Chapter 17
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Chapter 17: Harvest
There is only one Heart of Nature in all of Aryan.
It is the seed of the Druid Sacred Tree, the origin and end of the giant oak tree the size of an island. Every thousand years, the Sacred Tree withers, and the Great Druid digs out the Heart of Nature from the withered branches, embarks on a journey with all the Guardians of the sacred land, and plants the Heart of Nature in a whole new land. They listen to the direction of the wind for their journey, and the ravens know where the destination is. Where there is a Sacred Tree is the sacred land of the Druids.
Under this oak tree, the first Druid understood the secrets of nature. Each generation of Great Druids buried their bones next to this oak tree, and new trees sprouted from their graves, growing vigorously. The migration once every thousand years does not take away the surrounding forest, but the Druids do not mind, as the cycle of renewal is a natural law. Each generation of Druids must earn the recognition of the Heart of Nature to pay their respects to nature, like an introduction at a feast, only then can they qualify to use the Force of Nature.
Just the heavy history of the Heart of Nature is enough to show its value. Apart from its commemorative significance, Tasha looked at these descriptions and felt like she had received a big gift of Druid skills.
"Actually, it’s not very useful," Victor said uncertainly. "Running dungeons doesn’t require relying on the Force of Nature. Without Druids or guardians, the Heart of Nature is useless. Look at the oak tree itself, can’t even beat a small human team, right?"
"I’m done signing," Tasha said firmly.
"I really don’t understand why the Sacred object of the Druids is in this tree," Victor said in agony. "Did all those Druids die? Getting the Heart of Nature as soon as they reach the surface, it’s not how mortal knight novels go."
Compared to persuading, this time he sounded more like complaining to Tasha, who took it as a breeze. Her mood was good, and after the Forest Convention was over, a new card appeared in the palace of the mind.
"Oak Guardian, an ordinary tree yet holding the Heart of Nature, even if its life span is short – oh, it’s already failing. The Force of Nature cannot prevent the decline of this oak tree, it will die in a year or two, leaving you the Heart of Nature."
Even if one doesn’t use their own contract, can they still obtain corresponding abilities after signing a contract? What good news. Tasha looked down and found that the skill "Heart of Nature" had already appeared on the card, feeling lucky as if she had received payment in advance.
[Heart of Nature]: The feeling of nature surrounds you.
…Is that it?
Tasha saw a vague skill description for the first time. She tried to use it, but nothing happened. Looking closer, she noticed a few small words next to "Heart of Nature", saying in brackets, fake and passive.
[Heart of Nature](fake)(passive): The feeling of nature surrounds you.
Okay, I shouldn’t be too greedy in the dungeon.
Tasha can try to see the effects of the passive skill later. She didn’t sign a contract with this tree for this bonus skill, anyway.
The Forest Convention sparkled in the dark space. Both parties had signed their names, and the contract began to take effect. The Oak Elder released a sigh wearily, causing the space to become unstable and would soon collapse on its own. Tasha hurriedly asked, "What does it mean to open a passage to the Abyss or the Heavenly Realm? Has the passage been closed?"
"More precisely, they have been severed," Oak Elder replied. "With the contract signed, the various wise races of Aryan have united against the Abyss and the Heavenly Realm. Ultimately, the heroes cut off the dimensions, and there were no longer any passages to the Abyss or the Heavenly Realm."
"It’s done," Tasha said to Victor in her mind. "I promised you I would find the cause of the Abyss appearing."
"Just like this?!" Victor exclaimed in shock.
Tasha was stunned by Book of Dungeons’ trickery, but she couldn’t find fault because in the contract, she only agreed to "solve the problems arising from the abyss", without mentioning the level of completion or agreeing to solve the issues. Tasha couldn’t understand how a demon like Victor could be so naive and cute, wondering if such a salesman could survive in the abyss. She closed the book in her mind, pressed her hand on the cover, and heard him whimper like a pitiful person with a covered mouth.
Ah, peace and quiet.
"So I am willing to trust you." On the other hand, Oak Elder continued, "The abyss is the last line of defense. As long as you don’t drag Aryan back into the plane war, no matter who you are, I think… all non-human races on earth should look out for each other now."
The voice of the oak tree held many stories, Tasha thought, that she would ask about when she had enough time. She paused for a moment and said, "But I am a product of the abyss, the Dungeon Core is from the abyss."
"That’s different," the tree explained briefly, "I mean the aura is the Abyss Factor, a trace of activity linked to the abyss."
"It is a phenomenon, not a constant substance, like the difference between wind and air?" Tasha asked.
"Exactly," agreed Oak Elder, "Things connected to the abyss cannot hide their traces from those in the know. They are always surrounded by storms of the raging Abyss Factor, but not you. A hero must have destroyed your past self. Their attack severed your connection to the abyss, purging the aura that once had dealings with the abyss. Even if someone discovered your existence the moment you woke up, they couldn’t locate you afterward, because you are brand new."
It sounded like good news favoring hiding.
The Book of Dungeons suddenly fluttered wildly and even slapped Tasha’s hand aside. "How is this possible?" Victor shouted in disbelief, "I am a big demon! I am part of the Abyssal Will itself! You made a contract with me, how can there be no hint of the abyss?"
Tasha held down the pages of the book and gave Victor a warning look. He shut his mouth, but every page flickered with restless patterns.
"Got it," Tasha casually said to Oak Elder, "I know big demons are part of the abyss. If they were on the surface, would they be filled with the breath of the abyss, clearly visible at a glance?"
"Indeed," Oak Elder paused, "So in today’s Aryan, it’s impossible to still have big demons."
Victor snickered.
"’Hunting’ has been going on for hundreds of years, child," Oak Elder gently shook his head, "Humans have already created things that can identify non-human bloodlines, how could they miss Aryan’s true enemy? If there was still a demon in this world, it would shine on the human star map like the sun, and then all of Aryan’s armies would flock to it. Not to mention the cunning big demons had already left before the planar rupture, even if some remained in Aryan, they could not have survived to this day without a sound."
"Where there are demons, there is the presence of the abyss, including those that have been suppressed," he concluded, "Unless it has already died, or been exiled by the abyss."
Tasha nodded and ended the conversation. She waited in her mind for Victor’s rebuttal, but there was nothing, as if the connection had suddenly been severed. Tasha pushed the book spine, but the book remained still, like an ordinary notebook. When she poked it again, the book suddenly closed with a snap.
At that moment, the space created by Oak Elder dissolved, and the surroundings lit up, revealing dozens of anxious faces. Despite their long conversation just now, it seemed like no time had passed outside. Tasha set the book aside and quickly cast a healing spell on the barely conscious oak tree.
The worgen girl’s face suddenly relaxed, she sniffed and rushed to hug the tree trunk tightly. It seemed like a signal, all the gathered little wanderers also rushed towards the oak tree, hugging it in rounds and cheering loudly. They looked even shorter under the tree, like a bunch of squirrels huddling together.
The kind Oak Elder embraced everyone, using his still bare branches – the fire scars gone but the leaves hadn’t grown back. He comfortingly patted everyone’s backs with dozens of hands, and then plucked out a sturdy beard from among them, pushing him towards Tasha.
"This is the master of the dungeon," he introduced to both sides, "meet Hogan, the chief of the Grindingstone Clan."
"Hello! Thank you for saving everyone!" The heavily bearded old man said excitedly, even reaching out to hug Tasha, passing through her ghostly body, and falling to the ground from momentum, rolling forward twice.
"As you know, we don’t have many places to go," Oak Elder said to Tasha, "If you are willing to take them in, they will be of great help to you. They are not good at fighting, but they are very familiar with the nearby areas, and there are many excellent craftsmen among them. I can act as a notary to provide a group contract, allowing them to work for you without revealing your existence to outsiders."
Marion let out a joyful sigh, her shoulders suddenly relaxed, relieved by this unexpected turn of events.
"Sounds good," Tasha nodded. To be honest, if Oak Elder hadn’t proposed this, the secrecy measures she had planned would have been a bit of a downer.
"What do you think, Hogan?" Oak Elder asked again.
"Great!" the chief brushed off the dust from his body and energetically said, "I shouldn’t have moved before! And it’s embarrassing to receive without giving anything in return…"
He stood behind his wife who kicked him in the butt. Hogan coughed and quickly changed the subject, "Thank you so much! Do you mind if we bring some things in? We need to find lots of torches, oh, make vents and oil lamps, make some tables and chairs, beds, cabinets, some good furniture! We will do this, as well as weapons, toys, little trinkets, if you need please let us know, this is a family business!"
Many people behind him nodded proudly. Tasha felt that after encountering attacks and seeing skeletons, these people recovered too quickly, showing nerves of steel that she didn’t want to bicker about.
Oak Elder took out the Forest Convention, Hogan signed the contract in the name of the chieftain, and all the survivors present were surnamed Grindstone, included in the contract. Tasha would provide them with shelter, they exchanged skills and information, swearing never to betray. The new cards were quite interesting, encompassing the entire tribe, and Tasha finally knew what these short statured people were.
"Half-blood Craftsman Dwarves, with diluted bloodline to the point of losing their gifted abilities, only their height remains stunted. They lack the courage and combat power of dwarves, likely to be the first to flee on the battlefield; they lack the financial acumen of gnomes, with most not knowing how many coins are in their pockets; they lack the agility and cunning of Hobbits, their overly optimistic spirits are equally irritating. Thank goodness, most of these timid and foolish dwarves are excellent craftsmen."
Skill [We Workers Have Power]: As the saying goes, knowledge is power, even though you have no knowledge of forging, you have an eye for understanding basic crafted items. For example: when you see a sword that is ugly and doesn’t resemble a sword at all, you will immediately realize, this is a sword!
Oak Elder didn’t say much, a light bulb went off in Tasha’s mind. Didn’t she have a spare forging room here? With someone handing her a pillow to sleep, even if she had a somewhat silly and funny skill, this wave wouldn’t be a loss.
When the second Forest Convention disappeared into the air, Oak Elder’s face showed obvious fatigue. "I think I need to rest for a while," he sighed, closed his eyes, and soon he turned into a faceless ordinary oak tree.
Marion glanced worriedly at the tree a few more times, while the Craftsman Dwarves started chattering about settlement matters. Tasha looked at this unreliable group, pondering ways to cover up traces, feeling a sense of responsibility to reclaim a large group of pets.