Linde ventured deeper and deeper along the secluded path opened up by the will of the forest.
The surrounding light grew increasingly dim, and only the moss and fungi emitting a faint blue and green fluorescence guided their way.
The air was as viscous as liquid, and every breath was filled with a life force so rich it was almost tangible, as well as a heavy, ancient pulse that seemed to come from the deepest part of the earth.
The Activation Aura, pushed to its limit by Linde, was no longer merely a disguise, but rather a delicate yet resilient thread, carefully connecting him to this vast network of life, sensing every subtle emotional flow and energy change within it.
He was like a microorganism walking in the blood vessels of a giant, using his extraordinary perception to avoid "nodes" that might trigger strong rejection.
I don't know how long I walked, maybe an hour, maybe half a day, but deep in this forest where the sense of time was blurred, the view ahead suddenly opened up—not that it became brighter, but rather a sudden shift in space.
He walked under a huge dome, entirely woven naturally from countless thick, ancient tree roots.
These gnarled roots intertwine to form a nearly enclosed spherical space, with luminous mycelium and vines hanging from the gaps between the roots, like a waterfall of stars, providing the sole source of light.
At the center of the space was not a throne or altar, but an ancient tree whose size could not be described in words.
It is less a tree and more a miniature forest itself, the ultimate embodiment of countless trees merging and coexisting.
Its trunk diameter is probably over a hundred meters. The bark is no longer rough, but has become a smooth surface that blends jade and wood. Countless complex and mysterious veins, like life runes, naturally emerge on it, with a powerful energy flowing slowly like liquid light.
Its branches do not grow upwards, but spread outwards like a giant net, connecting with the countless roots that form the dome, inseparable from each other.
It has no leaves; instead, countless ferns, mosses, and strange flowers, radiating a soft glow of life, grow directly on the branches.
At the base of this "ancestor of all trees," almost completely integrated with its root system, is a blurry, humanoid outline.
The outline was composed of solidified amber resin, pale fungal wood, emerald green vines, and dark brown soil, with only the vague shapes of the head, torso, and limbs barely discernible.
It seems to have grown out of the ancient tree, or as if the ancient tree had taken root in it; the two have completely merged into one, indistinguishable from one another.
This is the "deep-rooted old man" Varak.
He was not asleep; Lind could sense that the core of that immense will was gathered here.
But its current condition... is very bad.
Through the deep perception of the "Activation Aura," Linde "saw" not a healthy and vibrant source of life, but a vast system that had fallen into a state of "stagnation" and "blockage."
Within the area where Valak merges with the ancient tree, there exist vast expanses of "gray" regions. The flow of life energy there is extremely slow and stagnant, even exhibiting a kind of "corruption," emanating a decaying, dull, and suffocating aura.
Just like when large areas of blood clots and necrosis appear in the blood vessels of the human body, it severely hinders the energy circulation of the entire life network.
These "gray" areas are spreading slowly and irreversibly. Although the speed is slow, their very existence is constantly consuming Valak's willpower, making him like an old man suffering from severe rheumatism and vascular blockage, slow in movement, and confused in consciousness. Most of his energy is used to fight against internal decay and pain, making it difficult for him to respond clearly to the outside world.
The entire space was filled with a silent pain and a heavy sense of exhaustion.
Lind understood instantly.
The Eternal Silent Forest's xenophobia stems not only from its ancient nature, but also from the fact that its "guardians," the very core of its will, are in an unhealthy and fragile state.
Any external stimulus could exacerbate this internal imbalance.
The forest's initial strong rejection was more like an instinctive form of self-protection.
Linde slowly approached and stopped about ten meters away from the fused entity—a distance that allowed him to clearly perceive it without overly stimulating it.
He raised his hand, and the power of the [Activation Aura] began to highly condense. It was no longer the simulation and resonance of before, but transformed into an extremely pure energy fluctuation full of vitality and "guiding" meaning, like the most delicate and gentle warm current, gently brushing towards the dormant fusion body of Valak.
He did not attempt to “cure” or “dispel” those vast, dark areas, which would be no easy task and would inevitably provoke fierce resistance.
He did it more skillfully, like a highly skilled cardiovascular doctor, focusing on "unblocking" those still healthy "capillary networks" that have become weak due to blockages in the main vessels.
The pure activating energy, like a precise scalpel, gently stimulates those energy nodes on the verge of stagnation, gently propels those stagnant energy streams, helps them regain a little vitality, bypass those huge blockages, and establish some tiny, new energy bypasses.
This process is extremely demanding and requires a profound understanding of life energy.
If you are not careful, or if you use too much force or go in the wrong direction, you may be perceived as an intruder or cause an energy conflict.
Linde was completely focused, his purple eyes flashing wildly as he calculated the safest energy pathway and output power.
His movements were as gentle as if he were caressing a newly sprouted bud.
Time passed little by little.
Gradually, the enormous, silent fusion seemed to undergo a subtle, imperceptible change.
The woody, dead-skin-like patches and fungal deposits on the surface of some areas appeared to have softened slightly.
Several previously dim energy veins flickered extremely faintly, as if the pulse of a dying patient had started beating again.
The oppressive, suffocating stillness in the surrounding space seemed to lessen slightly.
Although the overall trend of decline has not changed, the despairing and utterly lifeless state has been broken, and a faint but real "vitality" has been injected.
"...outsiders..."
A sound, not transmitted through the air, but directly from the fusion, through the subtle trembling of countless plants, the ripples of energy, and even the connection of Linde's [Activation Aura], directly affected the depths of Linde's consciousness.
The sound was extremely slow, indistinct, and intermittent, as if it were struggling to awaken from a long slumber, each syllable carrying endless weariness and the weight of time.
"...Your...power...is...very...peculiar..."
"...It is neither...the...natural...way...of...Druids...nor...life...divine magic..."
"...yet...it can...touch...the very essence of life..."
"...You...have eased...a little...of your chronic illness..."
Valak's will seemed to have gathered a little strength, and he began to try to communicate with Lind. Although it was still difficult, it was much better than the previous state of complete silence and instinctive rejection.
Linde ceased energy output, maintaining the connection to the aura, and responded calmly, his mind clear and concise:
“My name is Linde. This power is called ‘Activation,’ and it aims to stimulate the inner vitality of all things. I have no intention of offending you, nor have I come here specifically to offer salvation. My purpose here is to explore a different ‘path.’”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the massive, still-existing areas of stagnant energy.
"Your condition seems to be... during the process of merging with nature, the life energy is too vast and ancient, and has not been fully coordinated and unified. Some areas have become 'blocked' and 'degraded' due to conflicting rules or external erosion. If this continues, it may erode your fundamental consciousness."
Valack's response was accompanied by a deep sigh, a sigh that seemed to cause the entire root dome to tremble slightly.
"...You're...very...accurate..."
"...Fusion...is not...perfect...eternal..."
"...Time...will accumulate...'residue'...and foreign...'dust'...will also...settle down..."
"...I am one with the forest...the forest's...wounds...are my...pain...my...stagnation...is also the forest's...shackles..."
“…Clearing…them…is like…clearing…one’s own…flesh and…memories…difficult…and…painful…”
Lind remained silent.
He understood Varak's predicament.
When this integration reaches a certain point, the so-called "injuries" and "illnesses" become closely bound to one's own existence, and forcibly removing them may mean self-destruction.
"I am not here to offer a complete solution."
Linde bluntly stated, "That requires a long process of self-reflection and unimaginable power from outsiders. I am merely an observer and learner. I want to know the core gains, losses, and limitations of this path of deep integration with the vast network of life."
Valak's will fell silent for a moment, as if gathering strength, or perhaps scrutinizing Lind.
"...You...seek...knowledge...not...power...or...salvation..."
"……very good……"
"...Then...observe...feel..."
"...This is...the 'Way of Deep Roots'..."
"...Embrace...boundless...vitality...and bear...all...decay..."
"...becoming...a whole...also means...losing...the purity...and...freedom...of the 'individual'..."
With Valak's thoughts, a vast, complex, and contradictory yet perfectly integrated feeling, filled with vitality and decay, creation and corruption, surged toward Lind like a slowly unfolding scroll, connected by the [Activation Aura].
This is an experience of a state, a manifestation of a rule.
Linde immediately became engrossed in it, and his [Deconstruction Halo] function was running at its limit as he frantically recorded, analyzed, and understood everything.
In stark contrast to the "stable, fiery, and creative" feeling he experienced from the "Soul Forger" Kamran, which was combined with the ley line furnace, Valak's path was "vast, complex, cyclical, all-encompassing yet burdened with everything."
The advantages and disadvantages of this road are equally obvious.
Time flew by as we deepened our understanding and exchanged ideas.
Linde's understanding of "legend" is expanding and deepening at an astonishing pace.
Every legend is indeed a unique, living example of a "world".
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