Chapter 473 - 445: Path of the Wood Talker: The Ranger and the Natural Covenant

Chapter 473: Chapter 445: Path of the Wood Talker: The Ranger and the Natural Covenant

Unlike guiding Blood Qi—a relatively concrete manipulation involving the flow of Energy—controlling one’s emotions was a far more ethereal and perilous task.

The book described a process of actively entering a state of extreme rage to ignite the hidden fire of one’s Power. Yet, within that emotional inferno, one had to maintain a sliver of clarity—like holding perfectly still in the eye of a storm.

He attempted the several methods recorded in the book.

First, he tried to recall past experiences that had filled him with indignation and resentment.

However, while these memories stirred his emotions and caused his brow to furrow, they failed to ignite the so-called "Heart-Burning Flame."

His Spiritual Attribute, strengthened through numerous enhancements and exercises, had long since become as resilient and rational as tempered steel.

He could clearly recall and calmly analyze past negative emotions, but it was difficult for them to make him sink back into their depths and lose control in a fit of rage.

His reason was like a sturdy dam, firmly holding back the torrent of his emotions.

Next, he tried to use his mind to guide himself, simulating the physiological and psychological state of anger.

He imagined his heart racing, blood surging, and breath growing heavy as a nameless fire flared up from deep within him.

He could, through sheer willpower, simulate some of the physiological reactions. Combined with [Blood Rushing], he could even put his body into a combat-ready state. But the crucial "emotional core" that could trigger a qualitative change in his Power...

...that pure, scorching, primitive fury capable of temporarily eclipsing all reason, remained just beyond his grasp.

He was like a master actor, perfectly capable of portraying the outward signs of anger, yet his heart remained a placid lake, unable to truly catch fire.

’Could it be because I’m too ’lucid’?’

Roland realized what the problem was.

His powerful Spirit allowed him to meticulously control Energy, but it also made it difficult for him to completely unleash his emotions and embrace that dangerous edge of chaos—the very state that could backfire on him.

The prerequisite for harnessing rage was the ability to "start the fire," but right now, he couldn’t even ignite the "kindling."

Unwilling to give up, he tried another method recorded in the book.

Visualization.

He visualized ferocious Magical Beasts invading his territory, savage enemies trampling his home, and even the deaths of those important to him.

He tried to use these images to spark the rage of a Guardian and the fury of Destruction.

The images were vivid in his mind, and his killing intent swelled, but it felt more like the calculated resolve for battle than an uncontrollable blaze of fury.

Once, twice, three times...

Ten times...

A hundred times...

Time slipped by in a cycle of repeated attempts and failures.

Inside the cabin, fine beads of sweat formed on Roland’s temples from the sheer mental concentration.

His chest rose and fell faintly, his muscles tensing intermittently, but his eyes remained far too clear, never succumbing to the crimson of pure rage.

Finally, he let out a long, turbid breath and slowly opened his eyes. A trace of unconcealable exhaustion lay deep within them.

After all his attempts, he still hadn’t succeeded.

Controlling emotions, harnessing rage—the difficulty of this step far exceeded his expectations.

This wasn’t a barrier that could be broken through by sheer willpower or a high Spiritual Attribute alone.

It seemed to require something more fundamental, something that touched upon the instincts deep within his soul. Or, perhaps, it required a true catalyst to set everything off.

This path of Power, which seemed to rely on instinct, had a first true hurdle that was, paradoxically, a deep understanding and precise control of that very "instinct." And that was far from something that could be achieved overnight.

Letting out a soft sigh, Roland didn’t feel too disheartened.

He had long understood that accessing and mastering Extraordinary Professions was no easy task.

Besides, while this attempt hadn’t directly unlocked the [Barbarian] Profession, it had unexpectedly revealed the clear High-Tier path of the [Berserker]. That alone was a huge gain.

After calming his mind, he carefully returned the tome chronicling the ancient path of the Barbarian to its place on the shelf. He then picked up another book he had already set aside—a heavy volume with a cover design of interwoven vines and wind-worn marks.

*Path of the Wood Talker: The Ranger and the Natural Covenant*.

Just as he was about to open its pages and delve into its mysteries, a clear voice called out from outside the cabin.

"Roland, Mr. Bronson said..."

Before she could finish, the cabin door was pushed open a crack. Avril’s head peeked in, the corners of her mouth turned up in a characteristically sly and lively smile.

"That detector that’s always buzzing seems to be done, but Bronson says they’ve run into a little trouble. He needs you to go take a look."

After she spoke, her gaze swept across the cabin’s interior, and the corner of her mouth twitched.

"Did you... move an entire abandoned archive in here?"

The cabin, which wasn’t spacious to begin with, was strewn with all manner of books and scrolls. Several massive, unfurled parchment maps covered nearly half the floor.

In the shadows near the corner, Galvis was all but buried under a mountain of books. Only the fine dust stirred by his occasional movements proved there was actually a living person beneath the pile.

Roland shrugged, not answering her question directly. Instead, he beckoned her over.

"You’re just in time, Avril."

As he spoke, he handed the copy of *Path of the Forest Speaker* he was holding to the Elf Maiden.

After everything they had been through, Avril had long since proven herself to be a trustworthy and loyal partner.

Improving her strength was the same as strengthening the entire team, so Roland naturally wouldn’t be stingy about sharing such precious knowledge.

Besides...

His gaze swept over the book’s table of contents, which listed a series of Chapter titles he had never heard of before: "Introduction to Summoning Natural Allies," "Principles of Elemental Arrow Enchantment," "Woodland Camouflage and Advanced Stealth Arts," "The Wild’s Mark and the Art of Whispers," and more.

Roland’s eyebrows rose slightly.

Though he hadn’t had a chance to read it closely, he could tell just from the table of contents that the true Extraordinary Profession of [Ranger] possessed a level of power and diversity far beyond what he had seen Avril display.

Avril was already considered one of the best among the Elves of the Eternal Song Forest, but the techniques she used seemed vastly inferior compared to the path of the [Ranger] described in this ancient tome.

This discrepancy was likely due to a fracture in the core lineage, lost over the long years.

Avril’s talent was undeniable. If she could dedicate herself to training with this more complete and profound inheritance, her strength was bound to take a qualitative leap.

With this in mind, Roland patted Avril on the shoulder, briefly explained his theory, and then pushed open the cabin door.

Walking on the somewhat desolate deck of the Shell Ship, Roland quickly sorted through the gains and losses of their journey.

Their haul from the Imperial Academy had been nothing short of bountiful.

The value of those tomes, laden with ancient knowledge, was immeasurable.

Just digesting and mastering the contents of these books—even if he only managed to take on a few of the Professions within—would be enough to grant his Power a qualitative leap.

The only things limiting him now, it seemed, were time and practical experience.

If that was the case, there seemed to be no need for him to remain on this continent, a land fraught with unknowns and dangers, for much longer.

To be sure, beneath the vast ruins of Aiselon, there were certainly more mysterious relics left behind by ancient civilizations.

Perhaps there were other, more bizarre Extraordinary Profession paths unique to other Races, or perhaps there were strange creations he couldn’t even begin to imagine.

But when it came to Extraordinary Professions, especially those available to humans, the Imperial Academy—the very pinnacle of human wisdom—had presumably already collected and organized the vast majority of them.

Searching for other Professions that might be limited by Race or bloodline would be like looking for a needle in a haystack—the return wasn’t worth the effort, and the risks were unknown.

As for other potential Magic Items, resources, or technologies...

The map from Duadeng marked many important locations, but it didn’t specify what could be found there.

Even if he could guess what resources a place might yield based on its name, after a thousand years of erosion and potential cataclysms, it was a huge question mark whether anything would still be intact or usable.

In a relatively stable and safe environment, Roland wouldn’t mind spending several years, or even longer, slowly exploring this place and peeling back the veil of history.

But...

His gaze swept over his surroundings.

An eternal, hazy gray fog shrouded the dead land like a giant coffin, and the air was thick with the stench of decay and foreboding.

Recalling the bizarre and powerful Ashen Descendants they had recently encountered, Roland shook his head softly.

Although he had been prepared for it, the actual level of danger on this continent still exceeded his initial estimates.

Before he was strong enough, venturing deeper would be needlessly reckless.

’It’s wiser to withdraw for now and return to explore once I’ve built up enough strength.’

’This lost continent will still be here, after all. It’s not like it’s going to grow legs and run away.’

With Duraga’s Shell Ship, a vessel capable of traversing space, the decision to come or go would be a simple one.

His mind made up, Roland no longer hesitated. He waved, his gaze locked on Bronson and Duraga, who were gathered around the "Magic Net Disturbance Detector" a short distance away, murmuring to each other.

Pondering where he would go after leaving Aiselon, he walked over and asked.

"Mr. Bronson, Duraga. You both look grim. Did the detection process turn up something troublesome?"