The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 92: Building the Autumn Garden

Vol 2 Chapter 92 Building the Autumn Garden

The Darkmist Mountains are vast and the environment is dangerous, but the small town within is very peaceful and stable.

The goldenrain trees planted along the roads have already grown tall, their high trunks covered in clusters of light pink flowers.

The airflow here carries Distortion and erosion, but the blooming of the goldenrain trees signifies that the environment within the small town has reached a high level of purity, no longer affected by the Eroding Winds blowing from outside.

Three white towers stand within the town. Their tops are respectively equipped with a clock, a giant lamp, and an observatory. These three structures form a certain mysterious ritual, unfolding a transparent barrier that isolates the intrusion of Distortion.

Inside the town, neat white stone streets connect all parts. Six fountains, distributed in a staggered pattern, continuously gush with clean, clear water for the use of the apprentices and residents here, or for watering plants.

A circular restaurant adorned with orange-red tiles is located in the center of the town. One can often see apprentices coming and going, and occasionally travelers resting, staying, and dining there.

In the riding ground on the eastern side, a group of apprentices ride white horses, training their equestrian skills and occasionally sparring to hone each other's combat techniques. From time to time, apprentices from other professions also come over to exchange and practice with them.

The western side features a five-story composite mansion building, which serves as the town's administrative office. Although many rooms are not yet in use, the mansion is paved with white-veined marble, beautiful and clean.

On the outskirts of the town, apartment buildings have been constructed, surrounded by planted trees to purify the air. In the inner ring closer to the mountains, there are greenhouses of various shapes. Inside are the crops produced within the town, which are also important food production points for various garrisons within the Darkmist Mountains.Within the mountains, various sized cave warehouses have been dug out. Now, several warehouses are filled with high-quality vegetables and grains. Specialized members are responsible for daily inspection and maintenance, maintaining a low-temperature and dry environment here.

A year and six months have passed. This garrison has developed quite impressively, exceeding the task targets assigned by the association that year. Sylutia's name has been mentioned multiple times within the association. Treasures awarded to her were delivered to this young girl by a Frostwind Bird.

It was a morning. Sylutia was still sleeping in bed when she was awakened by a *dong dong* tapping sound from outside the window.

Opening the window, a large bird with gorgeous, deep blue feathers looked at her, then flapped its wings, revealing a metal box tied and gripped in its claws.

The box was decorated with vines and various floral ornaments. Following the instructions on it, Sylutia placed her finger on it, then channeled her Aspect power into it, and recited the incantation written there.

'Forest, Great Tree, Three-Moon Sky'

'Sea of Clouds, Gentle Wind, Shadow of Water and Sky'

Then, the patterns on the box unfurled, loosening the entwining vines. A soft *click* sounded, and the sealed box opened.

Opening it, Sylutia saw three exquisite, transparent gemstones placed inside. They were respectively the Third Tier 'Golden Pillar Stone', 'Orange Moon Diamond', and 'Green Glowstone'. These were all gemstones suitable for constructing the Autumn Garden, and their quality was Perfect. They were the essence resources collected from various branch garrisons of the association.

She had previously been thinking about which alchemy organization or mineral association to approach to exchange for the gemstones needed for her advancement. She never expected that upon hearing her needs, the association directly allocated the highest quality gemstones for her.

Even Sylutia, who had some understanding of the association's situation, felt that this time the association's higher-ups were uncharacteristically generous, even indulgent. One must know, even for Fourth or Fifth Tier Transcendents, obtaining a single 'Perfect' quality Third Tier gemstone is not an easy task.

Resources of such quality are destined to be scarce. For a gemstone of a higher tier, like 'Fourth Tier · Superior' quality, there would actually be more available.

Carefully storing the gemstones away, Sylutia expressed her gratitude to the bird that delivered the treasures, feeding it wheat grains she had grown herself.

Watching the other happily eat them all, Sylutia also felt waves of happiness.

"Alright, I've received the items. You don't need to wait any longer." She stroked the bird, knowing it could understand her words, then released this special Frostwind Bird.

Circling twice above the town, the bird once again flew out of the town's boundaries, entering the Distortion-eroding gale. However, its feathers emitted a special deep blue luster, protecting this flying bird as it swiftly traversed the cold winds, continuously accelerating until it was no longer visible.

With the gemstones in hand, Sylutia rummaged through the underground storage of her house and pulled out a large crate. Inside was a full crate of 'Vaulted Feather Soil'. Then, she took out the refined 'Sylutia's Clear Spring Holy Water (Third Tier · Rare)' she had accumulated over the past year.

Inside this silver bottle, about the size of a beer bottle, was the premium product she had refined and upgraded by reprocessing the previously made 'Awaiting the Moon Holy Water'. Each time, she could only accumulate a small bottle. It took a year to accumulate this much.

Kneeling on her mattress, Sylutia took stock of the treasures she had accumulated. Currently, in her garden, she only had one 'Third Tier' cornflower. As for other Second Tier plants, she had quite a few.

How to construct the autumn scene required for the 'Autumn Garden'? Sylutia pondered silently in her heart.

First, the most important thing for autumn is fruit. Selecting plants that bear fruit in autumn and possess special Transcendent properties, Sylutia chose six types: 'Three-Colored Grape', 'Deep Purple Myrtle Berry', 'Golden Lump Pear', 'Fire Persimmon', 'Blood Currant', and 'Frost Blue Apple'. Then, paired with 'Cornflower' and 'Bubblegrass', this used eight plant species, including flowers, grass, shrubs, and large trees. She still needed to add fungi.

Additionally, there were grasses that grow in autumn, plants that bloom in autumn, trees that flourish in autumn, and plants that fruit in autumn. Among these, 'Cornflower' belonged to grasses that grow in autumn, not plants that bloom in autumn. She still needed to find another plant that blooms in autumn.

She decided on 'White Camellia' and 'Black Rose'. The former was something Lady Franne had given her before, while the latter were seeds she had recently obtained from another garrison.

This used ten plant species. She still needed two types of fungi.

Fungi are not strict about seasonality. She thought of the fungi Yan had mailed to her before, and found that small box.

'Purple Jellyfish Glowshroom' (Fungal Threads · Faint). Then, paired with the 'Bewildering Mushroom' which can be used to make poison, she completed the twelve plant species.

After spending two days preparing all these things, Sylutia began the first stage of constructing the 'Autumn Garden'.

'Foundation Stone', 'Living Soil', 'Clear Spring'. She placed the three items before her.

First, she raised her hand and used one 'Golden Pillar Stone' as the seed foundation stone to begin.

In her palm, this gemstone, carrying the 'Verdant Nectar' Aspect, slowly floated up, then emitted a strange brilliance. At this moment, Sylutia focused her gaze, runes and symbols continuously appearing within her pupils, being inscribed into the gemstone.

After about half an hour, the gemstone dissipated into light, and then a golden-green blank card phantom appeared. She took a deep breath and began the next step.

Sylutia opened the crate containing the 'Vaulted Feather Soil'. The living soil inside floated up and, under the flickering light of the card surface, was drawn into it, becoming the soil and earth within the card.

Afterwards, she took out the second 'Orange Moon Diamond', embellishing and infusing it with runes. Then, the edges of the card were plated with another layer of gold, and she sealed a second portion of 'Vaulted Feather Soil' within.

Next, she opened the silver bottle containing the 'Clear Spring'. The Third Tier clear holy water floated out, turning into a trickling stream that continuously swirled in the air, then slowly converged into the card.

A ring-shaped pool appeared on the card surface, surrounding the central land.

Finally, she took out the 'Green Glowstone', once again activating this gemstone, making its light flicker as she continuously infused complex runic imprints. Afterwards, moss-covered stone pillars appeared around the pool, constructing a framework harmonious with the environment.

With this, the most basic environment card was constructed. However, to stabilize this card, she still needed to nurture it for a period of time, continuously refining and adjusting it until it was completely stable and solidified. Only then could she proceed to the second step: transplanting the plants.

After all the plants were transplanted, there was still the third and final step: making the plants within and the natural environment cycle together, forming a beautiful autumn scene. Only then would she truly have opened the 'Autumn Garden'.

The entire advancement process could be as fast as 1-2 years, or as slow as 4-5 years, depending on the size and complexity of the garden being constructed. For someone like Sylutia, using three 'Perfect' quality gemstones to construct the core secret art represented the highest specification and the limit controllable at the Third Tier.