59. Traces of Advanced Civilization
At the foot of a mountain, eighteen trees are bearing clustered greenish fruits that look like grapes. They are called Rabi'y Trees and are commonly found within Elven Villages. The trees are growing near a small pond where a boulder the size of a meter was recently placed. The boulder is releasing Spiritual Qi which then enriches not only the trees but the entire village.
Nineteen days ago when Clay first arrived in the village, they saw him as an enemy but after he installed a Vein, their perspective of him changed 180 degrees.
And the reason unwelcomed extended stay, is because he needed them to translate piles of book. Initially, there were only five books but after he took out the Vein Model, any book related Death Qi magically piled up.
Inside one of the guest houses of the village, Clay is currently accompanied by two exquisite gorgeous Half Elves taking turns translating passages to Clay who is busy seeping Rabi'y Tea like a boss. However though, if Clay were to remove his clothes and reveal his transformed skin, the two ravishing and delicate woman would look like reading to a big orangutan.
"This planet is home of an Immortal Daoist. Withdraw all forces. Glory to the Federation."
"Esteemed Master. That is the last of the manuscript. Should I read it again? New pages will be brought in the afternoon."
"We’ll stop here for today. You can come back tomorrow." Clay refilled his cup as he instructed the women.
As they watched them leave, he smiled. Had he known that a Spiritual Vein would make them easily agree to his request, he would not mind taking it out during their first meeting. And it is funny how Krad'u thought of him like a satyr to arrange such beauties to accompany him. He is not even certain if his libido is functioning since the transformation.
Clay is in deep thought.
During his fifth day in the village, he was brought to a mountain range where Death Qi is abundant. He estimated the Death Qi spans a radius at least twenty kilometers and at the center is a deep crevice. He did not have time to investigate the area but he did kill at least less than a thousand magic beasts to allow the villagers to safely roam within the Death Qi domain to retrieve more books and information about Death Qi.
According to Krad'u, their village used to be situated near the perimeter as they were part of the three colonies guarding the area of Death Qi, but since forty years ago when the powerful Elven Clan managing Ab'atuan Trading City which their resources primarily comes from was eliminated, the Formations surrounding the Death Qi mountains has been left unattended thereby the expansion causing their village relocation.
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Many of the texts Clay asked for are in their original village and some are located within the Death Qi mountains like hieroglyphics carved in stone walls. Unfortunately, not one text mentioned about a cure. All those who have received the Beast Core Transplant or rather "power from the immortals" according the scripts have all died but did not say when, how or where.
Later on, the succeeding translated texts are all biographies of their ancestors depicting how immortals clad with shiny metallic armors descended from the heavens with their massive ships. According to these immortals, those who died after being bestowed by their power will soon revive after thousands of years as a Spiritual Veins and will continue to look after their future grand descendants and it was a ritual revered as most sacred.
Clay is very much interested with those practice, however curing himself is his priority right now. When Urda said that Elven can suppress Death Qi, he was probably referring to the secondary dantian upon which Elven can store Death Qi through a Yin and Yang circulation technique. Similar to his Beast Cores, their secondary dantian is functioning separately to their primary meridians but the number of Qi Nodes connected is limited.
All of the text translated so far pertains to the succeeding experiences of their lineage and he anticipates that the texts that the team will be bringing this afternoon will all be irrelevant as well. There is no text pertaining as to what happened to the immortals who bestowed their power. Not even the time of death.
Exhale!
Clay let a long sigh.
Summarizing everything so far, Death Qi seem to have had existed since time immemorial then at one point in time, aliens visited the planet. It is not really aliens with scary features but from the description of the books, they look like High Elves and their purpose is to experiment on Spiritual Vein production using the natives as subjects.
Clay stepped outside and flew towards the place where the ancient texts were being copied. He needed to speak with Krad'u. While he was flying, he noticed that there is no one in the original village but he saw groups of Half Elves within the Death Qi Mountains so he changed his route. Then upon landing, he saw Krad'u and a few villagers together with a few children observing an elderly meditating not far from them.
Clay did not know what is the occasion that everyone looked serious so he approached them silently.
"Her name is Murci. She is part of our proud warriors and even in old age, she is still willing to help the village. She will be incorporating Death Qi surpassing her capacity. It will greatly reduce the concentration of Death Qi within a kilometer radius."
"I am sorry for your loss." Clay did not need Krad’u to further explain so he flew back to the village. Clay could already guess the old woman will sacrifice herself in the process of decreasing the amount of Death Qi in the area. And unlike the slow and painful process turning into a beast, that woman will instantly be killed after reached her limit.
It is still a mystery why no energy is left when cultivators die but he decided not to get attached too much with them.
Last time, he was devastated when his maid was killed because of him and to this day, he has yet to actually move one.
In the mean time, he pulled a book and study more about cultivation.