Chapter 143: Recruitment From The Four Seasons Alliance
While enjoying the cake, the two continued their conversation, and Xilutiya gradually learned quite a bit about the baker profession.
Although she was somewhat surprised to see the baker’s Nature as ‘Golden Steam’ for the first time, she quickly understood and accepted this reality.
As Mister Fred said, forging artifacts with metal and making pastries with food ingredients are essentially no different; both are refinements, recasts, and transformations of existing things.
The negotiation went pleasantly, and Xilutiya and Fred agreed that she would provide them with 2400 pounds of ‘Excellent’ quality wheat flour, and they would pay 72 gold coins as compensation.
“I think I should post a task to acquire Excellent quality wheat, then you can accept the task and complete it; that way it’ll be much better.” The other party thought for a moment.
“Oh, why do it that way?” Xilutiya picked up the tea water on the table to cleanse her palate and inquired curiously.
“This way, first, it avoids taxes; second, the task format allows the Woodland Association to supervise and guarantee, so you don’t have to worry about me defaulting, and I won’t worry about receiving defective goods.”
“I see.” The maiden nodded, indicating she understood the reason.
Indeed, there were many benefits to this, and she could also gain certain association points through the process of completing the task.
The next day, a new acquisition task for wheat flour was added to the association bulletin board in White Stone Fortress, with the quantity exactly 2400 pounds and quality requirement ‘Excellent’, signed by ‘Wind Furnace Bakery’.
Xilutiya registered with her student identity and quickly accepted this acquisition task, preparing to bring people to the valley two days later to retrieve that batch of wheat flour.
On the third day, Xilutiya came to the Woodland Association and met the teacher who would review her advancement situation.
“You’re Xilutiya, right?” The other party was an old man with sharp eyes, wearing a light green floral cape and a badge encircled by leaves on his chest.
Sensing his aura slightly, he should be a Third Order ‘Emerald Honey’ Transcendent; Xilutiya bowed in salute.
“Hello, I am Xilutiya.” She had deliberately pinned the Forest Badge to her chest today.
Seeing this badge, the other’s gaze softened a bit, probably realizing that this maiden was a rare genius, so advancing quickly made sense.
“Very good, come with me to the second floor of the association first to check your specific situation.” The other party nodded and led Xilutiya to the second floor of the association hall.
It was relatively quiet here, and those coming for business were mostly Second Order senior students; they glanced curiously at Xilutiya as she went upstairs but didn’t pay too much attention.
Arriving at a room, the other party had Xilutiya sit down first, then uncovered the cloth on the table, revealing a precisely crafted instrument made of bright yellow metal overall, with a transparent crystal ball in the center.
“This is an instrument that can detect Nature Power intensity. Place your hand on it, then slowly input【Emerald Honey】 power.”
“I understand.” The maiden placed her hand on the crystal ball and input power.
Soon, a faint emerald color glow emerged, and some light spots also appeared in the crystal.
“Maintain this state for three minutes.” The other party stared at the pointer below the instrument and said gravely.
Xilutiya complied as before.
After about three minutes, the other party nodded, indicating it was done.
“Next is to test your mental stability.” After speaking, he took out another crystal ball containing blue liquid, with a small boat floating on the liquid.
“Try using mental power to make the liquid inside this sphere rotate.”
“Okay.” Xilutiya looked at the crystal ball, then focused her mind.
Soon, the liquid in the crystal ball began to rotate, forming a vortex; the entire process was effortless.
“Now, make the hollow pearl in the boat float up, and remember not to stop the liquid’s rotation.” The other party continued to instruct.
Xilutiya did so afterward, and the hollow white pearl floated steadily, hovering above the small boat.
Just like that, five minutes passed; when Xilutiya thought it would continue, the other party nodded and had the maiden lower the pearl back into the small boat.
“Alright, that concludes it.” He covered the instrument on the table again, and this old man walked to another desk to begin writing the report.
“Your mental power is very stable; it can be said to be the most excellent among the students I’ve seen.” He told Xilutiya the situation while writing.
“This basically rules out that you used shortcut means, because such means bring many problems, often leading to mental splitting, loss of control, dissipation, and so on.”
“The Emerald Honey Nature is also exceptionally pure, with no traces of heterogeneous pollution, which means you didn’t use external objects to elevate yourself; your advancement process is very solid.”
After finishing the inspection report, the other party stamped it with his seal to approve, then stood up.
“I am Yude, a gardener and formal member in the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’; our organization focuses on the development, cultivation, and utilization of various resources, with branches across the continent.”
“If you want to join, I can help apply as your recommender.”
“I heard that joining the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’ generally requires Third Order, but I’m only Second Order; can I apply?” The maiden was slightly surprised.
“Formal members do require Third Order, but the mechanisms in the Woodland differ from the surface; here, Second Order students are allowed to become preparatory members of the organization and enjoy some benefits in advance.” It was probably similar to large companies recruiting from universities before formal graduation in the maiden’s previous life.
“Becoming a formal member grants a special ‘magic potion’ as a new member benefit; our organization has the extremely special ‘Four Seasons Potion’, which is a rare item you can’t buy elsewhere or easily obtain.” The other party introduced the benefits of the Four Seasons Alliance.
“If you become a preparatory member now, though you won’t get the potion, you can receive other resource rewards for cultivation; I can show you the reward list.”
After speaking, he rummaged in the drawer and took out a table.
‘Second Order students can claim the benefits in the table below after joining the ‘Four Seasons Alliance”
1, Once per quarter, apply to learn one course within the organization for free.（Course difficulty must not exceed mid-tier）
2, Ten portions of ‘Quiet Mind Black Tea’ to enhance meditation effects provided per quarter.（Quality is ‘First Order·Emerald Honey’）
3, Three portions of Orchid Fragrance Healing Potion provided per quarter.（Quality is ‘First Order·Emerald Honey·Excellent’）
4, One set of organization apprentice uniform provided every two years, selectable from four spring, summer, autumn, winter styles.（Quality is ‘Second Order·Excellent’）
5, Participate in one Four Seasons Alliance-organized secret realm exploration per year; gains during the process do not need to be turned in.
——
‘Obligations of Second Order students after becoming ‘Four Seasons Alliance’ preparatory members’
1, Must reach Third Order within ten years, or automatically lose preparatory member qualification.
2, Woodland Association evaluation must be ‘Good’ or above each year; if failing three times cumulatively, qualification is revoked.
3, Must not become preparatory or formal members of other organizations, nor slander or betray the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’.
4, Must attend two ‘Four Seasons Alliance’-organized communication gatherings per year to get acquainted with fellow members.
5, Various resources from production and gains should preferably be traded internally within the organization.
6, If not choosing to join the ‘Four Seasons Alliance’ after reaching Third Order, must pay additional fees for apprentice period benefits.
After reading the table, Xilutiya nodded, indicating she would consider it.
“I plan to first stabilize my state, learn and understand things at this stage, then choose an organization to join.”
“That’s natural.” This Third Order gardener expressed understanding, then thought for a moment and simply wrote an address below that table before handing it to Xilutiya.
“This is my residence in the city; if you have questions or need help, you can come find me here.” He generally didn’t leave his address to avoid disturbances, but this silver-haired maiden in the black hood had exceptional talent, so showing some goodwill was worthwhile.
“Thank you, Teacher Yude.” Xilutiya bowed in thanks.
Seeing her composed and polite demeanor with a calm mindset, this old man was quite appreciative and encouraged Xilutiya a few more words before letting her leave.
In this way, Xilutiya was formally registered as a Second Order student in the Woodland Association, enjoying many rights and supplies.
