Once Liu Shu was done with her Leveling Up, she awakened.

The World Tree's breath covered not only the continent, but it burst out like a wave of true power and presence. This aura shockwave spread at ridiculous speed, reaching all corners of the world and alerting all powerhouses in the Ceperet World.

In the deepest parts of the Verdant Sanctity Covenant, Verdant Skyflower shook slightly before her own presence surged outward and enveloped her own domain. 'This presence… It's overwhelming. Even I feel lacking in front of it.'

A ray of Ternary Essence shot skyward and struck the floating seeds. Then, this ray started bouncing around as her mind connected with all the floating seeds around the world. 'Let's see. Where did you originate from?'

Her vision expanded outward, and the many floating seeds spread all around the world transmitted visions into her own mind. Then, she finally realized where the change had occurred. 'That's… Tianlian Liu Shu?'

Disbelief and surprise surged inside her. 'How can that be possible? How can a World Tree grow to this extent in just a few short years?'

Skyflower's movement was captured by some of the high-level people, and they communicated with her through prayers. "Lady Skyflower, is there something wrong?"

Her voice spread around, her tone airy but carrying the inherent gentleness of the World Tree species. She sounded like a soft whisper, yet clear like a cloudless sky. "I think that Ceperet will finally take that step. Tell all Level 99s to prepare to go into retreat to breach the limit."

"At your command, Lady Skyflower."

***

In the middle of the Azure Rose Confederation, Azure Rose noticed as well and extended her gaze as much as she could in the direction of the imposing presence. 'Who is this? This aura is stronger than mine…' One of the azure roses leaned backward, acting as a catapult, and then flung forward. Dozens of seeds flew across the ocean, their trajectories not falling due to the hollowness inside of them.

Their low density and velocity allowed something similar to flight. After flying for a few hours, Azure Rose finally noticed the direction and source of what was happening. 'Tianlian Liu Shu? Does she have something to do with what Skyflower told me all those centuries ago?'

Unsure, yet not willing to take it lightly, Azure Rose's voice spread throughout her entire domain. The tone was imposing yet soft, carrying with it a soothing presence full of strength.

"All attacks must cease, and we must enter a defensive strategy. Order all our high-level powerhouses to return and stay alert in their assigned cities."

While confused, no one dared disobey the Level 99 World Tree. Her strength had been tested many times in the past, and it never ended with Azure Rose on the losing side. The leaders of the states forming the confederation were not stupid enough to go against domain-wide orders.

***

Simultaneously, Celestial Lotus also started ordering something similar. "It seems that, as that child said, Tianlian Liu Shu has awakened much sooner than expected." Celestial Lotus glanced at the brown-haired Sylvan with a hint of appreciation. "Thank you, Naeris. If it weren't for you, we might've done something that we would regret forever."

Naeris took a gentle sip of a tea that would feel familiar to Flor and the others, and then smiled. "Lady Tianlian Liu Shu feels like a being beyond World Trees… I would not want my mother to perish because we, children, were careless and misinformed."

Celestial Lotus laughed faintly. "I guess…" Then, she hummed pleasantly. "I wonder what the Nexus will do now? Tianlian Liu Shu seems to have matured. Now, they will have to pay for what they've tried in the past."

***

Meanwhile, in the Nexus Empire, everyone was gathered in the middle of a massive palace. All Fourth Energy Cycle powerhouses were able to attend because of the unexpected retreat of the other three global superpowers from the front lines.

"This is too strange. Who would retreat like this without any rhyme or reason?"

"Before that." A man spoke with a calm tone and looked around with a frown. "Where is Kaelis?"

Some of the Fourth Energy Cycles became a bit nervous. Still, they feared that they would be involved, so they confessed. "L-Lord, Kaelis said that she wanted to go deal with Tianlian Liu Shu. We have not heard from her since around a year ago."

Everyone in the room looked over with strange expressions. Some of them didn't even know who these people were referring to.

"Tianlian Liu Shu?" A woman with dark hair and eyes asked, confused. "Who is that?"

The man leading the room, named Dain, spoke to her. "Right, you've been battling against the Verdant Sanctity Covenant, so you are not up to speed on the Wild Continent matters."

The woman snorted. "Why are you being so mysterious? Speak up already, Dain. Did the conquest of the continent get delayed or something?"

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"Not exactly." The man spoke calmly. "Thyra, our forces in the Wild Continent have been annihilated. Now, the Wild Continent belongs to a new faction. This faction is called <Golden Sap Arborarchy>."

Looking sideways, Dain spoke to a woman. "Explain in detail. You are in charge of most information processing about the Wild Continent, right?"

"Right away, Lord."

The woman stepped forward and started explaining to everyone present.

After she finished, many of the <Fourth Energy Cycles> that were uninformed were so baffled that they couldn't believe it.

"How can that be?"

"Can a single Young World Tree really give us so many problems?"

"It seems that it is a World Tree with purification qualities. Our usual methods won't work."

"Even then, annihilation? Something's wrong with it. We should take it seriously."

Thyra looked at those who informed them about Kaelis and asked carefully. "So… You useless fools actually allowed for a World Tree to grow to the peak of the <Third Energy Cycle>. Then, when you received news of the army's annihilation, you actually decided on just… sending one of you to see what happened? Now, Kaelis is missing, and the overpowering presence that we felt a day ago seems to be related to the <Golden Sap Arborarchy>."

The man nodded with a cough. "That's correct. Nevertheless, the World Tree is too young, Lady Thyra. Her roots probably won't be able to develop into a <Fourth Energy Cycle> for a long time. We have nothing to worry about."

Thyra looked at Dain and asked. "I know we can't deal with the Wild Continent with our usual means due to the treaty. Nevertheless, couldn't you assign someone with… I don't know…" Thyra slammed the table and shouted. "A FUCKING FUNCTIONING BRAIN!?"

Everyone jumped at her scream, but no one dared complain. This woman was an A+ Tier Level 99 powerhouse. Only a handful of people could even hope to match her.

Dain looked at her and spoke faintly. "Relax. Ceperet has always been difficult. Powerful creatures appearing to disrupt our plans won't be the first nor the last time. Didn't our predecessors even defeat a Humanoid Ant Queen who actually went interplanetary? What's a less than 40-year-old World Tree in comparison?"

Thyra leaned back and released a long breath. "Well, you are right. Still, that presence we felt a day ago was no joke. If I ever faced such a being, I would run. While it was not equal to a <Fifth Energy Cycle> and <First Evolution> powerhouse, the feeling of terror I felt was similar."

Dain agreed on that point. "I sent people to investigate. They are all Level 74 spies with Shadow Affinity methods that can hide even from the eyes of a World Tree. They should return in a week or so with accurate information. If they don't…" Dain looked at the four <Fourth Energy Cycles> and spoke coldly. "You four will go and check."

"Yes, Lord Dain!"

***

In the Golden Sap City, Liu Shu finally accustomed all her senses to the new buffs and strength. During this time, she didn't even dare twitch because her strength had become egregious compared to before. So, she feared that if she moved a root a bit too much, she would open a fissure on the landscape or destroy some of her children.

"Finally, the moment of truth… Hm?" Liu Shu was about to move when she felt a group of creatures with blurry presences cross her domain's edge. Thanks to <World Ruling World Tree>, her natural perception had been boosted by 1000%. So, whatever hiding methods these people were using were sorely lacking.

Her gaze moved over and saw a bunch of shadowy people rushing forward while running above the ocean at high speed. "Hm… I don't like their auras. Nexus soldiers, probably."

A root rose from the water, creating a massive column of water that almost reached the clouds. Then, the root fell down and slammed onto the stupefied group of people.

The strength behind the root was such that a giant wave formed and began rushing toward the shore, while Liu Shu's terrifying strength crushed down all shadowy figures.

[Congratulations on defeating…] x21

"Nice 11,340 Experience points for free!" Liu Shu giggled and then hummed. "Where was I before I cleaned those smudges…? Ah, right, strength control."

Looking at the approaching wave due to her attack, Liu Shu decided to use her roots to slow down the momentum before it reached the shore. Her roots moved the water, creating countercurrents and underwater waves that slowly broke down the wave's momentum.

"Oh~, this is fun and quite effective!"

So, our World Tree started splashing water like a child playing around. Of course, the sentence made it appear cute. However, all creatures that were even slightly close to Liu Shu's "play area" started fleeing as if doomsday were about to descend in that location.

Columns of water soared to the sky while waves several tens of meters tall rushed upward with each strike.

After playing for a few hours and creating a no-fish zone in the middle of the ocean, Liu Shu stopped splashing around. "Great! Strength: Controlled. Mood: Improved. Fun: Great. Hehehe. The only thing left is to receive lots of love and praise from Mom, Mommy, Tree, and my family in general!"

Flor and the rest knew that Liu Shu had woken up, so they were all gathered around Tree, having a picnic with all the children they could carry with them.

While they all played, they felt a presence as vast as the ocean envelop them. Everyone stopped and instinctively looked up at the towering World Tree.

The gargantuan being had turned her head and was now looking down at them with a faint smile. Her gaze was gorgeous, shining with vivid green colors. Her body, detailed beyond perfection, appeared so real that one could almost feel the velvety touch just by looking. Additionally, her facial features seemed so real that it looked as if pure life exuded from each piece of smooth and soft bark that made the exterior of the Arcadian beauty.

Melody muttered, her voice full of awe. "Incredible. Her presence when she is sleeping and awake is like night and day."

"I am awake. Sorry for keeping you waiting."

Liu Shu's voice had also changed plenty when it reached them. Before, Liu Shu's presence was not entirely mixed, so her voice sounded like the chorus of a thousand voices. After reaching the <Fourth Energy Cycle>, our adorable World Tree had assimilated all creatures within her domain and linked with everything. Hence, only her will was supreme, and only her will was transmitted through her voice.

Of course, that didn't make her voice less fantastical. When Liu Shu spoke, it didn't feel like someone was talking. Instead, they felt as if the surrounding energy were speaking directly to their soul.

Cinderielle, Verdantia, Tempestria, and Harmonixia blushed and almost lost their footing. 'W-Why does it feel as if Liu Shu's voice is caressing my insides? Mmmh~, I might need a change later…'

Thankfully, the effects were different from person to person. It all depended on their connection with Liu Shu herself.

"So… since only family is gathered here, I don't mind saying, and proudly so, that I've reached Level 90!"

Everyone's expression froze, while those who were taking a sip of tea started coughing violently.

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