Translator: AnubisTL
Several days later, in the center of the High Tower Laboratory, the holographic light screen split into several different observation angles, transmitting real-time dynamics from various parts of the plane.
Jieming stood before the main control console, his sharp gaze sweeping across the constantly refreshing data stream as he reported in a steady voice:
"Experimental Sequence Seven, Phase Three, commencing. Observation target: The newly introduced intelligent variant, 'Rock-Strangling Vine,' entering Combat Zone No. 7 of the Plains."
On the light screen, a group of new animated vines—their surfaces covered in dark brown, tuberous nodules and their forms sturdy and resilient—were advancing toward the distant battlefield, where light flashed and vines lashed, at a speed that belied their clumsy appearance.
"According to Your Excellency Starfall's design, the 'Rock-Strangling Vine' partially overlaps in ecological niche with the early-awakened 'Demon-Devouring Vine'; both require rare minerals from the soil."
"In terms of morphological aesthetics, the 'Rock-Strangling Vine' leans toward a 'solid' and 'heavy' orientation. Theoretically, it should differ more from the elemental creatures that pursue 'streamlined' and 'luminous' forms, while possessing a potential resonance with the 'twisted and coiled' beauty of the 'Demon-Devouring Vine.'"
As the new vines entered the battlefield's edge, the Light-Cluster Elemental Creatures, already entangled with the Demon-Devouring Vines, reacted instantly.
Like a disturbed swarm of bees, a stream of blazing light broke away and launched a relentless assault on the Rock-Strangling Vines, raining down energy beams like a torrential storm.
Yet, on the other side of the battlefield, the army of Demon-Devouring Vines responded with striking restraint.
Instead of attacking the newcomers indiscriminately as they had before, they slowed their own combat with the elemental creatures. Countless vine tips turned like eyes toward their new kin, warily "observing" them.
After a brief standoff and observation, a dense wave of psychic energy rippled through the Demon-Devouring Vine swarm.
Suddenly, they turned their aggression, joining forces with the newly arrived Rock-Strangling Vines to launch a devastating combined assault on the splintered group of Light-Cluster Elemental Creatures.
Outnumbered and caught in the pincer attack of the two vine species, the elemental creatures quickly collapsed and scattered.
After the battle, the Demon-Devouring Vines and Rock-Strangling Vines did not immediately merge.
Instead, they kept their distance, exchanging faint and complex spiritual signals, as if cautiously assessing one another.
After a moment, both parties retreated in perfect tacit understanding, withdrawing to opposite sides of the plain and leaving a stretch of scorched, ruined earth between them.
"Recording complete!" Jieming finished his report and turned to the side.
Wizard Starfall's hands flew across the auxiliary light screen, her face glowing with irrepressible excitement. "It worked! Look! The Animated Plants are showing a completely different reaction than they did before—when they faced humans, various flesh-and-blood creatures, and even those elemental creatures we temporarily brought to life with Activated Rough Stones!"
She brought up previous experimental records for comparison. "Before, whether it was a flesh monster or those angular stone golems, anything that entered their sensory range was met with an indiscriminate and fierce attack from the Demon-Devouring Vines and the Light-Cluster Elementals. Back then, we almost thought the 'Aesthetic War' hypothesis was wrong."
"But now it seems," Jieming interjected, his eyes showing he understood, "that even among elemental creatures, 'Light' and 'Rock' have a world of difference in 'visual appeal' in their eyes. Meanwhile, plant-like life forms with a certain morphological similarity can maintain restraint during initial contact, and even engage in limited cooperation, despite competing for resources."
Wizard Starfall nodded vigorously. "And not all enlightened creatures will indiscriminately attack others just because of different aesthetic views."
"Now it seems that this extremely xenophobic characteristic, where life and death are determined by 'visual appeal,' might only be possessed by the specific combination of the 'Demon-Devouring Vine' and the 'Glow Aggregate.'"
She thoughtfully stroked her chin and proposed a new hypothesis: "I suspect that when I first performed the 'Ignition of Intelligence,' my technique was not yet perfected, and there were some unknown flaws."
"Or perhaps... my mental state at the time—such as my eager anticipation for the experiment's success, or some subconscious perception of the morphological opposition between 'Light' and 'Vine'—subtly influenced the process of granting them intelligence through the Imaginary Element, shaping this unique and extreme cognitive pattern based on morphological beauty and ugliness."
"That's a strong possibility," Viola agreed. She had also studied the Imaginary Element before. "The nature of Jieming's Imaginary Element is indeed susceptible to the influence of the user's emotions and willpower. The 'opposition' you poured into them during their creation might have invisibly become the foundation of their intelligent cores."
Jieming nodded in agreement with this analysis. "If that's the case, we can try designing new experiments. For example, we could have Anya, who has a more peaceful mindset, lead a small-scale 'Ignition of Intelligence' to see if the newly born intelligent lifeforms still exhibit such an extreme 'aesthetic fastidiousness'."
"Great idea!" The Wizard Starfall's eyes lit up, but the excitement on her face quickly faded, replaced by a rare hint of awkwardness. She rubbed her hands together and looked at Jieming and Viola. "Um... we can put the new experiment on hold for now. Right now, there's a small matter I might need your help with."
Viola raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What could possibly trouble even the Plane Lord?"
The Wizard Starfall sighed and pointed to a specially marked underground area on the Main Light Screen, which was flashing with a high-energy warning signal:
"It's probably because we've been running experiments so frequently lately, deploying so many 'oddly-shaped' test units. It must have created a massive sense of crisis for those two native intelligent species."
"Based on my monitoring of the planar energy flow and earth vein fluctuations... those Light-Cluster Elements seem to be brewing something 'big' deep underground. They appear to be concentrating their entire clan's energy, attempting to construct a super-massive... well, something like a self-destruct or energy annihilation core."
Jieming looked somewhat puzzled. "If you wanted to stop them, with your level of control over the plane, you should be able to intervene easily, right?"
A sixth-tier wizard, on their own home turf, could theoretically suppress such a localized disturbance without breaking a sweat, either by directly manipulating the plane or by channeling the Plane Power through the plane origin.
Wizard Starfall waved her hands dismissively. "I don't want to stop them! Quite the opposite—this is a perfect observation opportunity! Even if they actually manage to create something that could blast through the planar barrier, I'm confident I can shut it down at the very last moment. But..."
She paused, a flicker of caution crossing her face. "Just in case things go south and they actually blow up my laboratory—uh, I mean, the plane—I need to maintain a constant, direct link to the plane's origin. That way, I can mobilize maximum authority to suppress them at a moment's notice. Which means I can't afford any distractions."
She turned to the two of them, her gaze pleading. "I need you to help me. Go in close and gather data on the 'Great Bomb' as it's being constructed—energy convergence patterns, structural stability, the mental state of those Light-Cluster Elements, and so on. First-hand, close-range data like that is invaluable! And if you can..."
Her voice took on the fervent tone of a researcher. "It would be best if you revealed yourselves and forcibly stopped them at the very last moment—right when they're about to succeed, or at least when they think they are!"
"That way, we can directly observe the extreme emotional fluctuations they'll experience when their entire race's effort is crushed in a moment of catastrophic failure. We can see how their intelligence and social structures adapt... or collapse! It would be absolutely perfect!"
Jieming and Viola exchanged a glance. They felt no qualms about this request to "fan the flames" and "collect tragedy data." After all, these creatures were essentially experimental products.
While it was true that both species had already awakened their spiritual intelligence, to put it bluntly, were there any intelligent beings who hadn't died at the hands of wizards?
They nodded in agreement with Starfall's request.
Considering Viola was also a sixth-tier wizard, she was the most suitable person to oversee the laboratory and operate the numerous observation formations and emergency facilities scattered across the plane when Starfall needed to focus all her strength on maintaining its stability.
Thus, the division of labor was quickly finalized: Viola would remain at the High Tower Hub, managing the overall situation.
Meanwhile, Jieming would personally head to the turbulent underground region with Anya, who possessed an extremely keen perception of elements and life, to "observe" the Light-Cluster Elementals' ultimate plan up close.
And at the critical moment, he would deliver a "surprise" interruption from the "ugly flesh-and-blood monsters."
(End of the Chapter)
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