Chapter Thirty-One: The Tree of Enlightenment

After Arayamukunda departed, Lin Feng continued to play with the remaining Aranara. By the time he was nearly collapsed on the ground from exhaustion, he had finally completed the epic achievement of playing with every single Aranara.

Looking at the hundreds of flowers in his hands, Lin Feng felt a sense of curiosity about how such an amount, far exceeding what one might see in a game, could possibly be woven into a garland. Feeling the nearly overflowing gratitude and trust emanating from the blossoms, he gained a newfound understanding of just how desperate the Aranara were to see the Withering eradicated.

Upon reaching the center of Vanarana, the Song-Seekers, who had been waiting, noticed his arrival and began to dance with joy.

"A youth whose strength and spirit are as dazzling as the sun... his name is Nara Lin Feng," the little brown mushroom praised him.

"Gold beneath the sun, white light in the wilderness, his name is Xiaobai."

For once, Xiaobai, who always followed Lin Feng, was not left out.

"Nara Lin Feng, little Xiaobai!"

"You've arrived. Everyone is very happy during this Utsava Festival."

Araroma, in green, and the village elder Araraga, in brown, both came forward to offer their congratulations.

"Thank you all. Xiaobai and I have actually had a wonderful time playing." Lin Feng smiled, openly acknowledging his affection for the Aranara.

"Yes. In the stories, the most important part of the Utsava Festival is for Nara friends to sing together with the Aranara. Song-Seekers, are you ready?" Araraga asked.

"Yes! We are ready. This dream has been waiting for a long time. Whether it is the trees or the green grass, all wish to hear the song of Nara and Aranara once more." The little brown mushroom, Aranakin, shook the leaves on his head with excitement, clearly longing for this joint singing after five hundred years.

At the warm invitation of the Aranara, Lin Feng joined in the final chorus. Even though he was merely humming along to the melody, the sight of countless expectant and excited eyes fixed upon him made him feel the heavy weight of the trust and hope they placed in him.

...

At the end of the Utsava Festival, Lin Feng received the finished garland from Araroma. As he placed the exceptionally ornate crown upon his head, he silently made a firm resolution.

"This crown is our blessing from the Aranara to the Nara we love most; it is the blessing of all Vanarana," Araraga said to Lin Feng as he happily accepted it.

"Thank you all in Vanarana for me," Lin Feng said, feeling deeply moved.

"I am the one who should thank Nara Lin Feng! We are so happy that you are willing to accept our flowers—happier than when we have had enough sun, enough sweet water, or dreamt of wonderful things," the green Araroma danced in the air as he spoke.

...

Bidding farewell to the little darlings of Vanarana, Lin Feng set off toward the destination of his journey, accompanied by his "guide," Araroma, who carried the five Vasoma Fruits.

Though he had originally hoped only to gain power through the Vasmrti, after experiencing the Utsava Festival, he had grown genuinely fond of these innocent little creatures.

Regarding the resolution of the Withering Avatar, Lin Feng had initially prepared two plans.

The first, and ideal outcome, was that if the Ashvattha Tree remained uncorrupted, he would consume the Vasmrti and, relying on the power gained and the help of the Aranara, proceed as in the game—breaking seals layer by layer until he finally overcame the Withering Avatar with his own enhanced strength.

For Lin Feng, who already possessed dream adaptability, his utilization of the Vasmrti would far exceed that of Rana in the game. Moreover, by analyzing the dream-related authority contained within the fruit, he could achieve a goal he had harbored since his arrival: to connect with Xiaobai’s consciousness and help it control and organize the power within its body. As long as Xiaobai could slowly master its own strength, even if only a little, there would be almost no one left in Teyvat who could threaten him.

However, if the Ashvattha Tree were already corrupted, he had originally intended to follow the game's sequence: have Araroma absorb the memories of the Ashvattha Tree and Arayamukunda to assist him in defeating the Withering Avatar, and finally harvest the Vasmrti from a new Ashvattha Tree.

But was he truly willing to do that now? Lin Feng hesitated. Having spent this time together, he had come to accept these little beings as his friends. Innocent, simple, and yet wholeheartedly considerate of others, the Aranara were undoubtedly the perfect companions. Although sprouting and growing was the fate of a seed, as a human, Lin Feng could not easily treat a reliable friend as a sacrificial price for his own goals.

...

Struggling with his inner conflict, Lin Feng finally reached the Ashvattha Tree. Sensing the faint scent of the Withering radiating from it, he let out a long sigh.

"Stop, Araroma." He called out to the creature, who was preparing to enter the dream of the Ashvattha Tree.

Even though following the path of the game would ensure a stable conclusion, the Lin Feng who had arrived from another world still wanted to make his own changes as much as possible. Ultimately, he entered the Ashvattha Tree alone and cleared the Withering from its dream.

Calling over the bewildered Araroma, Lin Feng began the journey back.

...

"The Ashvattha Tree has been corrupted. It will not be able to bear the Vasmrti until the Withering is completely cleared. Wait for me a little longer," Lin Feng told Araroma.

After pacifying the somewhat lost Araroma and telling it that he had a solution, he promised that within a month—before the effects of the Utsava Festival faded—he would certainly return. With Araroma’s return confirmed, Lin Feng took Xiaobai and began his final preparations.

...

"Lin Feng, are you sure you want to bury yourself here?" Tighnari looked at Lin Feng, whom he hadn't seen for a while, wondering if he had eaten some of Farbod's strange mushrooms.

"Yes, right here at the Statue of the Seven in the rainforest where no one really goes. I'll dig a hole and lie inside later. If I don't wake up, please make sure to come and wake me in three weeks," Lin Feng requested, looking at Tighnari with complete sincerity.

"Fine. If you are serious, then I will help you." Tighnari sighed. Having grown accustomed to Lin Feng’s wild ideas, he ultimately agreed to this bizarre request.

"Thank you. Among all the people I know, you are truly the most reliable!" Lin Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

"Speaking of which, why do you look so exhausted? Did something happen?" Lin Feng asked, curious at the sight of Tighnari’s overworked appearance.

Tighnari cast a resentful glance at him. "You have the nerve to ask?"

"It’s all because a certain former Forest Ranger gave Gandharva Ville a major renovation. The scene was so shocking that passersby thought a god had performed a miracle."

"Word spread like wildfire, and somehow it turned into an absurd rumor that staying in Gandharva Ville would grant one a Vision."

Tighnari glared fiercely at the person who had increased his workload without realizing it.

Lin Feng: "..." He had been careless. He had intended to refurbish the dilapidated Gandharva Ville, never expecting such an outcome.

After apologizing to Tighnari, the embarrassed Lin Feng headed toward the Statue of the Seven in the forest to begin his pre-battle preparations.