Cultivation is Creation

While I had my vine whip and explosive seed techniques, expanding my arsenal of elemental runes could only help, especially with the tournament fast approaching.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed that Constantine had apparently given up on his workout routine and was now doing what looked suspiciously like yoga poses in his reinforced terrarium. I tried not to stare as the plant bent itself into what I'm pretty sure was meant to be a downward-facing dog position.

"Let's start with something fun!" Elder Molric said, bringing my attention back to him. "The Thorn Barrage Rune was one of my personal favorites back in the day for clearing out large groups of enemies." He traced the pattern with one finger, and I noticed it resembled a blooming flower, if that flower was made entirely of sharp, angular lines.

"When activated, it creates a storm of thorns that shoot outward in all directions. The thorns themselves are infused with spiritual energy, allowing them to pierce through basic defensive techniques."

"That sounds... messy," I commented, thinking of the potential collateral damage.

The elder's grin widened. "Oh, it absolutely is! The targeting is completely indiscriminate - friend or foe, everyone in range better have good defenses or quick reflexes." He chuckled. "I once saw an initiate try to use it in a group spar. His teammates weren't very happy with him afterward... those who could still walk, anyway."

While the ability to clear out multiple enemies at once was tempting, I preferred techniques with more precise control, I don’t think Wei Lin or Lin Mei would be pleased when my own attacks turned on them…

“Master, the pattern appears similar to the explosive seed rune, but with multiple projection points instead of a single focal point. I've added it to my database for later analysis."

I nodded slightly, both to Azure and the elder. “Any runes like this one but more…safe?”

"The Leaf Storm Rune!” The elder pointed to a pattern that looked like a spiraling leaf. "It creates a swarm of razor-sharp leaves that you can control mentally. Less raw power than the Thorn Barrage, but much more precise. You can even use them as a makeshift shield by spinning them around you."

That had real potential. "The energy cost?"

"Moderate, but continuous. The leaves last until they're destroyed or you run out of energy to maintain them." He demonstrated with a gesture, crimson energy forming into leaf-shaped constructs that danced through the air. "See? Quite versatile."

I could already imagine different uses for a technique like this…

"What else do you have?"

"Ah, here's one you might appreciate - the Grove Guardian Rune." He turned the page to reveal a complex pattern of interwoven circles and branches. "Creates a defensive zone where wooden barriers spring up automatically to block incoming attacks. Quite efficient with energy usage too, since it only activates when needed."

"Why does it sound too good to be true?"

"Well..." He coughed slightly. "The barriers tend to be a bit... overzealous. Had one initiate sneeze during training and nearly impale himself on his own defenses. Though I suppose that just proves they work!"

I made a mental note to file that one under 'maybe, but needs testing in a very large, very empty space.'

"Next we have the Rootbind Rune." He showed me a pattern that looked like intertwining vines. "Causes roots to burst from the ground and entangle your opponents. Simple but effective, especially since most practitioners focus on defending against attacks from above."

That actually sounded quite practical.

"The problem with this one is range, mainly. You need to be within about ten meters of your target, and it only works if there's actual earth nearby. Won't do you much good on stone floors or in midair." He shrugged. "Still, it's reliable when the conditions are right."

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"Master," Azure noted, "that could be particularly useful in combination with your vine techniques. Force opponents to dodge the vines, then catch them with roots when they land."

I nodded slightly. I rarely manipulate roots; they were usually a stubborn bunch in comparison to their flexible counterparts - vines. This one was definitely worth considering.

Then I noticed something interesting in the corner of one page – a pattern that seemed different from the others. While most of the runes were clearly designed for external effects, this one had a more... internal feel to it. The lines flowed like sap through wood, creating a pattern that reminded me of a tree's cross-section.

"What's that one?" I asked, pointing to the corner.

The elder's expression changed, becoming more serious. "Ah, the Rootform rune. One of our more... experimental designs." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It allows the user to transform their arm into a mass of roots and branches. Quite powerful in theory, but..."

"But?" I prompted when he trailed off.

He sighed. "As I mentioned earlier about transformation runes, these kinds of deep physical changes... they affect more than just the body. Users start thinking more and more like what they've transformed into. Well, let's just say we've had practitioners who became a bit too... botanical in their worldview."

"You mean they started thinking like plants?"

"Yes." The elder sighed. "They become obsessed with sunlight, constantly trying to put down roots... Some even forget they're supposed to move around! Had one fellow who stood in the same spot for three months, insisting he was ‘growing.'"

I nodded, trying not to show my exctiement. Inside, however, my mind was racing. The World Tree Sutra's second stage involved partial transformation, allowing the cultivator to take on aspects of a world tree while maintaining human consciousness. This rune, despite using a completely different energy system, might provide valuable insights into that process.

Yggy, apparently sensing my thoughts, emerged fully from my sleeve and performed what could only be described as an enthusiastic dance.

"Oh, you like that idea, do you?" I smiled, reaching up to stroke its length. "Let me guess – you want me to be more plant-like, like you?"

The vine froze mid-motion, then made a gesture that clearly said 'well, when you put it that way...'

"The Genesis Seed should provide some protection against mental contamination," Azure noted thoughtfully. "And I can monitor your psychological state for any concerning changes. If we detect any negative effects, we can simply stop using the rune."

Had it not been for Azure and the Genesis Seed, I wouldn't feel confident messing around with a rune like this.

I turned back to the elder, who was watching my interaction with Yggy with raised eyebrows. "I'd like to learn this one."

"Are you sure?" he asked, his usual manic energy replaced by what looked like genuine concern. "It's not just the mental effects – transformation runes can be tricky to control, and having multiple active at once—" He stopped suddenly, eyes widening. "Ah, that's right, you were interested in the Scorpion rune as well, weren't you?"

I nodded carefully. "You mentioned earlier that we shouldn't mix transformation runes..."

"Non-elemental transformations," he corrected with a sigh. "They don't play well together – trying to turn your arm into a wolf's claw while maintaining a bear's strength, for instance, tends to have... messy results." He waved a hand dismissively. "But elemental transformations operate on different principles. They shouldn't interfere with each other."

I felt a surge of relief. The Scorpion rune's poison-delivering capability was too useful to give up, especially for the tournament. Being able to keep both was ideal.

The elder studied my face for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, you've shown good judgment so far. And I suppose having a vine-spirit familiar already makes you somewhat uniquely qualified to handle plant-based transformation."

Yggy preened at this, its tip forming into something that looked suspiciously like a flexing muscle. I couldn't help but wonder if it had been taking behavioral cues from Constantine.

"There is one other thing you should know," the elder added, his expression serious. "The Rootform rune is powerful - more complex than most elemental runes at your rank. It would take up two of your three available slots for elemental runes. Are you sure about this?"

I made a show of considering this carefully, even though I was already certain. I still had one slot left in my inner world, after all. I just needed to decide what to fill it with.

"I understand," I said finally. "I still want to learn it."

The elder nodded slowly. "Very well. No more talk about any other elemental runes for now." A hint of his usual manic grin returned. "Unless, of course, you manage to reach Rank 3 sooner than expected. Then I could show you some really interesting combinations..."

I was a little disappointed that Azure couldn’t continue adding more runes to the database but at the same time, I couldn’t help but smile.

The Rootform rune might be expensive in terms of slots, but if it could help me understand the World Tree Sutra's transformation aspects, then it would be worth it. Besides, having my arm turn into a mass of roots and branches sounded pretty impressive.

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