Aksai appeared in the Everwood farm out of thin air, the familiar surroundings of his carefully cultivated 1st order farm greeting him.
The air was rich with the scent of various herbs and mystical plants, all thriving under his meticulous care.
He moved through the rows of cultivation resources, his keen eyes scanning for any signs of trouble.
With the Spirit Sense of a Foundation Building Expert, the neural link fabric could analyze more and gather more data related to various resources.
It generated a series of spectral prompts, providing him with detailed information about the conditions of various plants and suggesting necessary actions.
[Spirit Herbs Cluster]
[Condition: Healthy]
[Growth Rate: Optimal]
[Action: Continue current care routine]
[Mystic Flowers]
[Condition: Slightly Wilted]
[Growth Rate: Below Optimal]
[Action: Increase water element infusion by 20% and apply a druid’s revitalization]
[Moonlight Vines]
[Condition: Thriving]
[Growth Rate: Excellent]
[Action: Harvest leaves in 3 days for maximum potency]
[Azure Root Plant]
[Condition: Stable]
[Growth Rate: Normal]
[Action: Monitor soil moisture levels and ensure a consistent watering schedule. Needs to be infused with some wind and fire-element essences]
[Fire Blossom Tree]
[Condition: Nutrient Deficient]
[Growth Rate: Slow]
[Action: Infuse soil with a nutrient-rich solution and perform an energy-balancing spell]
[Verdant Moss]
[Condition: Overgrown]
[Growth Rate: Exponential]
[Action: Trim excess growth to prevent overshadowing of neighboring plants]
[Crystal Lotus]
[Condition: Pest Infestation Detected]
[Growth Rate: Impaired]
[Action: Apply a wood-element Spirit spell and remove affected leaves]
[….]
[….]
[….]
Each prompt helped Aksai to precisely tailor his actions, ensuring the Everwood Farm remained in optimal condition and all plants thrived under his care.
Aksai stopped by a cluster of Spirit Herbs, noting their vibrant green leaves and healthy glow.
As suggested by the neural link fabric, he muttered an incantation under his breath.
Tendrils of emerald light seeped from his fingertips, wrapping around the plants and infusing them with energy. The herbs shimmered, their growth subtly accelerated by his Spirit spells.
Satisfied, Aksai continued his inspection, occasionally pausing to channel his druid powers, maintaining the delicate balance of vitality on the farm. The Everwood farm’s feature of providing Aksai with additional information about the plants also helped him a lot.
Furthermore, Aksai was a druid. His connection with nature allowed him to sense the health of each plant, ensuring they all received the care they needed.
After making sure everything was in perfect order, Aksai headed towards the fog-like tunnel that led to the 2nd order Everwood farm. The mist parted as he approached, revealing a path. He walked through, the atmosphere changing subtly as he entered the new space.
The 2nd-order Everwood farm was a blank canvas, devoid of any cultivation resources.
Aksai walked to the center, his footsteps echoing softly in the stillness. He reached into his robes and retrieved a small, ornate box, its surface covered in intricate runes. Carefully, he removed the sealing talisman that kept the box shut, feeling the surge of dark energy as he opened it.
“Well… hello there!” Aksai said as he looked at the sole content of the box.
Inside lay the demon tree seed, pulsating with an ominous glow. A mass of blackish-gray fog swirled around the seed, highlighting the fact that it was still alive and waiting to be planted.
“I didn’t want to rely on this demon tree. But I don’t have any other tree seed that can allow me to refine my druid bloodline. So unless I find something better, this is my only choice,” Aksai murmured to himself as he stared at the seed.
“Please don’t start killing the people of Emerald Cove when you grow up. We’ll do something about finding you good prey to feed on when the time comes,” Aksai prayed to the seed.
He then took a deep breath, his hands steady as he removed the seed from its confines. He knelt and created a hole in the ground, the soil parting easily under his touch. He then placed the seed into the hole and covered it with earth.
Following the instructions in the corrupted druid’s journal, Aksai pricked his finger with a small, ornate knife and let a few drops of his blood fall onto the soil. The blood seeped into the ground, and Aksai felt a connection form, like a thread linking him to the seed.
Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.
He stood and began to perform a series of complex hand signs. His movements were fluid and practiced, each gesture precise. Thanks to the neural link fabric’s automated execution, Aksai didn’t find much trouble in completing this part of the ritual.
As he completed the final sign, a blob of water manifested in the air above the planted seed, shimmering with a blue hue. The water descended slowly, soaking into the soil and infusing the seed with life.
Sraaaaaaah!
A peculiar Spirit pulse was felt in the surroundings.
Almost immediately, the demon tree began to sprout. Dark tendrils emerged from the ground, twisting and growing at an astonishing rate. Within moments, the tree reached a height of ten meters, its gnarled branches spreading out like skeletal arms. The roots burrowed deep into the earth, anchoring the tree firmly in place.
Aksai felt the bond solidify as the demon tree reached its infant state.
“I… I feel like this tree is part of me.”
The connection was more profound than anything he had experienced before, a vital link that thrummed with energy. He closed his eyes, focusing on the bond, feeling the ancient power of the demon tree coursing through him.
This was the first crucial step in refining his druid bloodline. The tree’s dark energy intertwined with his own, promising great power but also demanding his vigilance and control.
[Druidic bond between the user and the demon tree has been established successfully]
[Estimated time required to complete the 1st stage of the bloodline refinement: 23 years and 9 months.]
“Damn. 23 years, huh? Can… Can I expedite the refinement if I provide the demon tree with some prey?”
Aksai obviously knew what the demon tree was capable of doing. He had seen it with his own eyes when he was in Martial World Sharang. He had also seen how the corrupted druid had made use of the demon tree. Frankly speaking, he was inspired.
But then he thought to himself for a bit before shaking his head.
“Let’s worry about that later. It’s not like the prey would come to me running on their legs just to get killed and offered as a nutritional pack for the demon tree,” he had a random thought in his head and chuckled.
“Anyway, just look at this demonic monstrosity. Even in its budding phase, this demon tree is still this big. I wonder how big it will grow once I link the Everwood farm to Dadangar using the spatial anchor.
Will… Will I be able to make use of Devil’s Den on Emerald Cove to get rid of the incoming troubles?” Aksai thought to himself and smiled.
He took a moment to appreciate the sight of the towering demon tree, knowing it was both a symbol of his ambition and a test of his resolve. With this tree, he would unlock new potential within himself, but it would also require him to tread carefully and wisely.
“I can’t let the existence of the demon tree be known to others after I overlap the two spatial zones. But with Everwood farm guarding my secrets, I don’t have too much to worry,” Aksai concluded in his head as he caressed his chin in contemplation.
Feeling the weight of his responsibility, Aksai turned and began to make his way back through the fog-like tunnel, the presence of the demon tree now a constant whisper in the back of his mind.
“Soon… very soon. I can almost smell the second world,” Aksai thought to himself as he vanished into thin air abruptly.