As the energy flowed into Eren's body, he felt his energy core heating up. It was something that all people were born with and it was where mana and other forms of energy were stored.
But since Eren couldn't refine mana or cultivate weapon auras, his energy core was of no use at all.
Though, the entire situation seemed to have changed. Eren heard the voice in his head speak again as he sat on the ground and closed his eyes.
[Congratulations! Ordinary-Grade Tree has become Gold-Grade Spirit Apple Tree! Do you wish to see additional information about this object?]
"Yes!" Eren said excitedly. He tried to calm himself down as he felt the energy coursing through him become turbulent. It seemed like it would react correspondingly with his emotions.
This was something Eren recalled that his father informed him of. Erwin told him that cultivators can go two paths: Energy Cultivators, and Weapon Cultivators. Both options had an energy of their own, allowing them to become immensely strong in the world.
For energy cultivators, they refined the spirit energy in the air into mana. Since spirit energy was far too pure for energy cultivators, they had to settle for lower-tier energy like mana.
But, even still, you would need to have the talent to be an energy cultivator, whereas, anyone could become a weapon cultivator.
The only difference was that you needed no talent to see minimum results, and the energy that weapon cultivators cultivated was far more complex.
Eren knew that he couldn't become an energy cultivator because of his lack of talent and spiritual roots. So he decided to settle for being a weapon cultivator, but his father forbade him from training at a young age since it could strain his body.
'Father said weapon cultivators aren't to be underestimated just because its the alternative for people who can't be energy cultivators. He also said that their weapon auras can range from simple bodies of fire to complex spacial powers!'
Whilst recalled his father's teachings, a screen suddenly appeared in front of Eren. It was translucent and blue and glowed every few seconds.
[Spirit Apple Tree]
[Grade: Gold]
[Spirit Apple Trees are rare trees that are known to grow in areas with abundant amounts of spirit energy. Eating an apple grants a small chance to awaken your spiritual root. Ten apples are grown per day. The golden-yellow apples contain unrefined spirit energy. The azure blue apples contain refined spirit energy (mana) within. Eating one blue apple can increase your strength by 100 pounds! Eating one golden apple can increase your strength by 200 pounds!]
Eren's eyes widened in shock as he was made aware of such a revelation. To think that just by eating one of these apples, he might've been able to awaken his spiritual root!
He suddenly inspected his body, hoping that something had changed, and to his surprise, something did change.
His energy core was absorbing most of the mana from the spirit apple. Eren leaned against the tree once more and breathed in and out. His body was steadily growing warmer and warmer until the point where it became hot!
Eren became nervous because of this but tried to remain calm. His body had heated up to the point that a little bit of the air around him had gotten warm! The only thing keeping his body from melting was the ice-cold mana!
'Argh!' Eren held on for as long as he could until the heat gradually subsided and his body returned to its normal temperature. He didn't know what that event was, but he wasn't quite fond of it.
What he was quite fond of, however, was the awakening of his spiritual root! He felt an enigmatic pulse from the artery on his left wrist! Eren was overwhelmed with joy and immediately ran back to the manor.
He made sure to take with him a basket filled with nine apples. Four were golden and five were azure.
The moment Eren reached the manor, he saw his family sitting at the table with downcast and depressed faces. They were all trying to figure out what their next course of action was.
Neither of them even had the thought of eating something right now, as it'd only increase the pressure.
Eren placed the basket behind his back and slowly approached the dinner table. His father and mother glanced at him for a brief moment before going back to sulking.
As he reached the table, Eren slowly placed the basket of apples on the table, sliding them to the middle for everyone to see. Everyone was there, all his siblings except for his second sister.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock and curiosity as they inspected the apples in the basket. All of them were intrigued by their unique colors and the feeling they gave off, until Erwin suddenly recalled something.
"No... Impossible... Spirit Apples? Eren, my son, where did you find these?!" Erwin shouted at Eren, his tone filled with surprise and hidden excitement. He would've eaten the apples right then and there, but he needed to be serious now.
This wasn't the time to make babies, nor was it the time to feverishly eat the apples in the basket.
"Do you remember the trees I sit by everyday?" Eren slowly asked his father, with his hands behind his back.
"Yes." Erwin firmly responded.
"...I saw these apples growing from one of the trees." Eren said. He didn't intend on informing his family of his newfound power, so he tried to lie.
Sadly, the lie sounded far from realistic when one thought about it, but Eren hoped that his father's head would be filled with making babies instead of digging deeper.
Erwin stared at Eren for a brief moment before speaking again.
"Alright then. Since these apples came from the trees you sit by, what do you want to do with them?" Erwin said. Just because he spent all his time making babies didn't mean he wasn't a reasonable man.
He wouldn't steal something from his very own child, and right in front of his face a that!
"Let's divide them!"