Secrets of the Dao I

Clay is inspecting a bluish green leaf extending from one of the branches of a Naraheim Enlightenment Tree. He just transplanted this tree together with other trees that has similar leaves like the actual tree and planted them inside the temple he requested Elder Laur build for him.

Almost eleven months ago after killing every member of Hawk Point Bandit, he found an unusual tree at the innermost part of their lair. It is a treasure their leader stole and to avoid pursuit, this Peak Core Formation took over the bandit and became its leader.

Clay’s sensitivity to Dao had been extremely refined that even without activating his Godly Eyes, he knew this tree was not ordinary. He regretted killing the bandit leader without asking everything and it was a good thing he found a book in the leader’s spatial pertaining to this tree.

Accordingly, this is a heavenly treasure that has an ability to harness pure energy from heavens and the earth and after thousands of years, meditating before this tree will help cultivators gain enlightenment and touch the realm of Grand Dao.

From his experience, there are only two items that is capable of harnessing Dao. One is the World Tree he planted during his past life and the second is Fauna Category of Essence Flames. The difference though is that, for Essence Flames, the blue mist or Dao reflected on his Godly Eyes is following the pattern of Fire Element while the Dao within the World Tree did not have a form.

Back when he first created a Psuedo Spiritual Vein, the trees and plants that absorbed the mysterious energy did not exhibit or formed a blue mist in them and this Naraheim Enlightenment Tree is the third on his list.

To ensure that this tree will not wither, he was forced to create a floating island inside one of his spatial rings. It is crude but the island is capable of sustaining life.

The first six months after exterminating the bandits, he realized how boring his life had become. If not because of those books contained in each spatial ring of those he killed, then he’ll probably get tired of living.

Six months after he came to this village, Laur came to invite him for their annual festival. While it did have a nice ring to it, Clay declined when he heard that he will be watching a village tournament. Clay is still traumatized of those scenes he witnessed during that time when he was planning on joining a human sect. The phrase “dragon amongst men” is still reverberating on his ears that he gets irritated just thinking about it. He fears that he may squish someone on impulse once he saw someone who is like a dragon amongst men during this tournament so he declined and stayed inside the residence.

Days went on and one of the books he read pertains about Peletin Piranha Eels. Accordingly, these types of fresh water fish when feed with a certain type of pill will become corrupted that it becomes a deadly scavenger. It would eat away the flesh of dead cultivators. As it matures, it converts all those energies into its own and when it dies, its flesh and bones becomes a perfect fertilizers for body forging related herbs.

Clay still has those bodies of those Core Formation Demons he killed long ago. Unlike the bodies of human and Elven cultivators which rots after six months, with proper handling, demon bodies takes at least 40 years before it decays. The reason he has not disposed of them is because way back at Rising Cloud Sect, he did saw some quests about turning in bodies of Kulfagar Demons and he had been keeping them as he knew that it will come a time he will turn them into points as well.

Since he built his floating island, he wanted to grow some of these fish and he asked Laur if he knew of them. He was expecting Laur know nothing about these creatures but he was actually surprised when he found out that they are very common.

On that day though when two Elven came to deliver the fish, he suddenly discovered that the young Elf accompanying the caretaker has an unusually large soul. The size is similar to that of Re’y, Midi and even that guy Liom who chose to disappear.

He closely observed the boy to make sure it is not a rebirther and that is when he was reminded that most people he met who had manifested Dao has at least a descent size of their souls.

It was then he was reminded of his objective. He knew that there big possibility that he may not be able to figure out a way to concoct pills using his Dao or he may not be able to replicate the Barnachean Blood Art his entire life so he has to accept the possibility of him eating pills from other Alchemists. Of course he did not want to die of pill poison so the he must ingest pills of at least 80 percent quality. The problem on that plan though is that, getting a Tier III -4 Star Alchemist to concoct those pills is close to impossibility so an idea came up to him.

Why not invest in a promising Alchemist? The perfect candidate just came to present himself. While this young Elf has an average Elemental Affinity, his affinity is that of Fire Element and on top of it, his soul size is humongous making him a perfect candidate to cultivate Dao as well.

He has yet to understand if his method of obtaining his Dao Powers has some detrimental side effects and he did not want this boy to achieve Dao like he did but he should be able to assist this boy touch the realm of Grand Dao. From his understanding, this Naraheim Enlightenment Tree should be able to assist this young Elven. He just had this tree absorbed the mysterious power from the Psuedo Spiritual Vein to increase the Dao or blue mist that is currently assimilated in the tree.

Clay turned around and looked at Laur who is currently near the door.

“Remember that this tree can cause your entire village to cease. Similar to that Spiritual Vein I planted within your training grounds, if people will know of its existence, even I will not be able to protect everyone.

“I will take this young master’s words to heart.”

Clay is already aware that Laur followed him that night when he killed those bandits. He wanted to kill everyone in secret but he learned that Laur was on his tail a little too late and he only knew of it when he had to scan the whole mountain for any escapees. The good thing is that Laur is not a blabbermouth and kept what he saw that night to himself.

Clay stepped outside a pentagon-like structure. Similar to the design from where the Naraheim Enlightenment Tree was originally planted within the bandit’s lair, Clay copied the same idea but without those intricate Defensive Formation. There are other trees that look similar to Naraheim Enlightenment Tree and he planted at least six of them to make it look like the inner part of the temple is an ordinary building with trees at the center of its interior.

There is still a protective defensive an offensive layer of Formations but it is designed to limit the people who can get inside and meditate.

“How’s the boy doing?”

“I hope this young master can understand. I just sent him home. He had become too impatient and exhausted himself three times in a row now.”

“Lead me to his residence. I need to inspect his condition.”

Laur activated his wings and flew towards the nearest village north of the central training grounds. The distance is around 4 kilometers and it only took them less than a minute and landed on an empty ground within the village.

Out of curiosity, at least five little Elven younglings came to see those two heroic figures who came to visit.

*Woooh!

Clay wanted to ignore those innocent children as he silently followed Laur but seeing their naivety, he reactivated his wings and made it a little bigger and flapped them creating a gust of wind.

*Woooh!

*Waaah!

Clay restrained his urge to make a pose. That display should be more than enough to not disappoint the excitement of these adorable tiny Elven.

He smiled after being reminded that there is some humanity left in him. Like everybody else, when faced with a curious toddler below the age of two, his face reacted and smiled without him knowing. He remembered that one time back on earth when he was going home after a bad business deal and he had to take a bus. Then later, a woman with a baby sat beside him and that baby was lively it wanted to touch his goatee. He was having a bad day but those innocent look in that baby’s eyes automatically called forth that soft, funny and compassionate part of him. For some unknown reason, these adorable little Elvens triggered the same reaction from him. If not because of these little kid’s parents who came to take them in, he probably ended up having to tuck in his sleeves and show his biceps while showing off his wings

*Meh

Clay cleared his mind and observed the nearby houses. As they walk, he is beginning to understand why these Elves have lost their inherent arrogance.

“We greet the village Patriarch.”