Reincarnated as the Heavenly Dao

"What an oppressive view!" Birgol broke the silence.

The other four quickly nodded their bodies in agreement. Using the word "oppressive" perfectly encapsulated this mountain, which stood in stark contrast to the surroundings.

As they stood marveling at the sight, a subtle tremor suddenly reverberated across the land.

Aipel's, with its body tempering stage senses, was the first to feel the subtle vibration coursing through the earth.

"Instead of gazing into the horizon, concentrate on the ground." Alarmed, the apple directed its attention away from the celestial mound and cautioned. 

There was a short pause as it compared the intensity of shaking.

"This sensation... it feels different compared to the pounding footsteps of our pursuers." 

Hearing the order, the four fruit-folk readily complied.

The group closed their eyes and, recalling their experience with detecting the beasts, meticulously felt for the vibrations.

At the core of the group, Aipel patiently waited.

"I feel it too!" Raising its only intact arm, Atol, being the second to notice, shouted with a hint of pride. 

"Same here." Birgol acknowledged.

Blip, standing in the corner, simply hummed in agreement.

"Ah, it seems my remaining leg has deteriorated. I still can't feel anything." Blurt, resting its tired body on the worn-out 'cane', helplessly remarked from the sidelines.

"Alas."

Glancing at Blurt, the leading apple could only regrettably sigh at the one-legged blueberries worsening condition. 

Gathering everyone's attention, Aipel started to speak. "Let's prepare for a return journey. The beasts haven't appeared in two-days, and should we advance forward, the abnormalities here could pose a serious risk..."

As the leader of their squad, the living apple's words were absolute. Yet, upon hearing it mention returning back to the fog, a hint of reluctance flashed across Birgol's eyes.

Standing around Aipel, Atol began rubbing its severed forearm while the one-legged Blurt slouched harder on its 'cane'. Yet, their expressions remained still, betraying neither sorrow nor joy at the leading apples decision.

With the increased strain on its remaining left, Blurt turned to find an area to sit. But as its vision passed the clearing below, its eyes suddenly widened. 

"Look there! The vegetation, it's changing!" In the midst of Aipels speech, Blurt abruptly interjected. 

An unmistakable hint of panic laced its words, and while resting its left arm on the 'cane', the living blueberry shakily raised its right index finger to point at the row of trees below them. 

Aipel hurriedly ceased speaking and the group, following the finger, anxiously looked towards a conspicuous seven-meter-wide column of vegetation.

From the base of the clearing to the mountain's rocky midpoint, once green foliage was transitioning into a vibrant display of yellow, purple and reds. In a matter of seconds, the monotonous strip of land had morphed into a tapestry of color.

"Woah, it's so beautiful." Blip couldn't help but exclaim under its breath. 

"Quiet." Aipel hushed the others as it watched the changes with a mix of curiosity and fear.

The trees started to shed their colorful leaves and expel stored water, becoming lifeless, crack riddled pieces of timber. The water, liberated from its confinement, inexplicably took on the form of serpents and weaved through the dying stretch with a lifelike vigor.

As if offended by the scene, the sun swiftly grew in intensity.

Waves of heat cascaded from the sky, heartlessly turning the lively water snakes into a homogenous mist, engulfing the column in an all-consuming haze. 

Within this dense mist, a mysterious wind descended, expelling the vaporized water and remaining vegetation with a great burst of air.

"Get on your stomachs!" Seeing the shockwave of vapor hurling towards them, Aipel hurriedly shouted.

The five-man team immediately dropped to the ground and braced for impact.

Whoosh

"Agh!"

A blistering wind swept across the fruit-folks, feeling like sandpaper as the tiny droplets rubbed against their fragile skin.

High above the clouds, Daozi was delicately curating this spectacle, intentionally depriving the foliage of nutrients and stirring winds to clear the area. With his influence, an impromptu path was being created, leading directly towards the pond. 

While his inherent authority was limited against skilled cultivators, it was more than enough to awe the weak fruit. 

'Did you think I would let you retreat?'

As the Heavenly Dao, he had scrutinized the groups journey from the very start, and whether it was through his direct gaze or passive vision, their true desires, unknown to even themselves, were made apparent under his rigorous observation. 

He had deliberately utilized the canines in an attempt to incite a yearning for vengeance, revealed the 'celestial' mountain to incentivize exploring, and opened a path with great fanfare to hint at an opportunity.

If they still refused to go, he'd have to ponder another method.

Thinking about the possibility of failure, he diligently reminded himself. "With my endless lifespan, it'd only be counter-productive to fret over every failure.'

Daozi shifted his gaze to the fruit-folk, patiently waiting for them to make a move.

On the ground, Birgol, still aching from the earlier winds, took deep breaths to calm its mind. Its eyes inadvertently glancing at the spontaneous trail with a conflicted expression.

After a moment of internal deliberation, the living blueberry directed its eyes to the leader, and with a deep breath, spoke. "Aipel, this barren column, does it not look like a path?"

"It does bear a resemblance to one, though, considering the anomalies we just witnessed, I wouldn't be so quick to assume." Aipel responded with palpable unease. The celestial phenomena still fresh in its memory.

Paying little attention to Aipel's tense tone, the blueberry continued to discuss its ideas. "You know, a couple years ago, Bluog once mentioned a blinding light that tore through the sky. I didn't think much of it at the time, but, what if that light was responsible for the elusive stone? We might have stumbled upon our own opportunity!"

"Instead of going back to the fog, why don't we first explore the mountain?" Birgol directed its gaze to the 7-meter strip of land.

Although phrased as a well-intentioned suggestion, it's simple words had inadvertently prioritized exploration over Weodrothis's mission. 

"Hm?"

Immediately understanding the unspoken implications, Aipel responded with a questioning hum. Though, its eyes locked on to the living blueberry next to it with unmasked wariness.

Before Birgol could defend itself, Atol chimed in from the back. "I actually think Birgol has a point."

There was a brief silence as the group turned their attention to the disabled apple. 

Putting on a gentle smile, Atol scanned the group before settling its focus on the sole decision maker. 

"While the beasts haven't appeared in two-days, we should still be cautious." Atol emphasized the most pressing issue.

it pointed at the distant mountain, shining with a brilliant luster.

"The monolith is rumored to ward off danger, and looking at this hill, don't you think it could do the same? We can take this chance to recover, and once healed, accomplish the grace's mission with more certainty!" The one-armed apple passionately explained its rationale.

And I might find a way to get back at those detestable beasts! Aipel silently thought. 

Confronted with two sources of opposition, the groups nominal leader started to hesitate.

"Blip and Blurt, what do you think?" Aipel turned to the two fruit-folk who hadn't spoken yet.

"I agree with Atol." Blurt honestly responded.

The four individuals then turned to Blip, who still hadn't said anything.

Like a deer in headlights, the blueberry blankly stared back.

Sigh

Seeing this social recluse of a fruit-folk, Aipel's last hope was squashed.

"Since the four of you are so eager, let's go. I will trust that your choice was made with the grace in mind."

The leading apple stretched the last few words, carefully watching the fruit-folk's faces. But, aside for some cold sweat, the group remained silent.

Realizing that it's little trick couldn't persuade them, Aipel reluctantly brought the group down the elevated clearing, and towards the glimmering mountain. 

Several days passed as the group silently made their way across the trail.

Panting for breath, Blurt stood on the mountains peak, pointing at the glistening pond.

"Is this all there is?" The one-legged blueberry regretfully inquired. 

Standing to the side, Aipel ignored the fruit-folk. Its eyes fixated on the seemingly ordinary water.

"This water, does it not fell off?" Aipel turned to the group.

In response to its question, the other's remained silent.

"Then, do only I feel it?"

Forgetting all about its earlier protests, the leading apple started walking towards the clear pond.

"What are you doing?" Noticing it's strange behavior, Blurt worriedly asked.

Briefly pausing its advance, the apple cryptically replied. "You four wouldn't understand." 

Ignoring the fruit-folk's strange expressions, the early body tempering stage apple reached the edge of the pond. 

Without hesitation it dipped an arm into the water.

"I knew it!" Aipel enthusiastically exclaimed as it pulled back the submerged appendage.

The leading apple finally turned around to face the puzzled squad.

"The water here is imbued with special properties! Its aura, although incredibly faint, reminded me of Bluog and Auopi after their breakthrough!" It earnestly explained.

Aipel rattled on, barely containing its eagerness. "Just holding my arm in the water, I felt a distinct boiling! Do you know what that boiling entails? I've only felt that feeling once, when the creator cast a miracle. Yet, for that brief moment, my training made large strides!"

Disregarding status, the leading apple bent its stubby knees and dived into the center of the pond.

Splash

With a large splash Aipel's was engulfed by the translucent liquid. Shortly after, its rotund body reappeared above the water line, floating on the surface. 

"Ah?" A confused exclamation escaped the fruit folk. 

Since arriving on the mountain peak, things had moved too fast for them to keep up. A couple minutes ago they were panting for breath, and now they were watching as their nominal leader comically drifted in the water, throwing a series of punches and kicks.

"Stop loitering at the outskirts. Step into the water, I will teach you four the basics of training. It would be doing a disservice to the great one if we didn't take advantage of this opportunity!" Aipel excitedly commanded the group.

Spatial Boundary

'Looks like I was being overly cautious. Even if I chased the group to the pond, there would only be a slight backlash from having their anxious selves cultivate using the inherently peaceful water.'

Daozi let out an internal sigh of relief as it watched the five fruit-folk enter the pond. 

'While the initial plan was to just have Aipel cultivate, this is undoubtably better.' He inwardly remarked.

The fruit people only broke down body-tempering into early, middle, and late stages, but that was oversimplifying the process. 

In truth, the realms could be more accurately divided into skin hardening, blood tempering, and organ refining.

He glanced at the leading apple. 

After weeks of life and death altercations, Aipel had exerted it's potential, managing to reach the peak of skin hardening. The next step for the apple was to completely boil and integrate its blood.

'Cultivating in the spiritually dense pond is indeed beneficial, however, this water possesses an unconscious survival instinct. Without special techniques, one cannot fully neutralize it.' He reflected. 

With his heavenly vision, Daozi monitored Aipel's cultivation.

Molecules of water were entering its pores, hastening the apples training, but at the same time, the liquid was also trickling into its blood. Whilst insignificant for now, the foreign substance would rapidly accumulate.

Achieving blood-tempering with this external help - an absolute dead end. 

The semi-sentient water would integrate with the fruit-folk and, once at the qi-refining realm, leech spiritual energy from the fruit's cultivation. Eventually birthing sapience in the liquid. 

At that faithful moment, only one party could survive.

'Considering the pond's five million years of exposure to spiritual energy, Aipel's fate is essentially sealed.' Daozi easily deduced the future.

'As for the others, only time will tell.'

His dependence on Weodrothis was about to be remedied, and the world would soon welcome it's second naturally created being.

'It's finally the big tree's turn to get surprised.' He couldn't help but inwardly gloat at the thought.