Chapter 341 — The Month of Revival

"Hmm... I'm afraid this will be a rather lengthy process," Piyun glanced at Gaoyang's arms—thicker than his own thighs—and quickly composed his expression back to seriousness. "The child's body cannot withstand overly intense magical stimulation, and the dosage of magical potions must be controlled as well. I can come at regular intervals to perform an elemental purification ritual for her. Once her condition stabilizes, I can send my apprentice to administer the medication."

As he spoke, he looked toward Gaoyang. Matters requiring frequent travel between two territories clearly needed the lord's approval.

Gaoyang pondered briefly: the Glan Territory would become Cecil's ally, and Patty herself was an important stepping stone for him to understand and probe the Ever-Sleepers. By both sentiment and reason, he should provide assistance. But Piyun himself was not merely a druid—he was also the highest authority in charge of the territory's alchemical industry and its agricultural advisor. Now that winter was drawing to a close, after the Month of Revival they would need to consider the spring plowing, and the territory's alchemical factories were also considering expansion... Could Piyun afford to leave at this time?

But after a brief moment of thought, he still nodded: "That will do. But you must arrange matters for the spring plowing and the factory expansion."

"Of course," Piyun smiled. "These small matters are no problem for me."

Only after Viscountess Ropenny had gone to check on Patty's condition, and no one else was around, did Gaoyang look at Piyun with a half-smile: "Your ritual magic really is quite useful."

The little old man chuckled: "Ritual magic is my forte, after all."

"But elemental purification and filtering harmful arcane energy... those don't seem like techniques a low-tier druid would master," Gaoyang said mildly. "Don't tell me you've also dabbled in shamanic spells on the side?"

"At my age, it's only natural to pick up a few extra skills," Piyun said offhandedly.

"...Is there any point in bringing up age in front of me?" Gaoyang waved a hand and lightly closed the topic, asking nothing further.

Piyun merely watched Gaoyang's receding figure in silence. After a long while, the old druid sighed softly and shook his head, though a faint smile lingered on his face.

Three days later, Gaoyang and his companions left the ancient castle of the Glan family and returned to the Cecil Territory.

It was the last day of this winter.

The biting northern wind no longer carried its piercing chill. The "Reef Star" and the "Trident Throne" hanging high in the night sky had also quietly shifted their positions. The changes in wind and stars heralded the turning of the season—the Month of Revival had arrived.

And with the arrival of the Month of Revival, a piece of news began to circulate through the eastern reaches of Ansu and the Holy Spirit Plain. At first, only traveling merchants and adventurers spread vague and unreliable rumors, but soon more accurate and reliable information emerged from the mouths of nobles' grooms and cooks.

The magical communication towers on the border between Ansu and Typhon had been reactivated.

The king was preparing for peace negotiations with the Emperor of Typhon.

But for Gaoyang, compared to this news—which he had long anticipated—there was another matter that made him want to celebrate even more.

On this still-chilly spring day, a baby was born on the soil of the Cecil Territory.

From the moment the first wooden stake was driven into this frontier territory, from the moment the survivors kindled their first campfire here, nearly a year had passed, and tens of thousands of people had migrated onto this land. Not counting the Condé domain, which had only just been incorporated into Cecil, this was the first newborn to be born upon this soil.