Chapter 383
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Chapter 383
The afternoon found Anton traipsing through a nice bamboo forest. He couldnt really just sit around forever, but when asking for something to do the Island Tenders had little to offer him. Aside from seasonal planting and daily tending which they had well under control, there was nothing that could use his input. They had the responsibility of overseeing that nobody took too many of the local resources, but an outsider was even less able to help with that part.
Everything was already taken care of, and while he could use his energy to feel his way around the back of Paradise, visiting with his body felt more personal. He also hoped that moving to different locations might provide some insight into how things were the way they were. But unfortunately whatever he might find was too diffuse. Spread out over a large area, it was difficult to notice any oddities. Quickly, at least.
Anton wouldnt mind spending a few years atop Paradise, exploring every nook and cranny of his shell, but while he had some time, he doubted it would be that long before there was something important for him to get involved with. He didnt want to be so far away at that time. Instead, he had allotted himself a month or so, nothing hardline because cultivation couldnt be held to a strict schedule, but not too long.
As impressive as the bamboo forest was, with towering stalks surrounding him, what was more impressive was that they had only been planted several days prior. Everything grew quickly atop Paradise, the abundance of natural energy happily entwining with the local plants. At a certain point that growth slowed, then stopped- not because it couldnt theoretically continue, but because there was no more space. Without any animals or insects living on the island, the plants werent eaten. The only way they spread was through winds and water- and more recently human intervention.
It was impossible to avoid comparing Paradise to the Grandfather Willow back on the mainland. Both were entities of great power, though there was much less intentionality about the Grandfather Willow. It could be controlled by those who knew what they were doing, but there was no recognition by it. Even those who lived among its hanging branches for years would be snapped up by it reflexively if they did not match their energy properly. Conversely, Paradise was an active creature, seeking out food- and threats. Though generally uninteractive with humans, there was a vague sort of friendliness or at least a comforting disinterest.
-----
The next week Anton took Erin up on her offer to swim beneath Paradise. He felt he had explored enough, and found nothing of particular use. He was quite certain there was more to Paradises power than simply size, but he didnt quite understand it. More exploration might help trigger the right thoughts and it would at least be interesting.
There wasnt much more to what they were doing than simple walking to the edge of Paradise and stepping off into the water- though they had to either keep themselves anchored to Paradise or remember to swim. He wasnt particularly fast most of the time, but when unattached the movement relative to the surrounding water became obvious.
After Erin explained what to do- speaking underwater wasnt exactly effective- they dropped down into the water. There was actually a sizable distance on the lip of the shell to swim down before they were underneath, and towards the edges there was little of interest. Further in, however, they began to come into contact with the things Anton had sensed.
There were giant barnacles, vaguely round and with sufficient size for a human to squeeze into their opening. It seemed likely they had to feed on more than just the extremely small particles of life that dotted the oceans, potentially fish or larger creatures. Even if they somewhat sustained themselves off of natural energy, they would need more, especially if they had to compete with others.
Then there were the mussels, which had actually stood out to Anton more. They were like great black coffins, sticking directly off of the belly.
Not that there were terribly many of either at the moment. Erin was already popping them off of Paradises shell, and Anton slid a large blade hed been given beneath the edge of one of the barnacles. He could feel the drain the thing was causing on Paradise. Not really significant by itself, but along with the larger ones adding potentially a hundred kilograms of weight it seemed like it could be a problem. They also didnt seem to be contributing anything in return, though the Island Tenders left the smaller ones around so they could observe that.
The first popped off relatively easily, but the second gave Anton more trouble. He had to gather a good portion of energy before the thing finally detached, and it cracked before the grip it had on the shell gave out. Anton could see many markings on the underside, staring with the clearly different areas where barnacles had been attached. The mussels had threads that dug their way into crevices in the shell, many of which looked natural but some of which might have been pried open from much smaller. It wasnt terrible since the shell itself was immensely thick- even damage a meter deep could be considered superficial.
Even so, Anton was somewhat concerned he had caused some of it when he noticed a long, straight line where he had pried the second mussel off. Yet when he touched the surface with his hand, he could tell it was smooth, no jagged edges from recent formation. Yet clearly not part of the natural shell, or damage from the barnacles and mussels.
There was a nearly limitless number of smaller barnacles and mussels covering the surface as well, along with a thin layer of some sort of gooey algae. Yet clearly not one that needed direct light, since there was a great shadow cast by Paradise.
In a world with cultivation becoming more common children were beginning to learn younger and younger. There were some difficulties and risks associated with that, but people were learning about them. And it couldnt really be said that the there oldest were too young now. They were older than Annelie herself when shed first begun, at least.
The boys, Wolter and Lucas, had taken to a strange mix of the two sects cultivations. Somehow the Glorious Flame Palace and Frostmirror sect were still firmly attached to each other, unexpected but quite convenient for the familys living situation. Gudrun was cultivating only ice. The complete severing of emotions had been phased out, given that the best members of the most recent generation had all taken an alternate route, but they still practiced emotionlessness when they chose. For Gudrun, that seemed to be all the time.
Grandfather, are you going to fight on the frontlines?
Thats hardly a greeting, Anton replied.
Welcome back. It is good to see you again. So?
Anton sighed, Im not sure if Ill be fighting. There might not even be a war.
Of course there will be a war, she stated flatly. While you are here, can you teach me to shoot?
I dont know any techniques compatible with ice, Anton admitted. But I would be glad to teach you the fundamentals of archery. I dont know if I have time to help you develop proper techniques though.
That will be sufficient.
Im glad you came to me to learn. I was beginning to think you didnt like me.
You are one of the best archers in the world, and attacking from afar if possible is only logical.
at least the boys were enthusiastic about seeing him.
-----
His last stop before heading to Ambati would be with Lev and the Grasping Willows. He wanted to study the Grandfather Willow, for the same reasons as he studied Paradise. He highly doubted that there would be anything formation related, but that was just a tangential curiosity.
It was unlikely a tree would be the perfect source of inspiration for a cultivator who had no cultivation ties to such a thing, but it was an opportunity to see friends if nothing else. Studying powerful phenomena would never be a bad idea for a cultivator. As long as it was done safely, and by this point if he wasnt safe around the tree he should have been dead many times over. Though he did have to pay attention still, as it would be embarrassing if someone had to come disentangle him.
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Chapter 383
The afternoon found Anton traipsing through a nice bamboo forest. He couldnt really just sit around forever, but when asking for something to do the Island Tenders had little to offer him. Aside from seasonal planting and daily tending which they had well under control, there was nothing that could use his input. They had the responsibility of overseeing that nobody took too many of the local resources, but an outsider was even less able to help with that part.
Everything was already taken care of, and while he could use his energy to feel his way around the back of Paradise, visiting with his body felt more personal. He also hoped that moving to different locations might provide some insight into how things were the way they were. But unfortunately whatever he might find was too diffuse. Spread out over a large area, it was difficult to notice any oddities. Quickly, at least.
Anton wouldnt mind spending a few years atop Paradise, exploring every nook and cranny of his shell, but while he had some time, he doubted it would be that long before there was something important for him to get involved with. He didnt want to be so far away at that time. Instead, he had allotted himself a month or so, nothing hardline because cultivation couldnt be held to a strict schedule, but not too long.
As impressive as the bamboo forest was, with towering stalks surrounding him, what was more impressive was that they had only been planted several days prior. Everything grew quickly atop Paradise, the abundance of natural energy happily entwining with the local plants. At a certain point that growth slowed, then stopped- not because it couldnt theoretically continue, but because there was no more space. Without any animals or insects living on the island, the plants werent eaten. The only way they spread was through winds and water- and more recently human intervention.
It was impossible to avoid comparing Paradise to the Grandfather Willow back on the mainland. Both were entities of great power, though there was much less intentionality about the Grandfather Willow. It could be controlled by those who knew what they were doing, but there was no recognition by it. Even those who lived among its hanging branches for years would be snapped up by it reflexively if they did not match their energy properly. Conversely, Paradise was an active creature, seeking out food- and threats. Though generally uninteractive with humans, there was a vague sort of friendliness or at least a comforting disinterest.
-----
The next week Anton took Erin up on her offer to swim beneath Paradise. He felt he had explored enough, and found nothing of particular use. He was quite certain there was more to Paradises power than simply size, but he didnt quite understand it. More exploration might help trigger the right thoughts and it would at least be interesting.
There wasnt much more to what they were doing than simple walking to the edge of Paradise and stepping off into the water- though they had to either keep themselves anchored to Paradise or remember to swim. He wasnt particularly fast most of the time, but when unattached the movement relative to the surrounding water became obvious.
After Erin explained what to do- speaking underwater wasnt exactly effective- they dropped down into the water. There was actually a sizable distance on the lip of the shell to swim down before they were underneath, and towards the edges there was little of interest. Further in, however, they began to come into contact with the things Anton had sensed.
There were giant barnacles, vaguely round and with sufficient size for a human to squeeze into their opening. It seemed likely they had to feed on more than just the extremely small particles of life that dotted the oceans, potentially fish or larger creatures. Even if they somewhat sustained themselves off of natural energy, they would need more, especially if they had to compete with others.
Then there were the mussels, which had actually stood out to Anton more. They were like great black coffins, sticking directly off of the belly.
Not that there were terribly many of either at the moment. Erin was already popping them off of Paradises shell, and Anton slid a large blade hed been given beneath the edge of one of the barnacles. He could feel the drain the thing was causing on Paradise. Not really significant by itself, but along with the larger ones adding potentially a hundred kilograms of weight it seemed like it could be a problem. They also didnt seem to be contributing anything in return, though the Island Tenders left the smaller ones around so they could observe that.
The first popped off relatively easily, but the second gave Anton more trouble. He had to gather a good portion of energy before the thing finally detached, and it cracked before the grip it had on the shell gave out. Anton could see many markings on the underside, staring with the clearly different areas where barnacles had been attached. The mussels had threads that dug their way into crevices in the shell, many of which looked natural but some of which might have been pried open from much smaller. It wasnt terrible since the shell itself was immensely thick- even damage a meter deep could be considered superficial.
Even so, Anton was somewhat concerned he had caused some of it when he noticed a long, straight line where he had pried the second mussel off. Yet when he touched the surface with his hand, he could tell it was smooth, no jagged edges from recent formation. Yet clearly not part of the natural shell, or damage from the barnacles and mussels.
There was a nearly limitless number of smaller barnacles and mussels covering the surface as well, along with a thin layer of some sort of gooey algae. Yet clearly not one that needed direct light, since there was a great shadow cast by Paradise.
In a world with cultivation becoming more common children were beginning to learn younger and younger. There were some difficulties and risks associated with that, but people were learning about them. And it couldnt really be said that the there oldest were too young now. They were older than Annelie herself when shed first begun, at least.
The boys, Wolter and Lucas, had taken to a strange mix of the two sects cultivations. Somehow the Glorious Flame Palace and Frostmirror sect were still firmly attached to each other, unexpected but quite convenient for the familys living situation. Gudrun was cultivating only ice. The complete severing of emotions had been phased out, given that the best members of the most recent generation had all taken an alternate route, but they still practiced emotionlessness when they chose. For Gudrun, that seemed to be all the time.
Grandfather, are you going to fight on the frontlines?
Thats hardly a greeting, Anton replied.
Welcome back. It is good to see you again. So?
Anton sighed, Im not sure if Ill be fighting. There might not even be a war.
Of course there will be a war, she stated flatly. While you are here, can you teach me to shoot?
I dont know any techniques compatible with ice, Anton admitted. But I would be glad to teach you the fundamentals of archery. I dont know if I have time to help you develop proper techniques though.
That will be sufficient.
Im glad you came to me to learn. I was beginning to think you didnt like me.
You are one of the best archers in the world, and attacking from afar if possible is only logical.
at least the boys were enthusiastic about seeing him.
-----
His last stop before heading to Ambati would be with Lev and the Grasping Willows. He wanted to study the Grandfather Willow, for the same reasons as he studied Paradise. He highly doubted that there would be anything formation related, but that was just a tangential curiosity.
It was unlikely a tree would be the perfect source of inspiration for a cultivator who had no cultivation ties to such a thing, but it was an opportunity to see friends if nothing else. Studying powerful phenomena would never be a bad idea for a cultivator. As long as it was done safely, and by this point if he wasnt safe around the tree he should have been dead many times over. Though he did have to pay attention still, as it would be embarrassing if someone had to come disentangle him.
Chapter 383The afternoon found Anton traipsing through a nice bamboo forest. He couldnt really just sit around forever, but when asking for something to do the Island Tenders had little to offer him. Aside from seasonal planting and daily tending which they had well under control, there was nothing that could use his input. They had the responsibility of overseeing that nobody took too many of the local resources, but an outsider was even less able to help with that part. Everything was already taken care of, and while he could use his energy to feel his way around the back of Paradise, visiting with his body felt more personal. He also hoped that moving to different locations might provide some insight into how things were the way they were. But unfortunately whatever he might find was too diffuse. Spread out over a large area, it was difficult to notice any oddities. Quickly, at least.Anton wouldnt mind spending a few years atop Paradise, exploring every nook and cranny of his shell, but while he had some time, he doubted it would be that long before there was something important for him to get involved with. He didnt want to be so far away at that time. Instead, he had allotted himself a month or so, nothing hardline because cultivation couldnt be held to a strict schedule, but not too long.As impressive as the bamboo forest was, with towering stalks surrounding him, what was more impressive was that they had only been planted several days prior. Everything grew quickly atop Paradise, the abundance of natural energy happily entwining with the local plants. At a certain point that growth slowed, then stopped- not because it couldnt theoretically continue, but because there was no more space. Without any animals or insects living on the island, the plants werent eaten. The only way they spread was through winds and water- and more recently human intervention. It was impossible to avoid comparing Paradise to the Grandfather Willow back on the mainland. Both were entities of great power, though there was much less intentionality about the Grandfather Willow. It could be controlled by those who knew what they were doing, but there was no recognition by it. Even those who lived among its hanging branches for years would be snapped up by it reflexively if they did not match their energy properly. Conversely, Paradise was an active creature, seeking out food- and threats. Though generally uninteractive with humans, there was a vague sort of friendliness or at least a comforting disinterest.----- The next week Anton took Erin up on her offer to swim beneath Paradise. He felt he had explored enough, and found nothing of particular use. He was quite certain there was more to Paradises power than simply size, but he didnt quite understand it. More exploration might help trigger the right thoughts and it would at least be interesting.There wasnt much more to what they were doing than simple walking to the edge of Paradise and stepping off into the water- though they had to either keep themselves anchored to Paradise or remember to swim. He wasnt particularly fast most of the time, but when unattached the movement relative to the surrounding water became obvious.After Erin explained what to do- speaking underwater wasnt exactly effective- they dropped down into the water. There was actually a sizable distance on the lip of the shell to swim down before they were underneath, and towards the edges there was little of interest. Further in, however, they began to come into contact with the things Anton had sensed.There were giant barnacles, vaguely round and with sufficient size for a human to squeeze into their opening. It seemed likely they had to feed on more than just the extremely small particles of life that dotted the oceans, potentially fish or larger creatures. Even if they somewhat sustained themselves off of natural energy, they would need more, especially if they had to compete with others.Then there were the mussels, which had actually stood out to Anton more. They were like great black coffins, sticking directly off of the belly. Not that there were terribly many of either at the moment. Erin was already popping them off of Paradises shell, and Anton slid a large blade hed been given beneath the edge of one of the barnacles. He could feel the drain the thing was causing on Paradise. Not really significant by itself, but along with the larger ones adding potentially a hundred kilograms of weight it seemed like it could be a problem. They also didnt seem to be contributing anything in return, though the Island Tenders left the smaller ones around so they could observe that. The first popped off relatively easily, but the second gave Anton more trouble. He had to gather a good portion of energy before the thing finally detached, and it cracked before the grip it had on the shell gave out. Anton could see many markings on the underside, staring with the clearly different areas where barnacles had been attached. The mussels had threads that dug their way into crevices in the shell, many of which looked natural but some of which might have been pried open from much smaller. It wasnt terrible since the shell itself was immensely thick- even damage a meter deep could be considered superficial.Even so, Anton was somewhat concerned he had caused some of it when he noticed a long, straight line where he had pried the second mussel off. Yet when he touched the surface with his hand, he could tell it was smooth, no jagged edges from recent formation. Yet clearly not part of the natural shell, or damage from the barnacles and mussels.There was a nearly limitless number of smaller barnacles and mussels covering the surface as well, along with a thin layer of some sort of gooey algae. Yet clearly not one that needed direct light, since there was a great shadow cast by Paradise.In a world with cultivation becoming more common children were beginning to learn younger and younger. There were some difficulties and risks associated with that, but people were learning about them. And it couldnt really be said that the there oldest were too young now. They were older than Annelie herself when shed first begun, at least.The boys, Wolter and Lucas, had taken to a strange mix of the two sects cultivations. Somehow the Glorious Flame Palace and Frostmirror sect were still firmly attached to each other, unexpected but quite convenient for the familys living situation. Gudrun was cultivating only ice. The complete severing of emotions had been phased out, given that the best members of the most recent generation had all taken an alternate route, but they still practiced emotionlessness when they chose. For Gudrun, that seemed to be all the time.Grandfather, are you going to fight on the frontlines?Thats hardly a greeting, Anton replied.Welcome back. It is good to see you again. So?Anton sighed, Im not sure if Ill be fighting. There might not even be a war.Of course there will be a war, she stated flatly. While you are here, can you teach me to shoot?I dont know any techniques compatible with ice, Anton admitted. But I would be glad to teach you the fundamentals of archery. I dont know if I have time to help you develop proper techniques though.That will be sufficient.Im glad you came to me to learn. I was beginning to think you didnt like me.You are one of the best archers in the world, and attacking from afar if possible is only logical.at least the boys were enthusiastic about seeing him.-----His last stop before heading to Ambati would be with Lev and the Grasping Willows. He wanted to study the Grandfather Willow, for the same reasons as he studied Paradise. He highly doubted that there would be anything formation related, but that was just a tangential curiosity.It was unlikely a tree would be the perfect source of inspiration for a cultivator who had no cultivation ties to such a thing, but it was an opportunity to see friends if nothing else. Studying powerful phenomena would never be a bad idea for a cultivator. As long as it was done safely, and by this point if he wasnt safe around the tree he should have been dead many times over. Though he did have to pay attention still, as it would be embarrassing if someone had to come disentangle him.
