Chapter 146: Toad Advancement
In the afternoon, the wind passed through the summer woodland.
Xilutiya sat by the pool behind the small house, her two feet soaking in the cool flowing water. This time, while building various buildings, she incidentally built a water pipe from the well side pool, directing the water to the side of her small garden, so she no longer had to bother fetching water every time.
Waiting for this pebble-lined pool to gradually fill up, Xilutiya turned off the nearby faucet, continued soaking for a while, her two feet happily splashing the water, played for a bit before lifting them again, let them air dry, then put her shoes back on.
Picking up the watering can and filling it with clear water, she began watering the trees and flowers and grass in the garden.
Two new apple trees had been added here, but they were currently still in the seedling state, slightly shorter than the maiden’s height.
“Grow up quickly.” Xilutiya sprinkled water at the tree roots, then placed her hand on the thinner tree branch, a faint emerald color glow emerged, this apple seedling began absorbing moisture, and little by little grew sprouts, extending its trunk.
After a short while, she let go of her hand and came to another apple tree, repeating the previous action.
Emerald Dew Water + Branch Combing Method + Natural Perception + Discernment Eyes, the combined power of these four allowed her to reach an astonishing realm in the field of nurturing plants. For Xilutiya now, nurturing ‘perfect’ quality plants was basically effortless.
Generally, gardeners learn Dew Prayer Method at First Order, come into contact with Branch Combing Method at Second Order, and merge the two at the late Second Order stage to condense into a class ability. Even so, raising this class ability to Lv.3 is very difficult. There are very few who can raise 【Gardener Apprentice】 to Lv.4 at Second Order. At that point, without the boost of Discernment Eyes, it would be hard to catch up to Xilutiya’s current level.
Probably only at mid-Third Order, with further improvement in nurturing ability, could they catch up to Xilutiya’s current proficiency. At that time, even geniuses are mostly 30-40 years old, but Xilutiya has been on the path of cultivating as a Transcendent for less than a year.
If others knew her real situation, they would probably be shocked speechless. In the Royal Capital, she would be a genius rising star drawing everyone’s attention.
However, currently staying at the woodland outpost in the Shadow World, communication is inconvenient, only a few people have heard that there is a newly advanced Second Order student with very fast speed, but no one knows how long she took to advance or how she advanced.
Such rapid advancement naturally makes those who hear about it suspect she took a shortcut.
After tending to her small garden, Xilutiya put on her sun hat and came to the field at the foot of the slope from the small house. It was now August, the sunlight blazing, walking in the fields, occasional summer winds blew by, lifting her skirt and revealing her fair legs.
Her sandals stepped on the field ridge, occasionally needing to jump over potholes, Xilutiya’s silver-white long hair floated up and fell in the wind.
50 days had passed since this batch of wheat seed was planted, currently in the booting stage, probably harvestable in another two weeks.
【Wheat】（Rare-81）: Growth condition is excellent, expected to yield an abundant harvest.
After a bit more time, it could be raised to perfect, and harvest would not be far off then.
……
After tending to the wheat field, Xilutiya prepared to return to the small house, at this moment several Toad Sub-humans excitedly ran over.
“Gua, boss.”
“I advanced, gua.”
The leading Toad shouted happily, the others also happily following behind.
Advanced? Xilutiya was slightly surprised, but on second thought, after feeding them alfalfa buns for so long, it was indeed time for them to advance.
“Let me see.” She walked over, letting that red Toad stand still in front of her.
Race: Toad Sub-human（Enhanced）
Status: Healthy（Tamed）
Talent:
Amphibious【Good Grade】: Adapts to life both in water and on land, movement speed increases in water.
Fate Card: 【Blood Forest Frog】（First Order·Blood Law）
‘The Nature of Blood Law awakens in the body, strengthening various physical fitness while making the skin red’
–
Effect【Swift Swimming Body Lv.2】: The power of the ‘Blood Law’ Nature fills and circulates in the body, moderately enhancing one’s own constitution, increasing speed and reaction.
Ability Card:
【Toad Bloodline Lv.2】（Blood Law）: Your Toad bloodline has activated, allowing faster movement in water, rain, and humid environments, gaining burst power, immunity to some poisons.
After examining this Toad for a long time, Xilutiya understood its situation.
Although still not very strong after condensing the Nature, at least it was still growing, perhaps it would become more powerful in the future.
In the following days, other Toads advanced one after another, their condensed Natures were not all the same, among them ‘Emerald Honey’ and ‘Snail Fish’ were the most common, but there were also Toads with ‘Blood Law’ and ‘Blazing Sun’ Natures.
Fate Card: 【Emerald Forest Frog】（First Order·Emerald Honey）
‘The Nature of Emerald Honey awakens in the body, strengthening various physical fitness while making the skin emerald green’
–
Effect【Woodland Perception Lv.2】: Can distinguish and perceive the growth status of plants, knowing their current various states.（Effect is one-fourth of ‘Emerald Pupil’ potion）
Ability Card:
【Toad Bloodline Lv.1】（Blood Law）: Your Toad bloodline has activated, allowing faster movement in water, rain, and humid environments, gaining burst power, immunity to some poisons.
【Dew Prayer Method Lv.1】（Emerald Honey）: Gather morning mist in dawn light, transform Emerald Dew Water.（Emerald Dew Water can promote plant growth and nurture plants）
After seeing Xilutiya use Dew Prayer Method so many times, finally a Toad learned this ability, which brought a burst of surprise to the maiden’s heart.
——
Fate Card: 【Summer Forest Frog】（First Order·Blazing Sun）
‘The Nature of Blazing Sun awakens in the body, strengthening various physical fitness while making the skin orange-yellow’
–
Effect【Sunlight Skin Lv.2】: Can absorb the power of sunlight, enhancing one’s own vitality and stamina, and avoid sunburn.
Ability Card:
【Toad Bloodline Lv.1】（Blood Law）: Your Toad bloodline has activated, allowing faster movement in water, rain, and humid environments, gaining burst power, immunity to some poisons.
【Hot Wind Gust Lv.1】（Blazing Sun）: Can blow out airflow containing ‘Blazing Sun’ Nature, currently only usable for drying items, cannot yet burn or ignite.
Well, this guy is very useful for drying grain in the sun, drying, and separating grain kernels.
——
Fate Card: 【Rain Curtain Forest Frog】（First Order·Snail Fish）
‘The Nature of Snail Fish awakens in the body, strengthening various physical fitness while making the skin water blue’
–
Effect【Moist Body Lv.2】: Can swim quickly in water, and filter and absorb moisture through the skin.
Ability Card:
【Toad Bloodline Lv.1】（Blood Law）: Your Toad bloodline has activated, allowing faster movement in water, rain, and humid environments, gaining burst power, immunity to some poisons.
【Water Stream Jet Lv.1】（Snail Fish）: Can compress and jet out internal water flow, knocking down flying insects and small birds.
Perhaps this guy can be used for watering? Xilutiya thought.
In this week, 16 Toads advanced one after another. For easier management, she selected the strongest few from each Nature and gave them names.
“Your skin is red, so you’ll be called ‘Blood Frog’.” She pointed at the ‘Blood Law’ Nature Toad, blinked her eyes, and named it with a slight smile.
“Gua, I’m called ‘Blood Frog’.” The called Toad proudly walked to the front.
“Gua, Blood Frog, so awesome.” The other Toads that hadn’t condensed Natures looked on enviously and admiringly.
“From now on, you’ll be ‘Wood Frog’.” She pointed at another Toad that had condensed ‘Emerald Honey’ Nature.
“Gua, Wood Frog, gua.” It also proudly stepped forward, standing in front.
“You’ll be called… ‘Fire Frog’.” The maiden looked at this orange-skinned ‘Blazing Sun’ Nature Toad and named it.
“Gua, ‘Fire Frog’.” It also seemed quite excited.
Then, Xilutiya pointed at another ‘Snail Fish’ Nature Toad.
“You’ll be ‘Water Frog’.” This indisputable name.
Finally, that water blue Toad stepped out, croaked a few times, and stood together with the others.
“From now on, you four are the Four Great Guaguas, managing everyone in their work.” The maiden assigned them.
“Gua gua.” These four proudly croaked in front of their kin.
Among this batch of 16 advanced members, there were three red Toads with ‘Blood Law’ Nature, six water blue Toads with ‘Snail Fish’ Nature, two orange-yellow Toads with ‘Blazing Sun’ Nature, and five emerald green Toads with ‘Emerald Honey’ Nature.
Overall, ‘Snail Fish’ and ‘Emerald Honey’ were the most numerous, probably similar to their swamp rainforest living environment. As for ‘Blood Law’ being a Nature possessed by many living creatures, having three wasn’t strange. Rather, there being two with ‘Blazing Sun’ Nature among them surprised Xilutiya quite a bit.
Perhaps this was another way of confrontation and adaptation. Most Toads fear prolonged direct sunlight, leading to dehydration and cracking. To cope, they might choose to approach ‘Blazing Sun’ to adapt to harsh environments.
After reallocating tasks, these Toads began participating in plant nurturing, not just simple tasks like fetching water, watering, and tilling.
Perhaps due to advancement, or bloodline awakening, the Toads after condensing Nature became much smarter, roughly equivalent to 10-year-old humans. What ordinary people can understand and learn, they can now also learn and understand.
It seems that cultivating these Toad Sub-humans has great potential.
