[NR] Cheat? - Chapter 708

Courtney ponders, “Could you use the stalk as a sort of energy straw?”

Jason shrugs, “Yes, but no. This specific stem is a carrier. Which to be fair, is quite common on regular herbs changed to handle energy. You tend to have very simple systems in plants like this. The leaves collect, the stem transports, the roots are for overflow, and the flower actually does something with the power.”

Courtney, “Have you figured out what the flower is doing with the energy?”

Jason shakes his head, “I have a suspicion, but that will wait until we get to the flower. But spoiler alert, if I’m right the effect is boring and as common as dirt.

“Anyway, we’ve examined the roots and stem, so it is now time to handle the leaves. Since we already judged the roots were the place excess energy was being shoved, the leaves are the source. Though that relationship can be reversed or even handled equally by both.

“Leaves already breathe in and out, making it easy for them to expel unwanted energy. While roots in traditional plants only absorb and store. Oh sure, after a certain point, plants get so mystical that any piece can do anything. We simply aren’t dealing with that right now.”

Rosha, “So the parts of a plant will tend to have the same purposes?”

Jason shrugs, “It is a good place to start. Besides, ‘the same purpose’ can mean a bunch of different things. Tubers? They store food for the plant. They store energy.

“That could mean they have what you want. It could mean the plant has shoved all the poisonous energy it has absorbed there. Technically still a matter of storing. They might also be storing time and even touching it ages you to dust.

“Oh sure, that last one is an example of a rare natural wonder which looks like a potato plant with a single potato. Technically, the plant only lives the lifespan of a regular potato. Except it shoved all the time that should be passing for it into the potato and thus can live forever, perfectly frozen at peak maturity.”

Courtney raises an eyebrow, “That sounds useful. I assume someone uses the plant to try and live forever?”

Jason laughs, “Ever read the story of Dorian Grey? Except it only works on the passing of time. Oh, and instead of a painting, you have to keep a potato, which isn’t the worst trade off. No, that would be the fact that ‘the passing of time’ also covers a more metaphysical side. So the person so preserved doesn’t change either.

“They are trapped as who they were. With the only upside being that you don’t suddenly age if the potato is destroyed. Though you are suddenly free to change again, suddenly finding yourself in a completely new situation without any adaptations for it.”

Rosha, “That sucks.”

Jason shrugs, “Eh, better than some of the eternal life methods found in myth and legends. Eternal life, but not youth? Now that sucks!”

Jason gestures back to the leaves, “But let’s refocus. Leaves. They absorb energy and given the stem had mostly earth energy? They also function as a filter of sorts. Or rather, are only capable of absorbing the right energy, with any other energy in the plant having slipped in by accident.

“I’m ashamed to admit, there isn’t a proper test to determine the truth of this. Or rather, I’m sure if you got some of the high-tech sensors, you could figure things out. After all, you can already detect the energy. Combine that with some basic cultivation knowledge and you’ll be golden.”

Rosha, “So, how are you going to figure it out right now?”

Jason shrugs, “Cheat? Or rather, use my cultivation. Specifically, using one of my excavated meridians. Which is most easy to do with a meridian that travels to the hand, but if you don’t mind poking things with your toes, can work with the others as well.”

Courtney, “So, what can we learn from what you’re doing?”

Jason, “Well, first it is revealing some benefits of meridian excavation. This is getting on the path of an ability that has infinite names. That of being able to use your cultivation base as a sensor.”

Rosha raises her hand, but doesn’t wait to ask, “Why does it have so many names?”

Jason shrugs, “Eh, the sense you get changes and varies depending on a bunch of factors. Focus on cultivating the soul? Soul sense. Dive into the Dao of fire? Mistake it for being able to sense heat.”

Rosha, “Oh, so people just wanted to be unique.”

Jason, “That or don’t know better. You develop a sense and it doesn’t match what others have? Must be a new thing!

“Anyway, I obviously can’t ‘show’ you what’s about to happen, so here’s a quick explanation. You channel your personal power through a meridian, this is a skill used later on to cultivate. Then when the energy reaches the end of the meridian, instead of cycling it back right away, you let it fly outward.”

Rosha frowns, “That doesn’t sound like the spiritual sense described in stories.”

Jason nodded, “That is because it isn’t, not yet. This is the most basic level, focused on sensing a small area instead of barely sensing above your skin, of that. Though this skill will always be useful to get a more detailed view.

“Now, you saturate whatever you’re trying to sense with your power. This is the major limiting factor. You need to be able to project enough energy to do so, all while maintaining your own energy reserves.

“This is why I didn’t try doing this to the entire plant. I am not currently capable of sensing the entire plant right now. It requires a lot of energy to sense something like this instead of just detecting a thing is there.

“Now I’m going to need a bit of time to sense this leaf. You aren’t technically even supposed to be able to do this at the peak of meridian excavation. After all, it uses concepts from future cultivation stages. Though I personally see that to just mean this is good practice for the future.”