October, the gentle autumn breeze gradually dissipated.
Sylvia knelt in the field in the backyard, carefully examining the swan orchids that were as tall as her arm.
The greenish pseudobulbs, like spindles, stood in the loose soil, with light green long leaves branching out from them, curving naturally.
[swan orchid] (Good - 53): Growing, suitable humidity and light, good ventilation.
Only 'Good'?
The girl gently touched the flower stem with her hand, feeling a little disappointed.
She had originally thought that by providing all the necessary conditions for the swan orchid's growth, its quality should reach 'Excellent'.
It seems things are not that simple.
If meeting growth requirements isn't enough, then it's necessary to further refine the growth conditions to achieve a 'very suitable' state.
The problem is, how would she know under what conditions the swan orchid would grow best?
Communicate with the plant?
But the swan orchid is merely a plant, not a living creature, and it can't speak.
Wait, although the swan orchid cannot speak, it is not inanimate.
Just as blood flows within animals, having its own pulse, a liquid called 'honey' also flows within plants.
If she could perceive this pulse, would she then be able to understand its condition and help it grow stronger?
A glimmer of hope rose in Sylvia.
She placed her hand on the swan orchid's pseudobulb, closed her eyes, and carefully sensed, searching for that subtle pulse.
Time passed...
After a long while, she opened her eyes, shaking her head with some disappointment.
Plants and animals are vastly different; they don't have heartbeats, so there's no such thing as a pulse.
I can only ask Scholar Hyde...
The next day, after class, Sylvia went to Scholar Hyde's study to inquire about cultivating plants.
"It seems you've hit a bottleneck," Scholar Hyde had long anticipated this.
"Your problem is also the problem encountered by the earliest Gardeners several epochs ago."
"Unlike fairies, who are naturally skilled at cultivating plants, humans and other beings who wish to learn to cultivate extraordinary crops must overcome the hurdle of communication and understanding."
"There are actually two methods for this: the first is very common, which is to directly replicate based on the experience left by predecessors.
The second is to individually refine and understand the situation of each plant, then make targeted adjustments."
"The latter is obviously more effective, but also very difficult; most Gardeners at the initial stage use the former method."
"Therefore, you can see in the same orchard that there are fruits of good quality and fruits of poor quality.
Gardeners can only try to increase the base number to make more high-quality fruits appear."
"I actually wanted to suggest that you simply cultivate according to the experience template for now."
"However, after spending this time together, Tia, you certainly wouldn't be satisfied with just following experience and waiting for luck, would you?" Scholar Hyde stroked his beard, speaking with clear understanding.
"Yes, Teacher, please instruct me."
Seeing his confident demeanor, how could the girl not know that her teacher definitely had a solution?
"Heh heh, you're always so affectionate when you call me 'Teacher' at times like this."
The old man complained a little; Sylvia rarely interacted with him in class, always quietly staying in the corner to listen, not actively answering questions.
"Alright, I won't make it difficult for you anymore."
He stood up, searched through the bookshelf, and finally pulled out one of the books.
"The Book of Pear Fruit (Copy)", written by the Forest Dwellers of the Fifth Epoch, describes the cultivation process of 'Crimson Pear Fruit (Second Tier)' and methods for observing the Crimson Pear Fruit tree.
He opened a page in the book and showed its contents to Sylvia.
[Emerald Pupil Potion Recipe] (First Tier): A magical potion dropped into the eyes, one of the seven basic eye potions, which allows the recipient to perceive the delicate flow and state of plants.
"This is the recipe for the Emerald Pupil Potion.
Originally, such secret knowledge was only to be given to you after you graduated," Scholar Hyde explained.
"Since you need it urgently now, I'll teach it to you early.
When you graduate later, there won't be any additional rewards, so don't blame me, your teacher, for being stingy."
"To refine the 'Emerald Pupil' potion, some rare herbs are needed.
I can provide you with one set for free, but after that, you'll have to prepare them yourself," he instructed again.
"I understand."
Sylvia took the book, then sat aside and re-copied the potion recipe onto a piece of paper.
Most of the herbs in the recipe did not have essence tiers and were just relatively rare herbs.
However, one main ingredient required fresh flower buds with the 'First Tier · Emerald Honey' essence.
This single plant alone would cost nearly 70 silver, so it was no wonder Scholar Hyde couldn't be generous; if he subsidized every student, he probably couldn't afford it.
In total, the material cost would be around 90 silver, the girl estimated in her heart.
This was still the ideal situation; if any of the herbs were difficult to find, the cost would increase.
"Thank you, Teacher."
After finishing the transcription, the girl bowed in thanks.
"Alright, take my list and go find Manson.
He'll have the materials ready for you in a couple of days.
The reason I'm not giving you money is because some materials are very difficult to buy even with money."
Indeed, under Scholar Hyde's name, it would be easy to obtain materials from various guilds and nobles in the city, but for an unknown person, it would be extremely difficult...
While Sylvia worked hard on her path as a Gardener, other students in her cohort were also gradually forming their own plans.
"Mike, aren't you going to class today? Why are you back?"
In a courtyard in the lower district, an Adventurer team member saw the young man walk in.
"We don't have class today," Mike replied, though he clearly had something on his mind.
"Is Big Brother Jello here?"
"Not right now, probably at the bar."
"The bar, huh? Then I'll go straight there."
Half an hour later, Mike finally found a drunken Jello in the dim bar and helped him out.
"Big Brother Jello, there's something I need your help with."
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"Wh-what is it... you say."
Jello was still somewhat tipsy, waving his right hand wildly in the air, and the accompanying force almost made Mike lose his grip.
"It's like this, next month we students will have an assessment, and if we get one of the top spots, there will be great rewards."
Mike gritted his teeth.
"So, I want to improve my strength to get a good score in the assessment, and that requires some help."
"Haha... what kind of help? Just say it directly."
Jello sobered up a bit.
"I need blood wine to improve my Breathing Technique."
Mike felt a little ashamed; he seemed too reliant on his Big Brother, even though the two were not blood relatives, but had met through Adventurer work.
"Heh, I thought it was something big."
Jello's large palm patted Mike's shoulder.
"Here, take it!"
He fumbled with his finger inside his waistband, pulling out a shiny gold coin.
The gold coin, a metallic disc glowing with a pale golden luster, also bore the image of a Cold Plume Bird, indicating its origin from the Winter Kingdom in the north.
Mike looked at the gold coin, his emotions complex, with gratitude, nervousness, guilt, and a hint of anticipation.
Clutching the warm gold coin in his hand, Mike helped Jello back to his room in the small courtyard to rest.
After explaining to his friend, Mike left with the gold coin, heading to the Adventurers Guild.
There, the Guild sold 'blood wine', a medicinal wine refined from the blood of First Tier and above beasts, which could enhance abilities related to the 'Blood Law' essence and was also very suitable for Breathing Technique training.
"With this, I can break through to the second stage of the Breathing Technique within a month."
Mike walked out, clutching the crimson wine bottle, secretly making up his mind.
Once he gained strength in the future, he would definitely repay Big Brother Jello.
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