This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 174

Chapter 174: Balance Domain: Veteran of Floral Thickets and Alchemist

The union of the Heart of Nature and the Way of Undeath.

These were the names of the two systems seamlessly hybridized within Matthew's body.

From the start, Matthew's aim was to reconcile them, at least to rid themselves of the infinite overlay they imposed on each other.

However, both concepts were immense.

To fuse the Heart of Nature and the Way of Undeath was a task for legends, at least in this world.

In this realm.

All concepts were artificially imparted, passed down through ages, with many undergoing shifts and distortions.

This reflected the transitions and changes in power.

As Matthew understood it.

Certain high-level legends and deities possessed the direct power to "edit domains."

This meant that as long as you were powerful enough.

You could compel the entire world to accept your viewpoint.

You could point at the sun and call it the moon, effortlessly declare a deer as a horse, or claim a ghost to be a person.

Domains, in the presence of true strength, were akin to an open encyclopedia on the internet.

Just subjects to be manipulated and authored at will.

Of course.

All of this needed to maintain some logical coherence.

If it became too rigid, it could encounter resistance from the pan-consciousness of the planes.

As for Matthew.

He had long prepared conceptually for that step; all that lacked was the power.

Fortunately, the communication in the ritual space didn't entail a complete alteration of the entire world's domains.

The influence of the Domain Pact extended only to Matthew's own territory.

Thus, he could freely manipulate it.

Consequently, in the first section of the pact, he boldly bestowed new definitions upon certain domains following his own ideas.

He interpreted "undeath" as a domain transcending death itself and included "eternity" within it, amplifying its influence.

This was his ultimate pursuit under ideal circumstances.

It was about surpassing the existence of the Reaper - "I endure while all living things wither."

Subsequently, Matthew elevated the concept of "nature" limitlessly, encompassing even parts of "death" within it, directly assimilating the entire domain of "life."

Nature had always been the most unique concept.

In the dark ages, chaos was nature; during the enlightenment era, everything having a spirit was nature; even the pastoral songs of the exile age were considered natural.

In case one day Aendu entered an industrialized era, why couldn't the roar of machinery and towering skyscrapers be called natural?

In the subsequent explanation.

Matthew introduced concepts like "microorganisms," "spores," "fungi," and "decomposers."

Microorganisms served as decomposers, parasites, transformers, an indispensable part beneath the overarching framework of nature and death.

Living beings die, become corpses, are decomposed by microorganisms, returning as elements of life to the earth.

This was a part of the intermingling of life and death.

Living beings die, become corpses, are awakened as undead, and one day they will also be processed by decomposers, returning to nature.

This meant that the undead were not an opposition to nature.

Rather, they were its continuation!

This was one of the core tenets of the Spore Society, aligning with Matthew's understanding of the spore domain.

Thus, the intertwining of life and death, mutual transformation, indicated that the "undead" belonging to the death domain were an extension of the "life" within the domain of nature.

Matthew's grand framework had completed a portion.

In the second section of the pact.

He applied this theory to the "oak tree," "spores," and "undead."

With a theoretical guide, the specific examples were seamlessly explained, filling the massive stone with densely packed words in no time.

After finishing the second section, Matthew sensed that the clash between the elements of the two ritual spaces had intensified.

This was a positive sign.

The worst-case scenario would have been complete disregard.

A reaction, whether positive or negative.

It indicated that the Domain Pact he wrote stimulated them in some way.

All that was left was to intensify the stimulus.

Taking a brief break, Matthew continued writing the third segment of the arcane pact on the stone.

During this process, he felt his own domain within him becoming increasingly restless.

Holding his breath, focusing intensely, he completed the final annotation in one breath.

Seconds later.

After reviewing the entire text, he infused a bit of magic into the stone.

The magical words on the stone flickered like fluorescent lights, and for a moment, they seemed to lift off the surface.

That moment.

Once again, within the cemetery, a golden tree sprouted!

And on the World Tree, the magnificent dark moon reappeared!

However, this vision lasted less than half a second.

Bang!

After a light sound.

The stone collapsed inward, instantly turning into rubble!

"Hmm?"

"The Nature Domain does not approve?"

The sudden turn of events caught Matthew off guard.

He was momentarily startled.

But soon, he realized: "No, the will of nature is approved, as are the domains of the undead and spores."

He concentrated for a while.

Shortly after, the data panel finally responded.

"Hint: The stone you selected cannot withstand the content of the 'Domain Pact'!

Domain Pact: You have initiated preliminary communication between the domains.

A slight overlap has occurred between your domains 'Oak Tree, Spores, Undead'..."

So, it was an issue with the material.

Matthew sighed with relief.

The stone he chose was already of the most robust kind, but it still couldn't endure the necessary level for the Domain Pact. It seemed he needed a more advanced medium.

"Purgatory's stubborn stone, the celestial bamboo's core, and even a legendary scroll made from true dragon hide..."

The prices of several high-grade materials flashed through Matthew's mind.

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain.

However, at that moment.

Changes within him drew more of his attention.

Suddenly, Matthew vividly "saw" his internal organs, blood coursing through veins, the heart pumping copious amounts of blood.

He witnessed negative and life energies stored harmoniously in the organs, merging seamlessly with his magical powers.

He observed the concentration of psychic force behind his brain.

He saw, in the depths, eleven spheres orbiting around his body.

These spheres varied in size and color.

Only when he focused on top of these spheres could he clearly see the flickering lights within them:

Oak Tree, Undead, Moderation, Dragon Slayer, Plague, Transformation, Minotaur, Graveyard, Eclipse, Spores.

And "Balance"!

Unconsciously, Matthew had delved into eleven domains.

This number far surpassed the basic requirement for an advanced legend.

The demands for domains in legend advancement could roughly be classified into three tiers:

The first tier was for single or double-domain legends. Such instances usually required seniority within the domain and a substantial accumulation on the path to legend. Additionally, the higher ecological niches in the domain had to be unoccupied for elevation. However, these legends were often considered inferior due to their singular nature, lacking diversity, and easily exploitable weaknesses leading to their deaths. Records in the Alliance's history indicated that over seventy percent of killed legends were either single or double-domain, often considered weak ones.

The second tier comprised three-domain legends.

The third tier included six-domain legends.

It was said that

the enhancement coefficient for the second tier during legend advancement was over five times that of the first tier.

However, due to its rarity, there was limited information available about the third tier.

Matthew only knew that the minimum requirement for the Alliance's Guardians was a "three-domain legend," while the Three Great Archmages demanded a "six-domain legend."

This meant that Suerel and Isabelle were formidable individuals of the third tier.

Among them, Isabelle was revealed by Eckmonde to be a master of all domains.

Matthew estimated she possessed no less than eight legendary domains.

It could be said that, in terms of domain quantity, Matthew had already amassed enough capital.

However, on one hand, he knew his path was different from others'. Even though they all utilized domains as tools, Matthew's Way of Balance required a far greater number of tools than others.

Correspondingly, he lagged behind significantly in the depth of his domains.

Therefore, while expanding the boundaries of his domains, he had to further explore the potentials of the existing ones.

On the other hand, the more domains one had, the stronger they became after ascending to legend status. But they also faced greater resistance during the ascension.

This was almost a common understanding among mages.

To better face these obstacles, the only solution was accumulation.

Accumulation was always the primary principle for a mage's advancement.

That peculiar perspective lasted for about a minute and a half.

Finally, Matthew witnessed the domains of Oak Tree, Undead, and Spores amalgamating, appearing as three interlocking rings from a flat perspective, while the other rings remained relatively scattered around.

Only the recently appeared Balance ring was particularly active.

It eagerly touched all other domains, even though in most cases, it was swiftly repelled. However, this didn't dampen its lively nature.

As Matthew's unusual view came to an end.

He saw the Balance sphere bouncing among the domains, like a resilient ball rebounding between them.

A bit like—

A socialite rejected everywhere but persistently trying?

...

"Hint: By using the 'Pact of Domains,' you've successfully communicated with 'Oak, Undead, and Spores,' earning yourself an opportunity to enter the 'Balance Domain'!

As a reward for venturing into this domain, you've gained the 'Innersight' ability in the Balance Domain.

Innersight: You can scrutinize changes within your body, energy, elements, and more from a god-like perspective. (Usable once daily)

Additionally, you'll receive one of the following three abilities—

1. Grove Expert (You consistently and gracefully allocate time, energy, and care to each individual of the opposite sex, significantly reducing their aversion to each other when they are aware of their situations).

2. Potioneer (You'll acquire detailed recipes for several potions, a +20 boost in herbal and magical potion knowledge, and gain the 'Basic Alchemy' ability).

3. Simultaneous Progress (For each additional domain you enter, there's a 3% increase in the integration speed of other domain elements/stability)."

---

"Although the 'Pact of Domains' didn't fully activate, finally entering the Balance Domain feels like an achievement," Matthew reflected, pondering over the three domain abilities.

After a brief hesitation, he chose "3."

Matthew had contemplated being a "Potioneer"; it seemed practical, offering abundant knowledge. Yet, "Simultaneous Progress" suited him better now. With multiple domains to explore and limited time, he couldn't cover everything.

For uncovering the domains' potential, automatic integration of domain elements was crucial to balance quantity and quality. It made perfect sense to acquire this ability.

As for "Grove Expert," Matthew thought it best to leave it for someone who truly needed it!

Moreover, the Balance Domain granted Matthew a permanent status: "Athleticism: +10 to your balance abilities (climbing, jumping, running, swimming, gymnastics, horse riding, etc., +3 in skill checks)."

A valuable skill indeed. It would notably aid him in riding winged horses and nightmares, enhancing his self-protection.

"Speaking of which, I need to buy two sets of top-quality saddles. Although the flying mounts are quite stable, they're a bit uncomfortable," Matthew mused. "Once the Oak Merchants' funds return, I'll visit Old Falon for the saddles and settle accounts with Aebing and Renaismae."

Stretching lazily, Matthew left the Mushroom Garden.

The 'Pact of Domains' hadn't fully succeeded, yet the tension between the two ritual sites had significantly diminished. Matthew sensed this immediately upon standing at the graveyard entrance on the boundary of the ritual sites.

Descending the makeshift stone stairs from the entrance, thanks to his newfound "Athleticism," his steps were noticeably more stable. Still, the temporary stairs felt excessively steep.

"If only we could install an elevator here, similar to the Crucible House, directly connecting the graveyard to the World Tree's canopy," Matthew mused, shaking his head.

He'd inquired about the price of the Tower Spirit's 177 Magic Elevator. It was a sum he couldn't afford.

"In the end, it all boils down to money," Matthew sighed, suddenly remembering the upcoming visit from the Alliance Mage Delegation.

At that moment, he noticed Sivak, snoring loudly beside the stone stairs.

Since the completion of the graveyard, apart from occasionally tending to the tombstones, the ogre had nothing much to do. He lived a contented life now—sleeping peacefully every day and having vegetarian meals whenever hungry.

This raised concerns for Matthew regarding Sivak's health.

"Should I arrange some moderate exercise for him?" Matthew contemplated, considering human-powered elevators.

Just as this idea popped into his mind, a human from the underground city outside the graveyard shouted, "Hey, Matthew! Finally found you. I misplaced the stone you gave me. Uh, can you let me in? I'm afraid of those zombies."

Matthew glanced at him and promptly opened the graveyard gates.

The man wore mining attire with a headlamp and had a fair complexion. He was Patton, sent by Rhaegar to oversee the sulfur mine's development, previously acquainted with Matthew.

Patton, Liz's second son and Bradley's brother, had served as the town's tax collector to later retire due to a peculiar floral disease incident that caused conflict with villagers.

With significant improvements in his health recently, combined with the need for reliable labor in the sulfur mine, Rhaegar dispatched him to assist Matthew.

Regarding the sulfur mine's development, they were now at the implementation stage. Officially, the town had recruited a dozen workers under the Town Hall's banner, while Matthew deployed over forty zombies for surveillance and patrol duties.

Zombies excelled at these tasks but were inept at sorting, transporting, and refining the ore.

The process involved eight workers sorting sulfur ores into carts at the mine, escorted by Patton through underground passages to an abandoned factory in the Prospector's Basin. There, additional workers handled initial extraction and further refinement.

The ore extraction wasn't intricate, especially given the high purity of the sulfur found by Matthew. Thus, there weren't many difficulties in terms of equipment and procedures.

The sulfur produced had three destinations. The first went to Matthew's graveyard, essential for producing fire gel and incendiary bottles. However, the demand for these items was limited, leaving a surplus.

The remaining sulfur split between Rhaegar's Rolling Stone Town Guild and Matthew's Oak Merchants. The former managed northern distribution, while the latter handled sales to the south.

Overall, Rhaegar proved quite generous. Despite his active involvement, his share after deducting operational and labor costs was merely 10%.

This was remarkably low. Typically, all wealth within a lord's domain belonged solely to the lord, even if discovered or developed jointly with others. A 70-30 split favoring the lord was common.

But Rhaegar was different, exceedingly fair to Matthew and everyone else. Years ago, during the heyday of the Prospectors' Basin mining, Rhaegar had claimed only 20-30% of profits for the mine owners. This prosperity had caused the region's original name to fade, replaced by the more era-relevant 'Prospectors' Basin.'

"How's the factory? Has the first batch of goods come out? Do I need to send more undead to maintain order?" Matthew inquired upon meeting Patton.

Patton waved his hand, "All's well. The first batch will be here in a couple of days—pure and of high quality. Initially, the workers were scared of the undead, but with my arrangements, they now trust your zombies."

"Arrangements?" Matthew quirked a brow, suspecting this approach might increase the workers' panic.

Patton shrugged, "Yeah, I used a couple of wild boars to scare them, but before they got close, your undead scared them off."

"Consequently, the workers gained some trust in the undead."

Though effective, Matthew felt this might exacerbate the workers' anxiety. He advised, "Next time you plan something like this, let me know beforehand."

"Sure thing, boss. Your call," Patton acknowledged.

"I'm here about the mine—workers reported completing a section of sulfur mining, yet the next day, the same area had the same or more ores. While it's advantageous, it's unn

erving the workers," Matthew explained. "Last night, they heard strange noises, like wind friction from a hole."

"This morning, one worker expressed reluctance due to fear," he continued. "I think it's crucial to address this. Since I discovered the mine, do you have any idea what's happening?"

After contemplating, Matthew replied, "I have a rough idea. Tonight, I'll personally visit the mine to resolve this issue at its source."

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