"Do you think their condition is holding up well, quite stable?" The Tree Spirit’s voice came from behind.
Angel nodded: "Indeed, it seems much better than Witch Greya’s previous state."
When Greya was sealed by Ironclad Granny, her eyes were still bloodshot, fiercely wanting to attack everything around. But the patient inside this wooden vine cocoon looked very peaceful, as if in slumber.
The Tree Spirit gave a helpless smile: "Their state seems stable only because the life entity’s instinct is temporarily suppressing the madness."
"Can’t suppress the madness? What do you mean?" Angel asked in confusion.
The Tree Spirit did not give a direct answer but said: "Take a few steps forward, and you’ll know."
Angel hesitated for a moment and stepped forward.
At first, Angel walked slowly, but after taking two steps, he paused for a second with a stunned expression. Then he couldn’t help but quicken his pace, and two seconds later, he stood by the Life Pool.
Standing here, Angel’s expression grew more and more astonished.
Previously, when he was on the periphery, he only felt a thick life aura, comparable to the Wood Territory of the Tidal World; but there were no other sensations. However, following the Tree Spirit’s guidance, when he took a few more steps forward, he immediately sensed something was off.
The life aura had become so intense that it had reached a point of qualitative change.
Even just breathing could directly affect the essence of a life entity.
At this moment, as Angel stood by the Life Pool, every breath made him clearly perceive positive changes happening inside his body.
This feeling was quite magical, like a drunken man who suddenly sobers from intoxication. It was also as if a profound enlightenment occurred, leaving his mind clear.
Every decayed organ in his body felt thoroughly cleansed and revitalized, coming alive with new vigor.
From body to soul, from mind to spirit, everything exuded a refreshing sensation.
Angel distinctly felt every change in his body, and these changes had no side effects whatsoever, purely purification and... evolution.
Is this the core of the Eternal Tree, the truth of the Life Pool?
No wonder Lianna is so longingly obsessed with this place.
If Angel were in her position, he too wouldn’t resist staying in such a place for a long time. This feeling of cleansing one’s bloodline and rejuvenating thoughts is priceless.
"Now, do you understand?" The Tree Spirit slowly walked over, stopping by the Life Pool, casually stirring the pool water. As the ripples spread, an even thicker life aura surged upward, causing those hanging in the wooden vine cocoon above to all let out heavy breaths.
Even Angel couldn’t help but hum in comfort, so it’s no wonder those patients couldn’t resist sighing.
The Tree Spirit: "Even though they are afflicted with madness, their desire for this aura, which bestows absolute benefits to a life entity, remains strong. This desire is what I mean by instinct. Their yearning instinct suppresses their madness, making them seem better than Greya’s situation."
"But in reality, they are consuming my foundation." The Tree Spirit gave a helpless smile.
What the Tree Spirit said was not wrong; the Life Pool is the essence he accumulated over tens of thousands of years. Even if outsiders inhale just a tiny bit of the aura that escapes, it consumes his foundation.
"That’s why I said earlier about issuing the rescue mission, with the mission reward provided by them, for this reason." The Tree Spirit continued: "The life aura they’ve consumed these days, even under the influence of madness, continues to enhance their life’s essence."
Angel nodded in understanding.
Perhaps the madness caused by distorted meaning would temporarily weaken their spirit sea, but there’s always a way to restore it. However, an enhancement in life’s essence is quite rare. Previously, Angel thought that having them provide the mission’s reward seemed a bit harsh on the Barbarian Cave, but now it appeared that the Barbarian Cave wasn’t unfair to them at all.
"Originally, we intended to place them in the Puppet Hospital in Windmill Town, but this madness is far more terrifying than the previous outbreak of live lines. Once these madness patients leave the Life Pool’s range, even if restrained, they’d continually utter murmurs, which, although may not affect Official Wizards, are extremely effective against apprentices and ordinary people. As soon as one person’s murmur spreads, within minutes, the entire Windmill Town could be overrun."
Angel’s face turned somewhat pale upon hearing this. Previously, he merely thought the madness might be a bit more severe than parasitic light points or live lines, but not by much. However, according to the Tree Spirit’s explanation, this astonishing mode and scale of infection are far more terrifying than any other epidemic he knew.
If not controlled timely from the source, it could engulf an entire nation in no time.
Angel felt a small sense of relief at this moment. Fortunately, he had a foresight previously; before sending the Dalmatian away, he thought of this madness issue and had the Dalmatian provide that Green Vein model. Otherwise, the consequences would have been hard to predict.
"Since we couldn’t place them in the Puppet Hospital, there was no other option but to put them here. At least, while they’re here, they won’t be muttering, but it does put me in a tough spot." The Tree Spirit displayed a chest-thumping posture. Normally, he strictly managed the Life Pool, allowing Lord Reine only seldom visits, but this time, it truly was a big sacrifice.
Dozens of them came at once.
Just watching them breathe the life aura each day made the Tree Spirit feel uneasy, prompting him to escape to the Wilderness of Dreams to cheer himself up creating various images with the Tree Group Development Team.
This is also why, upon seeing Angel arrive, the Tree Spirit was so eager to come meet him personally.
Because Angel’s arrival meant... these young rascals eating away at his foundation could finally leave, of course, he was excited.
However, to avoid any misunderstanding, the Tree Spirit cautiously asked: "You came over this time, have you figured out a way to cure them?"
Angel actually wanted to play around and say "no." But seeing the Tree Spirit’s cautious look, afraid of getting disappointed again, he couldn’t bring himself to do it, honestly nodding: "It’s ready, except..."
"Except what?" The Tree Spirit was quite pleased to hear the first part, but the "but" at the end startled him, prompting a wary inquiry.
"It’s just that I don’t understand why it has this effect."
Since the Tree Spirit had seen the green light point released by the Dalmatian before, Angel decided to explain the Green Vein situation and his research confusion in slightly vague terms.
After hearing Angel’s explanation, the Tree Spirit confirmed that the Green Vein could be used and finally sighed in relief.
As for Angel’s confusion, Tree Spirit seemed indifferent: "Asking me, I don’t know how to answer you. However, I can share my experience. I have certain abilities myself, which I couldn’t research the origin of initially. No matter how hard I tried, there were no answers. But eventually, the more I used them, those doubts oddly became clear, and what I couldn’t understand before gradually became explained during use."
"But that’s just my personal experience. I don’t know if it applies to you, but you might as well use your special abilities more often. Maybe one day, enlightenment will come?"
Angel understood the Tree Spirit’s implication—"practice brings true knowledge." Yet, with the Green Vein’s system, of which he hadn’t grasped even the fundamental logic, could this principle genuinely apply? Angel wasn’t sure, but it wouldn’t hurt to try more.
"Also, didn’t you transplant the skin of the Transforming Soft-bodied Insect, and learn the Shapeshifting Technique?" Tree Spirit: "You can use the Shapeshifting Technique now, but do you understand its true principles?"
Angel: "I don’t understand, but I can go learn it."
"Will you go learn it now?" Tree Spirit raised an eyebrow.
Angel remained silent; he wouldn’t learn it right now. The true principles of Shapeshifting are profound and time-consuming, taking at least years, if not decades.