Chương 894: Technology, Apothea, New Avatars.

Liu Shu and the Golden Sap Empire were digesting the gains from the last war rapidly. There were new technological advancements caused by dismantling and researching both the Covenant's and Nexus's motherships that Liu Shu got mostly intact. That was not all; the Fortresses, while Liu Shu destroyed a good part of them during the clash, had also become research centers. Most of the technology was burned, but many archives and systems remained operational even after Liu Shu took over.

Analyzing the code of those systems and further comparing them with the Motherships and other starships allowed researchers to gain an incredible amount of knowledge. As the Golden Sap Empire expanded, Liu Shu found that the one Endless Library was not enough. It wasn't because of a lack of space, but because it existed solely on Ceperet. So, other worlds and Solar Systems had difficulty coming to the Endless Library. Many of those distance-related issues were about to be resolved, though.

While the Golden Sap City, the very central hub where the most influential people lived and developed, was packed to the brim with over 600 million individuals, that didn't mean that there was no way to help erudites and high-class people living outside to reside. In truth, around 5% of each residential area was reserved for guests with special passes. Now, this would make it look as if only the Golden Sap City had good facilities. That was not the case at all.

Most major cities had developed Lignified Trees that, while not as good as the Endless Library, imitated her functions to a certain extent. It was only functional when compared to the Endless Library, but if placed in any other Empire, they would be zones where erudites and researchers would flock like moths to a flame. There were also Apothea, Fortuna, Tree, and many other main structures that could hardly be copied in other cities.

So, Golden Sap City was better than other cities, but not to the point that the other cities were ignored. All in all, Liu Shu felt that she had done a great job at spreading necessary infrastructure everywhere. She could confidently say that it reached over 99% of the population. Using 100% was a touch too arrogant for her tastes, though. She was sure that there was somewhere that either didn't accept it or was unable to be easily reached.

Either way, the Golden Sap Empire was, like almost always, going through a new golden age of technology, development, and strength. First of all, the survivors of the War had gained plenty of Experience Points, and hundreds were reaching Level 200 each month. Apothea's rooms were constantly occupied. Liu Shu visited Apothea today with her Avatar. It was not the first time, as she came regularly. Still, the last visit with her Avatar had been around two or three months ago.

Her main consciousness was constantly connected to her, though. So if Apothea needed anything, Liu Shu was a single call away from being able to answer.

"Moooooommmyyyyyy!" When Liu Shu entered, a girl about the same height as her rushed over, diving into her arms. Liu Shu was faintly surprised, but she quickly opened her arms to catch the girl.

"Oomph!" Liu Shu's Avatar was weak, so she almost fell backward when Apothea slammed against her. Even then, she smiled and caressed her girl's hair.

"Haha, I missed you too, baby." Apothea looked at Liu Shu with a big, sweet smile.

"Hehee. I am working hard to help Mommy! This month, the success rate for those breaking through has been 98. 6 percent! Then, those who had the Ascension Berry activated were about 1. 2% of those who succeeded." Seeing Apothea proudly report those numbers, Liu Shu smiled and grabbed her hand.

"That's impressive. I remember that it wasn't like this at first." Apothea groaned as they walked inside.

"I have wasted many resources. We should've started the breakthroughs after I reached Level 200 instead of rushing…" As they walked around the solemn and gorgeous halls within Apothea's temple-like tree structure, Liu Shu squeezed her hand.

"It's better to waste some resources. Didn't you get a very good <Ascension> option because of your experiences? Everything we do is never a waste; it is always a foundation we build toward future success. Expecting results right away is hoping luck would smile at us." Apothea nodded a few times, listening well to Liu Shu's words. Then, she answered playfully.

"Hehe. With Big Sister Fatebrushing and Aunty Fortuna, isn't luck always smiling at us?" Liu Shu laughed at her answer. It wasn't completely wrong. Even Liu Shu herself had been blessed by a new Destiny-related skill. So, it was true that their Empire's people were all inherently lucky. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! As she walked around, she noticed a woman in Eternal Church robes. Female because she was not human; she was a Star Chart Newt.

A species that was slowly but surely maturing. Star Chart Newts were similar to lizardmen, but their skin was soft and supple. Like the skin of frogs. Their faces were also much more rounded, and their eyes shone like beautiful gems filled with starlight. Their belly area was fairer than the rest of their body. So if the outer skin was deep blue, their belly would have a teal hue. Their tails were slick as well, dragging behind them as they walked.

This one in particular had a deep yet gleaming black hue as her outer skin, while the belly area was fully a light lilac color, almost white. In Star Chart Newt culture, the larger the contrast between outer and inner skin, the more attractive. So, this female Star Chart Newt could be described as a peerless beauty among her species. Her facial features, while reptilian, were soft, rounded, and attractive even to someone with human preferences. And her eyes glowed with a mysterious green color.

She was beautiful even by human standards. Still, these colors were not her natural colors. They had changed because of her status. Previously, her belly area had been a slightly deeper blue, and her eyes were also deep blue. When she noticed Liu Shu walking with Apothea, the woman's expression showed a trace of shock for a moment before she quickly bowed down in respect.

"Eternal Avatar Starlishia greets Lady Liu Shu." An <Eternal Avatar>. That was the reason for her color change. Back then, when Elyne became one, her blonde hair and green eyes turned jade green and purple. It was because she was influenced by Liu Shu's presence. In other species, these two qualities manifested differently, but they always targeted their "attractive features." In humans, that was the eyes and hair. In Sylvans, it was the eyes and the fruit's main hue. It varied greatly.

Also, regarding her way of calling Liu Shu, remember that while Saintesses still needed to call Liu Shu Heavenly Willow, those above, meaning Avatars and Apostles, could and were taught to call Liu Shu by her true name. If someone became an Avatar, or, going further, an Apostle, it was clear that they were individuals who deeply trusted, believed, and loved Liu Shu herself. So, taking the high road would only hurt that relationship. Liu Shu naturally knew who her Avatars were.

They were not called as such without justification.

"Oh? You are here, Starlishia. Have you managed to reach Level 100?" A woman who became an <Eternal Avatar> before Level 100. Starlishia, born after the migration to the Golden Sap Empire, was someone who received Liu Shu's blessings since birth. Even as a Star Chart Newt, her parents didn't really hate Liu Shu for what she did back then. Therefore, she became one of the first few perfectly adapted Star Chart Newts in the empire.

Moreover, she was also chosen at birth by Little Fatebrushing, showing her absurd potential. And potential, she had plenty to boast about. S Tier Aether, S Tier Anima, A+ Tier Physique, and A+ Tier Willpower. Her Destiny Stat could be considered SS- Tier. For a Star Chart Newt, she was one of the strongest powerhouses, and now one of Liu Shu's most talented up-and-coming Avatars. Starlishia straightened her posture, her jade-green colored eyes gleaming softly.

"Yes, Lady Liu Shu. I was able not only to reach Level 100, but the effects of the <Ascension Berry> also triggered. I have become an infant-age, Mythical-Class species." Liu Shu was surprised. That was the same rank Liu Shu got when she Ascended for the first time! She had become a Sapling-age, Mythical-Class Universal Tree species.

"That's incredibly good news. I am sure Elyne will be delighted. You are one of her few personal disciples, right?" Starlishia smiled.

"That's indeed the case. It is all thanks to Lady Liu Shu's blessings and Miss Apothea's blessings." Apothea giggled.

"Don't be too humble! Your first Ascension choice was already an infant-age, Legendary-Class species! The Ascension Berry boosted that Legendary to Mythical, hehe." This was one of the few perks Apothea had. As a tree wholly developed and grown to assist with Ascensions, she had passive skills, talents, and titles that worked in that direction. Among the many passive skills, Apothea had gained the ability to peer into what species and choices people had when Ascending within her.

This helped the Golden Sap Empire keep track of their top talents as well. Trusting people was one thing, but blindly giving them top-tier resources without control was a foolish errand. Privacy with limits was best when you were nurturing a talent with state resources. After speaking a little bit more with the Star Chart Newt, they moved away slowly. Starlishia left the building with a satisfied smile. Seeing Liu Shu's Avatar was rare, so she felt refreshed and happy with the encounter.

'As expected, Lady Liu Shu is constantly wrapped in mystery.' Even with her talent, it was impossible to even scratch the surface of Liu Shu's destiny and path. It wasn't that she actively tried to look. Many of her new Passive Skills were constantly active, giving her the ability to just "see" part of destiny itself. Everyone else had some colors, shapes, or different imagery around them. Meanwhile, Liu Shu's surroundings were… blank. There was absolutely nothing.

In a world where everyone else was illuminated, that stillness felt several times more mysterious than any divine view.

'It's as if Lady Liu Shu is part of the universe itself. Nothing to read because… she is everything.' Having received such enlightenment, Starlishia returned to the <Eternal Cathedral> to pray and spread some gospel. Meanwhile, Liu Shu arrived at Apothea's personal room and spent time with her there for the rest of the day. They ate some delicious things, spoke about Apothea's skills, and Liu Shu asked how she was getting along with her nearby sisters and other trees.

Like a child coming back from school, Apothea blurted out everything while hugging Liu Shu's arm. Her clear and happy voice could almost be heard constantly in the room. In the background, the Covenant and Nexus were going through a troublesome time.