Above the mage

Chapter 267 Coveting

"Is it time to advance?!"

"Advanced?"

The first excited and high-pitched voice came from Elder Grant.

The second voice was much calmer, but with a slight ripple, and that came from Sunefa.

Their gazes were now focused on little Flora.

Flora nodded her head firmly and affirmatively. "Yes, it's about to advance."

After receiving a definite answer, Elder Grant first glanced at Sunefa and said with excitement and admiration, "The Guardian Tree will advance from the fifth to the sixth tier under the War Mother's rule. This proves that the War Mother is the chosen one, a War Mother unlike any other in the Zhenbing Tribe in a thousand years, bringing good fortune to the tribe!"

Goodness, you look so handsome, but I never expected you to be such a smooth talker when it comes to flattery. Gaode was so disgusted by your sycophancy that he couldn't help but mutter a curse in his mind.

Sunafa's face did not show much change in expression, remaining calm and composed, but a hint of barely perceptible joy flashed in her eyes.

"The Ice Jade Wutong has been stuck at the fifth tier for so many years; it's certainly possible it could advance to the next level at any time."

She nodded slightly, then humbly asked, "The Ice Jade Wutong is the guardian tree of the Zhenbing tribe. We will do everything we can to help it complete its advancement. What can we do now?"

Flora shook her little head and said in a clear, serious voice, "The reason the tree trunk has cracks is because it lacks ice element power. You just need to replenish its ice element power in time."

"However, this advancement is a slow process, and you can't replenish it with too much ice elemental power all at once. It has to be done in moderation, otherwise... otherwise..."

Flora thought about it carefully and finally came up with a suitable explanation: "Otherwise, it will be stretched to its limit, which would be bad for its advancement."

"How much is 'appropriate'?" Sunefa asked cautiously.

This problem stumped Flora, because she could easily sense when the Ice Jade Phoenix was full and could no longer eat, but others did not have this ability.

If you really ask her to give a specific amount, she actually can't.

"You two are responsible for replenishing its ice element. Lady Flora will keep an eye on it for you. I'll let you know when it's full." Flora thought for a moment and decided to change her approach.

This was exactly what Sunefa wanted.

She turned to look at Grant, who immediately understood, took a step forward, came to the Ice Jade Sycamore Tree, then closed his eyes slightly, stretched out his hands, and placed his palms facing the Ice Jade Sycamore Tree.

Soon, an overwhelming burst of icy blue spiritual light erupted from Granger's palm, formed from the magic power within his body.

As a pure Iceborn, Elder Grant practices the cultivation method associated with the Iceborn bloodline, "The Secret Transmission of Pure Ice".

This is the purest ice-elemental cultivation method. The resulting magical power contains extremely pure ice elements. Casting ice spells with this magical power will receive a significant boost.

Similarly, at this time, it can also serve as ice element power, replenishing the ice element energy needed for the Ice Jade Wutong to advance.

The bursting icy blue spiritual light continuously surged towards the Ice Jade Wutong.

Sensing the ice element contained within the surging magical power, the Ice Jade Wutong instinctively began to greedily absorb this magical power.

Wisps of blue smoke rose from the trunk of the Ice Jade Wutong tree.

Time passed slowly until Elder Grant's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat.

His magical powers are almost exhausted.

Elder Grant looked at Flora with pleading eyes and asked, "Lady Flora, is the Divine Tree full?"

"It's far from enough. This little bit is just an appetizer for it!" Flora replied, drawing out the last syllable.

"With this amount, it can eat fourteen more servings today." She glanced at the Ice Jade Wutong again and finally came up with an accurate number, which she then shared with Sunefa and Elder Grant.

"Fourteen portions," Sunafa thought to herself, and said to Grant, whose face was already showing signs of strain, "Elder Grant, let's call it a day. Then, summon fourteen more elders from the three rings of your clan."

Elder Grant breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; he didn't want to exhaust himself in front of the three of them, that would be too embarrassing.

He immediately stopped tending to the ice jade parasol tree and replied, "I'll go right away."

"There's no need to specifically pick people. According to Flora, advancement is a slow process that requires feeding the Divine Tree for a long time, so all the elders will definitely take turns at least once," Sunefa added.

"I understand, Mother of War."

After saying that, Grant left in a hurry.

Only Sunefa, Gode, and Flora remained on the field.

"Flora, you said that the advancement of the Ice Jade Phoenix Tree is a slow process. How long exactly will this slowness take?" Sunefa asked Flora softly, her attitude quite friendly.

But to everyone's surprise, Flora, who is usually very easy to talk to, seemed not to hear Sunefa's words at all and did not respond.

Sunafa was stunned for a moment, clearly having never experienced anything like this before.

"You should call her Lady Flora," Goddard said earnestly, understanding what the little girl was thinking.

"Lady Flora?" Sunefa was taken aback upon hearing this and called out tentatively.

"About three of these." Flora finally paid attention to Sunefa, extending her small right hand to gesture.

Gao De watched this scene with a smile.

That's how kids are.

"Three right hands. That's fifteen days, half a month." Sunefa was also very clever. In just a short time, she had already figured out Flora's thinking and instantly understood what she meant.

"Yes, that's right, half a month." Flora nodded in satisfaction.

Sunafa's deep eyes flickered slightly, as if she were pondering something. After a moment, she spoke up, "The advancement of the Ice Jade Phoenix Tree is of great significance to our tribe. It would be best if there were no mistakes. Could we trouble Lady Flora to supervise the process for the next two weeks?"

"Supervisor~"

"It's about supervising others while they work. In the human world, people called 'adults' do this, which is quite fitting for Lady Flora's status," God said with a smile.

"Overseer!" Flora drawled out a cheerful tone.

However, after the initial joy, she seemed to remember something and looked at Sunefa with unusual seriousness and intense gaze.

"What does Lady Flora want to say?" Perhaps it's a case of one thing subduing another. Even though Sunefa remained calm when facing Donald, she felt a little overwhelmed by the little girl's burning gaze and took the initiative to soften her stance and ask.

"Add more money!" Lady Flora said seriously.

Where did she learn that? She's self-taught! Even Gaode didn't expect Flora to say that.

Perhaps Flora truly possesses a wise heart.

He couldn't help but think to himself.

"Yes, of course we should get extra pay for the work," Sunefa nodded.

"Overseer!" Flora said again.

Now she completely agreed.

It will take another half month.

However, Gaode was also willing.

Firstly, this matter doesn't require too much effort, but doing it well would allow him to befriend the most powerful tribe in the North. He wouldn't pretend to be aloof and miss such an opportunity.

Secondly, after this matter is over, he will receive Ice Marrow as a reward. For him, who has mastered the Mandela Eye, no amount of Ice Marrow is ever enough.

Thirdly, and most importantly, Flora likes it!

In this matter, the little one seems to have found the value of life.

After only a quarter of an hour, Elder Grant arrived with more than a dozen elders from the Zhenbing tribe.

There were more than fourteen people who came.

However, there's no need to ask further; Gaode understands that this is to be prepared for any eventuality, so that they won't have to call for help when they're short of manpower.

Elder Grant must have already explained to everyone the reason for calling them here on the way here.

Therefore, after the elders arrived, they bowed to Sunafa and looked at the Ice Jade Wutong with surprise and disbelief.

"Is the Guardian Tree about to advance?" an elder muttered in disbelief.

While examining the Ice Jade Wutong tree, fourteen people consciously stepped forward and formed a circle under the tree.

"Everyone, please channel your magic power into the Guardian Tree together, and then follow Lady Flora's instructions. When she tells you to stop, then you must stop," Elder Grant instructed.

Although the fourteen elders had different thoughts, Sunafa stood aside without saying a word, and none of them were so tactless as to jump out and express their opinions.

After everyone was ready, Elder Granger gave the order, and icy blue magical light began to emerge from the palms of the fourteen Zhenbing tribe elders.

These magical lights merged together, like a river of light, and began to flow into the trunk of the Ice Jade Wutong tree.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the Ice Jade Wutong began to greedily absorb the ice elemental power contained within the magic power.

The cracks on the surface of the trunk began to slowly heal, and the ice crystals on the branches and leaves of the entire Ice Jade Wutong tree were becoming brighter and brighter.

"I'm full, I'm full!" Flora, who had been watching intently from the side, called out after a moment.

"Stop!" Elder Grant immediately called a halt to the group upon hearing Flora's words.

"Lady Flora, is the ice elemental power that the Guardian Tree can absorb today already saturated?" After everyone stopped, Elder Granger asked Flora for further confirmation.

Flora nodded properly.

Elder Grant naturally had no suspicions.

Because the cracks that originally existed on the trunk of the Ice Jade Wutong tree have visibly healed a lot, and if this happens a few more times, they will probably be completely healed.

With the facts laid bare, how could he possibly doubt Flora's abilities?

However, he still looked at Sunefa to ask for her opinion.

Sunafa nodded slightly.

"That's enough for today," Elder Grant said, "but we'll continue tomorrow."

The elders nodded in agreement, each withdrawing the icy blue magical light from their palms.

In Phoenix, where Gao De is staying.

Loich and Catherine sat facing each other, waiting quietly for God's return.

"Do you really think his magical creatures are that powerful?" Even now, Catherine was still a little skeptical, after all, she had never seen Flora's "gods" with her own eyes.

"Absolute God," Loich affirmed.

"But this matter is clearly more complicated than Jin Huimai's," Catherine added, sounding somewhat worried.

Knock knock~

Before Loich could speak, there was a knock on the door.

Loich hurriedly went to open the door.

Standing outside the door were Elder God and Elder Grant.

The latter was all smiles, clearly in a very good mood.

"You're back!" Seeing Elder Grant's expression, Loich knew that things were almost certainly settled, and invited, "Come in and let's talk."

Elder Grant waved his hand and declined with a smile, saying, "I'm busy with the interrogation. I've already been delayed because of the Ice Jade Wutong. Now that the problem is solved, I need to hurry up and finish."

This was exactly what Loich cared about most, so he didn't insist any further.

After seeing Elder Grant off, Loich looked at God with shining eyes, "Lady Flora is truly amazing!"

The little figure sitting on Gaode's shoulder heard the praise and pretended not to care, flapping its little wings.

She was already used to it.

Under the ice-jade parasol tree, Lady Flora had already received a round of amazement and praise.

However, hearing Loich's praise again made her feel a little proud.

Praise is never tiring!

Some are happy, some are sad.

Almost at the same time, at Donald's residence.

The atmosphere was unusually somber, and the air felt oppressive.

"The Ice Jade Phoenix Tree isn't having a problem, but rather it's about to advance?"

"Grant sought help from the stranger Catherine brought, and it was that stranger's magical pet that discovered the problem with the Ice Jade Phoenix Tree?"

Donald's hoarse voice echoed through the room.

"Yes, and for the next two weeks, Sunafa will need us to continuously supply the Ice Jade Phoenix with mana to replenish the ice element power it needs for its advancement. This entire process will be directed by that outsider's magical pet." In the room, a reformist elder who was on Donald's side said slowly.

"A magical pet? Is a magical pet really that powerful? What kind of magical pet is it?" After a long silence, Donald's voice rang out again.

"It is a type of magical pet that I have never seen before. It looks very much like us humans and can even speak human language. However, it is very small, no bigger than a finger. As for its divine nature, it is indeed very divine."

The reformist elder in the room was one of the elders who had been summoned today to transfer magical power, and he had a deep impression of Flora.

"Speaking human language is clearly not within the scope of the [Summoning a Fellowship] spell effect," Donald suddenly sneered upon hearing this, "You've all been fooled by him."

"This is definitely not his magical pet; it should be his beast pet or something else. This outsider is quite clever. He probably fears that others will covet his beast pet, so he claims it is a magical pet. After all, magical pets cannot be transferred to others."

The reformist elder was unsure of the situation and dared not speak rashly.

"Such a good thing, now that it's in Phoenix, should stay in Phoenix," Donald scoffed, then suddenly asked, "What do you think?"

"The Grand Elder is right. In Phoenix, the interests of our Zhenbing tribe are of course paramount. What does the Grand Elder mean?"

"Do as I say," Donald said expressionlessly.

(End of this chapter)