Chapter 513 : The Path of Practicing Nature’s Way
Chapter 513: The Path of Practicing Nature’s Way
Those who possessed the 【Natural Affinity】 talent were naturally favored by nature itself, becoming its chosen “Friend of Nature,” capable of communicating freely with all living beings.
The concept of “living beings” referred to any lifeform with vital functions—a vast collective of entities.
The animals and plants that Eunice-Gale mentioned were, in truth, merely a part of that collective, not its entirety.
Just as microorganisms, viruses, and parasites were all included under the definition of living beings.
Therefore, if Janna’s 【Natural Affinity】 talent were ever to be developed to its utmost limit, she would not only be able to communicate with animals and plants, but also even the microscopic lifeforms within the unseen realms.
However, the ability to communicate with such micro-level lifeforms was something that not a single Green Elf within the entire Forest of Nature currently possessed.
That was why Eunice-Gale had told Janna in advance that this portion of her talent could only be comprehended through her own enlightenment.—
"Aside from the ability to communicate with living beings, how much do you actually understand about your talent?"
After finishing her explanation of the “Friend of Nature” ability, Eunice-Gale began formally questioning Janna on how much she truly knew about the other aspects of the 【Natural Affinity】 talent.
"At present, I know that the 【Natural Affinity】 talent has five abilities. Apart from the first, which allows communication with all lifeforms, there is also the ability to listen to nature’s will———"
【Natural Affinity:
① To be favored by nature, becoming a Friend of Nature, capable of communicating freely with all living beings;
② To hear the voice of nature’s will, gaining premonitions of disasters and hints of opportunity;
③ The Inheritance of Nature—through understanding nature, one may master various wondrous natural powers;
④ The Curse of Nature—any malice directed toward the child of nature’s will shall transform into the sharpest curse, bringing destruction upon them;
⑤ Nature’s Blessing—grants double the lifespan.】
In response to Eunice-Gale’s inquiry, Janna could only recite what she had roughly learned through her consciousness link with the Witch Tree within her Sea of Souls. Beyond that, she knew little more.
"So, in other words, your understanding of the 【Natural Affinity】 talent is purely literal—beyond that, you actually know nothing at all?"
"Yes."
Faced with Eunice-Gale’s counterquestion, Janna showed no embarrassment. Instead, she nodded calmly and with honesty.
"Even now, I still wonder why the 【Nature Will】 chose a human rather than an elf—but it seems this isn’t without precedent."
As she spoke, Eunice-Gale’s gaze toward Janna momentarily grew distant.
Once upon a time, another human possessing 【Natural Affinity】 had also come to the Forest of Nature to study.
Back then, when Eunice-Gale was still young, she too had been puzzled—why was the bearer of 【Natural Affinity】 not an elf, one who devoted their very being to the 【Nature Will】 from birth, but rather an ordinary human who had never lived in harmony with nature—.—
Though even now Eunice-Gale had yet to find an answer, when it came to “that person,” she no longer viewed them through the narrow lens of race—human or elf—but instead looked upon them with reverence, even awe.
"Perhaps nature’s choice has always been only one—"
As she looked at the face before her—different from “that person’s,” yet sharing faint similarities—an indescribable emotion welled within Eunice-Gale’s chest. But soon, she suppressed it.
"What you’ve described is only the most superficial understanding of the 【Natural Affinity】 talent. If you wish to uncover its true power, you must draw close to nature itself."
Saying that, Eunice-Gale placed her hand upon the nearby Screaming Tree.
"The second ability of 【Natural Affinity】 that you mentioned is actually quite similar to the power of the 【Destiny】 Authority—both involve seeking benefit while avoiding harm. However, the method of manifestation differs. Unlike the 【Destiny】 Authority’s means of divination through dreams and stars, this ability can only be developed by attuning to the changes of 【Nature】—enhancing your spiritual perception and thus receiving nature’s revelation—"
Listening to Eunice-Gale’s words, Janna gradually began to comprehend.
The second ability of the 【Natural Affinity】 talent was to receive enlightenment from nature’s will—revelations tied to destiny.
The way to obtain these revelations depended on whether Janna’s spirituality could synchronize with nature’s frequency. The higher the degree of resonance, the clearer her understanding of destiny would become—allowing her to foresee danger, avoid misfortune, and even sense opportunities.
"There is no shortcut to elevating your resonance with nature. Only by practicing the Way of Nature can you truly glimpse its essence. And the first step—the most fundamental step—in doing so, is to restore the natural environment——"
Restore the natural environment?
Hearing this, Janna blinked in surprise.
Wouldn’t that simply mean planting trees?
"Professor Eunice, forgive my interruption, but would planting trees count as a method of practicing the Way of Nature?"
"If by planting trees you manage to improve the natural ecosystem, then yes, it would be considered part of the Way of Nature. If not, then it wouldn’t."
At those words, realization flickered in Janna’s eyes.
Practicing the Way of Nature seemed to follow a results-based principle—if her act of planting trees failed to improve the environment, then it would not count as a successful practice.
"No wonder I wasn’t able to hear nature’s revelation even after reviving so many trees in the Misty Forest. It was because all the trees I brought back to life ended up dying from the 【Rotting Aphid】 curse."
Back when she was still at the Turin Wizard Congregation, Janna had spent months fulfilling a 【Main Quest】 issued by the System, painstakingly healing over five hundred severely polluted and dying trees.
Although she succeeded in completing the 【Main Quest】, the curse of the 【Rotting Aphids】 caused every tree she had saved to perish once again—failing to improve the ecosystem in any way.
Even now, within the 【Zoe Star】, Janna had planted numerous trees, but whether due to improper methods or other reasons, they still could not thrive.
The trees’ inability to survive long meant that Janna’s act of “planting trees” failed to restore the natural environment—let alone embody the Way of Nature.
"Could it be… I should really try planting trees in the 【Material World】 instead of on the 【Zoe Star】—"