Chapter 220: Hidden Hand

Soon.

The treatment on the flower spirit Nickle's side ended.

After performing various healing rituals, to stabilize the current state of the emerald stump, he arranged a spherical area to wrap it inside.

"Done."

He stood up and faced Rod, "In a moment I'll give you some maintenance potions; water them three times a day, remember to water the tree roots, absolutely do not overdo it; the patient's condition is still very weak, if they die from being too weak to accept tonics, that would be troublesome."

Nickle was still responsible, listing the precautions one by one.

After such a long speech.

Rod thanked him.

Nickle waved his hand: "No need, I'm doing this for the sake of this squirrel. If you really want to thank me, if you know of a stable and habitable dimension, please inform us; there will be rich rewards then."

I do know.

I was just inside not long ago.

The scale of the 【Cat Spirit Paradise】 is not large, but it is indeed a rare stable labyrinth, if one can ignore the shrinking labyrinth rules inside.

However, this is the Cat Spirit's place; Rod cannot tell others about this place.

Oh, right.

There is also the Crystal Wing Clan's 【Flawless Crystal Land】; the cave leading to the extra-dimensional space in the Demon Nest is sealed, but I don't know if they can stabilize the labyrinth.

Actually, many people refer to labyrinths as 'dimensions'.

Although whether the two are the same thing, the mages have not yet fully figured it out.

For instance, the Tree Realm; many speculate its predecessor was a labyrinth.

The flower spirit Nickle looked at his expression and froze for a moment.

"You really know?"

Rod was startled, frowning tightly.

Mind reading?

No, although due to the projection summon, he cannot see the flower spirit's power level before him, a super-high mental resistance would not result in no reaction at all.

Nickle hurriedly explained:

"It is not a mental spell! Many people have this misunderstanding; in fact, we flower spirits can read 'pollen essence' from various living beings, thereby knowing human emotions and vague mental states; I don't know if you can understand?"

Similar to pheromones?

Rod looked at the elf Lady Kali.

She nodded to confirm: "The flower spirit's innate spiritual art 【Pollen Essence Reading】 indeed has this ability; this is perhaps an ability brought by their ancestral bloodline; some insect races also have similar abilities... It's fine; what they can read is very limited, far inferior to mental spells."

The latter half, the elf whispered close to his ear.

An orchid-like breath brushed across his face.

Alright.

Given Rod's current physical state, he could naturally control this naturally released pheromone.

He gathered his will, temporarily stopping the leakage.

He looked again at the slightly nervous Nickle.

This flower spirit was already somewhat excited and thrilled; obviously, he cared deeply about finding a home.

"I do know, but I'm sorry, that is already the habitat of another race."

"It's fine; we can coexist; for this, we are willing to pay rental fees."

Rod shook his head: "I don't think they would be willing."

The special nature of the Cat Spirits' materialization made him dare not even speak the name of the race.

The Joyous Wang Ting has many races; there are quite a few experts.

If any with impure intentions thought the Cat Spirits were profitable and came to raise them all, the sin would all be counted on Rod's shoulders.

"Can you connect me to contact them?"

Rod shook his head: "Mr. Nickle, the Joyous Wang Ting's power is too great; this is just a small labyrinth; it simply cannot hold you all. Anyway, I will keep an eye out for other stable labyrinths for you."

Nickle froze for a moment.

Then, with an exasperated sigh, he patted his head and apologized:

"Sorry, I was too anxious; just pretend I never said the previous words... To express my apology, I leave two projection marks for Mr. Rod; if any problems arise with the trees in the forest later, you can summon me to come."

Having said that, he was unwilling to stay longer.

After instructing the big squirrel Cui Qian to remember to fulfill her promise, he bid farewell to everyone.

Then, like extinguishing, he disappeared.

On the ground where he disappeared, two reddish-brown petals and seven or eight bottles of light green maintenance potion remained.

Those two petals must be the projection marks.

Rod did not rush to take them.

Although the flower spirit Nickle was still a good trading partner, the situation he and his home were currently in might force him to do something against professional ethics.

People are not sages; moreover, everyone has times when they have no choice.

Rod: "Lady Kali, please check it."

The big squirrel Cui Qian was not a fool; she trotted over and said worriedly: "Is there a problem?"

"A small suspicion; it might not be true; don't mind it."

While speaking, he took out a small cookie and handed it to her.

Cui Qian pondered, but subconsciously took the small cookie and crunched it.

Until one cookie went down her stomach, she suddenly realized, groaning with crumbs in her mouth: "Mr. Rod! You have ruined my diet plan!"

Rod burst out laughing and patted her squirrel head.

Over on that side, Lady Kali's examination results had also come back:

"The maintenance potion is fine. Those two projection marks carry a hidden tracking spell on them."

Rod sighed.

"Want me to deal with it?" the elf asked.

"Mm, without leaving any trace."

"Hmph, as if I needed you to tell me that."

Ignoring Lady Kali's foul mouth, Rod squatted down and rubbed Cui Qian's head.

An apologetic expression appeared on the big squirrel's face.

"I really, really, really didn't expect Nicole to be that kind of flower fairy!"

"It's not your fault. It's okay—it's my oversight. I didn't expect flower fairies to have the ability to read pheromones."

"I'll never invite him to the Tree Realm again! Mr. Rod, you're not going to chase me away, are you? I haven't finished losing weight yet."

Rod smiled and said, "Stay as long as you want, go wherever you want to go."

Tally leaned over, grinning: "I suggest coming to our bed. Master's well-endowed and skilled, guaranteed to make you happy. Besides, we haven't tried squirrel yet."

Before she could finish, the succubus got her cheeks pinched and her forehead flicked by her own master again.

Hearing that, Cui Qian shyly cupped her little cheeks with both paws.

Squirming coyly, she said: "No way, Mr. Rod, absolutely no way~ Even if you insist, you'll have to wait until you turn into a squirrel too~"

Rod: "."

After tidying all this up, the sky had already grown dark.

Rod was about to head back to the ranger's cabin to rest, and naturally invited Vivian along.

But Vivian couldn't set her mind at ease about the Emerald Branch's condition and decided to keep vigil over it.

The tree spirit loved trees, so Rod went along with her wishes and didn't press the matter.

Then came the question.

Tonight, should he feed Tally first, then go find the ghoul Pan Ni, or go together with Tally to throw a little three-person party?

He was pondering.

When Rod arrived at a spot two hundred meters from the ranger's cabin, he noticed someone else inside.

Oh?

Lady Kali again?

Definitely not.

She had gone off to deal with the marks carrying the tracking spell.

Then could it be Miss Xiao Ke?

Before his last business trip, the half-deer person had promised to come find him and take the punishment in Little Little Bangde's place.

Rod's eyes lit up slightly, and he hurriedly sharpened his spiritual perception.

But the result was a great disappointment.

The spiritual presence inside was very familiar—indeed an acquaintance—but it carried the one-of-a-kind undead spiritual signature of the forest.

"In spirit form, then it can only be Chris."

It so happened that Pan Ni had reported that the banshee hadn't been coming back to the cabin to sleep lately—perfect timing to go ask her about it.

(End of chapter)