Chapter 4: Spirit Planter? That’s Just A Fruit Farmer!
The three arrived at the Spirit Plant Garden. Although it was recently the annual Contract Peak Season, because the park covered a vast area and there were many service staff, it did not feel crowded or noisy.
“Are you three students here to select Spirit Plants for yourselves?”
As soon as they entered the park, a sales assistant wearing a dark blue uniform came to greet them.
Although the three did not have parents accompanying them like other teenagers, the sales assistant still demonstrated extremely strong professionalism.
Liu Hao stepped forward, nodded, and pointed at Wu Da Mi as he said.
“Select one for him first. We’re buying with a loan, and the Spirit Plant price needs to be under 170,000 Federal Currency.”
“Hey, Haozi, no need to make it so complicated. I’ve already decided—I’ll contract a Black Card Fruit tree.”
Wu Da Mi said carelessly.
Ge Bai rolled her eyes and couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to Wu Da Mi.
No need to ask; it was clear that this guy chose this type of Spirit Plant because Black Card Fruit had been selling for a high price recently.
Black Card Fruit was actually a type of apple, cultivated 12 years ago. Three years ago, after its Spirit Plant characteristics stabilized, stable seedlings were made available for public purchase.
Recently, research showed that Black Card Fruit had an exceptionally significant Spiritual Power recovery effect on Highland Snow Wolves.
Not only that, a video of Interstellar War Beast arena competition Grand Slam winner Lu Rekos’s Highland Snow Wolf munching on Black Card Fruit went viral online.
The white-furred war wolf gnawing on black-skinned fruit created a cute contrast that made a bunch of girls scream.
Just like that, the acquisition and retail prices of Black Card Fruit skyrocketed.
Wu Da Mi must have chosen it for this reason.
Liu Hao gave Wu Da Mi a sharp knock on the head, glared at him, and continued speaking to the sales assistant.
“Ignore her. Please recommend some Spirit Plant types to us.”
The sales assistant pursed her lips and smiled, smoothly changing the subject with a warm, spring-like gentleness.
“Actually, Black Card Fruit is also a very good choice.”
“Our park recently received a batch of Black Card Fruit Seedlings in excellent condition, priced around 70,000 Federal Currency.”
Spirit Beast Gardens and Spirit Plant Gardens basically sell juvenile forms of Spirit Beasts and Spirit Plants.
This is not only because juveniles are easy to cultivate, but also because juveniles have a much higher Contract Success Rate than Adult Bodies.
“After you purchase and contract the seedling, the remaining loan amount will be enough to cover a year’s worth of basic nutrient solution for the Spirit Plant.”
“Black Card Fruit now has a clear advancement path and can stably reach Second Order Spirit Plant. It’s very much worth contracting and cultivating.”
Wu Da Mi clutched his head and pouted. Hearing the sales assistant support him, he wanted to argue a bit, but seeing that Liu Hao and Ge Bai had no intention of paying him any mind, he shrank back and gave up.
Like Spirit Beasts, Spirit Plants grow rapidly after contracting with humans and advance through cultivation.
Like Spirit Beast advancement, not only does the appearance change dramatically, with overall physical qualities greatly improved, but innate skills also increase.
Take the Highland Snow Wolf as an example.
In First Order state, it is a large white wolf form, with common innate skills like Snow Wolf Sprint, Ice Blade, and Frost Claw.
After evolving to Second Order, the Highland Snow Wolf’s four paws and pupils turn ice blue, its back is covered in Ice Armor, it’s called Ice Armor Snow Wolf, and it is very likely to awaken the innate skill Blizzard Charge.
At Third Order, they are called Frost Domain Silver Wolves, but whether they can smoothly awaken the Frost Domain innate skill depends on the Beast Tamer’s cultivation level.
It was said that some generals in the Interstellar Legion had Highland Snow Wolves that evolved to Fourth Order, but more detailed information was not yet generally known to the public.
Beast Tamers with First Order Pet Beasts can obtain the Beginner Beast Tamer title upon passing the test; Second Order is Intermediate, Third Order is Advanced.
Advanced Beast Tamers were already respected figures in society.
Interstellar War Beast League Grand Slam winner Lu Rekos was just an Advanced Beast Tamer.
Spirit Plants were a bit different.
Advancement standards varied greatly depending on the plant type, and the criteria were a bit more lenient.
For fruit tree Spirit Plants like Black Card Fruit, stable First Order recognition is achieved through Spiritual Power catalysis, allowing it to grow a certain number of Black Card Fruits containing basic Spiritual Power.
In Second Order state, Black Card Fruit trees show a preference for ice-attribute items and nutrient solutions. Through targeted cultivation, the branches crystallize with ice, and the grown Black Card Fruits have frost condensing on their skin for a long time, containing rich ice attributes, so they are favored by ice beasts like Highland Snow Wolves.
Yes, nowadays, the general expectation for fruit tree Spirit Plants is to grow better fruit.
Ge Bai scorned this view. What kind of Spirit Planter was this? Wasn’t it just a modern fruit farmer?
Spirit Plants that could generally evolve to Third Order were mostly auxiliary types, like how every Interstellar Legion land combat team was sure to have a Spirit Planter with Devil Vine.
First Order Devil Vine has binding skills and can trap small First Order Spirit Beasts.
Second Order Devil Vine awakens strangulation and dizziness skills, with thorns growing on the vines. After trapping medium Second Order Spirit Beasts, the vines pierce the skin to release a small amount of toxin.
Third Order Devil Vine has stealth characteristics, can lurk underground, and quickly break through the surface to strangle larger-area Second Order large Spirit Beasts.
Therefore, Devil Vine seedlings were almost the most expensive Spirit Plants.
“How about this: we’ll head to the Black Card Fruit Seedling nursery area now. On the way, we’ll pass the Golden Peach Seedling and Giant Peak Grape Vine fruit-type Spirit Plant areas, as well as 4 ornamental Spirit Plant areas, so you can take a look.”
As she spoke, the sales assistant led them to sit in a sightseeing scooter.
Along the way, Ge Bai was not very interested.
Wu Da Mi, on the other hand, was as single-minded as ever.
He was clearly entranced by the shiny, golden Golden Peach Seedlings and could hardly walk, yet he still firmly shook his head and refused, fixated on his Black Card Fruit tree.
When passing the Golden Peach Seedling nursery, Ge Bai quietly activated her Spirit Plant Communicator state.
The noisy sound of chattering shook her.
“Move your roots farther away! You’ve grown into my side!”
“Not my fault! He stole my water. I’m thirsty.”
“Stop shaking your head! You’re blocking my light.”
“Hmph, I’m going to block you. You blocked my light this afternoon.”
“Look, look, people are coming again. Pick me, pick me! I want a single room and nutrient solution!”
Ge Bai keenly noticed that after they got off the sightseeing vehicle and approached the nursery, this group of Golden Peach Seedlings became especially excited.
The buds at the tips of their branches looked even more tender.
No wonder juveniles have high contract rates—they’re just lively, active little ones, easy to trick home?
Little plant cubs could be this lively too? Things aren’t always what they seem!
Looking at this garden full of chatty Golden Peach Seedlings she couldn’t get a word in edgewise, Ge Bai turned off her Spirit Plant Communicator state for the sake of her brain nerves.
“Um, I’d like to ask, do you only have juvenile Spirit Plants here?”
While Liu Hao held Wu Da Mi to look more closely at the Golden Peach Seedlings, Ge Bai pulled the sales assistant aside and asked.
“Yes, we only sell juvenile Spirit Plants, but our Spirit Plant Garden is connected to the Blue Star Ecological Botanical Garden. You can go check it out later.
“It’s the largest botanical garden in the country, simulating ecosystems like rainforests, plains, and even deserts, with many types of Spirit Plants and plants transplanted from around the world.”
“When transplanting, the park also selected them carefully and regularly inspects them. There are absolutely no Strange Plants aggressive to humans, so please feel completely assured about safety.”
Strange Beasts and Strange Plants still exist currently and are highly aggressive to humans.
But they are currently well controlled. Plant mutations around cities generally produce strong Spiritual Power Fluctuations and are discovered and eliminated in the budding stage. Beast tides haven’t appeared in over a decade.
Ge Bai nodded and continued asking, “If I contract a Spirit Plant in the botanical garden, do I need to pay you a fee?”
The sales assistant was clearly stunned for a moment, then showed a professional smile. Clearly, Ge Bai was not the first to ask such a question.
She simply thought that Ge Bai hadn’t learned Spirit Plant common knowledge well at school or wanted to save some money.
“We don’t recommend you try it lightly.”
“Although contract failure doesn’t affect contract eligibility and there’s no life danger, it still causes a great impact on Spiritual Sense and may require a long recovery time.”
The sales assistant patiently advised.
“I’ve heard that some people have tried it and succeeded. Does it cost money?”
Ge Bai asked persistently.
“The ones in the botanical garden are basically wild Spirit Plants. Successful contracts indeed don’t require payment. In the past three years, there have been two cases of successful contracts in the botanical garden.”
Ge Bai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With the System’s existence, she was confident she could trick a Spirit Plant home from the botanical garden.
Now hearing that there were precedents, she felt even more reassured, as it didn’t make her seem like an outlier.
If it weren’t inconvenient to leave the city for deep mountains and wilderness now, Ge Bai would really want to head to the mountains.
Actually, she didn’t know that every year, many people went to the botanical garden to attempt contracting Spirit Plants.
Researchers from the Spirit Plant Research Institute also frequently tried contracting wild Spirit Plants, though the failure rates were very high.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Ge Bai smiled at the sales assistant.
“May I ask, how do I get to the botanical garden?”
The sales assistant fell silent for a moment. This little girl meant she probably wouldn’t make this sale today, and might even have to call an ambulance later.
But she still thoughtfully found Ge Bai a map of the botanical garden, unlocked a scooter for her, and detailed the closing time and precautions.
Ge Bai listened carefully, said goodbye to Liu Hao and Wu Da Mi, saying only that she was going to check out another area, then drove the scooter alone to the Blue Star Ecological Botanical Garden.
