Chapter 6: Second Excursion
Spatial Boundary
Daozi had been closely observing the intangible crimson tree ever since it appeared. He watched it repair broken meridians and undo the damage caused by rampaging spiritual energy. In the end, it had somehow pulled the pair from the brink of death and into the qi-refining realm.
Such miraculous effects weren't unheard of in the previous myriad realms, but those instances were the result of sacred artifacts and precious tonics. Only the so called "major sects" would be privy to such items.
As for a foundation establishment cultivator single handedly reversing a failed breakthrough - that was complete lunacy!
Well, at least until today's event.
Even now, he found it a bit hard to believe. If it wasn't for his capabilities as the Heavenly Dao, he may have even questioned his judgement.
Alas, the mystery of faith energy was gradually being solved. Its presence here would likely alter the realms development.
He briefly ruminated on his thoughts before returning his full gaze towards the duo. His eyes pierced their mortal bodies and begun searching for anything of interest.
Skimming over their new biology, he quickly spotted an irregularity.
A small golden leaf had taken hold in the center of their bodies. Its aura was nearly identical to the earlier apparition, and coupled with its immaterial quality, he felt pretty confident that its appearance was related to faith energy.
Even more damming was the faint purple line that stretched from the leaf to Weodrothis's core. Though, the line currently didn't seem to serve another function besides linking Bluog and Auopi with the tree.
He tried exerting some influence on the thread but as expected nothing happened. Both the line and leaf were immune to his manipulation.
It might be possible to temporarily wrestle control over the two anomalies by expending a divine merit; however, he only had one more left. Risking it on a simple experiment would be idiotic.
Sigh.
He was conflicted on the matter of faith energy. It was undoubtably beneficial, but it also housed potential dangers.
'I've already decided to spare Weodrothis, there's no point double guessing myself.'
At this point his only option was to do what he did best -- observe.
The Forest
Auopi woke up a couple minutes after Bluog.
She opened her eyes to her peers mixed facial expressions. Being stared at with such fervor by forty fruit-folk left her momentarily flustered.
Taking a deep breath, she quickly composed herself and sensed the changes that took place.
A steady flow of spiritual energy had begun coursing through her body, but she had already expected as much from seeing the monolith. Instead, it was the physical changes that caught her by surprise.
She felt like her body had grown nimbler compared to before, and a strange sensation now radiated from her back. Reaching out her hand to feel the area, she came into contact with a rough stem. Dragging her fingers up the protrusion she felt it suddenly split into four soft points.
"Ack!" A quiet yelp escaped her mouth as her hand grazed the mushy tips.
It seems that area was particularly sensitive.
Ignoring the discomfort, she was actually able to piece together the familiar shape. It was identical to the flowers she'd seen on the forest floor!
But what was a flower doing on her back? She clearly wasn't a piece of soil, so how did this come about?
Weodrothis remained silent as it watched Bluog and later Auopi explore their new bodies.
After channeling that mysterious energy to help the two fruit-folk succeed, a faint connection seemingly formed between them.
All of their emotional fluctuations, bodily senses and spiritual manipulation were easily discerned by it. Because of this link, it understood that disrupting their self-discovery would only agitate them. So, it patiently waited.
Finally, with no one to answer Auopi's questions, she begrudgingly turned around and moved next to Bluog. Standing next to him, she curiously spotted his shaky hands from her peripheral view.
Once Weodrothis sensed that the time was right, it shook the forest as words of congratulations echoed from its crimson figure. "Congratulations! You two are the first of the fruit-folk to achieve a higher realm!"
The rumbling voice sent the spectators into a frenzy. Following their creator, the congregation of forty fruit-folk quickly joined in hurling praises.
"I never doubted your success!"
"Truly the standard we fruit-folk should strive for!"
"Expected nothing less of you two!"
Applause and admiration resounded from the crowd.
Faced with the adoration of their people, Bluog and Auopi naturally felt a sense of pride well up within them.
Auopi was especially cheerful as she raised her arms and waved back. Her earlier frustration already gone.
Weodrothis quieted the crowd with a shake of its branch before continuing; "Unfortunately, not everything is perfect. As you've probably noticed, the area within my fog is limited. Soon there won't be enough space for new fruit-folk."
It paused for a second as it let the gravity of its words sink in.
"However, with your newly found strength there is renewed hope for the fruit-folks expansion!"
Tapping into its core, Weodrothis fully utilized its late foundation establishment strength.
Blugo and Auopi felt a violent disturbance as the surrounding spiritual energy began converging above the forest.
Their earlier vortexes were immediately dwarfed by this new one. Just standing beneath it made the pair's knees wobble and their backs heavy.
Violent winds were kicked up and some of the lighter fruit-folks were directly knocked off their feet. Small foliage was even uprooted and sent flying through the air.
"Is this the grace's power?" Bluog couldn't help but mumble in awe as he witnessed the spectacle unfold.
Fortunately, once the spiral reached 200 meters in diameter the energy stopped growing and instead funneled into Weodrothis's crown.
Two leaf less branches suddenly snapped off the tree. They floated in midair as the wild spiritual energy began shaping the crimson wood. The tip of each branch was molded into a sharp point, and the sides were given a serrated edge. As for the base, it was left in its original branch form.
Happy with the modifications, Weodrothis guided the weapons in front of the duo.
"I hereby declare the prohibition on travel discontinued. Blugo and Auopi, take my gift and bring thirty fruit-folk with you to the monolith. Continue progressing in your methods and protect those who follow you."
When the last word fell, the fruit-folk were stunned! Other than the duo, everyone else had been born post-ban. Many of them had only heard stories about the outside world, and from what they heard it was a very dangerous place to be!
Auopi was the first to recover. She grabbed the floating sword before her and dropped to one knee.
"As you command! I will be sure to take good care of my peers and ensure their safety through the journey." Her eyes shone with devotion as she bowed.
Blubo hurriedly followed suit, reaching for his weapons and bowing before the crimson tree.
"We thank you for your trust. May your divine grace continue to bring life to this realm!"
With their final respects paid, they got to work choosing fruit-folk to bring with them.
None of them wanted to leave the safety of the fog, so after barely convincing five volunteers the rest were to be forcefully decided via luck. The system would work by having everyone form a circle around the people going on the journey. Blugo then spun a stick, and whoever it landed on was drafted into the center. Once thirty people were chosen the spinning would stop.
Thirty minutes of anxious cursing and defeated groans later, the team was finally assembled. In the end twelve body-tempering and twenty-eight regular fruit-folk were picked.
Auopi gathered the conscripted folk and started explaining a few things before they departed. She carefully went over the importance of staying together and the need for regular individuals to stay in the middle.
There would be no causalities under her watch.
With the miscellaneous matters handled the group prepared to make its way through the fog.
"We ask for safe passage through the barrier!" Bluog yelled at the swirling mist.
With those words, a ten meter wide clearing appeared before them. The duo shouted some words of encouragement before dragging the fruit-folk through the passage.
"This forest is so huge!" A living blueberry that had just left the fog looked around in astonishment.
As more people exited the passage, they all held a similar sentiment. The previously quiet ambiance slowly morphed into a slew of chatter.
"Mhm, we felt the same way fifty years ago. Without the fog blocking your vision it feels like you've just opened your eyes for the first time." Auopi chuckled as she heard the conversations taking place behind her.
With so many fruit-folk moving together the atmosphere was more lighthearted compared to the first excursion. They talked about the outside world, the monolith, and other facets of their destination. The groups former anxiety was gradually being replaced with a yearning to explore.
Blubo and Auopi regularly chimed in on the discussions taking place. Their previous experiences and current qi-refining strength made them the center of attention whenever they spoke. Overall, everyone was in a relatively upbeat mood as they navigated the thick vegetation.
From the spatial bubble Daozi watched as the group steadily made their way out of Weodrothis's sphere of influence. He had always been keeping an eye on the realms only inhabitants, so the creation of a pair of wooden swords naturally caught his attention.
Unlike the mortals on the ground, he could see beyond the material realm. When the branches were torn from Weodrothis, a strand of faith energy was actually infused into each. As the duo grasped their respective weapons the golden leaves within their bodies seemed resonate with the trapped energy.
Unfortunately, no matter how much effort was put in, he couldn't seem to decipher what had occurred.
'Faith energy. Faith energy. Faith energy. You really have a tendency to force my hand.'
If the purple mist insisted on being so elusive, then he would simply force it out.
He calmy exercised his influence on the realm. Clouds formed in the sky and the ground started to reverberate with a slight tremor.
A familiar trio of canine once again took to their feet in a corner of the woods. Across the surrounding grasslands, forests, ravines and mountains the rhythmic thud of footsteps could be heard.
Scattered clouds of dust were kicked up across the earth as fierce dogs heralded his command and rushed towards the forest.
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