Chapter 26


    "I''ll take just one-fifth." vin entered the cave.


    The mercenaries followed him in. The air inside was remarkably fresh; even a deep breath felt


    revitalizing. Indeed, the small hill was awork of ancient tree roots, intertwining and dense. At the


    heart of the cave, several old roots wrapped around a palm-sized patch of moss, from which the


    rich Restoration Aether emanated.


    vin took only his share, one-fifth of the Evergreen Lichen, and no more.


    The man in ck warned, "Do not consume too much of it. Eat just a little each day and wait until


    it''s fully absorbed before having more. If you don''t, your body will start to petrify, and a tree will


    sprout from within. I''m not spinning you a yarn; such things have happened before."


    "Thanks for the heads-up. I must be going now."


    "Hold, friend, may I inquire about your name?"


    "vin."


    "Are you traveling alone? The woods are perilous. Would you care to join ourpany?"


    "I appreciate the offer, but I have matters to attend to."


    "You''re not a Protégé of Cobalt Strike, are you?" A mercenary suddenly piped up, remembering a


    warning from two days past about Protégés of Cobalt Strikeing to these parts to forage for


    herbs, advising them to keep their distance and avoid trouble.


    vin nodded and took his leave.


    The man in ckpletely abandoned any thought of reiming the Evergreen Lichen, not


    wishing to cross Cobalt Strike. Judging by vin''s prowess, he must have been a Senior Protégé,


    and there were likely others nearby on a simr quest for herbs. With that thought, they hurriedly


    departed. They dared not rob vin, lest he call upon his brethren to turn the tables on them.


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    An ancient Evergreen Lichen, was such a rare treasure, coveted even by Protégés of Cobalt Strike.


    As twilight approached, vin found a ce to conceal himself and carefully inspected the


    Evergreen Lichen from his knapsack. It looked like ordinary moss, yet he could feel a rich


    Restoration Aether emanating from it, along with a refreshing fragrance. This ancient relic must


    have had more than just healing properties; perhaps it held many more wondrous effects.


    "Let''s hope you don''t disappoint," vin muttered to himself, needing to consolidate his Novice


    Mage Stage IV. This was the perfect opportunity.


    He carefully pinched off a small piece, ced it in his mouth, and chewed slowly, feeling a robust


    coolness flood his senses, spreading throughout his body, seeping into his organs and bones.


    “Am I worried about petrification? No fear! I have the Restoration Mantra!”


    vin recited the second stanza of the Restoration Mantra, guiding the absorption of the hard-won


    Evergreen Lichen. This method not only prevented petrification but was also more effective than


    direct absorption. Indeed, the once scattered life streams were now under control, circting


    throughout his body as instructed by vin''s mantra, rapidly absorbing and nourishing every organ


    as if each cell was bursting with vitality.


    The small piece of lichen was quickly absorbed, and vin boldly swallowed the rest, using the


    Restoration Mantra to guide the separation.


    Unbeknownst to him, ck impurities began to seep from his skin, increasing in quantity, soon


    covering his entire body like a ck sludgeced with strands of dark red. vin was not perturbed,


    but quietly ted.


    He remembered the first time he practiced the Restoration Mantra, his body had undergone a


    simr transformation, as if purifying and undergoing a rebirth. With each insight gained, a simr


    reaction urred, and his body continually changed. vin''s immense strength owed much to the


    purifying effects of the Restoration Mantra; without it, his explosive power would never have


    reached such heights, nor could he withstand the bacsh of a Goliath Force''s triple burst.


    However, as his training progressed, the ck sludge became less frequent, disappearing entirely


    after mastering the first stanza.


    Unexpectedly, guiding with the second stanza of the Restoration Mantra elicited a simr effect, with


    the dark red in the impurities indicating an even deeper level of purification.


    Come morning, vin emerged from his hiding spot invigorated, his step light, his mind sharper,


    and a smile on his face. Any fatigue and injury had vanished, his mindfulness seemed keener, and


    his body felt inexplicably lighter. Clenching his fist, he could feel his muscles, perfectly defined,


    crawling up his arm, suggesting an increase in strength.


    Whether the Evergreen Lichen inherently possessed such effects, or it was its synergy with the


    Restoration Mantra, the result was a delightfully unexpected boon.


    vin cleansed himself at a nearbyke, changed clothes, and headed deeper into the forest,


    seeking Nysah.


    From her plot to kill him under the guise of herb gathering, it was clear that this woman was


    malicious at heart. Without any deep-seated grudge between them, she sought to take a life. If he


    didn''t deal with her now, she would be a constant thorn in the side of Cobalt Strike upon his return.