"So, you wanted to talk? What do you want to talk about?"

Liu Shu's peaceful and gentle voice spread in the room, where Ignatia, Verena, Flor, and other family members had reunited. Her words were directed at the person with the most strength in the room, Melody.

Melody smiled faintly before speaking. "Don't worry. I am not trying to investigate or change anything that you are doing. Only, since you are now my daughter-in-law, I want to get to know you." Her tone was peaceful and reassuring. "Don't worry, Liu Shu. I am very happy with how everything has gone until now."

Liu Shu could feel Melody's sincerity. Honestly speaking, she didn't fear her, nor was she wary of the powerful Sylvan. The reason she was somewhat guarded was that the clan accompanying Melody was quite powerful and could exert significant influence over many industries and cities. She didn't care much about the back-and-forth between the people in her city. However, she didn't really want a single family to have full control over everything.

If, for example, they used their superior means to get in charge of industries and political positions, their influence could become something dangerous.

Liu Shu pondered for a few moments before speaking. "Aunty—"

"Mom."

"Eh?" Liu Shu asked with a somewhat silly tone. Even Flor and Ignatia looked at Melody strangely.

When she saw the strange looks from the people around, the powerful Sylvan blinked and tilted her head. "Don't you call 'Mother' or 'Mom' to your in-laws? In our clan, calling your in-laws as such is a very regular practice." She added with a sincere smile. "Of course, if you feel more comfortable with another way of calling me, I don't mind at all."

Liu Shu understood and commented politely. "Aunty Melody, while I don't mind, I feel that calling you Mom would reduce Flor's, Tree's, and Ignatia's positions in the hearts of others… I have these three moms, and I don't really want any more."

Melody spoke with a bit of reluctance. "That's a shame. Still, I understand. Aunty, it is." She extended her hand and summoned a green orb. When the orb appeared, a ridiculously profound aura of Life Aether Mana spread in the room, attracting everyone's eyes toward it. "Here, this will be my gift to you, Little Liu Shu. I got it in the past and never really knew what to do with it. Since we are now family, it is just right~."

Liu Shu was curious about that orb, but there was no greed in her heart. She analyzed it and read the findings.

[<Enhanced Life Tree Core (A- Rank)>: This is a mostly uninjured core of a Fourth Energy Cycle Life Tree. The Core has preserved most of its aura, and it can help nourish the land. It can also act as a tonic for plant beings. If a plant creature bathes in the core's aura while they are young, they will receive incredible benefits. It is a precious treasure that's hard to come by.]

Liu Shu was surprised when she read it, and her first thought was to give it to Tree. She asked. "Will this help Tree?"

"Tree…" Melody pondered and commented. "I've come near that Life Tree, but I think that this core won't really help her much. On the contrary, the other Life Tree in that lake would benefit greatly from this item."

Liu Shu pondered. She was not reluctant to give the core to Aurelise. She was an important part of the Golden Sap City. Any strengthening she went through would make everyone in the city have healthier lives. After all, Aurelise was a Life Tree focused entirely on Life Aether Mana.

Still, there was a bit of selfishness inside of her that didn't want to use this precious core that way. She muttered. "How about using it to create a Meditation Runic Field for our children and close family members?"

Everyone paused and pondered over those words. Melody commented. "Isn't it a bit of a waste to create a zone for meditation? I think that Life Tree named Aurelise could really benefit from this. Still, since I've given it to you, you can use it as you please."

Liu Shu also thought like her. But the more she looked at that precious core, the more that idea took root in her heart. For once, Liu Shu wanted to be a bit selfish and reserve the benefit from the core for her family.

A root extended from the side, and Liu Shu commented. "I'll think about it. Thank you, Aunty Melody."

Flor waited for Liu Shu to put the core away before she spoke. "Melody, we are now family, so I won't mince my words with you."

Melody grabbed the teacup elegantly and took a gentle sip. "Speak."

Flor nodded and blurted it out. "In this place, Liu Shu is a priority over everything else. I know you understand this truth, but I don't know if you understand how deep that truth is."

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Melody's cup made a gentle clinking sound when it landed as her eyes scanned Flor's face. Then, she smiled secretly before uttering a single word. "Explain."

"Yes," Flor commented. "What I mean by priority is that, if in the future we are being pushed back, we are willing to sacrifice everything as long as Liu Shu remains standing."

The sentence was said lightly, but the implications were anything but. With just those words, Melody understood the extent of their protective attitude.

"Flor…"

Hearing the World Tree's words, the Flower Fairy spoke sternly. "Liu Shu. Not now, love."

Melody's index finger circled the teacup, her expression not revealing a single thought or emotion. After letting the tension in the room increase for a little while, Melody finally spoke. "I understand. Still, I will speak as a mother and not a clan leader." Her tone was light like Flor's, even when the words that came out of her mouth were also somewhat impactful. "Harmonixia is my little world. So, if you ever think of using her as some kind of chess piece for Liu Shu's survival, I will rebel."

Harmonixia at the side didn't know what to say. She was both happy and worried about how the others would think about her. However, Verena had said something similar in the past, so her worries were not too deep.

Flor nodded with a smile. "That's only natural. I can understand why you said that, and I would've been worried if you hadn't mentioned it."

Liu Shu harrumphed at this time. "Always talking about such serious things. Why speak about the worst-case scenario? Nobody knows how you will act during desperate times. So anything you say now will be empty promises when the time of reckoning arrives."

The people in the room couldn't help but pause. Unaware that she had almost destroyed the convictions of these people, Liu Shu continued her words. "Anyway, I am now awake, so it is time to take over the continent. Melody won't participate, and I will participate as support during this part of the conquest. The rhythm will be set up by me as well. Any questions?"

Verena leaned back and asked with a smile. "What's the plan?"

"That's easy~." Liu Shu smiled. "I will spread my roots. Each time I reach a city or town, the army will invade that place. With my presence there, I will make sure no corruption occurs and that all stragglers are caught. The process won't be difficult, only tedious. By the end of it, I hope everyone in the army has at least participated in one large city siege."

Melody took another sip before asking calmly. "What are your intentions about Corrupt World Trees? There are a dozen of them or so, right?"

When she asked, she expected Liu Shu to call for murder and slaughter. Instead, what she received was gentle reassurance. "Don't worry, Aunty Melody. I'll make my utmost effort to absorb their corruption and purify all of them. Those Big Sisters are suffering, and I don't want them to have such a painful end. I'll liberate them as much as I can before taking them down and making sure a new World Tree is born in their place."

Melody stopped her motions and showed a hint of surprise for the first time since they gathered in the room. Her loss of composure was quickly hidden, but the waves that Liu Shu's words stirred in her heart took a while to settle down. "That's… dangerous. Isn't it?"

Looking around, Melody could see the mixed expressions on everyone's face. There was a hint of blame and annoyance, together with one of pride and praise toward the World Tree's attitude. Clearly, if it were for anyone other than Liu Shu to choose on this matter, the fate of those Corrupt World Trees would be very different.

After she heard Melody's cautious words, Liu Shu laughed. "Yes. It can be dangerous." Even then, she added with a gentle and caring tone. "However, I have the strength to liberate them. So, I will naturally not keep my branches away."

Melody didn't say anything after hearing that. 'No wonder Flor spoke like that before… It seems that my adorable daughter-in-law has a bit of a martyr mentality. Since that's the case, only by making her the top priority can we counteract those tendencies.'

Liu Shu's attitude was not a problem in Melody's mind. That attitude is something very few people can afford to have, and even fewer are willing to have. In an era where selfishness and one's own safety have become the norm, someone who is willing to go an extra mile for others has become a genuine precious gem—rare and valuable.

After that, Liu Shu explained the path she wanted to take. The way she did so was by placing a large continental map on the wall and then spreading roots out from the Golden Sap City. Once she covered her current root net's area in the map, she explained where and how she would expand her network.

Melody noticed the void in the middle of the continent and asked, her tone uncertain. "That void in the middle… Is that where Warlya is located?"

"Oh?" Harmonixia blinked. "Mom, do you know about Warlya? You never taught me about her."

Melody nodded. "I do know about her." Then, she added with a worried gaze. "Won't she become an obstacle? She is quite strong, right?"

Cinderielle commented. "Aunty Melody, if we make her our ally, won't we be able to avoid those troubles?"

"Ally?" Melody blinked twice and shook her head. "That's impossible. Warlya would rather die than join Liu Shu."

Flor frowned. "Why are you so sure?"

Melody turned her head, and her eyes landed on the resident Ant Queen. "Because she exists." Everyone else paused for a moment. They knew Warlya's history with ants, so Melody's words were not outrageous. The old Sylvan added. "Even if you can somehow heal Warlya or show her that Ignatia is inoffensive towards nature, Warlya won't accept it. She was battling ants for centuries and eventually fought to the death with the Ant Queen of the past. She won't ever trust an Ant Queen, regardless of what proof you show her."

Everyone became silent, while Liu Shu sighed to herself. "Even then, I need to try."

Ignatia spoke firmly. "I'll help. I will show my Status Window to Warlya as well. We will be able to come up with something."

Melody looked at her but didn't say anything else.

From that day on, the proper Continental Domination plan started.

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