Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3285: Ashy’s Seclusion

The Sleepscape had changed subtly in his absence. The plants he had once nurtured had grown, many of them radiating stronger Qi than before.

The Immortal Wood Spirit Tulip swayed gently nearby, releasing streams of gentle energy that shimmered like translucent waves. Its petals glowed with alternating hues of green and white, the spirit within it clearly thriving.

Not far away stood the Purple Sickle Amaranth.

The plant had once been a couple meters high, but now its stalks towered nearly five meters, their violet blades releasing faint wood-elemental Qi. Lin Mu could feel the strength emanating from it, it had absorbed centuries’ worth of growth essence in just a few years.

Nearby, a row of Snow Glass Pear trees had matured as well. They stood about a meter tall now, their crystalline bark refracting light like frozen diamonds. Tiny leaf buds hung from their branches, promising a bloom in due time.

Lin Mu paused beside a small patch of earth where a single sapling stood, the mysterious seed he had planted years ago. It had sprouted long ago but had not grown since then.

He crouched down, studying it closely. Its leaves were still vibrant, and its roots pulsed faintly with hidden energy.

"You’re still the same," he murmured. "I wonder what you’ll become."

Little Shrubby tilted his head curiously. "It hasn’t changed at all, Master. It’s been like that since the day it sprouted. Even when the others grew, this one stayed still."

Lin Mu nodded thoughtfully. "Then it’s not ordinary. Some things take time to reveal themselves."

They continued walking until the towering figure of the Violet Mystic Life Tree came into view. The colossal tree rose over a kilometer into the air, its massive red-veined purple leaves rustling softly.

Vitality radiated from it in thick waves, so dense that even breathing here felt invigorating. Lin Mu could see two new Violet Mystic Life Fruits hanging from the higher branches, each one the size of a large mango, glowing faintly like gems wrapped in light.

"The tree looks healthy," Lin Mu said with satisfaction.

Little Shrubby nodded. "It’s been growing stronger ever since the battle ended. The land here feels richer now. Even the energy in the Sleepscape is denser."

Lin Mu smiled, feeling a deep sense of peace. "Good. Then I haven’t neglected it completely."

As he looked up toward the higher branches, his gaze caught something; a large, intricately decorated nest.

It had grown massively since he last saw it, now spanning nearly five meters across. It glittered with countless trinkets, gems, and fragments of jewelry, all treasures Ashy had collected over the years.

Within the nest, a small black bird lay curled up, her feathers shining faintly with a dark sheen. A powerful aura surrounded her, pulsing steadily with Dao Traces.

Lin Mu approached quietly, not wishing to disturb her.

"She’s still cultivating?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Little Shrubby replied. "She’s been working hard since you disappeared. She hit a bottleneck not long after, but about two years ago she broke through to the Embryo Growth Stage of the Dao Treading Realm. Since then, she hasn’t stopped training."

Lin Mu smiled faintly as he looked at the little bird. Her breathing was slow and steady, each pulse of energy strong and refined.

"She’s grown," he said quietly. "You both have."

He stood there for a moment longer, watching her rest. The faint light that surrounded her feathers reminded him of their travels together, from the Rust Sky world, to Jui world, the Osteri divine world and now the Silent Lotus World.

A warmth filled his chest.

Little Shrubby looked up at him. "Master... are you staying this time?"

Lin Mu turned to him and smiled gently. "For a while, yes. I need to recover my strength, both inside and out. But as long as the Sleepscape remains, you’ll always be with me."

Little Shrubby’s tail flicked in contentment, his fiery aura flaring slightly before dimming again. "That’s enough for me."

Lin Mu rested a hand on his companion’s head, feeling the warmth of the flames under his palm. "You’ve done well keeping things together here. Thank you."

Little Shrubby shook his head again. "I just waited. That’s all."

Lin Mu laughed softly. "Waiting with loyalty is harder than fighting."

Little Shrubby suddenly remembered something.

"Oh Master, I’ve been plucking the apples all this time. There’s a lot of them collected now. I kept them in the empty barrels you left where the wine is aging." Little Shrubby stated.

"Nice, the wine should be ready now. I can take some out for the Saintess and the Lotus Spirit as well as make more batches." Lin Mu reckoned.

The two stood in silence for a while, gazing over the flowing fields of the Sleepscape. The Immortal Apple Tree swayed behind them, its fruits glinting like stars under a twilight sky.

Though Lin Mu’s body outside remained weak, here his spirit felt steady and strong. He knew his journey was not over, but this reunion gave him something he had not felt in years, peace.

And for now, that was enough.

Time within the Sleepscape continued to flow gently differently. It flowed at the same pace as the real world, yet it seemed timeless. For Lin Mu, this timelessness made it the perfect refuge to gather his thoughts and regain a sense of peace.

After spending some time with Little Shrubby and ensuring that everything within the Sleepscape was thriving, Lin Mu’s attention was drawn back to the Immortal Apple Tree. Its crimson and green fruits glowed softly under the pale sky, filling the air with their intoxicating aroma.

He turned to the store house where he had kept the wine to ferment and noticed something unusual. Outside the building, several wooden barrels were neatly stacked, each brimming with freshly picked Immortal Apples. The sweet scent of the fruits mixed with a hint of earthiness, making the air around them thick with spiritual energy.

Lin Mu blinked in surprise. "You’ve really collected a lot." he said, turning to Little Shrubby.