Chapter 533 - Enlightenment is for Everyone
The twin magicians were recovering well and Zero had to thank Hana for doing a good job. The Flower of Enlightenment helped to buff the overall combat power of both villages and the difference could be seen visibly.
The Gemini Star descendants made a speedy recovery after receiving soul nourishments from the Flower of Enlightenment. Likewise, Misana was stronger and more vibrant than she was before. At this rate, she should be stronger than King Brice.
Zero decided to assign the magicians their very first task of completing the both village's defence array. They were also in charge of settling the demons into the villages and were made official envoys from Half Moon Village to help Wiser with the terraforming project. The device was almost ready for mass production and Zero wanted more hands on deck to speed it up. The sooner they can return the abyss to its original state, the better it was for the Demon Lords shouldering the burden of the plane.
Zero's clones were also given instructions by the original Zero who wanted them to start teaching those with cultivating talent the basics. The New Moon Villagers should at least be able to fend off regular mana beasts without requiring special guards or assistance from Half Moon Village. Ruth was way too busy and Clowis was short-staffed to keep sending experts over.
For this project, Zero had to talk to Hana and the World Flower about it.
Truen stood outside to guard as Zero entered serious negotiations with Hana and the World Flower. Nobody knew what he was requesting for but Hana and the World Flower had terrorised the villages enough that they wished Zero wouldn't give the World Flower more leeway than it already had.
"How much would you like to charge for teaching fees and Soul Enlightenment enhancement? Also, within moderation. I don't want anyone falling ill or becoming unconscious trying to break through unless there is a desperate need. Also, you can use the cultivation tub as much as you want but no more terrorising the villagers."
Hana translated what the Flower of Enlightenment wanted to say. "Stories! We want to hear more stories, see more memories of travellers and faraway places."
Zero nodded. "Can you read?"
Hana shook her head and explained that they normally exchanged soul cultivation for a visit to someone's memories. The doctor finally understood why Hana and the World Flower often knocked their targets out. They were able to control their powers but in order to view the memories of others, it was only possible when they were sleeping or unconscious. The World Flower would dig its roots into someone's meridian points to forcefully activate the dantian and inject qi that it produces into the surroundings into their bodies, forcing them to accept the cultivation.
"What would happen after the meridian points have been fully open and the cultivation core is formed? Do you still need to forcefully inject qi into them?"
Hana shook her head. "Once the limits are removed, individual efforts are required. Our job is complete."
Zero noted that down. "How many times would it take for you to inject qi into someone before they are completely awakened?"
Hana couldn't give a definite reply but after much questioning, Zero figured out that different species required different amounts of tampering. Humans normally took three to four times to be tampered with especially for those with no magic abilities. Those with magic abilities were easier to tamper because the basic energy flow points have already been opened.
"I thought those who learned magic cannot cultivate because the meridian and chakra channels will cause an internal conflict. Why are humans who possess magical abilities easier to tamper with for cultivation?"
Hana listened to the World Flower and translated what it had to say.
"The World Flower doesn't follow the normal meridian and chakra channels. Enlightenment is for everyone. The energy used is directed from the void and natural plane. It does not have properties of mana or qi. It does not have elements. It is the basic life form that all souls feed on that nourishes the body. Every vessel is created with three parts body and seven parts soul. By improving the soul, the body improves. Qi and mana improve the body and not the soul."
Hearing Hana's explanation, Zero finally understood the difference. However, that posed a new challenge.
"Wouldn't that mean only those in Half Moon Village and New Moon Village can benefit from your special cultivation technique?"
Hana shrugged. "World Flower is still young. Does not have enough petals to give everyone who prays and can only use roots."
"Does that mean when the World Flower m.a.t.u.r.es and becomes stronger, it can give blessings in the form of petals that do the same?"
Hana nodded and Zero became intrigued. "How do I help the World Flower grow?"
As far as he knew, World Trees fed on prayers similar to Gods. What about a World Flower that was a product of experiment without people to pray to?"
"Memories!" Hana grinned and nodded vigorously. "Knowledge! Karma! Feelings! Life stories!"
Zero hummed. This Flower of Enlightenment seemed to grow from knowledge. Zero didn't think that it ate memories. The villagers from New Moon Village didn't have any memory loss when Zero checked on them and talked to those who recovered. He looked at Hana and wondered if the same thing would work if she was able to learn how to read from books instead.
"I cannot let you read my memories but will it work if I told you a story?" Zero asked. It had been a while since he told anyone any stories. If Hana and the Flower of Enlightenment grew from Zero's story-telling session, he knew just the thing to pay them with. The gnomes should have many stories to tell and even if they don't, someone could teach Hana how to read. Zero could even loan her his reading device or ask for a new one from Steve.
His current aim was to make the Flower of Enlightenment strengthen New Moon and Half Moon Village's constitution in case of an attack from the corrupted nobles of Smargdas once he reunited Misana and King Brice. He would only leave when the twins finished setting up the magical barriers and defences. In the meantime, he wanted to get Hana and the World Flower to 'enlighten' as many people as they could.
"Let's start with a simple story and a favourite of mine," Zero smiled and used some simple illusion magic to create a moving picture.
Hana was in awe and Zero had a feeling the World Flower was equally impressed with his high-quality story-telling time. This was something he personally experienced and it was a story about his life so far.
"There was once a very sleepy ball who didn't know anything. He slept and slept for years until one day there was a bright flash of light that woke him up!"
Hana and the Flower of Enlightenment were engrossed in Zero's tale about how he met all the wonderful people he met so far and the ups and downs of his adventure. It was going to be a very long tale and there was much to tell. If Hana and the World Flower grew at all in the time that they were listening to Zero's story till dinner, it would mean they didn't need to view memories to grow. Zero would task someone with story-telling duties. This flower needed education and he had a feeling Seth would be happier knowing that he wasn't studying alone. In fact, why not ask Lucifer for a favour to enrol them into the Morning Star Academy?
Unaware of Zero's intentions, Hana and the World Flower clapped when Zero showed them an image of him riding a meteorite. It wasn't as fun as it looked but he was still happy that they were entertained by the imagery.
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