The scenery of Edge Leaf State was unlike any Leaf State Orlen had seen before. Everything here was more primitive, more vibrant, as if in eternal early spring. The leaves were more verdant, the branches more supple, and the air was filled with a sweet floral scent.
"The Floating Brahma Tower is still some distance away," Calmur observed, looking around. "We'd better move forward quickly."
They followed a path laid with moss, flanked by tall ferns with small luminous flowers blooming at their tips, seemingly guiding travelers.
"The vitality here is so strong," Orlen marveled. "No wonder Floating Brahma Talia chose this place to establish a resistance base."
"Edge Leaf State is in its growth phase, with the most active energy flow," Calmur explained. "But for this very reason, it's also most susceptible to the Withering Season's effects. Talia's choice is both an advantage and a challenge."
After passing through a grove of tall bamboo, a busy camp appeared before them. Dozens of Leaf Dwellers were bustling about, some crafting weapons, others cultivating plants, and some training in combat skills. These Leaf Dwellers' attire differed from the common upper or lower layer residents, being more simple and practical, yet carrying a quality of resilience.
"Resisters," Calmur said softly. "Volunteers from different Leaf States who refuse to accept the Gu Tribe's invasion and the upper layer aristocrats' oppression."
Several sentries quickly surrounded them, holding spears made from luminous plants, their eyes vigilant yet determined.
"Halt! Who are you? What brings you here?" the lead sentry demanded.
A familiar voice came from behind: "They are guests I've been waiting for, Lexico. Let them through."
Orlen turned to see Ms. Adelle standing not far away. She looked tired but unharmed, the luster on her wings dimmer than before, but her eyes still sharp.
"Ms. Adelle!" Orlen almost ran to her. "You're alright!"
"Of course I am, child," Ms. Adelle smiled. "The Forest Pendant tribe isn't so easily defeated. I see you successfully found Helana."
"Yes," Orlen took out the amber container with the life code from his garment. "She gave us this, saying it's part of the seed."
Ms. Adelle's eyes brightened: "Excellent. The other half is safe, but we must see Talia quickly. The situation is more urgent than expected."
She led them through the camp toward the towering Floating Brahma Tower. Along the way, Orlen noticed many people giving Ms. Adelle respectful glances.
"They respect you," Orlen observed.
"They respect anyone willing to fight for the Spirit Branch Tree," Ms. Adelle answered. "Here, there's no distinction between upper and Root Layers, no difference between Leaf Dwellers and Forest Pendants. In the face of a common threat, old boundaries have blurred."
The Floating Brahma Tower loomed before them, even more impressive up close. This wasn't merely a Spirit-Drawing Tower cultivated into a specific shape, but a work of art—every inch of the trunk was inscribed with intricate patterns, branches extended in all directions with impossible balance, forming multiple platforms and galleries. At the top was a massive light source, like a miniature version of the Spirit Branch Tree's core.
"This is the most beautiful Spirit-Drawing Tower I've ever seen," Orlen admired.
"Talia is the last Floating Brahma who has mastered the traditional cultivation art," Ms. Adelle explained. "Other Floating Brahmas have long since simplified this art into practical tools, forgetting its soul."
They passed through the entrance at the base of the tower and entered the interior space. The inside was more spacious than it appeared from outside, with a spiral staircase in the center surrounded by multiple ring-shaped platforms, each with different functional areas. Leaf Dwellers bustled between the various levels, the atmosphere tense yet orderly.
Ms. Adelle led them directly to the top floor. As they ascended, Orlen could feel the energy in the air growing richer, the pendant and container on his chest warming slightly.
The top floor was an open circular space with a light orb hovering in the center, emitting a prismatic glow. Beneath the orb stood a tall woman dressed in a robe woven from leaves and vines, her hair falling like a waterfall to her waist, her eyes flashing with an emerald-green light.
"Talia," Ms. Adelle stepped forward. "I've brought Serra's son, and the life code."
"Serra's bloodline," Talia's voice was like a breeze through leaves. "I see her shadow in you, as well as your own light. Welcome to Edge Leaf State, Orlen."
She turned to Calmur: "Calmur, it's been many years. You still remain faithful to Serra's wishes."
Talia guided them to a large round table with a surface of transparent resin, encasing a complex map of the Spirit Branch Tree with different regions marked in various colors.
"The Gu Tribe's invasion is more organized than we anticipated," she pointed to several red areas. "They've already controlled seven major Leaf States, including Eternal Light Island. They've established energy conversion stations on each occupied Leaf State, channeling the life force to the Spirit Branch Tree's core area."
"What are they trying to do?" Orlen asked.
"They're attempting to artificially accelerate the arrival of the Withering Season and alter its nature," Talia explained. "The normal Withering Season is the Spirit Branch Tree's natural metabolic process—old leaves fall off, new leaves grow. But the Gu Tribe wants to interrupt this cycle, forcing the Spirit Branch Tree into an unprecedented deep dormancy, almost approaching death."
"The Gu Tribe believes that in this deep dormancy, they can 'reprogram' the Spirit Branch Tree's life code," Ms. Adelle added. "Making it awaken as a tree completely controlled by the Gu Tribe, providing unlimited resources for the Gu Tribe while rejecting other life forms."
"Is that possible?" Calmur asked in shock.
"Theoretically, yes," Talia answered gravely. "The Spirit Branch Tree is indeed in a malleable state during the Withering Season. But no being has ever attempted such a large-scale intervention. It's a gamble—if it fails, it could lead to the permanent death of the Spirit Branch Tree."
She walked to a niche covered by vines, lightly touched them, and they parted to reveal a small crystal container. Inside floated a thumb-sized seed, its surface flickering with the same light as the life code in Orlen's container.
"This is the Spirit Branch Tree sprout your mother discovered, transformed into seed form," Talia said. "Now, we have all the elements to recombine it."
"What should we do next?" Orlen asked.
"We need to plant the complete seed in the 'Heart Axis' of the Spirit Branch Tree," Talia explained. "That's the central hub connecting all regions. If a second Spirit Branch Tree is cultivated there, it will be able to stabilize the existing tree's life cycle, offsetting the Gu Tribe's interference."
"But that place must be heavily guarded," Calmur pointed out.
"Indeed, the Gu King has dispatched numerous Gu Tribe members to guard the Heart Axis. And worse, the upper layer aristocrats and most Floating Brahmas don't want to see the birth of a second Spirit Branch Tree either, as it would threaten their control over resources."
"So we're isolated," Orlen said heavily.
"Not entirely," Talia's eyes flashed with a glimmer of hope. "There are other Floating Brahmas secretly supporting us, and more and more ordinary Leaf Dwellers are joining the resistance. More importantly, we have you—the only one who can fully activate the seed."
"We'll depart at dawn tomorrow," Ms. Adelle said. "Before the Gu Tribe's deployment in the central area is fully in place. We'll have a small squad as escort, but will rely mainly on speed and stealth."
That evening, Orlen stood on a balcony of the Floating Brahma Tower, looking at the panorama of the Spirit Branch Tree and the flashing red lights in the distance—signs of Gu Tribe occupation.
"Afraid?" Ms. Adelle quietly asked.
"Yes, but I also feel calm. It's as if all of this was destined."
"Fate and choice are not opposites," Ms. Adelle said softly. "Your journey to this point is both the arrangement of fate and your own choice."
Orlen looked into the distance, the Spirit Branch Tree at night emitting a faint cold light, like hope in the darkness. Tomorrow, he would embark on the final journey, facing the ultimate challenge. He was no longer the boy who lived in the forgotten corner of the middle layer. He was Serra's son, the bridge between two worlds, the guardian of the Spirit Branch Tree.