The Ultimate Passive Paradigm [LitRPG Adventure, Epic Progression]

"Why would they seek out such an existence to worship?" Vincent asked casually as the two sat atop a makeshift platform constructed from woven wooden branches.

Their position was only a mile from Emberwood village, hidden behind towering trees. Vincent had layered protective wards to avoid detection by Tier 3 cultivators or higher. Intelligence suggested the police force would "voluntarily" withdraw for several hours tonight. That would be their window to act.

Recalling Elder An's words, Nathan replied, "Fear?"

"A reasonable answer." Vincent nodded. "But not sufficient. As I see it, if Tier 2 or Tier 3 cultivators are already considered gods, maintaining faith in a tree or a centipede seems far too mystical."

"Why don't you consider that the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cultivators you mentioned show no concern for common people, driving them to desperately choose such a dark entity?"

"Ah, I truly hadn't thought of that." Vincent straightened, eyes brightening. "So Nathan, let me ask you this: would you pay attention to the ant you stepped on yesterday?"

Nathan frowned, looking at his companion with irritation. Despite asking such a convoluted question, Vincent maintained his perpetually cheerful expression.

"What's your point?"

"My point is that you can hardly blame cultivators for being indifferent to them."

"But without them, where would the foundation for the cultivator world come from?" Nathan countered.

"The reverse is equally true." Vincent crossed his arms. "Without cultivators, who would protect the world for ordinary people?"

"Then why don't cultivators just disappear entirely for peace? Aren't all troubles reaching destructive levels brought by us?"

Vincent raised a finger as if to argue, then lowered his hand. "True, isn't it? Much simpler without those wielding divine power."

"Talking with you yields nothing productive," Nathan grumbled. "You should have countered by demonstrating evidence that without mana usage, without cultivation, humans would still destroy each other anyway. Cults like Emberwood don't need real demons to exist. Everyone has a demon. Without cultivators, our nature would still create destructive weapons like atomic bombs or antimatter."

"Easy there, Nathan."

Nathan snorted, falling silent as he gazed ahead through the leaves where Emberwood's houses stood.

He found himself easily irritated lately. The events at Maelivar hadn't yet settled, then came Emberwood, the strange nora energy, and the disappearance of the Obsidian Fang Sect. Everything put him on edge.

"My point is," Vincent cleared his throat, said, "there must be someone capable of influencing an entire village like this. They believe, and they're willing to sacrifice."

"You mean the village elders?"

"Not any village elder, but someone special." Vincent winked. "A charismatic leader. Someone who establishes foundations, who can make others follow and obey as if his words were the only truth in existence. Whether this person is dead or alive, we have no idea."

"You mean he might have visited different villages to establish his position?" Nathan grew serious.

"Convincing humans is easy but also difficult," Vincent mused. "Helping once isn't enough. It must be persistent, generation after generation. Only then could Emberwood maintain and nurture a 'god.' A religion."

"And if we expand this concept, these gods could reach unimaginable numbers. And it wouldn't stop at Tier 2 or Tier 3."

"Exactly, Nathan." Vincent turned, his green-tinted eyes attentive. "Have you heard of belief theory?"

Nathan suddenly shuddered. A sound like something stretching across millennia finally reached him, targeting its intended recipient. The one destined to receive the message.

"Belief theory, as the name suggests, focuses on human conviction," Vincent continued when Nathan didn't respond. "A cultivator can grow stronger through this invisible force. An alternative method to create powerful beings beyond cultivation. Though initially crude and insignificant, the abilities of these entities are enough to make worshippers increasingly faithful."

"But without a cultivator's foundation, that person would die early like any ordinary human," Nathan said.

"That's why no one uses it extensively. It's called a theory because nothing currently validates it, and the implementation method is forbidden. The cultivator world fears creating religions too large would undermine society's already fragile foundation."

"Only demons don't care."

"And the ancient eastern nations," Vincent remarked.

Nathan grew curious.

"They called it the Nation's Soul, sometimes National Fortune."

"Fortune Flow," Nathan blurted out.

As if not noticing Nathan's contemplative gaze, Vincent continued. "Those using belief can accumulate day by day, century by century, strengthening the force of faith."

Vincent conjured two human figures before them, one gradually growing larger, more imposing, more frightening.

"When equal in level," Vincent said, "the person aided by National Soul or belief power will possess extraordinary strength to use. From there, they can overturn the board."

Nathan pondered silently. From another perspective, this connected to the Intent that Zeryn had mentioned. Think about something hard enough, and it will materialize. Ordinary people without cultivation couldn't create anything significant. More accurately, pathetically small. But accumulating millions of people over hundreds of thousands of years was different. Enough to create a concept that could change the entire world.

No wonder high-Tier cultivators prevented this formation. And what made Nathan even colder was realizing from Vincent's words how empires and kingdoms rise and fall. All to keep balance.

Vincent, once again seemingly unable to read Nathan's thoughts, remained focused on his presentation.

"What I'm trying to say concerns the foundation of places like Emberwood. About this belief power. Suppose, just suppose, my theory is correct. How much of this strange force has been accumulated? And what do they intend to use it for? Is that charismatic leader one person or many? Could they be bearers of belief power? Will they bring destruction upon us? By combining with nora? Could its scale shake the entire world, not just some insignificant empire like Ehyrian?"

Nathan's eyes twitched. He finally understood why this seemingly unreliable person had been chosen as Alaric Tethras's direct disciple and heir to the Sect Leader position.

Nathan wouldn't consider Vincent's words baseless, too far-fetched, or unworthy of concern. As leader of an organization as large as Verdant Spire Sect, this was something Vincent needed to consider. Ehyrian's upheaval meant the sect would have to relocate, choosing allies and enemies. Holding power over life and death of an organization, not knowing what they faced would only bring disaster. Anyone causing such failure would certainly be a complete inadequate figure recorded in history.

For Nathan, he only felt everything too overwhelming, too burdensome. Days of contemplation made him feel simultaneously complacent and paranoid. But part of it felt real enough to be terrifying. He would be a factor in the future Vincent described. What the man in white had predicted. Simply because he could use nora. And especially those distant voices he heard were finally becoming clear. The Titan bloodline had a part to play in all these schemes.

Initially, he'd been ignorant and understanding nothing, only striving to advance. Now he dimly perceived a board above the board, and even above that. Incomprehensible moves were proceeding. Darkan and Alaric weren't chess players either; they were still being manipulated.

He looked at Vincent's frowning face, deep in thought, feeling suddenly small inside. Even seeing and understanding, in this whirlwind, what could anyone do? Wanting to escape was impossible.

Both fell silent for a long while.

When the sun gradually descended behind mountains, space growing dim, trees and scenery taking on darker hues, Vincent rose from the tree hammock.

"Time to go," he said.

Nathan followed. This time, Vincent didn't use any transportation device, only creating a mana bubble to carry Nathan while flying toward Emberwood.

"Man, you're heavy," Vincent complained.

In response, Nathan only shrugged. Physical Cultivation had increased his bone density; even muscle and flesh had become heavier than normal. Outwardly he appeared to weigh around eighty kilograms, but actually exceeded one hundred twenty. He figured when he'd possessed the Titan bloodline, his weight had been even greater.

Wind rushed past them, taking only a minute to return to Emberwood's territory. Throughout the village remained ruins, the product of Nathan and that demon's battle. Villagers' corpses had been secretly removed and carefully disposed of. According to information Vincent received from Alaric, demon energy had almost completely ravaged the people's bodies, making it impossible to gather additional clues.

Elder An, most unique of all, had been thoroughly beaten by Nathan.

Vincent landed in the temple's tilted courtyard, releasing Nathan.

"We have about an hour," Vincent said, "before the police return to guard this place."

"How did we get them to comply?" Nathan asked curiously.

"Politics and all," Vincent replied. "My old master looks unreliable but is quite skilled at pulling strings."

Nathan half-closed his eyes hearing his companion dare criticize others, inwardly cursing, You're the unreliable one!

The two climbed steps leading into the temple. Dust and musty odors greeted them, swirling in waves from being disturbed. Inside, everything looked orderly arranged with cushions placed around the withered tree at the center. Spread in a circle were exhausted candle stubs and spider webs everywhere. No one had entered here, and it was guaranteed no one had vandalized it. As if following strange orders. Because at the center still sat an empty incense burner.

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Without needing to say so, Nathan figured that incense smoke had also been poison seeping into worshippers when burned.

Reports had clearly indicated the toxin affecting villagers was still being studied in laboratories. However, preliminary conclusions had been drawn. Among them was that the supply had been completely exhausted. The village leader had meticulously planned to use everything to coincide with Gideon's return. Thus, once vanished, everything would be cleaned up completely. What Qingfeng and Nathan had consumed was secreted directly from that centipede. Reading this line, Nathan couldn't help but dry heave. He was glad he'd crushed that disgusting creature.

Vincent approached the tree trunk, consumed by the centipede to near depletion, conveniently creating a seat with bark jutting out around it. It looked like a throne. And Alaric's disciple cheerfully sat down, wearing a smug smile.

"Small commoners." Vincent propped an elbow on his knee, raising an eyebrow. "What brings you before me? What miracle do you need me to bestow?"

"Yes, I need a miracle from the supreme being." Nathan placed a hand on his chest, bowing.

"Oh, oh!" Vincent perked up. "What might that be?"

"For you to fuck off!" Nathan raised his head, grinning.

As if responding to the prayer, Vincent truly vanished.

Nathan slowly straightened, frowning as he looked around. He used spirit vision to search various corners for where his companion might be hiding. The result was finding nothing. He didn't place much faith in his ability to detect Vincent. A Tier 3 could conceal mana fluctuations to shield himself from others' prying.

So he waited. If his companion was playing tricks, he only needed to show indifference to make him give up.

A head emerging from the tree trunk's broken surface made him jump backward, conjuring an energy sphere through [Muscle Memory]'s effects.

The head's eyes blinked at him with insufferable amusement.

"Easy there, junior brother." Vincent laughed loudly. "You're quite jumpy!"

Nathan gritted his teeth, dismissing his technique. He swore to get revenge on this bastard someday. However, he was surprised by his companion's ability. Vincent's entire body seemed to lie within the tree. At the neck were wood fibers extending to connect both sides.

He'd suspected his companion's potential. Common points he'd discovered among young people heavily invested in by sects or organizations were possessing Rare Aspects or carrying special Constitutions. He believed after The Shifting Trials event, Evelyn's successful constitution awakening would receive even higher attention.

With Verdant Spire Sect being no less impressive than equivalent organizations, he knew certainly among disciples there had to be such people. And that was one reason Vincent was chosen and protected. Before today, he hadn't even known of this most important disciple's existence.

"Can you move freely inside trees like this?" Nathan found himself asking.

"Oh this?" Vincent snorted, clearly showing off. "This is just normal stuff. I have many more interesting tricks."

"What did you find?"

"Aside from this tree trunk being quite large with dense root networks, nothing particularly special."

Speaking, Vincent's entire body gradually emerged, from shoulders to belly to legs. Soon, he was once again sitting on the throne, eyes showing contemplation.

"Usually trees like this would have cores," Vincent said, puzzled. "I was hoping to find a hollow inside it, near the root branches. Then use techniques to make the tree live again briefly. Just like that, I could interrogate a few things."

"Damn, your skills are that advanced," Nathan exclaimed.

"Of course," Vincent lifted his chin smugly.

"And now useless?" Nathan poured cold water.

"Who said that?" Vincent coughed.

Vincent's hands emanated green smoke. His eyes closed, concentrating carefully.

Mana threads descended into the wood below. Nathan was amazed when with ordinary sight he could see the rough, grayish bark seemed to regain vitality, becoming brown-black, still carrying moisture.

Vincent concentrated intensely, his hands pouring out more energy. The room seemed dyed with green emanating from him. Dust trembled, shook, flew up from the power just manifested.

Nathan simultaneously felt a freshness, a welcoming closeness. It resembled visiting parks where fresh air and swaying green trees rustled in wind, inviting immersion in refreshing coolness.

He silently observed the trunk's revival. It still didn't extend or have bark layers gradually absorb returning nutrients. Beneath his feet, he felt small rumbles. Seemingly those mighty roots were frantically absorbing.

Or resisting.

Because Vincent's face was wrinkling. He tried changing his approach. Instead of abundant vitality, he offered something gentler.

Nathan's sensation changed again. No longer overwhelming like before but floating like wild grass scent growing behind gardens.

Underfoot still echoed small vibrations, as if wanting to collapse this already extremely fragile temple.

Vincent severed connection with the trunk, mouth clicking in amazement.

"The tree is resisting me. I'd hoped everything would be easy."

Face contorted, he looked toward Nathan.

"You need to use nora," Nathan said after understanding, "to prevent the resistance. If you continue, the tree might not have any vitality left."

"So I'll need you, junior brother."

Nathan nodded, moving closer.

"When using nora," Vincent spoke seriously unlike before, "I'll always maintain a stable level. If there's change, especially exceeding normal limits, you need to get me out, one way or another. I've lowered mana protection so you can knock me unconscious if necessary. Darkan assured me your punch strength is sufficient for that. I can trust you, right?"

"Rest assured about that." Nathan grinned, nodding.

Vincent placed both hands on his chest, fingers forming a circle. Gradually, a black branched tree was pushed outward. A familiarity from it spread to Nathan. In an instant, he recognized this dark thing's operating mechanism. It would bite and devour the host's mana and vitality to create nora in its branches and leaves. Vincent could extract and use it from there. On Vincent's side, thanks to superior vitality from his physique, he could nurture and utilize it somewhat.

Nathan wouldn't pry into his companion's secrets, only sending an assuring look.

Vincent was clearly also afraid of prolonged nora contact.

Again closing his eyes, the direct disciple of the Sect Leader let black specks surge into his body. The power emanating earlier suddenly transformed completely.

It carried deathly breath, decay's scent, and rattling sounds of collapse.

Vincent's flickering eyes told Nathan that nora was spreading, gradually dominating his entire body.

The bright green light gradually mixed with deadly black. Vincent's calm demeanor gradually shifted to trembling, lips pressed together turning purple.

The tree trunk below responded to the call. Bark contracted together, forming networks through connecting patches with each other. From there appeared pathways leading deep below.

Root fibers vibrated more violently, unlike initial resistance, carrying hunger. They emerged from the ground, revealing themselves to Nathan. They appeared equally withered, expanding and contracting when devouring Vincent's power.

Nathan heard calling sounds, commotion within his body. The stored nora energy howled wanting to devour more nourishment. He squinted, pondering what this meant.

He noticed soil beside him that roots brought up from below surface. Mixed within he saw scattered black particles carrying golden gleams. The sand that the centipede demon had used to create cocoons and absorb nourishment.

Vincent's hands gradually lost control, energy threads radiating from his hands as if wanting to spread upward to bind him down.

"Vincent, enough!" Nathan called out.

Fortunately his companion hadn't gone too far. After a long exhale, Vincent severed connections with everything around, his entire body collapsing. The small tree from the spirit world was withdrawn inside. Vincent raised his head, lips curving weakly.

"Well, that was close!"

Nathan helped this fellow from the throne that had returned to its original state, silent. Only root fibers that had pierced the floor made everything messy.

"So what did you find?" Nathan asked.

"Achieved nothing." Vincent shook his head, pallor showing on his face. "All traces are a confused mess with no clarity. Usually, other plant life would tell me some information like how it grew, who helped it develop. Currently, I'm like talking to a madman with a broken head. It just babbles on, giving no clear answers."

"Growth? Like what?"

"Simply soil, fertilizer, nutrients," Vincent turned to say. "More terrifying would be blood and flesh, bone and marrow."

"But clearly blood and flesh were already used." Nathan was confused.

"Not just from villagers," Vincent said. "But from its master. The demon according to your account was still small and weak when placed here. Yet this tree trunk could grant power to defeat a Tier 2. So from the beginning, someone else planted it here."

"Hmmm." Nathan stroked his chin. "The demon mentioned the existence of some father figure."

"Could be him," Vincent confirmed.

"So we've reached a dead end?" Nathan asked.

Vincent exhaled in frustration, beginning to pace around the trunk.

Nathan likewise searched. He knelt down, hand scooping up the sand pile dug up earlier. Opening his palm, he activated his whirlwind. The tiny black particles gradually separated and drifted toward him.

"You mentioned nutrients," Nathan said. "Some kind of fertilizer or soil. Is this it?"

Vincent approached, using spirit vision to examine. After a moment, he nodded.

"Must be it. But this isn't my specialty."

"And the sect doesn't have anyone either?" Nathan asked.

"That's right," Vincent confirmed. "If there were, my master certainly wouldn't miss this important detail."

"This sand has been used extensively by the demon," Nathan said, pointing outside the courtyard. "It extends all the way out there."

Vincent checked again with spirit vision. "Can't make out anything. If it were easily detected, the police would have torn this place apart already."

"Do you see any common points?"

Vincent's eyes lit up, looking down at the mess beneath his feet.

"When using nora, they'll seek out and connect to provide supply."

Nathan nodded, caressing the dried, stiff root fibers.

"What if you used me as a conduit?" he asked.

"I'm listening." Vincent also sat down.

"What if now you continue forcing this tree to live, making its roots search for nutrients because I've absorbed them all? Trees always gradually spread toward water or nutrients, right?"

"And meanwhile, you'll maintain balance by absorbing nora from me?" Vincent's eyes brightened.

"Exactly. I'll keep everything under control. As long as you don't resist."

"Haha, you're truly a frightening ally."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Then let's do it."

Vincent returned to sit on the throne, hands placed on the surface. Nathan grasped a root fiber, one hand directed toward Vincent.

"Ready?" Vincent asked.

"Let's begin."

Destructive energy enveloped the space, blowing away all nearby sitting cushions.

The root in Nathan's hand came alive as nora was used. He immediately carved an opening across the root's surface. Then opened full capacity. Energy through the opening was completely absorbed by him.

Simultaneously on one side, he maintained Vincent's fluctuations.

The root in his hand became limp, dissolving into pieces, so he moved to the next section, repeating as before. Fiber by fiber, Nathan drained this cursed tree according to Vincent's influence.

At this moment, a force exploded in the senior brother's chest. Nathan immediately moved closer to absorb excess nora.

"Continue, Nathan!" Vincent whispered through parted lips, eyes still tightly closed. "The root fibers are spreading in different directions searching for more nourishment. I'll guide the larger root fibers to the surface."

Nathan complied, continuing his work steadily.

The absorbed nora was stored in a corner beside his black hole.

The two cooperated throughout the long session in silence, only the tree's writhing sounds breaking the quiet.

Gradually, Vincent's breathing became rapid. Though he'd trained enough with nora, his limits were gradually wavering.

"The tree is dying uncontrollably," Vincent reported with difficulty.

"Should we stop?" Nathan asked.

"No, we're close. Continue."

The larger root fibers became increasingly fewer. Now before Nathan remained only weak fibers that would break at a touch.

Then Vincent vanished like when they first entered here. However, Nathan still sensed nora usage resonance.

Vincent was taking desperate risks leaving his range. He moved through the root network alone. Once enraged, Nathan wasn't sure how to restrain a Tier 3 anymore.

Each second passed in Nathan's anxious worry until Vincent finally returned. His head emerged from the trunk, then shoulders, finally extending his hand out. Without hesitation, Nathan immediately pulled him outside.

Vincent collapsed onto the earthen floor, making dirt and sand fly everywhere. His breathing came in dry, difficult gasps. When he raised his head, his completely black eyes made Nathan startle. From Vincent's temples grew branching black blood vessels.

"Hit me!" he roared.

Nathan drew his hand back, unsure how much force would suffice. Having no time to calculate, he unleashed half his strength.

Receiving the blow like divine punishment to his jaw, Vincent became dazed. Crackling sounds echoed long in the space.

Nathan hastily sat down, hands turning his companion's body face up. The senior brother's face was bright red, visibly swelling at normal eye speed. Blood flowed in streams, several teeth falling out.

Unable to suppress his dry laughter, Nathan could only let his mouth gape while dropping healing solution into the unfortunate fellow's mouth. Simultaneously, his hand was still enthusiastically absorbing residual nora from Vincent's body and surrounding air. The black veins on the skin steadily subsided.

After a while, Vincent bolted upright, mouth opening wide wanting to curse but then wincing in pain from his mouth wound.

"Because you're my junior," the sect's authoritative disciple said, "I'll forgive you this time. Next time, tone it down a bit. If not for my strong vitality, I'd be dead already. Seriously irritating! Ruined all my good looks. Ow. My teeth!"

Ignoring his companion's glaring, Nathan breathed steadily, storing nora in his body and locking it away.

"I entered the root network, taking myself as far as possible," Vincent explained what had just happened, voice slurred due to his torn jaw. "This tree's vitality is truly mighty. Though devouring life force from my Aspect, certainly ordinary trees would have died long ago."

"So all that recent danger produced no result?" Nathan asked.

Vincent writhed, face swollen. Before Nathan's surprised expression, the wounds were gradually healing. Teeth were being replenished, torn areas closing, blood being sealed from flowing out.

A complete face, somewhat debonair, somewhat handsome, looked brightly at Nathan, saying.

"I think we have a lead."