Croix’s tenure at the Shore continued.
He juggled between improving himself and rebuilding the village. His progress was… decent. It was above average, but not monstrously groundbreaking. Croix’s fire affinity was 4, quite good but lacking compared to fire 5. Honestly, Viers didn't see the signs that he would become a top-class Pathseeker or legendary king.
Still, he had an honest heart and the correct attitude. However, Viers knew from personal experience that subpar start didn't mean they would be subpar at the end. That dragon at the volcano saw something in him and he got a living-breathing baby dragon at his side. Viers hoped he would go far.
Croix got coaching from Viers and Alfred but the former only dropped in occasionally. Viers also had his own training to worry about and Boram similarly deserved his attention.
Viers didn't teach Croix Artes or swordsmanship -even though he had loads of them- but things related to actual battle. They sparred and pointed out Croix’s deficiencies, and then let him work out the rest. The basics and fundamentals were handled by Alfred.
Alfred seemed to have accepted his cultivation had reached the end because of injury. The Level 4 was no longer keen on improving himself unlike Viers so he poured his time and energy into assisting Croix.
In his spare time, Croix surveyed the village’s surroundings, hoping to find a source of revenue for his domain but he’d found nothing so far.
Viers knew there were some.
In the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhist teaching, the very first was the right view, followed by right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and lastly, right concentration.
In Buddhism, the eight rights will lead to the cessation of dukkha, or suffering. Oversimplified, but close enough.
Viers didn't intend to become a monk or anything but he found the Noble Eightfold Path was truly a great concept. To achieve greatness, or to live properly, those eight rights were indeed crucial.
The very first was the right view so the very first ability he’d learn from Clarissa was his super eyes, the Euryale Sight Arte. This Arte covered scouting faraway places, seeing through falsehoods and illusions, and finding the all-important cultivation resources.
From the Fables, he knew this world, like all the power-fantasy stories out there, hid all sorts of mysteries and riches. Therefore, before Viers set off from his spawning-town, he made sure he could find those things.
I hope no deities show up and smite me cause I use a Buddhist concept to live my way… Who am I kidding? If I die, I am certain I’m going to hell anyway.
Furthermore, because his sight was so sharp it also gave him an advantage in battle, such as predicting the enemy's next move from the twitch of his muscles and the flow of their Victa.
With his Arte, Viers had found several places that would suit Croix’s needs but he didn't tell him. Croix had to find them himself. Viers was pretty sure Alfred also thought the same.
Viers cultivated diligently so he could breakthrough to Level 4 at the soonest possible moment. The harvest of life from the Monster Tide nourished the Biome and in turn sped up the growth of Nutra Grass.
Nutra was the best cultivation booster drug that he’d tried by far. After he got separated from the isekai-ed dungeon core, Abby, Viers couldn't get Nutra anymore. He did try to kill her and take the Nutra source for himself, but he failed. What he tried next was to replicate the effect of the Nutra.
He succeeded in this. With Dia’s mastery over plants, a new species was created, the Nutra Grass. The effect was lesser compared to the original Nutra, but the grass was growable. Viers could use quantity to offset the quality.
When he gave a sample to Boram and the two girls, they also enjoyed the smoother and faster speed in cultivation. Even the non-human grass, water, and fire familiars benefited. Nutra was very versatile. If Viers put Nutra in the market, it would surely shock the continent. The substance was revolutionary. He would be a millionaire overnight.
Then I'd probably get murdered by someone like myself.
But! Viers would rather become strong than rich, so every pound of Nutra Grass harvested was meant for consumption.
During his observations, he found that the grass would slowly wilt and die. When it first happened, Viers was panicking, trying a lot of things. The mana in the Biome was abundant, magic sunlight and water aplenty, soil packed with nutrients from the Pathseeker bodies that Viers turned into compost, nothing seemed to be working.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Until Viers watered the grass with his blood.
Why does my blood work?
Viers tried to remember the origin of Nutra. Abby found the powder flowing out from the hollowed chest of a weird corpse fused with a dead white tree which she later showed him. On the tree, there were several already wilted flowers. A familiar flower. One such specimen was inside his Intio, inside his cultivation core.
Everlife Goldbloom Flower Aletro called it… The flower and Nutra are linked somehow.
For now, the supply of Nutra was stable. As long as the grass drank his blood, it would stay alive and continue to grow. It didn't need that much either, just a few drops of blood. Viers planned to slowly fill multiple water tanks with his blood, just in case he couldn't return to Viridis for an extended amount of time.
Medicines for blood growth or blood supplements were pretty common. Pathseekers were regularly fighting and got injured after all. Viers was willing to bleed regularly for Nutra in return.
At the end of the first month of Croix’s six-month assessment, an examiner from Stormberg came. The man said he was sent by the countess to evaluate Croix’s progress as viceroy. The man was a Level 4. He stayed for a few days, not speaking to Croix except when it was necessary, surveyed this and that, then he was gone without a word.
The next day, the man returned with a convoy. Supplies for the Shore, food, building materials, workers, and other necessities. Not great, but sorely needed.
Viers held back a snicker. The arrival of the convoy was like a game mechanic.
“Rewards from the Countess for your work. The better you perform, the greater the reward. For the first month, I graded your rebuilding work as barely acceptable. I look forward to seeing your results next month. The countess also asked me to give you this after hearing my report.”
It was some sort of food for Falmerion to promote his growth. The red scaly certainly looked thrilled. He was growing nicely.
Croix accepted his assessment with grace and was determined to do better next time. The Shore had pretty much recovered except for the loss of lives during the tidal wave. Be that as it may, things were looking up. The village had a party that night, and Croix gave it permission.
It was pretty nice.
***
Clarissa roused herself from soul slumber in the White Flowers Meadow, a place inside Viers’ soul. Farley, Paina, and Farley’s sleeping sister, they had moved. All of them had their own bodies now. She was alone at this place.
The lamia princess felt a little lonely.
She materialized out next to Viers. The time was roughly around sunrise. Viers had planted a Gate Plant at the Shore which allowed him to go in and out to the Biome. He usually slept in the Biome rather than his house at the Shore unbeknownst to everyone except for Boram.
“Morning,” she said. “You’re doing something unusual.”
Viers was sitting on the grass -Viridis’ grass was pleasant to touch according to Paina but Clarissa couldn't clarify it- and facing a great sword stabbed into the ground.
“Morning Rissa. I’m conversing.”
“With the Divine sword? So it truly has a soul.”
“Tool Spirit to be exact but basically the same.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve always been wondering why Duke Lucan gave something as great as a Divine tier item to his son-in-law-to-be, no matter how high his potential is. Normally it shouldn't happen. Now I know. See, Duke Lucan cannot use this sword.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“According to the sword spirit in the form of a wolf, the Duke obtained the sword using a method the spirit isn't fond of. Poisoning his granduncle or some such? Whatever. Somehow Marvin knew and asked for it. Thus it landed in Marvin’s hands.”
“The Level 5 can't but the Level 4 can? How about you?”
“Well, this guy praised me for defeating Marvin. It wants to be wielded by someone worthy, you see. Someone who can defeat it in combat. But I didn't defeat Marvin on my own. I had help. He’s still observing my worthiness. Still, as a reward for defeating him in combat, I may use him for one swing.”
“One swing from that sword is enough to turn the tide of most battles, provided your body can handle it. Your body is not particularly strong compared to the Pathseeker standard.
“I’m not focused on body cultivation,” Viers nodded then shrugged. “Soul Pathseeker, baby. ”
“But your regeneration is impressive. At least don't use the sword until you’re Level 4.”
“That’s the plan. Got a few other life-saving methods for emergencies so no rush. Marvin got the sword’s approval by the way, but it's complicated.”
“M-hm… I don't see Paina and Farley,” Clarissa looked around.
“621 and Raven are on a mission outside.”
“Oh, that’s their code name? What about mine?”
“Ayre. If you wish,” Viers grinned.
“As always, I don't know what’s going on in your mind,” Clarissa flipped her hair back with her hand.
“I will worry if you do. How’s your condition?”
“Fully recovered. No hidden damage from the battle or using X form. What do you want me to do? Searching for other ancient Artes in my mother’s leftover consciousness? Training the kids? Going on a mission outside like Farley and Paina? The way I am now should pose no problem.”
“Yes, yes, yes, about that,” Viers put his hand inside the Thousand Treasures Casket. “I know you have a lot of free time but both your friends are often busy and just watching me training gets dull eventually… You’re getting bored. So, how about giving this a try?”
Viers gave Clarissa a book, quite thick.
Clarissa read the book’s title, then raised an eyebrow.
Alchemy For Dummies.
“Are you serious?”