[Puppet Tree Seed]:
["Evergreen tree. Grows up to 8 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 80 centimeters."
"Leaves are heteromorphic and spiral-shaped, growing along the lower edges."
"Fruits are roughly human head-sized, shaped like humanoids."
"When a creature makes contact with a fruit, it automatically morphs to resemble the creature and becomes a vessel for that creature's consciousness."
"Regardless of the distance between the puppet fruit and the creature, as long as they are on the same plane, the creature can project its consciousness into the fruit at any time to control it."
"Each creature's capacity for puppet fruits varies depending on their life state."
"Puppet fruits are extremely durable, only damageable by Legendary-level forces. However, they hold no inherent power, and any projected consciousness cannot exert the full strength of its original body."
"If a puppet fruit is destroyed, the consciousness within returns to the original body unharmed."]
Ron read the Puppet Tree's description several times and had a general grasp of its function.
However, to fully understand its use, he needed to get his hands on an actual puppet fruit to experiment with.
So, without hesitation, Ron headed downstairs and entered the dimensional plane.
In the middle of a vast white void, he floated before a 3×5-meter cultivation plot. Inside were the Nether Orchid, Crimson-Gold Chrysanthemum, and Scalevine—each in healthy growth. Ron stared at them in thought.
According to the [Puppet Tree Cultivation Method] he'd acquired, he now clearly understood that the Puppet Tree was huge, and a single square meter of cultivation space definitely wouldn't suffice.
One Puppet Tree would require at least 15 square meters of space to barely fit.
[System: "Available cultivation plots may be merged to create larger growing spaces."]
"Oh, I see…" Ron sighed, then gritted his teeth. "So this is what you've been plotting lately, huh? Acting all quiet so you could spring this on me!"
Just one Puppet Tree would need 15 square meters—equivalent to the combined space used for the Nether Orchid, Crimson-Gold Chrysanthemum, and Scalevine!
Then there were two other unfinished tasks, each promising rewards like the Emerald Cypress and Spice Pine.
Cypress and pine? Just hearing the names made it obvious they'd be towering trees!
So the system had caught on to him being stingy and unwilling to top up, and was now forcing his hand?
Herbs and flowers only needed one square meter each, but these tall trees? Not a chance.
This was a blatant ploy to make him spend his Wealth Points!
Shameless!
Fighting back the pain in his heart, Ron reluctantly exchanged 15 square meters of cultivation space and chose to merge them.
He was now the proud owner of a circular cultivation zone totaling 15 square meters, floating beside his original 3×5 plot.
At the same time, the system shop had also updated:
[Shop]
[Cultivation Plot]: 2000 Wealth Points per square meter (limit: 30 square meters)
For some reason, seeing that the price had only doubled made Ron feel a bizarre sense of relief and even a bit of joy.
He'd been bracing for a price hike to 10,000 Wealth Points per square meter after redeeming the last 1000-point tier.
At least the system still had a shred of conscience…
Wait, no!
Ron slapped his own forehead and snapped out of the system's illusory gentleness.
This was a classic pay-to-win trap!
Bottom line: the price had still gone up!
He glanced at his Wealth Points. They had only recently broken into six figures, but now? Shrinking fast.
Tragic.
Shaking his head and muttering complaints, Ron pulled out the Puppet Tree Seed from his [Backpack] and planted it into the newly merged 15-square-meter plot.
Honestly, if possible, Ron wouldn't have minded planting the Puppet Tree in the outside world.
But two issues made that impossible:
One: confidentiality.
The Puppet Tree's effects were too miraculous. If news got out, others would definitely try to steal it.
And given the tree's massive size and fruit hanging right off its branches, it would be far too easy to pluck.
Two: viability.
Which was the real reason?
In the outside world, the Puppet Tree couldn't survive.
Or rather, even if it did survive, it would never bear puppet fruits.
Because the tree required all sorts of rare nutrients, only the cultivation space capable of generating any resource could fulfill its growing conditions.
One such nutrient, for example, came from the toxic milk of a Skeletal Mountain Goat.
That species had gone extinct long ago.
As he thought about all this, Ron manipulated the cultivation plot:
Sunlight.
Water.
Soil nutrients.
He pruned branches and tended to leaves.
Then, the flow of time.
What would normally take years to mature, the Puppet Tree reached over seven meters tall within just 20 minutes.
Its canopy resembled a massive umbrella, and among the overlapping branches, oval-shaped green fruits began forming.
After a few more minutes, the fruits swelled. The stems morphed into something resembling heads, and small limbs grew from their lower ends.
They were gradually shifting toward humanoid shapes.
Ron controlled the space while observing the tree's development. As he watched the puppet fruits take shape, he couldn't help but think—they were starting to look a lot like Ginseng Babies.
Half an hour later—
The Puppet Tree had fully matured.
With a single thought, one of the humanoid puppet fruits dropped into Ron's hand.
As soon as it touched his palm, the fruit began to morph—
The stubby limbs grew fingers and toes.
Elbows and knees took shape.
A belly button appeared, along with soft, defined abs.
Pale red eyes, an oval nose, a thin mouth, tiny ears—
A chibi version of Ron had appeared in his palm.
At the same time, a telepathic link formed between Ron and the doll. As long as he wished, he could project his consciousness into it instantly.
Ron stared at the puppet in his hand, a vein popping on his forehead.
He hadn't expected this style at all.
That weird sensation of "each part looks totally different from me, but as a whole it's unmistakably me"—Ron now understood it perfectly.
He squeezed the puppet's head, poked its belly. The feel was surprisingly satisfying, like soft glutinous rice.
He pulled its arm outward—it stretched out dozens of centimeters before slowly snapping back to its original form.
A perfect stress-reliever.
Ron had just discovered its first use case.
Without hesitation, he connected to the doll with his consciousness.
Instantly, the chibi Ron in his palm pushed off with its hands and stood upright.