Chapter 851 – The Light-Gathering Fairy

Generally speaking, for races possessing magical bloodlines, the magical energy within their bodies would naturally increase with age and magical training, rising until it reached the upper limit of their bloodline potential. Only then would they need to seek treasures like the Source Mana crystals awarded from the Well of the Sky world quest — items capable of bypassing innate talent to directly enhance magical energy.

The White Crystal People had not yet begun any systematic study of magic, yet already possessed Heart Light within their bodies. This undoubtedly indicated that they were a race born with magical bloodlines.

Mo Lan planned to first try guiding them through basic magical knowledge and observe whether this could stimulate the natural growth of Heart Light within them.

However, the White Crystal People she had brought back had long subsisted on nothing but inferior, diluted light liquid to maintain the barest capacity for movement. Their bodies had become extremely fragile.

More seriously, due to the prolonged, excessive harvesting of their emotional energy, they all suffered from severe mental illness. Their other emotions had grown numb, with only despair proliferating wildly within their hearts.

If she wanted them to cooperate wholeheartedly with her magical studies and research, she first had to provide abundant, high-quality light liquid to nourish and restore their bodies. Second, she had to heal the wounds in their hearts and reawaken their positive emotions.

Fortunately, Mo Lan came from a family with deep scholarly roots. She had learned Psychic Magic quite well and was confident in her ability to heal this type of mental illness.

Memory and cognition were the birthplace and anchor points of emotion. To introduce a different emotional hue into their world of despair, relying solely on the soothing effects of Psychic Magic would be far too slow. While the White Crystal People slept, Mo Lan prepared to add a little something to their memories.

She did not crudely delete or tamper with those painful memories. Past suffering could be transformed into future motivation — only inescapable future suffering would breed despair.

Mo Lan implanted a new “memory” at the end of their existing ones. Then she brought out her crucible, deftly added several magical ingredients, experimented with multiple ratios, and finally brewed a cauldron of transformation potion that shimmered with a pearlescent luster.

After Zhizhi, Clack, and Sentai passed through the circular crystal hut’s door and returned to the mirror space of the Witch’s home, Mo Lan also drank the transformation potion. Once it took effect, she transformed into a luminous figure — even more crystalline and translucent than the White Crystal People, radiating dazzling light.

This was a new identity she had prepared for herself, modeled after the image of the “Light-Gathering Fairy” from White Crystal People cultural beliefs. She was certain that any White Crystal Person who saw her would believe she was the Light-Gathering Fairy descended from the heavens.

She had once scoffed at the Angels’ tricks of deifying themselves to harvest faith, but now that she had reached this point herself, she realized that when facing an unfamiliar race, the fastest way to earn trust was indeed to play the divine.

She had learned the White Crystal People’s language. She had originally planned to use a voice-altering potion to give herself a voice befitting a fairy in the White Crystal People’s imagination, but their reverence for shrill, high-pitched tones made her recoil. She decided to communicate through Heart Speech instead.

Even her flying carpet was swapped out for one with a leaf-shaped appearance befitting the identity of the “Light-Gathering Fairy.”

Once everything was ready, Mo Lan first lifted the sleeping curse on one of the White Crystal People and began her performance.

Xinhen lay in the pit he had dug with his own hands. In the instant before his consciousness sank completely into darkness, the sky seemed to be torn apart by a light of incomparable purity and warmth.

A figure, seated upon an enormous white crystal tree leaf that appeared to be carved from solidified radiance, descended slowly from the horizon.

Her body was crystalline and translucent, more brilliant and dazzling than the Light-Gathering Star in the sky. Her mere existence seemed to dispel all the cold and despair from the surroundings.

She did not speak aloud. A voice like heavenly music resonated directly within his heart, clear and unmistakable, carrying a hint of compassion and unquestionable authority:

“So young… why would you seek death?” The voice seemed to see through all of his past. “Never mind. Come with me. You work for me, and I’ll teach you the skills to survive.”

The Light-Gathering Fairy… has she come for me?

This thought exploded like a thunderclap in Xinhen’s world of despair and deathly silence, sparking a glimmer of something he thought had long been extinguished — hope.

The next moment, he snapped his eyes open.

Not far away, Mo Lan — transformed into a semi-translucent, luminous being — sat upright upon her flying carpet, now shaped like an enormous white crystal tree leaf, her entire form radiating a glow that was both reassuring and awe-inspiring.

“Light-Gathering Fairy! Was it you who saved me?” Upon seeing her, Xinhen struggled to his feet, then prostrated himself on the ground in deep obeisance. The faint light flowing through his body flickered erratically with agitation as he gazed up at her, eyes brimming with gratitude and reverence.

Mo Lan gave a slight nod, sending a warm and clear thought his way: “Look around you.”

Only then did Xinhen raise his head. To his shock, he discovered that above this place — which appeared to be an abandoned white crystal tree farm — there hovered an enormous sphere of light, like a miniature Light-Gathering Star.

Countless white crystal trees that had been on the verge of death were now bathing in an unprecedented warm radiance. Vibrant vitality flowed through their branches and leaves, and condensed on their leaf tips was something he remembered only the Radiant Nobles being privileged enough to enjoy — full, pure, premium-grade light liquid!

“A miracle… this is absolutely a miracle!” Everything before his eyes completely confirmed his suspicions.

At this moment, Xinhen harbored not the slightest doubt about Mo Lan’s identity. The faint light within him blazed into a brilliant golden-pink from sheer overwhelming excitement: “The Light-Gathering Fairy has descended! We… our White Crystal People are saved!”

Mo Lan accepted his worship and sent another thought his way, her voice carrying unquestionable authority:

“The seeds of hope have been sown, but the road to revival requires everyone’s hands working together. This place shall be the starting point from which you reignite the light of your civilization.

Go now. Awaken your brethren who still slumber, and lead them to collect the light liquid to nourish your withered bodies. Once you have recovered your strength and restored your new homes, I shall appear again to teach you the true mysteries of commanding light — Light Magic.”

She understood the principle well: what comes too easily is never valued.

Even if she intended to save this world, she could not do everything for them. They had to put in effort themselves to truly cherish this hard-won opportunity.

Xinhen bowed his head deeply to the ground: “Yes!”

When he raised his head again, the “Light-Gathering Fairy” in the sky and her radiant leaf-shaped mount had vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

Mo Lan, having activated her flying carpet’s invisibility function, watched Xinhen’s devout figure below and couldn’t help but smile faintly. But when her gaze turned to the row of simple circular crystal huts on the hillside, she let out a soft sigh.

Now that she was playing the role of the supreme “Light-Gathering Fairy,” using such crude dwellings as her residence would completely break character.

She promptly shut down the teleportation portal anchored to the door as well, thoroughly erasing any trace that might give her away.