Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

"Activated Demonic Plant Experiment Subject - No. 7, Named: [The Timid Alchemy Tree]..."

"Using the 'Dark Soil Core' as the carrier and nourishment base of consciousness...integrating the theories of bloodline evolution and alchemical matrix..."

"Establish the principle of equivalent exchange... brute force is ineffective..."

"The pulp contains the primordial essence of 'physical transformation'... The original kernel needs to be nourished and restored with high-purity life essence or pure energy..."

"If deep acceptance is obtained, the complete 'Dark Soil Core' may be transplanted... Forcibly removing it will cause consciousness to dissipate..."

The fragmented information pieced together a rough outline.

Ian's eyes flickered.

The legacy of the ancient "Society of Life Alchemy" or "Secret Society of the Transformers"?

A self-regulating ecosystem that continuously produces top-tier body-refining materials?

A sacrifice is required... Blood Essence? Or a Flawless Magic Stone?

He looked at the blood essence in his hand, which had just been extracted from Samael and was about the size of a longan.

Then he looked at the small silver tree huddled up on the stone platform, trembling slightly, and the "Dark Soil Core" wriggling beneath it.

Ian hesitated for a few seconds, then stepped forward and stopped ten meters away from the stone platform.

He opened his palm and gently placed the still-warm liquefied peak blood essence on the ground using [Wizard's Hand].

Then, take a few steps back and wait quietly.

On the stone platform, the "Dark Soil Core" seemed to be moving at a slightly faster pace.

The silver sapling also quietly stretched out a few branches and leaves, seemingly "looking" at the blood essence.

About a minute later.

On the stone platform, a silver root, thinner than a human hair, slowly extended down.

Like a tentative little tentacle, it gently touched the blood essence.

It touched it and immediately withdrew.

After a few more seconds, more silver roots extended down, entwined the blood essence, and slowly dragged it toward the stone platform, eventually disappearing into the "Dark Soil Core".

The surface of the "Dark Soil Core" glowed slightly with silver light, and it seemed to emit a soft, satisfied whimper.

Then, the tiny silver tree, no bigger than a palm, gradually unfurled.

It has recovered to a height of about one meter, and the branches and leaves have regained their soft silvery sheen.

Silver light gathered between the branches at the top of the tree, and the five silver fruits, each the size of a pigeon egg, slowly emerged from the soil once more, their interiors shimmering with starlight.

This time, the sapling stopped trembling, and the aura it emitted was much calmer, even faintly conveying a hint of goodwill.

"Equivalent exchange... five protocores... truly astonishing skill."

Ian felt certain that his gamble had paid off.

"Gah, it seems... it's not running away anymore, huh?" Ga Ga whispered, looking at the little tree curiously.

Ian nodded, not rushing forward to pick the fruit.

Obtain the fruit according to the information on the metal plate; do not force it.

Moreover, these are not real fruits; the saplings themselves are products of alchemy, only they have been activated.

He observed the few fruits.

The fruit has a smooth surface and hangs quietly.

Suddenly, the fruit on the far left swayed slightly.

Seemingly sensing Ian and Gaga's gaze, two tiny, shimmering silver feet, thinner than toothpicks, sprouted from the bottom of the silver fruit with a "poof"!

Her little feet kicked, and then...

The fruit suddenly jumped off the stone platform!

As soon as the silver fruit landed, it spread its two shimmering silver little feet and "plop plop" rushed towards a crack in the corner of the wall.

"Oh no! Lucy's run away!" another fruit on the stone platform cried out.

Her voice was soft and delicate, like a little girl's.

"Silly Lucy! Don't run around!" another fruit shouted, shaking the leaves on its head.

The fruit named Lucy ignored her completely, kicking her little feet rapidly, almost disappearing into the crack in the wall.

Ian's eyelids twitched.

He flipped his left hand and took out a small crystal bottle from his dimensional ring.

As soon as the bottle cap was unscrewed, a fresh and invigorating aroma of herbs and plants wafted out.

It smells like the [Mind-Calming Potion]. Its main ingredients are Moonflower and Tranquilizing Flower, which have a remarkable effect on stabilizing mental energy.

The moment the fragrance wafted out, Lucy, who was standing by the crack in the wall, suddenly stopped.

Two small feet dangled in mid-air, and the whole fruit wobbled and turned in a different direction, "facing" Ian.

"W-What does it taste like...?"

Lucy mumbled something indistinctly and tentatively took a step back.

On the stone platform, the other four fruits also began to stir.

"It smells so good!"

"It's...it's the scent of moonlight and flowers!"

"Slurp!"

The leaves at the top of the five fruits stand up straight, like five little animals with their ears perked up.

Ian understood.

He crouched down, gently placed the crystal bottle on the ground not far from the stone platform, and then slowly stepped back a few paces.

"Gaga." He winked at Gaga on his shoulder.

Gaga's little eyes lit up, and she knowingly shrank into the shadow of his collar, her breath completely concealed.

Lucy took two more steps forward, and was only three or four meters away from the crystal bottle.

The two small leaves on its head trembled nervously.

"No, no... Mom said we shouldn't eat food from strangers..."

It was talking to itself, but its little feet moved forward another step uncontrollably.

On the stone platform, a slightly larger fruit was shaking anxiously.

"Lucy, come back quickly! It's a trap!"

"But...but it smells so good..."

Lucy's voice was choked with sobs, as if she were fighting against her own instincts.

The other three fruits couldn't resist any longer and jumped off the stone platform one after another.

"Wait for me!" "I want to smell it too!" "Just one sniff..."

The five fruits, arranged in a crooked string, rubbed against the crystal bottle and formed a circle.

The smallest fruit, which seemed to be called "Rice Grain," stretched out two thin, silvery tendrils and carefully touched the bottle.

"It's cold!" it exclaimed in surprise.

"Let me touch it!" "Me too!"

The fruits forgot their vigilance and hurriedly reached for the crystal bottle.

Some even stuck the smooth fruit peel on their "faces" and let out a satisfied sigh.

It's now!

A cold glint flashed in Ian's eyes, and he subtly pointed his right index finger forward.

A wisp of frosty, cold air, thinner than a hair, silently shot out.

He precisely wrapped his arms around Lucy's two small feet, which were the furthest from him and the boldest of them all.

The ultimate micro-management of the Frost Ray only freezes the feet, without harming the main body.

Lucy's little feet were instantly covered with a thin layer of frost, and she froze.

"Oh no! I can't move my legs!" it cried out in panic.

The other four fruits were taken aback.

The next second, the shadow on Ian's shoulder exploded.

The fist-sized Gaa leaped out like a black lightning bolt, its wings flapping and leaving several afterimages in the dimly lit laboratory.

"Shadow Travel" activated!

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It appeared directly above Lucy's head, and with a snap of its two little paws, it firmly embraced the struggling fruit.

"Gotcha!" Gaga exclaimed triumphantly.

His voice was deliberately low and hoarse, with a slight echo.

"You tiny silver bean, you have nowhere to hide before me!"

Lucy was held in its arms, stunned for two seconds, and then burst into tears.

"Help! Vivian! Amy! Mili! Benben! I've been captured by the Great Demon King!"

The small silver tree on the stone platform was also frightened, its branches and leaves trembling, but it dared not move.

The other four fruits then realized what was happening and were terrified.

"Oh no! Lucy has been kidnapped by the Demon King!"

"Run! Go back to Mommy!"

"Drill! Drill!"

The four fruits took off running in a panic towards the stone platform.

But in his panic, he stepped into the largest fruit, named "Vivian," which had been kicked over by Lucy during her struggle.

With a "plop," it slipped and the whole fruit fell over.

After rolling around in the viscous medicinal liquid twice, the silvery fruit peel was speckled with emerald green.

"Waaah! It's stuck!"

Vivian, her voice trembling with tears, frantically tried to get up, but her little feet slipped in the medicine.

Seeing this, Gaga shoved the sobbing Lucy into Ian's hands.

"Ian, catch me, this demon king is on his way!"

It transformed into a black shadow once more, darted around, and appeared beside Vivian, scooping her up with its claws.

"Second one, surrender! Silver Bean!"

"Wow!" Vivian joined the wailing crowd.

The remaining three fruits panicked even more.

The fruit named "Amy" is quite clever. It kicks its little feet hard and plunges headfirst into the ground, trying to burrow underground.

Ian was prepared. He pressed his left hand down in mid-air, and his mental energy formed an invisible barrier, sealing off that small patch of ground.

Amy's head slammed against the barrier with a "thud," making her dizzy and causing her to spin around twice.

He plopped down on the ground, and a few tiny, spinning stars appeared above his head.

"My eyes, my eyes are spinning..." it said, feeling dizzy.

Gaga seized the opportunity and pounced on her, grabbing her tightly.

"The third one has fallen into my shadow prison!"

"Mili" and "Benben" were so frightened that they huddled together, trembling.

Just as Gaga was about to pounce again, Mili suddenly pulled her little feet back, rolled the whole fruit into a ball, and rolled to the side.

Benben followed suit, curling up into a ball and rolling to the other side.

"Huh? You can do that too?" The quack paused for a moment, then became excited.

"Interesting! Behold my 'Shadow Gale'!"

Its body twisted and turned several times in the air, moving so fast that it left a phantom trail.

First, catch up with the rice grain, then press down with your paw and hold it down.

Another refraction blocked the clumsy rolling path, and with a flap of its wings, it stopped.

"Fourth one, fifth one, all captured! Hahahaha!"

Gaga, clutching the last two fruits, flew to Ian, her little head held high, full of pride.

Ian held Lucy, who was crying her eyes out, in one arm, and looked at Gaga's childish "praise me" expression, and his lips twitched.

He looked down at his chest.

The five silver fruits huddled together, each one sobbing.

Lucy: "Waaah! The Demon King is so scary..."

Vivian: "My new clothes... have green spots on them... and I can't wash them out..."

Amy: "My head... my head is spinning."

Mili: "I've been caught... Mommy, help me..."

Benben: "...Hungry."

Ian: "..."

He sighed, took out a few drops of diluted [Mind-Concentrating Potion] from his dimensional ring, and used his mental power to hold it, offering it to the five fruits.

The fresh scent of herbs and trees filled the air once again.

The fruits' cries subsided a little, and they sobbed as they raised their "faces," if their smooth skins could be considered faces.

"For...for us?" Lucy asked cautiously.

"Okay." Ian nodded. "I won't arrest you, but you have to come with me. It's dangerous outside; bad guys will eat you."

The fruits looked at each other.

"If I go with you... will I get enough to eat?" Benben asked softly.

"able."

"Won't we get eaten by the Demon King?" Vivian glanced timidly at Gaga on Ian's shoulder.

Gaga was trying to strike a dignified pose, and immediately puffed out her chest.

"Hmph, I only eat blood essence, I won't eat these worthless silver beans like you!"

Ian flicked its head. "It won't eat. Come with me, it's safe, and there are delicious medicines."

The five fruits huddled together again, making a soft rustling sound as they discussed.

Finally, Lucy, as the representative, scooted forward and touched Ian's finger with one of her silver whiskers.

"Then...you can't lie to us, okay?"

"I'm not lying." Ian held up his little finger. "Pinky promise."

Lucy stretched out her slender whiskers, wrapped them around his little finger, and gently shook them.

"Pinky promise!"

The other four fruits also came over, each extending its slender tendrils and joining together, as if completing a solemn ceremony.

A hint of a smile flickered in Ian's eyes.

He took out a small jade box lined with soft velvet, the inner wall of which was engraved with constant temperature runes, and gently placed five fruits inside.

"Rest here for now, and we'll let you out when we reach a safe place."

The fruits seemed quite happy with their new home. They rolled around and rubbed against the plush fabric before quickly settling down.

Only Benben was still muttering quietly, "Hungry..."

Ian dripped another drop of the potion in, and Benben immediately stopped talking and began to slurp contentedly.

Close the lid and store it away.

Ian looked up at the small silver tree on the stone platform and the "Dark Soil Core" beneath it.

The sapling stood quietly, its branches drooping slightly, seemingly watching the children being taken away without resisting or running away.

It only conveyed a faint sense of reluctance and... a sense of entrustment.

Ian walked to the stone platform and gently poured the remaining half bottle of [Concentration Potion] next to the "Dark Soil Core".

The silvery-gray mud clump wriggled, absorbed the medicinal liquid, and emitted a soft glow.

"I'll take good care of them," Ian whispered.

The sapling's branches swayed gently, as if nodding.

Ian sighed inwardly; the little tree still hadn't fully accepted him in the end.

He immediately stopped and turned around to greet her with a "Gaga".

"Let's go, time to find the Void Anchor Stone."

The cackling bird landed back on his shoulder, licking its paws with lingering satisfaction.

"Wow, being the Demon King is so much fun!"

Ian ignored its childish remarks and strode toward the laboratory exit.

On the stone platform behind them, the small silver tree stood silently watching in the dim light.