A huge haul! (Please keep reading)

"Magic fields?"

Lady Seagull looked slightly puzzled. Was this master planning to grow magic plants himself? Or were they for his disciple?

How wonderful. Her own mentor had never been so considerate toward her.

After that wistful thought, she consulted the Deep Blue Terminal. Once she received an answer, she nodded. "We can offer you three magic field methods to choose from."

As she spoke, she took out three sheets of parchment and handed them to Kroya.

He accepted them and read through them quickly but carefully.

He couldn't help marveling at how comprehensive the Sacred Spring Trade Guild's offerings were. It certainly lived up to its reputation.

The first option was to provide the Sacred Spring Trade Guild with environmental data and a terrain map. They would then custom-build a magic field of the required size and magical tier.

The second was to give Kroya a magic array. He could adjust both its size and the magical tier within it, with the latter changing according to its size. Its limits were the mana concentration of a tier-five magic field and an area of five thousand hectares.

The third was to give Kroya a peculiar magic plant capable of gradually transforming the land into a magic field suitable for growing plants of the corresponding attribute.

Each plant cost ten tier-two magic crystals, equivalent to one thousand low-grade magic crystals.

Honestly, Kroya personally preferred the third option. The first required him to provide a terrain map and environmental data. Even with their assurances of confidentiality, he still felt uneasy.

The second seemed better suited to planting across vast plains. An island like his... wasn't really suitable.

For one thing, he had limited space. For another, he didn't have magic plants of such high tiers. If he reduced the array to one thousand hectares or less, he would need at least tier-four magic plants to withstand the mana concentration inside.

That left only the third option.

According to the description, it could not only create magic fields of different attributes, but also raise their tiers over time as it grew and accumulated mana.

There was apparently no upper limit at all-though who knew how long he would have to cultivate it, or how many resources he would have to provide?

Frankly, they would never have offered a strategic-grade magic plant like this if they hadn't needed to compensate Kroya and erase their only oversight in a thousand years.

But the Sacred Spring Trade Guild's reputation meant everything!

That was why the Deep Blue Terminal had made this decision.

Kroya nodded calmly. "I'll take that one, then. It'll make a perfect gift for my disciple."

"Certainly. Once you leave here, the Magic Spring Jellyfish and the magic field grape vine will be delivered to you."

"Mm."

Kroya nodded and returned to their earlier topic on his own initiative. "I don't intend to supply many Morning Dew Potions."

"You..." Seagull thought the earlier incident had left Kroya dissatisfied and was about to try persuading him-she was genuinely interested in this potion unlike anything she had ever seen.

Besides, the Deep Blue Terminal had rated it highly. It would certainly generate considerable profits for the guild.

"There's no need to rush."

Kroya gestured for her to be patient. "This morning dew mana is the latest result of my ongoing research and experiments. It's still unstable, and production is limited.

I'm sure you've noticed that, although the mana within it is wondrous and unusual, its actual tier isn't particularly high."

"...That did puzzle me." Seagull nodded. "Its purity is no better than that of a tier-one magic crystal. For potion masters like us, that's very low indeed."

"Then you should also understand that, for people like us, such an inferior potion... is an insult to us even to offer it to others."

"Heh. If not for what your guild did, I wouldn't have brought out this unfinished product to test you."

Kroya's tone was laden with meaning. "It seems your guild is still worth working with. What happened before hasn't repeated itself."

Seagull could only respond with a somewhat awkward smile. Inwardly, she cursed that newcomer in the magical material identification department again and resolved to report this incident to her superiors.

Simply holding them accountable was nowhere near enough.

Losing even one valuable customer was an enormous loss the Sacred Spring Trade Guild could not accept!

Having played the master, Kroya finally continued at his leisure. "But since you've compensated me to my satisfaction, I'm willing to sell you the potions.

I'll need to raise the price to thirty magic crystals per bottle. Once I produce higher-tier potions in the future, I'll give you first consideration, my lady.

I have five bottles in total. Together with the remaining magic crystals from earlier, I'd like to exchange them for the magic plants my disciple needs.

Do you have any low-tier magic plant seeds suitable for cultivation?"

"So you're also a master who cares deeply for his disciple... Well, I can recommend two magic plants. Both are very suitable for beginners."

After offering that compliment, she took out another sheet of parchment and handed it over.

"Oh."

Kroya glanced over it, his eyes narrowing slightly-the magic plants listed were called "soothing lily" and "thicksoil potato."

Both were tier-two magic plants, but they were just right for Kroya.

The former's pollen and petals could be used to extract an essential oil that improved a mage's meditation efficiency; the latter offered high yields, and eating it regularly could strengthen the body.

One for a mage, one for a knight or warrior.

It seemed she had indeed put some serious thought into her recommendations.

They were quite suitable.

"All right, I'll take those two." He agreed.

Seagull's gaze seemed to go blank for a moment before she answered, "For your requirements, soothing lilies cost one tier-two magic crystal per ten plants, and thicksoil potatoes cost one per twenty plants.

I consulted the Deep Blue Terminal, and it agreed to value each potion you sell at one tier-two magic crystal.

So we'll split the amount equally between the two. Would that be acceptable, Master Astral Spirit?"

"Yes."

"Then, in accordance with the guild's regulations for selling magic plants, both varieties have undergone special treatment. They will lose their vitality after reproducing for two generations.

If you wish to purchase the potion formula for preserving their vitality, you must become a Level Four Member and pay one thousand tier-two magic crystals." Her voice took on the formulaic cadence of a well-trained employee.

"..."

What a bunch of profiteers. So I can't keep growing them forever after all. Still, two generations wasn't bad. He knew they wouldn't sell him something once and let him grow it indefinitely.

How else would they make money?

He nodded to show that he understood.

"Then it's been a pleasure doing business with you. Once you put the potions in, the seeds will be delivered to you.

I hope we'll have another opportunity to meet."

Seagull bowed slightly, and within moments, the entire Deep Blue Illusion faded away.

Kroya returned to the real world. He shook his head, immediately made four bottles of potion, and tossed them into the spring.

The spring bubbled away. Soon, a huge pile of items tumbled out, scattering like flowers tossed by a celestial maiden and filling half the laboratory.

At the same time, the female voice rang out again. "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. Your points have been updated.

Your current Membership Points total is 3,554.

Advancement to the next membership level requires ten thousand points.

We wish you a pleasant shopping experience and a speedy advancement to a higher membership level."

The voice vanished along with the sacred spring.

Only Kroya remained in the laboratory, gazing at his enormous haul with an irrepressible smile.

He decided to start transforming the land around the castle tomorrow!

Thank you to Zhou Feihu, Netherworld ☆ Ghost Dragon, Old Lazybones, Yandao, Young Master Cui, and Traveling Archmage for your monthly tickets, and to everyone for your recommendation votes.

My daily plea: please keep reading. Thank you, everyone!