The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 85: Preparations for Advancement

Vol 2 Chapter 85: Preparations for Advancement

The small garrison at the foot of the Darkmist Mountains now had its own name. To showcase the style of 'Lantern Town,' the apprentices specially crafted two beautifully shaped floral lanterns and placed them on the stone pillars flanking the town's main gate.

The warm yellow glow under this dim sky gave people a long-lost sense of familiarity and warmth.

Inside her bedroom, Sylutia carefully planted the cornflower seeds, watered them with a small amount of Verdant Dew Water, then clasped her hands together, silently sensing and praying.

Soon, the seed sprouted from the soil, growing into a tender green seedling. It then gradually grew, unfurling its stems and leaves, budding, and finally, several scattered blue cornflowers bloomed, dotted among them.

The process was unbelievably smooth. Sylutia didn't expend much effort at all;

it was as natural as breathing. Guided by her feelings, the cornflowers before her bloomed accordingly.

The pale blue petals appeared like five-pointed star-shaped trumpets, but the floral tubes were slender and arranged radiating from the center. Under the dappled sunlight, they looked somewhat translucent, with a faint floral fragrance overflowing.

A light emerald hue appeared in the girl's eyes. In her hazy vision, the spectrum of the cornflowers was reflected, like a thousand shades of blue layered upon each other, brilliant and gorgeous.

If observing the growth of other plants was like watching a scene in 2K resolution, then observing cornflowers was like perceiving and watching with a much clearer and more distinct 8K resolution. Because of this incredibly subtle perception, she could control and guide deeper levels.

She could now very easily make cornflowers condense the Aspect of 'Verdant Nectar.' Cornflowers blooming like this could be used to dye things blue and for the production of special eye medicines.'Blue Eyes,' one of the basic eye medicines, could be used to enhance observation power, perceive more detailed things, facilitate the analysis of an object's essence. It was often used by Apothecaries and Alchemists to enhance observation and control over experiments.

'Barrier-Breaking Eyes,' one of the intermediate eye medicines, could be used to see through illusions and enhance resistance to illusion and charm abilities.

'Clarity and Wisdom Eyes,' one of the high-level eye medicines. After use, one could see through a living being's Fate Plate, perceive their fate and abilities. It was often used in extremely difficult subjugations and dangerous decisive battles.

After reading the introductions of these few eye medicines in the book, Sylutia suddenly understood where the special 'Discernment Eyes' on her fate came from. It was probably a solidified effect of these several eye techniques, further enhanced, making its use feel like instinct.

Then there was dyeing. After being imbued with the blue of cornflowers, the quality of fabric would rise a level and gain a 'bright and beautiful' visual effect. Simply put, the fabric would become more high-end and attractive. If used for painting, this pigment would also enhance the finished quality of the painting, adding a touch more evocative power.

And that was just the flower's effect. Cornflower fruit could also be pressed for oil. Although the yield wasn't high due to the small seeds, well-cultivated cornflowers could produce the rare 'Vaulted Sky' Aspect seed oil.

After discussing the practical parts, the ornamental aspect was also excellent. Cornflowers dotted with pale blue, no matter where they were placed, gave people a pleasing and satisfying effect.

After clarifying the efficacy of cornflowers, Sylutia began to think about how to leverage her advantage in this area.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the surface;

the land available for planting was limited. Currently, the greenhouses within the garrison were needed for food production.

However, since she had found cornflowers, she could also begin constructing the core secret art for the Third Tier.

If she chose the 'Autumn Garden' ability of the 'Four Seasons Alliance,' she would need to prepare three types of resources: 'Foundation Stone,' 'Living Soil,' and 'Clear Spring,' along with 12 different types of plants. These must include the four categories: 'Fungi/Mushrooms,' 'Flowers and Grasses,' 'Shrubs,' and 'Large Trees.' They needed to be planted according to a specific pattern so that the cultivated plants would coexist harmoniously, achieve rhythmic coordination, and together construct the wondrous scene of 'Clear Autumn.'

Grasses that grow in autumn, plants that flower in autumn, trees that flourish in autumn, plants that bear fruit in autumn—all four types of autumn scenery must be present.

Now that she had found blue cornflowers, a plant that prefers cool climates and sprouts and grows in spring and autumn, it satisfied two of the required attributes: 'Flowers and Grasses' and 'Autumn Growth.'

Finding 12 types of plants wasn't difficult;

the main consideration was how to choose her favorites and match them. The most important part was the three resources: 'Foundation Stone,' 'Living Soil,' and 'Clear Spring.'

If she joined the 'Four Seasons Alliance,' the organization would provide a portion of 'Vaulted Feather Soil' when she met the advancement conditions. It was said to be a special soil resource made by collecting floating dust particles possessing the 'Vaulted Sky' Aspect from the sky during the coolest time of the Gale Season, used for high-level plant cultivation.

That would satisfy the 'Living Soil' resource. As for the other 'Foundation Stone,' she could choose Third Tier gemstones symbolizing 'Bountiful Harvest' and 'Fruit,' such as 'Glowing Light Stone,' 'Golden Pillar Stone,' or 'Orange Moon Diamond.'

As for 'Clear Spring,' it required high-level clear spring water. Sylutia wasn't worried about this part. The former 'Silver Radiance Church' was most skilled at making various types of holy clear spring water. She could also try to prepare it herself later, though it would require more effort and time.

Looking at it this way, the most crucial part was obtaining enough high-level gemstones to complete the construction of the 'Foundation Stone,' Sylutia concluded.

High-level gemstones could be used in many places, whether for advancement secret arts, Transcendent Artifacts, or special rituals. They had always been a key resource fought over by various organizations and were also a resource difficult to regenerate.

Most existing gemstones were mined from veins, and the formation of these veins originated from the transformation of ancient True Fish bodies, where their flesh and blood became soil and their bones became mineral veins.

The Hidden Grove association's current development of the Darkmist Mountains also included plans to explore the hidden mineral veins within. The 'Flint Fortress' she had visited before produced flint and 'black crystal.'

If a large number of high-level gemstones could be mined, it could cultivate many practitioners above the Third Tier, greatly enhancing the association's strength.

Going round and round, it always came back to the development of the Darkmist Mountains. Sylutia felt a vague sense of fateful connection.

Temporarily setting aside her expectations for advancement, Sylutia began to review what changes had occurred in the garrison during her absence.

Ah, right. They had said before that other garrisons in the Darkmist Mountains had sent personnel for communication and inquiry, and they had left some lists.

Sylutia rummaged under the table for the papers and pulled out those lists to examine.

These lists respectively detailed the supplies needed by each garrison, the resources they could offer for exchange, and the association point rewards for helping them resupply, and so on.

[Rhinoceros Horn Mountain City: Needs food. For every 1000 jin of high-quality grain, exchange for two rhinoceros horns (Third Tier) and 500 points.]

[Venomous Sting Fortress: Needs wood with a toughness rating of 5 or above. For every ten logs, exchange for one highly toxic scorpion sting (Third Tier) and 100 points.]

[Iron Helmet Valley: Needs 'Slumbering Winter' Aspect fruits for cooling and relieving heat. For every 100 fruits, exchange for 10 blocks of grey stone steel and 100 points.]

[Dark Sand River Valley: Needs holy water for purification. For every 10 bottles, exchange for 1 bottle of dark river magnetic sand and 200 points.]

[Thunder Flash High Tower: Needs high-purity ironstone. For every 10 cubic units, exchange for one lightning spark and 300 points.]

[Falling Dream Mist River: Needs fragrant essential oils for purifying miasma, quality requirement Second Tier or above. For every 100 portions, exchange for one healthy 'Dream-Eating Beast' (Third Tier) and 500 points.]

...

The lists currently sent to her weren't excessively demanding, but completing them wasn't easy either. She kept flipping through, looking for tasks that the current garrison could complete or assist with.

Among them, the purification holy water needed by 'Dark Sand River Valley' was something she could help make, and then obtain a few bottles of dark river magnetic sand. With this magnetic sand, she could indeed look within the association for organizations skilled in alchemy. They greatly needed such resources, and the alchemy of Alchemists was also one of the only two ways to produce high-level gemstones, aside from mining veins.

This one, then. Sylutia made her selection.