Unholy Player
Chapter 196: Mother Tree

Chapter 196: Mother Tree

Liora paused for a brief moment, as if weighing a final thought, then slowly raised her hand. A small object shimmered into existence in her palm.

Adyr’s eyes narrowed with interest. He didn’t yet know what it was, but its value was obvious the instant it appeared.

At first glance, it resembled an energy crystal—roughly the size of Liora’s hand—radiating a deep violet hue. But this wasn’t just any energy crystal. Its form was unnaturally perfect, with no edges or imperfections, its surface polished to a mirror-like smoothness.

Encased within its translucent body, countless strands of energy drifted and collided like stars in a living galaxy. Wisps of light twisted and spiraled with slow, deliberate motion, forming shapes that appeared for a moment, then vanished—nebulae, orbits, fractal patterns too precise to be random.

Lucen, usually unreadable, blinked with subtle disbelief as he approached with brisk steps.

"Lady Liora... are you sure you want to give that to him?" His voice was calm as always, but the faint shift in his expression confirmed just how extraordinary the object truly was.

As for Mirela, her expression shifted into shock the moment she recognized what the item was. Without hesitation, she raised her hand.

Vines burst from the ground, tearing through the concrete floor and rising rapidly. They twisted upward, forming a sealed space just large enough to contain the four of them. The walls wove together tightly, blocking outside view and sound, creating a secure, private chamber.

Strangely, the interior wasn’t dark. Instead, it was gently illuminated by soft yellow flowers blooming along the vines. They glowed like natural lamps, casting a warm, steady light throughout the space.

Liora gave Mirela a small nod of approval, then ignored Lucen’s comment and turned her gaze directly to Adyr.

"I can say without hesitation that this is the main reason I’m able to stand nearly toe-to-toe with Dragon Rider Sevrak, even without an active Rank 4 Spark. That alone should give you a sense of how valuable it is."

Then, noticing the flicker of surprise on his face, she smiled and extended her hand toward him.

"Take it. You’ll understand once you touch it."

Without asking any questions, Adyr reached out and took the violet crystal with a quiet, focused curiosity.

The moment his fingers closed around it, a system message appeared before his eyes—one that caught him completely off guard.

[Treasure Detected]

The real reason for his surprise was the system message itself. Instead of recognizing it as a Spark, it displayed a term he had never seen before: Treasure Detected. What followed was a detailed description panel.

[Name] Mother Tree

[Rank] 1

Description:

An ancient seed, as old as the known gods themselves, once rooted at the edge of the void and became a pillar for many races across generations.

Nourished by the pure energy of existence, a special fruit grows daily on its branches. Eating this fruit grants +1 free stat point.

To grow the seed into a tree, it must be buried in soil together with crystals totaling 1000 energy. Afterward, it requires daily fertilization with crystals totaling 10 energy to remain active and bear fruit.

What the fuck? Adyr cursed inwardly. Setting aside the tree’s effect, even its description was mind-blowing, filled with mystery.

The phrase "as old as the known gods" caught his attention, especially. If this thing were older than the four known gods, then what had created this seed?

"That’s good, isn’t it?" Liora smirked. "Don’t get caught up in the description. I don’t fully understand it myself, and with my current power, I doubt I could analyze it properly. You’d be better off doing the same—it’ll only lead to confusion."

As an Astra Path practitioner, she understood how sensitive any topic involving the gods could be. She knew it was best to avoid anything that might make her question the power of Astrael—the god she believed in and worshipped. She urged Adyr to do the same.

Practitioners believed their powers were granted by the gods, and even the smallest blasphemy could bring catastrophic consequences. That was why they had to be extremely cautious. _{freew\ebno\vel..(c)om}

"Anyway," Liora began, steering the conversation away without lingering on the topic. "I found this tree five years ago in a Legacy Domain belonging to a Rank 5 Adept. Since then, it has helped me grow exceptionally."

"Five years?" Adyr narrowed his brows.

One year here still counted as 365 days, and if Liora ate one fruit every day, her [Physique] stat should have increased by roughly 1,825—a staggering number.

Considering Adyr, a Rank 2 practitioner, had a total stat sum of only 194, Liora’s gains from the tree alone made his entire build look pitiful in comparison.

No wonder she has such immense physical power, Adyr thought without hesitation. But this realization sparked another thought.

Even with these extra stats, she hadn’t been able to defeat the Rank 4 Spark Colossith—she only managed to stop it. And she was still considered weaker than Sevrak, who possessed a Rank 4 Black Dragon Spark. This revealed the vast power gap between Sparks and practitioners of the same rank.

"I know it seems slow, gaining only one stat each day, but every power-up counts for safety right now. That’s why I want you to accept this without any protest," Liora said sincerely.

It was truly an invaluable treasure. Considering someone who could live for another 200 or even 300 years, the stat points she could accumulate by holding onto this tree would be mind-blowing. Giving it to Adyr now was proof of how much she valued him.

Even Lucen and Mirela didn’t object; they just watched the conversation unfold.

The personalities of Astra Path practitioners were genuinely fascinating. Without thinking of their own interests, they could give up their most precious treasures for the growth and well-being of those they cared about without batting an eye.

For someone like Adyr—whose moral compass hovered in shades of gray, even bordering on dark—this was a truly interesting experience.

"Thank you. I will make sure to repay this kindness in the future," he said sincerely, bowing his head.

His goal from the start had been to create as much chaos as possible in the general situation, making his own safety appear fragile in the eyes of Liora and the others, so he could gain more support. Refusing this gift was never an option.

"If you want to repay us, bring a few new generation kids our way," Mirela teased from the side, a sultry laugh curling from her lips. Today, she was more provocatively dressed than ever—her outfit daringly revealing, leaving little to the imagination.

Her single, tight white dress hugged every curve of her body, clinging to the swell of her full breasts and dipping low enough to tease the smooth skin beneath. Fishnet stockings wrapped sensuously around her long legs, the dark mesh contrasting beautifully with her bronzed, glowing skin. Each subtle movement made her hips sway with an intoxicating rhythm, impossible to ignore.

Adyr’s eyes betrayed him for a moment, catching a teasing glimpse of the delicate pink flesh barely hidden beneath the thin fabric. Years of discipline and control wavered under her raw allure—Mirela’s sensual presence was a temptation even he struggled to resist.