Inside the moat, Teng Lin could feel it all happening—the rhythm of the pulse fully syncing with his own body, mind, and soul. He thought to himself, "The Tree of Life is incredible. It's connecting with every fiber of my existence. I feel stronger, sharper… alive in a way I never imagined. But wait… I can move again. And—what's this? The seed? It's growing… How do I even know that? It's like the knowledge is simply… there."
As his mind raced with newfound awareness, he became acutely aware of the seed deep within him, the one the system had implanted when he first acquired the farm. Now, it was no longer dormant. Teng Lin could sense the roots stretching out and anchoring themselves firmly into the earth. With every pulse of energy, the seed extended its reach, breaking free from its constraints underground. Then, suddenly, he could feel it—like a living being, the seed began to sprout, yearning for the open air, reaching upward toward freedom.
Outside the moat, Wu Ling, who had been preparing to question Chen Bo and Wei Jian further, froze mid-thought. Her branches stiffened as she felt it—waves of dense, overwhelming life energy radiating from the valley's center. It wasn't just powerful; it was ancient and primal.
She turned toward the others, her tone imperious as she announced, "Everyone, sit down and watch. My big brother is finally being reborn."
Her words carried a weight that left no room for argument. Chen Bo and Wei Jian exchanged confused glances but obeyed, plopping down next to Su Xianyu, who was already seated, his attention locked on the moat.
Su Xianyu, breaking the silence, turned to the two younger boys. "What are you two doing here? I thought Teng Lin told you to stay in town!"
Chen Bo scratched his head sheepishly. "Senior, we were worried about you two. We figured… even if something happened to you here, we'd still be able to escape and fight another day. But we couldn't just sit there doing nothing while you faced danger."
Wei Jian, more tentative, chimed in. "Senior Su, where is Teng Lin? Is he okay? Did the tree demon kill him? Is… is that beautiful tree the demon? Wait—can the tree demon talk?"
Wu Ling's voice cut through the air like a knife, her tone sharp and offended. "What tree demon? You dare call this queen a demon?"
Her words were accompanied by a sudden wave of pressure that sent shivers down all their spines. Chen Bo and Wei Jian instinctively braced themselves, but their faces showed firm resolve.
Chen Bo, impulsive as ever, pointed at the tree and boldly declared, "You! You're the tree demoness who dared to harm our eldest brother!"
Before he could say another word, Su Xianyu shot him a stern look and interrupted. "Calm down, Chen Bo. Teng Lin is still alive. I'm not entirely sure what's happening in that moat, but his life force remains strong—stronger than when we first arrived."
After Su Xianyu explained the situation, both boys looked embarrassed. Chen Bo immediately tried to save face by bowing slightly toward Wu Ling. "Elder sister, I apologize for my brash words earlier. You are definitely not a demoness but a… lovely angel. Your tree trunk is the epitome of elegance, and your leaves look as gentle as the softest flowers."
Wu Ling huffed, her tone still sharp but tinged with amusement. "Hmph. Who said you could call me elder sister? But…" She hesitated, her tone softening slightly. "I'll forgive your mistake this time. Clearly, you recognize my grace and beauty."
She paused before adding decisively, "But let's make one thing clear—I'm obviously the youngest and most gracious little sister here. So that's that. I'll be third sister."
The two boys blinked, their embarrassment giving way to a mix of confusion and awkward smiles. Chen Bo ventured carefully, "Uh… third sister? Does that mean we're part of the family now?"
Wu Ling sniffed imperiously, her branches swaying with pride. "Of course you are. Big brother wouldn't surround himself with unworthy people. Consider yourselves lucky."