Chapter 204 - 190: New Profession Title: Junior Fire Mage

Chapter 204: Chapter 190: New Profession Title: Junior Fire Mage

Unlike most minor nobles, Vili had little desire to amass wealth. As long as he could guarantee the normal operation and expenses of the Baron’s Manor, Vili would almost never transfer the treasury’s surplus into his personal coffers.

Baron Vili had once said something that greatly moved Sandoor.

"If these Gold Rums are stashed away in my personal treasury, they’re nothing more than a pile of useless iron. Only when they are spent do they become true wealth."

This statement filled Sandoor with immense admiration.

In his view, it was not only an explanation of economics and finance but also an interpretation of a life philosophy.

It was precisely because of this that Sandoor was rarely troubled by tight finances in his work.

This also reduced a lot of the obstacles Sandoor faced in his daily duties.

When there were enough benefits to go around, the people working under him could be motivated to their greatest potential.

"Come, let’s go check on the Fog Fruit."

Vili didn’t linger and headed toward the area where the Fog Fruit was being cultivated.

After another demonstration by his Personal Guard, Vili saw the results of the Fog Fruit cultivation.

Although the degree of improvement wasn’t as great as with the Bursting Fruit, it still met Vili’s requirements.

Similarly, Vili also proposed rewards for the personnel involved in cultivating the Fog Fruit.

"Where are the previous growth and cultivation records?"

After inspecting the results for the Bursting Fruit and Fog Fruit, Vili asked an official from the Agriculture Bureau beside him.

The specific arrangements for cultivation were all handled directly by the Agriculture Bureau.

Vili had specifically reminded them to pay close attention to the growth and cultivation records before planting the Bursting Fruit and Fog Fruit.

He needed to analyze this data to find better methods for improvement.

"I’ll fetch them for you right away."

An official from the Agriculture Bureau turned and jogged off. In just a minute or two, he returned with a thick notebook and respectfully handed it to Vili.

Vili took it and opened it, flipping through the pages.

He only gave it a cursory glance; he would have to wait until he returned to White Bear Town to study the specific contents in detail.

"Hm?"

As Vili was looking through the growth data for the Bursting Fruit, a failed case caught his eye.

According to the record, there was one Bursting Fruit Tree that had grown with extremely vigorous momentum in its early stages, even bearing fruit a month and a half ago. Unfortunately, because the fruit wasn’t picked immediately after it ripened, it withered from over-maturation.

But after the fruit withered, the Bursting Fruit Tree itself grew increasingly lush. Its branches and leaves were more luxuriant than the others, but it just wouldn’t bear any more fruit.

This made Vili very confused.

Normally, for an Extraordinary Plant like the Bursting Fruit, even if the fruit wasn’t picked immediately, it shouldn’t wither from over-maturation right away. The free-roaming Fire Element Energy in the air should continuously charge it, ensuring the fruit remained full of Fire Element and its life force was sustained.

’This is interesting...’

Vili’s interest was piqued after seeing this case.

"Come, take me to see this tree."

Vili pointed out the entry in the notebook to the person beside him for confirmation.

Just now, when he was inspecting the Bursting Fruit Tree plantation, Vili had only given it a rough look. He hadn’t been particularly thorough and hadn’t closely examined every single tree, so he hadn’t noticed this one Bursting Fruit Tree that only grew leaves and no longer bore fruit.

"Yes, Lord Baron."

A supervisor in charge of cultivating the Bursting Fruit Trees on the island responded and walked ahead to lead the way for Vili.

Soon, the group returned to the Bursting Fruit Tree grove, stopping in an inconspicuous corner.

"Lord Baron, this is the tree."

the man said to Vili.

Vili nodded and circled the tree once.

Although its height was similar to the other Bursting Fruit Trees, its leaves and branches were incredibly lush and verdant, looking full of life.

However, when Vili got a little closer, he could only sense a slight amount of Fire Element. Compared to the other Bursting Fruit Trees, its Fire Elemental Power was clearly much weaker.

If he ignored the faint Fire Element, Vili would have even thought it was just an ordinary evergreen tree.

Vili frowned. This was somewhat illogical.

If a Bursting Fruit Tree had prematurely senesced halfway through its growth, it shouldn’t be that only its fruit withered and rotted; the entire tree should have lost its vitality along with it.

Yet the Bursting Fruit Tree before him, even without producing fruit, was still growing vigorously. This went against the normal growth patterns of a Bursting Fruit Tree.

Vili leaned in closer and carefully observed the surface of the trunk.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Vili discovered a faint, red circular pattern where the branches forked.

A sudden realization struck him, and he went to check the forks of the other branches.

Almost every place where a branch forked looked the same.

Seeing this, Vili placed his palm on the red circular pattern, closed his eyes, and focused on sensing it.

Vili stood perfectly still. The surrounding officials from the Agriculture Bureau exchanged confused glances, not understanding what Baron Vili was doing.

Only Sandoor furrowed his brow. He knew Vili well. ’Something that can capture Baron Vili’s attention like this is definitely no small matter.’

’There’s no mistake...’

Vili’s eyes snapped open. He muttered to himself in a low voice, a look of delighted surprise in his eyes.

"Give me your Cross Sword."

Vili ordered the Personal Guard beside him.

Vili hadn’t brought any weapons on this trip, so he could only borrow one from his Personal Guard for a moment.

The Personal Guard obeyed the command, drew the Cross Sword, and presented it to Vili with both hands.

After taking the Cross Sword, Vili circled the Bursting Fruit Tree once more.

He stopped, then swung viciously, hacking at a spot on the Bursting Fruit Tree’s trunk.

PFFT!

The instant Vili broke through the bark.

A blast of crimson heat shot out directly from the damaged trunk.

The surrounding air instantly dried out, and a searing, vaporous heat filled the area.

Some of the physically weaker officials broke out in a sweat instantly and hastily took a few steps back.

"It really is just as I thought!"

Vili paid no mind to the condition of those around him, continuing to hack wildly at the tree with the Cross Sword.

But despite his ferocious swings, Vili was very measured as he chopped at the trunk, deliberately avoiding certain spots as if afraid of damaging something.

As the damage to the trunk grew more severe, the crimson heat became more and more intense.

This was the Power of Nature from the Fire Element, so dense it was almost tangible, bearing some resemblance to the Frost Power Vili could release.

CRASH!

The upper half of the Bursting Fruit Tree’s trunk was chopped clean through by Vili and toppled to the side.

A wave of heat spilled out from within the trunk. Even Vili was drenched in sweat.

But Vili paid it no mind and immediately rushed forward.

There, in the middle of the thick, severed trunk, lay a palm-sized, deep-red, transparent orb, emitting waves of intense heat. Around it, the light-red tree rings were warped.

"Fire Crystal Amber!"

Vili burst out laughing.

He never would have imagined that an ordinary Bursting Fruit Tree could nurture something like this!

’Even with my improved version of the royal cultivation technique, the probability of a Fire Crystal Amber forming should be minuscule.’

Unafraid of the high temperature, Vili reached out and directly touched the surface of the Fire Crystal Amber.

A scorching, intense sensation spread through his entire body. The next moment, the Title Attribute Panel suddenly popped up.

"Pure Fire Element Energy has permeated your body. You have obtained the title [Junior Fire Mage]. Reward: 3 attribute points."

"After obtaining the title [Junior Fire Mage], you will gain control over basic Fire Control Ability and all basic Fire Magic. At the same time, you will master all the combat techniques of a Junior Fire Mage."

[Vili Ferren—Constitution: 14; Intelligence: 26.5; Remaining attribute points: 3]