Chapter 178

When the light completely dissipated, a stunningly beautiful woman appeared.

Her figure was tall with graceful curves, and her skin presented a healthy olive green, marked with fine wood grain.

The contours of her smooth face were as perfect as a marble sculpture, carrying a sense of extraordinary, serene beauty.

A pair of almond eyes were slightly closed, her long, dense eyelashes casting shallow shadows on her cheeks.

Her hair was no longer simple vines, but composed of countless soft, golden-green branches, naturally hanging down to her waist.

These 'strands of hair' were dotted with tiny flower buds and leaves, swaying slightly with her breathing and emitting a faint fragrance.

Ailan's upper body was now almost indistinguishable from a human woman, save for the texture and color of her skin, which displayed plant characteristics.

Most uniquely, as she slowly descended to the ground, countless tiny roots grew beneath her green skirt, gently anchoring into the soil to draw energy from the earth.

These roots could retract or extend at her will, allowing her to walk like a normal person while also being able to connect directly with the earth when needed.

And as the last wisp of light dissipated, Ailan slowly opened her eyes.

They were a pair of deep, emerald green eyes, with golden specks shimmering in the pupils, like sunlight filtering through leaves deep in the forest.

Her gaze fell first on Luo En.

"Master..." Her voice was like a breeze brushing through leaves, carrying a gentle and peaceful rhythm: "Finally... I can speak to you with my own voice."

"Mother Ailan!" Daier could not restrain herself and cheered as she rushed forward.

But she suddenly became cautious as she approached, seemingly unsure if she could touch this brand-new existence: "You... you've become so beautiful!"

"Little Daier, my child." Ailan smiled and reached out, saying gently: "Don't worry, I am still the same Ailan you know."

Daier happily threw herself into Ailan's embrace, her silver hair and Ailan's golden-green vine-like 'long hair' intertwining to form a beautiful picture.

"I missed you so much!" The little siren hugged Ailan tightly, her voice choked with emotion:

"I was waiting for you to wake up every day, and there was no one to make petal candy; although what Sister Lilia made was also delicious, it just wasn't as fragrant as what you make."

Luo En found it somewhat amusing from the side; when the little siren said this, Lilia's face nearby clearly stiffened.

Ailan gently stroked Daier's silver hair, saying with a touch of teasing:

"I missed you too, little rascal. I could feel you pressed against my bark every day, muttering; even if I was sleeping soundly, I'd be woken up by you."

Lilia also walked forward with a blessed smile on her face:

"Welcome back, Sister Ailan! In the days without you in the workshop, I always felt like it was missing its soul."

"Thank you, Lilia." Ailan said with a smile, her lips a faint rose color:

"I can feel everything you've done for the workshop. When you were buried in organizing accounts at night, and when you got up early in the morning to tend to the plants... even though I was asleep, I could hear it all."

Luo En stepped forward, carefully examining the transformed Ailan.

He could feel the powerful life energy radiating from the dryad; it was a pure natural force, full of vitality and harmony.

He activated 'Extraordinary Identification' to carefully observe Ailan's changes:

【Ailan (Ancient Tree Fairy)

Bloodline Purity: Gold Ring 65% (Relatively high)

Status: Energy not yet fully stable

Special Abilities: Plant Control, Natural Perception, Life Guidance (Not fully awakened)

Potential Assessment: Relatively high; with growth, there is a chance to reach the Star Ring level, but bloodline excitation is still needed】

"The transformation was even more successful than expected." Luo En was somewhat surprised.

He had originally only expected Ailan to approach the level of an Ancient Tree Fairy, but he hadn't expected her to evolve directly into her complete form.

Ailan bowed deeply to express her gratitude, the emerald hem of her skirt trembling slightly:

"All of this is thanks to Master's help. Without the bloodline excitation you provided and the carefully designed transformation environment, I would never have been able to find my true essence again."

The dryad raised her head, her emerald-like eyes looking straight at Luo En: "This kindness, Ailan will never forget."

As she spoke, she lifted her hand gently, and the surrounding plants immediately responded to her summons, their branches and leaves swaying lightly.

Some branches bearing small flowers elongated, forming a beautiful ring around her.

The flowers turned one after another toward her direction, as if paying tribute to their queen.

"Now I can communicate with all plants and feel their life pulses."

Ailan explained, a strange light flickering in her eyes: "I can even guide their growth and changes to a certain extent."

She smiled slightly and tapped the void with her fingertip.

Instantly, a beautiful blue flower suddenly bloomed on the shrub beside her, even though it was not its flowering season.

The flower emitted a faint fragrance that drifted directly toward Luo En, as if it had bloomed specifically for him.

"Thank you, it's a beautiful flower." Luo En chuckled and reached out to take the flower she handed over.

Then Ailan lifted her hand again, and two other flower buds bloomed as well, extending toward Daier and Lilia.

"It smells so good!" Daier cheered, sniffing her own flower cautiously: "Mother Ailan, you're too amazing now!"

"More importantly, I can perceive any abnormal energy fluctuations in the surrounding environment."

Ailan's expression became slightly serious: "Whether it's hazardous substances or intruders, it's difficult for them to escape my perception. Master's workshop will be even safer under my protection."

Luo En nodded, understanding that this meant the workshop's security level would be greatly improved.

Her ability, which was nearly that of a 'plant sentry', was something no ordinary surveillance eyeball could compare to.

"I think we should hold a celebratory dinner tonight!"

Lilia carefully put away her own flower and suddenly proposed, excitement shining in her eyes:

"To celebrate Sister Ailan's return, and to celebrate that we are reunited! I can prepare some special dishes."

"Good idea!" Daier jumped up excitedly, grabbing Ailan's hand:

"I want to eat the fruit juice and petal candy Mother Ailan makes! The kind you used to make, where one bite would burst into different flavors in your mouth!"

Ailan chuckled, her laughter like tinkling wind chimes, pleasant and melodious:

"Of course, little glutton. I already have some new recipes I want to try, and you'll definitely like them."

She turned to Luo En, her eyes filled with inquiry and expectation: "What does Master think?"

Luo En nodded with a smile: "Of course we should celebrate properly; after all, everyone has worked hard during this time, and besides..."

He looked at Ailan's brand-new, beautiful female form: "We should also officially welcome the 'newborn' Ailan back to the workshop's little home."

And so, the workshop was filled with a joyful atmosphere, with everyone busy preparing for the dinner.

Lilia and Daier were responsible for decorating the dining room, while Ailan used her newly acquired abilities to create all sorts of wonderful plant lamps and bouquets.

She only needed to gently stroke the ordinary flowers, and they would bloom with a luster brighter than usual;

The branches her fingertips touched would grow beautiful natural patterns;

Even the air was filled with the faint floral fragrance she brought, making the entire workshop full of vitality and warmth.

When night fell, the dining table was laden with sumptuous food.

Ailan's special petal candy shimmered with rainbow-like light, each piece shaped differently—some like tiny stars, others like exquisite flowers.

In her special fruit juice floated color-changing flowers, each sip bringing a different flavor experience.

"Quick, try this!" Ailan handed a golden petal candy to Daier: "This is made from the sweetest nectar and morning dew; you should like the taste."

Daier couldn't wait to take it and placed it cautiously into her mouth.

Instantly, her eyes widened: "Wow! This... this tastes as warm as sunshine!"

She looked at Ailan in surprise: "Mother Ailan, how did you do it?"

Ailan smiled mysteriously: "That is a secret belonging only to the Ancient Tree Fairy."

The roast meat Lilia prepared emitted an alluring aroma; she had sprinkled some special spices on it, making the meat even more tender and juicy.

"These spices were grown according to Sister Ailan's old recipes."

She explained somewhat embarrassedly: "Although they can't compare to what you cultivated yourself, I did my best."

"You've done a great job, Lilia." Ailan said gently: "I can feel your careful tending from these plants; they have grown very healthily."

The conversation at the dining table was equally relaxed and pleasant.

"Do you know."

Ailan said softly, her fingers gently stroking a flower on the table, making it change colors under her touch:

"In my sleep, I could feel the whispers of the entire forest, as if countless voices were telling me secrets."

"Tell me! What secrets?" Daier asked curiously, her eyes shining.

Ailan smiled and shook her head, her vine-like long hair swaying gently with her movements:

"Some secrets are known only to the forest. Perhaps one day, when you are strong enough, you will also be able to hear what the ocean says to you."

The confused little siren simply stopped thinking about it and began to proudly show off the ice sculptures she had shaped.

She had tried painting before, but after discovering she had no talent for it, she switched to sculpting.

And she had shown astonishing talent in this regard; every detail of the small workshop model in her hands was lifelike, and even the tiny patterns on the windows were not missed.

"Look, this is Master's laboratory, this is Sister Lilia's room, this is Mother Ailan's ancient tree, and this is the pool—it's my territory!"

The little siren pointed to each part triumphantly: "It took me several days to sculpt all the details!"

Luo En watched this scene, a peculiar warmth rising in his heart.

These lives, which originally had nothing to do with him, had now gathered around him due to various coincidences, forming a wonderful little family.

Everyone was growing on their own path, supporting each other and moving forward together.

Daier's laughter was crisp and pleasant, and Lilia's eyes were quiet and focused.

Ailan was like a loving mother, warm and inclusive, only fluctuating slightly when her gaze occasionally fell on him.

"To our workshop." Luo En raised his glass.

"To the workshop!" Everyone responded together, their glasses clinking in the air with a crisp sound.

For him, this was perhaps the most relaxed and pleasant evening since entering the Black Fog Jungle.

On the road to eternity, such moments are particularly precious.

Of course, after the sun rises tomorrow, countless research topics will still be waiting for him.

The abyssal project needs to be redesigned, Daier's bloodline purification needs to continue, and there is the upcoming trip to the Bloodline Altar...

But for now, Luo En chose to temporarily put these thoughts aside and fully immerse himself in this warm moment.

Rest for a while, look at these simple beauties, even if this can only be a fleeting shadow left in memory.

After all, everything that cannot last forever will eventually perish...

(End of chapter)