Chapter 2261: Chapter 2262: Lost Forest

Aside from Leaf Groot’s demeanor, Dangross also tried to change the conversation with Tadinai towards Nami Midori.

However, Tadinai smiled and diverted the topic: "As for Nami Midori’s affairs, it’s better to wait for His Highness Leaf to speak with you all, I wouldn’t dare to overstep. Moreover, I truly don’t know."

From Tadinai’s response, it’s clear that it noticed Dangross trying to gather information. Since the previous details did not involve secrets, it could answer. But once it touched upon matters it couldn’t discuss, its refusal was very evident.

In just this short ten-minute interaction, it became apparent that Tadinai is a very clever Elemental Creature. It understands etiquette, knows its boundaries, and respects limits. It’s no wonder Leaf Groot would send it to greet Angel and the group.

After a while, the Gondola passed through a delicate mist, revealing a mountain peak surrounded by clouds.

This mountain peak has a distinctive shape, as if the top of a conical mountain was cut off, resembling a volcanic crater. It’s somewhat similar to Mount Fuji that Angel saw in the Holographic Tablet, except without snow at the peak.

Under Tadinai’s guidance, the Gondola flew towards the summit of this mountain.

When arriving at the top, Angel discovered that the mountaintop was indeed sunken in, but not as a volcano crater as imagined — but instead, it was a very expansive lake.

At this moment, the sky was clear, and although clouds shrouded the peak, they did not block the sunshine. The lake, under the sunshine, shimmered with ripples, as if a layer of gold powder was spread over the surface, looking quite enchanting.

"This lake is Sunlight Lake." Tadinai paused, then pointed to one side of Sunlight Lake: "Over there is where His Highness resides."

Following Tadinai’s direction, Angel saw a towering tree standing by the golden lake.

On the trunk of this tree, there grew human-like features, though veiled by layers of bark, giving it an aged appearance.

"That is... His Highness Leaf?" Angel asked softly.

Tadinai nodded: "Yes, His Highness is already waiting for you, sir."

...

Angel had previously speculated that Leaf Groot’s task should be quite easy; indeed, it was.

Upon arriving at Sunlight Lake’s shore, Angel was met with a warm reception of a welcoming ceremony, not only with fluttering leaves but with vines emerging from beneath the earth weaving seats; Leaf Groot even personally summoned a rain storm full of natural ambiance...

Thankfully, Angel sensed the increased air humidity and activated a force field, otherwise he would have become drenched.

After the unique and warm welcoming ceremony, the conversation between Leaf Groot and Angel went smoothly as well.

Angel handed over the Shadow Box to Leaf Groot and watched the trilogy together with it.

After watching, Leaf Groot marveled at the human’s power while also expressing its willingness to accept Mr. Magu’s invitation and promised definitely to visit the Region of Fire. However, being a Treant, traveling long distances was tough; it finally decided to send The Sage to go.

Leaf Groot made the decision promptly, sparing Angel much persuasion.

It could be said that Leaf Groot has been the most relaxed conversational partner Angel encountered along this journey. Although it wasn’t as straightforwardly agreeable as Frost Iser, it showed considerable goodwill.

Angel estimated that perhaps the arrival of the sage from the canyon stone forest earlier had given Leaf Groot time to deliberate; thus, Angel’s arrival coincided with its decision-making process.

Nonetheless, compared to the task of "delivering the Shadow Box," Angel was more interested in meeting Nami Midori.

Yet, when Angel mentioned Nami Midori, the previously straightforward Leaf Groot hesitated for the first time.

After a long pause, Leaf Groot finally asked, "Must you see them?"

Angel nodded without hesitation: "I must see them, I want to learn more about Mr. Feng."

Seeing Angel’s determination, Leaf Groot pondered for a moment before speaking: "To be honest, I haven’t seen Teacher Nami Midori for a long time either."

"Teacher Nami Midori...? Angel had never heard that Leaf Groot was a student of Nami Midori before.

Leaf Groot’s aged face showed a hint of embarrassment: "In truth, I am not officially accepted as Teacher Nami Midori’s student; I have learned many things from the teacher, so I voluntarily call them teacher. However, the teacher does not acknowledge this title."

Angel was enlightened, not dwelling further on the title, he signaled Leaf Groot to continue.

"The last time I saw the teacher was three hundred years ago... In fact, I didn’t truly see the teacher that time, only heard the teacher’s voice."

Leaf Groot’s eyes gradually became hazy as it fell into reminiscing.

Actually, when assuming the role as the Lord of the Green Forest Domain, Leaf Groot’s strength had not truly reached the level of an Element Monarch. It was just that the previous Monarch, Starwood Wood, passed too suddenly, and Nami Midori was unwilling to assume the responsibility as Monarch, leading Leaf Groot to be pushed into the role.

After many years, Leaf Groot’s body, having been baptized by multiple Elemental Tides, finally advanced from its current level three hundred years ago, becoming a truly qualified Elemental Monarch.

Upon becoming Monarch, Leaf Groot went to the Lost Forest.

—The Lost Forest is where Nami Midori has always resided.

Leaf Groot hoped to invite Nami Midori to the celebration.

Standing outside the Lost Forest, Leaf Groot did not wait for Nami Midori’s appearance but heard her transmission, a simple blessing.

And since then, Leaf Groot has not received any news from Nami Midori.

After listening to Leaf Groot’s recollection, before Angel could express anything, Dangross spoke first: "You haven’t seen Lady Nami Midori for so long, aren’t you worried?"

Worry is not necessary, for the Lost Forest has always been enveloped by the teacher’s aura. Over the years, the strength of the aura has not diminished but increasingly intensified, indicating the teacher has encountered no accidents, and their strength has steadily grown deeper." Leaf Groot mentioned this, then sighed: "However, due to the aura becoming increasingly fearsome, no Elemental Creature can enter the forest. Not even I."

All creatures wishing to enter the Lost Forest are repelled by the terrifying aura; none can penetrate inside.

Thus, the Lost Forest became a forbidden territory in the Green Forest Domain. No one wishes to approach, nor does anyone dare speak of it.

Over time, many newly born Elemental Creatures in the Green Forest Domain, and many have even forgotten who Nami Midori is. Stories of Nami Midori have seemingly become legend.

Leaf Groot gazed at Angel: "Therefore, even if I agreed, you might not be able to see the teacher."

Leaf Groot’s jurisdiction is vast, but the Lost Forest is an exception. Even if it tells Angel he can meet Nami Midori, it’s an empty promise with no practical effect.

"This is indeed a bit troublesome," Angel mumbled softly, pondering aloud, "I want to know if Lord Nami Midori has explicitly expressed not wishing to see any visitors?"

After understanding that Nami Midori’s strength might far exceed Leaf Groot’s, Angel felt a bit embarrassed to call her by name directly and added a respectful suffix.

Leaf Groot thought for a moment: "It doesn’t seem like she has expressed that, but the aura surrounding the Lost Forest could be considered a statement in itself."

"Not necessarily," Angel replied. "Perhaps this is a test Lord Nami Midori left for you?"

A test? Leaf Groot was taken aback.

Angel spoke confidently, "What I mean is, Lord Nami Midori set the aura not to prevent others from entering the Lost Forest, but to see if anyone could find a way to enter, provided they can bypass or disregard the aura, they could meet her."

"Is that so?" Leaf Groot felt this logic was somewhat peculiar.

Angel: "I don’t know either, but since Lord Nami Midori hasn’t explicitly said not to see visitors, your highness can’t deny there’s a possibility, right?"

Leaf Groot thought about it and slowly nodded.

Angel: "So, I’d like to try going to the Lost Forest. If I can’t enter, then I’ll accept that."

Leaf Groot considered Angel’s proposal carefully and thought it might be worth a try.

Over the years, quite a few Elemental Creatures have inadvertently ventured into the Lost Forest, only to be driven back by Nami Midori’s aura without suffering any harm. Moreover, Nami Midori didn’t truly get angry with these intruders; otherwise, she wouldn’t let them return alive.

Thus, letting Angel try wouldn’t incur any loss.

Thinking of this, Leaf Groot nodded: "Alright, when do you plan to go? I can take you there."

Leaf Groot thought, with it accompanying Angel, even if he really got hurt, it would have ways to heal him.

Angel: "If your highness is available, we can go now."

Leaf Groot: "Alright, let’s head over now."

Leaf Groot handed the shadow box of the trilogy to The Sage Meo beside it, then slowly transformed from a towering tree into a relatively slender Treant.

With the shrinking of the trunk, the aged face also seemed a bit younger.

After transforming into a slender Treant, Leaf Groot uprooted its roots, using them as legs, indicating to Angel that it was time to leave.

Although Leaf Groot became much slimmer, it was still not "petite," so it couldn’t ride the Gondola.

However, taking the Gondola only saves a bit of time. Angel wasn’t in a hurry, so he put away the Gondola and walked with Leaf Groot towards the Lost Forest.

On the way to the Lost Forest, Angel took the opportunity to ask some questions about Nami Midori.

However, what Leaf Groot knew wasn’t much more than Frostbite Isel, so Angel didn’t gain much from the conversation.

Besides matters related to Nami Midori, Angel also asked about some other questions.

Chief among them were the hidden entities he encountered on the way.

"Invisible, with concealment abilities surpassing Wind Element creatures, and speed comparable to Electric Monarchs?" Leaf Groot pondered deeply for a moment before shaking its head: "I’ve never heard of such an Elemental Creature."

"Could it be a hidden power?" Dangross, hanging on the Blood Night Shelter, asked curiously.

"A hidden power? No." Leaf Groot answered confidently, "Under the breath of the World’s Harmony, no power can remain hidden. Unless, the entity doesn’t absorb the dissipated elements during the World’s Harmony."

The World’s Harmony is a celebration for all Elemental Creatures. Even the Elemental Sprites would stop all activities to quietly absorb the world’s gifts at this time.

For an Elemental Creature not to absorb during the World’s Harmony would be like a starving person unperturbed by an ownerless feast.

This is evidently unlikely.

Hence, Leaf Groot was very certain that if such a power existed, it would have been discovered long ago.

"If it’s not a hidden power, then what could it be?" Dangross, who previously thought that a hidden power was the answer, was now confused by Leaf Groot’s negative response.

Leaf Groot considered for a moment and responded: "In my opinion, there are two possibilities."

Everyone looked on, waiting for its explanation.

"The first possibility is a special talent. There are some Elemental Creatures, though not very powerful themselves, possess unique talents. In certain situations, these talents can be even more powerful than some Element Lords."

Just like Kelonkcro, whose talent is elemental self-detonation, and is able to reassemble its consciousness after detonation.

Elemental self-detonation itself is a trump card for all Elemental Creatures, used only at the cost of complete destruction. Kelonkcro’s talent allows it to "self-detonate" almost without limitation. Once it surpasses the sprite stage, each of its detonations could rival the strike of an Element Lord.

If it advances further, it might even surpass the attacks of an Element Lord.

So, the special talents Leaf Groot mentioned do exist among Elemental Creatures.

At this point, Lobal’s tail head objected: "I also considered it might be a special talent, but after careful consideration, I find it unlikely."

"Because even a special talent needs to follow basic logic. For example, a purely Water System Elemental Creature cannot have a Fire Element talent." Lobal continued, "And that hidden entity can fly, is invisible, and possesses exceptional speed. It seems to me only a Wind Element creature’s special talent can achieve that."

"But if that hidden entity is a Wind Element creature, it would be impossible to escape the perception of me and Speedy."

Everyone nodded, agreeing with Lobal.

No matter how special the talent, it needs corresponding elements to work. If the hidden entity were a Wind Element creature, its use of Wind’s Force would certainly be detected by Lobal.

Leaf Groot added, "As for my second guess... is it possible that the hidden entity isn’t an Elemental Creature?"

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