Returning to Madame Falan's estate, Xilutaiya informed the lady that she would be setting out tomorrow.
"So soon?" The blonde noblewoman was slightly surprised.
"Still, since the time has come, there is no changing it. Follow me." She rose to her feet and led Xilutaiya toward the estate's underground storeroom.
Passing through a long, narrow stepped corridor, Madame Falan produced a key, unlocked the door at the lowest level, and stepped inside.
Here rested several distinctive bluestone boxes, seemingly meant to seal and suppress whatever lay within. Madame Falan walked straight toward one of them and pressed her fingers against the stone. A flurry of golden patterns rippled outward, spreading across the box in designs of twigs and creeping vines, followed by a soft click.
Madame Falan opened the stone box and lifted out a lantern, sparking Xilutaiya's intense curiosity.
At the top of the lantern was a carrying ring meant to be held by hand. Beneath it sat an eaved, four-cornered roof, which gave way below to a cylindrical glass vessel etched with faint patterns on its base. The glass was protected by an ornamental railing of openwork black iron, and at the very bottom was a round pedestal, allowing it to rest steadily on the ground.
[Four-Cornered Cup Lantern] (Second-Order · Rare): A specialized lantern that uses honey as wax and blossoms as wicks, crafted specifically for gardeners to channel plant-type secret arts. (Enhances the effects of the Bloom Art; different liquids can be introduced to trigger varied effects.)
"This lantern is my parting gift to you before the assessment." Madame Falan placed the lantern into Xilutaiya's palms.
"Even though it is only a second-order creation, the difficulty of crafting one is extraordinarily high. More often than not, only third-order gardeners can obtain one."
Looking down at the lantern in her hands, Xilutaiya found it remarkably well balanced and comfortable to hold—likely a heritage piece refined through the hands of many gardeners.
"In addition, I have prepared an outer garment for you." Madame Falan opened another stone box and retrieved a hooded robe with a thick, resilient texture.
"It is woven from fibers of tendon grass. If you ever learn the thread-drawing and weaving abilities under the Tailor profession in the future, you will be able to mend any damage sustained in battle yourself."
With that, Madame Falan placed the somewhat heavy garment into Xilutaiya's hands.
"I possess more valuable treasures, but they are not suitable for you. Giving them to you would only invite needless prying and trouble. Furthermore, high-order extraordinary creations carry potent attribute power. If your own rank is insufficient, you will be disrupted by it, and over time, it will even harm your foundation," Madame Falan cautioned her.
"I understand. Thank you, Madame." Accepting the gifts, Xilutaiya bowed in gratitude.
In response, Madame Falan gently stroked Xilutaiya's hair, then led her out of the underground storeroom.
"Come, let us first test the effects of that lantern."
Returning above ground, Madame Falan and Xilutaiya made their way to the small room, where the Fire Cloud Orchids were only a hair's breadth away from blooming fully.
"Without catalysis, they would probably take until tomorrow noon to open," Madame Falan assessed after a brief inspection.
"Now is the time to test what you have learned. Use your Dew Prayer and Branch Trimming ability to bring them into bloom today." Madame Falan stepped aside, gesturing for Xilutaiya to proceed.
"Yes." Xilutaiya approached the bed, resting one hand lightly on a stem as a brilliant gleam stirred in her eyes.
Amid clusters of lush verdant leaves, orange-red orchids of various sizes dotted the greenery. Their hues ranged from orange-yellow and fiery red to a deeper, more concentrated pomegranate red. Today, Xilutaiya's target was those few pomegranate-red Fire Cloud Orchids.
A faint glow of Emerald Honey rose from her palm, then flowed into the pomegranate-red blossoms.
Soon, the inner veins and vascular pathways of the Fire Cloud Orchids surfaced clearly in the young girl's mind. The state of every single leaf and every root and stem was rendered completely before her. Armed with this understanding, she began executing the Branch Trimming Method, regulating and harmonizing the plant's internal conditions.
As their state gradually neared perfection, she guided the Fire Cloud Orchids once more to absorb the dripping Emerald Dew Water, driving that energy to surge into the crucial bud sites.
Slowly, the half-opened blossoms began to stretch outward. Their pomegranate-red color shifted as well, softening in places while speckles of deep crimson converged toward the stamen.
***
Half an hour later, the fully opened petals unfurled in a brilliant fiery red like vibrant ribbons of flame. At the center of the petals, the tiny stamen now resembled specks of embers, radiating a faint glow and warmth.
[Fire Cloud Orchid] (Flawless-96): In bloom. Thanks to your meticulous nurturing, this Fire Cloud Orchid has bloomed in full perfection. As a reward for your extraordinarily attentive cultivation, nature bestows upon you a condensation of the Emerald Honey attribute.
[Fire Cloud Orchid] (First-Order · Emerald Honey): The manifestation of a gardener's meticulous care and patient cultivation. The stamen flickers like tiny sparks, radiating light and heat. Once these stamens fall, they expand into blazing fireballs, releasing the energy stored within.
From this cluster of Fire Cloud Orchids, Xilutaiya had relied on her own ability to catalyze and bloom five flowers imbued with the First-Order Emerald Honey attribute.
Afterward, under Madame Falan's guidance, Xilutaiya carefully transplanted three of the Fire Cloud Orchids, securing them inside the lantern.
"Inside the upper compartment of the lantern lies a concealed reservoir for liquids. Pour in the Emerald Dew Water you condensed yourself," Madame Falan instructed once more.
"Yes."
Xilutaiya retrieved the 99% concentrated Emerald Dew Water she had stored in the room and poured it carefully inside.
"Very good. Now take the lantern and follow me."
Madame Falan led Xilutaiya to an open lawn in the back courtyard.
"First, feel the lantern's internal structure. In the manner of the Bloom Art, channel your power through the lantern and into the Fire Cloud Orchids."
"Understood." Xilutaiya steadied her breathing, closed her eyes, and attuned her senses. A gentle glow spread from her wrist into the lantern in her hand.
The energy of the Bloom Art moved unobstructed through the lantern's framework, connecting to the three Fire Cloud Orchids within. Stimulated and amplified by this power, the flickering spark-like stamens brightened rapidly. Moments later, an invisible wave of heat surged from the lantern's base, blasting outward in all directions.
The scorching heatwave whipped Xilutaiya's clothes and hair. Where it swept across the lawn, dry grass and scattered clippings caught fire, and several lighter branches were flung rolling across the turf, trailing wisps of pale smoke.
"Mm. It seems you have grasped the basics of how to use it." Madame Falan nodded.
Since it was her first attempt, Xilutaiya had used only thirty percent of her strength. Had she catalyzed it with the full force of her Bloom Art, it might well have instantly ignited and incinerated the large trees in the back courtyard.
"Even so, you must accustom yourself to this ability several more times. Otherwise, the concussive heatwave will inflict harm upon yourself as well," Madame Falan instructed.
"Yes, Teacher."
Xilutaiya looked at the lantern with genuine wonder. Though she was composed by nature, she could not entirely conceal the delight fluttering in her heart, like a child who had just received a brand-new toy.
"Heh, go on and give it a proper try." Madame Falan smiled, taking it all in.
"Furthermore, if you press the concealed button atop the lantern, you can release droplets of the stored Emerald Dew Water onto the flowers, further enhancing its power.
"However, you should exercise great caution with that function. In my view, your Fire Cloud Orchids are cultivated exceptionally well, as is your Bloom Art. When all these factors stack together, even as the controlling gardener, you could still be burned by the heat and flames of the Fire Cloud Orchids."
Her own First-Order Emerald Honey, combined with three First-Order Emerald Honey Fire Cloud Orchids, further amplified by the Emerald Dew Water and the Bloom Art—the resulting power was easily more than tenfold that of an ordinary first-order spell, rivaling certain second-order spells, Madame Falan estimated silently.
At present, Xilutaiya was like a child wielding a greatsword far beyond her own strength. Though its might was astonishing, as her teacher and elder, Madame Falan could not help but worry whether she might end up hurting herself.
Still, the child's talent was truly extraordinary. Even when handling power that vastly exceeded her rank, she could manipulate it with exquisite precision. In all likelihood, there would be no trouble.
Chapter 90