Long after the clamor and scorn of the manor had faded behind him, Yinmo slipped away from the lowly confines of the servants' quarters. Tonight, beneath the vault of a star-scattered sky, he had one goal: to test the low-rank incantation that might finally begin to transform his inner potential. His destination was the wild forest—a place where nature's raw vitality flowed freely—and where magic could be felt in every rustling leaf.
In a secluded clearing beneath a towering ancient oak, Yinmo settled on a bed of soft moss. The cool night air, redolent of damp earth and flourishing life, enfolded him as he drew the faded cultivation booklet from his chest. Its cryptic Latin incantations had long captivated him, but tonight he would attempt his first active spell for the wood element—a ritual titled Incantatio Viriditas.
This low-rank spell was built upon a foundation of carefully chosen Latin stem words. In his studies, Yinmo had learned that the word Lignum (wood) could later combine with roots such as Vitalis (vitality) or Tenebrae (darkness) to forge entirely new incantations. For now, however, Incantatio Viriditas was designed to achieve two humble but essential things:
Awaken and harmonize his wood energy: The spell was meant to gently stimulate his Qi gathering system, drawing life from nature and fortifying his internal energy.
Manifest nature's response: As the incantation took effect, he expected nearby flora to react—a subtle burst in growth, a cluster of tender vines unfurling or new buds blooming—to symbolize his connection with nature's vitality and confirm that his magic was stirring correctly.
Taking a steady breath, Yinmo positioned himself in quiet meditation. With trembling determination, he recited the incantation in a measured, almost reverent tone:
"Lignum Excitare,
Vita Redintegro,
Tenebrae Contineo—
Evigilo!"
Each phrase carried its designated purpose:
"Lignum Excitare" urged the very essence of wood to awaken within him. "Vita Redintegro" called forth the restorative energy of life, aiming to replenish and unite his scattered Qi. "Tenebrae Contineo" quietly declared his intent to contain and subtly harmonize the dark energies ever present within. "Evigilo!"—a personal command to awaken and set forth the transformation.
As the final syllable echoed softly into the night, a profound stillness fell over the clearing. Then, slowly and almost imperceptibly at first, a gentle luminescence emerged from Yinmo's palms—a soft green glow that pulsed with the rhythm of his heartbeat. At the same time, a delicate response stirred in the natural world around him.
In response to his incantation, tiny shoots of new growth began to appear among the underbrush. Vines gently crept along the forest floor; buds opened on nearby branches as if awakened from a deep slumber. The manifestation was not violent or overwhelming—a clear sign, rather, that the spell was low rank, designed primarily to solidify his bond with nature and prove that his wood affinity could be reawakened and nurtured.
For a few enchanted moments, Yinmo observed the subtle but undeniable change. The incantation had not unleashed destructive power; instead, it had summoned life in a controlled burst. The flora around him seemed to lean toward his energy, affirming that nature, too, recognized the call. It was as if the forest whispered in approval—a delicate chorus promising that his breakthrough into the second stage of Qi gathering was within reach.
In that sacred encounter of magic and nature, Yinmo's inner Qi gathering system accepted this step forward. His chest swelled with renewed determination; the gentle growth of vibrant green confirmed that his path was right. Yet in that tranquility, he was also keenly aware that this was but the first step. One day, he would combine various stem words—Vitalis, Tenebrae, and beyond—to craft spells that could reshape not only his destiny but perhaps even the balance of power around him.
As the moon sailed high across the sky, Yinmo gathered the cultivation booklet to his bosom and slowly rose to his feet. The forest, alive with new growth and renewed vitality, bore silent witness to his small yet significant transformation. Tonight, the incantation had proven its worth—it had awakened a spark of life, binding his soul to the flourishing force of nature. His journey was far from over, but now he knew that even within his low rank, he wielded a seed of formidable power.
With calm resolve and a spark of hope glowing in his eyes, Yinmo began his slow trek back toward the servants' quarters. Each step was lighter, as if buoyed by the very promise of life. The incantation's effects lingered in the night, a verdant omen of the breakthroughs yet to come.