Chapter 224: A Queen Who Could Farm

Fendrel’s eyes widened.

Being rejected when he was only Rare had been one thing. But Cassian didn’t want the Queen either?

"You are... very direct, Lord."

Sylvara had never expected to be unwanted. This man would even pay an extra hundred million Aether to send her away!

She swallowed her resentment and managed a smile.

"As Pandora’s former Queen, I must remain beside the Ancient Tree and protect it. That will never change."

Then she added, "I also possess several plant-based arts, as well as Nature Will. I can make the Tree grow faster."

Cassian’s eyes lit up.

Why hadn’t she said so in the first place?

"Deal!"

He accepted her request. Sylvara’s powerful presence abruptly faded as her Level returned to 1.

[Sylvara — Legendary Three-Star]

[Level: 1]

[Affinity: 88]

[Physique: 15 | Aether: 54 (+540) | Spirit: 58 (+540) | Load: 19]

[Art: Nature Power — Grade A, Practiced]

[Skills: Nature Will — Grade A, Practiced; All Things Grow — Grade B, Greater Mastery; Thorn Overgrowth — Grade B, Lesser Perfection; Rejuvenation — Grade B, Lesser Perfection...]

[Hero Command: Elf Mages — Grade A; Elf Hunters — Grade A; Elf Rangers — Grade A]

[Combat Rating: 306 stars]

Her attributes were better than he had expected. At the same Quality, they would compare well with Liora’s. She had been an Elven Queen, after all.

Beyond dozens of attack spells, she possessed several powerful farming skills. Her Command covered almost every kind of Elf troop, all at Grade A.

Perhaps he should recruit some Elves once the Ancient Tree matured.

Fendrel stepped forward, putting aside his complicated feelings.

"My lord, I’ve advanced to Epic. Might you accept me as a Hero in the future?"

"I’m afraid not. You’re too weak."

The Elf did not seem discouraged. He merely sighed.

"Then I suppose I can only serve as an ordinary troop in your Domain."

"Well..." Cassian tried to spare his feelings. "I’m sorry. You’re too weak for that too."

Neither Elf had anything to say.

At last, Sylvara turned to her follower.

"Fendrel, take our people back to Pandora."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After he left, she carefully planted the Ancient Tree of Life beside the Fountain and used all her farming skills on it.

[Your Fountain of Life is affected by the Ancient Tree of Life. All traits increased by 30%.]

Cassian stared at the notice.

"It improves the Fountain too?"

He opened the Building’s panel. Life Essence production had risen to four bottles per Realm Day. Life Water had reached a hundred and thirty.

What a pleasant surprise.

"The Ancient Tree and the Fountain of Life support one another," Sylvara said, puzzled. "You were so determined to acquire the Tree that I thought you already knew."

"I didn’t," Cassian admitted freely. "And there’s no need to be so formal with me. Relax a little."

He spent three hundred and eighty million Battle Essence to raise her to Level 65. Then he took out the Heavenly Garrison Farming Art book that had been sitting in storage for so long and handed it to her.

"This is..."

Wonder and delight crossed Sylvara’s face as she read the description.

"What a powerful farming art. Stronger than my All Things Grow. Used regularly, it could shorten the Ancient Tree’s growth cycle by at least half."

She learned the skill. Cassian smiled.

"Since you’ll be tending the Tree anyway, there are a few other plants I’d like you to look after when you have time. One sapling in particular."

Her initial Affinity was already high, and the Ancient Tree’s future now rested in his Domain. He had little reason to worry about her loyalty.

Sylvara agreed without hesitation.

As Cassian showed her through the planting sections, one startled exclamation followed another.

"Legendary Moonrice..."

"Heavens. Legendary Moonfruit too!"

The workers astonished her next.

"Legendary harvesters! How do you have so many?"

Then she saw the little tree in the Enclosure.

"Another Mythic sapling!"

In the Enclosure, she had barely recovered from the sight of the Enlightenment Tea Tree when she sensed something else.

"Not just separate spaces," she said numbly. "Time acceleration too..."

Within ten minutes, her Affinity rose to 94.

She looked at Cassian with fresh wonder.

"Lord, I’m very glad I made that choice."

He smiled. There was much more in Forgotten Shrine that could astonish her. She had seen only a small part of it.

With the Farming site, Sylvara’s abilities, and Heavenly Garrison Farming Art working together, the Enlightenment Tea Tree’s growth cycle could be cut by at least half again.

Cassian’s mood improved further.

He was in less of a hurry with the Ancient Tree of Life. He already had eighteen Faerie Dragons, as well as the Dawnwing Pool and the Eclipse Hall. He hardly needed to wait for the Tree to supply him with a strong army.

There was one concern, though.

"It may be a sapling now, but a fully grown Ancient Tree of Life takes up at least as much space as a Dragon nest."

He had seen how large a Faerie Nest could be. Space in his Domain was becoming a concern again.

Cassian yawned. The Governorship contest had kept him going for twenty-four hours, and he was beginning to feel it.

He did not go to bed. Instead, he headed straight for the Skyreach Tower.

The Tower still kept separate Provincial Rankings. His record here remained Floor 10, with 1,010 Skyreach Points. He had fallen outside the top hundred on both lists.

[Skyreach Tower Ranking]

[1. Darian Frost — Floor 19]

[2. Elara Vayne — Floor 18]

[...]

[Skyreach Points Ranking]

[1. Darian Frost — 2,806 points]

[2. Elara Vayne — 2,418 points]

[...]

The Contest of Champions had always used the points list for this stage. It stopped powerful Lords from moving into weaker Provinces at the last moment and taking all their places.

That was the reason for Cassian’s present disadvantage.

He had already done the calculations. Clear Floor Thirty over the next few days, and he could reach the top hundred without even driving out the Black Banner’s strongest Lords.

His actual record during his time in Swordheart was Floor Thirty-Five.

He could have gone farther. He had stopped because further floors might have cost him troops.

Light flashed. Cassian entered the Tower with part of his Hero and troop force.

"So the Black Banner wants to keep me out of the Contest of Champions?" He chuckled. "I’ll reach Floor Thirty first and put an end to that hope."