Chương 888: First Impressions.

Liu Shu was not completely clueless about their reactions, but she didn't take them to heart. As a True World Tree, she received adoration from new people far too often. While Liu Shu didn't take it for granted, she also didn't overreact. Instead, she scanned the place, searching for Sarlos. Liu Shu knew from the information gathered that he was a true <Third Ascension> powerhouse. He was not classified as a <Hollow Star Monarch>, but his strength was nothing to joke about.

'Even then… This time, my blessings have evolved tremendously. Perhaps I can comfortably face above my Ascension Rank.' It wasn't baseless confidence. She hadn't fought a <Third Ascension> powerhouse, but she had seen one before. Flamar, from the Skill Merchants, was such an individual. She had not been strong enough back then to the point she could see through his strength, but Liu Shu made sure to memorize the feeling around him.

That vague sensation of strength was a perfect reference for Liu Shu, who had plenty of detection abilities, <World Tree Wisdom> being among them.

'Now, I have a similar aura to Flamar back then.' And that was before she used her blessings. Liu Shu's base stats were enough to match Flamar without her blessings. After she used her offensive blessings, her numbers grew beyond what she felt back then. If it was a defensive battle and her defensive buffs activated, Liu Shu was confident in facing Flamar and winning with relative ease.

'I must not be overconfident, though. Treat them as if they are stronger until I am sure of my guess.' With such a mindset, Liu Shu scanned the surroundings and soon felt it. It was faint at first, but in a short time, her senses moved… no, they were pulled in one direction. An existence in a whole different level from everyone else in the Spatial Station was approaching together with a small fleet of starships.

Those starships, as well, hummed like sleeping steel beasts, each emitting tremendous energy from their engines. Liu Shu knew; she felt it, that the starship fleet of 10 ships was Sarlos's entourage. Ten didn't sound like many, but when each of them was Level 300+, things changed greatly.

'Wealthy.' That was Liu Shu's first impression of Sarlos. A small fleet of 10 Level 300+ Starships. Moreover, one of them was a Mothership-Class Starship. Not even the Skill Merchants moved with such luxury. It really showed that his standing in the Globular Star System Empire was not low in the slightest. The Space Station also noticed, and they quickly moved several starships, not to defend, but to welcome the VIP.

This Space Station didn't have the armament or personnel to fight those 10 Starships, much less whoever was on board and owned them.

'Status is truly the benchmark of an individual. No matter the society and culture, those with high standing will always be respected.' Liu Shu knew it already, but she felt it deeply this time around. The ten powerful Starships moved through her root domain with confidence. It was clear that they didn't fear her, even when she was surrounding the Space Station. They willingly walked right into the middle of her recently created domain, not caring whether it was a trap or not.

'Confidence in their strength as well. And…' Liu Shu tentatively tried to pierce through the privacy shields, and she hummed.

'I can pierce through, but if I do, they might notice an oddity. It is not a 100% chance of detection, and if we were in a conflict, I would risk it without a shred of doubt. Nevertheless, the systems in place are sturdy enough to at least have a chance of detecting me.'

'It is just one rank difference in terms of Empire classification, and yet there is this much difference.' It was nothing new. Going from planetary, to Solar System ruler, to Star System Empire had been a large jump each time around. Expecting this time to be different would not be logical. Liu Shu was not intimidated, though. She felt appreciation, but not fear. The fleet arrived and entered the docking site. It was not the public docking site, though. There was a special one for VIP starships. Liu Shu took notes.

'These Space Stations have been active for millennia. If they work, it is for a good reason. Thinking I can do better without experience is arrogance.' Her roots itched a little bit, wanting to plunge straight into the Space Station's core and steal all its secrets. Nevertheless, she held back.

'There will be a chance for that. I am sure not all Spatial Stations will be friendly. When the chance arises, I will make sure to make my <Moon Soul Lignified Trees> swallow all your knowledge and let them evolve from it.' Star Reaching Lignified Trees developed into starships, and Moon Soul Lignified Trees developed into space stations. Liu Shu had already made plans for them to absorb the Space Fortresses from both the Covenant and Nexus. They were enough for armament path development.

Future <Ascension> would perfect the systems that were already in place. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Even the Star Reaching Lignified Trees were fed all three types of starships from both Empires. Once the first few developed, Liu Shu would be able to create seeds from them to grow new ones. The resources to produce each seed would increase, but the cost was more than worth it.

The choices, in the end, were either to feed a new starship each time or to use modified genetic code to create new and better Lignified babies. As she was ruminating, the people from the starships stepped down.

'... Oh? Hot weapons?" This truly took her by surprise. The reason most, if not all, people used Swords, Staves, Orbs, Grimoires, Spears, etc. was that building them was much, much easier and more efficient. It was not that the methods for building gun-type weapons were unknown. On the contrary, the starship's armament should tell you that the technology in that regard was advanced enough to create world-destroying weapons.

Unless reinforced by a World Tree, a Level 100 World-Type Mothership's main cannon could, in theory, impact a world with enough strength to cause an extinction event. It wouldn't pop the world like a balloon, not in the slightest. Nevertheless, the biosphere would take a hit strong enough that even a large meteor would have trouble replicating. A Level 300 Mothership-Class starship could, without a shred of doubt, channel enough impact and energy through its main cannon to pop a rocky world.

As for gaseous giants, they could probably cause tremendous damage to the point of destabilizing the whole thing.

'Still… Gun-type weapons are very inefficient.' The reason was not the design, but ammunition. Using essence from the user could reduce ammunition costs by 99%, yet the remaining 1% was so costly that choosing them over a bow would not make much sense. A Level 300 bow shooting a single arrow could cause damage equal to a whole magazine shot from gun-type weapons. Even sniper-class weapons, which shot one powerful shot, had trouble replicating it, and each bullet cost more than the arrows.

The reason was that a bow used not only the essence of the Level 300 powerhouse, but also the physique. To pull a Level 300 bow, you needed Level 300 strength. To replicate that Level 300 strength with a rifle was difficult. The only advantage of weapon-type equipment was that it could be used by lower-level individuals. A Level 250 powerhouse couldn't use a Level 300 bow. However, if they squeezed their essence to the limits, they might be able to fire a few shots from a Level 300 gun.

So, for wars, the gun-type weapons were not completely unheard of. Yet, the majority used cold weapons.

'I might not know something about gun-type weapons.' Liu Shu was flexible in her thinking, though. She never assumed she knew the best way to use her resources. This was a result of absorbing endless knowledge and having to rewrite each scientific book in the Endless Library time and time again. The number of rewrites due to new knowledge was so great that Liu Shu lost count a long time ago. The Golden Sap Empire was no stranger to changes and breakthroughs in knowledge.

So, seeing the guns in over 80% of Sarlos's bodyguards, while only a few elite carried staves, spears, swords, and shields, Liu Shu instantly assumed that she was lacking some knowledge about them that made them useful.

'Good. Just the meeting has been fruitful enough. I wonder what else you will give me, Sarlos.' Even if they didn't speak, Liu Shu truly felt it was worth moving her roots and meeting Sarlos. Of course, she perfectly understood that the true value she could squeeze out of him was far, far more. Meanwhile, Sarlos's bodyguards were somewhat tense. They had not shown anything outwardly, and they had even boldly crossed through Liu Shu's domain. Nevertheless, they were not as calm and collected as Liu Shu believed.

The leader of the bodyguards, carrying a giant greatsword on his back, spoke to the rest in secret.

'Make absolutely sure to never leave Lord Sarlos's side. You've seen the readings on the starship. Lady Heavenly Willow's strength rivals <Hollow Star Monarchs>. If, for some reason, she becomes hostile, most of us will have to be sacrificed to move Lord Sarlos to safety.' In the bodyguard group of 100 elites, there were two Level 300 powerhouses, while the rest were Level 299 elites. If Sarlos was included, that made three <Third Ascension> powerhouses.

Yet, feeling the monstrous aura pulsing from Liu Shu's presence, they were all incredibly tense. Even Sarlos was astounded, though he showed nothing and walked confidently.

'To think that sapling has already grown to this extent… Just getting this information has made the trip worth it. Even if we don't manage to trade, I must make sure to create an alliance with her.' Both sides were already satisfied, and they had yet to truly speak and meet. It was a somewhat amusing situation. After being guided to a location at the edge of the Space Station, Sarlos spoke to the person in charge.

"Allow the Lady Heavenly Willow's roots to extend to this place. I am making a deal with Lady Heavenly Willow. Also, don't be rude to Her Ladyship." Those in charge quickly activated the starship to communicate his words and guided Liu Shu to the place. Liu Shu, to make sure everyone knew where her roots were, breached through the Dimensional Layer and approached slowly.

Most people in the Space Station with eyes toward the outside void stopped, looking with stunned expressions as space itself cracked open, revealing around a dozen gargantuan roots. The roots were visible in the deep void; their blue-glowing veins illuminating their surface with an ethereal sheen. The bodyguards tensed up as the roots approached their location, some of them silently tightening their grip on their weapons. Liu Shu didn't overreact and continued to approach without changing her pace.

Once close, her roots pierced through the void once more and appeared within the room, showcasing sublime mastery over Space and Dimensional energies. Everyone in the room held their breath as the roots entangled and meshed together. Soon, from a person-sized root cocoon, Liu Shu's wooden Avatar appeared and opened its eyes. The sap flowing within the Avatar moved through her eyes, causing her irises to glow blue. The wood that made it also had many thin blue lines across its surface.

Even then, they all couldn't help but pause for a moment because Liu Shu was, well, very short yet very curvy. Her facial features were mature yet gave off a remarkably adorable air. It was almost the polar opposite of what they were expecting. Where a dignified, tall, and gorgeous Avatar should've appeared, an adorable little woman manifested, looking up at them with large, beautiful eyes. If it weren't because of the heavy and divine aura around her body, they all would've felt an urge to pat her head.

Liu Shu smiled faintly, her beautiful, gentle voice echoing within the room.

"I am Tianlian Liu Shu, the Heavenly Willow. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Sarlos." Sarlos blinked and quickly regained his composure. He smiled back and nodded.

"The pleasure is mine, Lady Heavenly Willow. I am Sarlos from the <Shattered Ring>. I hope we have a pleasant conversation. Please, take a seat, if you will." Liu Shu nodded and sat down demurely. Some of the female bodyguards couldn't hold their thoughts.

'Why is the dignified and powerful World Tree so cute!? Argh! I want to hug her and pat her head!'