Finally, the young tree now bore three new peculiar leaves. They were the exact replicas of a human ear, crafted with precise detail. As the air vibrated, it also imparted its vibration to the delicate membrane located in the inner area of the ear shaped leaves.
"…… ……… …"
For the first time in its life, the tree could hear. Yet despite this outlandish development, the cacophony of noises made no sense. The young tree now faced a new challenge; deciphering the meaning behind the sounds it could now perceive. It started paying minute attention to the sounds, and over time, it started understanding. These creatures, called humans, were using a variety of sounds in an intricate symphony to communicate with each other. Every individual had a different but similar way of producing sounds. The only way it could learn was to listen intently, and listen it did.
As the days turned into months, the tree continued listening, absorbing the chaotic melody of sounds that was human speech. Meanwhile the humans were constantly increasing in numbers. They were multiplying by giving birth to smaller versions of themselves, the most fascinating process ever witnessed by the tree.
Slowly learning to their speech, it started discovering a plethora of new things. The humans had a specific sound for almost everything in the world. For instance, the creatures soaring through the skies were called birds. They also classified everything. A falcon was a type of bird, but so was a swallow. Its own body was made of a material they called wood, and it wasn’t just a tree, it belonged to a species called oak.
Of course they had more special, individual names for each member of the group. They had even given itself a name. They called it Evergreen because, even in the depths of winter, its leaves never withered. The tree found itself inundated with joy, and decided to think of itself as Evergreen from this moment forward.
It took two more years of listening and observation for Evergreen to fully grasp the complexities of the human language and culture. It now marvelled at how smart and inventive they were, always crafting something with their nimble hands. Evergreen also learned about a vital aspect of their existence, which also impacted it tremendously without even knowing: energy cultivation.
On that remarkable day the tree realized that it was a cultivator as well. It had become one years ago when it absorbed the blood of the dead cultivator that found his end right near a small oak sapling.
This revelation explained the mysterious perception sense it developed right after the change. Humans called it divine sense, and it stemmed from having a cultivator soul. The nourishing energy that it absorbed from the world was called qi and represented the fundamental resource for cultivators
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Qi was also the reason why the humans decided to make their home beneath Evergreen’s sprawling branches. Its ability to draw energy toward itself, enriched the surrounding area with an abundance of qi, more than two times the expected amount. They also felt an inexplicable divine presence emanating from the tree wrapping around them like an embrace, filled with benevolence.
One sunny afternoon, as the light filtered through its lush canopy, Evergreen was impassively listening to a conversation between two of the younger humans. One of them a young boy, suddenly pointed out at its ear shaped leaves surprised.
"Look at those strange leaves," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"They look exactly like old Yuan's ears," his friend, a thin yet lively girl, responded with a chuckle.
“They are so strange.“
A sudden ideea ignited in the boy's mind. Had the tree been listening to them all along?
"Hey, Evergreen," he called out.
"Are you really alive in there? Can you hear us?"
Evergreen was indeed alive and aware, but had no way to answer. Instead of words, it used its divine sense enveloping the youngsters in a warmth and comfort.
“Did you feel that? Haha, it actually can hear us.“
In a sudden impulse they boy sent his divine sense to the tree in a most unusual way. It contained information, that translated into Evergreen soul as a simple question “Can you hear us?“. It had never conceived of such a method to use divine sense until now. Motivated by this new discovery, Evergreen focused on shaping its own divine sense, emulating what the young boy did. It sent it back toward the eager youth. A simple word: “Friend.“
“It can hear us! I cannot believe it. Eldeeer! Elder! The tree, Evergreen, it talked!“ The youth shouted excitedly, as he started sprinting towards the elders’s house.
One of the older humans, the wise and respected elder of the community, emerged from his modest hut, squinting at the boy. "What are you talking about? The big oak? It talked to you?" he asked, his voice filled with skepticism.
"Yes, elder," the youth replied breathlessly.
"Hera noticed Evergreen has some leaves shaped exactly like old Yuan's ears, and I jokingly asked it using my divine sense if it could hear us. And it answered! It said 'Friend.'"
The elder's brow furrowed in thought, disbelief flickering across his face.
"First of all, respect your elders, boy. Let me check!" he admonished gently.
The elder extended his senses, probing the tree. As his divine sense reached out he sent a mental message to the big oak.
”I always felt you have a strong soul something we have never encountered before , are you also capable of thought, mighty Evergreen?"
"I am," Evergreen responded eagerly, "I am friend," it continued, the transmission imbued with feelings of warmth and protectiveness. The elder's eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth breaking into an incredulous grin.
"Haha, it can actually think and talk!"
The news spread like wildfire among the people. It wasn’t long before every inhabitant knew that Evergreen not only possessed a soul but was also a sentient being that could understand them. Soon, every cultivator in the tiny village, began to bombard Evergreen with questions.
