Above the mage

Chapter 193 [The Green Wood Longevity Scripture]

"This 'Green Wood Longevity Sutra' seems a bit different from other cultivation methods?"

After reading the introduction to the Green Wood Longevity Scripture, Gao De looked up and couldn't help but ask.

The name of this cultivation method was so "fantasy" that it almost gave him the illusion that he had traveled through time again.

"Oh, this is an Eastern cultivation method from the Central Plains Continent," the old master said dismissively.

"Eastern cultivation methods?" Gao De exclaimed in surprise.

Having spent most of his life working in the library, he knew without asking what Gao De was curious about, and immediately began to explain:

"The culture and customs of the Central Plains are completely different from ours, and the names of their cultivation methods are mostly mysterious and esoteric."

"Leaving aside culture, the mage system on the Central Continent is actually quite unique, and it is very different from our Nolan Continent and Terra Continent."

"There is no unified government or standing army on their side; there are only schools of magic and various monasteries."

"Their magical schools of thought are even more bizarre, some even contradicting each other. Although there is no national conflict there, disputes between schools of thought are common."

"The Midgard Continent was originally the birthplace of magic, so that continent has the largest number and variety of native magical creatures and magical plants in the entire plane."

"Even the legendary dragon's nest is located on an archipelago in the sea surrounding the Central Continent."

"And the mages of the Central Continent have always regarded themselves as part of nature, rather than its masters."

"Their way of life is to coexist harmoniously with these magical animals and plants, and through this interdependent relationship, they have multiplied and thrived for countless generations."

"Therefore, the spiritual practices they developed were often related to nature and all things."

"Because the Central Plains is located in the east of the Mage plane, their cultivation methods are completely different from the cultivation methods we commonly see here."

"Therefore, in order to distinguish between the two schools of cultivation, the cultivation methods of the Central Plains are generally called Eastern cultivation methods, while the cultivation methods of our side are called Western cultivation methods."

There is no obvious superiority or inferiority between Eastern and Western spiritual practices; it's just that their philosophies differ.

"This [Azure Wood Longevity Scripture] is one of the cultivation methods of a monastery called the Balance Temple on the Central Continent."

"I heard that the monks in this monastery practice five different methods of cultivation."

"Besides the [Green Wood Longevity Scripture], there are also the [Black Water Heavenly Scripture], the [White Gold Seven Killings Scripture], the [Crimson Flame Responding to Fire Scripture], and the [Yellow Earth Carrying Things Scripture], but only the [Green Wood Longevity Scripture] has been passed down to outsiders."

"The cultivation methods from the Central Plains have actually spread here?" Gao De asked in surprise. "Cultivation methods are usually secret secrets passed down by various mage factions, and they need to be kept strictly confidential, right?"

The old master smiled slightly, "There is a reason for this. As you have seen, this cultivation method requires not only sacred objects but also the absorption of the essence of plants and trees."

"Therefore, under normal circumstances, monks who practice this method are passionate nature lovers who will take the initiative to plant plants and create sacred places for plants."

"From this perspective, the more masters who practice this method, the more abundant the essence of plants and trees in the world will be, and the more sacred places for their practice will be."

"Therefore, the monks of Junheng Temple not only did not keep the [Qingmu Changsheng Jing] a secret, but even took the initiative to directly disclose this practice method."

"In addition, they also sent mages across the Emerald Sea, from the Central Continent to our Nolan Continent, just to spread this [Green Wood Longevity Scripture]."

"This is also why other rare cultivation methods require 50 credits to exchange, but the [Green Wood Longevity Scripture] only requires 25 credits, since it is not difficult to obtain."

After the old mage's introduction, Gao De was immediately filled with curiosity about this unique continent.

Temples, monasteries, schools of magic, and mysterious and esoteric practices.

It seems that the cultural system of this Central Plains continent is somewhat similar to that of his previous life.

"The cultivation requirements for the 【Azure Wood Longevity Scripture】 don't seem to be high. Compared to the powerful abilities it can bring, I think quite a few people would choose this cultivation method, right?" Gao De asked again.

Lifespan is increased, cultivation speed is increased, and mental strength is increased.

Any one of these three abilities would be incredibly attractive to a mage on its own, let alone the fact that the [Azure Wood Longevity Scripture] possesses all three.

And the requirements for cultivation are so low.

Choosing a plant as a sacred object and absorbing its essence to accelerate cultivation—who can't do that?

Plants aren't everywhere, but the essence of grass and trees can be seen everywhere.

Anyway, Gaode was immediately interested.

"Wrong," the old master shook his head mercilessly, "In fact, the number of masters who choose this cultivation method is not only small, but extremely small."

"It is the least selected of all the cultivation methods in the academy's collection."

"Huh?!" Gao De exclaimed in confusion, "Why is that? Is its efficacy fake?"

He couldn't understand it.

At least the allure of longevity is something few monks could resist, right?

"The effects are real, but this is only a brief introduction and does not go into detail."

"Actually, once you see the complete cultivation method, you'll understand that while its unique abilities seem wonderful, they're actually all traps."

"If it were truly that powerful, this cultivation method wouldn't require the monks of the Balance Temple to go to such great lengths to transmit it."

"How so?" Gao De couldn't help but frown.

"First of all, the way this practice increases a monk's lifespan is by having the monk choose a specific plant as a sacred object, and then use that plant to increase his lifespan. Once the sacred object dies, the lifespan increase will be completely dissipated."

"As I told you, the mages of the Central Plains coexist harmoniously with the plants and animals, and this method of cultivation is exactly what is reflected in them."

"The 'Green Wood Longevity Scripture' has a hidden requirement when choosing a sacred object: you must communicate with the plant before selecting it."

"Only after gaining the plant's approval can one form a pact with it, designating it as a sacred object, and thereby gain an extension of lifespan through it."

"One-tenth of the relic's lifespan can be converted into your lifespan, but the conversion rate is only one-tenth."

"In other words, a plant with a lifespan of a thousand years can only use one hundred years of its lifespan to extend your lifespan by ten years."

"The problem is that the lifespan of plants is generally limited. It's rare for them to live for several hundred years, so this will only extend your lifespan by a few years at most, which is not very meaningful."

"The only truly long-lived plant is the Demon Plant."

"And it must be a high-level magical plant, preferably a tree-type magical plant."

"But why should a high-level magical plant agree to become your sacred object, and give you a tenth of its lifespan for nothing?"

"Unless the benefits you bring it outweigh the loss of this ten percent of its lifespan."

"Therefore, the most practical way to cultivate this method is to obtain a seed of a high-level magical plant, plant it yourself, and then, through the plant's instinctive affection, you can effortlessly form a bond with it."

"But this method has two problems. First, the seeds of high-level magical plants are hard to find; they are extremely precious and you can't necessarily buy them even if you have money."

"Secondly, it means you will need to spend a lot of resources to cultivate an additional high-level magical plant."

"For high-level magical plants to grow, a spiritual land is essential. High-level magical plants generally require a high-level spiritual land, which can stump countless mages."

Gao De nodded silently.

A spiritual land, let alone a high-level spiritual land, even the lowest-level first-tier spiritual land is a treasure trove, something that ordinary mages cannot possess.

"In addition, for magical plants to grow quickly, they need a lot of resources, as well as corresponding cultivation techniques and careful care."

"Most mages struggle to support themselves, let alone have the ability to cultivate a high-level magical plant."

"Finally, the concept of a sacred object is both the wonder of the [Azure Wood Longevity Scripture] and its flaw."

"On the one hand, you can gain many benefits by relying on sacred objects."

"But on the other hand, as long as you destroy your sacred object, the extra lifespan you gained through this method will dissipate, and the cultivation abilities you gained through the sacred object will also disappear."

"This is essentially your Achilles' heel."

"Demonic plants need to be planted on sacred ground, and once planted, they cannot be transplanted at will, let alone carried around."

"Your enemies may not be able to do anything to you, but they can bypass you and sabotage your sacred objects."

"How can you guard against thieves for a thousand days? Unless you can stay by the sacred object all the time, or have a powerful force backing you to protect it."

"With its numerous prerequisites and inherent flaws, even though the [Green Wood Longevity Scripture] possesses the three miraculous effects of prolonging life, accelerating cultivation, and enhancing spiritual power, very few people actually choose this technique."

Gao De pondered for a moment.

"Having said so much and observed for so long, have you decided which cultivation method you'd like to choose?"

"I've made up my mind."

"Which cultivation method have you chosen?" the old master asked curiously.

"I need to go back and think it over carefully before making a decision," Gao De said seriously. "As for now, I'd like to buy one or two first-level spell recipes."

(End of this chapter)