I Transmigrated Into the Number One Darling Tree in the Interstellar Era - Chapter 3

At the edge of the jungle, a massive white figure stood atop a field of plant wreckage.

It was a rare White Lion.

Powerfully built and exuding masculine vitality, its thick mane radiated a proud, masculine aura.

The lion’s icy blue eyes swept dispassionately over the broken plant debris beneath its feet.

The remains of Demonic Plants that had attacked it, their “limbs” and “arms” scattered across the ground. These demonic plants fiercely repelled powerful Beastmen, relentlessly driving them out. Yet even their combined efforts couldn’t expel this lion from the jungle.

As the Iron-Blooded Imperial Marshal, Cassius bore many titles: “Imperial God of War,” “Imperial Guardian God,” “Interstellar’s First Weapon”… These titles were both praise and a curse.

Cassius was invincible on the battlefield, but whenever war ended, he would mysteriously vanish, his whereabouts unknown.

Only the Imperial Military Doctors knew the truth: their formidable Lord Marshal suffered from war-induced stress disorder.

Having witnessed too much bloodshed and slaughter, years of constant vigilance had left every cell in his body perpetually in a state of heightened arousal.

The brutality of the battlefield could mask his condition, but once the fighting ceased, he struggled to maintain control, forced to revert to his beast form and return to the jungle in his most primal state.

This was his only refuge.

Demonic Plants, which were devoid of pain and were immortal, made the perfect sparring partners. Otherwise, anyone who approached him, whether family or comrade, would risk being accidentally killed by his loss of control.

Cassius couldn’t suppress the urge to destroy everything. The violent combat lust raging within him brought him both agony and madness.

The Imperial Military Doctors offered him ineffective medications and suggested gardening as a means of healing his mind. But it was utterly useless.

Heal with flowers? The very idea was a joke to him!

The Iron-Blooded Imperial Marshal’s mind knew only one thing: war. Only relentless combat could dull his volatile emotions, and only exhausting himself to the point of collapse allowed him to sleep fitfully.

His “vacation” consisted of daily physical exertion in the jungle, followed by a hasty rest in some random cave.

But today, the Demonic Plants were acting strangely.

The plants that had been entangled in combat with him moments before suddenly ceased their attacks. Their poisonous thorns and brambles inexplicably retreated, as if losing interest in the fight, shrinking back and swaying foolishly.

Cassius hadn’t fought his fill, his inexhaustible energy leaving him restless and agitated.

His sharp lion claws scraped fiercely against the ground, the White Lion radiating a cold, weapon-like aura as dangerous as it was sharp.

He wanted to fight, to brawl, to destroy everything…

Just as his rational mind teetered on the edge of control, the lion’s keen sense of smell detected a faint, delicate fragrance.

It seemed like the scent of a flower.

Sweet, yet not cloying.

Cassius had never experienced such a soothing aroma. He couldn’t identify the plant responsible, but this invisible, intangible scent gradually calmed his fiery, restless spirit.

Could this be why the Demonic Plants ceased their battle?

His hyper-vigilant attention, long maintained at peak alertness, was drawn by the faint floral scent. The White Lion’s head tilted slightly, following the direction of the fragrant breeze.

For the first time, something other than war occupied Cassius’s mind.

He tried to capture that scent.

Turning, he began walking in the direction the wind carried it…

******

Lin Yu’s blooming process wasn’t over yet.

As the first flower blossomed, the other buds eagerly followed, their petals unfurling one after another.

From Lin Yu’s perspective, he couldn’t see the small flowers above him. He could only hear a series of popping sounds at regular intervals, followed by him cautiously brushing his leaves against the petals.

Soft and cool.

The texture was pleasant!

Not only that, but tender green leaf buds also emerged along his branches, glistening with vitality in the sunlight.

Normally, Magnolia Trees bloom in spring before growing leaves, with both flowers and leaves appearing simultaneously being a rare occurrence. But this wasn’t Earth, and plants growing in unconventional ways was perfectly normal.

Lin Yu took things in stride. As long as he was healthy, everything was fine.

The fully bloomed Little White Magnolia released a rich, lingering fragrance. In places Lin Yu couldn’t see, the unintentionally emitted floral scent had a profound and far-reaching impact on the entire jungle.

First, the Demonic Plants started acting strangely.

Viewers watching the “Conquer the Jungle” program noticed something amiss, and the comment stream flooded with messages:

[“Channel 4: The Demonic Pitcher Plant spat out the Beastman contestant it had swallowed!”]

[“Channel 28: The Demonic Burdock has released the Beastman it was making squeal…”]

[“Breaking news! All Demonic Plants across all channels have stopped fighting!”]

This was highly unusual!

The Demonic Plants had a strong territorial instinct, their genetic makeup ingrained with a deep aversion to Beastmen. They had always fought to the death, never retreating.

Yet just minutes ago, the plants that had previously held the upper hand seemed to have suddenly flipped a switch, as if losing interest in the Beastmen they had been relentlessly pursuing just seconds before.

With a wet plop, the plants released their Beastman captives and turned in unison toward a specific direction, swaying rhythmically in that direction.

As if they were dancing…

Was this some mysterious jungle ritual?

The Beastman contestants who had narrowly escaped certain death naturally didn’t linger to watch. The Demonic Plants had spared them, so fleeing was paramount. Why would they stay put and wait to be tormented again?!

Some keen-sensed Beastmen caught the scent of flowers. Seizing the opportunity to be the first to discover this rare plant, they raced toward the source of the fragrance, reveling in the refreshing and uplifting aroma that filled their senses.

The Demonic Plants, lulled by the faint floral scent, lost their desire to fight. The sweet, gentle fragrance stirred within them an unprecedented urge to protect.

A noisy environment is unsuitable for a seedling’s growth.

Therefore, they ceased their attacks.

Centered around Lin Yu, the Demonic Plants stopped their assaults in concentric circles. The frenzied jungle gradually calmed under the soothing influence of the Little White Magnolia’s fragrance.

Viewers watching through their screens, unable to smell the floral scent, were bewildered. “… Why did they stop fighting?”

Only those closely following the Little White Magnolia’s movements understood the truth and spontaneously switched to other channels to spread the word.

“Confused? Stunned? Don’t get it? Head to Channel JJ now!”

“What’s the point of the Alphabet Channel? It’s just supplementary footage—boring!”

“In two words: Miracle!”

“Tsk, stop the tease. I’m going to see what all the fuss is about…”

Everyone hates a tease, yet it remains the most effective form of promotion. Even Interstellar Humans couldn’t resist their curiosity. In an instant, Lin Yu’s channel experienced a surge in viewership.

[“Holy shit! What kind of flower is that? I’ve never seen anything like it!”]

[“We see it every day! Flip over an Imperial Star Coin and you’ll see a Magnolia Tree on the front and a Magnolia Flower on the back!”]

[“Let me explain: The ancient Magnolia is a symbol of the Empire. The Miracle records: ‘When the Magnolia blooms, the Empire will welcome a New King endowed with the divine powers of healing and protection.”]

As soon as these words were spoken, the chat froze for a moment.

Everyone knew that the once-a-century imperial election was approaching. Currently, there are two leading candidates for the position of Emperor. One was undoubtedly Marshal Cassius, the Imperial God of War who had defended the Empire for years. The other was Black Wolf Shuraen, the Alliance Leader.

Both men were strikingly handsome, a paradise for appearance-obsessed fans. But to become Emperor, one needed far more than just good looks.

Marshal Cassius had fought countless battles for the Empire. He was once the clear favorite to become Emperor, but for some inexplicable reason, he had vanished from public view. Not even the Interstellar Humans had ever seen his beast form, and none who had witnessed it on the battlefield had lived to tell the tale.

Due to Lord Marshal’s extreme humility, Shuraen had become the second most favored candidate in recent years.

The interstellar environment was complex. Beyond the Empire centered around Capital Star, there were countless Barren Stars. Shuraen united these Barren Stars to form the Alliance Legion. Though still far weaker than the Empire, he proved himself a brave and innovative leader.

Those supporting the two candidates split into the Conservative Faction and the Radical Faction. As election day approached, the conflict between the two factions grew increasingly intense.

Yet whether it was Marshal Cassius or Leader Shuraen, their protective strength was unquestionable. But when it came to healing power… neither possessed any!

If what the Miracle said was true, then the question arose: Would one of the two candidates suddenly awaken divine healing power, or would a “dark horse” emerge as the New King?

The show’s audience dared not speculate. They tacitly stopped discussing the topic and continued focusing on Little White Magnolia.

What could be more heartwarming than a pure and adorable little sweet flower?

Nothing!

Lin Yu remained blissfully unaware of the countless eyes watching him.

He was no longer the timid, unassuming plant he once was!

In high spirits, Lin Yu swayed his branches, causing his fluffy canopy to ripple and rustle. The small, banana-leaf-like foliage rustled, while the pale pink flowers scattered their sweet fragrance in rhythm with his breathing.

Suddenly, he noticed a shadow on a branch flicker was that a hand reaching out among the leaves?

“Huh?” Lin Yu wondered.

He focused his gaze, but the hand-shaped shadow quickly merged back into the branches.

“Am I hallucinating?” he murmured uncertainly.

Before he could ponder it further, the last flower bud at the crown of the tree burst open with a soft pop.

All the flowers on the tree were now in full bloom!

The vine, excitedly coiling around Lin Yu in undulating waves, trembled with excitement. If it could speak, it would be screaming with joy, but it restrained itself to avoid startling the young seedlings.

The broad-leafed plants watched the Little White Magnolia with unbridled enthusiasm.

Even the mushrooms on the ground pulsed with a faint blue glow, as if celebrating Lin Yu’s moment.

Though they couldn’t speak, the plants expressed their joy through their movements. Overcome with happiness, they swayed, their leaves rustling and releasing translucent green bubbles from their umbrella-like foliage.

Each green bubble refracted the sunlight into a rainbow of colors, drifting slowly downward and coalescing around the Little White Magnolia.

Bathed in this wondrous, shimmering rain of sunlight bubbles, Lin Yu felt his spirits lift.

He seemed to hear the voice of the jungle.

The plants were singing a special song, celebrating his blooming flower.

This was miraculous, not a human language, yet Lin Yu could connect with it spiritually, understanding every note and word.

This was the Whispers of the Jungle.

It reminded Lin Yu of his childhood, when he had so desperately wished for his parents to sing him a birthday song, to have someone rejoice in his growth. But his parents had died so early, and this simple, ordinary wish had remained a mere fantasy.

That’s why he loved the hustle and bustle, and hated loneliness.

He never imagined that plants would fulfill this small wish of his!

He could feel their joy, their sheer delight at his slightest growth.

To be cherished, surrounded, and valued… Lin Yu wanted to reciprocate this precious affection. But he was still just a Little White Magnolia, capable only of continuing to grow strong.

He wanted to grow, to become stronger, to repay this guardianship.

As Lin Yu’s resolve strengthened, he suddenly felt a powerful force channeling through his spiritual energy. This was the mysterious power of the jungle’s song, and he smoothly absorbed and assimilated it.

Gradually, sensation returned to his limbs and bones, while his spirit perceived a vastly expanded, boundless realm.

Above the Little White Magnolia, a line of golden text materialized:

Little White Magnolia has completed energy accumulation! Human form countdown: 10, 9, 8…

After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Yu opened his eyes again.

He saw a pair of fair feet standing on green moss, casting a complete human shadow on the ground.

Suddenly reverted to human form, Lin Yu momentarily lost his balance, his legs buckling as he collapsed forward in exhaustion.

Fortunately, the vine reacted swiftly, extending several tendrils to support him.

He was still wearing the cotton T-shirt and dark blue casual pants he’d worn before his transmigration from the Space Station. Strangely, his shoes had fallen off and lay nearby.

The vine retrieved the sneakers and busied itself trying to put them on him. Five or six tendrils worked frantically, but after much struggle, they failed to tie the laces and even got themselves tangled in a knot.

“Haha, that’s not how you do it.”

Lin Yu chuckled, first untangling the vine, then bending down to tie his own shoelaces.

His ten fingers were pale, tender, and remarkably dexterous.

It was undeniably a human hand.

I’ve turned back into a human!

Lin Yu belatedly began to feel elated, completely unaware that his live stream was about to explode.

[“??? Wait, there’s a plant-type human?”]

[“Heavens! Little White Magnolia is actually an Interstellar Human! I need to know his name within a minute!!!”]

[“Aahh, he’s so handsome! Save me.”]

[“His skin is like the petals of a White Magnolia flower! I can almost smell his fragrance through the screen!”]

******

Lin Yu single-handedly shifted the Interstellar Humans’ aesthetic preferences. It wasn’t that they no longer appreciated robust, muscular physiques, but anyone faced with someone like Lin Yu would instinctively want to cherish and protect him.

Lin Yu’s popularity skyrocketed, with Channel JJ’s traffic temporarily surpassing that of the top contestants to rank first on the show.

According to the rules, whoever reached the top of the rankings would receive a special prize from the show. However, since Lin Yu wasn’t a registered contestant, the production team had to create a temporary account to hold the prize money.

Lin Yu’s buzz was overwhelming. Whether it was his status as the one-of-a-kind plant-type human, his identity as the precious White Magnolia itself, or his exceptional beauty, all of it ignited a viewing frenzy for the show.

After deliberation by the production team and viewer votes, they unanimously decided to classify him as a special contestant.

That day, the top trending topic on Star Net was: #WhiteMagnoliaTheInterstellar’sFirstDarlingTree#

Now that Lin Yu had reverted to human form, he could move freely again.

Still thinking about the mechanical ladybug that had been poked apart by the vine earlier, Lin Yu decided to leave the jungle and explore the civilization of this planet.

Saying goodbye to the broad-leaved plants and mushrooms, Lin Yu set out on his journey with the vine. The vine even collected all his fallen leaves and carefully stored them in a pea pod.

*****

Just minutes after Lin Yu left, the White Lion arrived at the secluded spot.

Cassius had followed the scent of the flower to its source, but by the time he arrived, the fragrance had faded. He stood where the Little White Magnolia had once grown, now leaving only a small, round pit in the ground.

The White Lion closed his eyes, carefully sniffing the lingering floral scent in the air.

Then, the Lord Marshal lowered his noble head and found a small, tender petal from the magnolia flower, still carrying Lin Yu’s scent.

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