Lighting Up Sea Of Consciousness

Devin sent Alex a message for the nth time but received the same response: 'out of coverage'. Frustrated by the lack of communication, Devin understands the dangers that come with venturing into uncharted territories, but he also acknowledges the potential value they hold. He had managed to obtain the origin seed from one of these territories, and while he knows the location, he hasn't gone to investigate it due to the high risk involved. The uncharted territory where Devin found the seed is not within the Zephyria kingdom; it belonged to a small kingdom that had been destroyed before Devin started playing Oasis.

Lost in contemplation, Devin reflects on the encounter he had with Jekyll. He can't shake the feeling that something took control of his body while he remained a mere spectator. He attributes this to the power residing within the seed, which was forcibly activated, responding to his strong emotions. Devin finds it perplexing that this power is a part of him, yet he struggles to control it fully.

In this life, Devin considers himself lucky compared to his previous one. However, he doesn't believe that his rebirth has given him significant advantages. Financial constraints prevented him from playing Oasis early on, and by the time he finally entered the game, years of development had already passed. He didn't pay much attention to the game, as he was focused on earning money in the real world. Consequently, he missed out on the opportunities that the early players had capitalized on, leaving him at a disadvantage.

Most of Devin's knowledge about the game comes from forums, news, and stories he heard from others. Although he is aware of some potential opportunities, they are still beyond his current capabilities.

Devin is aware that when more than 20% of players in Oasis reach level 30, significant changes will occur. Oasis will transcend being just a virtual reality game, allowing people to cultivate and improve themselves in the real world. However, the effects of cultivation in reality will be less pronounced compared to the game. It will open doors for individuals to enhance their physical well-being and maintain their youthfulness, leading to a surge of newcomers into Oasis.

With this influx of new players, the development of Oasis will accelerate, and the native inhabitants of the game will discover the existence of these new individuals, who are effectively immortal compared to the natives. This realization may led to some NPCs capturing players in a desperate attempt to uncover the secret of immortality, although such efforts will prove fruitless.

Some would even go as far as killing players many times to see how many times they can come back to life. While some would seek relationships and recruitments with these immortals.

Devin's intuition tells him that logging out of Oasis right now would only lead to him feeling in a worse state in the real world. Therefore, he continues to wait for Alex to return and persevere.

Devin's excitement lies in the prospect of obtaining and harnessing that power for himself. However, he recognizes that for now, he is like a kid who owns a Ferrari but lacks the ability to drive it.

His thoughts were interrupted by Muriel, who inquired about his well-being. Devin, playfully, responded that he felt the same as he did the previous day. Muriel then informed him that Senior Ingram had left a token for him and Alex, mentioning that it could be helpful when they eventually reached the capital. Devin accepted the token, storing it in his storage ring, acknowledging that it could prove useful in the future.

Muriel informed Devin that the grandmasters they had saved were eager to meet and express their gratitude. Devin casually stated that he had nothing else to do and welcomed them to come. Muriel took note and agreed to inform the grandmasters. He expressed her hopes for Alex's success, as they had not been able to locate the elusive red lotus flower, even with attractive rewards on offer.

Devin shrugged in response, fully aware of the rarity and value of the red lotus, particularly its seed, which possesses the ability to purify the body and aid in breakthroughs. Nevertheless, he expressed his unwavering belief in Alex, emphasizing his friend's stubbornness and determination. According to Devin, there is nothing Alex cannot accomplish when he sets his mind to it.

Muriel revealed that he had to attend to pressing matters, as two prominent families had recently disappeared simultaneously. He mentioned that Devin and Alex were granted permission by his father to retrieve items from the Treasury of the Kramer family, unlike the Covington family, whose Treasury had already been emptied.

"This would make Alex happy," said Devin.

Muriel laughed, shaking his head. "What would make Alex happy?" asked the man they were all waiting for. He looked like a man who had gone through hell and back, with fatigue evident on his face, but his eyes held a glimmer of determination.

The two individuals in the room shared the same thought: "Something has changed."

Muriel swiftly handed two lotus leaves to the pharmacist, instructing them to prepare a potion for Devin. Alex didn't provide them with everything he had because he believed that it would be most effective when shared with Devin.

As Alex recounted his treacherous journey through the forest to the others, he described the monsters he encountered and the resources he couldn't gather due to his lack of a storage ring.

"Don't worry, once I feel better, I think that place would be an excellent location for us to train and hone our combat skills. I'm particularly intrigued by the mist you mentioned, which can show people illusions of their deepest fears," said Devin, his eyes filled with excitement.

Muriel shared the same enthusiasm, expressing his interest in joining them. "Count me in when you guys decide to go. This incident has shown me how vulnerable one can be without strength. Sheltered cultivation isn't sufficient. Venturing into dangerous places allows one to sharpen their skills," Muriel declared.

"Well, we should make sure we are well-prepared before we go, or else we'll be offering ourselves as food to those monsters, and I haven't even delved into the depths of the forest," Alex cautioned.

With that, Muriel left the room, knowing that the brothers needed some time to talk and understanding that he had many matters to attend to.

"What's the best way for you to use the potion?" asked Alex.

"I believe it's better to take the potion back to reality and use it there. My real body will assimilate it more effectively," replied Devin.

Alex handed a box to Devin, explaining that he had kept some seeds and two leaves since he had a feeling that they might be wasted. Devin laughed and opened the box, realizing the value of the items inside. "This is good stuff. The seed is more valuable than the leaves, containing more medicinal properties. Don't worry, I have plans for the seed," Devin assured Alex.

The following day, the city lord's pharmacist delivered four potions to Devin: one top grade and three high grades. The pharmacist explained that the city lord believed that since Alex had risked his life to obtain the red lotus, the entire potion should belong to Devin. However, Devin insisted that he only needed one top grade and one high grade potions, offering the remaining two to the city lord as a token of his gratitude for the precious herbs and potions previously provided. Devin understood the importance of maintaining a balanced relationship and avoided creating strain by taking too much without giving in return. He preferred to be in a position where others owed him instead.

After everyone left the room, Alex bolted the door, ensuring privacy. Then, Devin stored the potion in his ring and made the decision to log off.

Devin's intuition proved accurate, as he was soon overwhelmed by a pounding headache and nearly fainted. It felt like a chaotic concert playing inside his head, confirming that there were significant changes occurring within him.

Devin took deep breaths, trying to stabilize himself. After about thirty minutes, his body was drenched in sweat, but he managed to regain his composure.

"How are you feeling?" Alex asked, his concern evident in his gaze as he looked at Devin's pale face.

"Like mobs of kangaroos are stomping around in my head," Devin replied, his breath still slightly ragged.

"Quick, bring out the potion and take it," Alex instructed, his worry apparent. Devin wasted no time and quickly retrieved the top grade spiritual consciousness repair potion. As he drank it, he groaned in pain, feeling his consciousness entering a barren land with a wilting tree bud at its center. The tree emitted a sense of longing as it lacked the necessary nutrients.

Devin approached the seedling on the cracked ground, noticing tiny trickles of water gurgling up from the Earth in front of the tree. As he neared, the water began to surge and gather, growing in intensity and size.

Gradually, the once mere trickle of water transformed, expanding with each passing moment until it swelled into a magnificent lake. The previously barren land now bloomed with the vibrant flow of life-giving water, its sparkling droplets reflecting the light of Devin's consciousness.

Devin observed as the wilting seedling transformed, becoming vibrant and growing taller by an inch, sprouting another leaf. He could sense the tree's emotion, and it emanated happiness.

The water, now transformed into the size of a lake, pulsed with vibrancy and vitality.

Exiting his sea of consciousness, Devin felt a tingling sensation on his back, a sign of the change in his tree tattoo.

"How is it?" Alex asked eagerly.

Devin smiled and gave a thumbs up. "It worked. My sea of consciousness is no longer a cracked, dry land."

"That's great. Now you won't have to endure constant pain," Alex replied with evident happiness.

"Thanks to you, I don't have to live like a cripple," Devin expressed his gratitude.

"Yes, I know. I'm pretty awesome," Alex joked.

Devin then retrieved a seed from the red lotus in his ring, offering it to Alex. "Eat this. It will help refresh and strengthen your soul, aiding in the formation of your own sea of consciousness."

"What is the sea of consciousness?" asked Alex.

Devin took a moment to explain, "You could think of it as the manifestation of your spiritual sense. It's a spiritual place within your mind that represents the power of your soul or spirit, and sometimes, you can utilize that power. As a refiner or forger, there are certain weapons or materials that require the use of your soul power. It can also be used for perception and has many other uses. All in all, it's a valuable asset."

Alex sat cross-legged in the bathroom and consumed the seed, entering a meditative state. He felt a warm and gentle energy flowing through his body, a sensation that surpassed the previous cleansing potion he had taken. It felt as though he was immersed in a warm, vitalizing essence. His body continuously expelled impurities until he was cocooned in a layer of black filth. Suddenly, he felt a pop in his head.

Remembering Devin's explanation, Alex concentrated his consciousness and discovered a space filled with a body of water, roughly the size of a stream, pulsing with energy. Opening his eyes, he surveyed his reflection in the mirror and quickly cleaned himself before joining Devin outside.

"How does it feel?" Devin inquired.

"I feel relaxed, and my sea of consciousness is now empty, only the size of a stream. My senses feel heightened, although it will take some getting used to. The challenge now is figuring out how to utilize it," Alex replied.

"Indeed, we need a mental cultivation technique to help train it. Let's search for one once we return to Oasis," suggested Devin.

"What's our next plan?" Alex asked.

"I need to develop Sun Haven, but I don't want to neglect my personal development in the process. Building up our own strength is still crucial," Devin explained.

"I understand. In this case, finding a professional manager who is also interested in playing games would be the best option. But where can we find one?" Alex pondered.

"Let's post a job ad online and see what responses we get. We should also talk to brother Neil and see if he'd be interested in working with us to design the island. In the future, Sun Haven will be open to the public, so it needs the necessary attractions to generate income. The island is large enough to accommodate my vision," Devin stated.

"No problem, but all of this requires money. We'll need to find a way to generate more gold, or even better, find a gold mine," suggested Alex.

"I've also thought about finding one, but it's not easy. Most of the gold mines in Oasis are already owned, and the ones that aren't are located in the wild with strong monsters residing in them," Devin replied.

"Before we get into all of that, let's order some takeout. I'm starting to forget what real food tastes like," Alex said, placing an order from his digital link.

Devin checked his email and discovered that the auction house had sent the remaining funds to his bank account, deducting all the necessary fees. He now had over two million points in his account, a substantial amount of wealth.

However, he also received a message from the buyer, expressing a desire to meet. Devin hesitated, not wanting to deal with any potential complications or issues. After careful consideration, he decided to decline the offer to meet, preferring to maintain his privacy and avoid unnecessary risks.

He drafted a polite response, politely refusing the meeting offer and expressing his gratitude for the successful transaction. Satisfied with his decision, Devin sent the email and shifted his focus back to his plans for Sun Haven and the potential recruitment of a professional manager.