This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 28 (Patreon)

"Description: When this wand is fully charged, it can instantly induce severe coughing in up to three targets.

...

Note: Under the coughing state, the target's 'focus' is reduced by at least 10 points; If the coughing target is in a crowd, it may quickly cause a minor outbreak; The duration of coughing depends on the target's 'level' and 'immunity'; You cannot make legendary units, undead creatures, and construct creatures cough; This wand can bypass protective spells below legendary; Coughing has a certain probability of being dispelled by advanced priests..."

...

A minor artifact!

That's what Matthew thought as soon as he read the description.

"This thing is a spellcaster's worst nightmare!"

He lovingly caressed the smooth surface of the wand.

'Focus' was the most crucial attribute for spellcasting. Insufficient focus often led to disastrous consequences. Just imagine, a high-level mage, meticulously preparing a protective spell while passionately chanting an advanced spell that could turn the tide of a battle. Suddenly, an itchy throat, eyes rolling back, a leg twitch...

The spell turns into a cough!

Then, with their focus in chaos, they had to endure the dreadful backlash of their spell!

It didn't just affect mages and warlocks; it could interrupt a druid's 'Higher Form Transformation,' a shaman's 'War Songs,' and nearly all of a bard's tricks!

Furthermore, even those who needed precise movements in battle to maintain their threat, like high-level rogues, monks, or swordmasters, would be frustrated.

Except for highly resistant creatures like high-level warriors, monks, or swordmasters who could keep attacking while coughing, most others would be affected to varying degrees.

As for priests...

"In this era where the gods have withdrawn, finding a priest isn't that easy."

"No wonder the Antu Empire is so crazy; psychic energy has its merits!"

Matthew tightly held the psychic wand.

After the initial excitement, he furrowed his brows slightly because in the next line of the description, there was this:

...

"Method of Wand Charging: Unknown (Lack of Psychic Knowledge)"

...

Even a high-level identification scroll couldn't decipher its full nature, showing how rare psychic knowledge was. However, Matthew wasn't in a hurry. This scroll had set him on the path of searching for knowledge about "charging psychic items" and similar topics.

"It seems I'll have to pay a visit to the 'Cauldron House' and inquire about the current status of Archmage Ronan when I get the chance."

With that in mind, Matthew carefully stowed the psychic wand.

Following his usual practice, he began to review the events of the night.

...

"In a sudden encounter with a large group of enemies, abandoning ordinary skeleton warriors is no problem; but in terms of controlling them, I could do better. My clothes are splattered with blood; if I turn them over to Peggy for washing, she'll nag me again, which is quite embarrassing."

...

"The protective spells on the Psalms of Defense are indeed excellent. Second-tier infections can't get through at all, and I reckon it could withstand several blows from third-tier berserk guardians. There are some blank pages in the back of this book; it seems I can add other protection spells. But these spells are often disposable. I wonder how much protection-specialized mages charge when transcribing disposable spells."

...

"The existence of the Antu Empire proves that I have indeed come to a real world with a game-like worldview. Psychic items are powerful, but I shouldn't harbor too much greed. I should focus on my main business first, and after that, delve into other things. Yes, I'll set a small goal: expand the oak forest to around 1,800 trees before summer comes!"

...

Quickly, Matthew's ink-dipped quill flew across the cheap parchment. Writing these post-game analyses had become a habit he'd developed since his arrival in this world. Initially, he used these sheets to record the challenges of tree planting and important points to remember. Later, he began using them to vent his homesickness and record some reflective thoughts. After all, he was using Chinese characters, and only he could barely decipher the scribbles. He saw this as a unique way to unwind.

During this time, Matthew's mind often oscillated between deep contemplation and high-speed brainstorming.

Swish, swish, swish!

The soothing sound of his writing filled the room as Matthew quickly wrote down the final paragraph.

...

"As for the things I said before leaving, they seem to have touched Samantha. Good, she'll be my first test subject in exploring my unique path to becoming a legend. Perhaps Eli also has potential. But I need to be careful not to harm them. These two druids may be traditional, but they are kind and honest."

...

"Undeath" and "Nature."

This had been a question on Matthew's mind since his arrival.

He knew that these two seemingly opposing paths were his sources of power in the future. Based on the beliefs of this continent, these two were almost entirely contradictory. People didn't even want to think about why they were opposed; it seemed like an immutable law.

Matthew had once asked Archmage Ronan about this issue.

After pondering for a while, Ronan gave him an answer.

Ronan told him that all the concepts in current circulation on the continent were interpretations by the gods of the Enlightenment Era of the world and everything in it. During that era, when the gods rose and interfered in the world with their immense power, they formed a set of interpretations of the world and concepts through multiple tacit agreements and compromises. These were the worldviews inherited by many races on the continent.

This notion had continued for so long that no one dared to break it even hundreds of years after the gods had departed.

...

"For mages, spells are low-level tools, domains are mid-level tools, and concepts are high-level tools. But for the gods of the Pantheon Palace, concepts are their lives.

For instance, during the Enlightenment Era, if one day, everyone believed that the celestial body that rose at night was no longer the 'moon,' then the next day, all gods related to the 'moon' would be at risk of falling. Of course, after the Ascension of the Pantheon Palace, the situation changed significantly; the gods couldn't interfere with the mortal world, and concepts were still a source of power but no longer deadly. More importantly, they were much weaker now.

That's why we can sit here and discuss concepts without worrying about the gods' moods. In fact, they are a bunch of stubborn wretches about to be swept into the dustbin but still unyielding, doomed to never shine again in this world. The age of the casters is coming. I appreciate your views on 'Nature' and 'Undeath.' If one day, you embark on the path of legends, you might have a chance to create a new and unique concept.

But I still have to be cautious; otherwise, I might harm them. These two druids, while traditional, are kind and honest."

...

These were Ronan's words, and they deeply resonated with Matthew. He was excited that his formerly uncertain path was becoming clearer and grateful to have found a mentor like Ronan at the start of his journey.

In Matthew's eyes, the trend of 'Undeath' and 'Nature' coexisting was inevitable. If he continued with the traditional concepts, the two paths would inevitably clash. He even suspected that the initial chaos in the system was a manifestation of this conflict.

To resolve this issue, he needed to introduce new concepts. In this new conceptual system, he had to make 'Undeath' and 'Nature' mutually inclusive.

In theory, it was possible. After all, the 'Negative Energy Plane,' which symbolized the origin of the undead, was a natural part of the world. It should belong to nature in a broader sense. As time passed, nature itself would one day have its end. The universe would collapse, returning to death, which in turn was a subdomain of undeath. They could be fully inclusive and mutually transformative.

Of course, it was too early for Matthew to discuss these theories with his current power. He would need to grasp a certain authority over both undeath and nature before presenting this new concept to the world.

But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Trying to persuade the most conservative druids, even if they didn't reject his concept, was a tentative step taken by Matthew amidst his tree-planting endeavor.

...

Matthew sat down to complete his post-game analysis. Instead of putting away the stack of grass parchment, he decided to take a short break before resuming his writing.

Next on the agenda was his future plans. Matthew enjoyed creating lists of things to do regularly. First on the list was tree planting. He knew that until summer arrived, his primary focus was on expanding the forest with new trees. To ensure this, he intended to reduce the time he spent on nighttime forays into the wild to hunt the crazed thorn beetles. He believed that Eira and the Goddess would understand.

Next on the list was the study of magic and his delayed career advancement. These were not as pressing, considering the many spells he had yet to learn. Matthew's level was currently stuck at LV8, and to advance further, he needed to complete a ritual called the "Night of Necromancy" to qualify for an upgrade to "Advanced Necromancer." Alternatively, he could explore various advanced careers, some powerful, some unconventional, like True Necromancer, Pale Lord, Sovereign of Lost Souls, Dirge of Lament, Tomb Guardian, and the unique "Chain Warden" of White Rock City. Deciding which path to choose would require some contemplation.

The last item on his list was the acquisition of necessary items and supplies. He needed to buy scrolls, have weapons made to order for the Undead, and possibly upgrade his "Wondrous Satchel" to a larger size. A while ago, he had also set his eyes on a ring at the "Cauldron House" that increased his maximum psychic energy.

After some contemplation, Matthew decided to schedule these items for purchase in the first week after summer arrived. This would give him sufficient time to think about his career advancement path.

However, he decided to strike out the last two items on his list.

...

By the time he finished all the paperwork, it was late at night. Matthew organized the grass parchment into neat piles, placing different weights on each stack. Stretching his body after his work, he was surprised when a bright light suddenly appeared, and a coconut fell into his lap.

"Wait, where did you get this from?" Matthew asked in astonishment. Unfortunately, the oak spirit who had delivered the gift appeared and disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving Matthew to enjoy the "gift of nature."

"How do I even open this...?" Matthew wondered as he examined the thick coconut shell.

But soon, his attention shifted from the coconut to the mysterious ability called "Nature's Gift."

After contemplating it for a moment, Matthew placed the coconut on his lap, took out a piece of paper, and began writing:

"How should I use this miraculous and somewhat mysterious ability?"

However, if he were greedy, he could try to maximize his gains. He could collect bodies through legal or illegal means and bury them in his forest to receive gifts regularly. But Matthew knew this wasn't the right approach. It wasn't different from those who committed unethical acts for power.

Furthermore, the ability had its limitations. Matthew believed that abusing it could lead to unforeseen problems. So, as a matter of caution, he decided not to actively search for objects to bury.

"In addition, I should also control my thoughts and not immediately think of burying anyone with powerful abilities I encounter. Such greed is dangerous and could gradually erode my humanity," Matthew wrote.

"Nature's Gift should remain just that – a gift, not something I actively seek," he added.

After writing these lines, Matthew let out a sigh of relief. It felt like a burden had been lifted from his heart.

However, in the next moment, he noticed that everything around him began to warp and twist strangely.

In a daze, Matthew saw countless faces submerged in mercury, displaying various emotions like joy, sadness, greed, and indifference. It was as if countless eyes with different emotions were fixed on him, making his skin crawl.

Just as Matthew began to lose his composure, all the images suddenly disappeared, and a powerful energy surged into his body.

"You have firmly rejected an incredible temptation within your heart. You have ventured into the subdomain of 'Restraint.' As a reward for your venture, you can choose one of the following abilities..."

...

Unexpected joy filled him. He started contemplating the three abilities available to him.

"Unwavering Mind," which would make him immune to most forms of charm below legendary levels.

"Reserve of Strength," which would provide a small reserve of vital energy when he was on the brink of exhaustion, with 10 uses.

And finally, "Regretless Heart," which allowed him to choose whether to seal the emotion of 'regret.' Once sealed, he would never be affected by this emotion.

Each option had its unique advantages, but how could Matthew refuse "Unwavering Mind"? Without a second thought, he chose it.

...

"Congratulations, you have successfully ventured into the subdomain of 'Restraint.' Your current status in this domain is 'Novice.' As a result, you have gained a permanent status called 'Clear Mind.'"

"Clear Mind: Once a day, after successfully resisting a particular desire, you will gain at least one hour of 'Clear Mind.' In this state, your learning efficiency is three times higher than usual."

...

"This is incredibly useful! If we're talking about desires, I'm resisting them every day!" Matthew mumbled to himself.

However, the silence was abruptly interrupted by a voice from outside the basement door. Peggy, with her long legs resting against the door frame, accused him, "I knew it! Matthew, I knew that you Death Mages are all the same, lusting to violate me every day, aren't you?"

Matthew turned to see Peggy, who now wore an earnest expression instead of her earlier teasing.

Chapter 29 >>

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