pjbooks Chapter 338 Bearing the Legacy
Chapter 338 Bearing the Legacy
It's dying.
It was the kind of death in the truest sense, a complete and utter withering away.
Even though the external entities can continuously absorb nutrients, the damage to its main body is simply too great.
A constant supply of nutrients can only delay the withering process.
Rather than doing that, it's better to give up voluntarily and let the split off grow strong.
"this……"
Upon hearing this answer, Lin Fan felt his brain wasn't quite working properly.
After all, it would be very strange for anyone to hear from a tree that they are about to die.
However, Lin Fan soon realized a problem: the split pieces were not the withered tree itself.
Even if a dead tree dies, does that mean its parts are no longer itself?
Lin Fan was somewhat puzzled by this question, and of course, he couldn't understand the withered tree's way of thinking either.
But he still couldn't help asking:
"Isn't that split part you?"
This time, the withered tree didn't hesitate; it answered directly in his mind.
[It's different. Each of us has our own individual consciousness; as we grow and develop, we develop our own consciousness. But I can only disappear completely with death.]
"I see!!"
Lin Fan still couldn't quite understand the dead tree's answer.
Of course, not understanding and not knowing are not the same thing. After thinking for a moment, he didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only ask,
"Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Upon hearing his words, the withered tree did not hold back and directly asked Lin Fan for a favor.
Those are the seeds.
Although the dead tree is dead, these seeds are its legacy, or rather, its final offerings.
It wanted Lin Fan's help to take these seeds away and let them continue...
At first, Lin Fan didn't think much of the request.
But soon, as if he had thought of something, his eyes narrowed and his face darkened.
"You planned this from the beginning, didn't you?"
As he spoke, his gaze sharpened. "Is my friend the host you chose?"
No, don't misunderstand. The large marine creature you mentioned is not the host I chose.
However, it entered my sphere of influence on its own, and neither I nor the clone had the power to choose.
Do you think I'd believe that?
Believe it or not, it's up to you, but all I can say is that the marine creature was incredibly resilient, and its aura gave me quite a chill.
Of course, if I can truly assimilate it, my original form could continue for a very long time.
Upon hearing this answer, Lin Fan narrowed his eyes, staring at the sphere in front of him with a dangerous look.
"Do you know what you're saying? You want to turn the giant crow into your nourishment?"
The aged voice paused for a moment.
Then a question tinged with confusion is conveyed.
Listen.
But before Lin Fan could hear the other person's voice in his mind, he took a deep breath and said...
"I don't care how your civilization works. Here, becoming someone else's nourishment is called death. I can ignore you absorbing other things, but the Great Crow..."
No!
He is my companion; you cannot absorb him. If you wish to absorb him…
Then don't blame me for being impolite!
As he spoke, a faint black phosphorescence appeared on his body, and at the same time, strange ripples appeared on his arms.
Seeing his reaction, the withered tree fell silent.
This continued for several seconds.
Its voice rang in Lin Fan's mind once again.
I can resist the temptation of that sea creature.
Lin Fan, who was originally prepared to resort to violence if he couldn't get through to reasoning, was taken aback by this answer.
"What did you say?"
The withered tree didn't beat around the bush; it responded directly.
If you are willing to bear my seeds and our incense offerings, I can stop the assimilation of the clones.
"..."
Lin Fan fell silent.
"Your seed? You mean that thing?" He looked at the large seed floating in the middle.
No. That's just the core of the life form you see.
And with that aged voice, a strange image appeared before him.
He recognized the image in the picture; it was that dark, gray space.
At this moment, a crack appeared in the trunk of the dead tree in the space, and inside was a tiny, almost invisible point of light.
This is my core, the continuation of my entire civilization, and the essence of my life.
"Your life essence? How am I supposed to inherit it? Are you going to stuff it inside my body?"
Lin Fan couldn't help but speculate. But the withered tree's answer was very straightforward.
【Yes. 】
"You're really direct..."
Lin Fan muttered a complaint.
If I actually put that thing inside my body, what would I become? A real vegetable?
What the hell!
Lin Fan was startled by his own thought.
"I want to know, if I put that thing of yours inside me, will I become like you?"
I don't want to be a walking tree!
Upon hearing his question, the withered tree fell into a brief silence again.
After a long while, the withered tree finally answered his question.
The meaning is simple: to reassure him that even if he carries the core, he will not change his life form.
The core is merely a few things residing within its body; when the time is right, the seed will choose a suitable environment to nurture new life.
"No, are you trying to get something for nothing from me?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Fan's eyes widened.
[Freebie?]
"Yes, it means acting as free labor."
No, you are not free labor. During the duration of the mission, you can freely utilize the core's power.
"Core power? Where in the world is there such a good deal? You give me power and memories, and all I have to do is 'bear' it? What's the price?"
silence.
This silence lasted a long time.
Then--
The price is that, after bearing my seed, you will no longer be a pure... life form.
"What do you mean?"
Your body will undergo changes. A part of you will... become a plant.
Lin Fan looked at his hands.
"Doesn't this still turn into a plant?"
No, it's not about turning into a plant, it's just a fusion. It's not about replacement.
Your physical body will still exist, but you will acquire the characteristics of a plant.
Regeneration, photosynthesis, mycelial network sensing... and more.
"..."
Lin Fan did not answer immediately.
To be honest, the suggestion appealed to him.
Who would complain about having too little strength?
But the price of "becoming part of a plant"...
He thought about how ridiculous it was that he transformed into Godzilla.
What if we add a plant-based element to this?
So what is he? A hybrid of human and animal with added plant components?
"Do I look like some kind of hybrid experimental subject?"
Lin Fan muttered something to himself.
But he also knew that now was not the time to dwell on that.
The most important question is—
"What if I don't accept?"
silence.
"Then I will continue to absorb surrounding life forms through my split bodies. Including your ocean companion. I have no other choice. Either find a host to continue, or rely on my split bodies to keep absorbing until those life forms fuse to a suitable degree..."
The meaning of this statement is quite clear.
You don't accept? Fine.
Then it will suck as much as it can.
accept?
Then he himself would have to become half-human and half-plant.
"This isn't negotiating, this is threatening."
The response neither denied nor admitted anything; it simply conveyed the message that "this is the truth."
Lin Fan stared at the suspended seed for a long time.
"I need time to think about it."
[Yes, but not much. My main body... can't last much longer.]
"how long?"
Based on your timeframe... approximately seven days.
Seven days.
If it dies after seven days, will the assimilation effect on the giant crow disappear, or will it go out of control?
Of course, he can also take action.
But he now understood that even if he destroyed this split part, the main body of the withered tree would still remain within the mysterious space...
In that case, it would be meaningless.
However, just as Lin Fan was pondering, the voice of the withered tree rang in his mind again.
I forgot to tell you, if I die, my body will go out of control.
Without the constraint of conscious awareness, the body will enter a mode of indiscriminate absorption.