“I remember the description for Crimson Wish was...”
That student who had just recently started playing Genshin Impact tapped her lips as she recalled, reciting the quest introduction in detail.
“With its offerings and growth, the Frostbearing Tree has begun to crave more power. Through its root system spread across Dragonspine, it can discover the ‘Crimson Agate’ that periodically surges within the ley lines.”
“Hmm... how do you remember it so clearly?” Mo Shao nodded in acknowledgment, but then more doubt followed.
Who on earth memorizes quest descriptions for no reason!?
“My memory is just pretty good.” The girl scratched her head, appearing bashful.
“Li Siya was the top student in the liberal arts track; she took first place even with her math dragging her down,” Little Ka whispered from the side.
“Oh, then that explains it,” Mo Shao said as she realized. A high school senior at the top of the liberal arts track who could maintain that rank even while failing math was a freak of nature—a total rote-memorization genius. Perhaps she had even awakened some kind of photographic memory skill.
...
However, did the Frostbearing Tree really need ‘offerings and growth’?
Then she would simply dump a massive amount of Bone Meal on it! If that wasn't enough, she’d give it another infusion using the Jewel of Life!
As long as the quantity was sufficient, it would definitely satisfy the tree’s needs!
In the end, experiments proved that Bone Meal alone was sufficient. Though it had to be said, the amount of Bone Meal consumed was truly staggering.
But since Bone Meal was a renewable resource anyway, she at least managed to max out the Frostbearing Tree’s offering level.
Now, it was time to claim the rewards.
As for why she waited until the end to claim them all at once...
It was because the loot had to be divided. She wasn't the only one who had searched for the Crimson Agates, and a significant portion of the Bone Meal had come from the team’s inventory.
Of course, she would take the lion's share. After all, she had found the most, and fundamentally, she was the one leading them.
...
After a round of negotiations, the Diagram: Warming Bottle, 10 Hero's Wit, a Northlander Polearm Billet, and the Memory of the Frostbearing Tree were given to the team.
It could be said that aside from the billet and the EXP materials, the other two items were things that were highly beneficial to the team as a whole. Two recipes—one of which was for a catalyst—would serve as a foundation for the team once they figured out how to use them.
They were also given a [Frostbearing: Ancient Tree] Namecard—this thing was purely decorative and had no practical use at all.
If one had to find a meaning for it, it was probably a form of proof—proof that this team had been to Dragonspine and had raised the Frostbearing Tree to Level 9. Still, that didn't seem to have much practical significance.
Meanwhile, the remaining 600,000 Mora, 2 Intertwined Fate, 4 Acquaint Fate, a Crown of Insight, and the Wings of Concealment ended up in Mo Shao’s hands.
Aside from the Wings of Concealment, the others were mysterious, esoteric items that wouldn't have much use in the early stages. Relatively speaking, the items given to the team would have been even more useless to her.
The 120 Mystic Enhancement Ores obtained were split down the middle, since these could be used to enhance weapons.
Enhancing them was simple: one just had to temporarily Live-bind a Mystic Enhancement Ore and then press it against the weapon. As long as the weapon could absorb the energy contained within, it would naturally improve.
Mo Shao chose to enhance her own staff. After all, it was more or less her soul-bound weapon now, and it was always good for it to be stronger.
...
While Mo Shao was dealing with her staff, Wu Yingzhe’s small group was also holding a discussion.
“Which of you wants to learn these two diagrams?” Wu Yingzhe took out the two diagrams and slapped them onto the table.
As for where the table and house came from—one could only say that Minecraft items were truly convenient and efficient.
“I’ll do it. I’m not a combatant anyway,” the refined man said, taking the initiative to volunteer.
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you then, Teacher Yuan.”
After a simple nod, Wu Yingzhe continued with the distribution of the remaining items. “As for this polearm billet... it’s useless for now. These ten books of Hero's Wit, let Fang Dongwei use them so he can increase his combat power quickly.”
Fang Dongwei was the person who had Dead-bound himself to the local Statue of the Seven.
With that, the distribution was complete. Half of the Mystic Enhancement Ores went into the team warehouse, while the rest had already been distributed to the various small squads.
...
“Are we... really just getting these useless things?” Tu Sisheng, who was clutching her Lightning Staff, finally couldn't help but speak up.
“It’s already very good. What did we actually provide?” Ying Yusheng shook his head, rubbing his gauntlets with an expressionless face.
“I just didn't expect Sister Hui to choose this kind of split—I thought she would distribute them more directly.” Tu Sisheng was clearly finding it hard to suppress her inner greed.
“Her most precious things are all on her person. How could you think she was that kind of person?” Ying Yusheng retorted, feeling somewhat speechless.
“That’s true... and it seems like it matches up?” Tu Sisheng blinked as she recalled something.
“Matches what?”
“Um... have you heard the recent rumors about her identity?” Tu Sisheng organized her thoughts and asked in return.
“...The ‘Elaina’ rumor?” Teacher Yuan recalled.
“Yeah, that one. She really does seem quite greedy for money like this.” Tu Sisheng tilted her head. “But maybe it’s just an act she’s putting on to deceive people?”
“Based on her previous behavior towards us, I don't think she's that kind of person.” Teacher Yuan shook his head, appearing quite confident.
“Hmm... but speaking of Elaina, I think there’s another point where she fits perfectly.” Tu Sisheng simply continued with her thoughts.
“Which point?”
“She has absolutely no intention of joining a team!”
...
“Yes, I’ve noticed that too. She stays at arm’s length from the team, only traveling with us temporarily.”
Wu Yingzhe voiced his agreement. “The only one in the group she cares about is Katicia.”
“Exactly. It looks like Little Ka is going to be snatched away too. Shouldn't we do something?” Tu Sisheng seemed like she wanted to stir something up.
“Compared to what Sister Hui can do, what can you do?” Ying Yusheng asked back with a look that said ‘Are you an idiot?’: “Do you know all that information? Do you know how to get to Avenulin? Even if you did, would a coward like you actually dare to go?”
“You bastard!” Tu Sisheng pulled out her Lightning Staff on the spot.
“There’s no need to snap at each other.” Wu Yingzhe pressed his hands down, quickly quelling the noisy atmosphere. He was clearly a leader who commanded respect. “Since she has no plans to stay with us long-term, then let’s just bear with it for now. We’re bound to part ways eventually.”
“Hmm... but there are still some problems with that Elaina theory. The staff and her figure don't match,” Teacher Yuan said, furrowing his brows.
“Maybe she’s a parallel world variant?” Tu Sisheng raised her hand.
“That’s one way to put it. That would mean her transformed image is more or less accurate...” Teacher Yuan finally reached a conclusion.
“We’ll keep observing. She’s bound to have a slip-up eventually. We should be able to confirm it completely then.”
And so, thanks to the self-imagined theories of these “smart people,” they had walked almost perfectly into the web of lies Mo Shao had woven!
When traveling abroad, your identity is indeed whatever you give yourself!
Rate on N.U.
