The Cornflower Witch Chapter 146

In the afternoon, the wind passed through the summer shade.

Hylial sat by the pool behind the hut, her feet immersed in the cool flowing water. During the construction of various buildings, a pipe was installed from the well to channel water to her small garden, so she wouldn’t have to fetch water manually every time.

Waiting for the pebble-lined pool to fill up, Hylial closed the faucet nearby, continued soaking for a while, and playfully splashed the water with her feet. After playing for a bit, she took them out again, and after they air-dried, she put her shoes back on.

Picking up a kettle and filling it with pure water, she began to water the trees and flowers in the garden.

Two new apple trees had been planted there, but they were currently still seedlings, slightly shorter than the girl’s height.

“Grow up quickly,” Hylial sprinkled water at the base of the trees, then placed her hand on a thinner branch. A faint emerald halo appeared, and the apple seedling began to absorb water, gradually growing sprouts and extending its trunk.

After a short while, she lowered her hand and moved to another apple tree, repeating the same action.

Emerald Dew Water + Branch Combing Method + Nature Sense + Identification Eye, these four combined efforts allowed her to reach an astonishing level in the field of plant cultivation. Now, for Hylial, cultivating “perfect” quality plants was practically effortless.

Normally, gardeners would learn the Dew Prayer Method at the first-order, and the Branch Combing Method by the second-order. By the end of the second-order, they would combine the two into a class ability. Even so, it was difficult to raise this class ability to Lv.3, and only a handful of people could raise their [Gardener Apprentice] to Lv.4 by the second-order. At this point, without the benefit of the Identification Eye, it would be difficult to reach Hylial’s current level.

It would probably take until the mid-third-order, with further improvements in cultivation ability, to catch up to Hylial’s current proficiency. By that time, even a genius would typically be 30-40 years old, but Hylial had been on the path of an extraordinary one for less than a year.

If others knew her true situation, they would probably be stunned. In the Royal Capital, she would be a dazzling rising star.

However, currently staying at the woodland settlement in the Shadow World, information exchange was inconvenient, and only a few people had heard that a newly advanced second-order student was progressing very quickly. As for how long it took her to advance, and how she did it, no one knew.

Such rapid advancement made it inevitable for those who heard about it to suspect she had taken a shortcut.

After tending to her small garden, Hylial put on her sun hat and went to the fields below the hut’s slope. It was August, and the sun was scorching. Walking through the fields, an occasional summer breeze would lift her skirt, revealing her fair legs.

Her sandals stepped on the field ridges, occasionally needing to hop over uneven spots, and Hylial’s silver-white long hair fluttered up and down in the wind.

It had been 50 days since this batch of wheat was sown, and it was currently in the heading stage. In about two more weeks, it would be ready for harvest.

[Wheat] (Rare – 81): Growing exceptionally well, a bountiful harvest is expected.

After a while, it would reach perfect quality, and by then, the harvest would not be far off.

…

After tending to the wheat fields, Hylial was about to return to the hut when several toads excitedly ran towards her.

“Croak, boss.”

“I’ve advanced, croak.”

The leading toad shouted happily, and the others followed, also chirping excitedly.

Advanced? Hylial was slightly surprised, but then she thought, after feeding them alfalfa steamed buns for so long, it was indeed time for them to advance.

“Let me see,” she walked over and motioned for the red toad to stand still in front of her.

Species: Toad Subspecies (Enhanced)

Status: Healthy (Domesticated)

Talents:

Amphibious [Good Grade]: Adaptable to both aquatic and terrestrial life, with increased movement speed in water.

Fate Card: [Crimson Tree Frog] (First-Order – Blood Discipline)

‘The aspect of Blood Discipline awakened within the body, enhancing various physical attributes while causing the skin to turn crimson.’

–

Effect [Swift Swim Body Lv.2]: The power of the ‘Blood Discipline’ aspect fills and circulates within the body, moderately enhancing physical fitness, increasing speed and reaction time.

Ability Card:

[Toad Bloodline Lv.2] (Blood Discipline): Your toad bloodline has been activated, allowing you to move faster in water, rain, and humid environments, gain burst power, and be immune to some toxins.

After observing the toad for a long time, Hylial understood its situation.

Although it wasn’t very strong after condensing its Aspect, it was still growing, and perhaps it would become more powerful in the future.

In the following days, other toads also advanced. Their condensed Aspects were not all the same, with ‘Emerald Honey’ and ‘Spiral Fish’ being the most common, but there were also toads with ‘Blood Discipline’ and ‘Blazing Sun’ Aspects.

Fate Card: [Emerald Tree Frog] (First-Order – Emerald Honey)

‘The aspect of Emerald Honey awakens within the body, strengthening various physical attributes while making the skin emerald green.’

–

Effect [Forest Perception Lv.2]: Can distinguish and perceive the growth conditions of plants, allowing it to know the current state of plants. (Effect is one-quarter of ‘Green Eye’ potion)

Ability Card:

[Toad Bloodline Lv.1] (Blood Discipline): Your toad bloodline has been activated, allowing you to move faster in water, rain, and humid environments, gain burst power, and be immune to some toxins. [Dew Prayer Method Lv.1] (Emerald Honey): Gathers morning dew at dawn, turning it into emerald dew water. (Emerald dew water can promote plant growth and cultivation.)

After seeing Hylial use the Dew Prayer Method so many times, one of the toads finally learned this ability, which brought a surge of joy to the girl.

——

Fate Card: [Summer Tree Frog] (First-Order – Blazing Sun)

‘The aspect of Blazing Sun awakens within the body, enhancing various physical attributes while making the skin orange-yellow.’

–

Effect [Sunlight Skin Lv.2]: Can absorb the power of sunlight, enhance its vitality and endurance, and avoid sunburn.

Ability Card:

[Toad Bloodline Lv.1] (Blood Discipline): Your toad bloodline has been activated, allowing you to move faster in water, rain, and humid environments, gain burst power, and be immune to some toxins.

[Hot Wind Blow Lv.1] (Blazing Sun): Can blow airflow containing the ‘Blazing Sun’ aspect. Currently, it can only be used to dry items and cannot ignite or burn.

Well, this guy is very useful for drying grain and separating kernels.

——

Fate Card: [Rain Curtain Tree Frog] (First-Order – Spiral Fish)

‘The aspect of Spiral Fish awakens within the body, enhancing various physical attributes while making the skin aquamarine.’

–

Effect [Water-Moist Body Lv.2]: Can swim quickly in water and filter and absorb water through the skin.

Ability Card:

[Toad Bloodline Lv.1] (Blood Discipline): Your toad bloodline has been activated, allowing you to move faster in water, rain, and humid environments, gain burst power, and be immune to some toxins.

[Water Jet Lv.1] (Spiral Fish): Can compress and spray water from its body to knock down flying insects and small birds.

Perhaps this guy could be used for watering? Hylial wondered.

In this week, 16 toads successively advanced. For ease of management, she selected the strongest few from each aspect and gave them names.

“Your skin is red, so you’ll be called ‘Blood Toad’,” she pointed at the toad with the ‘Blood Discipline’ aspect, blinking and playfully naming it.

“Croak, I’m called ‘Blood Toad’,” the named toad proudly stepped forward.

“Croak, Blood Toad, so amazing,” the other toads that hadn’t condensed their Aspects looked on with envy and admiration.

“Then you’ll be called ‘Wood Toad’,” she pointed to another toad that had condensed the ‘Emerald Honey’ aspect.

“Croak, Wood Toad, croak,” it also proudly stepped forward, standing in front.

“You’ll be called… ‘Fire Toad’,” the girl looked at the orange-yellow skinned toad with the ‘Blazing Sun’ aspect and named it.

“Croak, ‘Fire Toad’,” it also seemed quite excited.

Then, Hylial pointed to another toad with the ‘Spiral Fish’ aspect.

“You’ll be called ‘Water Toad’,” a self-explanatory name.

Finally, the aquamarine toad came out, croaking a few times, and stood with the others.

“From now on, you four will be the Four Croakers, managing everyone’s work,” the girl declared.

“Croak, croak.” The four proudly croaked in front of their peers.

Among the sixteen members who advanced this time, there were three ‘Blood Discipline’ red toads, six ‘Spiral Fish’ aquamarine toads, two ‘Blazing Sun’ orange-yellow toads, and five ‘Emerald Honey’ emerald green toads.

Overall, ‘Spiral Fish’ and ‘Emerald Honey’ were the most common, likely due to their similar swamp and rainforest environments. As for ‘Blood Discipline,’ it’s an aspect inherent in many living creatures, so three of them wasn’t surprising. However, the two toads that condensed ‘Blazing Sun’ aspects quite surprised Hylial.

Perhaps this was another form of resistance and adaptation. Most toads feared prolonged direct sunlight, which could lead to dehydration and cracking of their skin. To counter this, they might choose to align with ‘Blazing Sun’ to adapt to harsh environments.

After the reorganization, these toads began participating in plant cultivation, not just simple tasks like fetching water, watering, and plowing.

Perhaps it was due to their advancement, or their bloodline awakening, but the toads that had condensed their Aspects became much smarter, roughly equivalent to a 10-year-old human. Things that ordinary people could understand and learn, they could now also learn and comprehend.

It seemed that cultivating these toads had great potential.