Chapter 943 – Leaf Flute Performance

After hearing Grandma Matil’s explanation, Mo Lan finally understood. The reason her gains had been so enormous wasn’t because of natural perception at all — it was the legendary “natural resonance”!

And it had continued for several months straight. The plants of the Emerald Forest had grown lush and vibrant, and the Elves of the tribe had benefited greatly as well.

In the inherited memories, there were indeed only a few brief lines introducing “natural resonance,” and Tree Spirit Mother hadn’t elaborated much about it in the dreamscape either.

If Grandma Matil hadn’t told her, she never would have realized she had entered a state of natural resonance.

“No wonder I felt the effects were so incredible, with both my body and psychic power improving so much…” Mo Lan muttered quietly.

Then again, thinking about it the other way around, a Sorceress’s All-Element Magic talent was Unlimited — her affinity with any attribute of magical energy, including the forces of nature, was at the highest possible level. She perfectly met the conditions for triggering natural resonance.

A hint of caution also rose in Mo Lan’s heart. The state of natural resonance was a rare opportunity for any Transcendent who needed the forces of nature, but it also carried the risk of losing oneself mentally and having one’s body undergo lignification.

Just like this time — if Tree Spirit Mother hadn’t noticed in time and awakened her, the consequences of prolonged resonance causing her body to “lignify” would have been unthinkable.

“From now on, I must pay much closer attention to time and my physical condition when practicing natural perception!”

She silently warned herself, “I won’t always be lucky enough to have Tree Spirit Mother watching over me.”

Having thought this through, she also gained a deeper understanding of Grandma Matil’s earlier concerns. The Clan Leader wasn’t trying to restrict her — she had been protecting her in her own way.

Mo Lan slid down the smooth wooden slide beside the platform, gliding lightly to the base of the tree. Her feet landed steadily on the soft moss below. Polly, Celine, and Dominic, who had been waiting down there, immediately crowded around her, their faces wearing a mixture of worry, excitement, and relief.

“Moira! We’re so glad you’re okay!” Polly was the first to rush over, circling around Mo Lan like a lively little fawn, her eyes full of delighted surprise. “Oh! You’ve grown so much taller! You’re almost up to my thigh now!” She gestured with her hands, her tone wildly exaggerated.

Celine also came close. “You had us worried sick. Everyone said you’d entered a state of natural resonance, but we never expected it to last several months just like that. Thank goodness the Tree Spirit was watching over you… But then again, thanks to the natural resonance you triggered, the forces of nature throughout the entire Emerald Forest have been especially active during this time. Polly and I found our training going exceptionally smoothly, and just a few days ago we both successfully advanced — we’re officially Level 1 druids now!”

“Me too! Me too!” Dominic refused to be outdone, thumping his chest proudly, his chestnut hair bouncing in the sunlight. “I’ve advanced to a Level 1 ranger! Now I just need to digest the newly unlocked inherited memories and learn a few Level 1 ranger spells, and I’ll be a proper Level 1 professional!”

His tone was full of pride, and the look he gave Mo Lan carried a hint of gratitude.

“I’m sorry for making you all worry.” Mo Lan smiled a little sheepishly, then felt genuinely happy for them. “Congratulations! You’ve all advanced — that’s wonderful!”

“What’s there to congratulate? We’re nowhere close to you! You’re the genius who triggered natural resonance! You must have gained a lot too, right? Do you feel like you’ve gotten way stronger?” Polly asked her.

“Of course!” Mo Lan said, her face equally proud. “I’ve just officially taken up the druid class! Next, I’m also planning to complete the initiation ceremonies for ranger and bard — I need to try everything before I’ll know which class suits me best!”

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

“I knew it!”

“Congratulations, Moira!”

The three friends immediately offered their heartfelt blessings. “To celebrate Moira coming safely out of seclusion, and all of us advancing!” Polly clapped excitedly and jumped up. “Let’s find somewhere to have a picnic! I’ll bring the raspberry jam I just made! It smells so good!”

“Yes!” The proposal was instantly and unanimously approved.

“Let’s go to that mossy clearing where we watched the wood sprites dance last time. There are lots of edible mushrooms over there — I can make mushroom soup for everyone!” Celine chimed in.

“Then I’ll go to my secret hideout and dig up a jar of my homemade cream fruit wine!” Dominic waved his small hand with the air of someone generously sharing a treasure. “It’s been buried for a whole year — it should be perfect for drinking now!”

“Cream fruit wine!” Polly and Celine both cried out in delighted surprise. This was the only alcoholic beverage that underage Elves were allowed to drink — it was wonderfully refreshing, and no Elf disliked it.

Mo Lan thought for a moment, then said with a smile, “Then I’ll go pick some fresh curling leaves! I can ask you all to be my audience and help me complete the bard initiation ceremony.”

She planned to use the leaves to play a simple little tune, completing the performance required for the initiation.

With the plan set, the four young Elves immediately split up to handle their tasks with remarkable efficiency.

Polly ran home to get her beloved raspberry jam and prepare a picnic blanket. Celine went back for a small pot and seasonings for mushroom soup. Dominic refused everyone’s offers to come along, heading off alone to his “secret hideout” to dig up his treasured cream fruit wine.

Mo Lan climbed the largest curling tree in the tribe, carefully selecting several perfectly shaped, wonderfully supple emerald-green curling leaves.

Before long, they all gathered at the mossy clearing.

Polly spread out a soft picnic blanket and set out the glistening raspberry jam. Celine arranged the washed berries and nuts in neat rows. Dominic arrived carrying a small wooden barrel sealed with broad leaves as if presenting a treasure, its contents giving off a faint fragrance of cream and fruit — the cream fruit wine. Mo Lan clutched her carefully chosen curling leaves, took a deep breath, and under her friends’ expectant gazes, walked to a small open patch of mossy ground.

“I’m going to start now.”

Under the expectant eyes of her three friends, Mo Lan pressed a curling leaf to her lips, closed her eyes, focused her mind, and then gently blew.

Since it had to be an original piece, she thought of what she had “seen” during the natural resonance and played freely, following her heart.

After all, the curling leaves already produced a lovely tone on their own, so even a spontaneous performance wouldn’t sound bad.

Gradually, the music began to stir the forces of nature in the surrounding environment. At times it made the listeners feel the warmth of sunlight, and at other times it seemed as though the fresh fragrance of grass and trees was lingering at the tips of their noses.

Polly and Celine couldn’t help gently swaying their bodies to the rhythm, and even Dominic fell quiet, listening with rapt attention.

When the last note dissipated into the air, Mo Lan lowered the leaf and looked toward her friends with a touch of nervousness.

This was, after all, her very first performance in front of others.