Chapter 35: Seed of the World Tree

Overall, Viola's soul change is not significant, but there is a little something extra compared to yesterday.

A vague, formless fire enveloped her soul, as if ignited from deep within, spreading outward, eventually gathering above the soul into a flame shape, drawing faint illusory lines that pierced the void, extending to an unknown distance.

Lei En felt a slight shift in his heart, then he recovered.

This is not that Viola's soul has mutated, but the effect after the Soul Eye was enhanced, allowing oneself to see more.

He, curious, secretly observed the flame, feeling a sense of majesty and vastness that made his whole body tremble.

It seemed as if the illusory lines above the soul were connected to a great existence!

Lei En hurriedly cut off the sensing.

"Is this divine fire formed by faith, then offered to the deity?"

Lei En's mind raced; Viola is certainly not a deity—she is merely mortal, but through faith she is linked to a deity, and that faith‑condensed divine fire also protects her soul.

However, Viola's faith fire seems not entirely pure.

Her faith fire is split into two parts, and the illusory lines above her head are also two, each leading to a different void.

Lei En privately guessed that Viola might be worshipping two deities simultaneously.

As a Wizard born in the Oriense Empire, Viola's faith must include the God of Magic.

This goddess is a very tolerant deity, allowing followers to also worship deities that do not oppose her, so many subjects of the Empire worship multiple deities.

Lei En was curious about who the other deity Viola worships.

Judging from the faith fire, her contribution to the God of Magic is smaller, only one‑third.

This portion of the faith fire resembles rainbow light, its colors slowly shifting, constantly changing, full of mystery and grandeur; Lei En could easily discern that it is the God of Magic's divine power manifestation, matching the aura of the goddess's church.

The remaining two‑thirds of the faith fire is primarily pure white, extremely pristine, giving Lei En a feeling of lightness, joy, and beauty, reminding him of all the good things in the world.

Lei En does not know which deity this is, but can be sure it is not an evil god.

He did not wish to probe further; faith is a private matter, especially worship of such uncommon deities that sometimes must stay hidden.

Yet being able to see divine power is tremendous good news for Lei En.

This means he can locate followers of the evil god Luo Xi with a single glance, pinpointing hidden enemies nearby, never fearing ambushes again.

He took the tea Viola brewed, sipped, and tasted a faint sweetness on his tongue.

This must be a rare tea leaf; unfortunately he does not recognize it nor know how to evaluate it, after a few seconds he could only say, "Good tea."

Viola let out a light laugh, did not expose him, and asked, "Lei En, have you already decided which school of Wizard you will choose?"

"Yes, I will switch to a Battle Wizard." Lei En set down his cup and replied casually.

Viola was stunned; Lei En's choice greatly surprised her.

Just yesterday, Lei En firmly refused that World Tree Seed, looking as if he would die rather than buy it; how did he suddenly change his mind today?

Viola's brows slightly furrowed; if Lei En had said yesterday that he would become a Battle Wizard, she would have been pleased, as that World Tree Seed that had sat in her hand for years could finally be sold.

However, after witnessing Lei En's Soul Transformation ceremony, she felt it was not appropriate.

She knows well the uncertainty of Battle Wizards, whose power fluctuates greatly; even if Lei En achieves a perfect Soul Transformation, it still cannot guarantee that merging a magic soul will not fail.

The safest choice, of course, is the Law Seal and Soul Guidance schools,

with Lei En's talent, he will become a Wizard whose strength far exceeds his peers.

Viola also intends to befriend such a promising Wizard.

Of course, becoming a Battle Wizard does not necessarily bury Lei En's talent; it just involves many variables.

She had no intention of persuading Lei En to change his mind, nor did she ask why; she simply summoned a maid to bring that World Tree Seed forward.

Soon, an exquisite wooden box was placed before Lei En.

The box's surface was engraved with runes; clearly it was an alchemical item meant for preserving precious things.

Viola extended her slender fingers, pressed the runes on the box, and softly uttered the opening incantation.

The lid opened, revealing a golden seed.

"This is the World Tree Seed, already fashioned into a Soul Fusion Seed; Lei En, take a close look," Viola introduced.

"Alright."

Lei En examined carefully; the seed resembled an almond, entirely golden as if cast from gold, its surface covered with shallow veins, semi‑transparent, emitting a faint glow. Looking at it gave a mysterious feeling, its interior seemed to contain vast information, as if it could melt at any moment.

Lei En had never seen a Soul Fusion Seed before, but figured Viola had no reason to deceive him.

He withdrew his gaze, considered, and said, "Viola, I really need this Soul Fusion Seed, but I don't have enough money now. You said I could pay part first; how much is required?"

"How much do you have?" Viola retorted.

"At most two hundred fifty Gold Shields." Lei En had obtained a whole box of cash from the Eisberg manor, exchanging it for three hundred sixty Gold Shields; the Soul Transformation ceremony consumed sixty‑three, buying golden ants yesterday cost fourteen, leaving two hundred eighty‑seven Gold Shields.

He still needed to keep some as capital, so he could only pay this amount for now.

As for how to earn money later, Lei En already had a few vague ideas.

He now worried that Viola might refuse; the Soul Fusion Seed costs one thousand five hundred Gold Shields, a gap too large for him.

"You are richer than I expected," Viola leaned back on the sofa, appearing relaxed, not at all like she was negotiating; she almost without hesitation nodded, "Two hundred fifty Gold Shields is enough."

Lei En was greatly surprised; he did not expect Viola to agree so easily.

Before he could ask, Viola added, "The remaining amount you must pay within three years; we will sign a trade contract, and the Soul Fusion Seed will be yours."

"You're not afraid I'll default?" Lei En could hardly believe it.

The trade contract Viola mentioned is usually signed in the name of the 'God of Wealth and Trade'; such contracts have legal force, but the Empire is so vast that if Lei En decides to run away, Viola cannot find him, and an empty contract is useless.

Viola's face showed a confident smile, "Don't underestimate the strength of the Violet House, Lei En from Eagle Marsh Town."

Lei En heard that latter part and immediately understood.

Sure enough, Viola, from the sentence she unintentionally leaked yesterday, realized he was a student of the academy, sent someone to investigate, and with great efficiency located his hometown within a day.

"In just one day, they traced Eagle Marsh Town; the force behind the Violet House is formidable!"

"No wonder she isn't afraid I'll default."

Lei En shook his head helplessly, then immediately agreed.

In truth, he was well aware that he had gotten the better end of this deal. The remaining one thousand-plus Gold Shields counted as Viola lending them to him, interest-free—clearly, she was very optimistic about his prospects.

In his heart, he was also guessing at Viola's background and origins: did it come from her elven family, or was it related to her faith?

At the same time, Viola quickly drafted the trade contract.

Lei En confirmed it was correct, then signed his name, took the heavy pouch from his coat, and handed two hundred and fifty Gold Shields to Viola.

Viola also pushed over the box containing the Soul-Fusing Seed.

Lei En did not waste time and asked Viola to prepare a room for him.

He sat alone in the room for over ten minutes. Once his emotions had completely calmed, he used a small knife to make a tiny cut at the center of his forehead, letting blood flow.

Then he picked up the golden Soul-Fusing Seed, dabbed it with blood, and pressed it against his forehead.

The almond-like seed seemed stimulated and rapidly melted, turning into a surge of energy that burrowed in through the wound. The next second, a flood of information surfaced in his mind.

Lei En kept his eyes tightly shut, focusing entirely on receiving this content.

It was a meditation method Viola had already introduced—the World Tree meditation method created specifically for combat Wizards, capable of enhancing a Wizard's soul power, fusing magic souls, and casting spells.

Deep within Lei En's soul, his MutatedPhone had long been entrenched. After the Soul-Fusing Seed entered, the phone immediately reacted, actively drawing the seed over and dropping it into the center of the flower composed of eight petals, where it then vanished.

Lei En was greatly startled, not knowing what was going on.

A few seconds later, a burst of light shone forth, and from the core of the flower sprouted a vividly green sapling. Like a time-lapse video, it shot up and grew at a visible rate, soon becoming a small tree with its roots deeply embedded in the red flower, possessing only a solitary trunk.

Looking at this small tree, Lei En felt a boundless vitality and understood in his heart that this was the embryonic form of a World Tree, representing his soul power.

In the future, by maintaining meditation and growing his soul power, this World Tree formed from soul power would grow along with it!

But if he wanted the World Tree to sprout branches and leaves, he had to fuse magic souls.

Lei En took out the soul stone he had prepared long ago, pressed it to the center of his forehead, and without hesitation activated the phone's magic soul fusion ability.

A suction force appeared. The next second, the Gold-Eating Ant's magic soul was extracted and drawn into his brain.

Lei En clearly saw this not-particularly-powerful magic soul merge into his own soul. Because this was his first magic soul fusion, it produced no intense reaction, let alone conflict; it smoothly fused with his soul, the two becoming indistinguishable from each other.

"Ultra-high fusion compatibility, near perfect!"

Lei En could not help but feel delighted—the Gold-Eating Ant's magic soul had suffered almost no diminishment, fusing in as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

Nourished by the magic soul, the Soul World Tree quickly grew taller by a notch.

At the same time, the first branch grew from the trunk.

This branch expanded horizontally and produced three pale golden leaves, each bearing a clear Element rune—precisely "Strength," "Steel Body," and "Metal Touch" from the Gold-Eating Ant.

The instant the fusion completed, Lei En immediately sensed his body mutating!