Chapter 308: The Little Sprite

The next morning.

Luo De arrived at the zombie Selina's residence.

Before entering, he heard the clinking of vessels and the friction of magic.

He knocked on the door, waited for no reply, and pushed it open directly.

Selina sat with her back to the door, working at the lab table.

He could see a pale green magic bubble filtered within the liquid, and a neat row of silver rings laid out on the table.

The zombie girl sighed.

"My master, hasn't anyone ever told you not to barge into a mage's lab?"

Luo De ignored her.

Last night was his weekly session with Vivian to handle Lust, coinciding with Gorgon Megan's trade day, plus Tally's usual gluttony—he'd been busy since last night until just now, and he just wanted to sit for a moment.

He scanned the room and found no second chair.

He simply picked up Selina, took the chair from under her, and sat down.

Then he placed her on his lap.

"."

"The Spirit Seed's effect is good, right?"

Feeling the stiff, cold zombie body in his arms, Luo De smiled.

"Thanks to you, Master, I can already feel I'm close to true seventh tier—just one advancement ceremony away."

"Remember to call me when it's time. Don't sneakily advance without me."

Selina looked up at him, expressionless:

"So the master who doesn't even know basic lab rules is a hidden high mage? Planning to guide my seventh-tier ceremony? I'm truly looking forward to it."

"Stop being sarcastic—I'm worried about—"

"Oh, so you're worried the magic ring output might increase."

Luo De couldn't help laughing.

Well, he did care about that too.

He ruffled the zombie girl's hair into a mess.

"Anyway, just call me over. You're already one of my key income sources—very valuable, indeed."

"Hmph."

【Selina's obedience +2, current obedience: 54】

After the girl finished her experimental procedure,

she placed the filtered liquid into a magic box glowing with blue light.

"So, noble master, you came here just to say all that? Is there something you need done?"

Selina didn't believe her master would show up without a reason.

Luo De smiled.

"A new task. You must complete it without reducing your current ring output."

"Wow—great! Another task requiring unchanged output after the Claw Valley shift. I'm so happy."

"Hahahaha—I love your sarcasm."

The two moved to the redwood zone.

The area where the Jade Branch fragments were cultivated.

After treatment by the flower spirit Nikel, the Jade Branch fragments had noticeably improved.

Their trunks had thickened, no longer lifeless.

Under the careful care of the tree spirit Vivian, they had even sprouted new buds and leaves out of season.

This finally allowed 【Growth Spirit】 to lock onto its presence.

Last night, when Luo De visited Vivian, he directly spent several points on it.

But the Jade Tree's tier was clearly high—each point upgrade required twenty-five Growth Spirit.

Even Tally and Vivian after their seventh-tier advancement only needed fifteen points per upgrade.

【Natural Camouflage: The branch fragment blends into its surroundings, achieving near-perfect invisibility.】

【Natural Resonance: The branch fragment slightly accelerates the growth of nearby plants.】

【Emerald Domain: Create a life-filled domain centered on the branch fragment—plants will grow rapidly, remain lush year-round, stay healthy, and have a chance to awaken the Nature Spirits within ancient trees.】

【Life Link: The branch fragment can form a life link with one unit, allowing them to share HP. When one is injured, the other automatically absorbs part of the damage.】

【Guardian Sprite: Summon a tiny sprite composed of natural energy from the Jade Branch fragment.】

This fragment was also a lucky one.

The first enhancement immediately unlocked a domain skill.

But the domain was clearly plant-based, of little use to him.

The rest were fine, except 【Life Link】, which felt useless right now.

The fragment's condition had improved, but it was only half a person tall, capable of absorbing very little damage.

Half a person tall…

Huh?

Luo De looked from afar and saw the fragment had grown noticeably taller since before.

The trees around it were far more vibrant and alive than those farther away.

Some had even begun sprouting new buds.

Overnight?

This Emerald Domain was truly impressive.

"Mr. Luo De!"

A tiny sprite shimmering with pale green light flew over.

She flapped her wings, dressed in a leaf-made bustier and short skirt, her face radiant with joy.

"Tami, good morning."

Luo De smiled.

This little sprite, Tami, had been summoned by the Guardian Sprite ability.

The description said she was formed from the natural energy of the Jade Branch fragment, but in truth, she was never born from it—she had possessed full thought, continent-wide knowledge, and language since her appearance.

"A tiny sprite responding to the call of such a decadent forest? Truly eye-opening."

The zombie Selina said, expressionless.

Luo De tapped her head and introduced them to each other.

"Mr. Luo De, I've never seen a forest with such abundant spirit! I'm so lucky!"

Tami exclaimed excitedly.

"All thanks to your forest-loving companions, Tami. Before this, where else have you lived?"

"Many places!"

She was exquisitely beautiful, on par with Kalist, but unfortunately, far too tiny.

"The Lousang Forest in Jewel City, the Mist Valley in Dusk City, the Illusion Marsh beside Deepwater City, and more—but back then I was just a tiny Light Spirit, unable to speak freely like now! All thanks to your summoning, Mr. Luo De!"

Light Spirit, huh.

Those were spirit beings no bigger than a pinpoint, with virtually no intelligence.

Little Ko the half-unicorn had the skill 【Light Spirit Care】.

Tami had once been a Light Spirit—she evolved into a sprite thanks to the energy of 【Guardian Sprite】.

Is this normal?

Luo De didn't know—he'd always been weak on continent spirit knowledge.

Meanwhile,

Tami, to express her gratitude, flew to Luo De's shoulder and lightly kissed his cheek.

Then, blushing, she giggled and flew away.

Luo De only thought she was cute, with no other thoughts in mind.

The sprite was indeed beautiful, but far too tiny to inspire anything more.

"A sprite? My master, you'd better be careful—she really could die."

Selina warned.

"Don't talk nonsense—you'll scare Tami."

Luo De cleared his throat twice. "I plan to cut some branches from the Jade Tree for grafting elsewhere, but direct cutting would damage its overall spirit. You study how to do it safely."

(End of chapter)