Nature Spirits really are different and on a different caliber! Even an unranked Mushroom Spirit enables the weaker Butterfly Nymphs to win against the stronger Lizardmen.
If the Mushroom Spirit, while unranked, can already do such a thing, what more could it do after it became a Transcendent?
Thinking of this, a bold idea suddenly grew inside Wyden as he watched the mushroom's ascension.
Considering that Nexus is just entering the first realm of cultivation, his ascension/transformation didn't last long, and he soon reached the rank of Transcendent.
A sense of being a powerful creature welled inside Nexus. For a moment, he was drunk with his newfound power, but he immediately suppressed it.
He is aware that it was just an illusion brought by his transformation, and he is still far from being powerful.
But although Nexus still cannot consider himself as powerful, after his transformation, he finally obtained some power that he could use to protect himself actively.
Using the mushrooms he grew, hoping they would be eaten first rather than him, was a passive way to protect himself.
Fortunately, things are different now. After his transformation, he gained two new Innate Magic.
The first one is [Energy Sac] and the second is [Symbiosis]. Out of the two, the one that greatly pleases Nexus was [Energy Sac], considering that it was the one that gave him a degree of direct attack power.
Before Nexus could marvel and try his new Innate Abilities, he heard the nymphs speaking again.
"Congratulations to Your Excellency for reaching the Transcendent Rank!" Wyden said genuinely, and his words made the other nymphs recover from their awe.
"Congratulations to Your Excellency for reaching the Transcendent Rank!" The rest of the nymphs also congratulated the mushroom genuinely, and Nexus was pleased with them.
If not for these nymphs, Nexus's transformation would not have happened this fast. Not to mention, he knew instinctively that his transformation and the innate magic he had were all related to his past actions and experience.
In a way, these nymphs influenced what Innate Magic Nexus gained after his transformation.
Not to mention, Nexus can even gather some information unknown to him through these nymphs, such as the meaning of reaching the Transcendent Rank.
Now that Nexus has some ability to actively protect himself, his confidence has grown a bit, and he decided to extract some information.
"I want to know what the Transcendent Rank is" Nexus asked, and Wyden nodded his head.
Nature Spirits might be special and powerful, but most of the time, they seldom have any contact with the outside world.
Not to mention, considering the fact that the Mushroom Spirit before them just reached the Transcendent Rank, it was highly likely that it just gained sentience.
Being ignorant about the cultivation ranks at this point was normal and unsurprising.
"Your Excellency, the Transcendent Rank is the first realm of cultivation. Cultivators at this point would earn their first Innate Magic. Sometimes, there are those that gained more than one, but they are rare talents."
"The realm is divided into early, mid, high, and peak. The realms after the Transcendent Rank are Spirit Nourishing and Resonant Harmony. As for the ranks above Resonant Harmony, we are currently unaware."
Wyden explained, enlightening Nexus before he realized something.
If his 'transformation' is actually him entering the first cultivation realm, how come that even before that, Nexus already has his Innate Magic: Gluttony?
"Is the golden raindrop that special? Even before I reached the Transcendent Rank, I already had an Innate Magic."
"Not only that, while normal people will only gain one Innate Magic after they reach the Transcendent Rank, I gained two!"
As of the moment, Nexus already has three Innate Magic, exceeding normal people by two. This was a pleasant surprise that he is more than willing to accept.
Before Nexus could even praise the golden rain drop for helping him immensely, Wyden spoke again.
"To congratulate Your Excellency for formally embarking on the path of cultivation, we offer a small token for you."
As he said that, Wyden took out a small blue stone from his pocket. It was the very water stone that the Lizardman Chief almost used.
Since Wyden was the strongest in the tribe, the young nymph gave the stone to him, and he is now offering it to the Mushroom Spirit.
"This is a water stone, our spoils from the battle against the lizardmen. Once used, it imbues one's attacks with water element, increasing power, but the cost is a drop of a minor realm on one's cultivation" Wyden explained, and this piqued Nexus's interest.
He would accept everything he could use to increase his fighting prowess and survival chances.
The drop of a small realm is nothing compared to his own life. Not to mention, his realm is currently just the very first realm; its loss doesn't sound that heartbreaking.
"Hmm, very well, I appreciate the gift" Nexus said, his tone pleased, and his mycelium even emerged from the ground.
In Nexus's ascension, he only gained two Innate Magics, but that doesn't mean that those two magics are the only things he earned.
Compared to his pre-breakthrough, his control over his mycelium has grown to the point that he can now use it to grab some things and throw them if needed.
Although after trying it once, the mana consumption was quite high, and it wouldn't be possible for Nexus to use his mycelium to walk constantly.
Even if he could walk using his mycelium, he wouldn't be able to go far before he ran out of mana.
It seems like the need to grow more mushrooms and store mana in them has become increasingly important. If Nexus has enough mana, he could use his mycelium to roam 24/7!
Sensing the Spirit's tone, Wyden grew some more courage to enact the plan he had in mind.
"Your Excellency, may I speak? I-I have a request" Wyden said, and his clansmen looked at him curiously.
They weren't aware that Wyden would ask for a request. Is he not afraid of displeasing the Mushroom Spirit?
If the Mushroom Spirit can help them defeat the enemies despite their weaker power, couldn't it also massacre their tribe?
He really has guts!
"Hmm, I am at least willing to hear you out" Nexus replied.
He was not surprised by Wyden's act. In fact, it was natural.
Their previous transaction was an agreement of equivalent exchange. That was the only relationship between the two of them, and with that kind of relationship, there was no need to gift a precious stone to Nexus.
That act definitely has an ulterior motive, and Nexus thinks that Wyden might at most ask him for some more Mushrooms for their protection.
There are still corpses he hadn't absorbed, and Nexus was willing to part with more mushrooms in exchange for the water stone.
However, the 'request' that Wyden had was not the Blood Boiling Mushrooms that he had expected.
"We are in awe of Your Excellency's benevolence and ability. If Your Excellency will allow us, we, the Butterfly Nymphs, are willing to serve and be under you forever as our Guardian Totem. Your Excellency, please accept us as your worshippers!"
This time, Wyden performed a kowtow even more intense than the previous ones he had made.
His words not only surprised Nexus but also all the nymphs around.
"Wyden… how did he become this daring? He actually asked a Nature Spirit to become our tribe's Guardian Totem. On what grounds? We are too weak and few in number. What kind of Guardian Totem will accept us?" Iruline, who was just behind Wyden, was terribly surprised, but since the Chief already said such a thing, she and the other nymphs had no choice but to kowtow as well.
If they dare to have a different opinion, the Mushroom Spirit would definitely be displeased, and if that happens, their fate would be unknown.
"Wait… no! The Mushroom Spirit doesn't even know what the Transcendent Rank is. It was clear that the Spirit had just gained sentient and was not aware of how special it is."
"If the Spirit is special enough and it can really become a Guardian Totem, it would not accept our weak tribe. However, it is different if the Spirit doesn't even know how special it was, nor what it means to be a Guardian Totem."
"Wyden.. he… he is deceiving the Mushroom Spirit!"
Iruline's heart and mind trembled. She didn't expect that Wyden would be so bold as to trick a newborn Spirit into becoming their tribe's Guardian Totem, but she doesn't dare speak the truth.
If the Mushroom Spirit were to learn of Wyden's deceit, its wrath would definitely fall upon them.
At the very least, before the Mushroom Spirit became their tribe's Guardian Totem and they fostered a close relationship with it, the truth cannot be known.
"A- Guardian Totem?"
If Nexus had eyes, he would definitely blink them rapidly. As an ignorant mushroom, he doesn't know what a Guardian Totem is, nor does he know how to become one.