I had water with me, but I wouldn't be able to get greater quantities of it. The Wilderness, was pretty much devoid of water. It could only be found in special places, like the Apium, or Vulture Cliffs. I decided to make a small pond instead, which would only be able to house a few seeds, of the Ophilis Reeds and Aliris Plants. I had to plant the Aliris Plants too. Otherwise, the balance might be broken, and the Ophilis Reeds could die out.
The next thing on my list, was the fertiliser. I had to find Ognars, in order to take some of their excrements. Ulon mentioned, that they need to be processed. I didn't exactly know how, so I decided to use the raw shit for my experiment. Fortunately, Ognars were present in the northernmost area of the North. I quickly gathered enough fertiliser, and started working on my pond.
I dug a small hole, about 2 metres deep, and 2 metres in diameter. I would have to use most of my water, in order to fill it up, but I had to separate the herbs, and give them some space to grow as well. I then spread the fertiliser, and watered it. I didn't pour in the water just yet, and simply watered the provisional pond, for the soil condition to become better. After about four waterings, I filled the hole with water, and waited a bit.
Because the ground got used to the water, it didn't absorb much of it anymore. Although, after about a week of time, the water inside my lake decreased by about half a metre. The level of water, was still at around 1.5 metres in depth. All the dirt also settled down, this allowed me to plant the seeds. I knew how this was done, as Sha already showed me the whole process.
Soon, the seeds were planted, and I had nothing else to do. I just had to wait for them to sprout, and make sure they were healthy. I continued my training, and studies. I didn't have the distillery needed to make Zenith Extracts, therefore I couldn't practice that on other herbs. Instead, I opted for my skills and body training.
Time slowly passed, and the herbs inside the pond grew bigger. The herbs began to form the important flower parts, where all the water making and filtration would take place. I was surprised, that I managed to grow something in the Wilderness. Especially since, I was in much harsher environment, compared to Apium. The herbs inside the pond, were still very small, but progress was apparent. This alone gave me hope, and proved to me, that it was possible to grow them.
Besides the herbs, I also trained my body. I felt that, I was about to reach a wall. I was very close to it. I had to train very hard, and for a long time, in order to see any kind of improvements. This suggested to me, that I began approaching my limits. 'A bit more training, and I should reach that stage. Then, I can take the Zenith Extract from Blood Yarn, and purify my blood further' I thought. I was already prepared for the process of purifying my blood. I knew it would be very painful, perhaps much more painful, than the previous experience.
With my strength, and Frosty's help, I would be able to take 40 milliliters of the Extract. This was the maximum, I could take. Any more than that, and problems would arise. Not only could the process of purifying my blood backfire, it could even kill me. My skills improved a bit as well. I was able to condense my Aura, to about half a metre in radius. I was getting closer, to actually keeping that Aura on my body, but the improvements started to slow down.
Besides that, I still trained in the Stringed Hidden Weapons Art. Although my control was already very good, I could always improve, if I trained more. I was still missing the "hidden" part of the skill. I needed an Aura, which would hide my daggers. This, was not so simple. I couldn't create an Aura just like that, and I couldn't even pass the Aura I already had, onto objects. My priority became the Stringed Hidden Weapons, as well as Aura condensing. In the meantime, I would try to modify the 4th Diagram, from the Strength Manual.
I already noticed, that the 3rd Diagram became less and less effective. 'When I break through, the 3rd Diagram will be useless. When that happens, I will need the 4th Diagram' I thought. The 4th Diagram, was called Warrior Slaughters The Army. The pose, was much different compared to previous poses.
It was the first pose ever, to have variations in it. The diagram was not just one pose, but a set of moves, to be perfectly honest. I had to make a certain pose for a while, then change to the next one, and then next one. It had four poses all together. I already managed to modify two of the four poses. I also incorporated the Domineering Aura into those two poses, and they seemed complete. I just had to modify the other two.
Frosty acted weirdly too. It didn't want to go out by itself, or when I called out to it. I decided to leaver Frosty alone, and only ask for help, when I needed to purify my blood. I lived like this for a long time. I didn't know how long has passed, since I arrived in the North. I had no idea, how old I was. I only knew that my hair grew long again, and a beard with a moustache, appeared on my face. I decided to trim it, but not cut it. 'I'm old enough, to keep a beard. Besides, it doesn't look so bad' I thought.
This reminded me of my father. He also used to trim his beard, and always tended to it. 'I wonder, where the Village that my father belonged to, is located?' I thought. I decided to add that to my list, for when I got back to Great Forest.
My hard labour paid off though. The herbs in my pond grew, where Ophilis Reeds started producing water and Serelis. The Aliris Plants, started purifying the water as well. 'With this unlimited supply of fresh water, I can even plant the other seeds' I thought. Of course, I wouldn't be able to create a big field, like the one in Apium. But, I could create a small one, to cultivate my own herbs. I also had a plan, I wanted to check, if I could grow new herbs, from the ones I already had.
Ulon warned me, that placing specific plants next to each other, may degrade them. 'What if, I were to plant two seeds in one place? Would this work out, and create new plant?' I thought. I was very curious about such prospect. Creating stuff like medicine, that would hide one's presence. Or strength increasing medicine, which could heal and increased one's strength, at the same time. With that in mind, I started preparing a small field, that would be used to grow different kinds of herbs. Herbs, that were never seen before.