Vitality

After gaining an initial grasp of the Earth Travel Technique Profundity, Hillman's mobility and ability to stay alive rose to another level. When sparring with the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon, he could burrow underground and appear without warning, repeatedly making a fool of the enormous dragon. But he did not stop there. Before long, he turned his attention to the Life Force Profundity, the most vibrant of the six profound mysteries in "Coiling Dragon."

This profound mystery ranked among the advanced ones and was a highly unusual branch of the Laws of the Earth. The earth held more than weight and destruction; it also nurtured endless vitality. From tender shoots pushing through cracks in rocks to plants covering vast fertile plains, all were manifestations of Vitality. The Laws of the Earth-Growth that Hillman had previously comprehended were merely the surface of Vitality. They could only accelerate plant growth, without touching the true essence of the "source of vitality." The true Life Force Profundity could not only stimulate vitality but also awaken what had withered into dormancy, nourish the body, heal injuries, and even draw on the earth's vitality to prolong one's life in desperate circumstances.

The Dragonblood Secret Manual stated, "Earth gives birth to all things, and strength holds vitality; from this, dead wood meets spring anew." Hillman understood this deeply. In an underground cavern, he had once seen verdant moss growing beside stalactites, nourished by the earth's veins alone. That vitality was the core of the Life Force Profundity.

That day, a steady spring rain fell. A thin veil of rainy mist shrouded Mist Canyon, and the air was so damp that water could almost be wrung from it. Holding a huge banana leaf over himself, Hillman arrived at the patch of Blue Heart Grass beneath the cliff. Several months earlier, while he had been sparring with the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon, a wave of residual energy had struck this spot. One clump of Blue Heart Grass had had its roots and stems broken by the impact. Its leaves had yellowed and curled, long since losing their former luminous blue sheen, and it was on the verge of withering completely.

Hillman gently crouched down and parted the yellowed leaves, exposing the clump's shriveled roots and stems. First, he circulated his Earth Element Battle Qi, wreathing his fingertips in a gentle, warm, earthen-yellow glow. Then he cleared his mind of distractions and slowly sank his spiritual power into the ground, following the paths of the roots and stems to sense that thread of vitality so faint it had nearly died out.

Previously, whenever he used Growth Force, he had always forced growth with Battle Qi, like pulling up seedlings to help them grow. Though this made plants grow quickly, it exhausted their essence. Now, however, what he needed to do was "awaken," not "stimulate growth."

[Ding! Host detected analyzing the Life Force Profundity. Current affinity: 7%! Recommendation: use spiritual power to commune with the earth's vitality, with Battle Qi as a guide, gently nourishing the remnant soul rather than forcibly pouring in energy!]

The system's notification sounded in his mind. Something stirred within Hillman, and he immediately adjusted his method. He stopped releasing Battle Qi and instead turned his spiritual power into countless fine threads, carefully wrapping them around the remaining trace of vitality in the Blue Heart Grass's roots and stems. At the same time, he guided his own aura to resonate at the same frequency as the Earth Pulsation underground, drawing on the primal vitality hidden deep in the soil.

Raindrops pattered against the banana leaf. Beneath the cliff, all was quiet except for Hillman's steady breathing. He could clearly sense the vitality deep in the soil flowing like tiny streams along the threads of spiritual power, slowly entering the Blue Heart Grass's roots and stems. That faint thread of vitality was like a candle guttering in the wind, gradually brightening as the primal vitality nourished it.

At first, the process was extremely slow. Two hours passed, yet the Blue Heart Grass's leaves remained yellowed, without the slightest change. Hillman's arm had long since grown sore and numb, and the glow at his fingertips had dimmed, but his gaze only grew more focused. He recalled the never-drying spring in the underground cavern and the ceaseless power within the Earth Pulsation. That vitality was not a violent eruption, but sustained nourishment that silently enriched all things.

He patiently guided the flow of vitality, like a meticulous physician tending to a dying patient. He made his spiritual power gentler and finer, afraid that the slightest carelessness would disturb that fragile thread of life.

The rain gradually stopped, and the sun broke through the clouds, casting down warm light. The mist in Mist Canyon slowly dispersed, and the fragrance of soil and fresh grass filled the air.

Just then, Hillman suddenly felt the Blue Heart Grass's roots and stems tremble slightly.

Delight stirred within him, and he hurriedly focused his gaze. On the outermost leaf of that yellowed clump of Blue Heart Grass, a faint trace of green was slowly appearing. That green was exceedingly faint, yet like a spark in the darkness, it instantly lit up Hillman's eyes.

He dared not delay and quickly increased the flow of vitality. At a speed visible to the naked eye, the green spread from the leaf to the stalk, then to the roots and stems. The once-shriveled roots and stems gradually grew plump, while the yellowed leaves slowly unfurled, regaining their lustrous sheen.

When the last ray of sunlight fell upon the Blue Heart Grass, the dying clump had actually regained all its vitality. Its leaves shone blue like jade, their veins clearly visible as they swayed gently in the breeze and gave off a faint, fresh fragrance. It was even greener and stood straighter than the surrounding Blue Heart Grass.

Hillman slowly withdrew his hand and let out a long breath. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, and more than half the Battle Qi in his body had been consumed, yet his heart was filled with unprecedented joy.

He could clearly feel that his understanding of Vitality had entered a new realm.

At some point, the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon had come up behind him. Its enormous body sat in the rain, its scales soaked, but it paid that no mind. Its blood-red eyes studied the rejuvenated clump of Blue Heart Grass curiously before it turned toward Hillman and gave a low dragon's rumble, as though in admiration, or perhaps puzzlement.

Hillman grinned and patted the Iron-Armored Dragon's head. Then he stood and turned his gaze toward some dead wood beneath the cliff. It was the remains of a century-old tree. Its trunk had long since dried and cracked, its bark had peeled away, and not a trace of green remained.

"Next, it's time to try something harder," Hillman murmured to himself.

He walked over to the dead tree, pressed his palm against its cracked trunk, and once again circulated his spiritual power to commune with the earth's vitality. This time, his movements were more practiced and his spiritual power more delicate. He could clearly sense an extremely faint remnant of a "Wood Soul" inside the dead tree, proof that it had once teemed with life.

Hillman guided the earth's vitality to seep slowly into the dead tree. He did not rush for results, instead nourishing that trace of Wood Soul little by little, letting vitality flow slowly through the dead tree's channels.

Time slipped by, and the sun sank in the west, bathing the cliff in golden-red light.

When the final thread of vitality entered the dead tree, a miracle occurred once again. A tender green shoot emerged from the cracked trunk. The new shoot was translucent as emerald, gleaming with the luster of life in the sunset.

"It worked!" Hillman could not help exclaiming in a low voice, his eyes filled with wild joy.

Just then, the system's notification abruptly rang out in his mind.

[Ding! Host detected mastering the core of the Life Force Profundity-awakening primal vitality! Life Force Profundity affinity has reached 100%!]

[Congratulations, host, on gaining an initial grasp of the Life Force Profundity! You can stimulate plant growth, awaken dormant vitality, and nourish bodily injuries. Your recovery speed has increased by 80%, and your affinity with wood-element magical beasts has greatly increased!]

The instant the notification ended, a vast torrent of information flooded Hillman's mind. He understood that the Life Force Profundity could affect not only plants but also himself-when severely injured, he could draw upon the earth's vitality to repair his body; when trapped in desperate circumstances, he could replenish his Battle Qi with the vitality of plants. He could even set the surrounding plants in motion during battle, forming a natural barrier.

He also understood how to fuse Vitality with the other Earth Element profound mysteries-combined with Vitality, earthen shields could repair their own damage; combined with the Profound Mystery of Strength, the vines he grew could possess a thousand jin of force; combined with the Earth Travel Technique, he could use plant roots to travel swiftly while burrowing underground.

Hillman slowly closed his eyes, sensing the gentle, warm vitality flowing through his body. He could clearly feel it nourishing his flesh. Every inch of muscle and every bone brimmed with vigorous life. The hidden injuries left by his earlier sparring with the Iron-Armored Dragon were also slowly healing under its nourishment.

When he opened his eyes again, the light of understanding shone in them. He turned toward the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon and grinned. "Old friend, want to give it a try?"

The Iron-Armored Dragon let out an excited roar and slightly arched its enormous body, ready to spar.

At a thought from Hillman, a faint trace of green vitality appeared within the earthen-yellow glow surrounding him. The grass beneath his feet grew wildly, reaching waist height in an instant and winding tightly around his ankles, yet stopping just short of restricting his movements.

Man and dragon clashed fiercely once more, the dragon's roars and the rush of fists echoing through the canyon. This time, Hillman's attacks held more than weighty strength; they also possessed the nimbleness of life. Verdant vines coiled around the Earth Spikes he summoned, allowing them to both pierce enemies and restrain their movements. A thin layer of moss covered the stone shields he formed, allowing them to repair their own damage and making them impregnable.

The Iron-Armored Dragon's attacks remained fierce, but time and again, Hillman's vines restrained it and his stone shields blocked it. It let out a defiant roar, yet grew increasingly excited, its attacks becoming swifter and fiercer.

The sun gradually sank, golden-red light filling the canyon. Man and dragon finally stopped, panting heavily, both bearing quite a few new wounds. Yet under the nourishment of Vitality, Hillman's wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

He leaned against the Iron-Armored Dragon's scales and looked up at the sky, his eyes shining with anticipation for the future.

Earth Element, Strength, Earth Travel Technique, and Vitality-he had gained an initial grasp of all four profound mysteries. Next would be the Gravity Space profound mystery.

Mist gradually shrouded the canyon, gently enveloping the figures of man and dragon. Beneath the cliff, the Blue Heart Grass and the new shoot on the dead tree stood quietly in the night, giving off vigorous vitality.