PotatoHero
patreon
Chapter 289 - Divine Garden
🕑 Added 2025-04-14 07:00:12 +0000 UTC"Excuse me, Mr. Lapin, can you hear me?" Lilian's voice—so eerily similar to the Goddess's—echoed through the cloud once more.
"Yes, Goddess! What do you need?" Lapin replied instinctively, his tone respectful and eager. The moment the words left his mouth, he froze, realizing his mistake. His wry smile deepened, and he shook his head in mild exasperation.
He couldn't help but marvel at the Goddess's cleverness. She must have known that her voice, imbued with the authority of a Divinity, would leave a lasting impression on him. By giving Lilian the same voice, she had ensured that he would always be alert and attentive in his role as Lilian's protector.
What a playful goddess, he mused, though a part of him wondered if she had considered all the implications.
If Lilian's voice is identical to the Goddess's… what happens during her… intimate moments with her husband? The thought made him pause, his ears flicking in mild embarrassment. Surely, the Goddess must have thought of that. She's a Divinity, after all. She probably doesn't mind… or maybe she finds it amusing.
Unbeknownst to Lapin, far away in the void tunnel, the Goddess of Fertility suddenly felt a faint sense of unease, as though she had forgotten something important. She paused, her brow furrowing as she tried to pinpoint what it was. But the thought slipped away like a wisp of smoke, and with a shrug, she continued her journey.
Meanwhile, Lilian was equally stunned by Lapin's reaction. Why is everyone calling me 'Goddess'? she wondered, her confusion mounting. First, it had been her demonic plants, and now even Lapin, her designated bodyguard, had addressed her as such. Thanks to the scenes that had played out in her mind, she was now aware of everything the Goddess had told her, including her conversation with Lapin. And she also knew the celestial cloud she was on belonged to him, created by his bloodline ability.
"Ahem… Human Lilian," Lapin corrected himself, his tone shifting to something more formal. "What do you need from me?"
"Where are you bringing me? To your place?" Lilian ignored how he changed the way he called her again. She was more curious about where she was going.
"Kekeke! I'm bringing you to your sister, Human Anda!" Lapin replied, his cheerful demeanor returning.
"Really? So you've met her?" Lilian's eyes lit up at the mention of Anda. Lilian then recalled that Lapin had said something about her sister in the scene recordings. So he was talking about Anda.
"I did," Lapin confirmed. "I met her a week ago with another human named Tamina. Human Anda asked me to search for her family members using my abilities. I agreed to help since she offered to assist me in return."
"Oh," Lilian said, her shoulders relaxing slightly. She didn't really care who Tamina was. She only cared about reuniting with someone she knew. "So everyone is separated. I thought I was the only one."
"That's right," Lapin said reassuringly. "You can relax for now while I bring you to Human Anda. It should take about two weeks to reach her current location since you two are quite far apart. Don't worry—you'll be safe on my Celestial Cloud."
"Okay," Lilian replied, nodding. Since her savior assigned him to be her bodyguard then there was no reason to doubt him. Without another word, she sat down cross-legged on the cloud, her posture straight and focused. Closing her eyes, she willed herself into the Goddess of Fertility's Garden.
The garden had transformed into something far grander than its original form. No longer a simple garden, it now resembled a sprawling, enchanted forest teeming with life. Countless plants of diverse origins stretched as far as the eye could see, their vibrant colors and unique shapes creating a breathtaking tapestry of nature.
In one area, Talisman Trees lined up with a significant gap between each other to make sure they grow in the best way, so they could produce the best talisman paper. Nearby, Stripey's beloved Golden Banana Trees swayed gently, their golden fruits glowing softly in the dappled light. Not far from them loomed the intimidating Metallic Durian Trees, their spiky, metallic husks glinting ominously.
Elsewhere, vast sections were dedicated to Anda's alchemy ingredients—rare herbs, glowing fungi, crystalline flowers, and many others—each carefully cultivated for their potent properties. There were also rows of plants specifically grown for Tasya's culinary experiments, their fragrant leaves and vibrant fruits adding a splash of color to the landscape. Scattered throughout were countless other species, each one a testament to Lilian's curiosity and love for the botanical world.
On the other side of the garden lay the Leyan Family's most prized treasure: the large spring of Natural Liquid Qi. Its crystal-clear waters shimmered with an otherworldly glow, radiating pure spiritual energy. This spring had been the cornerstone of the Leyan Family's cultivation resources, its waters endlessly replenished by the mysterious silver orb resting at its depths. Lilian didn't know how long this miraculous replenishment would last, but she hoped it would continue forever. Not only did the Natural Liquid Qi accelerate cultivation, but it also nurtured the plants, causing them to grow at an astonishing rate.
However, what caught Lilian's attention most was the mountainous pile of bottles in a newly expanded area of the garden. The garden had always grown in size as she added more plants, but this time, it seemed the Goddess of Fertility had personally carved out a new section just to house the millions upon millions of bottles filled with Crystal Tears. The sight was both awe-inspiring and slightly overwhelming.
As Lilian marveled at the bottles, a familiar voice echoed in her mind, warm and playful yet laced with authority.
"My busty apprentice," the Goddess's voice began, "I've taken the liberty of separating the Crystal Tears into smaller portions for safety reasons. Under no circumstances should you merge them into one large volume—unless you want your bosoms to deflate again. I assume you'd rather avoid that, yes?"
Lilian nodded vigorously, her hands instinctively moving to her chest. She loved her melons dearly, and the thought of losing them again sent a shiver down her spine.
"Good girl," the Goddess continued, her tone approving. "Remember, in large volumes, the Crystal Tears will absorb your essence, but in small amounts, they have the opposite effect. After drinking them, let your body absorb the nourishing properties completely first because you know what will happen if you don't, right?"
Lilian nodded again like an obedient kid. Normally, she doesn't listen much to what others say, but after what happened, the Goddess had a huge influence on Lilian.
"That said, as I've told you before, they are also the best tonic for demonic plants. Use them wisely, as you see fit."
Lilian nodded again, absorbing the Goddess's instructions with utmost attention.
Soon, the demonic plants who had been tending to the garden eventually noticed her arrival. One by one, they gathered around her, their forms swaying and rustling with excitement. Leading the group was Fig One, the Strangler Fig plant, which had become the de facto leader of the Verdant Labyrinth demonic plants.
"Goddess!" the plants chorused, their voices a harmonious blend of reverence and joy. In the Goddess of Fertility's Garden, the demonic plants didn't have to use their mental connection to speak with Lilian. The garden had the function to let them speak with human voice.
The time in the garden moves 10 times faster than the real world. Since the day Lilian brought them into the garden, 7 years had passed in the real world meaning they have been living in the garden for 70 years. It was no surprise that they got along with each other very well contrary to when they lived in Verdant Labyrinth, living only within their species, treating other plant species as enemy.
Fig One and the others weren't aware at all of what happened to Lilian yesterday so their reactions to her arrival are the same as usual.
"Goddess, what are those?" Fig One asked, its voice carrying a note of curiosity as it pointed toward the towering pile of bottles with a sinuous tendril.
"Those are your tonic. Everyone go take one bottle each and consume them." Lilian instructed.
"Yes Goddess!" They replied and moved to take the bottles.
Then each of the demonic plants removed the bottle caps using their vines, tendrils, roots or branches.
"Wow! I'm stronger!"
"Big energy!"
"Good, good!"
They exclaimed immediately after sensing the rich and dense wood elemental energy contained in the bottle.
Without wasting time, they sent their roots into the bottle, sucking the Crystal Tears. While sucking, they keep exclaiming about how great it tasted.
Seeing their reactions made Lilian curious, so she took a bottle as well, left the garden back into her real body, and drank it. Since the Goddess who saved her life said it was safe to consume, she chugged it without qualms.
"Eww... it tastes bitter! It's not delicious at all! Those liars!" Lilian complained, blaming her demonic plants for lying while trying to get the taste off her tongue. In reality, the Crystal Tears tasted good to the demonic plants but not to humans.
After complaining, she braced herself and continued chugging, emptying the bottle.
