Chapter 3603: An Outstanding Welcome Drink

Lin Mu stepped forward calmly.

"Please, be at ease," he said. "I do not concern myself with such formalities."

A subtle shift passed through the elders.

They were clearly relieved as a mix of respect and admiration appeared in their eyes.

One of the elders stepped forward slightly. His fur was a deep, fiery red, marking him clearly as a member of the Flame Fur Foxkin Clan.

"We thank you for your understanding," he said.

And with a simple gesture of his hand the floor responded.

The wooden surface beneath Lin Mu and his companions began to move, rising gently. Vines emerged, weaving themselves together with fluid precision. They twisted and layered, forming the structure of chairs within seconds.

Then, soft moss spread across them, followed by delicate leaves that adjusted themselves into perfect cushioning.

The chairs were naturally elegant and yet they seemed very comfortable which was confirmed once Lin Mu and the others took their seats.

Meng Bai, still marveling at everything around him, barely had time to settle before he noticed something else.

The armrest of his chair shifted.

A vine extended, curling into a circular shape before solidifying into what resembled a goblet. Its surface was smooth, almost glass-like, yet still organic.

Then...

A flower bloomed beside it.

Its petals were a soft pink, glowing faintly as it opened. From its center, a translucent liquid began to pour, filling the goblet with a gentle, steady stream.

Drip drip drip

The fragrance hit immediately.

Meng Bai inhaled softly, his eyes widening.

It was unlike anything he had ever smelled.

There were notes of peach, orange, and rose, but also countless other scents layered beneath, subtle and complex, blending together into something that felt almost... unnatural despite being natural.

An elder from the River Meadow Foxkin Clan spoke.

"Please," she said kindly, "you may partake. This is nectar from the Heart Tree. It can only be produced here."

The group did not hesitate, they each lifted their goblets and took a sip. The effect was immediate. Meng Bai felt a warmth spread through his body, not overwhelming, but deeply nourishing. His mind cleared, his fatigue vanished, and his senses sharpened.

"This is..." he muttered, unable to finish his sentence.

Daoist Chu nodded slowly, clearly impressed.

Cattaleya simply drank more without comment, her expression showing clear approval. She had eaten far too many immortal fruits and potent elixirs back in the Celestial realm, so she wasn’t as affected. Though the taste was still top tier.

But Lin Mu...

Experienced something entirely different.

The moment the nectar touched his lips, his Wood Core reacted.

Violently.

WHOONG

It spun.

Faster than it had in a long time.

Lin Mu’s eyes widened slightly as he felt the pure Wood Element energy being absorbed directly into the core. It was being refined, before being assimilated and strengthening the overall core.

He quickly assessed the change.

Less than one percent.

Approximately 0.4%.

But for a single sip... That was extraordinary.

Without hesitation, Lin Mu finished the entire goblet.

GULP

The effect intensified.

The Wood Core surged again, its structure stabilizing further as its completion rose.

’74%?’ Lin Mu was genuinely surprised.

This kind of growth...

From a drink...

He glanced at the flower beside him.

Almost as if responding to his thoughts...

It poured again.

The nectar flowed smoothly into the goblet, filling it to the brim once more.

Lin Mu did not hesitate.

He drank again.

Across the hall, the elders watched.

Smiling.

This reaction was not new to them.

Almost every visitor who experienced the Heart Tree’s nectar for the first time reacted the same way.

And yet...

None of them missed the subtle difference.

The way Lin Mu absorbed it.

The way his aura shifted.

They exchanged quiet glances for this was no ordinary cultivator. And whatever he would do here... Might very well change the fate of their clans.

The elders observed them quietly as the group finished the nectar, their expressions carrying a faint, knowing warmth. It was not pride, nor was it mere hospitality. It was something deeper, something rooted in tradition and quiet satisfaction.

The River Meadow elder leaned forward slightly, her voice soft yet clear.

"Did you find the Heart Tree Nectar to your liking?"

There was no hesitation in the responses.

"It is excellent," Daoist Chu said with a nod, his tone measured but sincere.

"Excellent?" Cattaleya snorted lightly. "This is far better than most things I’ve had even in my homeland."

Meng Bai, still holding his goblet carefully as if it were something sacred, nodded vigorously. "It feels like my entire body has been washed clean... I’ve never had anything like this before."

Elyon simply gave a quiet hum of agreement, though the faint glow in his eyes spoke volumes.

Lin Mu did not immediately speak. He looked at the now-refilled goblet in his hand, his thoughts focused inward. The first cup had been astonishing. The second had been even more so.

But the third...

He took a sip again, testing it carefully.

The rich Wood Qi still flowed into his body, nourishing his meridians and calming his mind. But the change he had been expecting did not come.

His Wood Core did not grow further.

Lin Mu exhaled softly.

"Still effective," he murmured inwardly, "but not transformative anymore."

Even so, his gains were undeniable.

From 73% to 75%.

A full two percent increase.

For a core at this level, that was no small matter. In fact, it was something that would normally take months, if not years, of effort and wood elemental materials to achieve.

Just this alone made the entire journey worthwhile.

He finally spoke aloud.

"It is indeed... exceptional."

The elders smiled faintly, clearly pleased.

One of them spoke again, this time the Flame Fur elder whose eyes held a quiet intensity.

"We are grateful that you think so," he said. "And we are even more grateful that you have come here."

Another elder, this one from the Cherry Cloud branch, added on.

"We understand that the matter you have come to address... is not a simple one."

A murmur of agreement spread subtly among the council.

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