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The temperature across Verdant Ridge plummeted.
“My seedlings!” Laurence cried out.
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He darted into the field, frantically trying to rescue them. “Mack, can you stop with the ice and snow? These little seedlings can’t take the freeze, they’ll get ruined.”
Mack said flatly, “Laurence, even without the cold, your seedlings were doomed.”
Laurence grumbled, “Can’t you ever say something nice?”
Linda glanced at Aurelio and Mack, who were still bickering, then decided to stick with the safer option and headed over to Laurence’s side. “Laurence, how about I take a look?”
Laurence beamed at her. “You know how to grow things too? Come on, check these out, my precious seedlings I’ve been nurturing all year.”
Linda took a look at the roots and had a pretty good idea what the problem was.
They were dying of thirst.
Actually, the whole Verdant Ridge was bone dry. There was hardly any moisture in the air at all. It was a wonder anything had survived.
Linda raised her hand and unleashed the Cloudshaping Raincall.
Then she cast the Bug Banishment Technique.
After just a short while, the seedlings in the field sprang back to life, looking vibrant and healthy.
Laurence thought to himself, ‘Seriously? She did in minutes what took me a year. Is this what they call genius?‘
Laurence eyed Linda and whispered, “So, you want to apprentice under me?”
Mack just gave him a long, silent look.
Linda stepped back and bowed politely. “Laurence, it’s really not a big issue. Your aura is just a bit too overwhelming.
“It’s affecting the water element in the mountains and the field. If you conceal your aura a little, everything should return to normal.”
Laurence scratched his head. “But I thought I was already hiding it pretty well.”
No one could ever tell what his cultivation realm was.
Whenever he went down the mountain, people just thought he was just another humble farmer.
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Linda pointed at something hanging from his waist. “You’re hiding your aura well, but your magic tool isn’t hidden at all.”
Laurence pulled out the fan from his waist. “This one?”
He gave it a wave, and flames burst out from his side, sweeping toward half the mountain. Aurelio was lightning fast, he stepped up and threw a shield, stopping the blaze cold.
If he hadn’t, half the mountain would’ve gone up in flames.
Mack was losing it. “Laurence, seriously, why do you always have that thing on you?”
Laurence grumbled, “Hey, this is just a trophy I snagged from the Crimson Flame Demon Lord a few centuries back.
“I thought it looked cool, so I kept it. Verdant Ridge is always roasting. What’s wrong with waving it around for a breeze?”
Laurence widened his eyes and instantly tried to pin the blame on someone else.
Aurelio raised an eyebrow. “You really think that thing helps you cool off?”
Laurence tossed the fan to Linda, who caught it on reflex. “I never really paid it much mind. Who would’ve guessed this thing was the real troublemaker?”
“Laurence…” Linda said, offering the fan back to him with respectful hands.
Laurence waved her off. “It’s yours.”
Linda’s fingers tightened around it. “But this is a high–tier magic artifact.”
Laurence chuckled. “Not fancy enough for you? No worries. Drop by my Hermit’s Sanctum sometime, I’ve got
a whole stash of trophies I’ve collected over the years.”
“Well…” Linda was momentarily speechless.
She glanced over at Mack, who said, “Since Laurence is giving it to you, you should accept it.”
Linda bowed. “Thank you, Laurence.”
Laurence grinned from ear to ear.
Linda thought to herself, ‘Maybe I could make a copy of the Verdant Ridge Liturgy Rayford gave me and give
it to Laurence. It’s not some high–tier technique, but it should still come in handy for him.
Craig and Laura were all smiles for Linda.
Rafael asked, “Can you sell it?”
Linda grinned. “Sure, I’ll bundle you in the deal too.”
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Rafael was speechless. He thought, ‘Linda’s turning wicked!‘
Meanwhile, Mack was talking with Aurelio. Their exchange was quick and straightforward. “Let’s get to it?”
Aurelio replied, “Let’s do it.”
As they spoke, Mack pulled out three spirit herbs.
Aurelio nodded. “I told you, putting it in the Springwater Pool makes the flower bloom even faster.”
It was a vibrant green lotus.
There was also Blazing Nectar, only found deep within volcanoes, and Earth Core Marrow, which one could only get from the depths of the earth.
Wood, Metal, and Earth elements were all set.
Aurelio called out to Linda, “Come here, kid.”
With Mack’s encouragement, Linda walked over to Aurelio. She could feel Aurelio’s soul sweep over her, but there was no sense of intrusion or prying.
Instead, it was like a gentle, warm breeze.
It felt just like the care of an elder.
Aurelio looked genuinely surprised. “You really managed to absorb the Fire Mystique Crystal and the spring dew in just half a month? The restoration is so flawless. You must’ve put in a lot of effort.”
Linda replied honestly, “I used the time dilation in the Mystic Exchange. It actually took me over two months, not just half a month.”
When Linda mentioned using the time dilation in the Mystic Exchange, Mack, Laurence, and Aurelio exchanged glances, but none of them looked all that surprised.
Aurelio smiled. “That’s actually a pretty clever solution.”
Aurelio said, “Alright, I’ll help you heal now. It might hurt a bit, so try to bear with it.”
Linda nodded. “Okay.”
Seeing this, Laurence waved his hand, and a gust of wind whisked Laura, Craig, and Rafael off to the far side of the ridge. “Go have some fun for a bit.”
Then he threw up a barrier with a flick of his wrist.
He held down the fort himself, keeping watch.
Mack kept watch from the other side.
Aurelio sat down across from Linda.
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Two top–tier experts were guarding the formation, and a master alchemist was treating her.
Linda couldn’t help but think, ‘What did I do to deserve this?‘
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Aurelio said gently, “Your mentor told me you’re stubborn. You probably tried to fix your Gilded Core all by yourself. But kid, you don’t have to be so tough when there are adults around.
“That’s what we’re here for, to shield you from the storms.”
Wood mana poured over Linda like a warm shaft of sunlight, and she could feel her body slowly loosening up under its gentle warmth.
But after all those close calls with death, her body stayed tense, unable to fully let go.
“Relax,” Aurelio said softly.
Linda kept reminding herself, ‘Relax…‘
She finally started to relax inside.
“Bring out your Gilded Cores,” Aurelio said.
Linda formed a hand seal, and five Gilded Cores drifted out from her body. With a gentle motion, Aurelio made the cores shift, and three of the cracked ones floated right in front of him.
Aurelio raised his hand, and the three rare herbs soared up, landing in front of Linda’s Gilded Cores.
With Aurelio’s powerful Aether Transcendence cultivation, the medicinal essence from the herbs was drawn forth, weaving through the Gilded Cores way faster than Linda could ever manage on her own.
It was mending and nurturing her Gilded Cores, as well as her spell circuits.
Linda could feel something moving inside her belly.
The agonizing pain and wounds from when her Gilded Core was ripped out were slowly being healed.
Linda instantly realized that fixing her Gilded Core was just a bonus, Aurelio was here to treat her internal injuries and the lingering aftereffects left behind after her Gilded Core was taken.
The lingering chill and poison left in her spell circuits from that time she was forced to kneel at Glacial Overlook were slowly pulled away, bit by bit.
Warmth poured in, filling every inch of her.
Linda’s eyes grew misty as she let herself soak in Aurelio’s gentle mana, accepting the elder’s care. For the first time in ages, she truly relaxed.
But then, a vision flashed before Linda’s eyes.
She saw a young man with an old man’s face standing between roaring volcanoes, the blazing heat eating away at his mana.
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Yet he still cradled an unconscious youth, slowly channeling his own life force into him, bit by bit.
“Kid, you have to survive,” a gentle voice came.
Linda’s eyes went wide.
That young man was Craig.
AD
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
