The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 112: Third Tier: Gardener

Vol 2 Chapter 112 Third Tier: Gardener

After packing her luggage and mounting the 'Second Tier' Windtrust horse raised within the town, Sylutia bid farewell to the members of Lantern Town and galloped towards the wastelands outside the Darkmist Mountains.

The Gale Season had already been upon them for a year. Now was the season of weaker winds, also the most suitable time for long journeys.

Crossing the Black Lion Wastes, Sylutia traveled eastward all the way, arriving at Mammoth. Then, with the help of the teleportation magic array there, she made a transfer and arrived at the 'Glittergold Plains'.

After returning to this familiar golden plain and White Stone Fortress, Sylutia first went to the Hidden Grove association to report in and apply for a return to the surface continent. Then, she paid a visit to the wizard of the 'Four Seasons Alliance', Kuland Hill.

"Two years apart, and Tia has already advanced in rank." In truth, he had already received news of this young woman's advancement, but upon seeing her in person, this rather experienced wizard couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"In my day, it took nearly five years to step from the Second Tier to the Third Tier, and that was considered very fast." He reminisced about the past for a moment, then asked Sylutia.

"Returning this time, are you prepared to join the 'Four Seasons Alliance'?" He had already begun thinking about how to apply for organizational benefits and treatment for this young woman.

"I am very grateful for your cultivation and the Four Seasons Alliance's consistent support for me. However, I won't be joining any organization for the time being." The young woman shook her head.

"The reason, when spoken, might make you laugh, but I wish to be free for a while, to sort out my own affairs, and then consider how to choose my future path.""Is that so." Kuland Hill pondered for a while.

Although it was somewhat regrettable, considering this young woman had indeed grown too quickly—unlike other apprentices who, during their growth process, became heavily reliant on the organization's help and slowly became bound to it.

"I understand. However, the advanced secret art you chose is, after all, the 'Autumn Garden' of the 'Four Seasons Alliance'. Much of the subsequent inheritance and secret methods would be difficult for us to impart to an outsider if you don't join the organization."

"I understand." Sylutia nodded. She was very clear about this point. However, she still had many things to do now. Having just stepped into the Third Tier, many things needed consolidation, and she still had to learn much new knowledge and secret methods. It wouldn't be too late to consider subsequent inheritance later when she was fully prepared.

In truth, her impression of the 'Four Seasons Alliance' was quite good. It was just that she didn't want to bind herself to any organization too early.

Afterwards, the two chatted some more about gardening insights. Kuland Hill also curiously inquired about the lockdown of the Darkmist Mountains not long ago.

"That period..." Sylutia recalled.

"It started with a knight who reported to us."

Sylutia recalled the spread and urgency of the 'Gray Sludge' plague, recounting the general situation of that period to Kuland Hill.

"So that's the cause and process." Now, Kuland Hill, far away in the Glittergold Plains, also understood why such a matter needed to be strictly sealed off.

"If others ask you about this matter in the future, you only need to say you were busy preparing supplies and are unclear about the specific procedures at the time." He advised the young woman.

"I understand."

Subsequently, Sylutia stayed at the Four Seasons Alliance's stronghold for another week, learning from the gardeners there about the construction of the progression path and understanding the future development directions for gardeners.

Beyond the Fourth Tier, gardeners would gradually choose a specialized direction to continue improving themselves. Some focused on cultivating flowers, some on food crops, some on various strange mushrooms, and others excelled at combining gardening products with witchcraft rituals, becoming special composite professions.

The wizard she had visited before, that Mr. Kuland Hill, had taken this path.

"Tia, here are the cultivation insights for the 'Fertile Soil Method' you wanted."

Condensing the 'Gardener' progression path required the 'Dew Prayer Method', the 'Branch Grooming Method', and the 'Fertile Soil Method'. She had already learned the first two; only this last one remained.

Unlike the previous abilities, this ability required matching spellcasting materials to adjust the soil and water composition of the earth to suit different crops.

"Different fertile soils require different formulas, but all fertile soil formulas require three types of raw materials: 'Fish', 'Water', and 'Stone'."

"After the ancient True Fish died, their bodies turned into soil and rock, which is the earth today. Therefore, 'Fish' is used to represent the concept of soil. Next is 'Water', which is essential for the growth of all things. Finally, 'Stone'—whether choosing sand, crushed mud, or dry soil—will affect the environment in which the plant grows."

"For example, if I want to cultivate the 'Crimson Dragon Scale Fruit', a special Fourth Tier fruit, I need three types of raw materials: 'Volcanic Fish', 'Lava Glass Water', and 'Earthfire Diamond', to concoct the required 'Fertile Soil' as the spellcasting material."

"Hearing this, do you think of the matching process of the 'manor' before advancement?"

"That's right. The 'manor' is a higher form of manifestation of the 'Fertile Soil Method'. Generally, one learns the 'Fertile Soil Method' as a foundation first, then comes into contact with the 'manor' advancement secret art."

"You are an exception, actually building the manor first before coming back to learn the 'Fertile Soil Method'."

Hearing this, Sylutia felt a bit embarrassed. "Actually, I didn't think that much about it at the time. Mainly, the Darkmist Mountains area lacked materials and seniors who could guide me, and I didn't know I needed to learn the 'Fertile Soil Method' as prerequisite training."

"So, I just gritted my teeth and learned the 'Autumn Garden' advancement secret art, then built it up bit by bit."

Should it be said she was poorly informed, or too strong? Without the guidance of a senior instructor, she had relied solely on knowledge learned from books and classics to forcefully advance in rank.

In fact, the people of the Four Seasons Alliance also hadn't expected this young woman to advance so quickly, thus missing the best opportunity to recruit her.

"This is 'Clear Spring Flower Tea' that I cultivated and prepared. I hope Senior Kuland Hill likes it."

After learning the 'Fertile Soil Method', there were no more problems with condensing the 'Gardener' progression path. Sylutia took the 'Clear Spring Holy Water' she had prepared, paired it with the 'White Camellia' growing in her manor, and brewed it into a high-grade tea as a gift for this senior who had guided her several times.

Looking at the steaming tea before him, Kuland Hill picked it up, took a small sip, and felt a comfortable sense of purity rising from within his body.

The 'Holy Water' prepared by Sylutia had remarkable effects in purification. This feeling of purity also surprised Kuland Hill quite a bit.

"Did you make this yourself?"

"Yes." The young woman nodded.

"If used for those members returning from secret realms, it would definitely be very popular." Kuland Hill commented.

"Many people get contaminated with Distortion pollution while exploring secret realms. Usually, they need to rest for a long time before they can embark on the next expedition."

"The tea you brewed has a very good purification effect. They would definitely need it."

"It's just that I don't know if preparing it would consume a lot of your energy. If it's very taxing, I wouldn't recommend you waste too much time on these things."

"I understand."

Sylutia tilted her head and thought. She didn't need to worry about the White Camellia; within a few months, she could pick a large bundle from her 'Autumn Garden'. As for the 'Clear Spring Holy Water', if it was merely Second Tier, she could prepare a lot while practicing the Meditation Method without spending extra time.

It seemed she could give this as a gift in the future. But if it was just for selling for money, that would indeed be a bit wasteful.

She was now considered a rare little rich woman among her peers. Just the share from Lantern Town alone amounted to who knows how many gold coins. She remembered that before leaving, the space under the bed board in her bedroom was almost overflowing with boxes of gold coins.

It seemed like half a year ago, there were already nearly fifty thousand gold coins.

Anyway, she had been continuously selling the high-quality crops produced by the town. There weren't many places to spend money in her life. Often, she would directly give some potions and Cornflowers to the apprentices in the town without charging them.

Everyone stayed in the Darkmist Mountains, busy every day. She was very grateful for everyone's assistance, but previously, there weren't many good gift options. So, every time she wanted to reward an apprentice, she would just pick a few Cornflowers from her garden, make them into a bouquet, and hand it to the other person.

After such days went on for a long time, the apprentices in Lantern Town often called her the 'Cornflower Princess'. Of course, this title had a joking element to it and wasn't said to her face, but Sylutia's hearing was just too good; she heard it every time.

After learning the 'Fertile Soil Method', Sylutia spent a day transforming 【Gardening Apprentice Lv.5】 into 【Gardener Lv.5】 (Dew Prayer·Branch Grooming·Fertile Soil Lv.5).

Finally completing the construction of the Gardener profession, the process was uneventful and smooth, far from the tremendous change when the manor was successfully built.

However, after completing the 【Gardener】 progression path, Sylutia suddenly realized that she had, without realizing it, caught up to the rank and realm that Lady Franne had possessed back then.

In other words, roughly four years ago, when she first met Lady Franne, the other's elegant, mysterious, and powerful aura had made her envious and awestruck. But now, she had reached the same height as Lady Franne had back then.

This strange feeling, so fresh and unfamiliar, made Sylutia feel a bit dazed and nostalgic about the passage of time.

"Unknowingly, has it already been four years?" Standing on the tower of White Stone Fortress, Sylutia looked down into the distance, recalling the scene when she first came to the Hidden Grove.

Back then, she was still somewhat naive, single-mindedly focused on building the valley and properly completing the tasks the Hidden Grove assigned her. Moreover, due to her initial weakness, she preferred to stay in quiet corners, slowly improving, not wanting to get involved in many disputes.

With that mindset, during her first half-year at the Hidden Grove, she rarely interacted with other classmates. Sophitina also teased that she was very aloof back then, leading to misunderstandings among classmates.

Recalling her slightly childish and simple actions from the past, Sylutia felt like laughing, but after all, it was herself. She just felt that her thoughts back then were somewhat silly and cute.

But now, she indeed had means of self-protection and had also found her destined patron flower, the 'Cornflower'. It was time to go out and see the world. She also somewhat missed those people in Scorchstone City.