Chapter 89
A Lucky Turn
With the establishment of a cultivation realm with access to all the spirit herbs necessary that were necessary for Tobias's clan to reach the nascent soul realm, Tobias's clan had become the only noble clan that could make the claim that they deserved to be placed among the Great Clans. However, because they lacked a nascent soul realm cultivator, no one would ever suggest the idea.
They also didn't want to advertise their wealth. Not that they were able to hide the presence of so many spirit herbs going through sage realm tribulations or the dramatic drain of the surrounding regions' chi.
Two weeks after the realm had stabilised, Tobias sat facing the emperor's throne, waiting on the Divine Council's judgement. Their 'experiment' had resulted in tens of thousands of mortals needing to be evacuated from the region. The absence of Peace Master So for so long had caused chaos in the city-states beyond the border, creating minor plague hordes. The Divine Council was sure Tobias was holding something back from them, beyond the construction of a new cultivation realm.
However, they could not overlook that he was using his own clan and the disciples of the Cultivation Academy to feed miasma to the spirit herbs to end the Great Plague more quickly.
These actions were buying him a lot of goodwill, and Tobias's current calculations had the plague ending in only two decades. This was a fraction of the time that had been expected before the experiment and only two-thirds the length of the Great Plague.
Patriarch Shen removed the filter from their auras, which was preventing Tobias from hearing the Divine Council discussion. "The Divine Council has voted to postpone judgment on this matter until after the crisis has ended. You are dismissed, 1st Minister Finch."
Tobias cupped his hands and bowed. "If the Divine Council will hear me out, there is another matter that I must bring before you as The Three Kingdom's sage."
Patriarch Shen scowled behind him but tapped his thigh, giving him permission to proceed.
"Our research has shown that the tribulations of spirit herbs cause a cascade effect, allowing the surrounding spirit herbs to absorb miasma during the tribulation so long as they are protected by a sage realm spirit herb. Peace Master So would like permission to visit the Divine Council's realms to ascertain whether he can plant some of his remaining nascent soul realm spirit herbs, which are ready to ascend, to trigger this cascade effect. I have prepared our research for your assessment."
Eight copies of everything they had discovered appeared in his hand. Tobias sent the copies to the councilmember with his aura before bowing to the throne again.
Patriarch Shen glanced at the other councilmember. "I believe this matter will require further thought. We will reconvene in five days. Does anyone object?"
They indicated with their fans that they didn't.
"1st Minister Finch, you are dismissed."
Hiding this ability until after the Divine Council discovered the beneficial properties of miasma would lead to disaster. Introducing it now would mean it was bouncing around in the back of their heads. Tobias doubted they would accept the proposal in its current form. There were too many downsides to allowing someone to tamper with their gardens, but that would change the moment they learned the truth.
Tobias gave another bow to the throne and headed for the Civil Realm.
***
It had been over a month since Tobias had visited the Civil Realm or the Ministry Headquarters, but he wanted to speak with Scholar Chunhua. She'd created a theory that explained why spirit herbs would suddenly absorb more miasma than usual and then stop. The theory was inconsistent, but interesting, and Tobias felt it could benefit from their findings.
A few hours after he arrived, Scholar Chunhua suddenly stopped reading the research papers and turned to Tobias, grinning at him through the barrier. "I was wrong. They're not experiencing some form of enlightenment or using a technique. They're comprehending a part of a higher realm dao."
Tobias frowned. "What gave you this idea?"
"Your theories on dao realm classification fit what we're observing perfectly. If comprehension of higher dao is necessary for successful ascension beyond the core realm, then spirit herbs must cultivate in a way that slowly integrates these insights. However, occasionally they might experience an integration which combines insights to form a comprehension which is greater than the sum of its parts."
Tobias knew better than to stop someone in the middle of an epiphany. "Why does this cause them to absorb more miasma?"
"I believe there are two limiting factors for spirit herbs. The first is the speed at which they can cultivate. Like us, they do better in better environments, but there is a maximum pace they can achieve. The second is how quickly they can gather and integrate dao insights to form comprehensions. This appears to be the true limiting factor. When these insights combine to form comprehensions, they suddenly have significantly more potential. This potential is what allows them to absorb more miasma, rapidly increasing their cultivation."
"How would we go about triggering these insight integrations?"
Scholar Chunhua shrugged. "I have no idea. I wouldn't even know where to start looking. Only a sage realm cultivator would have the ability to study such a thing."
"Have you found any patterns to the timing of these dao integrations?"
She nodded. "Some spirit herbs consume additional miasma more frequently than others. This trait remains consistent. I believe this indicates they have a higher potential for ascension."
"It might also indicate they have a higher chance of transforming."
Tobias was talking about how the nature of a spirit herb's dao changed as it ascended, taking on aspects of another dao rather than following the typical path of its predecessors. The results of such a transformations was a mountain cloud lily becoming a mountain peace lily.
"Why would you suggest that?" Scholar Chunhua asked.
"If these bursts of growth are triggered by dao integration, then those spirit herbs that can do so more regularly are more likely to be able to integrate a dao that is not part of their natural path of ascension."
Scholar Chunhua pressed her lips together.
Tobias smiled. "You are welcome to correct me, Scholar Chunhua. This is your area of expertise."
"We know from introducing mortal spirit herbs to the Civil Realm that the chi concentration accelerates their growth. We also know that some of these spirit herbs will experience more growth than others, which is likely due to faster integration of dao insights. If your hypothesis were correct, we would have seen an increase in the frequency of changes these spirit herbs experience."
"This is a neutral realm. There is no alternative dao for them to easily integrate."
"Correct, however, this would also be observed in other spirit gardens which are not neutrally aligned, and this has not occurred to my knowledge, and I am the most widely read scholar that the Cultivation Academy has when it comes to spirit herbs."
Tobias opened his mouth to thank her for the correction, but didn't get a chance to speak.
"I have an idea for how to make them integrate dao insights faster," she shriek talking too fast. "We just need to introduce spirit herbs that have integrated more dao insights than these ones. Our studies have proven that higher realm versions of a spirit herb accelerate the growth of the same spirit herbs around them, which are in a lower realm, so it is reasonable to conclude that spirit herbs that have integrated more than these ones would be able to do the same in a more limited capacity."
She was speaking about the master-disciple relationship. The author of the original research paper was now incredibly well respected.
Tobias picked up the Three Pigeon treasure and removed the cap before sending his chi into the treasure. "Do you have a moment to speak?"
"I'm moving between plague hordes, talk quickly," Peace Master So replied.
Tobias cycled his chi through his body meridian network to accelerate his body and mind, then shared everything they had just discussed in only a few seconds.
Peace Master So replied just as quickly. "I can confirm that higher realm spirit herbs do assist the growth of identical spirit herbs that are nearby. However, this comes at the cost of their own progress."
Tobias didn't consider this an issue and assumed that Peace Master So only mentioned it, so he understood the situation. From his statement, it was obvious that you would only use spirit herbs that had reached the peak of their realm.
"Do you know of any sage realm spirit herbs that are further along in their cultivation than the ones in the Civil Realm?"
"A few old monsters have given me dubious offers over the years, so what you need may exist, Senior. I will discuss this matter with you when I know more. I've arrived at the plague horde."
Tobias put away the Three Pigeon treasure and turned to Scholar Chunhua. "Your suggestion has merit. I will make sure The Three Kingdoms rewards you for your contribution."
Scholar Chunhua cupped her hands and bowed. "No reward is necessary, 1st Minister. I am happy to contribute to the end of the plague in any way I can."
Tobias returned the bow.
***
Tobias had met Yin Hao shortly before Peace Master So underwent his sage realm tribulation. The nascent soul realm cultivator practiced a form of luck-based cultivation that Tobias didn't fully understand. Not because it was beyond the realm of possibility, but because he couldn't understand how the original creator of the method was able to determine which spirit herbs were lucky and which were not to build the foundation that they needed to reach the core realm.
However, this issue wasn't the reason Tobias frowned as they walked towards the centre of the Civil Realm.
Yin Hao smirked as he flexed his aura, preventing others from seeing in. "You're wondering how someone as lucky as I am became infected."
Tobias nodded.
Yin Hao motioned to Scholar Chunhua. "How long has she been infected?"
"More than a season."
"Then you have your answer."
Tobias glanced at the man, understanding what was left unspoken. "The plague has the same effect on you?"
This was Tobias's first confirmation that there was no limit to the beneficial effects. His family might really be destined for immortality.
Yin Hao nodded. "The improvement to divinity slows the higher your divinity is, but I have found a way to increase its effects."
Tobias raised his head, looking at their destination. "The transformation is proportional to how much miasma passes through you."
"Now you must be thinking that it was not the generosity of those old monsters or the fear of the plague that made them lend you these spirit herbs free of charge, but the heavens aligning for a very lucky individual."
That was exactly what Tobias was thinking. "How is you being infected, lucky though?"
Yin Hao motioned to Scholar Chunhua. "How are you hiding the improvements to her divinity?"
"Peace Master So is."
Yin Hao turned to Scholar Chunhua and stared. "That brat is more talented at illusions than he lets on. I can't see a trace of what he's done."
"You didn't answer my question."
"The answer is simple. I'd never willingly contract the plague. Even after all these discoveries, I wouldn't like the odds of this working out. The only reason I'm confident that this will work out in the end is because luck is forever on my side."
"Will you allow me to study your transformation?"
"Why should I?"
"My goal is to end the plague. Your goal is to empty the immortal realm of miasma so you can one day leave this place. Who knows how long it will take for your goal to be achieved without my help? It could be centuries, perhaps millennia. You may even die of old age before it is achieved. A man with your luck would find themselves crossing paths with the sage who could prevent this outcome while offering his services for a reasonable price."
Yin Hao chuckled. "I respect the attempt."
Tobias tried another tactic. "Are you a prodigy, Yin Hao?"
He smirked. "No, I'm a genius."
"Have you considered what might happen if you become a prodigy? Prodigies cannot improve their divinity without experiencing a tribulation. A tribulation that will currently fill you with miasma, perhaps too much miasma for these sage realm spirit herbs to suppress."
His smirk vanished. "You said it was safe."
"It is safe for those that are infected, but I have no idea if it is safe for someone undergoing a tribulation."
Tobias was honestly curious to find out if it was. There was little doubt in his mind that the spirit herbs would be nourished from the tribulation. However, a miasma tribulation had the potential to damage the man's cultivation or even kill him. There was an upper limit to how much they could suppress. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a limit on how many cultivators could be protected by a single spirit herb.
Yin Hao seemed to come to a similar conclusion. "I'll allow you to study the changes to my divinity."
"And in return?"
"How does a sage realm spirit willow for your clan's new cultivation realm sound?"
Tobias frowned. "I didn't realise there were any sage realm spirit willows."
"I have the only one."
"Why do you have it? You obviously don't need it."
"I won it in a game of chance."
"And kept it."
"Peace Master So needs one to assist in the cultivation of his beloved spirit willow. When you have lived as long as I have, you hold onto anything honest people will trade for until you need something from them in return."
"And if they're not honest?"
"Then it depends on whether they're capable of killing you."
Tobias saw the logic in that. "I accept the sage realm spirit willow in return for studying your condition and doing my best to ensure that you come to no harm from the plague."
"Then we have a deal. When will Peace Master So deliver the spirit herbs?"
"He delivered them five days ago."
"Why was I only informed yesterday?"
"The garden you will be feeding miasma to is entirely made up of sage realm spirit herbs that were well acquainted with one another. They did not take kindly to the introduction of outside sage realm spirit herbs that were more powerful than they were. The pressure of their auras as they made their displeasure known prevented anyone from entering the Civil Realm until yesterday, including the Divine Council."
"Why did they let you back in?"
"They ran out of miasma to feed on. It's why this place is so empty. I'm concerned that once you enter, they will go back to fighting."
"For someone with no luck, you like taking risks."
"They could have easily used their auras to kill everyone when they started fighting. Instead, they used them to chase out everyone not feeding them. I don't expect it to be any different this time."
They walked the rest of the way to the central garden in silence. Tobias motioned for Yin Hao to approach the barrier and watched it disappear. Miasma immediately began to drip from the man's skin and float to the surrounding spirit herbs.
"Is this how much miasma you always produce when feeding spirit herbs?" Tobias asked.
Yin Hao turned to look at Tobias, showing the trickle of liquid miasma that was coming from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. "No. I've never had more than a few drops leak from my nose."
Tobias didn't like how the miasma was acting. The spirit herbs didn't have complete control over it. Tobias leapt back, throwing out chi to hurl himself across the realm as he shouted, "Get inside the barrier and stay there."
Yin Hao appeared in the centre of the garden a fraction of a second before he was forced to open his mouth and vomit up a wave of liquid miasma, splashing it over everything before him.
The barrier popped back into place, trapping most of it inside, but some escaped, forming a wall of miasma mist. The nearest sage realm spirit herbs lowered their barriers, pulling the mist towards them, killing the spirit herbs that lay in between, weakening the realm's natural formation.
The spirit herbs at the centre of the realm were all nascent soul realm or core realm spirit herbs, and the loss of so many would take centuries to fix under normal circumstances. The other way to fix it was for one of the spirit herbs to ascend and trigger a miasma tribulation. Tobias hoped that would be the case, because he could already sense the difference in the Civil Realm.
"Make it stop," Yin Hao shouted between wretches.
"I'll be back when the Civil Realm has finished cleansing the miasma," Tobias replied, heading for the exit. "I can't help you until then."