Creak—
Cicadas chirped as dappled sunlight fell from the branches of towering oak trees, scattering across He Xi's light footsteps.
The sea of green delighted him.
Summer sunlight poured down, and this lush garden nestled within the city had reached its most verdant season of the year.
The sea breeze blowing in from the eastern shore passed through the staggered towers, carrying away the afternoon's stifling heat.
What a beautiful afternoon.
Intermittent muttering drifted over from afar; some magical pet tucked away in a corner was probably snoring.
In the muddy ground before him, the giant frog was croaking, "Grribbit, grribbit."
The hum of flying insects' wings, the rustle of wind brushing through leaves, and the faint cries of beasts in the distance.
Woven together, these sounds did not strike He Xi as noisy. Instead, they gave him a long-lost sense of peace.
On his way here, He Xi had passed the Griffin breeding area and seen a pure-white Griffin, along with two common military Griffins.
Two senior students were tending to them nearby.
Only after asking around did He Xi learn that the two military Griffins had been brought here temporarily for breeding.
As for the white one—it actually belonged to the old dwarf himself!
Learning that the old dwarf was still teaching, He Xi had come to the pond where this giant frog was kept, his heart brimming with excitement.
He did not immediately begin practicing [Withered Leaves Bloom].
A great many plants used to feed Demonic Beasts were grown in this magical pet garden. He still needed the old dwarf's permission for such a matter.
With nothing else to do, He Xi found a stone to sit on and continued studying [Major Image].
The steady white noise was like the breeze around him, sweeping away the distracting