Above the mage

Chapter 289 The Right Path (Part 2)

"Also cultivate the Green Wood Longevity Scripture?" A hint of surprise flashed in Sunafa's eyes.

Clearly, Gaode's suggestion was somewhat unexpected for her.

"Yes," Gao De nodded, but instead of explaining the specific reasons, he changed the subject and asked Sunaifa, "Is it true that Ryan said the power of the Iceborn bloodline had weakened to its maximum of only four rings?"

Sunefa paused for a moment after hearing this before slowly saying, "Yes."

"I am a pure-blooded Iceborn, and theoretically, the power of the Iceborn bloodline within me should be the strongest among all Iceborn."

"Therefore, I was able to advance from the first ring to the fourth ring in just two years. However, after reaching the late fourth ring, my power stagnated, and no amount of cultivation could help. I had reached the limit of the power of my bloodline."

"The fourth ring should be the upper limit that the Iceborn bloodline power can reach now that has awakened on its own."

Sunafa's voice carried a subtle, almost imperceptible heaviness.

After pondering for a moment, Gao De asked, "Are there any methods to enhance the Iceborn bloodline?"

"The only known method is to ingest Ice Marrow and then use the 'Ice Condensation' ability from the 'Secret Transmission of True Ice' to enhance one's Iceborn bloodline power," Sunefa gave an answer that Gaode already knew.

"Is there no other way?"

"Not at the moment."

Gao De continued, "If I remember correctly, you said that to improve the Iceborn bloodline, you need at least 400 drops of Ice Marrow of the next higher rank. For example, to upgrade a third-ring Iceborn mage to the fourth rank, you need 400 drops of fourth-rank Ice Marrow."

"So if you want to raise your Iceborn bloodline to the fifth ring, you'll need 400 drops of fifth-tier Ice Marrow?"

"That's not how it's calculated," Sunefa corrected. "What I meant by advancing from the third ring to the fourth ring earlier was advancing from the initial stage of the third ring to the fourth ring, which is a complete level."

"I'm already at the late fourth ring, so I should only need 200 drops of fifth-tier ice marrow to raise my Iceborn bloodline power by another level."

"The quantity of 200 drops of Tier 5 Ice Marrow is not important. What is important is," Gao De pointed out the most crucial core issue: "Only Tier 5 Ice Marrow can be condensed by Tier 5 mages, while the current level cap for Iceborn mages is only Tier 4, so the highest they can condense is Tier 4 Ice Marrow."

This seems to be an unsolvable vicious cycle: without a fifth-ring mage, one cannot condense fifth-order ice mage mage; without condensing fifth-order ice mage ...

This is the predicament that the Iceborn Mage is currently facing.

"Back then, Ryan said that the Iceborn bloodline was a complete dead end. To go further, we had to abandon the Iceborn bloodline and find another way. To take a step forward meant that we had to give up some things. That was the right path." Gao De repeated what Ryan had said that day.

"In that case, what he said makes some sense; the Iceborn bloodline is indeed a dead end."

Sunafa's deep blue eyes were fixed on Gaode, her gaze flickering as if she were deep in thought.

"However, I can only agree with half of what he said," Gao De paused, then continued, "If we want to go further, we do need to find another way, but that doesn't mean we need to give up the Iceborn bloodline."

He looked at Sunafa and smiled, "Now do you understand why I had you cultivate the Green Wood Longevity Scripture as well?"

Sunafa was stunned for a moment, then her pupils suddenly dilated.

Seeing Sunafa's reaction, Gao De knew that she had understood. "Yes, if you cultivate an additional cultivation method, you can condense fifth-order ice mage mage level five times after breaking through to the fifth ring in another cultivation method, which in turn will boost the improvement of your ice bloodline."

This is called "the rich helping the poor".

"In my opinion, you Icefolk should be the most suitable mages in the world to practice cultivation methods as well," Gaode continued.

"The biggest drawback of practicing multiple cultivation methods is that the limited spiritual power of a monk means that the time available for daily practice is limited. In order to balance the practice of multiple cultivation methods, the progress of each cultivation method will be slower than that of a monk who practices only one cultivation method."

"But Iceborn mages are different. As long as your Iceborn bloodline power is strong enough, your mage level can be increased quickly. There is no need to waste too much time on the 'True Ice Secret Manual'."

"This means that if you only practice the 'Secret Transmission of Zhenbing' and another cultivation method, you will not be much different from a mage who only practices one cultivation method."

"That's true." Sunefa's eyes brightened slightly.

"As for why it's the Green Wood Longevity Scripture," Gao De continued, "the reason is quite simple. First, the characteristics of this cultivation method are extremely suitable for you."

The "Green Wood Longevity Scripture" possesses three great effects: prolonging life, accelerating cultivation, and enhancing spiritual power.

"Firstly, the Green Wood Longevity Scripture can increase the speed of cultivation by absorbing the essence of plants and trees."

"For you, the strength of the second cultivation method you are practicing is not that important. The strength of the 'True Ice Secret Transmission' is already sufficient. The greater significance of the second cultivation method is to increase your mage level, which in turn will boost the 'True Ice Secret Transmission'."

"From this perspective, the characteristic of increasing cultivation speed is most suitable for you, as is the characteristic of extending lifespan. After all, condensing ice marrow requires a long time."

"Secondly, in my opinion, this path is not only suitable for you, but for all Iceborn mages."

"The more people practice the Green Wood Longevity Scripture, the more vigorous the essence of plants and trees becomes, and the more obvious the effect of increasing the speed of cultivation will be."

"From this perspective, the Green Wood Longevity Sutra is the most suitable cultivation method for Iceborn mages."

"Although vegetation is difficult to grow in the North, once Yggdrasila is planted and grows, this problem can be completely solved."

"Of course, this will take some time, so I don't plan to fully implement the 'Green Wood Longevity Scripture' in the tribe right now, but only recommend it to you."

"After all, there is already an extremely powerful and suitable magical plant in Phoenix that can serve as a sacred object for your cultivation of the 'Green Wood Longevity Scripture'."

"It's the Guardian Tree." Sunefa wasn't stupid; on the contrary, she was quite clever and had already realized it long ago.

"Yes, it's a newly advanced Ice Jade Wutong. As a sacred object, a sixth-tier magical plant like the Ice Jade Wutong alone should be enough for you to quickly cultivate to at least the fifth ring, right?"

"And when the essence of vegetation provided by the Ice Jade Wutong is no longer sufficient to significantly boost your cultivation speed, the forest I envisioned centered around Yugathira might already be complete." Gao De even considered matters further in the future.

"My king, I will cultivate this Green Wood Longevity Scripture." Without needing Gao De to say anything more, Sunafa had already responded without hesitation.

Having been stuck on the Fourth Ring Road for so long, with no hope in sight, how could Sunefa not be anxious?

Now that Gaode has laid out such a bright path for her, she is naturally happy to accept it.

"However, I'm not sure if Ice Jade Wutong would be willing to form a bond with you," Gao De expressed his concerns.

"Yes, it will." Sunafa said with absolute certainty, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"The Ice Jade Phoenix Mother Tree is inherently connected to the original Boreas, which is why it became the guardian tree of my race. I am a pure-blooded Ice Descendant, with Boreas's blood flowing through my veins. I have a natural affinity and connection with the Ice Jade Phoenix Tree. With this connection, it will not reject me."

"That's good." With his last bit of worry gone, Gao Dechang breathed a sigh of relief and handed the Green Wood Longevity Scripture to Sunaifa.

"After you have memorized the cultivation method of the Green Wood Longevity Scripture, you can try to form a bond with the Ice Jade Wutong."

Sunafa took the Longevity Scripture of the Green Wood and immediately began to memorize it.

With her powerful spiritual strength as a fourth-circle mage, memorizing cultivation methods wouldn't take much time at all.

Afterwards, Sunafa sat cross-legged and, following the instructions of the cultivation method, practiced the "Green Wood Longevity Scripture" once, thus entering the initial stage of its practice.

"My king, I can now go and form a pact with the guardian tree." She stood up, a faint look of joy on her face.

"Let's go together, I want to see what's going on." Although Gao De had been practicing the Green Wood Longevity Scripture for several months, he was still completely unaware of the process of forming a contract because he had not yet chosen a planting site.

Phoenix, the core spiritual land, where the Ice Jade Wutong Tree resides.

After advancing to the next level, the Ice Jade Wutong Tree, now five meters tall, emitted a crystal-like light, resembling a piece of glass, dazzling and radiating a refreshing chill.

"Then I'll begin." Sunafa slowly walked to the Ice Jade Wutong Tree, glanced back at Gaode, and said.

After Gao De nodded slightly, Sunafa stretched out her right hand and gently pressed it on the trunk of the Ice Jade Wutong tree. Then she closed her eyes and devoted herself wholeheartedly to communicating with the Ice Jade Wutong tree.

A mysterious and profound wave rippled silently from the center of her palm, spreading outwards towards the Ice Jade Wutong tree.

That is a spiritual communication method included in the Green Wood Longevity Scripture, used for forming a bond and communicating.

In the stillness, Sunafa had already begun some kind of mysterious communication with the Ice Jade Wutong.

A moment later, Sunafa opened her eyes again.

"The Ice Jade Phoenix Tree has responded to my request for a bond; it is willing to become my sacred object and share my lifespan."

"Let's begin then," Gao De said.

Without further hesitation, Sunafa sat cross-legged under the Ice Jade Wutong Tree.

She activated the "Azure Wood Longevity Scripture" while simultaneously probing her spiritual power into the Ice Jade Wutong Tree, slowly injecting it into its deepest part, where it began to merge with its faint spirituality, completing the process of forming a bond.

Gao De, on the other hand, opened Mandela's Eye with great interest, activated [Insight], and began to observe.

He saw streams of pure energy flowing from the Ice Jade Wutong tree into Sunafa's body.

This must be the essence of plants.

Within Sunafa's body, there was also a faint energy that shared the same origin as the energy transmitted from the Ice Jade Wutong, which was the magical power she had just cultivated through the Green Wood Longevity Scripture.

Since he has only just begun, his magical power is still very weak, only that of a first-class apprentice.

But now, with the help of the essence of plants and trees transmitted by the Ice Jade Wutong, this weak magical power immediately began to grow stronger.

The essence of sixth-tier magical plants is an extremely beneficial tonic for a beginner in the Green Wood Longevity Scripture.

This process lasted for about half an hour before Sunafa opened her eyes again and got up.

"The guardian tree has become my sacred tree. Thank you, My King, for bestowing this power upon me!"

With Sunaf's fourth-ring mage level, the contract formation process was completed very easily.

"With the help of the sacred tree, my progress in cultivating the Green Wood Longevity Scripture will not be much less than that of the Zhenbing Secret Transmission."

After establishing this bond with Bingyu Wutong, she immediately felt the power and unparalleled potential of the Green Wood Longevity Scripture. While delighted, she became even more convinced of Gaode's abilities.

"Approximately how long will it take you to cultivate the Green Wood Longevity Scripture to the first level?" Gao De couldn't help but ask.

Sunafa thought for a moment and gave an answer that almost made Gaode vomit blood: "It will only take about ten days."

Although the Ice Jade Wutong is a sixth-tier magical plant, and although Sunafa is a fourth-circle mage with powerful mental strength, making it easier for her to cultivate from high to low levels, no matter how many "althoughs" there are, ten days is still too exaggerated.

It took him two whole years to go from a first-class apprentice to a first-ring mage.

"Okay." In the end, Gao De could only offer a dry compliment, but he was also delighted, after all, he was also cultivating the Green Wood Longevity Scripture.

This further demonstrates that his choice was not wrong.

"This is the right path," Sunefa affirmed.

The next day.

The day after Gaud and Sunefa returned to Phoenix from the Ice Sanctuary, they left Phoenix again.

Following behind was a hunter squad of about a hundred people, but God and Sunefa had gone ahead and did not travel with the main group.

The purpose of their trip was clearly different.

We inspected the tree-planting sites recommended by Sunefa yesterday.

"That bay, which we call Vallar Bay, is actually less than 400 miles from Phoenix as the crow flies, but it takes a little longer to get there because of the Vallar Mountains in between."

"At our current speed, we should be able to get there in about five or six days."

The two walked side by side.

Sunafa rode a horse-shaped creature that seemed both real and unreal.

This is a product of the third-circle spell [Phantom Steed].

Gao De was still riding Elder Grant's snow wolf pet.

"Four hundred li, or two hundred kilometers, if there are flat and wide enough roads, riding a magical pet can easily take you from Phoenix to Valar Bay in a single day," God murmured.

"That's true, but if we want to build roads in the North..." Sunefa hesitated before continuing.

Road construction is a major undertaking, especially on the permafrost tundra where snow covers the land year-round.

The most basic requirement is a sufficient population base to undertake this massive project.

Even though the Zhenbing tribe is the largest tribe in the North, its population is only 500,000, which obviously does not meet the condition of "sufficient population base".

To have a sufficient population base, there must be enough food and survival supplies.

Given the natural conditions of the North, these things seem like castles in the air, utterly untenable.

Gao De rubbed his temples, not mentioning his ideas about food for the time being.

Things should be done one at a time; let's get the tree planting done first.

Three days later.

After climbing Dandong Snow Mountain, Gao De felt that the Walar Mountain, which was not well-known to the outside world, was indeed too easy.

Not to mention, this trip included both a snow wolf as a mode of transport and a Sunafa from the Fourth Ring Road.

Therefore, he and Sunafa crossed the Valar Mountains without any trouble.

Vallar Bay comes into view.

(End of this chapter)