The Innkeeper

Chapter 1366  Tuition fee II

"I will teach you how to grow a Void Sequoia tree, but not an ordinary one. I will teach you how to grow a rarer, more ancient variant called Void Stabilisation Sequoia tree, and from that I will require some sap and its first seed. That will be the payment after the fact. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Before that, I will require a Genesis Oak seed and an Eternal Autumn Persimmon seed. When you have both, I will teach you what you need."

Lex was unfamiliar with the Void Stabilisation Sequoia tree, as well as the others mentioned by the turtle. Even though he had recently done a lot of research on trees, it made sense that information on rarer species was not so easily available. Since the turtle knew about them, they must exist. He was curious about them though.

"I'll see if I can get my hands on them, though I'll admit I've never heard of them before. Can you tell me a bit about them? That might help me find them."

"The seeds I've asked you for are only the ordinary versions of these trees, so finding them should not be impossible. I will raise all three seeds within this realm so that the growth of the realm can be better regulated."

Oh man, Lex really needed to talk to the turtle more often. What did it mean it was trying to regulate the growth of his realm?!?!

"Oh, what are you planning on doing to the realm?" Lex asked, suppressing his concern.

"Silly human, these things are too much for you to worry about. The lifecycle of realms is too big for you to understand. Moreover, I can feel that the universe is no longer suitable to plant and grow a full, mature realm. It's like the universe is moving into spring, so that the realms that have already grown will bloom. But those that were planted too late will never reach full maturity.

"So instead of making a mature realm, it is better to keep the realm forever young and vibrant."

Lex was stunned. He recalled that Cassandra had once told him that the universe was going from its early, growth phase to a different one, and in this new phase no new realms would be able to reach full maturity. That naturally included the Midnight realm, but Lex was not too concerned about it for now.

It was clearly a matter that would still take one or two billion years. That was too far off for someone like Lex. But it seems this 3000 year old baby that was the Sovereign turtle already had considerations about what to do about the realm.

He would need to ask what it meant by keeping the realm young forever, but Lex felt confident that the turtle would not do anything harmful to the realm.

After all, it still gave some consideration to the Innkeeper.

"When you mean keep the realm young forever, what does that mean? Right now the realm is growing, and as it grows the upper boundary of the cultivation level it can support grows with it. If you keep the realm stable, but keep it young forever, does that mean it will never be able to support those with higher cultivations?"

"Oh silly human, where do you get such fanciful ideas?" the turtle asked, shaking its head.

"A realm is like a flower bed, and what kind of flower bed cannot support all kinds of flowers? A fully mature realm, and a realm that has completed its growth but retains the features of a newborn realm, are two different concepts, but that does not mean a non-mature realm cannot support all cultivation realms. "Once all the laws of a realm have formed, that realm can easily support anyone up to the Celestial immortal realm. Even then, there are ways that the realm can be made to support those at an even higher realm. But all of that is too distant from you for now, silly human. You focus on getting me my seeds, and I can begin your lessons. Make sure the seeds are not dormant."

"Got it," said Lex, making a mental note to learn more about realms and their life cycles.

With that, he returned to the emporium a lot quicker than he was expecting too. A couple of additional orders should not have been too much of an issue, yet when he returned, he saw a very troubled looking Powell waiting for him.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Lex asked. Just a short while ago, he was humming with joy, and now he looked like he swallowed a raw potato.

"There has been some progress on your commission, but the situation has developed in an unexpected fashion. Do you recall Madame Zuri Adisa? You once conducted a trade with her through the emporium."

"Yes, I remember her," Lex said. It was hard to forget someone like that, and not just because she had appeared in front of Lex in the guise of a mature, yet devastatingly beautiful woman. No, she was a very powerful Celestial immortal who had her clones spread out across the Origin realm, and even in the Midnight realm. She might even have her clones in other realms entirely.

Lex would not easily forget someone as formidable as that. There was also the fact that she had started her journey as a mere four-leaf clover!

"Well, it seems she has a very close relationship with the Void Sequoia tree forest, and no one can gain entry without her approval. On the plus side, getting a seed is much easier now - all one needs to do is ask her for it directly. But Madame Zuri has refused all trade offers, and instead insists that if you wish to get the seed, you must meet with her personally."

Lex frowned, but did not find the request unusual. Even the last time he traded with her, she requested to meet him in person.

"It's not a problem. Can you arrange for me to meet with her?"