Chapter 314: Stephen Strange
It has to be said that human power seems somewhat insignificant under the miracles of Nature magic.
But Oaks understood very well that the reason they chose this desert was precisely because decades of human efforts had laid a solid foundation here.
If they were to replicate the same process in a desert like the Sahara, even if they transferred the Nature Energy of the Amazon rainforest, it would be in vain.
Vegetation in the desert depends on long-term water availability. Generally, only grass and some shrubs are suitable, while large trees consume scarce water resources.
Planting large trees in a true desert is like using poison as an antidote. It would require constant irrigation, depleting the local precious underground water and further exacerbating the desert's degradation.
However, in Kubuqi, which is close to the Yellow River, the powerful roots of the Sacred Oak Tree and the presence of Foundation No. 2 mosses made it possible to use water from the Yellow River for irrigation in the desert and replenish groundwater.
Desert areas are extremely nutrient-poor, and essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium required for the survival of plants and microorganisms are scarce.
Even with sufficient water, not all plants can grow freely.
Therefore, transforming a desert into a forest is not as simple as just planting tree species. It requires selecting suitable vegetation based on the desert's different climates, water distribution, and rainfall patterns.
The involvement of Nature Energy helped address the initial challenges of water supply and the scarcity of trace elements.
Although this approach is not sustainable in the long run, after a period of continuous input of Nature Energy, the region will gradually evolve to a point where it can sustain itself without external support and continue to develop and replace without regressing into shifting sands.
That would be the true success of the ecological restoration—
And during this period, if the region can generate continuous economic benefits, it would be even better.
Thanks to the strong support of Foundation No. 2 mosses, not only ordinary crops could be grown on them, but the new desert management economic plants named "Starry" series, which transformed Russian olive and jujube, also became the stars of the desert!
Furthermore, Oaks had projects to transform other economic crops—but that would depend on the appearance of sufficient black soil in the desert before he could unleash their full potential.
The Nature Energy supported by the Gaia consciousness came from the entire Earth's ecosystem. In other words, during the restoration of Kubuqi, the entire Earth's ecosystem was assisting this region.
This was what they called "when the time comes, heaven and earth will lend their power."
And once the ecology of this region recovered, its power would make the overall Nature Energy of the ecosystem even stronger and participate in the restoration and management of other ecologically-degraded areas.
Under a virtuous cycle, the power of the ecosystem would continue to grow stronger.
The groundbreaking Kubuqi Desert restoration agreement shocked the world and rapidly solidified the Benevolence Society's position as a global environmental authority.
For doing philanthropic work to this extent, Oaks had truly been called a "saint among men" by many people in various places.
However, currently Oaks had a strange expression on his face as he listened to Malorn's report.
"Brother, Dr. Strange has been sitting outside the New York Little Rainforest for several days now. We can indeed cure him. Are we really going to ignore him like this?"
Malorn found it strange how Oaks was treating this seeker.
"Although he had a bit of a temper when he was a doctor, his skills are truly exceptional.
Countless people have been saved by him, and I've seen that he has nearly exhausted his wealth seeking scientific treatment during this time."
"Hmm, seeking scientific treatment with all his wealth, meaning he ignores treatments that are not scientific like ours. Didn't this guy privately slander my Nature magic as illusions and look down on the Avengers?"
Oaks waved his hand dismissively.
"Besides, I have an agreement with the Sorcerer Supreme. I won't bother with him until he becomes the Sorcerer Supreme. He's still far from that!"
"But his behavior like this could affect the reputation of the Benevolence Society and you, brother."
Malorn expressed some concern. This guy is really stubborn, but perhaps it is because he had already lost everything?
"He's too stubborn, dismissing things he doesn't understand as absurd. Did he not pay any attention during the Battle of New York?"
"The Sorcerer Supreme said he was performing surgery at that time."
Oaks rubbed his face in exasperation. He had long blacklisted Stephen Strange in the Little Rainforest's detection system. Regardless of what kind of person he actually was, he wouldn't pass the tests and thus wouldn't qualify for treatment.
Yet, this guy remained stubbornly squatting in the Rainforest—
Speaking of which, the environment there was comfortable, and there were free fruits available as food. Quite a few homeless people had received help here.
Although most of these people eventually joined the Benevolence Society, Dr. Stephen Strange seemed to have never considered this idea.
"Fine, I'll go meet him in person... It'll also put his mind at ease. Besides, the Sorcerer Supreme should be getting impatient by now, right?"
When Oaks appeared in the Little Rainforest, Stephen Strange was sitting in the rescue area, eating an apple and studying the history of the Benevolence Society.
"Boom!"
A massive acorn was placed in front of Stephen, who was seated and engrossed in reading. It startled him.
"Dr. Strange?"
Oaks sat across from Stephen, a slight smile on his face.
"I've heard of your name... I heard you were looking for me?"
"Dr. Woods!"
Stephen paused for a moment, then became excited. He stood up abruptly and spoke incoherently with trembling hands.
"I finally found you—please, you have to help me!"
After studying these days, Stephen finally realized how one-sided his understanding of the Benevolence Society, Oaks, healing spells, and the Avengers had been.
Those guys were not the showy superpower team he had thought they were; they had genuine abilities.
And it seemed that science couldn't save his hands, so perhaps he had to seek help from magic?
"I'm sorry, Dr. Woods, for my ignorant comments before... My vision was too narrow.
But now I understand what you have done. Although it still seems unbelievable to me, I'm truly desperate..."
Some of his friends in the medical field had discreetly mentioned Oaks' healing abilities and the potions he had developed, but restorative potions and the like were always in limited supply and had been driven up to astronomical prices.
By the time Stephen realized it, he couldn't afford them anymore.
Moreover, based on past usage examples, the restorative potions alone couldn't help him fully recover his hands, let alone restore the condition of his nerves.
So he could only seek Oaks' personal intervention.
"In fact, I don't care how you previously evaluated me... Rather, compared to your 'professional perspective,' there are countless more hysterical and malicious curses."
Oaks pointed to the large acorn in front of him.
"This one is free—no alcohol, only fruit juice. Besides, if I worried about other people's evaluations all the time, I would have had social anxiety since the establishment of the Benevolence Society."
"..."
Stephen opened his mouth, sighed, sat down, and took a few sips from the drink-filled acorn, showing a look of admiration.
But then he heard Oaks continue.
"Actually, your problem is quite unique and not something that can be easily treated here. So, this place is not suitable for you."
"How could that be!"
Stephen widened his eyes.
"Don't tell me you can't cure my hands? Or is there some condition? What do I need to do? I can definitely do it!"
He had also heard that the Avenger, the Druid, possessed powerful healing abilities, but they weren't something he could use casually.
The conditions for him to treat people varied, seemingly depending on his mood.
So, compared to the unanimous praise he received in the field of environmental protection and as an Avenger, in the realm of pure healing, some people idolized him while countless trolls criticized him.
Could his condition be the kind that is exceptionally demanding?
Stephen swallowed his saliva, but no matter what, he didn't want to continue being a useless person. Even if the conditions were demanding, he had to heal his hands!
"What I mean is that you're not suitable for this place, but there are other places that can help you heal your hands."
An emerald green ball of light lit up on Oaks' hand, and then disappeared.
"You should also know that my healing method is called magic... The principle is to bestow the natural life force on the injured person, allowing the tissues to self-heal."
He then pointed to Stephen's hands.
"If it were a regular injury, rapid healing would indeed lead to quick recovery, and even many non-traumatic illnesses can self-heal with the support of strong life force. But the nervous system is different."
Understanding dawned in Stephen's eyes, and Oaks nodded in response.
"You are well aware of how intricate the nervous system is in your hands. Your nervous system has been severed—shattered, to be precise—and self-healing is no longer a viable solution.
Strictly speaking, my healing abilities are more suitable for life-saving and treating external injuries, not delicate operations like this."
Stephen had completely understood by now.
Oaks explained the principles of his healing spells to him, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"No wonder... Your technology company is still researching mechanical prosthetics."
Stephen smiled wryly, but he immediately reacted.
"Dr. Woods, didn't you just say that someone can treat my problem?!"
"Yes."
Oaks nodded confidently.
"The problem you're facing now is that there is no doctor capable of performing the delicate neurosurgery to reconnect your hand's nerves. Perhaps the old you could, but obviously, you can't save yourself."
"Yes... Dr. Woods, do you know of such a surgical master?"
Stephen was somewhat puzzled. If there were such a master, he couldn't possibly be unaware of them.
"No, it's still magic."
Oaks shook his head but provided Stephen with another answer.
"There is more than one faction of magic. If you're familiar with the Battle of New York, you should know the bald sorcerer who opened the portal, right?"
"Yes..."
"She is the leader of the Mystic Arts faction, the Sorcerer Supreme, Ancient One. If you receive her guidance, your problem can be resolved."
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