The fruits pulsed again—slow, heavy.
Her smile deepened, tinged now with something darker.
"No wonder they went mad over it."
She took a small step forward—careful, measured.
"Each of those…"
Her gaze fixed on the fruit.
"…isn't just spiritual nourishment."
A pause.
"It's condensed essence."
Her turquoise eyes gleamed—bright, hungry.
"If I refine even one properly…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
The implication hung in the air.
Power.
Real power.
The lizard remained silent atop her head, but his golden eyes sharpened slightly, watching the tree. Watching her.
The fox crouched lower at the edge—still not touching, still not rushing.
For once—
she was patient.
"This isn't something you just grab."
A faint exhale.
"Something like this…"
Her smile returned, controlled.
"…you harvest properly."
Her gaze lingered on the tree longer this time.
Then her smile widened.
Not subtle.
Not restrained.
Greed.
Pure. Unhidden.
"And I'll be taking everything this tree has to offer."
A soft chuckle slipped from her lips—low, satisfied.
"Every last bit of it."
Below, the fruits pulsed again—as if responding. As if aware.
Above, the small white lizard remained still—but his golden eyes were no longer passive.
They were fixed. Locked onto the tree.
Observing. Analyzing.
Then—
*What is that?*
The question echoed inwardly, silent, contained.
And something answered.
**[System Response:]**
**Blood Treen**
**Classification:** Spiritual Organism
**Description:**
A parasitic-type spiritual tree that grows by feeding on the remains of living creatures.
**Nutrients absorbed:**
• Blood
• Flesh
• Bone
• Residual essence
**Growth Condition:**
Requires a high-density battlefield or burial ground sustained over time.
**Primary Output:**
**Blood Essence Fruit**
**Effect:**
A highly condensed form of life essence.
When consumed, it enhances:
• Physical strength
• Vitality
• Bloodline stimulation
• Cultivation foundation
**Warning:**
Impure absorption may lead to instability or corruption.
Silence returned.
The lizard's gaze didn't shift—but something in it tightened.
Below, the fox tilted her head slightly, still smiling, unaware of the silent exchange above her.
"A treasure like this…"
Her voice was soft now, almost pleased.
"I really did get lucky."
The wind didn't move.
The tree pulsed.
The fox stilled.
Her gaze remained on the tree—but her mind moved.
"I can't just harvest it carelessly."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, calculating.
"If even a little of the essence leaks…"
A faint click of her tongue.
"…the effectiveness drops."
The fruits pulsed softly, heavy with contained energy.
"I need to keep everything sealed."
Silence.
No wind.
No movement.
Only thought.
"But how…"
A pause.
Then—
her eyes lit up.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Got it."
She glanced upward slightly.
"Little white."
The lizard remained still atop her head, golden eyes calm.
"I need your help."
A beat.
"I want you to wrap each fruit with your silk."
A small pause, then casually—
"Not for free, of course."
Her smile turned teasing.
"Once we find somewhere selling wine, I'll get you some."
Silence.
Then—
the lizard moved.
Slowly, he rose to his feet.
"You still owe me."
Flat. Direct.
The fox didn't hesitate.
"Yeah, I know."
Her tone was light—but certain.
"I'll pay everything back at once when the time comes."
A brief pause.
Then—
he lifted off.
A smooth glide—effortless, silent.
He drifted toward the tree.
His tail shifted, and at the very tip—
a black scale gleamed faintly.
Then—
a thread shot out.
Thin. White. Silk-like.
It struck one of the fruits, sticking instantly.
Without pause, the lizard moved.
Fast. Precise.
The silk wrapped around the fruit, layer after layer, sealing it completely.
No gaps. No leaks.
Then he moved to the next.
And the next.
Each one wrapped with the same care, the same efficiency—
until every fruit was sealed.
The faint pulse of their aura—
muted.
Contained.
Hidden.
Moments later, he returned.
Landing lightly between her ears once more.
Silent.
The fox smiled.
"Good job."
She stepped forward, closer to the tree now.
"My turn."
Her gaze swept over the wrapped fruits.
"They're not fully mature yet."
A small pause.
"Otherwise, they wouldn't still be here."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"The scent alone would've drawn beasts from every direction."
A slight glance upward.
"That's what the silk is for."
A faint smile.
"To stop the fragrance from spreading when they do mature."
Her voice lowered.
"And to make sure no one finds them."
A beat.
"Or us."
Silence settled again.
Then—
"Now."
Her expression shifted.
Focused.
"It's time to harvest."
Her eyes closed slightly.
And her divine sense expanded.
Spreading outward—
then downward—
into the tree.
Through the bark.
Through the veins.
Following every root, every thread of energy—mapping it completely.
Her control tightened.
"Got you."
Her eyes opened.
And she pulled.
The ground trembled.
At first, just a ripple.
Then—
it cracked.
The roots resisted, clinging deep, wrapped through stone like veins through flesh.
But her will pressed harder.
Stronger.
"Come out."
The tremor grew.
Stone split.
Earth lifted.
The blood-red tree shuddered, its roots tearing free one by one.
The hollow deepened, widened—
and slowly—
the entire Crimson Veinblood Tree began to rise.
The roots tore free one after another, ripping through stone with wet, grinding sounds.
The entire tree rose, suspended mid-air, its vein-like roots writhing faintly as if reluctant to leave the ground that had fed it for so long.
The fox's gaze remained steady. Focused.
No hesitation.
"Got you."
With a slight motion of her paw, she reached into her pouch.
Another one emerged.
Different.
Heavier.
Its surface was faintly lined with sealing patterns—designed to preserve, to contain, to **lock** whatever was placed within.
The fox's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Wouldn't want you losing value now."
The air around the tree tightened as her divine sense compressed it, folding the roots inward carefully—not damaging, not disturbing—preserving everything exactly as it was.
Then, with a smooth motion, she guided it down.
Into the pouch.
The moment the tree passed the threshold, the pouch reacted.
A faint pulse.
Then stillness.
Sealed.
Contained.
The fox closed it without delay and slipped it back into her main storage pouch.
Just like that—
it was gone.
The hollow before her now stood empty, lifeless, as if nothing had ever grown there.
Silence returned.
Complete.
The fox exhaled softly.
"Perfect."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly as satisfaction settled in.
"That was worth it."
Above, the lizard remained still, but his golden eyes flicked once toward where the tree had been—then forward again.
The fox turned, ready to leave.
Spoils secured.
Nothing left behind.
"Let's go."
Without another glance back, she walked away—carrying everything the battlefield had to offer, and more.
Her pace picked up slightly, light and satisfied.
"You know…"
Her voice carried faint amusement.
"When I told you to wrap the fruits…"
She glanced upward briefly.
"I was worried you might mess one up."
A soft huff of laughter followed.
"Maybe crush one, tear one, ruin the essence…"
Her smile lingered.
"But surprisingly…"
A beat passed.
"It went smoothly."
No response.
The lizard didn't speak. Didn't move.
He simply rested there, calm as ever.