Chapter 200 A Problem So Simple, Yet So Difficult

"How did you find me?" Arkhen asked with doubt.

"We sought help from a powerhouse from the 4th realm, Apollo. He was the one who directed us to you, saying that only you could solve our problem."

[My lord. Although we don't know detail about their problem, it is not like only you can solve their problem in this world of Nine realms].

[Instead, only you are "Available" for them to solve their problem, that's why you were found by them. Apollo is only a being of 4th realm. Thus, his knowledge and search range are also limited to the 4th realm and below].

'Ahh, I see. So, that's how it rolls… Alright. Since I got this opportunity, then I should grasp it and benefit myself as well.'

After ten or so minutes, Balthin returned to the room and took Arkhen to a mysterious valley by traveling on a flying ship. It was just a few kilometers long journey.

The valley's central part had a giant mysterious tree and its roots extended to the whole valley.

Below the tree stood three people. Diviner Apollo, King Thanin, and Queen Alenia. Soon, Arkhen and Balthin also arrived there.

'So this is their Ancient Dragon Force Tree,' Arkhen thought as he looked at the majestic tree! The tree's trunk was scaly like that of dragon scales. Its leaves were also a bit scaly with unique patterns. The leaves were not just green but colorful, including black and white colors along with various other colors.

[Ancient Dragon Force Tree (mini)]

-Rank: ???

-Note: A tree birthing from a falling branch of $&#@.

[Sigh, they are very lucky to have found this tree and even nurtured it to such an extent. This mini Ancient Dragon Force Tree likely grew because someone brought or dropped a branch of a much more powerful tree related to a higher version of this tree here].

'If that's the case, then the reason why this tree is dying, and they can't do anything to stop its death should be simple.'

[Indeed. This tree is confined here. It can't grow any more now that it matured to the limit of the 1st realm. Its matured structure also requires higher atmospheric energies, which this realm can't give anymore. Thus, it started dying, unable to sustain itself]

[Moreover, all these people are connected to this tree because they got their bloodline because of its Dragon Fruits. If the tree died, they would indeed weaken them a lot since the existing people could retain their powers, but their descendants wouldn't be blessed by this tree anymore].

[Also, who knows? They could also lose their Bloodline. In the end, they are not true dragons, but humans who gained dragon Bloodline from this tree's fruits, and this tree has not reached its ultimate form, so their bloodlines should also be half-assed until this tree truly matures to the limit].

'But I don't see the fruits… Did they pluck all of them?'

Everyone was gathered at the tree and Arkhen was just staring at the tree after arriving here, communicating with Velshi.

[Yes. The tree cannot produce Dragon Fruits anymore anyway. So, they must have plucked its last few fruits long ago].

After finding the information, Arkhen turned to everyone.

"This tree can't survive here anymore," Arkhen said straightforwardly as he continued, "this realm is suppressing it while not being able to sustain it. The only way to save this tree is to send it to the 2nd realm or higher."

Everyone raised their eyebrows in surprise.

"Correct. You found it so quick," Balthin said with a smile. He didn't tell Arkhen much about it and their findings so far since they wanted to see if Arkhen could find out how and why the tree was dying.

"Oh? So, you all already know the solution… Then why don't you act upon it?" Arkhen asked with doubt.

"We found the cause and solution, but…" King Thanin said as he shook his head before continuing, "but the problem is that this tree is sentient and refusing to leave this land. I have communicated with it many times but always failed to convince it. It would rather die here than ascend. It's as stubborn as a tree can be, sigh."

"Huh?" Arkhen was dumbfounded as he said. "How can an outsider like me can convince it then?"

"That, we do not know. The solution was pointed at you, so you must have the ability to convince it," Apollo said with a smile.

"Convince…" Arkhen muttered before he wryly smiled and understood. 'So basically, I have to convince it using reality motes, huh?'

"What happened? Why are you smiling that?" Balthin asked curiously. "So you know how to do it?"

[How wondrous, isn't it? Something simple sounding as convincing can be an unsurmountable task sometimes. But with the reality system, you can solve it easily, haha]

'True,' Arkhen said with a wry smile.

[My lord, the tree will be convinced perfectly such that the tree would ultimately be happy with the decision of ascending. After all, it will be able to live and enjoy more in the end].

'But why is this tree refusing to leave? There should be a reason, right? Or is it something as simple as not wanting to live in this place since this is where it grew?'

[No idea. But I am also curious if there's a particular reason. You can ask the tree. But first, let's make a deal with them]

'Alright, so I should ask for a Dragon Fruit, right? My current bloodline is very weak. I need a better one.'

[Yep. Everyone you've met so far has a higher-rank bloodline than yours. Even that Croco you defeated had a Rare-rank bloodline]

Arkhen internally rolled his eyes.

[Haha, but that was unavoidable since your current bloodline was formed by the system while you were in the Gravel Realm. In the Gravel realm, the system could only create common or uncommon rank bloodlines].

"I can do it. But what will I get in return?" Arkhen said with a grin.

"Anything you want as long as it is possible for us to do," King Thanin said with a serious expression.

"Alright, then I want a Dragon Fruit. You must show me all Dragon Fruits and I will pick the one I want," Arkhen said.

Hearing Arkhen's words, all of them except for Apollo were at a loss for words.

"Uhh… How do you know about the Dragon Fruits?" Balthin asked with a rueful smile.

"Hahaha, give it up. The lad knows what he needs," Apollo said with a laugh.

"Fine. We agree," said Queen Alenia with a sigh.

The remaining fruits were the last of the dragon fruits for them. Giving even one away could be a painful loss to them since the tree was going to leave them either way.

If the tree died, they wouldn't gain Dragon Fruits.

If the tree lived and went to the 2nd realm, they also wouldn't gain Dragon Fruits since the tree would be in the care of their Draken Clan in the 2nd realm, and they would use their fruits instead.

After all, the fruits were only given to exceptional individuals to boost and mutate the dragon bloodlines their descendent inherited from their parents.

"Alright. It's fine," said King Thanin with a somber expression. "Our people already benefited a lot from this tree. They got a powerful bloodline boost and blessing from this tree after being born here, and their life also became easy.

"But from now on, our descendants will get strong without this head-start and will only gain their reward in the form of this tree's fruit after ascending to the 2nd realm."