The Hero Turned Into A Potato And The World Fell To Ruin Chapter 84: Increased Workload

With the core’s essence completely absorbed by the little potatoes, the so-called “Sacred Tree” was now nothing more than a husk. It had lost its former glory and stood withered and decayed.

According to Nox, if left alone, it wouldn’t be long before the tree fell down on its own.

However, those monsters in the swamp, originally mutations of the tree’s roots, were another matter.

These creatures no longer depended on the tree for life. Having adapted to survive independently, they now thrived in the fertile swamp, and it would take more than the tree’s demise to eliminate them.

Given the proximity to the desert, few would dare venture, so those swamp monsters wouldn’t be that much of a problem.

It wasn’t a matter for their group to solve, nor were they responsible for it.

On returning to the city, that scrawny young earthwalker departed first, determined to reveal the truth about the church to his people.

The city’s inhabitants needed to understand the truth and realize that no faith could support them forever. Their future now lay in their own hands, even if the population was largely comprised of the elderly and children.

The children would grow up and bear the responsibility of their race’s future, perhaps even leading their people away from this place.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group headed to the tavern to discuss their next move. Now, their party was only missing two members to be complete. These last two were likely together, but their exact whereabouts were unknown. They might not have arrived yet, or perhaps they never took this route.

After some discussion, the group decided to leave information with the tavern owner and continue onward to places where their missing companions might have gone.

For the first time, they asked Liu Ji for his opinion. This surprised him, but he confidently stated that he had no idea. After all, he didn’t know the missing party members, and he didn’t care where they went next.

The entire world was new to him, and everywhere he went offered new sights and experiences.

Thus, he was more than happy to leave the decision-making to others, treating the journey like an adventure into the unknown.

After gathering some local information, the group decided on their next destination. They were in the territory of the Earthwalker race, and if they continued deeper, they would reach the most bustling city—the Earthwalker capital city, the holy city of Kaga.

It was a long journey from here to Kaga, but the distance might increase their chances of reuniting with their lost companions. Additionally, they needed to visit a large city to stock up on supplies and gear, which couldn’t be easily found in the wilderness.

But before setting out, they needed money. On the way to Kaga was the city of Mir, situated near a gorge teeming with monsters. This location attracted many hunters and was likely a good place to earn some dough.

Well, that was what intel from three hundred years ago suggested, though it was certainly more reliable than Myza’s millennia-old maps.

However, given that the Sanctum of Arcane Arts had arrived in this land three centuries ago, the group couldn’t be too optimistic about Mir’s current state.

Despite their reservations, they had to go; it was their best option for now.

But before departing, they decided to wait a few days. Although Nox didn’t say it, Yaine knew he felt some pity for the young earthwalker and would likely help him first.

It wasn’t easy to awaken people accustomed to religious dependency. These Earthwalkers, if stripped of their comforts, might turn against those who removed them. Reclaiming their dignity and aspirations would require significant effort.

Even if the brutal truth was presented, many would cover their eyes and ears, trying to shield themselves from change.

Transforming this city wouldn’t happen overnight, and broadcasting the truth wouldn’t be enough. Change demanded persistent effort, and success was not guaranteed.

But it had to start somewhere, and for now, that someone was the young earthwalker. They, as outsiders, could do little, but at least, Nox could still offer some support.

Meanwhile, during this period, the group took this opportunity to rest. Due to the recent upheaval, they were cautious about interacting with the locals. They didn’t want to provoke a confrontation that could force them to harm the city’s inhabitants who were already suffering.

After much deliberation, they decided that the abandoned mine from before was the best place to reside temporarily. It was far enough from the city to avoid disturbances, and even if Yaine set up a Daylight ball outside, it wouldn’t bother anyone.

The mine had all the necessary facilities for cooking and heating as well, and if they got bored, they could try their luck mining for minerals. While it might not be a money maker, for these skilled individuals, mining for crystals was akin to a relaxing pastime like fishing.

However, these leisure activities had nothing to do with Liu Ji. Yaine had been true to her word about doubling his assignments. Now that he could handle basic conversation via incantation, she planned to teach him simple magic.

Unlike merely releasing magical energy, true magic required controlling the amount and range of power, shaping it with one’s will.

In simple terms, it wasn’t enough to just conjure fire; one had to shape it into a ball for it to become a fireball. Otherwise, the energy would dissipate before reaching its target.

However, considering Liu Ji’s current abilities with water and earth elements, Yaine decided to start with water magic instead of fire.

Water magic represented life and was the most gentle form of magic. Its high-level offensive spells had a broader range than other elements, making it unique.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Liu Ji at his current level. Basic water spells were non-lethal and excelled in healing and support.

Even if these spells went awry, they wouldn’t cause significant harm, making them ideal for a beginner like Liu Ji, who had a history of setting his own head on fire.

What Yaine didn’t realize was just how perfect her choice was for Liu Ji. Because sand, much like water, was adept at flowing and adapting, making this training exceptionally fitting for him.