The Cornflower Witch

Chapter 85: Returning to Verdant Nectar

Half a month later, Sylutia once again cultivated the [Dew Prayer Method] to the third stage, then advanced to [Verdant Nectar].

With her previous experience, her relearning was exceptionally fast, and she even gained deeper insights.

After restoring herself to the [First Tier·Verdant Nectar], she spent another half month re-cultivating the [Branch Grooming Method], merging it with the [Dew Prayer Method] to condense the profession of [Gardening Apprentice].

For learning the Flower Blooming Method, she sought guidance from Lady Franne again.

"This one is indeed difficult to learn. It took me nearly three months to grasp it back then, and I was already considered a genius among my peers," Lady Franne said, indicating it wasn't Sylutia's problem.

"Originally, I thought if you started learning in December, with my guidance, you could roughly catch up by January or February, achieving the first stage of the Flower Blooming Method. That, combined with the [Fire Glow Orchid], would be enough to deal with Iona."

"However, accidents are always hard to predict," Lady Franne said with a hint of regret.

"With your current strength, combined with the 'Tree Jade Spirit Sword,' you can easily handle Solyn, Mick, and the others."

"But against the 'Blazing Sun' Iona, you're still a bit short, and I cannot guarantee you will win."

"I asked Heide, and he told me that Iona started drinking a specially prepared 'Blazing Sun' secret medicine a month ago to accelerate her cultivation. She probably wants to master a new 'Blazing Sun' Aspect ability. What exactly it is, outsiders don't know."Three months? Sylutia tilted her head, not understanding.

She felt taking a whole week to gain a preliminary grasp was already very slow. She never expected Lady Franne to tell her it would take three months to gain a preliminary grasp. So how did she learn it back then?

Could it be that she truly excellently inherited her mother's talent in gardening, learning faster than everyone else?

"I'll try again," the young girl said, not wanting to directly tell the lady that she actually learned much faster than she did back in the day.

"Hmm, don't be too disheartened. This is the 'Tree Jade Spirit Sword' you wanted earlier. I've already commissioned a craftsman to prepare it for you." Lady Franne had Lining bring out a long rectangular wooden box, revealing the transparent, jade-like long sword inside.

[Tree Jade Spirit Sword] (First Tier·Excellent): Can very well contain the power of the 'Verdant Nectar' Aspect. After infusing it with 'Verdant Nectar,' the blade becomes sharp and sturdy, and can repair nicks and bends. Excellent offensive capabilities, superb impact resistance, greatly preventing cracking and breaking situations.

"Use this sword to practice and execute the 'Garden Swordsmanship' in the near future. If you can withstand Lining's rapid assault for three minutes, then you can easily block Iona's attacks as well," Lady Franne said, gently fanning herself with a folding fan.

"No problem," Sylutia answered eagerly.

It was finally going to be put to use, the swordsmanship she had been practicing constantly for the past few months. She looked at the column of skills she had mastered.

[Basic Swordsmanship Lv.5] [Military Swordsmanship Lv.5] [Garden Swordsmanship Lv.4]...

The battles during those days in the Shadow World successfully caused her Basic Swordsmanship to transform, stepping into the Lv.5 stage, and the same was true for Military Swordsmanship.

Taking out the jade-like long sword, she picked it up with one hand.

Sylutia closed her eyes to perceive its structure, like using the [Branch Grooming Method] to care for flowers and plants, she combed through the resin grain and fine particles within. This made the blade straight, and its edge increasingly sharp.

Then she tried swinging the sword, her body moving along with the long sword, slowly adapting to its weight and feel.

...

Half an hour later, holding the sword, she faced the tree stump log in front of her and swung down. A verdant arc followed the rotation of her slender, soft waist, flashing into existence.

A faint sound came from where the blade cut into the log. A faint fluorescent light appeared on the blade, piercing through the entire log with extreme sharpness, splitting it in two.

Sheathing the sword, Sylutia's eyelids moved slightly as she carefully observed the cut surface and cross-section, recalling her movements just now.

It seemed the posture and angle could still be improved a bit, to make it even smoother.

...

Three days later, Sylutia and Lining sparred in a clearing within the flower field.

The firefly-jade-like long sword swung and clashed against the black sword in Lining's hand, emitting crisp sounds and sending out tiny sparks. Then the two turned around again, continuously crossing back and forth.

Because both were using Garden Swordsmanship, and Lining was also suppressing part of her strength, not relying on brute force to overpower her opponent, the exchange between the two temporarily entered a state of stalemate.

Lining's greatest advantage, speed, was neutralized after she was forbidden from using Swift Shadow Footwork and activating her Breathing Technique. Relying solely on [Agile Body Lv.4] to fight Sylutia, she couldn't overwhelm her. Moreover, after Sylutia's promotion through that Bloodline Aspect, although the Bloodline Aspect of her Fate Card was eliminated, part of the physical enhancement effect was permanently retained.

The clash between the two grew increasingly intense. Some flowers and plants began to be severed by the passing blades, grass leaves flew about, pale green sap was exposed to the air, emitting waves of plant fragrance.

Twelve minutes later, Lining lowered the sword in her hand, and Sylutia opposite her also gradually came to a stop.

"Do you feel tired?" Lining looked at the young girl opposite her, who only had sweat on her forehead.

"A little," the young girl said, carefully wiping her forehead with her sleeve cuff, then continued to grip the long sword tightly.

"Let's continue."

"Let's stop here for today," Lining shook her head slightly.

"Miss Tia, actually, the combat intensity you've maintained, a normal 'First Tier·Bloodline' user simply couldn't sustain it." She saw this young girl continuously using her Breathing Technique to keep up with her speed. Even with brief moments of panting rest in between, she had at least cycled it for 6 minutes.

Most 'First Tier·Bloodline' users couldn't achieve such a thing.

Putting away her sword and also helping Sylutia wipe her sweat, Lining, with rare curiosity, asked.

"Miss Tia, you should know what kind of place the Shadow World is, and you understand some of the rules of the Hidden Grove. Why do you still yearn for that place?" She knew many children from great families were unwilling to enter that dangerous place.

"Well..." Sylutia truly couldn't explain the anticipation and excitement in her heart at the moment.

"If I really had to talk about my innermost thoughts, it's probably born from fear?" She stood under the shade of a tree now, feeling the breeze, her body feeling much cooler and more comfortable.

"Fear?" Lining was even more confused.

"Yes. Lining, have you ever had that kind of experience? Originally, you could have gone to a vast place, met more people and experienced more things, enjoyed a more exciting life."

"But because of your own timidity and giving up, you ultimately missed such an opportunity."

"I used to always think the future held countless possibilities, and past mistakes could be remedied, but I've discovered that's not the case." Sylutia tilted her head, smoothing out her disheveled hair.

"Childhood companions slowly grow up and go their separate ways. Familiar family members also grow older day by day."

"Even if I returned to the place I lived as a child, those people from back then wouldn't still be there."

"If I want to hold onto many things I cherish and love, I must seize the time before me, and those few opportunities."

"It's true, opportunities don't come only once. But when the next one comes, will I still have today's margin and lightness of heart?"

"I'm very afraid of missing many precious people and things again. So I want to work a little harder during this time." After tying up her neatly combed hair, this young girl gently shook her flowing, beautiful silver hair, her clear voice lingering in the gentle breeze.