The Cornflower Witch Chapter 86

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

With her previous experience, she picked up her studies again exceptionally quickly, and even gained deeper insights.

After recovering to [Tier 1 – Jade Nectar], she spent another half month re-cultivating the [Branch Combing Method] and integrating it with the [Dew Prayer Method], condensing the professional class [Gardening Apprentice].

For learning the Bloom-Flowering Method, she once again sought Madame Faran’s guidance.

“This is indeed hard to learn. I spent nearly three months mastering it, and I was already a genius among my peers,” Madame Faran said, indicating that this wasn’t Hylial’s problem.

“Originally, I thought you would start learning in December, and with my guidance, you could probably catch up by January or February, achieving the first stage of the Bloom-Flowering Method. This, combined with the [Fire Cloud Orchid], would be enough to deal with Iona.”

“However, accidents are always unpredictable,” Madame Faran said with a hint of regret.

“With your current strength, combined with the ‘Jade Tree Spirit Sword’, you can easily handle Solin, Mick, and the others.”

“But against ‘Blazing Sun’ Iona, you’re still a bit short; it doesn’t guarantee your victory.”

“I asked Hyde, 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 learn a new ‘Blazing Sun’ affinity ability, but what it is, outsiders don’t know.”

Three months? Hylial tilted her head, confused.

She felt that spending a week to initially grasp it was already very slow. She hadn’t expected Madame Faran to tell her it would take three months to initially master it. How had she learned it back then?

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

“I’ll try again.” The girl didn’t want to directly tell the Madame that she actually learned much faster than she did back then.

“Hmm, don’t be too disheartened. This is the ‘Jade Tree Spirit Sword’ you wanted earlier. I’ve already entrusted the craftsman to prepare it for you.” Madame Faran had Lining bring out a rectangular wooden box, revealing the transparent, jade-like longsword within.

【Jade Tree Spirit Sword】(Tier 1 – Excellent): Can perfectly accommodate the ‘Jade Nectar’ affinity power. When ‘Jade Nectar’ is infused, it makes the blade sharp and sturdy, and can repair nicks and bends. It offers excellent offensive capabilities, superb resistance to impact, and significantly prevents breakage or deformation.

“For now, practice ‘Garden Swordsmanship’ with this sword. If you can withstand Lining’s rapid attacks for three minutes, then you’ll be able to easily fend off Iona,” Madame Faran said, gently fanning herself.

“No problem,” Hylial replied with anticipation.

Finally, the swordsmanship she had been practicing for months would be put to good use. She looked at the skills she had mastered:

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

The battles in the Shadow World those few days successfully transformed her basic swordsmanship, advancing it to Lv.5, and the same went for military swordsmanship.

Taking out the jade-like longsword, she held it in one hand.

Hylial closed her eyes, sensing its structure, just as she would use the [Branch Combing Method] to tend to flowers and plants,梳理其中的樹脂紋路和細膩顆粒, which made the blade straight and its edges increasingly sharp.

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

…

Half an hour later, holding the sword, she faced a tree stump and swung it down. A green arc followed her slender waist, rotating and flashing.

A slight sound came from where the blade cut into the log. A faint glow appeared on the blade, piercing the entire log with extreme sharpness, splitting it into two halves.

She sheathed her sword, and Hylial’s eyelids flickered as she carefully observed the cut and the断面, mentally replaying her movements.

It seemed she could still refine her posture and angle, making it even smoother.

…

Three days later, Hylial and Lining sparred in an open area of the flower field.

The jade-like longsword swung, clashing with the black sword in Lining’s hand, producing crisp sounds and tiny sparks. Then, both turned and repositioned, constantly moving back and forth.

Because they were both using Garden Swordsmanship, and Lining had suppressed some of her power, avoiding a forceful, surprising confrontation, the two were temporarily evenly matched.

Lining’s greatest advantage in speed, after being forbidden to use Swift Shadow Steps and activate her Breathing Method, relied solely on [Agile Body Lv.4] to fight Hylial, and couldn’t overwhelm her. Moreover, after Hylial’s Blood Discipline advancement, although the Blood Discipline affinity of her Fate Card was removed, some of the physical strengthening effects were permanently retained.

Their exchange grew more intense. Soon, some flowers and plants were cut by their blades, grass blades flew, and pale green sap was exposed to the air, emitting a fresh, grassy scent.

Twelve minutes later, Lining put down her sword, and Hylial, across from her, also slowly stopped.

“Are you tired?” Lining looked at the girl, who only had sweat on her forehead.

“A little.” The girl carefully wiped her forehead with her sleeve, still gripping her longsword.

“I’ll continue.”

“That’s enough for today.” Lining shook her head slightly.

“Miss Lia, your current combat intensity, most ‘Tier 1 – Blood Discipline’ wouldn’t be able to sustain.” She saw the young girl constantly using her Breathing Method to keep up with her speed, and even if there were brief moments of rest, she had circulated it for at least 6 minutes.

Most ‘Tier 1 – Blood Discipline’ couldn’t do that.

Putting away her sword, and also helping Hylial wipe her sweat, Lining, unusually, asked with curiosity.

“Miss Lia, you must know what the Shadow World is, and you’ve learned some of the rules of the Hidden Grove. Why do you still yearn for it?” She knew that many children from prominent families were reluctant to enter such a dangerous place.

“Well…” Hylial couldn’t quite explain the anticipation and excitement in her heart at that moment.

“If I had to express my truest feelings, perhaps it stems from fear?” She was now standing in the shade of a tree, enjoying the breeze, feeling much refreshed.

“Fear?” Lining was even more confused.

“Yes, Lining, have you ever experienced that feeling? You could have gone to many places, met more people and things, and enjoyed a more wonderful life.”

“But because of your timidity and giving up, you eventually missed out on such an opportunity.”

“I used to think the future held countless possibilities, and I could make up for past mistakes, but I found that wasn’t the case.” Hylial turned her head and neatly smoothed her disheveled hair.

“Childhood companions will slowly grow up and go their separate ways, and familiar family members will grow old day by day.”

“Even if I return to the place where I lived as a child, those people from back then will no longer be there.”

“If I want to hold onto many cherished and beloved things, I must seize the present moment and the limited opportunities before me.”

“Indeed, opportunities aren’t singular, but when the next one arises, will I still possess today’s ease and vivacity?”

“I’m very afraid of missing many precious people and things again, so I want to work harder during this time.” Tying up her neatly combed hair, the girl gently shook her flowing silver hair, her clear voice echoing in the gentle breeze.

(End of this chapter)