This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 122

Late at night.

Matthew stood on a small hill, gazing into the distance under the moonlight.

His Balance Perception had been activated.

The fluctuation of an unusual energy field slowly entered his senses, weaving its way into his eyes and brain.

On the Mark of the Deceased, a massive figure slowly changed its direction and headed northeast.

It was the "Lord of Ashes"!

Clearly, the Death Scorched Earth Ritual was a success, and the Ash Lord had to continue his journey north after failing to go south.

That was the direction of the Emerald Wood Court.

"I wonder if the Wood Elves can hold their ground."

Matthew let out a slow breath, confirming the completion of the primary objective for Main Quest 2. His heart was filled with joy.

The next moment, Matthew opened his hand, and a shiny blue, smooth particle appeared in his palm.

This was the divine rank fragment exuding a powerful aura!

"It looks different from Lolan's."

...

"Prompt: You have obtained the 'Blank Divine Rank Fragment.' You can choose to:

Fuse (You need to hold a semi-divine ritual to ascend. After the ascension, you will gain the blessings of the divine rank template, 6 free attribute points, and more additional abilities.)

Harmonize (You will treat the divine rank fragment as an item or equipment. Through domain intervention, you can harmonize with it. Once harmonized, you will gain a small personal blessing, and the divine rank fragment will become an equipment-like existence.)"

...

Just like Lolan, Matthew had a divine rank fragment. However, he made a different choice – he chose "Harmonize."

He didn't need the divine rank template to enhance himself; that path was proven to be futile, at least under the rules set by the Cataclysmic Mage. While semi-divines were not exiled like true gods during the fusion process, they were still imprinted deeply with plane markings. Afterward, their growth curve was limited by the plane itself.

Matthew's path was meant to be more like that of the Cataclysmic Mage.

So, Harmonizing was the only option.

Mages treated everything they had as tools, even precious divine rank fragments.

Now, Matthew tried to connect with the divine rank fragment using his Balance Perception.

Soon, a stream of information flooded his mind, and he grasped the essence of harmonizing with the divine rank fragment.

Harmonizing meant resonating with certain artifacts or divine items through various means, gaining control over the item.

Usually, only high-level items required harmonizing, and the process varied for different items.

For divine rank fragments, the way to harmonize was through "Domain Power."

"I'll start by trying to harmonize with a single domain's power and see how it goes."

With this thought in mind, Matthew returned to his small cabin and began the process.

Initially, he wanted to use the power of nature to harmonize with the divine rank fragment. But then he remembered Isabelle's warning about the overpowering and fearsome nature domain.

"If the nature domain is really that dominant and frightening, letting it take control first might prevent other domains from taking control."

After some consideration, Matthew decided to use "Undead" instead.

He slowly extended his domain, and the essence of the Undead seeped into the divine rank fragment in his hand.

The blue particle trembled for a moment and then fell silent.

Twenty minutes later, Matthew, exhausted, opened his eyes. The initial harmonization was complete, and there seemed to be no noticeable change in the divine rank fragment.

...

"Prompt: First harmonization successful. You have harmonized the 'Undead' domain power with the divine rank fragment. Your 'Harmonize' attribute is +1. Current harmonization progress: 1%. Note: It is recommended not to exceed 30 minutes of harmonization per day and 15 minutes in a single session, as it may severely affect your stamina."

...

Matthew felt the toll of harmonization. Although it was simply resonating with domain power to provoke the divine rank fragment, the process consumed a lot of mental energy and stamina. He had only spent 15 minutes harmonizing, but he was already out of breath.

"I should do this at night from now on, right before going to sleep."

With this decision, Matthew took out a lead box he had prepared in advance, placed the divine rank fragment inside, and then placed it in his Mystic Satchel. Until the first round of harmonization was complete, the divine rank fragment would still emit its aura.

Having learned from the incident at the Cloud Ruins and following Lolan's advice, Matthew didn't want to take any chances.

After completing these precautions, Matthew didn't immediately rest. Instead, he focused on the "Minotaur Domain."

With the divine rank fragment's arrival, Matthew had obtained three "Domain Tokens" related to the Minotaur Domain, which were much more valuable than harmonizing. This meant that he had officially gained the authority to open and control a domain.

...

"Prompt: Self-created domain successful. You have become the 'Minotaur Domain' opener! The Minotaur Domain includes the following elements: Plunder (Frontal), Minotaurs (Race), Seduction, Temptation, Corruption, and Seduction..."

...

"So many elements?"

"Why did even real Minotaurs get involved?"

Matthew was pleasantly surprised. Seasoned domain openers and creators often had higher judgment bonuses when dealing with domain-related elements. This meant that Matthew would have an easier time seducing and tempting targets in the future.

In addition to these elements, domain openers directly gained access to all three of the domain's abilities, rather than choosing one.

...

"Prompt: You have gained the abilities 'Seduction: The Temptation of Power,' 'Strict Defense,' and 'Taint of Plunder!' 1. Seduction: The Temptation of Power (When seducing a target, they will receive additional main attribute bonuses. After a successful seduction, the target will receive a random enhancement to one of their abilities. There is also a chance that the main attribute bonuses obtained during the seduction process will be retained.)

Strict Defense (As the Minotaur Domain opener, you are well-versed in the art of strict defense. When others attempt to seduce your Undead, the difficulty of the judgment is increased by 20%).

Taint of Plunder (When you engage in activities related to the Minotaur Domain, you will have the opportunity to infiltrate and corrupt the 'Plunder Domain,' continuing to penetrate until a breakthrough occurs)."

...

All three abilities were practical. "The Temptation of Power" was like offering a visible and tangible reward during seduction. Once the target was seduced, they would become even more powerful, in line with the law of getting stronger while turning to the dark side.

"Strict Defense" was particularly favored by Matthew since, after all, accidents could happen to anyone. Seducing other people's Undead could lead to unpleasant consequences, and with this ability, Matthew's Undead would be safer.

As for "Taint of Plunder," Matthew considered it a lottery. Trying to infiltrate another domain through the Minotaur Domain, with only five open domains, was quite a challenge.

"Plunder" was a broad domain with some overlap with "War" and "Slaughter." Attempting to infiltrate it through the relatively small Minotaur Domain was not an easy task. It was like hoping for a godly item to fall from the sky.

Finally, Matthew also gained a Minotaur-related state.

...

"Ancestral Soul (Limited-State): You can activate or deactivate this state at any time. Each time it is activated, you will be possessed by the spirit of a Minotaur ancestor. During this time, your physical body will be blessed by the ancestor, granting you powerful melee capabilities, high resistance, and a massive body akin to a Minotaur ancestor. Duration of each activation: 80 minutes. Number of activations: 5 times."

...

"I accidentally obtained a real Minotaur ability?"

Matthew was genuinely surprised. What was going on with the Minotaurs in this world? Domains could be manipulated at will, but even the ancestors joined the fake Minotaur Lord?

"In a way, it makes sense for the Minotaurs to take over their own domain."

Matthew had a sudden thought, "I wonder how I'll look when possessed by the Ancestral Soul."

He was looking forward to this state.

...

The Next Day at the Lord's Mansion

A morning meeting was underway.

"So, is the issue with the Death Scorched Earth Ritual resolved like that?" Reiga's expression still carried disbelief.

Matthew replied, "For now, yes."

Reiga appeared puzzled, "Is it really that simple?"

Matthew shrugged, "The results we witnessed that day speak for themselves. The Death Scorched Earth lost its ability to continue spreading, at least not in the direction of Rolling Stone Town. Of course, my plan has its side effects. The Death Scorched Earth itself will gradually extend its reach to the surrounding areas."

Hearing this, Reiga nearly choked on his coffee, "Are you saying that we've controlled one harmful entity with another, but the new one is also spreading like the first?"

Matthew blinked, "In a way, you're correct, but I can assure you that the overall risk of the Death Scorched Earth is manageable."

Reiga questioned, "Manageable? By whom?"

Matthew responded, "By me."

Reiga rubbed his temples, troubled, "So, if something happens to you, the Death Scorched Earth will go out of control and gradually consume our land, just like the Death Mark?"

Matthew considered, "There's a difference too. The uncontrollable Death Scorched Earth will spread faster than the Death Mark's current rate of annexation. However, as long as I'm here, its expansion will be significantly slower, taking several years, if not decades, to match the amount of land the Death Mark swallows in a year. Even if I were to leave, I'd leave behind my offspring or apprentices, who would inherit my mantle as a Death Mage and continue to control the Death Scorched Earth, guarding the land."

Reiga's frown seemed to ease a bit. However, he couldn't resist commenting, "At this rate, Rolling Stone Town will soon be overrun with Death Mages. In a few centuries, the Blood Flag family might even become their vassals!"

At that moment, Zeller, who was busy organizing documents nearby, interjected, "Don't be foolish, Reiga. Your concerns aren't practical."

Reiga suddenly perked up, "You mean the Blood Flag family can resist the infiltration of Death Mages?"

Zeller aligned a stack of documents and commented with a crisp sound of paper against the table, "You've misunderstood me. What I meant was, we don't need hundreds of years. If Sophia marries Matthew, it would only take a few years for the Death Mages you so despise to become the masters of the Blood Flag family."

"No!" Reiga clenched his fists and roared, "No way! Sophia is too young for that! I won't allow you to have such ideas!"

Matthew nonchalantly picked up a newspaper from the table and began reading it. In passing, he assured, "Don't worry, Reiga. She's not as young as you think."

Reiga, looking flustered, responded, "That doesn't matter. I won't allow you to secretly court her!"

He then turned to Matthew with a serious expression, "If I catch you and Sophia having a clandestine relationship, you won't set foot in the Lord's Mansion again, let alone read my newspapers!"

Seeing him act like an irked cat, Matthew replied, "Don't worry, Reiga. I can understand your concern. I've made a promise to you before, and I'll reiterate it now. That promise still stands. Can I have my newspaper back now?"

Reiga shot him a suspicious glance. After a moment, he grunted and handed back the tabloid paper dedicated to scandalous news.

Matthew took the paper and began to read it with enthusiasm, "Mrs. Wesley! Another cup of coffee, Mrs. Wesley! Where is that darned old lady? I must fire her!"

Reiga stormed off, carrying an empty cup towards the corridor.

After a short while, he returned with a tray holding three cups of coffee.

Zeller finished organizing the documents and inquired, "Did Li Weiqi find anything in Highleaf Domain?"

Matthew, still engrossed in the newspaper, turned an ear to the conversation. He knew that Li Weiqi had been frequently visiting Highleaf Domain, only returning briefly for the Death Scorched Earth Ritual.

This piqued his curiosity about the situation in Highleaf Domain.

Reiga replied, "He reported some unsettling news. Highleaf Domain is in a precarious state due to the massive impact of flooding. Even worse, there are rumors of a dragon attack on the High Mountain Reservoir. Though no one witnessed the event, this belief has taken hold, leaving Highleaf Domain in turmoil. Some of its residents are even fleeing into our territory, which is adding pressure to maintain security in the southwest border. The critical issue is that Li Weiqi seems to have found traces of dragon activity near the High Mountain Reservoir."

Zeller frowned and asked, "What kind of dragon?"

Reiga sighed, "It's uncertain. But it's unlikely to be a White or Green Dragon, and it's unlikely to be a Blue Dragon either. That leaves us with Red or Black Dragons."

Zeller nodded, "It seems the astrologers' predictions about dragons entering an active phase were accurate."

Reiga commented, "We'll need to prepare for a possible Dragon Cataclysm. I've already instructed Asmar and the others to make arrangements. If it's a regular dragon, they probably won't dare to attack Rolling Stone Town, given Mr. Ronan's reputation. But if it's a dragon, they might need to attack."

He added, "As for the response to Lady Aeliana – I mean, the Lady of Deeplake – I've written the letter. When should it be sent?"

Zeller considered, "As soon as possible. Deeplake is quite a distance from here, and if they genuinely intend to visit, they'll need some time to prepare. Furthermore, if we wait too long, it'll be the height of summer, which isn't the best time for travel. If we delay until early autumn, I'm afraid that might lead to problems and misconceptions."

Reiga teased with a playful glance, "Ever since Matthew started working here, you seem to enjoy teasing me more and more."

Zeller shrugged innocently.

At that moment, Matthew finally finished reading the tabloid news. He looked up and asked, "Is the meeting over?"

Zeller nodded in response.

Matthew gazed at Reiga with anticipation, "Would you mind practicing some spells with me, Lord?"

Reiga coldly laughed, "Dream on."

Ding! Ding! Dong!

Matthew placed five gold coins on the table, boldly saying, "It's a paid session."

Reiga's eyes sparkled, and he swiftly transferred the five gold coins into the pocket of his robe.

"Okay."

"But not here. Come with me," Reiga said as he led Matthew towards a room behind the office.

In the corridor, Mrs. Wesley appeared with a broom in hand.

Having witnessed the previous exchange, she couldn't resist inquiring of Zeller, "Have they already declared their intentions?"

Zeller, sporting a smile, saw through her trick, "Spare Reiga, ma'am. I'm sure you overheard them talking about practicing spells, not anything else."

Mrs. Wesley, caught in her lie, nonchalantly responded, "Oh, I can't be sure. Young people these days have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves. I thought they were speaking in code."

In the Far North Floating Sky City,

In the magnificent and grandiose Great Library,

Huge virtual projections extended from the floor, reached the bookshelves, and converged on the starry ceiling.

The white-robed mage, Eckmonde, respectfully stated, "Teacher, as per your instructions, the six lords are all present."

Behind him, the six virtual figures remained silent, representing the highest power of the Alliance, the seven saints of the current generation!

Isabelle's gaze swept over the virtual figures, and she suddenly seemed displeased, "How did the seven saints become six? Haven't you found a replacement for me? Are you afraid I would give a failing grade?"

Eckmonde, looking awkward, whispered, "Lord Ronan is absent."

"Ah," Isabelle's anger slightly abated. She then asked, puzzled, "What's happened to Ronan? Why hasn't he come to see me? Is he afraid of receiving a failing grade from me?"

Eckmonde had to clear his throat twice.

Under Isabelle's unpleased gaze, he reluctantly said, "Lord Ronan is trapped in the Astral Realm."

"Oh," Isabelle comprehended. "So, who has the extraordinary ability to trap Ronan in the Astral Realm?"

Eckmonde coughed nervously.

Pressured by Isabelle's gaze, he said, "It was you who used divine magic to seal him in the Astral Realm, my lord."

Isabelle dawned a sudden realization, "Oh, right, I forgot."

In an instant, she levitated, hair all aflame, looking furious. "So, I'm the one who imprisoned him in the Astral Realm, eh? Oh, I forgot."

Then, she acted as if nothing had happened and tossed an ordinary crystal ball into the air, saying, "A problem you've been struggling with for decades, and now, a novice sorcerer just solved it."

"Take a good look!"

With those words, the crystal ball began displaying footage related to the Death Mark.

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