Chapter 775: Chapter 775. Day Of Rootborn Soldiers.

Three days after the war ended, the funeral began as a procession in some of the Main Cities. This procession was led by enough soldiers from each city, all of them holding plaques with the names of the places their fallen comrades were from.

The march was silent, and at the lead, the city leaders were to carry heavy name plaques as well. The journey was planned to lead them all toward the soldier’s tomb, where these names would be hung on polished white pedestals. This tomb was situated not too far away from Golden Sap City, so for those furthest cities, the people would take the teleportation hubs.

Those in Golden Sap City could finally tell just how many soldiers died. Over 1.5 million soldiers and other government officials, each carrying a heavy plaque, formed a long line during the procession, making people feel the weight of their sacrifice and the heaviness of their lives.

Liu Shu decided to do it this way so that the government officials who stayed behind could weigh the lives sacrificed. She didn’t want those working back at home to forget who they owed their peace.

At the front of the procession, the government officials carrying the heavy name plaques couldn’t help but feel somewhat gloomy. The weight was high enough to feel as if they were carrying a real human, so this added to the psychological pressure of carrying these nameplates.

Flor and the other fairy soldiers in the troops carried smaller ones, and those bigger ones carried bigger ones. However, the tombs prepared by Liu Shu were all the same.

Liu Shu’s voice echoed across the entire world. "Today, we mourn the sacrifices of our most valiant soldiers. Those who went and couldn’t come back. Those who fought so that their families and friends could smile one more day."

Her soft and gentle tone enveloped everyone, and many family members began sobbing.

"They, having given their all, have returned to my roots. From my roots, they will be reborn as new children of the Golden Sap Empire. So, you who have children, cherish the new life. They might not remember, but your child could’ve once been a valiant soldier who protected our home. Such is the cycle of life and reincarnation that nurtures us all."

Those with children hugged them closer, and those children who could understand became solemn as they received these hugs.

"However, as we mourn, we must not wallow, for these souls wish for us to smile and be proud. Each of them was a brave soul who wished for all of you to live proudly and look ahead without fear. Thanks to their selfless sacrifice, we will soar and push back all who want to trample our peaceful home."

Liu Shu’s voice was soft, and the cadence was calm and gentle. It made everyone listening feel as if Mother Nature herself was presiding over the funeral.

"We, the Golden Sap Empire, will overcome and together, persevere through the harshest storms this cosmos will throw at us. My canopy will be your peace, and my roots your shields and roads you can safely walk on. I, Tianlian Liu Shu, mark today, the 18th day of the sixth month, as the day of the Rootborn Soldier."

Liu Shu declared. "And so long as my roots endure, they shall never be forgotten."

There was no loud clapping nor anything that would break the atmosphere. Instead, everyone felt deeply in their souls as they sank into Liu Shu’s motherly presence. Some shed silent tears, others prayed, and others looked at the ongoing procession with countless thoughts in their minds.

After a whole day, the more than 1.5 million plaques arrived at their destination, and Liu Shu raised a small <Living Wall> around them. While Liu Shu had wanted to recover all corpses, the number of corpses Liu Shu was able to recover did not even reach 40%. After all, the war happened in the void, and shockwaves threw everything without will flying into nothingness.

Still, Liu Shu did her best during the last three days to recover the largest number of both equipment, starships, and corpses from both the enemy and her soldiers.

The enemies were to become nourishment for the land and ants, while her soldiers became a gentle fertilizer that the earth would slowly digest and merge into the world.

While the end was the same, the process was what mattered in Liu Shu’s mind.

Liu Shu’s Avatar was sitting alone at a table, her eyes looking at the wooden cup between her hands with a thoughtful look. She still had to review the Experience Points and other gains, but today she wanted to relax.

She didn’t want to care about numbers or anything else. She just wanted to observe her Golden Sap Empire and connect with the land. ’How long has it been since I did this?’

Liu Shu closed her eyes gently, her roots and senses connecting with her domain at a broad level. Of course, she focused on the worlds with life, where there was activity.

This sense of unity with her domain made Liu Shu feel incredibly content. She could see the joys and sorrows of the world, and also feel the cycles of life and death among her people.

Moreover, after decades of slow but methodical purging of crime, Liu Shu was glad to see that crime was essentially zero. Even when there were some unpleasant people, as this was inevitable given the nature of living beings, most held it in and released it in places like the <Dungeons> and <Colosseum>, where she purposely left laxer laws.

After all, if she squeezed those with evil thoughts, they would burst out in places with innocents. Therefore, Liu Shu thought creating an outlet for these impulses was necessary.

’Many books said that suppressing something only makes it gain strength. The best solution was to allow controlled release.’

What she found pleasant was that the Berry Gatherers were becoming quite a strong, independent force. Due to the need to dive into the <Eternal Trial Domain> to collect her berries, they were gaining levels and strength quickly.

’However...’

Liu Shu pondered about her Level 200 people. Entering <Dungeons> of a lower level than they admitted was not efficient in the slightest. Creatures would give limited Experience Points, and even the rewards would be harshly penalized.

Up to Level 200, Liu Shu had created a growth path that could only be considered as high-quality, mostly risk-free, and very rewarding in both equipment and titles.

’But after they reach Level 200, like Obsidianis and Seraphina pointed out, growth stalls harshly.’

So, what could she create for these people? Liu Shu had various thoughts. The first was expanding the Level range of the <Eternal Trial Domain>. With the eight BOSS Monsters in there, she could easily expand the Level range of the <Eternal Trial Domain>.

In truth, Liu Shu had thought of using the <Ultra Rare> Bosses for Level 100 to 149. Then, using the <Legendary> Bosses for Level 150 to 199. Then, she wanted to use the <Mythical> Boss for Level 200 to 229, while she wanted to use the two <World> Bosses for Level 230 to 249, and 250+ or so.

That way, <Eternal Trial Domain> could basically guide people across two entire <Ascensions>.

Eventually, she could even separate the Berry Gathering zones for them to Level Up as well.

Still... "Is Aionthra’s limit just Level 250?"

Naturally, that was not the case in the slightest. Aionthra and Vorathen, as <World> BOSS monsters with SS- Tier strength, were powerful enough to become overlords on their own.

Forget Level 200, Liu Shu guessed that reaching double or triple that might not be a problem.

’The problem has been my ignorance and limited view.’

Although thankfully, Liu Shu had quite a few tickets to make more monster pulls. So, in the future, she might be able to substitute Aionthra’s and Vorathen’s roles with other Mythical class monsters.

Liu Shu opened her Avatar’s eyes as she felt a presence nearby. Looking over, she saw Obsidianis walking over alone. Her tall stature, slender body, and devilish charm were quite attractive, but today, Liu Shu felt strangely at peace.

It was as if she had truly assimilated herself with nature, causing her heart to become placid and without ripples.

Obsidianis couldn’t help but slow down her steps as she approached. The way Liu Shu’s avatar looked at her, with that faint but soft, motherly smile, made the otherwise short and cute girl feel... boundless.

’Truly... the more I see her, the more surprised I am.’

Obsidianis admitted she had underestimated Liu Shu. While she felt attraction, the Darkness Sylvan had felt that Liu Shu was slightly immature.

She was wrong.

Today’s events made it quite clear to her that Liu Shu in private and Liu Shu in her entirety were two very different beings. The one sitting before her right now was not Liu Shu, but the Heavenly Willow.

As she took a seat, one of Liu Shu’s roots moved gently and placed a cup before her. After pouring the tea, Liu Shu asked softly. "What is the matter, Obsidianis?"

Obsidianis was a bit unaccustomed to this Liu Shu, so she felt strangely nervous. Still, she pondered and commented. "That, do you know about spatial <Dungeons>?"

Liu Shu nodded with a smile. "I do. Are you thinking that my battle might be a feat strong enough for a natural Dungeon to appear?"

Obsidianis was surprised that she knew, but she quickly nodded. Her only visible eye turned before she spoke. "Still, I do believe you’ll need to do a small sacrifice if you want a <Dungeon> to appear."

While Liu Shu had the <Dungeon System> and knew many details, her <Dungeon System> was somewhat immature. Hence, Liu Shu knew that she might not be privy to some details. "Speak comfortably, Obsidianis. No need to beat around the bush."

Liu Shu chuckled, and Obsidianis smiled and nodded. "I think that if you allow the ruins of the destroyed World-Types and Moon-Types to remain in space, they will slowly merge with the feat that just occurred and manifest a <Dungeon>. This <Dungeon> will most likely be Level 200+ thanks to Rhazor’s existence in the battle.

’Is that possible?"

[Dungeon System: Tianlian Liu Shu was already planning to open a <Dungeon> with the War Feat. However, if Tianlian Liu Shu sacrifices the destroyed ships, you will be able to use them as props in the <Dungeon>. It is not a bad exchange.]

’Hm... Why didn’t you say?’

[Dungeon System: Information was unknown until mentioned.]

’Ah. Got it.’

Liu Shu didn’t blame the system. It was, after all, an amalgamation of the <Dungeon> wills that manifested a consciousness. Some details might be blurry for the system as well.

"I understand. Thank you for telling me, Obsidianis."

Obsidianis nodded, feeling a bit awkward. Today, she had come to tell her this, but her initial thoughts were a bit flirty. Tease her and give her information; that was her intent. ’Perhaps... I should’ve waited a bit?’

Now, she was sitting in front of a calmly smiling and gentle Liu Shu, leaving her a bit flustered. Thankfully, Obsidianis soon found some things to speak about, like Liu Shu’s children.

Liu Shu naturally humored her, their conversation pleasant enough to raise Obsidianis’s 11% to 13%.