bookandnovel Chapter 51: You didn't cheat, did you?
Chapter 51: You didn't cheat, did you?
With a whoosh, the black cloth covering Jiang Qiu's potted plant was pulled back, and the intoxicating aroma of fruit drew everyone's attention. Zhang San, Li Si, and other interns swallowed hard, dumbfounded. Qian Cheng's pupils shrank, and his fists clenched.
Jiang Qiao's smile vanished, her eyes filled with a blurry blue light. "This... how is this possible? Chrysanthemum-like marrow amber, you could cultivate it?"
Inside the newly uncovered potted plant, a bluish light emanated from within, and the branches were laden with large, round, top-quality fruits, yet all were overshadowed by the single fruit at the very top, which resembled a bead of jade, revealing amber-like veins.
Unlike the silky, wispy state of the [Golden Spirit Cage], this marrow thread looks more like the chrysanthemum pattern blooming from within, very full, indicating that its inherent characteristics are extremely rare.
Almost no level 1 spirit plant can evolve to this stage.
At that moment, a cacophony of gasps erupted among the interns, while the staff in charge of the assistants watched in stunned disbelief. Even Director Liu, seated at the head of the table, stared wide-eyed in disbelief, as if watching the sun rise. "How did they manage to achieve 'Wood's Growth'?"
"【Wood Growth】represents the transformation of certain characteristics of a wood-type fruit to its individual extreme. It is one of the most precious mutation types and should not have been cultivated by an intern. It should only resemble it in appearance." Wu Shan suppressed his suddenly twitching eyelids, but felt the insect pouch at his waist stirring.
With a whoosh, he untied the knot with one hand.
A wisp of blue "mist" drifted out, swirling around Jiang Qiu's mutated result, drawn by the rich fruity aroma.
This scene shocked everyone present. Zhang San's mouth gaped open, as if he could fit an ostrich egg inside, and his fingers trembled. "Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, isn't that the [Fragrance Fairy] who assesses the quality of fruits of superior grade or higher during the evaluation?"
Li Si gasped, echoing, "It...it all flew into Brother Jiang's harvest! Doesn't that mean its properties are the most 'delicious' and the rarest and most appetizing here!"
Once the two spoke, the other interns finally understood what was going on and became even more shocked. However, Wang Baisheng's expression was grave, and Qian Cheng's face was especially pale, with bloodshot eyes. "How is this possible!"
With a whoosh, Wu Shan waved his hand, putting the mutated fruits into his insect bag before the Fairy of Fragrance could suppress her desire and devour them. His breathing quickened slightly. "It really is the Growth of Wood."
"What amazing talent for cultivation! Isn't Jiang Qiumo, the one who cultivated this, the one who won first place in the park a month ago with his dual-attribute superior fruit during Zhao Nan's acquisition event?" Director Liu's eyes gleamed.
"Yes." Wu Shan emphasized the word, a fleeting, almost imperceptible longing flashing in his eyes as he looked at Jiang Qiu, but he quickly composed himself, feigning calmness.
Such a talent for cultivation is rare in the park, and it would rank among the best in the entire county for its age group. After all, [Mu Zhi Sheng Fa] is also known as "top quality" and [Mu Yuan Hua] is the highest value single fruit.
Regardless of its specific effects, it has already evolved to the pinnacle of a level 1 ordinary spiritual plant. As a fellow [Wood Edge Flower], only the appearance of the [Wood Growth] result can make it comparable to this one.
It's worth mentioning that it's very difficult to compile a mutation recipe for something like [Wood Growth], because the cultivation conditions are too demanding and extremely dependent on luck. Sometimes it might happen, but sometimes it might not.
Jiang Qiu was able to cultivate it.
Its potential for development is self-evident.
Even if someone comes from a shantytown, is an orphan, and lives in abject poverty, several renowned spiritual plant masters in the county will take notice of him and extend an olive branch. It's unlikely that someone like him, who has retired from the front lines, will get a chance.
Besides, he wanted to pass it on to Wang Baisheng.
It's unrealistic to put even more effort into cultivating Jiang Qiu.
Resources and assets are limited.
They may not necessarily trust each other.
Wu Shan took a deep breath, somewhat regretful, but stopped thinking about it and solemnly announced: "Jiang Qiu, top-grade. After being tested by the [Fragrance Fairy], its special effects are significantly superior to the other results, and it is ranked as top-grade..."
"Wait, I have an objection," the man in the Zhongshan suit suddenly raised his hand to interrupt, his tone cold and stern, "Jiang Qiu shouldn't be considered top-class."
These words caused an uproar. Both men in the chair turned to look at him. Wu Shan frowned slightly. "Team Leader Sun, according to the assessment standards set by the Regulatory Bureau, low-grade fruits are considered acceptable, mid-grade fruits are considered low-grade, and high-grade fruits are considered mid-grade. Aren't mutated fruits considered high-grade?"
Director Liu also inquired, "Does Team Leader Sun believe that this result was not cultivated by Jiang Qiu herself?"
"It's not hard to judge whether the result was bred by the person himself. I'm just reminding you that this year the bureau is preparing to introduce the city bureau's assessment standards and include several precious mutation types in the grading system. [Wood Growth] is the newly added highest grade, and Jiang Qiu should be rated as the best grade." Team Leader Sun said firmly.
"Top-tier?" Wu Shan paused, exchanged a glance with Director Liu, and then relaxed his brows. He then announced loudly, "After correction by Team Leader Sun of the Supervision Group, Jiang Qiu's score is now rated Top-tier, ranking first!"
The stone stirred up a thousand ripples. Zhang San, Li Si, and the others, who were already completely absorbed, suddenly burst into a surging exclamation: "Holy crap, Brother Jiang can be a genius to this extent? The first top-tier genius in the garden!"
"Brother Jiang is awesome! Our class is truly awesome!"
The sound shook the entire No. 17 courtyard. Many trainees opened their doors and windows, looked over at the sound, and began to discuss it. Although Jiang Qiu remained expressionless, his heart was also boiling. "So there is an even higher grade than the superior grade."
"You...you..." Jiang Qiao stared blankly at Jiang Qiu's achievement. All the other achievements seemed dull and lackluster. Even her own [Wood Healing Fruit] was no longer so bright and shiny, and became a foil.
From childhood to adulthood, because her father was the head of the logistics department and she herself failed to inherit the physique, she was seen by others as just an ordinary and incompetent second-generation rich kid who relied entirely on resources and could have a smooth life without doing anything.
In reality, she was Director Jiang's only son and sole successor. Director Jiang had never trained any apprentices because her talent for nurturing was worthy of being passed down, only lacking in physical constitution.
Director Jiang doesn't need to teach outsiders.
So this year.
She should be the one who nurtures the greatest talent.
But now...
Jiang Qiao felt a pang of disappointment. She was once again seen by her peers as someone who had only managed to cultivate a mutated fruit because of her connections, while Jiang Qiu beside her was a renowned cultivation genius. She pouted and said, "You didn't cheat, did you?"
The pretty voice was neither too warm nor too cold, as if she felt wronged after "suffering a loss" and wanted to argue back. Jiang Qiu smiled and said, "Maybe."
He had not received systematic training in the study of spiritual plants and knew little about related knowledge. Although he knew that mutated fruits had varying potential, he did not know how to classify them, or which category [Wood Growth] belonged to.
It was truly unexpected to achieve this result today.
However, that's not the point.
The key is to test the physical condition again.
The choice of preference belongs to you.
I'm ready to officially embark on the path of spiritual practice!