Spellbook

"Sure!"

The owner answered, picked up two fried dough sticks, set them in a plastic basket before him, and casually asked, "Why are you here so late?"

"I'm off today, and I got up early."

Ling Qing rose slightly and accepted a bowl of porridge from the owner's wife as he answered.

The owner had only asked casually. He nodded and went to get fried dough sticks for the next customer.

Ling Qing did not mind. He only came here from time to time, and he was always in a rush when he did, with no time to chat. They were familiar at most by sight.

He picked up a golden fried dough stick and soaked it in the porridge. Once it had absorbed enough broth, he took a fierce bite before it turned soft, accompanied by some side dishes.

Mm...

Mm?

The moment the fried dough stick entered his mouth, Ling Qing, who had been looking forward to a hearty breakfast, froze.

There was not exactly anything wrong with it. It was just that the fried dough stick, which should have been fragrant and crispy, lacked the flavor he remembered.

That ruined Ling Qing's mood for savoring his meal now that he had the time. He hurriedly finished eating, paid the bill, and headed toward his destination.

It was the canal not far away. This ancient canal, which wound around the city, had long been surrounded by buildings as the city expanded.

Both banks had been neatly renovated, complete with landscaping and small plazas. At night, this place belonged to the elderly women.

During the day, aside from a few leisurely middle-aged and elderly men fishing, there were not many people around.

This was the closest place Ling Qing could find that best simulated a forest environment.

In his fixed impression, the Druid class was somewhat like ancient Daoists who cultivated immortality and refined qi, emphasizing following the way of nature.

The bustling city and noisy urban villages did not have much of a natural atmosphere.

At least, not the kind of nature Ling Qing understood.

To successfully test his Druid abilities, Ling Qing naturally had to find a more suitable place.

He found a hidden corner and casually leaned against a tree, carefully reviewing the three class skills again.

[Nature Sense], [Wild Empathy], and [Elemental Perception].

Through the skill descriptions and the inherited knowledge that entered his mind, Ling Qing could clearly understand the functions of all three skills.

Wild Empathy required the cooperation of animals, while Elemental Perception required activating a Spellbook and learning spells related to the relevant elements.

The only one he could choose now was Nature Sense.

Besides, a Druid's foundation lay in nature. To unlock a Druid's abilities, he first needed to obtain Natural Force.

Ling Qing steadied himself and, following the skill's requirements, focused his perception on the large tree beside him.

In an instant, it felt as though a breeze swept through his mind, stirring ripples, while a faint rustling sound reached his ears.

As he listened carefully, the rising and falling rustles slowly gathered with his perception, becoming a melodious piece of music—flowing, winding, and brimming with life.

In a daze, Ling Qing felt as if he had become a great tree. The green leaves above his head stretched outward with all their might, seeking to hold more sunlight.

The roots beneath his feet were half-buried deep in the soil and half-reaching into the silt at the riverbed, absorbing more nutrients and water.

As his perception spread, every plant around him entered his senses.

Towering trees, lush shrubs, delicate flowers, hardy grass—countless sensations flooded his heart.

Yet not every plant was as content as that great tree. The shrubs and grass shaded by its canopy longed for sunlight, while the flowers transplanted here, with their shallow roots, craved nourishment.

At the turn of Ling Qing's thoughts, the plants within the range of his perception began to emit a strange fluctuation.

Gradually, specks of emerald light emerged from the plants and revolved endlessly around him.

Of course, all of this existed only within his perception. In reality, his eyes were half-closed, and he wore a smile, as though he were comfortably enjoying nature's breath.

And that was indeed the case. More and more motes of light rushed into his body and into the Acorn within his chest.

They returned to the surrounding plants amid waves of green ripples spreading from the Acorn.

For a time, every plant radiated a joyful emotional fluctuation.

It was not that they had gained emotions or become extraordinary. Rather, nourished by this energy, their growth needs had briefly been satisfied, causing them to give off a healthy aura of life.

That vigorous aura was deeply pleasant, like the contentment of a well-fed cat basking in warm sunlight.

When the ripples finally calmed, Ling Qing slowly opened his eyes, and everything before him suddenly seemed brighter and more vivid.

It was like the clarity after finishing eye exercises, yet somewhat different, as though something more had been added.

Whenever he looked at a plant, he could clearly recall its condition. At the same time, he knew what species it was and how many years it had grown.

At that moment, a warm energy, like a gentle spring breeze beneath the sun, burst from the Acorn and instantly spread through his entire body.

It then continued to ripple through him, nourishing his body.

At the same time, several messages appeared before his eyes:

"The character balanced the needs of the plants within the range of perception and completed a class action. You gained 1 point of general experience."

"The character completed a basic Druid cultivation practice. You gained a faint Nature's Gift."

"The character successfully unlocked Druid energy: Natural Force."

"The character's current Force value is: 1/1."

"Since the character has obtained Natural Force, the relevant Druid inheritances have been activated. Please choose your Spellbook from the following options:

1. Book of Nature;

2. Book of Wilds;

3. Book of Elements;

4. Book of Summoning.

Note: Choosing a Spellbook only grants bonuses to the selected class path and elemental spells; it does not mean the class path is fixed.

Note 2: A second choice requires meeting the prerequisites of the relevant class path."

"The character completed a basic Druid cultivation practice and automatically learned Druidic."

The constantly refreshing text before his eyes left Ling Qing somewhat dazed, as though he were playing a virtual game.

Yet the undeniably real energy within his body and the vitality coming from the surrounding plants gradually soothed the sense of unreality in his heart, giving his own changes a grounded sense of reality.

He did not concern himself with the Druidic that had appeared in his mind, nor did he rush to study the Natural Force within his body.

Ling Qing focused his attention on the four Spellbooks awaiting his choice.

As his focus concentrated, the real scene before him rapidly faded away, leaving only a deep void.

Four books of different forms floated in the void, emanating an ancient aura and displaying all manner of strange phenomena.