Obtaining new life from death, this will is inherited by the new long-lived beasts. The Ancestral Spirit is an endless cycle, representing the true essence of life; even if the physical body withers into dry wood, its soul and heart will endure forever.
Led by the priestess to the remains of the Ancestral Spirit, the Tarnished and Millicent gazed upon the withered, wood-like creature. Both felt an extraordinary sensation—the Ancestral Spirit was not truly dead. Even as it stood there, an "artifact" shaped like a desiccated wooden statue, it gave off the distinct impression that it was still breathing.
"Tarnished... it looks so much like Torrent..." Although there were significant differences in size and appearance, Torrent's horns and fur bore a striking resemblance to the Ancestral Followers here.
The Tarnished didn't answer, but Torrent manifested himself before the crowd. When the Ancestral Followers saw Torrent's posture, they fell to the ground in worship. He was like... so much like it. He was exactly like the "Sprout of Longevity" recorded in their ancient texts.
For some reason, he had not become a new Ancestral Spirit, but that didn't diminish the reverence the followers felt for Torrent. Every long-lived creature bearing a sprout was a descendant of the Ancestral Spirit—or perhaps the Spirit itself.
"..." The Tarnished fell into deep thought. Torrent had been entrusted to him by Trina. He remembered her saying Torrent was a life born within the Haligtree. Yet now, he was being worshipped by the Ancestral Followers. Had Trina made contact with the Ancestral civilization?
"My Lord, the priestess is requesting that you awaken the eight pillars to call forth the soul of the Ancestral Spirit," Asimi reminded him from within, having interpreted the priestess's gestures through the Tarnished's eyes.
The pillars were scattered throughout the vicinity and were not difficult to find. Aside from the Ancestral Followers, there were virtually no other creatures in this area. Since the followers were being very friendly, moving around was quite convenient.
Without much effort, the Tarnished and Millicent lit seven of the pillars. The remains of the Ancestral Spirit began to emanate a pale-blue aura; only one remained before the soul would be fully restored.
The Ancestral Followers accelerated their ritual movements. The crisp sound of feet stomping the earth and the priestess's haunting, long song echoed everywhere. They were welcoming the return of the Ancestral Spirit, the second coming of the Sacred Beast of Life.
As the final pillar was lit, the remains were enveloped in an incredibly vibrant vitality. The surging aura guided the Tarnished and Millicent forward to meet this ancient deity of the Lands Between.
Touch it; the Great Ancestral Spirit calls to you... This was the message conveyed by the priestess. The contact of life upon life transported the consciousness of the Tarnished and Millicent to an ethereal, transcendental realm.
A giant stag, once appearing as withered wood, now paced gracefully through the void. It was so elegant, so awe-inspiring; even though it was essentially a skeletal frame, it was impossible to feel anything but reverence. It was a most beautiful existence, its presence highlighting the grandeur and nobility of life.
Ting~ The Ancestral Spirit leaped through the air, pale-blue ripples echoing beneath its hooves, exactly like Torrent's double jump. The great stag approached the two, allowing them to feel the "Divine Might" unique to the Ancestral Spirit.
"To think such an... existence existed," Millicent felt her body become exceptionally light, as if all impurities within her had vanished. Her mind was clear, her body free of shackles... was this the divinity of the Ancestral Spirit?
"Ancestral Spirit... I have long heard of your name." The Tarnished faced the deity neither humbly nor arrogantly, yet his heart held deep respect. Unlike other gods, its existence was purely for the sake of life; it was an object of respect for all living things.
The Ancestral Spirit's hollow eyes scanned the two before settling on the Tarnished. Under its gaze, Torrent appeared once more. In the next moment, Torrent affectionately knelt and nuzzled against the Spirit, like a child leaning into a parent. The Ancestral Spirit was highly sapient; though it could not speak the language of men, it nodded in acknowledgement.
It felt like a parent watching a child grow strong and sturdy—it was profoundly peaceful.
"Torrent is indeed related to the Ancestral Spirit," the Tarnished watched the scene quietly. Then, both creatures raised their heads and let out a long cry. The Ancestral Spirit's horns erupted with an endless, dazzling holy radiance, bathing the Tarnished, Millicent, and Torrent—it even affected Asimi within the Tarnished's body.
"This is..." The pale-blue life force began healing the hidden ailments Millicent suffered due to the Scarlet Rot. It even worked in tandem with the Gold and Flame within her to suppress the rot. However, even so, the rot could not be uprooted. If an ordinary person were infected with an early stage of the rot, they wouldn't even need the power of the Ancestral Spirit or the Gold Needle.
Simply discovering it in time and applying fire would be enough to purge it. But the Rot was, after all, a power left by a god, possessing an incredibly stubborn quality. If treatment was delayed even a moment, the possibility of a cure became microscopic—let alone for someone like Malenia, the innate host of the Rot Goddess, or Millicent, who was terminally ill.
Rot of this magnitude could not be cleared in a single day; otherwise, Miquella—known to the world as the wisest and most terrifying Empyrean—would be a god in name only.
After healing the group, the Ancestral Spirit collapsed to the ground. It appeared to have fallen, yet its horns still glowed with pale-blue light. The horns broke and sank into the earth. At that very moment, as if time had been fast-forwarded, the broken horns sprouted from the ground. It was a newborn Long-lived Beast, surrounded by countless encroaching spirits.
Rebirth, return... the spirits used their own souls as a medium to nourish the Long-lived Beast. Bearing the legacy of the predecessor and carrying the future generation, the beast's power grew stronger. Accompanied by its cry, its body became incredibly holy, far surpassing the previous Ancestral Spirit.
This was a King... the Ancestral Spirit King, reborn through the gathered will and souls of many living things!
"What exactly happened..." Millicent could only stare blankly at the events that seemed to span centuries, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
"The birth of a new King. To think we would witness it." The Tarnished glanced at Torrent. At this moment, Torrent's horns also faintly emitted the same radiance as the Ancestral Spirit. This was proof that Torrent had received the blessing of the Ancestral Spirit... it was a glimpse of the form he would one day take.
The legacy would not be broken... life would always continue. The Ancestral Spirit was the personification of the rules governing life, far more magnificent than the concept of "Eternal"...
The King's ethereal cry made the empty space vibrant and colorful. He stood amidst millions of flowers and all things, quietly observing the world... magnificent and holy... this was the final sight the Tarnished and Millicent saw before leaving that mysterious realm.
By the time they regained their senses, the scenery had reverted to the Ancestral Woods.
"Are we back...? Was that just an illusion...?" But the healed internal injuries within Millicent proved to her that it was real, not a mere dream.
"My Lord... the Ancestral Spirit is truly a unique deity..." Unlike the Stars etched into her soul's instinct or the currently dominant Gold, the Ancestral Spirit seemed to never show its face; its faith had never become mainstream... yet it existed in every era, the most inseparable presence for everyone.
Torrent's appearance had undergone subtle changes. After receiving the grace of the Ancestral Spirit, his fur had grown longer and finer, his build had become sturdier, and his horns directly declared his identity to the world—a Long-lived Beast inheriting the traits of the Ancestral Spirit.
The Ancestral Followers fell to their knees one after another. They feared and revered this "Ancestral Spirit" that had yet to fully form, offering it their highest respect. At this time, the priestess approached the Tarnished carrying an object shaped like a skull.
"My Lord... she wishes to grant this to you... This is the Ancestral Infant's Head... it belongs to a young Ancestral Spirit that has not yet completed its multiple sproutings... Using this on Torrent will enhance his power beyond mere physical stamina," Asimi said.
He took the head and approached Torrent. Torrent cooperatively knelt before the Tarnished, allowing him to place the Ancestral Infant's Head upon his own. A miracle occurred... Torrent absorbed the skull, and his horns—originally like those of an ox—began to branch out.
Although the branching was not yet prominent, it already possessed the silhouette of the Ancestral Spirit's horns. Now, Torrent's change wasn't just cosmetic; he gained the power to exhale a mist of spirit water. This was power inherited from the Ancestral Spirit—the mist could obscure vision or damage targets.
"Torrent has completely changed... how magical." So many things had surprised Millicent on this journey that she was now somewhat numb to it. However, seeing her companion become stronger and more capable made her very happy.
The Ancestral Priestess nodded with a face full of smiles, her gestures becoming more animated as if conveying a message to the Tarnished.
"My Lord, she says to treat Torrent well. He is a child favored by the Ancestral Spirit and will bring significant change to the current Lands Between... the same applies to you, as Torrent's master. They do not oppose Torrent choosing a master... this is the natural law, and the Ancestral Followers respect nature..."
"Pass a word back to her for me. Tell them not to worry; Torrent is an indispensable partner. I will not abandon any living being that follows me," the Tarnished said with a slight smile, stroking Torrent's head.
Whether the meeting with the Ancestral Spirit was an accident or had been determined the moment he and Torrent met... it didn't matter to the Tarnished. What they needed to do now was continue forward to find the treasure of Nokron.
Night's Sacred Ground... this was the place Asimi told him the treasure might be hidden. It was the most important location in Nokron, and the probability of the treasure being there was high. At the same time, Asimi had a premonition that there was something incredibly important to her there as well.
The cradle-like... Holy Cup.
The illusory domain was filled with a mysterious atmosphere—a place understood by no one, yet its true face was now seen by a Crucible Knight.
"Blood... hmph. I have long heard that the first defense of Leyndell was backed by a conspiracy of blood... it seems this is the base of operations for the mastermind." The Crucible Knight had been in this vicinity for some time, and he understood where he was—Nokron... once one of the flourishing powers of the Eternal Cities.
The fact that a new faction had built its base near Nokron only further confirmed Nokron's decay. However, these matters meant nothing to the Crucible Knight. He remained here only to satisfy his curiosity.
Now that he understood what he needed to, it was time to move and find his other kin to regroup the human knights.
The Gold has declined, but the Crucible is immortal... All things in the Lands Between were born from that great relic, a holy place that none may desecrate... The Erdtree evolved from the Crucible in the form of a seed; now it is time to sever that tree and let the Crucible give birth to something new...
"The Greater Will's 'cricket fight' has ended... it is time to welcome the true Mandate of Heaven." The Crucible Knight left behind these cryptic words and immediately took flight from the area...