Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Back in his private room, Lin Yi purchased the specific rules of the dream world from Alicia.

After the other party sent over the general information about the dream world, Lin Yi felt it looked more and more familiar.

"This feeling... how come it's so similar to the 'rule-based fantasy' game settings that have recently become popular in the real world?"

The core of the rule-based mystery is that in a seemingly normal environment, participants must strictly abide by a series of bizarre, illogical, and even self-contradictory "rules," and once violated, they will be attacked in various ways.

The underlying logic of the dream world is highly consistent with this kind of strange rule.

There are also many hidden "taboos" that need to be explored or violated to be known.

Violating these "rules" will trigger the "corrective" power of the dream world itself—this could be distorted dream creatures, sudden environmental changes, or bizarre punishments that directly affect the intruder's mind or body.

In the game of rule-based fantasy, many rules are absolute, and violating them means certain death. There is no logic to it, and the characters involved are often extremely vulnerable.

While the rules of the dream world are equally dangerous and deadly, it is more like a high-difficulty survival challenge arena—rules are shackles, but also boundaries that can be exploited.

In the dream world, the strong have the potential to break the constraints of the rules, or even to use the rules in turn.

Of course, this involves extremely high risks, but at least it's not a hopeless, certain death situation.

After confirming that the danger level of the dream world was not as outrageous as he had imagined, Lin Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief and then began to take stock of his gains in this world.

Every time I come back alive, the most exciting part is opening the treasure chest.

After tossing several treasure chests onto the bed, Lin Yi took out the special item, the [World Tree Branch].

Dead branches of the World Tree

Origin: Merino Continent
Quality: Epic
Category: Special Items

Effects: Plant this withered branch on special soil that meets the required conditions. Once successfully activated and maintained, the branch will slowly absorb elemental essence and life energy, attempting to take root and grow. If the branch successfully survives and grows stably, its rooted area will form a domain containing the primordial power of the World Tree. Certain individuals who remain within the core of this domain for an extended period (or establish a deep soul connection with a successfully growing World Tree sapling) will experience an extremely slow but fundamental nourishment and enhancement to their life essence.

The improvement manifests as: subtle evolution of life level, potential extension of lifespan limit, enhanced perception and affinity for life energy, and implicit growth in soul resilience and potential.

Natural Sanctuary (Passive/Area Effect): A small, powerful natural barrier forms around successfully grown seedlings, dispelling filth, slowly healing wounds, and promoting the healthy growth of plants and animals within the area.

Rating: 700
Introduction: A towering tree begins with a tiny sprout; eternal change is accumulated step by step.

Seeing the effect of the [World Tree Dead Branch], Lin Yi went to the Phoenix Sun Tree planting room without saying a word and planted the dead branch.

"The vitality is too weak... The life force provided by the soil is probably barely enough to maintain its state." Lin Yi sensed that the withered branches of the World Tree were like a bottomless abyss, continuously drawing life energy from the surrounding soil.

[Urgent! I need half a pound of black maple leaves.]

To ensure the survival of the World Tree, Lin Yi directly asked Su Xiao for half a pound of black maple leaves, crushed them, and then poured the sap near the withered branches of the World Tree.

The value of half a pound of black maple leaves is enough to make major powers in the void envious and even willing to wage war to seize them.

That's a black maple tree; every single leaf is a treasure.

Using the sap of a black maple tree to water a dying World Tree sapling is such an extravagant act that it's almost a waste of resources. Perhaps only Lin Yi and Su Xiao could do such a thing.

If outsiders found out, they would probably beat their chests in despair and curse Lin Yi for being a "spendthrift."

However, for Lin Yi and Su Xiao, the output of the Black Maple Tree and Phoenix Sun Tree had already exceeded their needs.

Recently, Su Xiao asked Lin Yi for a full ten kilograms of leaves and bark from the Fengyang tree. The reason was that Su Xiao discovered that tea made from the leaves of the Fengyang tree was more suitable for the two of them than tea made from the leaves of the Black Maple tree.

Black maple tea is more effective at enhancing a person's potential, while phoenix tree tea is more effective at improving the understanding of techniques.

Especially in the Land of All Beings, Su Xiao discovered that after burning incense made from the bark of the Phoenix Sun Tree, it was very easy for him to enter a state similar to enlightenment.

In that state, the user's understanding of the technique is twice as effective with half the effort.

When the sap of the black maple tree seeped into the soil around the dead branch of the World Tree, strange phenomena occurred.

The moment the sap touched the surface of the withered branches, it was as if parched, cracked earth had encountered sweet rain, greedily absorbing the life-giving liquid.

The sap seeped into the branches, and a very faint, soft light shone from inside the withered branches.

Lin Yin could clearly "sense" that a faint life force was sprouting from the core of the withered branch, like a dormant volcano about to awaken.

At a point near the top of the withered branch, there was a very slight thud.

Immediately afterward, under Lin Yi's gaze, the tender sprout broke through the seemingly hard, withered skin and timidly poked its head out.

At the same time, the pine tree planted in the center of the room reacted strongly.

Om-!
The Phoenix Tree emitted a pleasant chirping sound, and a wave of emotion filled with pure joy and welcome surged towards the newly sprouted World Tree sapling like a gentle tide.

Lin Yi roughly sensed that it was something like, "It's so nice that the neighbors are here!" or "Let's grow up together!"

After all, Fengyang Tree itself is just a young child who has just grown up. Now that a fellow human has come, Fengyang Tree is naturally very welcoming.

Tiny specks of light rustled down from the branches and leaves of the phoenix tree.

It wasn't dust, but a strange little creature that resembled a beetle.

These tiny creatures, no bigger than grains of rice, radiated a soft, emerald-green glow, and numbered in the hundreds and thousands. Like an army of worker ants under the highest command of the queen bee, they drifted down from the Phoenix Sun Tree in orderly formations, covering the soil around the World Tree sapling.

These little creatures immediately sprang into action as soon as they landed.

They used their tiny mouthparts and forelimbs to turn over the soil, which had become somewhat sticky and compacted after being soaked in a high concentration of black maple sap. They gently crushed and broke up the compacted soil, removing tiny impurities that were almost invisible to the naked eye, and carried these impurities to a corner away from the seedlings.

As they turn over the soil, the faint green light emanating from them melts into the soil like spring snow.

Lin Yineng could sense that these green lights contained pure life force and a unique energy, which not only made the soil looser and more vibrant, but also subtly enhanced the land's capabilities, making it more suitable for the World Tree to take root and grow.

Just as the tender shoots stabilized and began to absorb the sap of the black maple tree from the surrounding environment, the mutation recurred.
A warm current surged from deep within Lin Yi's body.

It flowed extremely slowly through his limbs and bones, bringing Lin Yi an indescribable sense of comfort wherever it passed.

This is not an increase in strength, nor a strengthening of physique, but a kind of throbbing and joy at the essential level of life.

Like an ancient gemstone covered in dust, after being gently wiped clean, it finally reveals a hint of its inner brilliance.

Lin Yin could clearly feel that every cell in his body seemed to be cheering silently, as if celebrating the loosening of some kind of shackles.

A sense of "fullness" and "extensibility" originating from the deepest part of life is quietly growing.

He subconsciously turned his gaze to the World Tree sapling that had just sprouted new buds, and in that instant, a mysterious sense of connection was suddenly established.

At the same time, the World Tree sprouts seemed to sense his presence as their patron, and sent back a feeling of dependence and affection.

This connection is neither a contract nor a master-servant relationship, but rather a resonance and symbiosis at the fundamental level of life.

This connection perfectly illustrates the proverb in the introduction to the World Tree's Dead Branch: "A towering tree begins with a small beginning; eternal change is accumulated step by step."

Lin Yi's current feeling is precisely the beginning of this "small step".

His own improvement was so slight that it was almost impossible to quantify, far less obvious and direct than using attribute points for enhancement.

But it touches on the "roots" of life—levels, lifespan limits, and the potential of the soul.

These are the foundations that constitute a strong person, determining how high they can ultimately climb on the path to becoming a strong person.

This kind of improvement is the result of gradual accumulation; it cannot immediately boost combat power, but its value cannot be measured by any short-term increase in strength.

As the World Tree sapling stabilized, a gentle "field" began to spread out from the sapling, covering an area with a radius of about five meters.

This space, filled with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees, dispelled the stuffiness in the planter room, making the air as pure as that on a mountaintop.

The ordinary ornamental plants placed in the corner of the room as decorations immediately underwent a visible change under the influence of this space.

The leaves, which were originally just emerald green, have now become as glossy and full as jade, with a subtle sheen.

Several flower buds, which were about to bloom, also unfurled their petals at several times the speed.

The Phoenix Tree, located at the core of this "natural sanctuary," reacted in an even more peculiar way.

Like a human soaking in a hot spring, it lazily swayed its massive canopy, the rustling of its leaves even louder than before, as if letting out a satisfied sigh. Although the World Tree's effects weren't as miraculous as the Phoenix Sun Tree or the Black Maple Tree, each has its own specialty, and the World Tree's ability to evolve life is unmatched by ordinary creatures.

After patiently observing for nearly half an hour and confirming that the World Tree sapling was in stable condition, Lin Yi finally felt relieved and left the room.

"Strike while the iron is hot. My luck seems to be pretty good. It's time to open the box!" Lin Yi felt that he was currently in a subtle "upward trend." Opening the box now might bring unexpected surprises.

You have opened an epic treasure chest.

You have received 85000 Paradise Coins.

You have obtained 4 Soul Crystals (Complete).

You have received the 'Gift of the Abyss'.

As the light faded, a simple and heavy necklace fell in front of Lin Yi.

The main body of the necklace is made of a deep blue crystal, with an undercurrent seemingly flowing inside, containing powerful water elemental energy.

【Gift from the Abyss】

Origin: Sunken Temple

Quality: Epic
Category: Necklace

Durability: 70/70
Equipment requirements: 100 points of physical strength and 90 points of charm.

Equipment Effect 1: Tidal Blood (Passive): Increases base maximum health by 10%.

装备效果2：潮汐壁垒（被动）：当你成功格挡或招架攻击时，有50%概率为周围15米内的所有友方单位施加一个吸收（500+体力属性×5）点伤害的“水之护膜”，持续10秒（冷却时间2分钟）。

Rating: 674.

Description: "A gift from the abyss of darkness, bearing the resilience and protective will of the ancient sea race. The wearer will be as unshakeable as the abyss itself." — Prayer of the Deep Sea Guardians
Price: 368900 Paradise Coins

"A good find!" A glint flashed in Lin Yi's eyes as he immediately assessed the value of the necklace.

Although he is not a tank specializing in defense, as a melee contractor, survivability is always the top priority.

The most valuable aspect of this necklace lies in its simple yet incredibly powerful effect: "Increases base health by 10%".

Percentage bonuses may not be as noticeable as items that directly add hundreds or thousands of health points in the early game, but the higher the health points are in the late game, the more terrifying the boost from this 10% becomes.

Imagine that when the wearer's health reaches 100,000, 200,000 or even higher, this 10% bonus is equivalent to having several top-tier armor pieces added to their health bonus. For any contractor who needs to take damage, this is an irreplaceable core attribute.

As for the "90 points of charm" required for equipment, Lin Yi merely raised an eyebrow slightly, not considering it a significant obstacle.

Fortunately, it wasn't "True Charisma," otherwise the necklace's value would indeed be greatly reduced, because investing precious True Attribute points into Charisma is far too costly and not worthwhile for most melee and tank classes.

But if it's just a regular charm attribute, then it's much easier to handle.

In the trading market of the Paradise of Reincarnation, there is a potion called "Spiritual Dew (Charm)". One bottle can increase the normal charm attribute by 2 points, and the price is about 100000 Paradise Coins.

Although it's not cheap, contractors who can afford this equipment can easily boost their Charisma attribute to 90 points by buying just a few bottles, thus meeting the equipment requirements.

This investment is absolutely worthwhile compared to the significant improvement in survival that the necklace brings.

After putting the necklace away, Lin Yi opened the next treasure chest.

You have opened an epic treasure chest.

You have received 75000 Paradise Coins.

You have obtained 5 Soul Crystals (Complete).

You have obtained 'Alluring Beauty'.

【Alluring Beauty】

Origin: Enchanted Garden

Quality: Epic
Category: Ring

Durability: 60/60
Equipment requirement: 95 points of True Charisma.

Equipment effect: Peerless Beauty (Passive): Increases True Charm attribute by 5 points.

Rating: 695.

Synopsis: "Without elaborate embellishment or added power, its very existence is the ultimate beauty, enough to captivate all beings and leave everything speechless."

Price: 355000 Paradise Coins

This ring boasts an extremely minimalist design, composed entirely of a pure crystal of an indescribable material. Without any superfluous embellishments, it exudes a captivating charm, as if encapsulating all the world's concepts of "beauty" within it.

"Single attribute extreme enhancement".

The equipment effect of 【Alluring Shadow】 is ridiculously simple, but it is precisely this extreme purity that gives it unparalleled value.

In the Paradise of Reincarnation, having more equipment attributes is not necessarily better.

The more attributes a character has, the more scattered the attributes become. This makes the direction of enhancement more uncontrollable, increases the failure rate, and may even result in completely useless attributes being enhanced.

While equipment with many unique features is practical, achieving a qualitative leap through enhancement is extremely difficult and risky, often resulting in a disproportionate return on investment.

However, [Alluring Shadow] is different; it has only one effect, which is to directly enhance the most core "true attribute".

What does this mean? It means that it possesses unparalleled "purity".

If someone takes the [Alluring Phantom] and isn't too unlucky, and invests enough resources, the True Charm attribute of this equipment is very likely to double, or even more.

For contractors specializing in the charm route, the value of this ring cannot be measured by ordinary epic-level equipment.

Its potential value far exceeds that of most epic equipment.

"This thing... needs to find a good buyer."

The charm route didn't quite align with Lin Yi's development direction, but he was well aware of the ring's value.

Then, Lin Yi turned his attention to the last epic treasure chest.

You have opened an epic treasure chest.

You have received 120000 Paradise Coins.

You have obtained 'All Things in the Universe'.

【Myriad Things】

Origin: Jade Dreamland

Quality: Epic
Category: Ring

Durability: 70/70
Equipment requirements: 105 points of True Intelligence, Lv.30 or above of Natural Affinity (or mastery of advanced nature spells), and 80 points of True Charisma.

Equipment Effect: When the wearer is in a natural environment rich in vegetation, such as forests, jungles, or rainforests, mana regeneration speed is increased by 100%, the effects of all nature spells/skills are increased by 25%, and casting speed is increased by 15%. At the same time, the wearer's aura will blend perfectly with the forest, greatly reducing the chance of being locked onto by non-natural perception methods.

Equipment Effect 2: Automatically draws natural life energy from the surrounding environment and slowly converts it into the wearer's mana. In forest environments, this effect is increased by an additional 300%. Conversion Efficiency: Restores 0.5%~5% of maximum mana per minute (depending on the environment).

Rating: 700.

Introduction: Its roots are deeply embedded in the heart of the eternal forest, drawing vitality from all things. The wearer is a walking forest, an embodiment of nature, and a guide to the return of all things to tranquility.

Price: 391000 Paradise Coins

Lin Yi immediately recognized the value of the ring; it was practically a divine artifact tailor-made for nature-based mages or druids.

When fighting in the forest, the wearer will receive a significant boost across the board. Even outside of forest environments, the passive effect of [All-Encompassing Absorption] can provide some sustain. (End of Chapter)