After cleaning up the corpse, Ram turned his attention to the Sylvan Soul Tree, trying to sense the souls it had absorbed.
Normally, any life lost in his space would contribute to the tree's collection, yet to his surprise, there was no trace of Kain's soul.
At first, confusion flickered across his face. Why wasn't his soul here? he wondered, but the pieces clicked into place soon enough. "It must be because of the Mind Shadow Parasite," he murmured, shaking his head.
Whatever the exact reason, Ram decided not to dwell on it. What's done is done. There were more pressing matters to attend to.
He continued to select a few souls of the cavemen and enhance them with the soul essence from the remanent consciousness of Goddess Ignara.
Chapter Find:
Then used the Sylvan Spirit Rebirth to slowly revive them again, he had been doing these every day, which had become a daily routine for him.
After spending about ten thousand points of Life energy and Spiritual power each, reviving another twenty 'Rare' quality Half Drows, he turned his attention toward Groot, who stood nearby, now fully recovered.
The once-overdrawn state caused by using [Bio-Life Core - Energy Surge] was completely gone, and Groot's aura had returned back to normal.
Ram approached with a faint smile. "Groot, you're back to full strength. That's good."
Groot rumbled in acknowledgment, the deep tones of his voice resonating through the space.
The real reason Ram sought out Groot, however, was for his skill [Shared Consciousness], which allowed a direct connection to the Heart Wood Tree within the Wood Spirit Realm.
Through it, Ram plans to sense the Heart Wood Tree again and reenter the Wood Spirit Realm, he places his hand on Groot's shoulder and uses his Plant Lord's affinity to sense the position.
Because they were already connected to the Wood Spirit Realm, the process went very smoothly, soon Ram felt the familiar pull from the Heart Wood Tree.
However, unlike the previous two times, something unexpected happened. Instead of his spirit body being transported, Ram's true body disappeared from space entirely and reappeared within the Wood Spirit Realm.
The moment he came to his senses, Ram immediately felt the difference.
The air around him was rich, almost overwhelming, with pure reiki and life energy far stronger than in his own space.
Looking around, Ram found himself in the middle of a dense forest.
Towering trees, their bark glowing faintly with an emerald hue, surrounded him. Their massive roots coiled and twisted like living sculptures; while shimmering leaves reflected the light of a soft, unseen glow from above.
Focusing his thoughts, Ram spread his spiritual awareness outward. The energy signatures in the Wood Spirit Realm were more distinct and vivid now that he was physically present.
He could sense several sources of life energy nearby, but one stood out—a massive concentration of energy, pulsing like a beacon.
"There," he muttered, honing in on the location, and began to move toward it.
As Ram rushed through the forest, he couldn't help but notice how different everything felt compared to his previous visits.
Her beautiful face, calm and radiant, captured his attention.
Instinctively, Ram activated his Spiritual Eye to check her details. To his surprise, with his own improved strength, he could now see more than he had during their last encounter.
[ Name: Ling Xi]
[ Race: Forest Spirit]
[ Level: Tier 6]
[ Skills: ???]
"Well, not many details... Tier 6?" Ram pondered with some curiosity, as he stepped forward, intending to greet her.
Ling Xi tilted her head slightly, her expression showing a hint of confusion at first. But the moment she felt the familiar aura emanating from Ram, recognition lit her eyes, and her usual calm demeanor returned.
"Ah, it's you," Ling Xi said with a faint smile. "You've come again, but this time..." Her gaze swept over him briefly, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face. "You've entered with your true body. Interesting."
"Compared to last time, you've changed so much," Ling Xi remarked, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity.
"Not just your strength—your aura is completely different now. There's an unusual attraction to it, something... unique."
Ram nodded, unsure how to respond at first, but her words piqued his interest. Before he could speak, Ling Xi continued.
"I've been waiting for your arrival," she said, her tone carrying a sense of certainty. "There are things we need to discuss—you can ask me your questions, but I warn you I can only disclose those that I can."
Her words carried weight, and Ram could feel an undercurrent of significance in her tone. "Waiting for me? Does this have to do with the Master Orion or something else entirely?" he asked, his curiosity growing.
Ling Xi nodded her head, affirming his words. "Yes, you can ask," she said, her voice soft but firm. "But as I told you before, I can only answer those questions that I am allowed to."
She paused for a moment, her expression becoming more serious. "But this is not the place to talk. Follow me."
With that, she turned and walked deeper into the forest. The towering trees seemed to part slightly as she moved, creating a clear path for them to follow.
Ram thought for a moment, then nodded in understanding, he did not hesitate to follow her, as his mind raced with questions.
As they walked, the forest around them seemed to grow quieter, almost as if it were aware of their presence.
Soon, they reached a secluded clearing where the massive Heart Wood Tree stood, its branches stretching far into the sky, radiating a powerful and comforting energy.
The tree's branches spread wide, glowing with a soft, greenish light, and its roots seemed to stretch deep into the earth.
Ling Xi motioned for Ram to sit, and she did the same, "Now," Ling Xi began, her voice soft but clear, "we can speak freely here."
"Fair enough," he said. "Then, I'll start with what's been on my mind—about Master Orion. The last time I was here, I encountered him, and I still don't fully understand who he is?"
"And how can I meet him again?"