Ch 44: Interplanetary Planting Master

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For a Galactic Treeman, nothing is more exhilarating than waking up to find oneself surrounded by high-quality energy stones.

Reno stretched comfortably, the gentle energy flowing into his body like a babbling stream. He shook his leaves contentedly, and his roots began to extend to start absorbing the energy. At the moment his roots were about to penetrate the energy stones, Reno hesitated, recalling the incident when he had drained the Iris’s energy. After struggling in his mind for a while, Reno reluctantly withdrew his roots. He believed that a mistake should not be repeated; he was a Treeman with good character who knew how to correct his errors.

Reno’s gaze was firm as he refused to look at the energy stones beside him. Green light points overflowed from the top of his head, spreading outwards in search of Little Sprout he was concerned about.

The light points drifted through the air. Su He’s body trembled slightly, and he suddenly turned around, exclaiming in surprise, “Reno!”

The Galactic Treeman walked out of the starship, his branches extending like raised arms, waving at Su He. Su He ran up to him with a smile, “You’re awake? Is there anywhere uncomfortable? Did you see the energy stones placed around?”

With so many questions, Reno didn’t know which to answer first, but he was very happy to see Su He’s lively demeanor. A little Treeman should grow up happily.

Lu Li followed behind Su He, approaching Reno and performing a standard salute. “Thank you, Mr. Reno, for your bravery during the subspace storm. On behalf of all the members of the Iris, I extend our highest respect to you.”

Reno’s branches bent in a return salute to Lu Li, and he spoke earnestly, “Major Lu, you’re too kind. No Galactic Treeman would abandon a friend in danger, especially with a newly born Treeman on board.”

Lu Li smiled warmly and said sincerely, “It is the honor of all the members of the Iris to gain Mr. Reno’s friendship.”

Reno shook his leaves, “Meeting Major Lu Li is also my good fortune. You’ve taken great care of Little Sprout. You’re truly a good person!”

Su He: “…”

He listened with a peculiar expression, not quite used to such exchanges. Noticing Su He’s reaction, Lu Li mentioned that they had specifically prepared energy stones for Reno aboard the starship. Su He finally had a chance to speak, adding, “Most of this planet is covered in energy stones, so you no longer need to worry about running out of energy.”

“Most of the planet is energy stones?” Reno repeated, trembling with excitement, “I feel a surge of energy. This planet is truly a holy place for every Galactic Treeman. Little Sprout, you should stay here to grow until you mature.”

Lu Li: “…”

Su He held back a laugh and remained silent. Fortunately, Reno’s attention was soon captured by the energy stones on the starship, and he happily rooted himself at the center of the energy stones. The pure energy was absorbed into his body like a whale drinking water. In just a few minutes, the starship was drained of the energy stones that had been placed. Reno’s body rapidly grew taller, his branches and leaves extending, and the leaves on his head lit up, emitting a sparkling glow. As the sun set and twilight fell, Reno stood by the sea, resembling a glowing tree that drew everyone’s gaze.

The sentinels lit a bonfire, and the people in the lower deck were allowed to move about freely. The area became lively with human voices as the beach quickly filled with activity.

Reno stayed away from the crowd, rooting himself by the sea. The branches and leaves overhead formed a swing. Su He sat on it, swaying with the sea breeze, and began recounting the events of the past few days: unfamiliar planets, strange buildings, “aliens” that looked like humans, and life forms created specifically to produce energy stones. When he mentioned the life forms, one of those he had treated emerged from the sand, gently tugging at Su He’s clothes with its tentacles.

“This strange little creature?” Reno asked.

Su He nodded. The sea breeze blew, and a thin mist rose from the sea. Reno’s figure was reflected in the water, and the light was exceptionally beautiful. Su He looked at the sea and asked, “How long until we can contact the Federation?”

Reno shook his leaves, “It depends on how far this place is from the galaxy. The galactic particles carry my information. As long as they are captured by the Treemen, they will know about our situation.”

Numerous green light points overflowed from his body, dispersing into the air. The communication among Galactic Treemen was achieved through these light points—galactic particles. Reno emitted galactic particles into the universe, each tiny particle containing complex information. These particles would be captured by the Treemen in the galaxy, who would interpret Reno’s message and relay it to the Seventh Legion. The entire process of information transmission was also a process of exploration. Galactic Treemen used galactic particles to determine their direction in the universe.

Su He also had galactic particles, but he did not understand this method of transmission at all. Reno reassured Su He that it was because Su He was still young; once he matured from the infant stage into a juvenile, he would master the use of galactic particles.

“How long is the infant stage?” Su He asked curiously.

Reno chuckled, “It’s quite short, only a few hundred years.”

Su He: “…”

The two of them chatted animatedly, while starlight from billions of light-years away gently fell. In the distance, people danced joyfully around the bonfire. The residents from Broken Star were more attuned to enjoying life than the sentinels of the Iris.

Su He fell asleep against Reno in the sea breeze. Lu Li carried him back to the Iris, stepping on starlight. In his drowsy state, Su He clung to Lu Li’s hand, vaguely feeling as though he was in a warm embrace all night. He slept until dawn, and when he opened his eyes, the room was filled with sunlight. Su He took a moment to realize that this room, filled with energy stones, was his temporary lodging.

He struggled through the energy stones on the floor to the window. On the beach, the lower deck residents had already started their day’s work. Men were fishing along the coast with the sentinels, while a few stayed by the sea to tend the land surrounded by the array. A few women were coming and going from the damaged starship, clearing out the cabins in preparation for moving from the Iris. Su He found it a bit incredible. He knew Lu Li intended to leave the lower deck people on this planet, and he initially thought they would be unwilling, but the situation didn’t seem as bad as he had imagined.

Lu Li saw him approaching and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Su He voiced his doubts. Lu Li smiled gently, “It’s all thanks to you.”

“Me?”

Lu Li nodded and explained, “Without the threat of the life forms, the living environment on this planet is much better than on many Federation planets. A piece of land that can be cultivated means a hope for survival. With hope, they are naturally willing to stay here.” Of course, Shen Shen also used some minor tactics, but Su He didn’t need to know that. Lu Li looked at Su He and continued, “This is just the beginning. Once we return to the Federation, Shen Shen will procure a batch of living supplies and send them here. If there are other suitable immigrants, they will be sent here gradually. I hope this place can become our home.”

“Our home?”

Su He listened with longing, his enthusiasm boosted by Lu Li’s words. He threw himself into arranging the array with full energy. Jiang Bo and the others discovered a small island in the sea. Because it was far from the mainland, the plants and animals on the island were spared from the life forms’ harm. Lu Li brought back some plants and, following the array arranged by Su He, planted them along the coast. The life forms were restricted by Su He and kept away from this area. Although they had feeding organs, they relied on photosynthesis from the tentacles on their backs to sustain themselves. Feeding was mostly to refine energy stones. The life forms’ reverence for Su He surpassed their need for food, and they avoided interfering with humans.

With the rising and setting of the sun, life on the planet seemed to get back on track. Occasionally, Su He thought that staying here wasn’t so bad and that returning to the Federation wasn’t a necessity. But then he remembered Han Rui was still in the Federation and Lu Li would definitely return, so he put that thought aside.

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