The sunflower that grew a soul (please keep reading)

The sunflower field.

Eleven sunflowers grew in neat rows in the Magic Field.

Each faced the sun, its golden seeds shimmering with a halo of magic power. Their reserves had grown considerably over this period.

He estimated that each seed was now two or three times more potent than before.

Moreover, the sunflower seeds Kroya had picked had miraculously grown back. This was what made these sunflowers magic plants: their seeds could grow back indefinitely.

As long as they had enough magic power, they could keep producing seeds.

Among them, one crimson sunflower stood out.

It stood in the center of the sunflower field. It was not particularly tall, but its flower head flickered like crimson flames.

Its petals were not solid, but an illusory blossom formed from fire magic power. Its leaves and stem had also mutated, becoming translucent.

Wisps of crimson magic power flowed within them.

Faintly, he could even hear rhythms resembling the strange music Kroya produced during meditation.

Aside from still looking like a sunflower, it had essentially become a peculiar elemental magic plant.

Its description had also changed somewhat-

[Red Sunflower (Song of Red · First three movements)]

[Under the influence of the Song of Red's magic power, the sunflower developed an intense admiration and yearning for sunlight, causing it to mutate.]

[As it grows, it will continuously absorb crimson magic power and release strange music praising the sun, influencing and transforming nearby sunflowers.]

[It can release Crimson Light Chant and Sunflare Ray, and precisely control magic power through Crimson Rondo and Quiet Little Serenade.]

[Current effects of red music: accelerated growth, accelerated magic power accumulation, increased power of inscribed spells.]

[It is gradually developing a soul.]

Indeed, when Kroya had come here in his spare time and discovered it, he had been genuinely startled.

What kind of genius was this sunflower?

It had mutated simply because of his magic power, learned some of the Song of Red's rhythms, and was even developing a soul.

It was simply unbelievable.

He had immediately inscribed all three movements of the Song of Red he had learned so far into its astral spirit body.

Then it had entered this peculiar state.

To test whether this particular sunflower was special or whether the entire batch was, Kroya had even treated another sunflower using the same method.

All he got was a little pile of ash.

Only after losing a sunflower had Kroya accepted the situation and decided that focusing on cultivating this one would be enough.

Of course, its developing a soul was both good and bad-it had learned his Song of Red, and Kroya intended to inscribe the remaining movements into it as well.

He really wanted to see what would happen when a sunflower, which already loved the sun, learned the Poem of Rainbow Light that praised it.

Ensuring its loyalty was essential.

Kroya was already prepared to buy a contract produced by the Nature Temple when the time came. Those scrolls provided the strongest possible guarantee that a magic plant or magical beast could not betray its master.

He had to admit, if the Elf God, who governed nature, wanted to bring a magic plant or magical beast to heel, they would have it firmly under their thumb.

He walked forward, forcibly inserted the prepared magic-conducting pipe straight into a sunflower's body, then communicated with the Red Sunflower through his spiritual power.

"Make them hand over their magic power!"

The mage issued this utterly shameless command.

The crimson sunflower, however, was perfectly obedient.

"~~~"

The music it emitted changed, and invisible ripples spread outward.

The seeds of the sunflower into which Kroya had inserted the magic-conducting pipe began losing their color. Wisps of magic power flowed backward and entered the pipe.

Finally, the power flowed visibly along the pipes embedded underground and into the magic pool in Kroya's laboratory.

It was golden, gaseous magic power. Filtered through the sunflowers, it had lost every trace of volatility, becoming exceedingly pure sunflame power.

Like the golden light of dawn, it was sacred and radiant.

Sunlight was inherently full of vitality. This sunflame magic power could be turned into a potion for mages to drink with almost no processing.

It was highly beneficial to ordinary people too. Its effects were much more intense than the Sea Spirit Coconut Potion's, making it suitable for those who needed a powerful stimulus to help them recover.

"Just as I thought, this is a sustainable source of solar energy!" Kroya was extremely pleased.

Next, he fitted pipes to all ten remaining sunflowers, one after another. Watching the magic power they had painstakingly accumulated flow into his pool put him in an exceptionally cheerful mood.

The feeling of reaping a harvest really was delightful.

It was just... a little lacking in quantity.

Could he find a way to get more sunflower seeds?

Due to a certain limitation of these magic plants, the sunflowers needed stimulation from special potions or magic power before they could produce seeds capable of germinating.

He had actually been considering this problem for some time, but only after seeing the results for himself did he decide to act. He planned to write a letter to the original owner's good friend and sound him out.

If the man still felt friendship toward the original owner, rather than letting their relationship fade after his departure, they could make a few modest trades.

For more seeds, or perhaps even the method itself.

After all, that man's teacher was an Archmage.

Building a good relationship with him, gradually strengthening it and exerting influence, would allow Kroya to put obstacles in his enemy's path and ultimately crush them for good.

It would also help him learn what was happening in the Mage Association, rather than leave him completely in the dark.

Most importantly, the Mage Association had the largest collection of magical texts. Obtaining knowledge through internal channels would be considerably cheaper than paying the Sacred Spring Trade Guild's high prices.

Finally, there was another crucial point: he was still a lord appointed to an outside territory by the Mage Association. With that connection, many people would think twice before harboring ill intentions toward him.

Managing that relationship sensibly was certainly necessary.

Having made his decision, Kroya left the sunflower field, returned to the laboratory, wrote a letter, and instructed Rob to send someone to deliver it.

Once that matter was settled, he glanced at the Magic-Storing Hanging Flask Grass, which had largely taken shape, and began making a potion with the sunflame power in the magic pool.

Since it required virtually no processing, Kroya simply added sunflame power to some pure spring water and completed a bottle of glittering golden potion.

It sparkled like dew illuminated by the morning sun, its golden halo giving off a very gentle feeling.

"It worked. Now it's time to sell it."

He planned to try selling this potion directly to the Sacred Spring Trade Guild. The earlier Sea Spirit Coconut Potion was nothing particularly rare, and they might have considered it beneath their notice.

But this potion was probably unique to him in the entire world.

He immediately took out the Sacred Spring Crystal Card, summoned the sacred spring, tossed the potion into it, and asked for a price.

Yet despite waiting patiently for quite some time, he received no response.

Just as he began wondering whether his potion was going to be returned, the familiar female voice came from within. This time, however, she sounded rather serious:

"Esteemed customer, your product has attracted the attention of a master potion maker within our trade guild. Would you be willing to speak with him face-to-face?

"Under a contract witnessed by the God of Order, neither of you will be able to discern the other's identity. No being will be able to observe this conversation, not even the gods!"

Kroya froze when he heard this.

Thanks to Mengzhong Lu for the monthly ticket, and to everyone for your recommendation tickets. Please, please keep reading-it really matters to this book QAQ.