile Eternal Abyssroot Universal Tree (Mythical) Titles: <Primordial Darkness> Talents: <Void Essence Manipulation (S+ Rank)> Passive Skills: <Endless Depths (S+ Rank)> Description: A Universal Tree born from the silent depths between stars and dimensions. Its roots spread through the void itself, feeding upon shattered matter, forgotten energy, and abandoned worlds. Unlike ordinary beings of darkness, this Universal Tree does not represent evil, but the inevitable abyss that awaits all things.

Its presence distorts space, muffles sound, and devours light. If it were ever to mature, this Universal Tree would become an endless cosmic abyss into which stars, worlds, and even concepts would eventually sink.

Liu Shu felt as if chills were climbing up her spine. A strange dread bloomed in her heart when looking at this <Ascension>. Yet, what made Liu Shu even more tense was that, amidst this fear… There was an intense attraction. As if this <Ascension> was calling her.

"... Dangerous." Liu Shu truly felt that this <Ascension> was dangerous. If the previous one would make her the "sun" of the universe… this path would lead to becoming the shadow on all things.

"Still…" The real temptation about this evolution was that, if she chose it, the Nexus would become… trivial. Corruption? Sorry, I am its source. I am the abyss itself. Moreover, whatever force was behind the Nexus would, perhaps, end up becoming her ally or a source of growth.

"As long as I don't act up like the Nexus, and since I am a True World Tree, the people who are against the <Corruption Church> and all those other organizations similar to the Nexus will not mark me as an enemy right away." She pondered deeply, but before making a decision, she chose to read the last evolution.

"Alright, show me the final one, System."

Race: Juvenile Eternal Ethereal Universal Tree (Mythical) Titles: <Walker Between Stars> Talents: <Space Essence Manipulation (S- Rank)> Passive Skills: <Infinite Reach (S+ Rank)> Description: A Universal Tree intrinsically connected to the endless expanse of space and dimensions. Its branches stretch across the void while its roots pierce countless layers of reality, allowing it to exist simultaneously across vast distances.

Space bends naturally around this Universal Tree, turning impossible journeys into single steps. If this Universal Tree were ever to reach maturity, its canopy would spread across the cosmos itself, connecting stars, galaxies, and dimensions into a single boundless domain.

Another incredibly tempting option. While it didn't stand out like the previous two, this evolution was basically tailored for her subsequent taking. Liu Shu would start to need to reach out to nearby stars, and do it quickly. While her current speed was not slow, and her roots were accelerating further and further as her control over her <Realm> increased, she felt that to cover light-years of distance, she was still quite slow.

"My Solar System took long because, in the first place, I wanted to take over thoroughly. The distance between stars doesn't need such considerations. Still… My next <Sylvan Quest> will most likely have some space conditions, right?" If the previous was tempting because she would basically become immune to those who wanted to harm her, this one was calling her because it would be best to conquer nearby stars quickly. Even then, together with the first evolution, the fourth one seemed faintly lacking as well.

While all of them were <Young> and <Mythical>, Liu Shu felt that the Axis and Abyssroot paths were a notch above.

"Ugh…" Similar to the previous time, her head began hurting. Missing any of them would leave behind a bitter aftertaste. The only one she felt quite indifferent about was the Everbloom path, and even then, Liu Shu knew that with her berries, this path had incredible potential. What if its skills allowed for her Lignified babies to grow berries faster and of a higher rank? S- Rank berries would basically flow into her coffers in the hundreds of billions.

"So… to summarize. I take either a life focused path, a strength focused path, a dominator path, or a conqueror path…" She felt those were quite accurate summaries, and she was unsure what to choose. My Eternal tree is, in the end, a being that's bound to be… permanent.

"Across all the cosmos, I am the one who has tapped into the strings of time." This was the truth that Liu Shu was always concerned about. No matter how long she extended the Lifespan of her lovers… infinity could never be compared. For a moment, a deep sense of dread surged within her.

'Relax… I am not even 200 years old. Now it's not the time to think about these things.' Soon, she relaxed, her mind becoming placid.

"Good… like this. Calm and collected." Her eyes, which had been spinning, focused again.

"Alright, let's check the skills again and choose. System, show me the detailed descriptions of each skill without numbers." While numbers were important, the percentages and such were similar for each of them. Therefore, showing it would only get in the way of her decision. The best option was for Liu Shu to choose according to general descriptions.

<Life Essence Manipulation (S+ Rank)> The Universal Tree possesses an affinity toward Life Essence that surpasses conventional living beings. Its mere existence nourishes surrounding lifeforms, enriching vitality and accelerating natural growth, or taking it away. As the Universal Tree matures, its influence upon biological evolution, recovery, and the flourishing of ecosystems deepens continuously.

<Boundless Vitality (S+ Rank)> The vitality contained within the Universal Tree is extraordinarily vast and endlessly self-renewing. Its body continuously generates life force, greatly strengthening regeneration, recovery, adaptability, and survivability. Areas permeated by its essence gradually become more fertile, vibrant, and resilient over time.

<Force Essence Manipulation (S+ Rank)> The Universal Tree possesses a profound affinity toward Force Essence, allowing it to naturally influence pressure, gravity, stability, movement, and structural balance. Its existence reinforces the surrounding environment, suppressing instability and making affected regions increasingly difficult to disrupt through external force. <Immutable Foundation (S+ Rank)> The Universal Tree stands as an exceptionally stable existence rooted deeply into reality itself.

Displacement, suppression, and environmental collapse become significantly more difficult against it. The larger the domain connected to the Universal Tree, the stronger its stabilizing influence upon surrounding matter and space becomes.

<Void Essence Manipulation (S+ Rank)> The Universal Tree possesses a powerful affinity toward Void Essence, granting it influence over emptiness, erosion, devouring properties, and spatial hollowness. Regions influenced by the Universal Tree gradually become dimmer and more silent, while weakened matter, energy, and unstable structures may slowly deteriorate beneath its presence. <Endless Depths (S+ Rank)> The internal depths of the Universal Tree are abnormally vast and difficult to perceive completely.

Its reserves, capacity, and absorption capabilities continuously expand over time, allowing it to contain increasingly immense quantities of essence and matter. The more isolated or empty the environment surrounding it becomes, the stronger this growth tendency develops.

<Space Essence Manipulation (S- Rank)> The Universal Tree possesses a highly advanced affinity toward Space Essence, granting it influence over distance, positioning, dimensional connectivity, and spatial movement. Its roots and branches may traverse large distances with increasing efficiency, while spatial distortion and interference become easier to perceive and manipulate.

<Infinite Reach (S+ Rank)> The Universal Tree can maintain stable influence across extraordinarily large distances without significant degradation. Connections established through its roots, branches, dimensions, or linked territories remain synchronized despite separation. As the Universal Tree matures, spatial limitations affecting its expansion and influence gradually weaken.

Liu Shu sighed and then complained.

"This doesn't make it any better!"

Author Note: So… which one would you choose and why? I think all options are quite interesting~.