Chapter 11

Chapter 11: A Wooden House in the Forest

Lolan Hill placed her hand on the tree trunk and closed her eyes, immediately entering a magical world.

The land, atmosphere, and the flowing mana in the river clearly appeared in her mind. They surrounded this forest, so dense that they would normally cause various supernatural phenomena such as light, flames, and biological evolution if not contained.

However, under the influence of the amber red maple tree’s ability, these mana became peaceful and restrained, confined within this forest and not spilling out. This was likely the reason why this giant tree had not been discovered by others for so many years.

Under the influence of [Deep Crimson Reflection], mana manipulation became very easy and stable, without any arbitrary upheaval. This place was ideal for beginners to practice or for alchemy and potion-making.

When her consciousness followed the flow of mana up the tree, Lolan Hill perceived where the problem lay.

Perhaps due to its excessive stability, the continuously accumulated mana inside the tree had condensed, eventually blocking the tiny conduits that transported nutrients and water. Normally, a tree like this would have already crystallized and withered.

But this tree absorbed moisture and nutrients through its leaves, allowing it to barely survive for hundreds of years. However, the nutrition and water obtained in this way were limited. Even a superordinate sequence giant tree was approaching its limits.

If Lolan Hill hadn’t appeared, this tree might have withered and completely crystallized, becoming an amber tree, in one to two years.

After understanding the situation, Lolan Hill withdrew her hand and lay down in the red flower sea, beginning to think about how to solve the problem.

Blockages required guidance and unblocking.

The azure and clear sky, with wisps of flowing clouds drifting by, watching the maple leaves fall from the treetops, Lolan Hill caught a red leaf and suddenly had an idea.

She placed her palm on the tree trunk and started using her ability, [Harmonize Healing].

— Harmonize Healing, activated

— Basic structure, revealed

— Mana analysis, complete

— Crystal frequency, sensed

— Vibration synchronization, starting

— Mana crystals, shattered

— Guided flow, unblocked

— Branch fruits, gathered

This enormous superordinate red maple tree began to vibrate slightly. The tree trunk reflected brilliant light, then the mana crystals inside continuously shattered, and this energy was gathered into the branches and leaves at the top of the tree. Then, one after another, orange semi-transparent fruits formed.

Finally, all the blocked mana crystals inside the tree trunk were cleared, and most were transformed and solidified into the orange fruits hanging on the tree.

These fruits were crystal clear, each the size of a fist, emitting a faint glow in the evening forest, like small night lamps hanging from the branches.

The remaining mana was absorbed by the tree itself to repair damage and grow branches and leaves.

All right, ha ha.

Looking at the tree covered in small orange lanterns, Lolan Hill sensed its happy mood and laughed happily.

With the isolation and protection of the [Maple Illusion], this maple forest could be considered a perfect place to live.

Lolan Hill thought this, tried communicating with the tree, and received a very agreeable and joyful response.

Then, the roots at the base of the tree began to grow, forming a small house more than five meters high with brown roots intertwined.

But after all, it was a tree, and its ideas were simple. The shape of the small house was crooked and uneven, lacking engineering aesthetics in the eyes of the young lady.

I’ll do it myself.

—

The next day, in the red maple forest.

“Fumeflow!”

With a clear shout from the young lady.

Sharp wind blades cut through a red maple tree, a large branch fell, and then several more wind blades, under Lolan Hill’s precise perception, sliced a two-meter-thick branch into smooth wooden boards.

Originally meant to calm living beings, the gentle breeze had become a deadly wind scythe in the young lady’s hands. Not only did she consider using it to cut trees, boards, and peel bark, but even to trim nails.

One could only say that her innate talent was too strong, or perhaps sharp blades could indeed calm others more quickly.

Following the same method, she produced some smooth wooden cylinders. These trees, nurtured in the dense mana, had astonishing quality.

Straight grain and fine texture, they shone with gold threads and a luster similar to silk under the sun, with a faint fragrance.

Using the system observation, it was [Red Maple Wood] (quality 210~240, evaluation: rare silver grade).

If it were from the branches of the amber red maple tree, it would be different, then it would be [Amber Red Maple Wood] (quality 410~460, evaluation: perfect pearl grade).

Then, building the house began. Although she didn’t learn civil engineering in her previous life, she had seen pigs being raised.

Laying the foundation should be the first step.

First, several thick wooden stakes were driven into the ground, adjusted for level, then the framework was constructed, and finally, wooden boards were laid on the frame to form the floor of the house.

The outer circle consisted of wooden pillars, used for support.

The floor built on the wooden stakes was half a meter above the ground.

It definitely couldn’t be built directly on the ground; rainwater would seep in, and it would easily become damp.

After construction, wooden nails were used to secure everything, allowing them to grow and connect into a solid whole.

Finally, a round-topped wooden house over 100 square meters in area was completed, resembling the dwelling of a witch in a fairy tale.

In the middle of the house was a circular hall, suitable for receiving guests or dining. Surrounding the circular hall were several rooms. One room had a fireplace, which could be used for cooking, baking, or keeping warm in winter.

Another room was designated as a bedroom for rest. Another room was set up as a laboratory for future research in alchemy, potion-making, and the creation of extraordinary artifacts. The last room was used as a storage room, storing food and other items.

Of course, between the roof and the first ceiling, there was also a small loft, which could be used for miscellaneous items or other purposes.

For lighting, the amber red maple fruits were used. Each fruit was the size of a fist, orange and transparent. Even Lolan Hill felt that using them for lighting was somewhat wasteful, but they were incredibly convenient at the moment.

[Amber Fruit] (quality 450~480, evaluation: perfect coral grade): Fruits condensed by the amber red maple tree, containing immense energy. Due to the inherent ability of the amber red maple tree, the magic within was very gentle, making it extremely precious as a universal medicine. It could also be used for alchemy and potion-making. Its mild nature made it an excellent neutralizer, allowing materials with conflicting attributes to fuse. Additionally, the magic contained within emitted an orange glow.

Finally, the great work was accomplished, taking nearly three days.

When Lolan Hill prepared to celebrate by roasting some fish, a familiar figure appeared in her perception, about ten kilometers away. The youth named Pulman, leaning on a cane, looked quite disheveled, limping around in the mountain area, searching for something.

(End of Chapter)