Chương 17

[Green Random Reward Orb collected.] [Reward: Small Storage Ring.] [Capacity: 35 cubic feet.]... Whether it was thanks to her newly increased Fortune or simply the superior rewards available from green orbs, Elara had obtained a storage ring. Even spatial artifacts with the lowest possible capacity were extraordinarily expensive. At Dawnmere Trading House, a storage ring capable of holding about eighteen cubic feet sold for at least one hundred Spirit Stones.

At her current salary, Elara would have to work for nearly two years without spending a single coin before she could afford one. As the green light faded, a small gray ring dropped into her palm. Its design was plain and ancient, without a single decorative engraving. Elara slipped it onto the middle finger of her left hand and found that it fit perfectly. This will make it much easier to store anything I get from the Ember Sanctum or the reward orbs. Elara had been worried about storage for some time.

The Ember Sanctum occasionally awarded treasures of astonishing value. If she received something she couldn't use immediately—or something too valuable to reveal—leaving it in her tiny rented courtyard would be little different from inviting someone to steal it. The same problem applied to manuals such as the Guidance Art and Metal Gathering Art. Carrying every valuable inheritance on her person had never been practical. With the storage ring, those concerns were finally gone.

Elara collected the remaining two green orbs at once. Even if they produced artifacts or other conspicuous items, she could immediately put them away without anyone noticing. [Green Random Reward Orb collected.] [Reward: One Drop of Thousand-Year Stalactite Essence.]... [Green Random Reward Orb collected.] [Reward: Rank Two Talisman — Flamewyrm Ruin.]... Two streams of green light faded, leaving Elara with two new items. The first was a small white jade bottle containing the Thousand-Year Stalactite Essence.

The second was a crimson offensive talisman covered in glowing scarlet patterns. Thousand-Year Stalactite Essence? I can't believe I actually got something like this. It's a shame there's only one drop. Stalactite essence contained extraordinarily pure energy. Once consumed, it required almost no deliberate circulation or refinement. The body could absorb it naturally, making it one of the gentlest treasures in the cultivation world. Elara had never seen even a single drop for sale in Valehaven.

It was the kind of treasure that was always in demand but rarely had a true market price. Whenever any appeared, major clans and sects bought it immediately, either to keep as an emergency reserve or to reward their most promising disciples. If I only have one drop, using it for cultivation would be a terrible waste. This might be enough to save me even if I'm critically wounded. I should keep it as an emergency safeguard. Elara moved one finger.

A faint blue light passed over the jade bottle, drawing it into the storage ring. As for the Rank Two talisman, the basic knowledge she had acquired during the Ember Sanctum's first trial was enough for her to make a rough appraisal. Elara closed her eyes and sensed the qi sealed within the crimson paper. The fire-aspected energy inside was exceptionally violent, and activating the talisman would require little more than a thought.

Judging by the amount of qi it contains, this should be among the most powerful Rank Two offensive talismans. Anyone below Foundation Establishment would be in serious trouble if they took a direct hit. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. She carefully studied the scarlet patterns covering its surface. If I ever learn to make offensive talismans like this, I'm filling my storage ring with them. If I run into danger, I can throw out a few dozen at once.

Who could possibly withstand that? Elara carefully placed the Flamewyrm Ruin Talisman inside the storage ring as well. One treasure could save her life. The other could kill an enemy. Together, they were a nearly perfect combination. With those two items alone, Elara no longer had much to fear within Valehaven. As long as she didn't provoke a Foundation Establishment elder from one of the major families—or someone on the level of an outer elder from a great sect—she should be able to handle herself.

The small plot of Mindveil Grass had fully matured, and Elara had collected every reward. She licked her lips and began examining the surrounding fields. Which plot is closest to maturity? I should take advantage of every opportunity I can. At this rate, these spirit fields are going to feel more like home than my own courtyard. Most of the remaining Mindveil Grass had maturity values around eighty. Even the most developed patches would need another three days before they could be harvested.

So I still have to wait another two days. Elara was preparing to move to the plot with the highest maturity when Garrick arrived at the Mindveil Grass fields. Judging by the tools he carried, he had just returned from the Rank Two growing area.

"Is Master Garrick here to inspect our work?" Elara asked.

"More or less," Alistair explained from beside her.

"He's probably checking the maturity of the Mindveil Grass. Valehaven's monthly assessment is only a few days away, and every Spirit Gardener will be judged by how much their assigned fields produce." So it was a performance review. Once Elara understood that, Garrick's personal visit made perfect sense. The assessment directly affected his livelihood and position. Of course he would take it seriously.

"Everyone, inspect your plots," Garrick called from the raised path.

"Check the maturity of the plants and look for any signs of disease or pests. If you find anything, report it now and I'll deal with it." He paused before adding, "Be thorough. Pest infestations in Mindveil Grass can be difficult to detect." Very few of the apprentices had successfully learned Pest Ward. None of those serving Dawnmere's head manager or third manager knew the art at all. Garrick had heard that Elara, the apprentice recently recruited by Cedric, could use it.

However, he had no idea how proficient she was. Judging by her age, her mastery was unlikely to be high enough for him to entrust an entire Mindveil Grass field to her. That was why, despite being extremely busy, Garrick had made time to inspect the Rank One fields himself.

"My plot has no pests," one apprentice reported.

"The plants are well past halfway mature. They should be ready to harvest within five days."

"Everything is fine over here too. Mine should mature in four or five days."... Each group of apprentices worked together on a particular section of the field. After carefully inspecting their assigned plots, they reported their findings to Garrick one after another. Elara might have been new, but she had no trouble following their example.

"My entire plot is already mature."

"Already?" Garrick sounded pleasantly surprised.

"That's faster than I expected." He stepped down from the raised path and walked over to Elara's plot. Taking one of the Mindveil Grass leaves between his fingers, he examined the faint glow coming from the purple markings. Once he confirmed that the plants were indeed fully mature, Garrick addressed the apprentices again.

"Until the monthly assessment is over, I'll be spending most of my time in the Rank Two growing area. Several elite-grade Flamewyrm Fruit trees are approaching their harvest period, and they require particularly careful attention." His voice hardened.

"Continue your work as usual over the next few days, and don't cause any trouble."... After Garrick gathered his tools and returned to the Rank Two fields, a startled cry suddenly came from among the apprentices.

"Alistair! I didn't notice it before, but this Mindveil Grass is infested. What am I supposed to do?" The tall, thin apprentice pointing at the plant was one of Alistair's followers. Panic had already taken hold of him, and his voice was close to breaking. Under ordinary circumstances, discovering an infestation wouldn't have been disastrous. They could simply report it to Garrick. As long as they caught it early, he would scold them for their poor gardening skills and then treat the affected plants.

But Garrick had just taken all his tools back to the Rank Two growing area and told them he wouldn't return for several days. Where were they supposed to find help now? Worse, pest infestations could spread. A single infected plant might contaminate an entire plot within a few days.

"Damn it! How could you miss something like this now?" Alistair rolled up his sleeves and punched the apprentice hard enough to knock him to the ground. Despite his anger, he looked just as nervous.

"I know a little Pest Ward, but I can't even guarantee I'll cast it successfully. If I fail, the infestation will only get worse." Sweat had already begun gathering on his forehead. Whatever else could be said about the apprentice, he was one of Alistair's own followers. If the infestation destroyed the plot, Alistair wouldn't escape responsibility either.

"If there's no other choice, I'll go into the Rank Two fields and find Master Garrick," the apprentice said miserably.

"Even if he throws me out afterward, that's fine. I just won't be able to work for you anymore."

"Go into the Rank Two fields?" Alistair stared at him in disbelief.

"Don't be an idiot. That entire area is protected by maze formations. Do you honestly think you could find your way back out? You could die in there before anyone even realized you were missing." The apprentice didn't grow angry after being struck and scolded. He only looked more ashamed. Scrambling back to his feet, he stood beside the infected plant without knowing what to do.

"If nothing else works, I'll pay someone skilled in Pest Ward to come here," Alistair said after a moment of thought. Unfortunately, with the monthly assessment so close, every Spirit Gardener proficient in Pest Ward had already been recruited by one family or another. The assessment wasn't merely a review of Valehaven's spirit fields. It was also a competition between the city's major clans, merchant houses, and other factions.

Unless Alistair offered an extraordinary price, convincing anyone to help would be extremely difficult.

"I'll try," Elara said.

"I know Pest Ward."