Chapter 685 – Dreamweaver World 23

Even though Mo Lan was still only a Level 7 Beast Speaker and didn’t meet the level requirements for her remaining skill books, that didn’t stop her from studying them as textbooks.

She leisurely took root in the flower bed in her Trailing Orchid form, stretching her petals while basking in the warm afternoon sun and using her psychic power to read through the several animal transformation skill books she’d just consumed.

Just then, a colorful patterned swallowtail butterfly she knew all too well alighted gracefully on the “trailing orchid” beside her.

She had seen this butterfly many times before—practically every visit to the flower bed, she’d spot it flitting among the blossoms.

Yet the very next second, this “butterfly” spoke in Human Speech: “Sula! It’s almost time for the orchid-type Transfiguration class—what are you still doing here?”

And that “trailing orchid” that had been Mo Lan’s neighbor for three days—the one she had been absolutely certain was a real plant—suddenly unfurled its petals beside her. Its stem swayed elegantly, and in the blink of an eye it transformed into a dream citizen girl with a head full of thin braids.

“I know, I know!” The dream citizen girl named Sula waved her hand dismissively. “I was just giving the adventurer a demonstration!”

As she spoke, she winked at Mo Lan.

Mo Lan froze instantly, deeply grateful that orchids couldn’t blush.

These past few days, she had been treating every last detail of this “trailing orchid” as a textbook to imitate.

From the rhythm of water absorption through the roots, to the angle at which petals turned to follow the light, even the trajectory of dewdrops rolling off leaves—who could have imagined that this was a dream citizen disguised so perfectly?

After composing herself, she reverted to human form and praised: “Your Transfiguration is incredible! I didn’t notice at all!”

“Don’t be discouraged! I’ve been practicing since I was little—twelve years now—before I could reach this level!” Sula bounced over with a grin, studying Mo Lan with a hint of curiosity.

“Actually, you’re the impressive one—you learn so fast! Every time I see you in the flower bed, your progress is huge! Only three sessions and you’re already at this level. That’s really amazing.”

The “colorful swallowtail” landed on Sula’s shoulder and offered its critique: “Your movements are still too uniform. A real trailing orchid wouldn’t sway every leaf exactly by the textbook. And… your pollen is far too bland and flavorless—nothing like a real flower.”

Mo Lan listened carefully to the feedback. Only now did she realize how clumsy adventurers’ skill book transformations looked in the eyes of dream citizens who specialized in this kind of Transfiguration.

Skill books provided only the standard answer, but truly perfect transformation required going beyond textbook rigidity.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen an adventurer try to transform on their own without a skill book!”

Sula clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head as she sized up Mo Lan. “Why don’t you come to Transfiguration class with me? It’s taught by Senior Gniewen, the plant transformation master! Today’s lesson happens to be orchid-type transformations.”

Mo Lan’s eyes lit up.

She had seen the name Gniewen on the forums—the most powerful Instructor for the Forest Warden profession in Greenwood Village. Rumor had it she could freely switch between over a thousand plant transformations, perfectly replicating every growth stage of each plant.

By all rights, Gniewen should have had plenty of plant transformation skill books available, but every strategy guide noted that “this dream citizen’s affinity is extremely difficult to raise,” and very few people had ever managed to buy Gniewen’s skill books.

But those who did all reported that the effects of her skill books were superior to those from other dream citizens.

Mo Lan certainly wanted to go, but: “Are adventurers allowed to attend your Transfiguration classes?”

Sula burst out laughing and produced a glistening leaf-shaped badge from the small cloth pouch at her waist. “Take this! I’m Instructor Gniewen’s teaching assistant—I can bring one auditor!” She pinned the badge to Mo Lan’s collar, and the leaf immediately took root as if growing there, fastening itself firmly in place. “Instructor Gniewen appreciates students who work hard and have talent the most. She’ll definitely like you!”

The “colorful swallowtail” had already reverted to its original form by now and circled around the two of them. “If we don’t leave now, we’re really going to be late! Last time someone was late, they got punished by being turned into a pitcher plant and standing there for an entire day!”

The three of them hurried through the village and arrived at a tree hollow at the base of an enormous tree.

Sula made a hushing gesture and gently pushed open a wooden door wrapped in glowing vines.

Inside was a hemispherical space where over a dozen dream citizens had already taken root on the ring-shaped tiers in various orchid-type plant forms—elegant moonlight orchids standing tall and graceful, night-fragrance orchids still in bud…

In the center of the room, an enormous, fully translucent Crystal orchid was critiquing the orchids’ transformation results.

Sensing the newcomers, the Crystal orchid’s leaves turned slightly toward the door. “Sula, Vixi…” Its voice was like clear spring water striking stone. “You’ve brought… an adventurer?”

Every orchid turned to “look” in unison—though they had no eyes, Mo Lan could feel countless scrutinizing “gazes” upon her.

Sula stuck out her tongue, swiftly reverted to her trailing orchid form, and took root in an empty spot, waving a “hand” at Mo Lan: “Hurry, come on!”

Mo Lan took a deep breath and performed her Trailing Orchid Transformation under everyone’s watchful eyes.

The moment she completed her transformation, the room erupted in a chorus of rustling leaves—the dream citizens in orchid form were applauding.

The Crystal orchid’s stem curved elegantly in a gesture resembling a nod. “Interesting. An adventurer who transforms without skill books…”

One of her leaves tapped gently against a crystal-like petal. “Today’s topic is—how to make the flowers of an orchid transformation wilt naturally. Would you like to give it a try, young adventurer miss?”

Mo Lan’s petals trembled with excitement. “Thank you, Instructor Gniewen. My name is Moira!”

Only then did she realize that the Trailing Orchid Transformation she’d learned from the skill book was forever frozen in a state of perfect bloom—petals full and upright, colors vivid and lush. But how could a real flower never wilt?

Why had she been so convinced Sula was a real flower? Wasn’t it precisely because when they first met, Sula had been just a bud, and Mo Lan had watched her blossom bit by bit?

The Crystal orchid withdrew her gaze with satisfaction, tacitly accepting that today’s class now had one more adventurer in attendance.

“Everyone’s here. First, watch my demonstration…”

The Crystal orchid began to undergo a wondrous transformation: the edges of the outermost petals gradually curled inward, tinged with a faint withered yellow; the pollen sacs within the stamen shriveled and closed one by one; even the stem slowly lost its luster… The entire wilting process looked utterly natural.

“Pay attention to the rhythm of energy reflux,” the Crystal orchid’s voice grew hoarse as her form changed. “It’s not simply cutting off the supply—you must simulate the natural process of a plant drawing nutrients back into its root system.”

Mo Lan studied Instructor Gniewen’s transformation techniques with rapt attention… This was true transformation artistry! Not the imitation of a single fixed form from a skill book, but the supreme mastery of simulating even a plant’s most fundamental life processes. (End of Chapter)