A year had passed. The changes in the Spirit Branch Tree world were no longer subtle undercurrents but visible transformations. "New Bud Blooming" continued, with Edge Leaf State's area expanding by nearly a third, creating unprecedented new living space. Most remarkable were the characteristics of these new regions—they no longer followed the traditional upper-lower layering, instead forming a hybrid structure with both the light conditions of the upper layers and the stability of the Root Layer.
"It's truly incredible," Eliel marveled, standing at the edge of a new growth area. "Who could have imagined that in my lifetime I would see the Spirit Branch Tree grow in this way?"
Orlen stood beside the elder, gazing into the distance. His appearance hadn't changed much, but his eyes held a newfound steadiness and wisdom. Over the past year, he had spent most of his time traveling between Bridge Union Academy and the new growth regions, coordinating research work, resolving emerging issues, while maintaining a deep connection with the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree.
"This is just the beginning," Orlen responded. "According to our calculations, if 'New Bud Blooming' continues at its current pace, the Spirit Branch Tree world's area will double within a decade."
"Bringing opportunities, but also challenges," Eliel pointed out. "So much new space—how will it be distributed? Who will manage it? According to what principles?"
It was precisely these questions that made the joint committee's work incredibly busy. The governance model for new regions became the most hotly debated topic. Traditional upper layer forces wished to extend the old hierarchical system, while Root Layer and middle layer representatives advocated for establishing a more equitable structure.
"This isn't just about resource allocation," Orlen often emphasized in meetings. "It's about what kind of future we want to build. The juvenile Spirit Branch Tree has shown us a new possibility—symbiosis rather than control, cooperation rather than domination."
Facing controversy, Orlen proposed the concept of "mixed communities"—establishing comprehensive settlements in new regions without racial or class distinctions. The first demonstration community was already under construction, composed of volunteers from various regions, including open-minded upper layer aristocrats, ambitious Root Layer residents, peace-seeking Gu Tribe members, and Forest Pendant tribe members serving as advisors.
On their way back to Bridge Union Academy, Orlen and Eliel continued discussing future plans. The academy had become the center of transformation, nurturing the first batch of cross-boundary thinkers who returned to their communities with new knowledge and ideas, becoming seeds of change.
"Speaking of which, today is a special day," Eliel suddenly said. "Exactly one year ago, you merged Serra's pendant into the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree."
Orlen nodded. That was a momentous occasion, symbolizing the completion of his mother's mission and also a milestone in his personal growth. Since then, he felt his connection with the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree had become purer, no longer needing the pendant as a medium.
Upon reaching the academy, they saw Calmur waiting in the central courtyard, his expression unusually serious.
"What's happened?" Orlen immediately felt a hint of unease.
"There's an anomaly at the Heart Axis," Calmur said briefly. "The juvenile Spirit Branch Tree is undergoing some kind of change. Researchers can't determine if it's good or bad, but they believe you should go immediately."
The three set out at once for the Heart Axis. Over the past year, the Heart Axis space had transformed from a rudimentary meeting venue into a complex research base, equipped with various observation devices and experimental apparatus. The juvenile Spirit Branch Tree now almost filled the entire space, its branches twining along the walls, its leaves forming a massive dome.
Today, however, the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree's state was noticeably different. Its light was no longer a steady amber but pulsed between amber and emerald green, with a rhythm like a heartbeat. More strikingly, a series of glowing runes had appeared on the trunk, remarkably similar to the symbols they had discovered in the ancient records.
"This change began two hours ago," the chief researcher explained. "We detected abnormally enhanced energy fluctuations, but not like signals of energy deficiency or overload, more like some kind of... communication attempt."
Orlen approached the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, placing his palm against the main trunk. Immediately, a strong current of energy flowed into his body, accompanied by a series of clear images: new regions growing, underground roots extending, energy flowing back and recombining... all these images pointed to a common message.
"It's preparing for the next phase," Orlen said softly. "Not just physical expansion, but a deeper transformation."
He closed his eyes, attempting to respond to these messages through thought. Years of practice had enabled him to communicate with the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree in an almost intuitive manner.
The response came more strongly than expected. The juvenile Spirit Branch Tree's light suddenly intensified, bathing the entire Heart Axis space in warm golden light. Then, the light began to condense, forming a semi-transparent human shape in the air—this time, not just Serra's image, but others, many others, souls who had deep connections with the Spirit Branch Tree from ancient times to the present.
"These are the Spirit Branch Tree's memories," Calmur said in amazement. "It's showing us its entire history."
The images changed rapidly: the Spirit Branch Tree's birth, the appearance of the first life forms, the rise and fall of different races, periods of peace and conflict, all moments in the Spirit Branch Tree's long life. Finally, the image froze on the moment Serra discovered the sprout, then Orlen planting the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree, followed by the New Bud Blooming happening now.
After the images dissipated, the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree returned to stability, but the atmosphere had completely changed. Everyone felt some kind of revelation, some understanding.
"It's telling us," Orlen said slowly, his voice slightly trembling with emotion, "that all of this is part of a cycle. There have been other 'Dual Core Symbioses' before, other 'New Bud Bloomings.' We are not the first to experience this transformation, nor will we be the last."
"What about previous civilizations?" a researcher asked. "Why don't we have memories of them?"
"We do," Orlen pointed to the ancient records on the wall. "We just didn't recognize them. These symbols, these stories, are traces left by those who came before. The Spirit Branch Tree remembers, even if we forget."
Back at Bridge Union Academy, Orlen convened the core team to discuss the implications of this discovery. The new understanding sparked more research directions: deciphering ancient symbols to gain wisdom from predecessors, studying the Spirit Branch Tree's memory storage mechanisms, predicting patterns of the next phase.
"If this truly is a cycle," Ms. Adelle pondered, "then understanding past cycles becomes especially important. How did our predecessors respond to these changes? What mistakes did they make? What lessons did they leave?"
"More importantly," Calmur added, "can we do better this time? Can we avoid repeating their mistakes?"
The discussion continued into the night. Finally, Orlen proposed a bold plan: dispatching an exploration team to the farthest edges of the Spirit Branch Tree, seeking more traces of previous civilizations while documenting the characteristics and changes of the new growth regions.
"I will lead the team personally," he announced. "No one understands the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree's energy characteristics better than I do, nor can anyone better perceive those subtle changes."
Ms. Adelle and Calmur exchanged a worried glance.
"This will be a dangerous journey," Ms. Adelle reminded him. "The edge regions still have many unknown factors."
"And," Calmur added, "staying away from the Heart Axis too long might affect your connection with the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree."
Orlen understood their concerns but was resolute: "It's precisely because there are risks that I must go personally. We need firsthand information, direct experience. Besides," he added with a smile, "my connection is strong enough now that distance won't weaken it. The juvenile Spirit Branch Tree now extends throughout the entire Spirit Branch Tree world; wherever I go, I can feel its presence."
The exploration team was quickly assembled: besides Orlen, there were two upper layer researchers, two Root Layer guides, one Gu Tribe observer, and one Forest Pendant tribe navigation specialist. They planned to travel along the edges of the new growth regions, recording changes, seeking clues, understanding the full picture of this transformation.
The night before departure, Orlen stood on the top platform of Bridge Union Academy, overlooking the entire Spirit Branch Tree world. The amber light of the new regions and the emerald green of the original areas complemented each other, forming a magnificent canvas. From this perspective, the scale of change truly became apparent—the Spirit Branch Tree was growing in an organic, harmonious manner, not simple expansion but a complex reorganization and evolution.
Ms. Adelle silently came up behind him: "All preparations are complete. The exploration team will depart tomorrow morning."
"Thank you," Orlen said softly, "not just for these preparations, but for everything over all these years. Without you, I couldn't have come this far."
Ms. Adelle's wings trembled slightly, showing her emotional fluctuation: "I was only following Serra's instructions, guiding you to find your own path. And you have already exceeded her expectations."
They stood silently for a while, sharing this peaceful moment.
"You know," Orlen finally spoke, "when I first learned I was a 'child of the Root Layer,' a child of the Darkened State Residents, I felt so confused and lost. But now, I understand the meaning of this dual identity. Just like the relationship between the juvenile Spirit Branch Tree and the original—different yet complementary, independent yet connected."
"And you've become the perfect bridge," Ms. Adelle said softly, "connecting past and future, upper and Root Layers, all things that seem opposed yet should be in harmony."
Orlen nodded, his gaze fixed on the distance. He didn't know what discoveries the exploration journey would bring, nor did he know where the Spirit Branch Tree world's transformation would ultimately lead. But one thing he was certain of—whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face the challenges, continue guarding his mother's legacy, and guide this world toward a more balanced, harmonious future.
Tomorrow, a new journey would begin, and this was just one chapter in a greater story.