One year had passed since the merger. The changes in the Spirit Branch Tree world were no longer subtle currents, but visible transformations. The "New Bud Blooming" continued, with edge leaf islands expanding by nearly one-third, creating unprecedented new living spaces. Most amazing were the characteristics of these new regions—they no longer followed the traditional top-bottom layering, but formed a hybrid structure, simultaneously possessing the lighting conditions of upper layers and the stability of root systems.
"Truly incredible," Ilayle marveled, standing at the edge of a newly formed region. "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 carried a newfound steadiness and wisdom. This past year, he had spent most of his time traveling between the Merger Academy and new regions, coordinating research work, resolving emerging issues, while maintaining deep connection with the Merger Tree.
"This is just the beginning," Orlen responded. "According to our calculations, if the 'New Bud Blooming' continues at the current rate, the Spirit Branch Tree world's area will double within ten years."
"Bringing opportunities, but also challenges," Ilayle pointed out. "So much new space—how will it be distributed? Who will manage it? According to what principles?"
These questions had made the Joint Committee's work incredibly busy. The governance model for new regions became the most hotly discussed topic. Traditional upper layer forces wanted to extend the old hierarchical system, while root layer and middle layer representatives advocated for more equal structures.
"This isn't just about resource allocation," Orlen often emphasized in meetings. "It's about what kind of future we want to build. The Merger 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 integrated settlements in new regions regardless of race or class. The first demonstration community was already under construction, composed of volunteers from various regions, including open-minded upper nobility, ambitious root layer residents, peace-seeking insect tribes, and forest float tribe members serving as advisors.
On their way back to the Merger Academy, Orlen and Ilayle continued discussing future plans. The academy had become the center of transformation, training the first batch of cross-boundary thinkers who took new knowledge and concepts back to their communities, becoming seeds of change.
"Speaking of which, today is a special day," Ilayle suddenly said. "Exactly one year ago, you merged Sera's pendant into the small Spirit Tree."
Orlen nodded. That was a significant moment, symbolizing the completion of his mother's mission and a milestone in his personal growth. Since then, his connection with the Merger Tree had become purer, no longer needing the pendant as a medium.
Upon arriving at the academy, they found Karlm waiting in the central courtyard, his expression unusually serious.
"What's happened?" Orlen immediately sensed unease.
"There's an anomaly at the axis," Karlm said briefly. "The Merger 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 quickly headed to the axis. Over the past year, the axis space had transformed from a simple meeting venue to a complex research base, equipped with various observation devices and experimental setups. The Merger Tree now almost filled the entire space, its branches winding along the walls, leaves forming a massive dome.
Today, however, the Merger Tree's state was clearly different. Its light was no longer a stable amber-emerald blend, but pulsed between amber and emerald, rhythmic as a heartbeat. More notably, a series of glowing runes had appeared on the trunk, strikingly similar to symbols they had discovered in ancient records.
"This change began two hours ago," the chief researcher explained. "We detected abnormally intensified energy fluctuations, but they don't signal energy deficiency or overload—more like some kind of... communication attempt."
Orlen approached the Merger Tree, placing his palm on the trunk. Immediately, a strong energy flowed into his body, accompanied by a series of clear images: new regions growing, underground root systems extending, energy recycling and reorganizing... 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 allowed him to communicate with the Merger Tree in an almost intuitive way.
The response came more strongly than expected. The Merger Tree's light suddenly intensified, bathing the entire axis space in warm golden light. Then, the light began to coalesce, forming a semi-transparent human shape in the air—this time, not just Sera's image, but others, many others, souls from ancient to present who had deep connections with the Spirit Branch Tree.
"These are the memories of the Spirit Branch Tree," Karlm said in amazement. "It's showing us its complete history."
Images rapidly switched: the birth of the Spirit Branch Tree, appearance of the first life forms, rise and fall of different races, periods of peace and conflict, all moments in the long life of the Spirit Branch Tree. Finally, the image froze on the moment Sera discovered the seedling, then Orlen planting the small Spirit Tree, then the currently occurring New Bud Blooming.
After the images dissipated, the Merger Tree stabilized again, but the atmosphere had completely changed. Everyone felt a kind of revelation, a kind of understanding.
"It's telling us," Orlen said slowly, his voice slightly trembling with emotion, "that all this is part of a cycle. There have been other 'dual core symbioses' before, other 'New Bud Bloomings.' We aren't 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 forgot."
Back at the Merger Academy, Orlen convened the core team to discuss the implications of this discovery. The new understanding sparked more research directions: decoding ancient symbols to obtain wisdom from predecessors, studying the Spirit Branch Tree's memory storage mechanisms, predicting patterns of the next phase.
"If this truly is a cycle," Adele contemplated, "then understanding past cycles becomes especially important. How did our predecessors handle these changes? What mistakes did they make? What lessons did they leave?"
"More importantly," Karlm added, "can we do better this time? Can we avoid repeating past mistakes?"
The discussion continued until late night. Finally, Orlen proposed a bold plan: send 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 new regions.
"I'll lead the team personally," he announced. "No one understands the Merger Tree's energy characteristics better than me, nor can anyone better sense those subtle changes."
Adele and Karlm exchanged worried glances.
"It will be a dangerous journey," Adele reminded him. "The edge regions still have many unknown factors."
"And," Karlm added, "staying away from the axis too long might affect your connection with the Merger Tree."
Orlen understood their concerns, but his mind was made up: "Precisely because there are risks, I must go myself. We need firsthand information, direct experience. And," he smiled, adding, "my connection is strong enough now that distance won't weaken it. The Merger 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, an insect tribe observer, and a forest float tribe navigation specialist. They planned to travel along the edges of the new regions, recording changes, looking for clues, understanding the full picture of this transformation.
The night before departure, Orlen stood on the top platform of the Merger Academy, overlooking the entire Spirit Branch Tree world. The amber glow of new regions and the emerald of original areas reflected each other, forming a magnificent picture. From this vantage point, the scale of change truly revealed itself—the Spirit Branch Tree was growing in an organic, harmonious way, not simple expansion, but a complex reorganization and evolution.
Adele silently appeared behind him: "All preparations are complete; the exploration team will depart at dawn tomorrow."
"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."
Adele's wings gently trembled, showing her emotional fluctuation: "I was just following Sera's instructions, guiding you to find your own path. And you have already exceeded her expectations."
They stood in silence for a while, sharing this peaceful moment.
"You know," Orlen finally spoke, "when I first heard I was a 'child of the root system,' a darkened leaf dweller's child, I felt so confused and lost. But now, I understand the meaning of this dual identity. Just like the relationship between the small Spirit Tree and the original Spirit Branch Tree, different yet complementary, independent yet connected."
"And you became the perfect bridge," Adele said softly, "connecting past and future, upper and root layers, all things that seemed opposed yet were meant to be harmonious."
Orlen nodded, gazing into the distance. He didn't know what discoveries the exploration journey would bring, nor where the transformation of the Spirit Branch Tree world would ultimately lead. But one thing he was certain of—no matter what lay ahead, he was ready to face the challenges, continue guarding his mother's legacy, 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.