Chapter 349

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Chapter 349: The Golden Power: Beginner Level

Bai Wei couldn’t change the past or bring back miracles.

This power, in truth, belonged to Kokonohana Reiko herself. As a witch, she was on the cusp of awakening her innate gift, and Bai Wei merely gave her the final nudge.

Once awakened, this power revealed itself as regeneration.

Though not overwhelmingly powerful, it carried the ability to heal wounds, restore youth, and even extend life to a degree. However, relying on it recklessly—especially in battles demanding rapid recovery—would only deplete one’s life force prematurely.

Bai Wei surveyed the surroundings, appreciating the serene landscape. “This is a good place for planting trees,” he murmured.

He withdrew a small golden seed, which floated in the air, radiating a luminous golden glow.

The seed wasn’t ordinary. It was a branch from the Golden Tree—a tree capable of propagating endlessly as long as one mother tree remained.

But planting a Golden Tree wasn’t a simple task. Unlike ordinary flora, its roots didn’t anchor in the material world. Instead, they sank deep into the spiritual realm.

Even though Yingzhou brimmed with mysticism, the small island couldn’t sustain the vast growth of a Golden Tree. As seen with the one at the border, there could only be a single towering mother tree in each world.

At present, the mother tree stood tall at the Tulip Academy, and the tree planted here in Yingzhou would remain a mere offshoot. While its presence might bring prosperity to the village, its primary purpose was akin to that of a signal tower—connecting the spiritual network.

Bai Wei tossed the branch lightly. It sank into the earth like a stone into water.

Ether from the spiritual sea nourished it, and moments later, a tender golden sapling, half a meter tall, broke through the soil.

“If Totoro were here with an umbrella, it’d grow even faster,” Bai Wei chuckled.

He gently touched the sapling, which glowed warmly in response. “Remember, don’t grow too tall. If you exceed fifty meters, I’ll have to trim you down,” Bai Wei warned, smiling.

The sapling seemed to understand, swaying gently as if in agreement.

“It’s done,” Bai Wei said with finality.

Kokonohana Nori hesitated before stepping forward cautiously. Though the sapling was small, its golden light was so abundant it felt like standing in sunlight. Even the Scarlet Curse seemed to dissipate.

“They… they planted it so easily,” Kokonohana Nori whispered.

Generations of efforts by the Allied Nations had failed to find a solution, and now this.

“Is this truly the Golden Tree?” Kokonohana Reiko asked in awe.

“It’s still an infant,” Bai Wei replied. “It’ll take ten years to mature. Care for it until then.”

“We will! What should we do?” Reiko asked, her voice filled with determination.

“Just ensure it isn’t chopped down or stolen,” Bai Wei said casually.

“Do we not need to water it? Or… build anything around it?”

“You can if you want,” Bai Wei said lightly. “But the Golden Tree knows how to grow on its own. It’ll survive. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be worthy of being called a Golden Tree.”

Even the sapling seemed to affirm this, radiating reassurance.

Nearby, Kurosawa Yaka whispered, “Just standing near it… I feel so warm.”

Bai Wei nodded. “The Golden Tree carries blessings. While it won’t fully erase the Scarlet Curse immediately, the foundation has been laid. The Blood Moon Disease will no longer threaten you.”

The emperor’s words brought hope, though the villagers were too overwhelmed to cry out in joy. After decades of suffering, the sudden solution felt unreal.

Kurosawa Yaka suddenly remembered something. Removing a pendant from her neck, she approached Bai Wei.

“This belongs to you, Your Majesty,” she said, offering it to him.

The pendant, crafted from strands of golden hair, held a small piece of pale white finger bone. It seemed to resonate with the Golden Tree, releasing golden light that dispelled the remaining Scarlet Curse.

Bai Wei’s gaze lingered on the pendant, his expression shifting.

My third joint…

The realization hit him. This was his own finger bone.

Reclaiming it would restore a fragment of his Golden Power, yet it stirred complicated emotions within him.

He accepted the pendant, allowing the bone to merge back into his spirit.

The golden power within him surged slightly.

Kokonohana Reiko suddenly dashed to the village shrine, startling a group of sleepy priests. She retrieved an ancient artifact—a sealed wooden box.

“Your Majesty,” she said breathlessly, “our ancestors brought this back from Yingzhou. It contains… two spinal bones!”

Bai Wei opened the box, revealing bones soaked in golden resin. Though aged, they radiated vitality, their marrow brimming with power.

Golden Power detected. Fragments nearby, whispered the energy within him.

Yet Bai Wei hesitated. Taking the bones might disrupt the villagers’ lives.

But Kokonohana Reiko insisted. “With the Golden Tree here, we’ll be safe. Please, take them back.”

Bai Wei sighed, taking the bones. The golden liquid within them flowed into him, resonating with his spirit.

[Golden Power upgraded.]

[Fragment → First Stage.]

[New Skill Tree Unlocked.]

[‘Golden Tomb’ Imaginary Scene Available.]

The upgrade brought back the strength Bai Wei had as a child, though his power still paled in comparison to his former peak.

“If I can recover my golden eyes… I might reach the intermediate or even advanced level again,” Bai Wei mused.

“Thank you,” he said to the villagers. “This is a pleasant surprise.”

“No, Your Majesty,” Reiko replied humbly. “We are honored.”

Bai Wei’s figure began to fade. “The era of witches sacrificing themselves is over. Live for yourselves now, not for me. That is my hope for all of you.”

As his golden particles dispersed into the air, the villagers bowed deeply.

Kokonohana Nori, however, furrowed her brow.

Why does he bow in the style of the Ming Country?