Chapter 900 – The Tree Heart Matures

Mo Lan accepted the heavy bamboo cylinder with a smile, its surface cool to the touch.

Following her friends’ lead, she found a comfortable position nestled into the vine armchair, settling in beside Sylph. Facing the forest sunset and the rosy glow over the sea, she tilted her head back and took a sip of the hundred-fruit bamboo wine.

A crisp, sweet flavor bloomed instantly across her taste buds. The layered aromas of various fruits were distinct and harmonious, while the bamboo wine base carried just the right hint of a pleasant buzz. A gentle warmth spread through her limbs and body, leaving her feeling thoroughly relaxed.

The four of them lounged lazily in the enormous vine chairs, sipping hundred-fruit bamboo wine as they admired the scenery before them, chatting about what they had seen and experienced over the past few days, sharing inspirations for new Magic.

Sometimes they burst into laughter together over an amusing topic, and sometimes they fell silent, collectively lost in the tranquility and beauty of the setting sun.

The enormous mutated hollow tree swayed gently in the evening breeze.

It was not until nightfall had fully descended—the last traces of sunset glow replaced by a deep blue canopy and the first emerging stars—that they reluctantly rose to their feet. They passed through a small door at the edge of the treetop platform and entered the interior of the hollow tree.

Following a spiral staircase that hugged the inner wall, barely wide enough for a single person, they descended as the space gradually opened up around them.

Lilith led the way, introducing each section with intimate familiarity. “This stretch coming down from the treetop is the narrowest part—only enough room for a staircase, so I haven’t done anything with it.”

Her voice echoed faintly within the hollow trunk.

“A bit further down, this ring-shaped area—” She pointed to a door left slightly ajar beside the staircase. “This is my blood sample repository. I keep some blood cards in here.”

They continued down another level, and Lilith pointed to another door. “This is my laboratory. I do blood analysis and fusion experiments here. My study and Magic training room are also on this floor.”

Another level down, there was a relatively spacious small hall with many little wooden doors around its perimeter. “This floor is the collection room. It holds interesting things I’ve brought back from various worlds.”

When they finally reached the bottommost level, the air around them grew warm and comfortable, and the lighting softened considerably.

The staircase opened into a much more spacious ring-shaped split-level space.

Comfortable sofas were arranged throughout, soft carpets covered the floor, decorative paintings hung on the walls, and there was an open kitchen.

“This is the living quarters,” Lilith said, spreading her arms wide. “Not too shabby, right?”

Mo Lan nodded. The living quarters alone were more spacious than a several-hundred-square-meter mansion.

Lilith led them to a corner of the living level, where an archway leading downward had been naturally formed by intertwining aerial roots. Warm, emerald-green light emanated from within.

“There’s a partial basement level below this. The tree heart is down here.” Lilith pushed open the root-woven door and stepped inside first, with Mo Lan and the others close behind.

What appeared before them was an underground space suffused with the forces of nature.

At the very center of the space, a cradle woven from the most delicate silvery-white rootlets held a jade-like tree heart suspended in the air, emanating gentle yet powerful energy fluctuations.

“It looks like it’s about to mature,” said Sylph, who had already successfully cultivated a mature mutated hollow tree and was the most knowledgeable about the tree heart’s condition.

Lilith nodded and gently placed her palm over the warm, smooth tree heart. “One more infusion of Hybrid Mana should do it.”

Emerald-green Hybrid Mana flowed slowly from her palm into the tree heart.

The tree heart suddenly began pulsing rhythmically, like a heart awakening from slumber. Emerald-green light rippled outward from its center, washing over every gnarled root, every branch and leaf.

Accompanied by a deep hum, Mo Lan could feel the ground beneath her feet trembling slightly. The energy of the entire hollow tree was surging frantically toward the tree heart.

“It’s maturing!” Lilith held her breath. Blinding green light erupted in a sudden burst, illuminating the entire basement as bright as daylight.

Within this radiance, the surrounding root walls began to turn transparent and ethereal, as if dissolving into the light itself.

The trembling intensified, yet came to an abrupt halt upon reaching some critical threshold.

The light faded. The basement was gone.

The tree heart floated before Lilith, slightly larger than before, with a miniature hollow tree visible inside it.

The original basement, the wooden walls all around, and the entire massive tree above—all had vanished.

The four of them stood exposed in a bare pit in the earth.

Lilith stepped forward and carefully cradled the tree heart in her hands. With a thought, the mutated hollow tree reappeared in its original position, and they found themselves back in the basement once more.

“Perfect!” Vasida exclaimed in admiration. “Now you can truly carry this tree with you wherever you go.”

“Once I get my mirror space card, I’m going to place it in the most scenic spot in my mirror space!”

Even with her own mirror space soon to be in hand, Lilith had no intention of wasting this mutated hollow tree that she had painstakingly arranged to her liking.

Mo Lan also planned to find a spot in her own mirror space to plant a tree once she got back.

Sylph checked her pocket watch. “It’s almost midnight. Time to change and get ready for the gathering.”

The four returned to the first-floor living space and changed into the outfits they had carefully prepared for the occasion.

Mo Lan chose a deep purple traditional Witch’s robe. The fabric seemed steeped in the colors of the night sky, with intricate silver-thread embroidery depicting stars and moons in radiant interplay. When she moved, those stars seemed to shimmer ever so faintly.

She let her long hair cascade loosely down her back, lending her an air of languid mystery.

At her collar, she wore a small, exquisite brooch in the shape of a card that glimmered with a subtle glow. Her trusty Wand had transformed into a ring set with a deep Purple Gemstone, worn upon her finger.

Lilith, departing from her usual style, had changed into an extremely form-fitting crimson gown. The dress was made of smooth satin with sharp tailoring that perfectly accentuated her figure.

Most striking of all were the black patterns that appeared and disappeared across the blood-red fabric like flowing veins, adding an air of dangerous allure.

Sylph’s attire was, as always, infused with the essence of nature.

She wore a fresh, verdant green robe in fabric as soft as newborn leaves.

Along the hem and edges, lifelike vines and various flowers were embroidered in thread close to their natural colors, swaying gently with her steps as if a breeze were sweeping across a meadow.

Vasida’s outfit was the most uniquely whimsical of all. She wore a knee-length black tutu skirt with a warm wheat-gold short cape draped over it. The cape was embroidered in vivid colors with all manner of adorable food motifs—from a grinning cake to a soup bowl waving a spoon—making it thoroughly delightful.

When they had finished dressing and gathered once more in the center of the Living Room, the hands of the magical clock on the wall aligned precisely at the midnight position. The teleportation portal to the Witch Academy Semi-Plane appeared before them right on schedule.

The four exchanged smiles, confirmed their outfits were in order, and stepped one after another into the portal. (End of Chapter)