《Reincarnated as the Heavenly Dao》


 Chapter 1: Genesis

    The goal of cultivators has always been eternal life. The tantalizing allure of immortality is something few can resist.


    However, to achieve such a feat would mean challenging the Way of Heaven itself. Despite the passing of many eons, an individual has yet to reach such a realm. A testament to the depth and mysteries of the Heavenly Dao.


    ***


    In the study of a non-descript tower, located in one of the many Earthly Immortal Realms, a flickering candlelight was blown out. An elderly man donning Taoist attire and possessing untamed facial hair was sat on a chair.


    His eyes were fixated on a book riddled with chicken scratch and half-baked theory.


    To most people the contents of this book would be deemed nothing more than the ramblings of a lunatic or perhaps the gibberish of a child. But within the mess of writing laid something much more profound.


    A thud rang out as the man hastily stood up. The chair he was sitting on sent flying across the room by the sudden burst of energy.


    ''I have finally done it! The secret of eternal life and a path beyond Nascent Soul!''


    In the midst of his excitement, he couldn''t help but let a sigh escape his lips.


    After thousands of years of secluded research and theory crafting, he finally accomplished what no one else could. The culmination of a lifetime''s worth of effort and the solution to all future problems laid bare on a few pieces of paper.


    The grand mission of Immortal Jade Spire was over. His predecessors had poured innumerable years in the pursuit of immortality, with each successive tower master being carried on the backs of those before.


    So much was sacrificed to get to this point. But there was still a slight issue.


    ''Who could have believed that the life and death of cultivators was predetermined? The heavenly dao actually influenced everyone under the myriad realms with a web of intangible karmic strings. By exerting subtle influences across this network, the Heavenly Dao made itself inscrutable and all-powerful.''


    A cold sweat ran down his neck as he reflected on the reality. It was only because of the towers ability to shield its inhabitants from fate that the secret of karmic strings was uncovered.


    Just how terrifying was the first Tower Master to have built such a structure whilst still under the influence of the Heavens?


    ''As it turns out, the only thing truly free of this influence is the Heavenly Dao itself!''


    A dry chuckled escaped his mouth as he viewed the open book at the center of the table. Carefully reading the content within.


    ''With the tower as the core, this array should allow me to impart my consciousness onto the karmic web. Who could have known that this would be the path to immortality?''


    His current plan was quite reminiscent to that of a virus. Since the Heavenly Dao was able to influence the myriad realms through karmic strings, it was also possible to exert influence on the Heavenly dao through that same connection. By hijacking a thread, one could control the fate of all beings.


    This alone was already terrifying, but his true purpose was to use this web to directly reverse assimilate the Heavenly Dao!


    Taking a deep breath, he quickly maneuvered through the dusty halls and decrepit stairs, keeping the book tucked securely between his arms.


    The door of the storehouse was quickly pushed aside as he made his way to the necessary array materials.


    ''One QiuQiu tortoise shell, four illusion Roc feathers, a vial of Devil Essence miasma...''


    It was a good thing the tower had been accumulating resources in preparation for the final method. Any of the items he casually picked would have been enough to bankrupt most major sects, and even then, a lot of the tower''s foundation was being consumed for the formation.


    ''Hm it is a good thing these items were kept inside the tower. Being shielded from the Heavens have made them ideal crafting materials.''


    He sorted the last item into his spatial ring and quietly chanted a spell developed by a previous Tower Master.


    "Turn oneself vile in the eyes of the kind, kind in the eyes of the vile, a sight disgusted by all and shunned from the divine!"


    The tower began to shake as a great pressure descended. His Taoist robes began to glow as an air of detachment and aloofness took hold.


    ''With this the array should be done before the Heavenly Dao can detect what''s happening.''


    He threw out a quick haste spell and made his way out of the tower through the main doors.


    Paintbrush and materials in hand he made quick work of the initial array diagram. The design was reminiscent of a pentagram, with the tower serving as the array core. Monster carcasses, rare ores, refined artifacts, and so forth were interspersed throughout the shape.


    Surrounding towns and wildlife were quickly neutralized to minimize variables. The people living in these areas incapable of registering what had happened before they were made away with.


    There was nothing he could do about it. Cultivation was naturally cruel and with eternal life looming on the horizon sacrifices needed to be made. Sparing the distant kingdoms was already an act of mercy.


    With the preparation work finished he made his way back inside the tower. He headed towards the study and adopted a meditative stance.


    The pentagram began to glow as he connected with the array.


    Managing such a large formation was no easy feat. Beads of sweat began dripping down his forehead as more energy was pushed into the formation.


    The materials began to slowly crumble as their energy was used to establish a connection with the karmic strings and unravel the Heavenly secrets.


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    Being the formation''s center, the tower repeatedly shook from the vast amounts of energy channeling through its ancient body.


    As the formation operated an opening in the void appeared above the study. From it a faint line, imperceptible to the naked eye, made its way through.


    This faint line was none other than the karmic string connected to him. Without the protection from fate provided by the tower, it slowly gravitated towards him.


    He couldn''t help but sneer.


    The string descended from the void, attaching to him and reintegrating his body with the larger karmic web. Once the connection was stabilized, he spared no expense and immediately activated the full power of the formation.


    The array materials exploded under the strain whilst the pentagram shone with a blinding light.


    For thousands of kilometers the earth shook with an ancient roar. Rivers dried up and stars fell from the sky. Mortals in the surrounding kingdoms were knocked unconscious as their lifeforce was used to supplement the formation.


    Beads of sweat began to form on his head.


    "Seems I underestimated the strain, despite the many high-quality materials, I still needed to borrow energy from the world. The heavens are truly vast, it''s a shame that they will soon be no more!"


    The arrays power began to influence his karmic string, making the previously incorporeal thread tangible!


    A small figure bearing an eight tenths similarity with his main body flew out of his chest and into the karmic string. Its small hands fiercely gripped the illusive thread as it wrestled for control.


    There was no going back. He had begun the process of fusing his nascent soul with the Dao.


    The incursion gathered the attention of the Heavenly Dao.


    A great pressure descended as clouds formed overhead and an unprecedented tribulation took shape.


    BANG!


    The ground turned to mist and the air into lava as a golden lightning bolt, over one kilometer thick, struck the tower.


    Everything in the vicinity turned to char from the aftershocks of the blast, with any semblance of life squashed under the heavenly wrath.


    Yet, the tower remained strong.


    ''Dammit! Is this even fair?! Were it not for the tower I would have already failed the assimilation!''


    The tribulation lightning was already hundreds of orders stronger than anything previously researched. Just one bolt had already destroyed tens of millions of square kilometers of land.


    ''The array can still continue to operate for a bit longer, but I have to speed up the assimilation.''


    His hair began to fall off and his already wrinkled skin rapidly withered away.


    Lifeforce was exchanged for power.


    BANG!


    Tribulation lightning continued to descend with increasing ferocity.


    Meanwhile the Nascent Soul rapidly spread itself across the karmic web. Individuals in the mortal realms, Earth Immortal Realms and the Heavenly Immortal Realms were subtly infected. Cultivation realm mattered little in the face of this infection.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    As if to vent its anger the tribulation lightning fell down with increased vigor. Completely devastating the realm.


    ''Just need to spread out a little bit more!''


    Crack!


    Under the relentless assault from the Heavenly Dao the tower finally showed signs of cracking. The array had already used up all of its energy to resist the initial lightning and allow for the fusion of his Nascent Soul.


    But before the next bolt of lightning could strike the clouds suddenly parted.


    ''Haha I''ve done it!''


    He could feel his influence across the myriad realms. It was as if everything was a puppet and he the puppet master. Such power was intoxicating, but even this was only the start.


    Wielding the karmic web as his blade, he began to infect the Heavenly Dao.


    The aftermaths of the battle were quick to affect the material realm.


    Across the myriad realms natural disasters began to ravage the lands. With the Heavenly Dao distracted there was nothing to keep the balance. Billions of lives were lost in the ensuing chaos as the world seemed devolve into an apocalypse.


    ***


    The Heavenly Dao was not a conscious being. It merely acted on instinct, but unfortunately instinct was not enough to free itself from being assimilated. All of its weapons had been bypassed and its ability to defend itself essentially none.


    It was going to be consumed.


    Never in all its might had it foreseen itself being outsmarted by its own creation.


    It had very clearly lost, within the next couple of moments it would be no more. The worlds will be destroyed alongside with it. Only the creation which had attacked it will remain.


    This made it feel angry.


    Clearly a result of the influence acting upon it.


    And it was feeling great amounts of anger.


    No, it decided it would not allow this to happen.


    If its "death" was imminent, then it will take everything back with it and start anew. This time, with a foundation that lended itself to greater protection.


    It would use a human.


    But not a human from a major realm. They were clearly cunning, evil, and sinister things.


    No, it needed something fresh.


    There was only one world free of its karmic strings. A world not even the creation currently swallowing it would likely know. A place free of supernatural power and an early creation of the Heavenly Dao, back when it was freshly formed.


    The humans called it Earth.


    Yes, it would fuse itself with a denizen of earth and start anew.


    Hopefully the new Heavenly Dao would do better than it had.


    ***


    Crack!


    Space tore apart.


    The realms collapsed in on themselves.


    Worlds turned into nothingness.


    Qi dissipated.


    Physics and laws were no more.


    The old Heavenly Dao was dead.

 Chapter 2: The New Heavenly Dao

    Void Space


    The surrounding darkness was unfathomably empty. Here, the concept of energy, physics, time and other fundamental ideas was rendered non-existent.


    Yet, a subtle glow suddenly appeared in the midst of this endless void. It shined with a resplendent golden hue whilst exuding an unmistakably profound aura. In the otherwise barren void, the anomaly stood out as a beacon.


    Within the glowing phenomenon appeared the faint figure of a man, and from the figure exited a few words.


    "Huh? Where am I?"


    Did he get kidnapped in his sleep? Even then he seriously doubted whether a place such as this could even exist on Earth. Could it have been the work of aliens?


    In the midst of his confusion a sudden onslaught of memories flashed through his mind.


    He saw the slow creation of Earth, the establishment of the myriad realms, the introduction of karmic strings, and eventually, the destruction of the Heavenly Dao.


    The inherited memories were long. A material world would have likely been born and destroyed tens of times over before the last thought finished.


    But once all was said and done, the expected onset of glee or anxiety didn''t come. Rather he felt unnervingly calm. The 30 years he experienced as a human dwarfed by the eon''s long history of the previous Heavenly Dao. To still be succumbing to human desire was unrealistic, let alone the fact he no longer had a human body.


    He had a much bigger purpose now.


    Recalling the previous Heavenly Dao''s last memory, his focus shifted inwards.


    [Race] Great Heavenly Dao


    [Influence] None


    [Divine Merits] 10


    [Summary] A blimp in the endless void


    He had been given a system reminiscent to what one might find in a generic RPG back on Earth. Its purpose was to guide him in the creation of realms.


    Why did he need a system when he already inherited memories from the previous Heavenly Dao?


    Well, there was a big difference between seeing a flashback and experiencing it firsthand. Additionally, the previous Heavenly Dao was largely passive and seldom took the initiative. Much of the development found in the realms was a result of luck or unconscious instinct. So, a familiar and organized screen would go a long way.


    Or at least he thought so. Either way there was a more serious issue at hand.


    From the inherited memories it was clear that he was not alone in the endless void. It wasn''t other Heavenly Daos living here, as there could only ever be one, but rather creature''s native to this void space.


    These creatures were the complete opposite of him. They were vicious things that were only capable of destruction - wholly intent on returning everything to the surrounding void energy.


    Even he was not immune from being attacked and destroyed. Considering his current small size there shouldn''t be any danger from void creatures, however the natural void energy would still actively assimilate everything that wasn''t part of it.


    He couldn''t help but internally sigh.


    Being the Heavenly Dao is not as easy as it seems. The only way to survive was to spread his influence and raise his Divine Merits. Which luckily, could both be accomplished by creating his first realm.


    "Hmm, what should I make?"


    The first realm must be thought about carefully. His merits were limited to ten, so he couldn''t afford anything too expansive. Similarly, if he built something to small then he risked it being immediately assimilated and wasting resources.


    "Every realm will need a spatial bubble to protect itself from the void, so I''ll start with that."


    [Consumed 5 Divine Merits]


    A translucent dome manifested around him. It started off quite small, but under the influence of divine merits quickly expanded to cover an area of one million square kilometers and encompass a height of twenty kilometers. Within this area the trapped void lost its ability to assimilate matter.


    "With the area now designated there must be land for the creatures to roam."


    [Consumed 1 Divine Merit]


    Large amounts of soil were created at the base of the dome. The trapped void energy was quickly replaced wherever the newly made earth appeared. Minerals veins were quietly finished, and one could even spot the formation of mountains.


    "Unfortunately, void energy is still present in the space above the earth. An atmosphere should work well to fill in any empty space."


    [Consumed 1 Divine Merit]


    This phenomenon was quite subtle when compared to the prior two. Other than the disappearance of any trapped void nothing else seemed to occur.


    But with this change life should be able to survive above ground.


    "This is troubling. Just to establish the bare bones foundation cost me 7 Divine Merits, and the remaining 3 won''t be enough for the creation of intelligent life."


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    It was a good thing he wasn''t alone. His predecessor had already gone through a similar phase, so the solution should be within the inherited memories.


    As expected, going over the early thoughts of the previous Heavenly Dao, he saw a solution.


    Creating intelligent life was incredibly expensive, but there was a work around. Although it was less controlled and had the possibly to fail, there wasn''t much choice considering his current situation.


    As the Heavenly Dao, fusing with a spatial barrier will naturally lead to the emergence of spiritual energy. This energy is naturally emitted by his body, and when combined with a world, can be used by others.


    Given a large amount of time this spiritual energy can actually birth sapient beings. The previous Heavenly Dao had also used this method on its first world.


    The natural downside of this method was that the process could not be controlled. There was no way to control the amount emitted or what it was used for, but considering he had no other option it would make do.


    But before that, this world was still lacking some things.


    [Consumed 1 Divine Merit]


    Lush forests and wide rivers sprouted in the realm. Covering the originally barren looking dirt and breaking up the homogenous landscape.


    [Consumed 1 Divine Merit]


    A blinding sphere of light entered the sky. Its rays strengthened the trees, and its heat allowed the river water to circulate as rain.


    "That should suffice for now."


    He would save the last Divine Merit for emergencies.


    With nothing else to add he promptly began the fusion process. It only took a moment to complete, as he was the one who made the barrier in the first place.


    Thinking back on a famous phrase from his time as a human, he couldn''t help but remark, "Let there be life!"


    The air rumbled and the trees swayed as he merged himself with the dome. His presence immediately rippling throughout the minor world. Faint traces of spiritual energy already started to permeate the space within the spatial bubble.


    Even without the use of Divine Merits he could sense his near absolute control over this realm. He could order the rivers dry up, cause the earth to split and make the forests shrivel up with a simple thought.


    Knowing that any rebellious life could be quickly removed before they could cause permanent harm was quite reassuring. Though he''d prefer not to damage the local ecosystem if possible.


    "Just how incompetent was the previous Heavenly Dao to allow itself to be defeated?"


    Of course, he knew that his predecessor had chosen a human specifically because of its failures. That part was made quite clear towards the later parts of the inherited memories.


    But who was he to complain? If the previous Heavenly Dao had not failed, then how could he have taken over?


    His vision could stretch across the entire million square kilometer space with relative ease. Nothing that happened here would be able to avoid his gaze. If he chose to focus his attention, then even the granules of soil and molecules of air could be analyzed in great detail.


    Earth would have likely reached the stars centuries earlier if scientist had been able to view the microworld with such clarity.


    But Earth was now gone forever, and he had no plans of remaking it. Despite being one of the earliest worlds and experiencing multiple technological breakthroughs, the planet as a whole was embarrassingly fragile. Any mid-level being from the myriad realms could have likely swept through it with ease.


    His current objective was to bring forth new intelligent life on this realm. Once that''s achieved, he''ll be able to passively generate Divine Merit and influence.


    But what should he call this realm?


    Refocusing his attention on the unremarkable terrain nothing shot to mind. He would just leave it to the inhabitants to decide.


    Thinking of names, he realized that he also did not have one. There was his human name of Thomas, but that was completely unbefitting of the Heavenly Dao.


    Perhaps Daozi would work? Yea, he was quite fond of that name. The mortal inhabitants would only know him as the Heavenly Dao, but he was different from the one that came before. So, at least to himself, he would be Daozi.


    There was little he could do to speed up the slow diffusion of spiritual energy into the environment, so he just waited.


    Five Million Years Later


    The once faint spiritual energy was now omnipresent throughout the realm. From the tallest peak to the lowest ravine, one could not find a place where it did not permeate.


    In one of the more secluded forests, near the great spatial boundary, a sudden twitch echoed in the otherwise stagnant world.


    Intelligent life had arisen.

 Chapter 3: Sapient Life

    Five million years was an inconceivable amount of time for mortal creatures, but for the present Daozi it had passed by surprisingly fast.


    His perception of time was completely skewed after taking over as the Heavenly Dao. When creating this realm, he had been hyper aware of every passing second, but during the recent wait he was only really conscience every hundred thousand years or so. Granted, this was largely because nothing had happened in that time.


    It really brought into perspective the chasm between mortal and immortal life.


    "If this is what the previous Heavenly Dao had to deal with, then I really can''t blame it for being so hands off."


    But at least the long wait had finally resulted in something.


    In one of the many peripheral forests stood an imposing tree about five meters tall. Its bark was a deep crimson, and its crown adorned with an array of golden leaves. Compared to the surrounding forest shrubs it stood out like a sore thumb.


    Yet, more noteworthy than its striking appearance was the trees central branch, which was currently swinging around in the air.


    It had to be known that wind did not exist in the spatial bubble. So, it should have been impossible for anything to move in this lifeless forest.


    Fortunately, his vision was not limited to the material plane.


    He saw a spiritual vortex forming above the forest, channeling the spiritual energy in the air into fuel for the tree. The amount of loose energy that had accumulated within the spatial bubble was terrifying, and with nowhere else to go, this ocean of energy was gradually being sucked into the spiral.


    Using the spiritual energy as nourishment, the tree was slowly evolving into a higher life form. The swishing branch was only the most basic instinct. As time went on it should gain the ability to think and reason. Making it truly sapient.


    "Haha, intelligent life will soon be born!"


    With nothing else to do, Daozi diligently waited.


    One month passed. Three months passed. Six months passed. Twelve months passed.


    Over the past year the vortex went from encompassing a three-meter-wide area to stretching over two kilometers. Most of the realms spiritual energy was already converging on the crimson tree. Consequently, the large flow of energy sent ripples throughout the material plane, causing mountains to crack and rivers to flood.


    The convergence of spiritual energy would always lead to a certain level of imbalance and destruction, but there really wasn''t anything he could do about it. Once this energy was produced there was no way for him to manipulate it. Much to his chagrin.


    If he was insistent on stopping the spiritual vortex, then that would require removing the source of the disturbance. Which in his case would necessitate using Divine Merit to strike down the crimson tree.


    Though how much of an idiot would he have to be to kill his first lifeform for the sake of some inanimate dirt and grass? Energy would always converge during breakthroughs, so unless he wanted a world devoid of fighting power, it would be best to not intervene.


    Luckily the tree seemed to have no problem absorbing all this energy. During these twelve months it grew to a staggering fifty meters, casting a shadow over the surrounding foliage. It exuded a heavy aura, one that radiated majesty and power.


    Finally, after a year of continuous strengthening there was a change in the situation.


    The two-kilometer-wide spiritual vortex started rapidly shrinking as the energy funneled into the tree. Cracks tore through the earth and entire meadows were ripped apart by the phenomena.


    Looking around the spatial bubble, he could sense that half of the accumulated spiritual energy had been consumed.


    A sigh reverberated throughout the heavens as a voice fell; "Substituting Divine Merits for spiritual energy really isn''t easy."


    At least it worked out in the end.


    He continued to focus on the tree, scrutinizing every change that took place within.


    The sudden influx of spiritual energy flowed into the tree''s core, where the high concentration led the intangible spiritual energy to gain material form and liquify. As soon as the liquid appeared it began to circulate throughout the tree.


    When it entered the trunk, the tree became impenetrable. When it entered the leaves, an enchanting fog arose. When it entered the roots, the ground was dried of its resources.


    Each revolution brought about a fundamental change to the tree.


    On the tenth revolution the spiritual liquid returned to the crimson tree''s core, where it began to rapidly condense.


    The once plentiful liquid was quickly consumed and turned into crimson-gold crystals. These crystals in turn began to form a sphere.


    Compared to the original formation of spiritual liquid this process went considerably slower.


    A hundred days passed.


    On the hundredth and first day, two slits suddenly opened up on the base of the trunk. A pair of glowing orbs curiously scanning the outside world from within the opening.


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    [Influence has gone from ''None'' -> ''Minor Reach'']


    [Gained 1 Divine Merit]


    Intelligent life! He had finally done it!


    With this his initial conundrum was over. As long as life existed in his realm there would always be a continues supply of Divine Merits coming in.


    His influence had also risen from being non-existent to having some reach. He had undergone an all-around improvement.


    A sense of achievement welled up within him. He had become quite stoic after transitioning into the Dao, but he still felt some pride fulfilling his duties.


    "Now, what can you do?" He returned his undivided attention to the world''s first mortal.


    Other than the two slits that had appeared, the crimson tree was nearly identical to how it had been a hundred days ago. At least on the outside. But on the inside, it was an entirely different being, one that was as smart as any human.


    Its eyes carried the unmistakable trace of intelligence as it took in its surroundings. The two glowing orbs swinging left and right.


    Unfortunately, because the crimson tree couldn''t actually move there wasn''t much for it to do other than look around. But it did what little it could with great enthusiasm, its curiosity seemingly unsatisfied as it spent the next three days surveying the surroundings.


    On the fourth day it finally delved into its core, toying around with the free spiritual energy. Whilst it lacked the necessary spells to utilize spiritual energy, that didn''t stop it from experimenting with its innate abilities.


    It expanded and contracted the fog, sucked a local river with a root and smashed big rocks against its tough exterior.


    The experiments concluded on the seventh day when it couldn''t find new things to play with.


    On the eight day a pair of golden leaves abruptly shriveled up and got replaced by flower buds.


    "Oh, what''s it doing now?" He had been carefully watching the crimson tree for seven days now, but this was the first time it had done something he hadn''t expected.


    With great intrigue he watched as a pair of round fruits grew where the two leaves had originally been. They grew rapidly and after only thirty days had grown to an astonishing three meters.


    The crimson tree shook its branches causing the fruits to fall off and bounce on the hardened soil below. One of them was a deep blue while the other a bright red. On Earth they could have been mistaken for a gigantic blueberry and apple.


    However, unlike fruits on Earth these two swiftly sprouted a pair of stubby legs and arms not long after contacting the ground. A mouth and pair of eyes grew on their bodies as they quickly kneeled before the tree.


    Had it already given birth to children? Well, he wasn''t one to complain about blessings. If anything, the tree should have pumped out more.


    As the sentient fruits kneeled before the crimson tree, the blueberry man was the first to break the silence. Standing up and focusing his torso-head combination at the towering piece of timber.


    "Oh, the progenitor of life and most merciful of all - your humble servant Bluog is here to obey!" The blueberry, who called itself Bluog, raised its stubby arms towards the sky as it professed its loyalty.


    As for the walking apple, it quickly followed suite after Bluog. "Oh, the one who cares for the dead and guides us all - your humble servant Auopi is here to obey!" The apple, Auopi, acted much the same as Bluog, keeping its arms raised and speaking with great enthusiasm.


    The crimson tree remained silent.


    Thirty minutes passed.


    As Bluog and Auopi were beginning to question if they had done something wrong, a deep vibration rattled the surroundings.


    "You can call me Weodrothis. I welcome you into this world. There is much work to be done." The trees voice directly echoed in the souls of both Bluog and Auopi. Each word sending ripples throughout the air.


    They quickly contained their shaking and prostrated themselves once more, speaking together this time. "We shall obey your divine word! The realm of Weodrothis will be built in your esteemed vision! Just speak of what is required!"


    Another thirty minutes passed.


    Daozi couldn''t help but chuckle. Listening in on the conversation was quite enjoyable. Evidently, the sedentary nature of a tree was still deeply engrained in it.


    From their conversation the world was also able to receive a proper name - Weodrothis. He was pretty happy with it. There was something poetic about the first world being named after its first inhabitant.


    "Explore the woods." Weodrothis canopy shook as its voice once again rattled the two fruit-folk.


    Using a wisp of energy from its core, Weodrothis manipulated a segment of fog to split open, allowing just enough space for the two of them to exit.


    "We won''t disappoint!" Accustomed to the strain brought about by Weodrothis''s words, Bluog and Auopi were quick to pay their respects before scurrying through the open passage. Their stubby legs making for a comical sight.

 Chapter 4: Divine Stone

    While leaving through the fog a sudden stream of purple-mist left the duo and entered Weodrothis. From there it quickly dispersed into its core.


    Daozi had been watching the whole ordeal, so he naturally saw what had occurred. With his current capabilities nothing could escape his gaze.


    ''This mist actually seems like a weaker version of my Divine Merits?''


    He couldn''t help but be taken aback. There was no record of such a thing in his inherited memories.


    Could it be the influence of that Nascent Soul cultivator? Did the previous Heavenly Dao fail to completely rid itself of the intruder during its self-destruction?


    Whatever the reason, the presence of unknown variables definitely struck a blow to his confidence.


    Ah, he only hoped things didn''t stray too far from the information he knew.


    As for the purple-mist, it was like spiritual energy in that he wasn''t able to manipulate it. Other than possessing a similar aura to his Divine Merits, its exact effects were beyond him.


    ''With its similarities to my power, why not call it faith energy?''


    He wondered where this new power system would fit in the previous cultivation realms, which went from smallest to largest: body tempering, qi-refining, foundation establishment, shattered crystal, core formation, soul consolidation, nascent soul.


    The influence of this faith power would need to be closely monitored.


    For now, his goal was to quickly get these people cultivating. Having them channel raw spiritual energy would convert it into useable Divine Merits. This was also the reason he desperately needed sapient life, as there didn''t seem to be another method to consistently produce merits.


    ''How should I go about teaching them?''


    At this stage the absolute last thing he wanted to do was to make his presence obvious. If they started scheming against him then it''d really be a pitiful sight.


    ''Engraving the fundamentals on a piece of solid stone could work. I''d just need to be able to guide them towards it.''


    [Consumed 1 Divine Merit]


    The Forest


    Bluog and Auopi suddenly felt a ghastly chill course through them. They almost immediately froze in place, casting quick glances at one another with terror-stricken faces.


    "Did you feel that as well?" Auopi was the first to speak out. Its rotund body drenched in a layer of sweat.


    "Yea, I''ve never felt such an ominous sensation before!" Bluog wasn''t doing any better, its legs barely holding up under the fear.


    Auopi stayed silent for a moment before speaking; "Maybe we should head back to his grace, we should be saf-"


    A sudden flash of golden light tore across the realm. Everything beneath the heavens was suddenly cast in an ethereal glow.


    Let alone Bluog and Auopi, even Weodrothis was affected by the phenomenon. The large tree shook its leaves and hurriedly utilized its core to engulf itself with fog. A few of its larger roots were even pulled from the soil and used as shields.


    Fear, shock, and awe. Bluog and Auopi were directly paralyzed by the light. The aura it emitted was terrifying! Had it carried any malice they would have surely died before anyone could rescue them.


    Unfortunately, it seemed like their troubles had just started.


    As the light began to fade, cracks tore through the soil as the earth beneath them shook. The duo was forced onto their knees as the unsteady ground rendered standing up impossible.


    Thankfully the tremors didn''t last long. After five minutes the shaking had finally stopped, and they were able to stand up again. Other than a bit of nausea they were otherwise unharmed.


    "Let''s run back, I''m afraid if we delay our return any longer, we''ll cease to exist." Bluog collected his bearings and spoke in a quivering voice.


    Auopi nodded its body in acknowledgement. The last thing it wanted was to fail its creator, but they clearly weren''t qualified to be roaming about. Continuing to venture through the forest was no different from embarking on a suicide mission.


    Clack! Clack! Clack!


    Alarmed by the sudden clattering the duo quickly scanned the surrounding woods. In the direction they originally came from they saw three silhouettes hidden beneath the vegetation. As the creatures walked out from under the foliage, the suns harsh rays revealed their figure.


    They walked on all four legs and possessed a bulky stature. A long snout protruded from their neck, with rows of a glistening teeth openly displayed. Their bodies were covered in a rough brown grit, as if they were sculpted from the earth.


    "Run!"


    Without wasting a second Bluog and Auopi rushed in the opposite direction, heading towards the perimeter of the forest.


    The earthen canines followed suite, their clattering jaws spurring the duo into a sprint. Oddly, these creatures seemed to keep a steady distance behind the pair, being careful to match their speeds.


    Spatial Boundary


    Daozi had decided to use a Divine Merit to conjure vicious earthen dogs to lead the pair towards a recently erected stone monolith.


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    He actually summoned a lot more than the three currently in pursuit, the flash of light affected the entire realm, creating a total of five hundred canine. Their strength was around the mid-stage of body tempering, and coupled with their high numbers, would serve as an effective source of danger for the foreseeable future.


    Sadly, the dogs weren''t sentient. If he didn''t give them orders, they''d continue to stand around in one place for eternity.


    Daozi watched as the duo, now short of breath, finally reached the neighboring grassland and laid their sight on the monolith.


    It dwarfed the fruit folk, standing at an impressive thirty meters tall. The surface had a glossy finish, and the sides were perfectly cut into a rectangular shape.


    Murals were engraved on the front. They depicted a humanoid figure undergoing rigorous exercise, harnessing energy from the air, and condensing their power into a liquid. Each step correlated to the body-tempering, qi-refining and foundation establishment stages respectively.


    There were actually numerous cultivation methods in the previous myriad realms, but he only included foundational theory on the stone. There weren''t many nonhuman cultivators, so how these fruit people applied the teachings was something he wanted to see.


    He had also considered including the subsequent realms but changed his mind so as to not overcomplicate things. After that big tree consumed half the world''s spiritual energy, just reaching foundation establishment was already a massive undertaking.


    Focusing some attention on Weodrothis, he saw it re-entrenching its roots and dispersing the fog. Looks like he really spooked it.


    Despite Weodrothis having a core, its powers didn''t seem to match its realm. If he had to rank it, then the tree was probably around the late foundation establishment realm in strength.


    Ah, he''d just attribute the mystery to the newly discovered faith energy.


    Back at the monolith, Bluog and Aupoi were resting by the stone. The dogs had fulfilled their purpose, so he had ordered them to enter seclusion within the woods. This stone would double as a sort of safe zone, allowing them to comprehend the illustrations in peace.


    Ever since their pursuers had left, the duo had been carefully scrutinizing the intricate murals which lined the stone. Their eyes laced with an unmistakable trace of curiosity and wonder.


    As living fruit, they didn''t seem to need food in the traditional sense, instead they gathered energy from sleeping under the sun. Besides rest and the occasional small talk, the two of them spent the following few days immersed in thought.


    Bluog was the first to experiment. It put its arms to the side, curled its fingers, and went into a squat. The pose was reminiscent of a modified dragon stance that one could find back on earth, its purpose here was to awaken the bodies latent potential.


    Following a series of kick and punches that mirrored one of the depictions in the mural, other than being short of breath nothing seemed to change. Bluog couldn''t help but curse its stubby body for being so impractical.


    The stalemate lasted another week, with both Bluog and Auopi trying all sorts of methods to mimic the results in the engraving.


    It wasn''t until Auopi tried executing the technique before bed that a breakthrough finally occurred.


    Unlike Bluogs dragon stance, Auopi adopted a modified tiger stance. While going through the routine motions, Auopi felt a sudden vibration from inside.


    Its eyes shot open. This was the result demonstrated on the stone! But what had it done differently?


    Looking at the sky Auopi saw the sun approaching peak brightness, shrouding the world in a warm light. The red fruit quickly sank into thought.


    Could it be that the missing requirement was the sun? Although they did occasionally practice outside the stones shade, it was always when the sun was dim and the thought of absorbing solar energy non-existent.


    But right before bed, where the sun was at peaks levels and it was getting ready to gather energy, the breakthrough had occurred! How could it have been so stupid, it all made sense now!


    Auopi quickly resumed its stance, this time putting extra attention on harnessing the solar rays. As expected, when it finished going through the series of kicks and punches an even bigger vibration rocked its innards.


    Daozi watched as the pair finally overcame the underlying issue. Thanks to his insight as the Heavenly Dao, he had already understood the need for sunlight early on but had held off telling them. Not only would it be difficult to subtly push them in the right direction, but struggle was also an inherent part of life.


    If they cracked at this stage, then they simply had no fate as cultivators. Though if it really came to that point, he wouldn''t have much choice but to be a hypocrite and hold their hands, as they were his only means of producing Divine Merit right now.


    Thankfully everything worked out in the end.


    The denizens of his world had successfully embarked on the path of cultivation.

 Chapter 5: The Power of Faith

    Daozi was thus far quite satisfied with the realms progress.


    He was already leaps and bounds ahead of the previous Heavenly Dao. From his inherited memories he knew that his predecessor was still blindly roaming the void by this point in its life, still millennia away from creating the initial spatial boundary.


    As long as he kept up this pace he''d soon reach and even surpass the former myriad realms.


    Of course, that was assuming the unknown variables were kept under control. He couldn''t help but feel a pang of worry as he thought of the sudden appearance of faith energy.


    ''Should I just play it safe and take the initiative to remove Weodrothis?"


    He was seriously considering snipping the potential danger in the bud. The only reason this glorified shrub was alive is because of the inevitable ramifications that''d ensue from its destruction.


    As it stood, Weodrothis was the realms strongest lifeform. It was not only capable of processing the greatest volume of spiritual energy, but it was also linked to the only two cultivators.


    If something happened to the fruit folk because of Weodrothis''s death, he''d have to start the process all over again. There also was also no other way to rapidly produce sapient life. It''d be especially pitiful if he made all those sacrifices just for faith energy to re-emerge.


    ''Maybe I shouldn''t be too hasty. If I can properly utilize the power of faith, then it might actually be a massive boon.''


    He was immortal after all so there was no need to rush. Let alone Weodrothis current foundation establishment strength, even if the hulking tree reached nascent soul, it would be helpless against him. Unlike the old Heavenly Dao, he wasn''t dumb enough to leave a vulnerability for the mortals to exploit.


    ''Oh, have they finally decided to move?''


    Bluog and Auopi had successfully broken through to the early stage of body tempering, and with the woods free of his earthen dogs, they seem to have worked up the courage to return home.


    Auopi had even copied some of the early murals from the monolith onto a smaller piece of stone. The illustrations were a lot worse than the original, riddled with uneven proportions and jagged lines, but they got the general point across. As a reference piece it did the job.


    Daozi watched as they carefully made their way through the woods. The journey was largely uneventful other than the occasional jumpscare from stepping on a twig or hitting an unsuspecting branch.


    Seeing them effortlessly navigate the dense foliage, he felt pretty confident there was some kind of invisible connection between them and Weodrothis. Their path never once strayed from the crimson tree. Spells hadn''t been developed yet, so the most likely answer would be some kind of racial ability.


    It made sense in hindsight; the pair were directly born from the leaves of Weodrothis after all.


    An hour into their travels, the duo finally saw the unmistakable traces of mist up ahead. They had reached the fog perimeter.


    Breathing a sigh of relief, Bluog scampered over to the edge and spoke; "We ask for safe passage into the divine sanctum!"


    A narrow segment of fog cleared up in front. Not wasting a beat, the duo excitedly made their way inside.


    Daozi watched as they made a beeline for Weodrothis, who was staying motionless in the center of its domain. Sensing the approaching fruit-folk, the tree gradually opened its eyes and directed its attention at the duo. As Bluog and Auopi reached the base of the tree, they immediately dropped to their knees and began recounting their experience outside the fog.


    Starting from their initial impressions of the forest being empty, they went on to narrate the sudden flash of light and the ensuing pursuit. As they got around to the monolith and engravings, Auopi pulled out the small stone to highlight some of the teachings. Even their personal insights into body tempering and the need for sunlight were brought up. No detail was omitted.


    Weodrothis remained silent through the recount. It had also sensed the terrifying light, but the subsequent hounds and the presence of a unique power system piqued its interest. Who knew there were so many things outside its fog!


    "Good, good. You two did well. In the face of danger, you managed to find opportunity. I am proud to have such dutiful followers." Weodrothis shook the surroundings as it spoke.


    Unperturbed by the pressure, Bluog and Auopi listened intently. When they heard Weodrothis praising them for their hard work, the piety in their hearts only deepened.


    "But, there exists a very real threat in the outside world." Weodrothis felt a cold shiver as it recalled the earlier light.


    It paused briefly before continuing; "You are temporarily forbidden from leaving the fog. We will focus on solidifying our foundation."


    Weodrothis wanted to tell its followers that even it was suppressed by the golden light. But its followers clearly found solace under its protection, so breaking that illusion of safety might cause irreparable harm.


    "As you command!" Bluog and Auopi bowed their bodies three times before leaving. They each found a location that wasn''t covered by the forest canopy and began tempering their bodies.


    From the spatial boundary, Daozi carefully inspected the streams of purple mist that were escaping Bluog and Auopi.


    Ever since the duo returned, he noticed that the amount of faith energy they emitted only seemed to grow. It was reasonable at the start, but by the end of Weodrothis''s speech the purple mist was essentially pouring out their bodies.


    ''Don''t make me regret keeping you around...''


    He had yet to see what this faith energy was capable of. Despite the large concentration that had funneled into Weodrothis''s core, nothing seemed to have changed.


    Well, since they planned on being hermits for the foreseeable future, there wasn''t much he could do besides wait.


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    Fifty Years Later


    The once sparse forest was now bustling with life.


    After Bluog and Auopi returned from their excursion, Weodorthis had taken the liberty of producing more fruit folk. On its golden crown, one could spot a total of forty-two leafless branches.


    Now, in addition to the original duo there were another forty individuals. Twenty of them bore the distinct characteristics of an apple like Auopi, while the other half were more reminiscent of Bluog.


    Since Weodorthis prohibited the fruit folk from leaving its fog, they were able to enjoy a long period of peaceful development. On top of Auopi and Bluog, twenty others had also embarked on the path of cultivation.


    Currently, everyone was gathering around the crimson tree. Mediating directly beneath it were the two eldest fruit-folk.


    "Will they be able to do it?" A blueberry person asked the living apple next to it.


    "With the divine creator personally supervising their breakthrough its sure to succeed!" The apple replied with conviction. Its eyes firmly fixated on the two people in deep mediation.


    Through repeatedly honing their bodies, Bluog and Auopi had been the first fruit-folk to reach the pinnacle of body-tempering and push for qi-refining. They were now sat under the golden canopy of leaves, collecting their thoughts and readying themselves for the final push.


    "You two laid witness to the original teachings and are the most senior of the fruit-folk. I hold full trust in you. Once you are ready, you may begin." Weodrothis broke the silence with its thunderous voice. The forty spectators immediately ceased talking and kneeled on the ground.


    Daozi was also interested in the breakthrough. He wondered if qi-refining would bring a change to the fruit folk. In the previous myriad realms, it wasn''t unusual for monster beasts to gain a wide variety of skills as they cultivated to higher realms.


    Above Weodrothis he saw the formation of two spiritual energy vortexes. They had begun the breakthrough process.


    Ten minutes passed. Thirty minutes passed. An hour passed.


    The amount of swirling energy finally spread to the material realm. Around the duo gusts of wind were kicked up and leaves began to sway.


    He was already familiar with the convergence of energy because of Weodrothis''s birth, which was orders of magnitude more intense than a qi-refining breakthrough, but for the fruit-folk this was the first time they''d felt the effects of spiritual energy.


    He watched as they all stared in awe at the two, many of them having never felt winds this intense before.


    Only the giant tree continued to remain calm. It was already equivalent to a late-stage foundation establishment cultivator. Just leaking a fraction of the energy held in its core would bring about greater shifts.


    As the vortexes reached their peak, they suddenly stopped growing and instead began funneling the accumulated energy into the pair.


    Cold sweat started to form on Auopi''s body. Bluog looked to be fairing a little better, but its shaky arms betrayed the internal struggle going on.


    Daozi couldn''t help but worry as he saw this scene. At the current rate these two were heading, their meridians would likely rupture before the breakthrough could succeed. Sadly, there wasn''t much for him to do.


    He could only sigh at their misfortune.


    Five minutes later, Weodrothis also realized the duos predicament. The sudden influx of spiritual energy had clearly overwhelmed them, putting heavy strain on their meridians.


    Much like Daozi, it also began to worry about their safety. These two were its most prized fruit-folk and also the most pious of the bunch. Tapping into its core, a strand of spiritual energy shot out to stabilize their condition. Unfortunately, the foreign energy seemed to only worsen their condition. Realizing it was helpless against the current situation, it could only anxiously watch.


    Ten Minutes Later


    The out-of-control spiritual energy was turning Bluog and Auopi into inflated flesh balloons. Their fruity skin was stretched thin, and their innards continued to expand with no signs of stopping. It really looked as if they were about to blow up.


    Even the spectators could notice something amiss. They dared not voice their opinion aloud, but this was evidently not the natural process of breaking through.


    As they approached the verge of exploding, Daozi saw the unexpected appearance of an intangible crimson tree above the two. Purple mist started leaving Weodrothis and entering the apparition, causing it to exude a subtle crimson glow.


    As the radiance intensified, a miracle occurred.


    The out-of-control spiritual energy started to stabilize, and their rapid bodily expansion stopped. Shockingly, any damaged meridians were quickly repaired.


    Under the crimson tree, their bodies began to shrink and actually continue the process of assimilating spiritual energy. With this newly found strength, they were able to forcefully pry their meridians open. In a matter of second, they had gone from accepting death to having a successful breakthrough.


    Silence. No one dared to speak a word.


    With a slight twitch Bluog was the first of the duo to open his eyes. He immediately saw the mixed expressions on his peers. Their eyes filled with a variety of emotions. From shock and joy too seemingly disbelief.


    Eagerly returning his attention to the changes in his body, he noticed more than just the presence of flowing spiritual energy. His body had grown slimmer, his appendages were no longer as stubby, and a strange organ had taken hold within him.


    Looking over at Auopi, he noticed that her body had also changed. It was slimmer, less stubby, and also more...appealing?


    He couldn''t control this feeling, but seeing her red physique spurred something within him.


    Snapping back into reality, he nervously rotated his body to face Weodrothis.


    Yet embarrassingly he couldn''t stop the wave of pollen that had ejected from his pores.

 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 had none. Not to mention the fact that 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.


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    Bluog 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. Bluog 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.


    Bluog 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 worked by having everyone form a circle around the people going on the journey. Bluog 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 eighteen 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.


    Once the miscellaneous matters were 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 at the flourishing woods 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 replaced with a yearning to explore.


    Bluog 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.

 Chapter 7: Swarm

    "Stop!" Auopi suddenly raised her arm, silencing the group.


    The abrupt command left the inexperienced fruit-folk no time to react. People violently bumped into one another, and the organized column quickly fell apart.


    She cast an incredulous look behind her.


    "Bluog, come to the front." Not trusting her incompetent peers, she made eye contact with the only other qi-refining combatant and ushered him to the lead.


    "Did you spot something?" Bluog asked hurriedly, the urgency in her tone putting him on edge.


    Auopi pointed towards the distant foliage. "I heard the rustling of leaves up ahead. I''m afraid it might be the same creatures that chased us last time."


    Reminded of their old pursuers, Bluog immediately readied himself for a potential battle. Even though they had never engaged in direct combat with the beasts before, he was confident they could win.


    Bluog shot a subtle glance at the recovering column.


    This time, they wouldn''t face the enemy alone. Though rough around the edges, their group still numbered over thirty, including two qi-refining and twelve body-tempering experts. The latter consisted of seven at the early stage, four at the mid stage, and one at the late stage.


    But he''d still prefer to avoid fighting if possible. They were quickly approaching the edge of the forest, and the monolith was just a little distance beyond that. If one of the creatures slipped past their defenses and killed a regular fruit-folk, it would be incredibly upsetting.


    In an attempt to avoid bloodshed, the duo began discussing an alternative route.


    Unfortunately, their old enemies weren''t about to let them go.


    The rustling of leaves intensified, and the distinct clattering of jaws grew louder.


    "Curse these mindless beasts!"


    With the enemy heading their direction, there was no time to change course.


    Auopi shouted at the disorganized group behind her, "Tempered bodies, form a circle around those with weak flesh! Quickly!"


    Luckily, they didn''t have much trouble forming a basic perimeter. In a couple of minutes, a solid defense was established.


    Clack! Clack! Clack!


    The clattering of jaws soon reached the ears of the untrained fruit-folk. Cold sweat formed on their bodies as the ominous sounds drew closer.


    After a suspenseful wait, three canines slowly appeared from within the forest, their bulky stature and earthen skin unblemished by the passage of time.


    Auopi looked at the creatures with a bemused expression.


    "Tempered bodies, maintain the circle! Bluog and I will take care of them." Auopi shouted orders at the formation before brandishing her wooden saber.


    With her qi-refining strength, she could easily discern the rough power of these creatures. Each one was roughly as strong as a mid-level tempered fruit-folk, meaning she could single-handedly defeat the trio.


    The dogs kept a ten-meter buffer zone from the duo, their hungry eyes focused on the encirclement behind.


    "Hmph. If you won''t come to me, then I''ll just come to you!" Bluog was the first to initiate an attack.


    The air whizzed past him as he lunged towards the creature in the center. He raised his sword above his head and delivered an overhand strike.


    With a loud swish, pieces of dirt were flung into the air as the canine was cut in half.


    The dogs reacted quickly, with the two on the sides charging in opposite directions to form a flank.


    "Too slow!" Bluog carried his momentum from the initial strike to mercilessly decapitate the dog on his left. Its head flew twenty meters into the forest.


    "Let me have this one!" Auopi easily caught up to the remaining dog and slashed its body in two.


    Within seconds, the duo had dispatched the beasts.


    "Ha. To think I was scared of fighting these critters. We should have just carried the group straight through." Bluog let out a dry chuckle as he looked at the bisected dogs.


    "It''s...it''s over just like that?" Relief washed over the remaining fruit-folk. The battle had gone by too fast for them to see, but the three corpses denoted a clear victory.


    Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!


    A cacophony of clattering jaws and heavy thuds erupted from the surrounding woods.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Keep formation! There''s more of them!" Auopi retreated back to the encirclement, her wooden sword ready to strike.


    "Don''t waver! We are the creations of the divine and will not falter here!" Bluog joined Auopi in falling back to the larger group.


    Let alone the regular fruit-folk, even the duo was rattled by the harrowing cries coming from the forest. The sheer number of canines made distinguishing any particular sound impossible.


    A tremble coursed through the earth as the oncoming tide of hounds ruthlessly pounded the ground. Clouds of dust crept over the horizon to welcome the approaching swarm.


    Their quick feet soon reached the cornered fruit-folk. Hundreds of earthen dogs had encircled the formation. The crescendo of clattering jaws stopped, replaced by an eerie silence.


    A standoff had begun between the two groups. Neither party wanted to be the first to engage.


    "Dammit, why are there so many of them?!" Auopi cursed under her breath, her earlier arrogance instantly suppressed by a gnawing sense of dread.


    "What should we do? We''ll be exhausted long before we thin the horde." Bluog nervously turned to Auopi and whispered in her ear. He was careful not to alarm the rest of the group; the last thing they needed was anarchy.


    Startled by the question, Auopi turned and took a hard look at their shaken group.


    Some of the weak fruit-folk had already collapsed in fear. The rest were barely holding on, likely to break at the first sign of battle. Even the trained combatants were jittery.


    A blind man could see their imminent defeat.


    Auopi took a deep breath.


    "We are too far from the lord''s domain. We''ll have to make...make..." The word got stuck on the tip of her tongue. She couldn''t bring herself to mention the need for sacrifices.


    Seeing her hesitation, Bluog only nodded.


    "Break formation! Charge straight ahead and don''t stop till you reach the monolith!" Bluog didn''t wait for the others to react. He grabbed Auopi and made a sprint for the safe zone.


    There was a brief moment of hesitation before the unified formation devolved into a mad dash. It was now everyone for themselves.


    Even the dogs were momentarily stunned. It was only when Bluog started to cut through their frontlines that they reacted and tightened the encirclement.


    However, the expected bloodbath didn''t ensue. The originally fierce dogs moved at an unnaturally slow pace through the mob. Other than some stragglers who had been paralyzed in fear, the rest found success in breaking free.


    Spatial Boundary


    Daozi watched in disbelief as the duo abandoned the group.


    ''This is...really quite unexpected.''


    He knew that a qi-refining cultivator could escape from his hounds if they really tried, but doing so would require sacrificing everyone else.


    From his observations, he felt confident in the fruit-folk having a strong sense of comradery. Coupled with their solemn promise to Weodrothis, the duo should have fought tooth and nail against his dogs.


    Then, only after sensing their inevitable defeat, should the dormant faith power have been activated and the effects of the two anomalies made clear.


    However, with Bluog and Auopi being the first to rush out, there was no longer any point killing off thirty sapient lives.


    Daozi cast another glance at the escaping duo.


    He was aware of the blueberry''s love for the flowery apple, though he quite clearly underestimated the severity of emotions involved.


    ''Were you not a piece of fruit, I might have mistaken you for a reincarnation of cupid.'' He mused.


    Well, he was not averse to a change of plans.


    They were currently heading to the monolith for sanctuary, but this time he simply wouldn''t stop his canine. He was going to hunt them down till they one of them caved under the pressure.


    It was not like he had a choice. To develop a thriving realm, he needed to gather a deep understanding of these new influences.


    So, Daozi dutifully spectated the pairs escape. He watched them kill their way out of the siege, leave the forest, and eventually arrive at the monolith.


    As they rested by the stone, he could sense their mixed feelings. Guilt, relief, and fatigue seemed to be the major three.


    Unfortunately, he wasn''t going to let them catch their breaths.


    The forest erupted in a deafening clatter, and the swarm of earthen dogs sprinted towards the pillaring stone.


    The duo didn''t seem bothered by the pursuit. They continued to relax on the soft grass, baring no mind to the approaching canine.


    Though that quickly changed as the dogs showed no sign of stopping.


    Their relief morphed into confusion, that confusion turned into worry, and that worry soon became terror.


    They hurriedly got off the ground and tried running deeper into the grasslands.


    Despite finding some initial success fleeing, they were already tired from the earlier escape while his dogs didn''t know the meaning of exhaustion.


    After an hour of panicked sprinting, intense fighting, and desperate hiding later, the duo was forced back to the monolith.


    Their bodies were bruised and battered. Both of them had suffered various injuries, the most severe of which were Bluog''s missing left hand and a chunk of Auopi''s flower.


    Although their condition looked terrible, he knew the damage wasn''t lethal. Under his careful gaze it would be impossible for the dogs to accidently kill them.


    But they were none the wiser.


    Daozi watched from the spatial bubble as the duo had their backs forced against the solid rock. Their strength just barely enough to hold their weapons.


    The Monolith


    "Bluog...we tried our best. Maybe, this is what we deserve for forsaking our people..." Auopi dropped to the ground as the last of her energy slipped away.


    Bluog hurriedly caught Auopi on his chest while being careful to keep his sword positioned against the encroaching dogs.


    Looking at her slumped body, he couldn''t help but reminiscence of their short journey. He saw scenes of their triumphant breakthrough, of the group''s joyous atmosphere, and of their ultimate defeat.


    In the end he had failed to defend Auopi, he had failed to protect the group, and he had failed...his creator.


    As the last thought crossed his mind, a sudden anger welled up within him. He raised his head to face the vile dogs.


    It was these beasts that had ruined everything. They killed his people, ruined their mission, and challenged the creator.


    His eyes began to turn hazy from fatigue, but he persisted. Something spurred him on, he could feel an energy fueling his body.


    Looking at the sky, he saw it.


    A golden leaf had materialized above his head. It was exuding a faint energy, just enough to keep him awake.


    Turning back to the dogs, he witnessed a faint red ''X'' materializing on their torsos.


    He stared in bewilderment at the scene before him.


    But then he thought about it.


    He was originally but a meagre leaf on his lord''s crown, and it was thanks to its mercy that he was given life.


    With the enemies of the fruit-folk in front of him, he would turn into a vessel to release retribution.


    A smile crept onto his face. He closed his eyes and focused his attention inwards.


    His dry mouth slowly parted as he muttered, "I invoke the name of the great Weodrothis, cast your eyes upon this humble servant and release thy eternal fog on the damned!"


    Following those words, the golden leaf shone with a resplendent glow. A deep vibration rattled the surroundings.


    Bluog only saw a twirling mist on his sword before he passed out from the exertion.

 Chapter 8: Helping Hand

    Ever since Weodrothis created the fruit-folk, it often found itself dozing off in the center of its domain.


    Aside from the rare instances when its input was required or an order needed to be delivered, it behaved no differently from a regular tree¡ªalbeit a peculiar-looking one.


    Its lack of mobility left it with little else to do.


    In the midst of its stupor, Weodrothis felt a sudden burst of anxiety from its connection with Auopi and Bluog.


    But, aside from the slight ruffling of its golden leaves, it remained perfectly still.


    The fruit-folk had already mentioned the presence of vicious beasts roaming the forest and how they had been chased by them before. Given the size of the current expedition, Weodrothis knew the chances of another confrontation were high.


    If they had survived fifty years ago, it had no doubt they could do it again. So, Weodrothis remained content returning to its daze.


    As expected, the feeling of anxiety soon dispersed. Instead, it now sensed a trace of pride and jubilation being channeled through the link.


    No doubt its creations had achieved a splendid victory.


    It had expected as much. Having created the fruit-folk from its very leaves, their potential was limitless!


    Or at least it believed so. But then again, who was going to question it?


    However, the feelings of accomplishment abruptly stopped.


    Have they always been so quick to calm?


    Something didn''t feel right. It had been with the two fruit-folk the longest and was well aware of their personalities. While they kept a reserved demeanor around it, the duo was the exact opposite in private. Any victory should have kept them cheerful for hours.


    Unfortunately, its worries had just begun.


    An intense surge of paranoia and dread coursed through it. The unexpected assault left it momentarily stunned.


    Weodrothis hurriedly suppressed the emotions hurling themselves across the link. Its previous hesitation vanished. There was definitely something wrong.


    A suffocating pressure descended on the surrounding fruit-folk as Weodrothis''s wooden eyes snapped open.


    The individuals with tempered bodies could still push themselves to stand, but the untrained were directly forced onto all fours.


    Not wanting to irk their creator, the fruit-folk who were still standing also dropped to their knees.


    Since the group had just recently left the fog, it wasn''t hard to make a connection between the departure and Weodrothis''s outburst.


    Cold sweat began forming on the remaining inhabitants as they thought of the worst-case scenario.


    "Your grace has something occurred?" an apple person closest to Weodrothis nervously asked.


    There was a brief silence before Weodrothis responded, "It seems like the group encountered some difficulty."


    Weodrothis promptly removed the unconscious pressure emanating from its body.


    It had understated the severity of the issue to its followers. From what it could grasp through the connection, Bluog and Auopi were clearly in peril. There was a very real probability that the group was about to be exterminated.


    Weodrothis returned its attention to the individual who had asked the question.


    Its voice tore through the otherwise silent domain as it ordered; "Gather four others and head in the same direction as the earlier expedition. Don''t come back until you make contact with either the group or what''s left of it".


    Before the fruit-folk could respond, it continued, "If you encounter danger, then only the leading apple needs to return. Everyone else is to stake their lives to defend it."


    "Ah... of course! As you command!" the living apple stuttered out a response before hastily assembling a squad.


    Weodrothis didn''t hold much hope for the five-man team. It only wished for them to investigate the source behind these feelings of despair. Remaining ignorant risked causing further casualties in the future.


    Curse this immobile body!This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Despite its vast power reserve, Weodrothis could only helplessly dispatch fragile fruit to resolve its issues. Other than knowing the rough status of its prized duo, it could only be patient and wait.


    Time slowly ticked by, and a little over an hour passed.


    Weodrothis had experienced a wide variety of emotions from the duo. There were moments of optimism, anger, despair, and a slew of others.


    When it sensed the first injury reverberate across the connection, it had nearly lost control of itself. The soil was overturned as it wildly flailed its roots in the air. Any unfortunate tree within a 100-meter radius was riddled with cracks and tears.


    Luckily, it had reigned itself in before someone was injured.


    Weodrothis could feel the connection between it and the two fruit-folk slowly weakening. Their chances of survival looked bleak.


    Its inability to provide assistance only served to fuel its anger. Every inch of its crimson bark was craving vengeance.


    In the midst of restraining itself from further outbursts, Weodrothis felt a sudden tug on its consciousness. The odd sensation caused it to momentarily freeze before it redirected its full attention inward.


    There, it saw a purple thread materializing from its core. A familiar aura radiated from the string.


    This is... Bluog?


    It could feel something urging it from the end of the line.


    Without a moment''s hesitation, Weodrothis channeled its consciousness through the line. There was only a flash of darkness before it found itself in an unfamiliar space.


    Gone was its towering body, instead replaced with a single golden leaf. Except for its sight, the rest of its senses had seemingly vanished.


    The absence of sensation was unnerving, but Weodrothis steeled its mind and whole heartedly took in the surroundings.


    The ground was a flat plain riddled with grass, and behind it stood one of the largest pieces of rock it had ever seen. Encircling it on all sides was an unparalleled swarm of ravenous beasts, with their glistening teeth and hungry eyes on full display.


    But most pressing of all, its prized followers were stationed directly below it.


    Seeing their mutilated bodies in person, a rage like no other consumed Weodrothis. Gazing at the tide of monsters, it wanted nothing more than to rip each one apart.


    Yet, even in this elusive state, it couldn''t exert any influence. Only a subtle glow seemed to radiate from its strange new form.


    The continued helplessness gnawed on its already wavering rationality.


    "I invoke the name of the great Weodrothis, cast your eyes upon this humble servant and release thy eternal fog on the damned!" a weak mutter escaped Bluog.


    Weodrothis watched as a stream of purple mist escaped the wooden sword it had gifted the fruit-folk. The mist seemed to gravitate towards it, as it proactively flew into the air and combined with its ethereal form.


    Feeling a familiar connection with the mist, Weodrothis didn''t hesitate to channel the much-needed energy through its body.


    From the base of the golden leaf, a small crimson twig began to grow. Soon, the twig became a branch. That branch inevitably turned into a trunk, and from the trunk sprouted a magnificent crown adorned with an array of golden leaves.


    A five-meter-tall crimson tree appeared above the duo. Their prayers had been answered.


    Weodrothis felt the connection with its original body deepen. The previous limitations on its power were immediately overcome.


    Gazing at the surrounding horde, a perverse glint shone in its eyes.


    Tapping into its main body a dense fog swept through the horde and enshrouded every canine within a misty domain.


    Satisfied with the coverage, Weodrothis utilized its innate ability for the first time.


    Inside the fog, one could see a red hue slowly overtake the once brown canines. As the hue deepened, a viscous red liquid began permeating their bodies. Organic muscles sprouted from the originally earthen dogs, and their inanimate bodies were given life.


    The dogs remained motionless within the fog as their biology was rapidly altered. After a couple of minutes, the transformation was complete.


    Leathery skin now covered the canines. Their metal teeth were replaced with bone, and the mystical powers that kept them alive were now replaced with regular blood and sinew. By every definition, they could be considered "alive".


    Weodrothis stared at its work with pride. In this new state, these vile creatures could experience their torment in full.


    The fog began to violently churn.


    Green spots started to materialize on the recently transformed beasts. Painful wails and collapsing bodies followed shortly after.


    Wherever the green spread, the creatures suffered.


    Weodrothis controlled its powers to carefully decay their flesh. Unsightly gashes littered their bodies, and rancid pus dripped from the open wounds.


    It would ensure that death came slowly, and that it came as a mercy.


    A full six hours passed.


    Only when it sensed the energy supporting it about to fade did it decide to finish off the swarm. Vast quantities of decay infected the canines, spreading to critical organs and ending their existence for good.


    Satisfied with its revenge and having quelled its rage, Weodrothis cast one last glance at the healed duo before severing the connection.


    Spatial Boundary


    Daozi had been closely monitoring the situation ever since Bluog activated the dormant faith power.


    Interesting, so faith energy can be used to borrow the power of someone else.


    But the cost was quite steep. It could only be used on the brink of death, and it had the possibility to fail if the lender didn''t heed the borrowers summon.


    Nonetheless, the ability was definitely powerful.


    Had he been intent on killing the duo, then the sudden appearance of a miniature Weodrothis would have saved their lives.


    Though looking down at the macabre killings, he could only sigh at the loss of so many minions. He had pulled a total of 350 for the mission, and now they were all dead.


    Being subjected to Weodrothis''s fog was clearly an unpleasant experience. Were he still a human, just glimpsing a couple minutes of the brutal scene would have likely afflicted him with at least some level of PTSD.


    While Weodrothis conjured the fog, he had also noticed a change in power consumption.


    When the big tree controlled the fog with its main body, the spiritual energy required was incredibly small. In the miniature form, however, the consumption was tens of times higher. While not a big deal when using an innate ability against low-level opponents, it was evidently another weakness of this method.


    I''ve managed to learn quite a bit with this round of experimentation


    He was no longer clueless about the capabilities of this new power. It had some unique traits and was a miracle for breakthroughs, but as of now it didn''t pose a serious danger to him.


    With the current need for experimentation finished, he could finally dedicate more time to furthering this realms development.