Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Plant Soul Beasts of East Sea Park
After school, Jing Shaoyu told Xu Xiaoyan to eat dinner by herself, then quickly got permission from Ye Yingluo before biking away from East Sea Academy. A few minutes later, he arrived at East Sea Park, parked his bike, and walked deeper into the park. Along the paths, he moved to the park's innermost area, where dense, lush greenery grew, creating a verdant oasis. The plants seemed to sense Jing Shaoyu's arrival, shaking their branches and leaves, as if expressing joy and excitement.
Every plant in this part of the park grew tall and thick, even the low shrubs were unusually large, towering over similar plants found elsewhere in the park. It was as if these plants had been growing here for hundreds of years, though in truth, most were planted within the last ten years, just like the other parts of the park.
This area's lushness could be attributed to one simple reason: Jing Shaoyu's influence.
Jing Shaoyu would visit here every month to bless the plants, helping them absorb the world's energy more efficiently and speed up their growth and vitality. In other words, he granted them a "growth boost."
This blessing, which he named "Nature's Blessing," allowed the plants here to grow at an accelerated rate and increased their chances of awakening as plant-type soul beasts. This unique ability of his first manifested three years ago, during a playful day in the park with Na'er.
While they played, Na'er had tripped on a tree root and scraped her knee, and Jing Shaoyu had instinctively used his first soul skill, Healing Light, to treat her. However, the healing he intended for Na'er also seemed to spread to the surrounding plants, causing a noticeable change in them. It was then that he realized the Primordial Spirit martial spirit's healing ability held a hidden effect for plants.
By casting Healing Light on plants, their vitality would increase, allowing them to absorb energy and evolve at a rate unmatched by typical plants. Over time, it allowed plants to transition into the realm of soul beasts, granting them awareness and self-cultivation abilities. This unique effect was Nature's Blessing.
The first plant Jing Shaoyu blessed was the very tree root that had tripped Na'er—a five-hundred-year-old Nan tree. Over the course of a year, with continuous monthly blessings, the Nan tree crossed a vital threshold, evolving from an ordinary plant into a soul beast with a self-contained consciousness and the ability to cultivate soul power.
This success thrilled Jing Shaoyu, who had unknowingly created a plant soul beast. When it reached its hundred-year mark, the Nan tree soul beast offered a part of its energy to Jing Shaoyu, adding fifty years to his soul ring's age. This feedback motivated him to continue his efforts, deepening his resolve to cultivate these plant soul beasts.
With his second soul skill, Healing Ripple, allowing him to spread blessings to multiple plants at once, Jing Shaoyu was able to increase the number of plants he could enhance each visit. Now, in the radius surrounding the Nan tree, nine soul beasts thrived, each unique in size and type, but united in their loyalty to Jing Shaoyu.
Among them, the Nan tree, now a seven-hundred-year-old soul beast, was the most ancient, while the youngest was a three-hundred-year-old sea lily. Collectively, these plant soul beasts had added nearly five hundred years to Jing Shaoyu's soul ring lifespan, contributing significantly to its transformation into a purple ring.
Through his years of research, Jing Shaoyu confirmed the exact effects of Nature's Blessing: for ordinary plants, it provided a tenfold growth boost, while for plant soul beasts, it accelerated their cultivation rate fivefold. In essence, plants under this blessing could grow ten days' worth in one day, while soul beasts experienced five days of cultivation within a single day. Unlike Plant Manipulation, which affected a plant's growth length, Nature's Blessing influenced a plant's vitality and essence, a difference Jing Shaoyu came to understand deeply.
Unbeknownst to the nearby residents, East Sea Park was home to nine plant soul beasts, with the oldest nearing an eight-hundred-year cultivation. Were this to be discovered, the entire East Sea City would be abuzz with astonishment. Fortunately, by Jing Shaoyu's instructions, these soul beasts maintained a low profile, blending in with the ordinary flora around them, revealing their true form only when he visited.
"Alright, settle down, everyone," Jing Shaoyu said with a gentle smile, calming the plants as their branches and leaves waved in greeting. "I know you're all eager, but don't worry, there's plenty for everyone."
The plants stilled, their excitement replaced by anticipation as Jing Shaoyu activated his Primordial Spirit martial spirit. The plants grew even livelier, dancing in rhythm as the Nan tree extended a branch, lifting Jing Shaoyu onto its largest limb. There, an elaborate throne woven from branches, leaves, and flowers awaited him—a seat the soul beasts had crafted just for him.
Seated comfortably on his leafy throne, Jing Shaoyu activated his second soul ring, releasing a soft green light that enveloped the area. Every plant, whether ordinary or soul beast, bathed in this light, swaying in harmony. It was a scene of pure, verdant life.
After about an hour, Jing Shaoyu concluded his blessing. He closed his eyes, entering a meditative state as the plants grew silent, careful not to disturb their revered caretaker. In the eyes of these soul beasts, Jing Shaoyu was more than their creator—he was their lord, to whom they owed everything.
Small green lights formed on the bodies of each plant soul beast, eventually coalescing into nine bright orbs representing each soul beast. Controlled by the soul beasts, these orbs floated toward Jing Shaoyu, merging into his body. He felt a warm flow of life energy, familiar and expected, as this ritual occurred every time he blessed the plants.
This time, the energy from the soul beasts added approximately twenty years to his soul ring and slightly increased his soul power.
After half an hour of meditation, Jing Shaoyu opened his eyes, feeling refreshed. He stepped down from the Nan tree's branch, waved to the soul beasts, and bid them farewell.
"See you next month!" he said softly, waving goodbye.
The plants responded by rustling their leaves, wishing they could keep him longer. Yet, they knew he bore a noble mission and could not remain. So, they simply watched as he departed, hoping eagerly for his next visit.
After every visit, Jing Shaoyu would leave East Sea Park with a light heart, feeling as though he had spent time with family. His expression was filled with warmth as he strolled down the park's path.
About six or seven hundred meters away from the soul beasts' area, he encountered a young girl around his age. Though her appearance was ordinary, she carried an exceptional aura, elegant yet elusive, reminiscent of a solitary orchid hidden in a secluded valley or a vibrant apricot blossoming alone, captivating in its uniqueness.
The path was narrow, just wide enough for one person. As they drew closer, neither seemed inclined to yield. Jing Shaoyu was entranced by her aura, while she appeared equally drawn to him. Inevitably, they bumped into each other.
"Ah!" The girl, unprepared, stumbled backward,
her balance lost as she let out a surprised yelp.