Warlock Apprentice

As an Earth visitor, Jon is naturally much more familiar with the network situation of the information age than Angel.

To maximize the use of the Mother Tree network, Angel’s best helper obviously is Jon.

After Angel explained the general overview of the Mother Tree network to Jon, Jon indeed showed a surprised expression and very concernedly asked about the specific details of the network.

During Angel’s narration, Jon frequently exclaimed, occasionally spouting some Chinese technical terms, and constantly pondering.

When Angel finished speaking, Jon did not immediately come back to his senses; he remained immersed in his thoughts. It took about five or six minutes before he slowly regained awareness.

”This universe, these peculiar worlds, truly open my eyes wide,” Angel thought Jon would discuss the Mother Tree network with him once he snapped back to reality, but unexpectedly Jon started lamenting first.

”So many surprises, too many things that make you want to research,” Jon said. ”I still have a few bottles of research potions you gave me, intending to analyze them scientifically, but before finishing those tasks, this Mother Tree network appears.”

Upon hearing Jon’s lament, Angel hesitated for a moment before saying, ”The Mother Tree network might be useful, but not quite to the point of necessity. If Jon the Mentor has no time recently, you can put it aside, or I can let Frode take charge of the research...”

Before he could finish speaking, Jon quickly waved his hand: ”No need, no need. I’m just lamenting that this world has too many novel things; it’s overwhelming. But I don’t intend to push these research topics aside. The Mother Tree network is excellent. Don’t you want to increase the value of the Wilderness of Dreams? This is a fantastic medium. Rest assured, leave the research to me!”

Afraid that Angel would refuse, Jon added, ”Though I have some research projects ongoing, I will allocate my time effectively. At most, I’ll reduce the number of lectures at the Marine Theater, freeing up significant time to delve into the Mother Tree network.”

”But the kids over there, they might be disappointed. However, the Mother Tree network is more important, hopefully, the children can bear with it.”

Angel: ”...” I feel that if Adar knew the piano lessons were reduced, he wouldn’t be disappointed. He might jump for joy.

”Then it is a bother,” Angel said.

”Not at all,” Jon responded, ”I actually want to recreate the glory of the information age here, so even if I wasn’t here one day, traces of Earth’s civilization might remain.” Jon reflected briefly but didn’t say much more, then changed the subject: ”Still, the Mother Tree network currently can only be accessed through the Dream Plant Fairy’s tree projection, which makes it challenging to study... Should I keep a Dream Plant Fairy by my side? That one growing green vines on its back seems to want to stay beside Flafiel, maybe I should persuade it a bit later?”

While Jon muttered, Angel shook his head: ”To research and develop the Mother Tree network, there’s no need to specifically find a Dream Plant Fairy.”

As he spoke, Angel retrieved a piece of tree branch with tender buds from his pocket.

Jon: ”This is...”

”A segment of the Civilization’s Mother Tree,” Angel explained. ”The most crucial aspect of the Mother Tree network is the tree itself.”

”Dream Plant Fairies can use tree projections due to their creation by the Mother Tree, inherently becoming a medium of the Mother Tree network. Though humans can’t possess the Dream Plant Fairy’s talent, they can extend the medium using the tree itself, exemplified by this branch.”

The branch in Angel’s hand, originating from the Mother Tree, can allow its holder to perceive the traits of the Mother Tree, which naturally includes the network.

In fact, merely a small piece of bark suffices to enter the Mother Tree network. However, when Angel collected branches, he opted for this segment without any particular reason.

Just this small piece, if sensibly divided, could allow at least a thousand people to enter the network.

Angel explained the branch’s purpose and also told Jon how to enter the network.

Jon, following Angel’s instructions, personally experienced it.

To enter the network, you need to bring the branch close to your consciousness core—your forehead.

Of course, other body areas are viable, yet the forehead experiences the strongest resonance with the network, meaning the least latency and swiftest entry.

When Jon touched the branch to his forehead, initially no effect materialized. Not until Angel guided him with words did Jon’s mind calm, his thoughts becoming tranquil, and simultaneously, the consciousness waves and the tree’s transmitted waves slowly intertwined.

Upon reaching a resonance threshold, a sensation of spiritual realization occurred within Jon’s perception; a crisscrossing Path of Light seemed to appear before him.

Jon gently stepped forward, his consciousness entered the Path of Light.

Instantly, spatial and temporal distances shrank visibly, the world transformed into a sandbox.

This sandbox wasn’t of the True World, devoid of terrain variations, but rather a sensation difficult to articulate.

Those who witness it can sense it. Those who haven’t experienced it struggle to imagine.

As Jon once was a child visiting the holographic world for the first time. Despite hearing various descriptions of the holographic world, such accounts felt feeble until personally experienced.

The sandbox was similar; Jon thought of it as a sandbox, a webpage, or even a holographic map.

It’s an intuitive experience, beyond words.

Yet its effects can certainly be described literally.

Examples like real-time communication—

Jon immersed his consciousness within the sandbox, sensing the surrounding base points as Angel previously instructed.

Suddenly, Jon felt centered within the sandbox, surrounded by countless dim points and several glowing ones.

These glowing points signify individuals ”surfing” the Mother Tree network actively. Dim points naturally belong to the ”offline” individuals.

Presently, within the network, apart from Angel and Jon, all other base points belong to Dream Plant Fairies.

Thus, each glowing point represents a Dream Plant Fairy.

Jon sensed the nearby glowing points and found two points closely nestled together not far from him.

Jon contemplated for a moment, extending his consciousness toward them.

”This male human has an unpleasant smell, unlike the previously singing female human; not only can she sing beautifully, but she gives me a maternal feeling... ah, I believe I’m enamored with her.”

”I also sense she has a maternal aura; truly peculiar, I didn’t expect such a presence among humans.”

”Though this human is annoying, his aesthetics aren’t bad. Placing a Little Garden here is exceedingly appropriate...”

”Indeed, the floral arrangement even exhibits artistic sense! Humans do have redeemable traits, though the Mother Tree’s mist-carried seeds offer limited floral varieties. We lack flower kin among our kind, unable to meet demands perfectly, yet I find it quite pleasing nonetheless.”