Chapter 183

In human form, Apep was an extremely tall woman; standing there, she was nearly a head taller than Luo De.

Unlike her fierce draconic appearance.

At a glance, Apep appeared as a serene and graceful woman.

However, meeting her icy jade-green dragon eyes, even just a second glance, would send a shiver down one's spine.

"You're afraid of me?"

Seeing Luo De retreat two steps without a trace, Apep gave a cold laugh: "Where did the aura you just used to command me go?"

Good grief, this woman bears a grudge!

Luo De's heart skipped a beat; he forced a smile and said, "Lord Dendro Dragon, you wouldn't hold it against a mere human like me, would you? Besides, didn't I and Nadixa help cure your stubborn ailment?"

"Hmph, humans—"

Apep gave a disdainful hum.

Whether or not Luo De's words had taken effect, after he softened his tone, her aura suddenly vanished; she flicked her wrist, and countless vines shot up from the ground, instantly forming two rather retro-style chairs.

"Please sit and talk."

Apep pointed, then she herself sat in one of the chairs, arms crossed, right leg raised, facing Luo De.

No extra small talk.

Seeing Luo De's anxious expression, Apep went straight to the point.

"I'm giving you this."

"Use it to nurture your potted flower, and it will bloom soon."

She said.

She pointed with her hand, and a vine burst from the ground beneath Luo De's feet, then unfurled to reveal a plain wooden box without any decoration.

Luo De's foundational knowledge of the materialist school was very solid.

However, at a glance he could not identify the material of the wooden box.

No need to ask further.

Luo De also knew that the wood used to make this box was likely some extinct ancient timber.

Leaving aside what Apep gave him for now,

Just this box of unknown-age extinct ancient wood would be considered priceless in Sumeru; if shown to a merchant like Duoli and hyped up, its price could easily multiply several times over.

But now is not the time to ponder the value of such external objects.

Luo De opened the box and glanced at the gift Apep had given him.

At the same time, he wondered to himself.

Why would Apep, for no reason, send him a gift?

Moreover, from what she said,

The item in the box was still something that could help flowers—like the Great Merciful Tree King—grow quickly.

This left Luo De completely bewildered.

When did Apep start caring so much about a deity?

Even if it were to repay the debt of saving her life, she should have given the gift directly to Nadixa, who acts as the operator and the Dendro Archon of Sumeru; what business would it be of me, a mere bystander human?

The contents of the wooden box were a fern-like plant; judging by the sap left at the cut, it looked like it had just been pulled up not long ago.

Luo De still could not identify its species.

But one thing could be confirmed.

This thing contained an unusually rich amount of Dendro elemental energy; indeed, it seemed capable of the effects Apep had mentioned.

Now Luo De dared even less to accept it.

Given Apep's character, Luo De couldn't believe she was giving this gift out of gratitude for saving her life.

So, since she was giving a gift for no reason,

As the old saying goes,

"No reward without merit."

Luo De had ample reason to believe that Apep's gift had an ulterior motive.

Following the principle that it's better to do less than more,

Luo De thought it would be better not to accept the gift.

However, before he could even open his mouth to refuse, he was met head-on with Apepu's look of someone staring at a corpse, and Luo De instantly wilted, unable to get the words out of his mouth.

How does it even come with forced gift-giving.

Is there any law left!!!

"My gift has no ill intent."

Though he put it that way, Apepu's tone wasn't so pleasant.

At least Luo De thought so.

Since things have come to this point, this gift has to be accepted today whether we like it or not, and Luo De could only force a smile: "Thank you, Your Excellency, Grass Dragon."

"Hah."

"Why aren't you continuing to call my name?"

Apepu glanced at Luo De, still harping on the previous matter and refusing to let it go.

Such petty behavior also made Luo De feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, his mind solely on finding a topic to make a quick escape.

"That."

"Your Excellency Apepu, look, I still have other things to do in Sumeru; if you're not busy, could you...?"

"Just as his words fell."

Apeipu, bored, got up and waved his hand: "Get lost."

Having said that.

Luo De saw another flower before his eyes.

After regaining his clarity, Luo De saw Nadixa, anxious like an ant on a hot pan.

"You came out!?"

Seeing Luo De being let go by Apeipu, Nadixa rushed over, both startled and happy, and said: "Did she do anything to you?"

"No."

Luo De opened the wooden box in his hand with a strange look: "She just gave me something."

Just as that fern revealed its shape.

Before Nadixa could react, the Padishalan transformed from the Great Merciful Tree King beside her instantly showed extreme joy, even actively twisting its floral branches toward the fern, and a hint of fragrance leaked from its buds.

"What is this!?"

Seeing this, Nadixa's eyes lit up suddenly.

She had never seen a plant where elemental energy had accumulated to such a dense degree.

Moreover, she had once been in contact with Apeipu's Oasis Heart and was very familiar with the form of his elemental energy.

Thus, after only a slight discernment, she recognized it.

This fern in Luo De's hand.

It is something sharing the same origin as the oasis within Apeipu's body.

In other words.

This is the plant that grew from that oasis.

"This thing is very precious."

Upon clarifying the origin of this fern, Nadixa instantly realized what value the gift Apeipu gave Luo De held.

One must know that before Apeipu was healed.

Her internal oasis had long been completely transformed into doom under the influence of forbidden knowledge.

To put it simply.

That is, Apeipu's body had not a trace of oasis left before today, and this fern in Luo De's hand is actually a new sprout that grew after the oasis was reshaped.

What does that mean?

That means this fern could theoretically be called another name.

"Source of the oasis, or, source of life."

Nadixa took a deep breath and slowly uttered two names.

"Source of the oasis?"

"Source of life?"

"What do you mean?"

Through Nadixa's explanation, Luo De quickly understood as well.

This fern is the initial sprout that emerged from the oasis within Apeipu's body, and thereafter, no matter how the oasis evolves, it cannot be separated from the growth and development of these sprouts.

To give a rough analogy.

The significance of this fern's existence is equivalent to the first life at the dawn of heaven and earth; not only is it profoundly meaningful, but it is also the most concrete manifestation of Apeipu's elemental energy.

Theoretically speaking.

If placed on the Tiwatedalu continent, a single blade of grass could evolve into an oasis.

"Why did she give me such a gift?"

Luo De held the wooden box in his hands, his eyes full of confusion and bewilderment.

Just what about me makes Apeipu value me so much that she would even be willing to give away a treasure that could be called the source of the oasis?

(End of chapter)