Above the mage

Chapter 255 Golden Wheat

This is not only a magical fruit tree, but also not an ordinary magical fruit tree.

According to Flora's classification standards, it belongs to the "extremely valuable" magical fruit tree category.

What a steal!

As Gao De sighed, he recalled a magical creature he often saw in novels in his previous life called the "treasure-hunting rat".

From this perspective, Flora actually possesses some of the "treasure hunter" traits.

However, finding a bargain is ultimately a matter of luck and cannot be forced.

Besides the magic fruit tree sapling, Gaode then enthusiastically strolled around the stalls in the square for a long time, but came up empty-handed.

Gao De then left the Ice Sword Plaza.

Once they reached a secluded spot, Flora quickly stored the magic plant sapling in her "little space".

Then, she frowned and muttered, "Master, it's almost full."

Flora's small space, just like Flora herself, is extremely tiny.

However, she usually only uses it to store small things like seeds and magical plants, which is usually enough.

The main reason we're in such a tight spot now is because we released Gaode's "Breath of the Wild".

"I've dragged Lady Flora down," God said apologetically.

Flora has suffered quite a bit following him—this is the second time she's been controlled by someone else.

"Just plant Yugathira," Flora reassured God.

"It's tough," Gao De frowned.

At present, how to break free from Loich and Catherine remains a problem.

Although he had secretly released the bindings of the forbidden ice needles...

However, as long as a way to counter Loich's tracking ability is not found, God dares not run away casually.

Because they'll be caught and brought back sooner or later.

The heart of Phoenix.

In front of a "luxury" building.

Loich stepped forward and knocked on the door.

Soon, a very young woman with distinct rosy cheeks opened the door and looked at the two of them with a questioning gaze. "Who are you?"

"An old friend from the Snowfield has come to visit Elder Grant. Please help me announce his arrival," Catherine said, without revealing her origins as a guardian of the Snowfield.

"Then please wait here for a moment." The young woman thought for a moment, then jogged back to deliver the message.

A moment later, the young woman reappeared at the door.

She smiled, opened the door, and gestured invitingly, "Come in, Elder Grant is waiting for you inside."

Led by the young woman, the two arrived at a room that was clearly a reception room, where a calm and solemn old man was already sitting.

"Elder Grant," Catherine said to the old man, her tone filled with respect.

"Your Excellency, Holy Maiden," Elder Grant responded.

Neither Loich nor Catherine showed any unusual expression at the address of Elder Grant.

"Elder Grant, I've come to ask you for a favor," Catherine said after a brief exchange of pleasantries.

"Please feel free to ask, Your Excellency. You saved my life back then, and I will do my best to help you with anything I can do." Elder Grant replied solemnly and made his promise.

Catherine thought for a moment and then said, "I would like to ask Elder Grant to help investigate which members of our sect have recently appeared in the area near the Snowver clan, and whether there have been any unusual occurrences in that area recently?"

Elder Grant was taken aback at first, then gave Catherine a deep look.

Although Catherine didn't reveal much information, Elder Grant, with his experience, could already glean some clues from Catherine's request.

The fact that the saintess, who is the guardian of the snowfield, would entrust him with investigating the guardian's whereabouts already speaks volumes.

Elder Grant did not immediately grant Catherine's request.

The Snowfield Guardians are one of the most powerful forces in the Northern Territory.

Of course, the Zhenbing tribe is far stronger than the Snowfield Guardians.

But he was, after all, just an elder in the tribe.

It would be inappropriate for a tribe to be drawn into the "internal strife" of the Snowfield Guardians due to one's own personal actions.

Catherine noticed Elder Grant's hesitation and wasn't too surprised. She spoke again:

"I only need Elder Grant's help to investigate the information. I will not involve you or the Zhenbing Tribe in anything else. Moreover, Elder, you can conduct the investigation under any other pretext."

Catherine paused, then said meaningfully, "I've heard that the Zhenbing tribe has been searching for a specific person recently. I seem to have found some trace of that person in the area near the Snowflake clan."

Elder Grant pondered for a moment upon hearing this, and finally nodded with pleasure. "In that case, I will send someone over immediately. This person is closely related to the future of our tribe, and even if it is just a rumor, it needs to be verified."

Catherine smiled slightly, her face hidden beneath the bronze mask. "Then I'll have to trouble Elder Grant."

"It's nothing, and there haven't been any results yet, so I dare not take credit." Elder Grant waved his hand, then asked, "Where is Her Majesty the Saintess currently staying?"

"Still in the same place," Catherine said.

"I'll have someone send some Golden Glory Wheat over later. I happen to have a little bit left over from this year's harvest."

"It's better to be lucky than early. We're in for a treat this time," Catherine said sincerely, not refusing Elder Grant's kindness.

Clearly, the Golden Wheat Elder Grant spoke of was also a rare and valuable item for Catherine.

After leaving Elder Grant's residence, Catherine and Loich separated by half a step and walked one after the other towards their temporary lodging in Phoenix.

"Even if the mastermind behind this is elusive and acts alone, they will still leave some traces. Given the influence of the Zhenbing Tribe in the Northern Territory, as long as they are willing to help, finding these traces is highly probable," Loych said softly.

Catherine nodded slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then said softly, "Who in the sect do you think is behind this?"

Loich frowned, thought for a long time, and then cautiously uttered a name: "Could it be the Norman priest?"

Why do you think it's him?

"With Priest Norman's qualifications, he should have been promoted to bishop long ago, but because of that incident years ago, Inquisitor Ryan has been suppressing Priest Norman and not allowing him to be promoted. As a result, even the hunters who used to work under him have been promoted to bishop, while he is still a priest."

"Everyone knows he harbors resentment towards Judge Ryan, but a few years ago, he suddenly changed his ways, becoming much more reserved. Everyone assumed he had come to his senses, but now it seems perhaps...?"

"That's somewhat possible," Catherine said softly, "but have you considered that, given his status, it's unlikely he would have gone this far?"

Loich was taken aback.

"Even if he was involved, he was most likely just an executor," Catherine concluded.

"Even the Norman priests are just executors, so how high must the status of the person behind the scenes be?" Loich opened his mouth slightly, finding Catherine's judgment unbelievable.

"If it weren't for us, the Guardians of Baruch would have taken the blame for them. To be able to do this so quickly and easily, their abilities and courage far surpass those of ordinary people," Catherine said coldly.

When the two returned to their residence, Gao De had already come back from strolling around the Ice Sword Plaza.

Of course, even if Gaode wasn't there, the two wouldn't say much.

With the forbidden ice needles in place, they didn't really restrict Gao De's movements too much.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the door.

Loich opened the door and saw that it was Elder Grant who had sent him, holding a ceramic jar: "Elder Grant asked me to deliver this to you two."

The earthenware jar contained the "Golden Wheat" that Elder Grant had mentioned.

"Thank you for your trouble." Loich took the pottery jar and thanked the man.

He closed the door, carried the pottery jar inside, and called out to Gao De, who was sitting in his room, "There's something good here, you should try it too."

Upon hearing Loych's invitation, Gao De got up and went into the courtyard.

Loych lifted the lid of the earthenware pot, and a rich aroma of wheat wafted out, causing Loych to squint his eyes and take a deep, intoxicating breath of the aroma.

The so-called Golden Glory Wheat is actually a type of barley.

However, the ears of Jinhui wheat are fuller than those of ordinary wheat, and the whole thing is slightly golden, as if it is wrapped in gold.

Loich grabbed a handful of golden wheat from the earthenware jar, then rubbed it in his palm. The hard outer shell was easily rubbed off, revealing the golden wheat grains inside.

He ate the small handful of wheat grains as if they were a snack, stuffing them directly into his mouth and chewing them with relish.

Seeing the surprised look on Gao De's face, Luo Yiqi didn't take it to heart and introduced to Gao De: "Golden Radiance Wheat is a specialty product that only the Zhenbing Tribe grows in small quantities."

"This thing is a real treasure. It's not only filling, but it also absorbs a lot of sunlight. Eating it can also ward off the cold. Eating it raw is the best way to eat it, as it has an excellent flavor and retains its nutritional value to the greatest extent."

"If it is ground into powder and processed into bread as you do outside, much of the heat contained in the golden wheat will be lost in the process, and its warming effect will be greatly reduced."

"Try it if you don't believe me." He then gestured for Gao De to try the magical wheat and how to eat it.

With some skepticism, Gao De grabbed a small handful of golden wheat and, mimicking Loych's earlier actions, gently rubbed it in his palm.

Then, the husk peeled off, revealing the wheat grains inside.

He sifted out the chaff, then stuffed a handful of wheat grains into his mouth and chewed them gently.

The texture wasn't as tough as I expected.

This golden wheat tastes as if it has been carefully roasted; even when eaten raw, it has a crisp and fragrant texture with a subtle sweetness and a unique aroma.

Moreover, it contains a warm current, which spreads throughout the body instantly upon swallowing, dispelling the cold.

Gao De's eyes lit up as he looked at the golden wheat grains in the earthenware jar.

"Could you give me some wheat seeds?" he asked tentatively.

"You're not planning to take the Golden Wheat back to plant, are you?" Seeing God's posture, Loich immediately guessed what he was thinking.

"You should give up on that idea as soon as possible," he shook his head and decisively advised.

"It's not that no one has tried your idea, but everyone who has tried to grow Golden Glow Barley has failed. This barley can only grow in the permafrost tundra."

"There's such a saying?" Gao De raised an eyebrow, finding it hard to believe.

"Yes, it must be that the land in our northern border contains some kind of quality that the land outside does not have, and this quality is the essential substance for the growth of Golden Radiance Wheat," Loich guessed.

"Therefore, Golden Glory Wheat has never existed outside the North, and no one has ever been able to grow it on land outside the North."

Loich shrugged and said helplessly, "Golden Radiance Wheat is a type of wheat that can only grow in the northern lands. It is just as delicate as barley from the outside world. It will only germinate at temperatures above 2 degrees Celsius, and it needs temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius to flower. It cannot withstand the slightest bit of cold."

"Only the Zhenbing tribe has a small, special volcanic land with high temperatures, which meets the conditions for the growth of golden wheat, and can produce a certain amount of golden wheat every year."

Upon hearing this, Gao De thought for a moment, but still insisted, "If possible, I would like to give it a try."

Seeing that Gao De was so insistent, Loich hesitated for a moment and turned his gaze to Catherine, who had not spoken until now.

The latter nodded slightly.

"Since you don't believe in superstitions, then go ahead and try it out," Loich replied after seeing Catherine nod.

"Thank you," Gao De said gratefully, then grabbed another handful of golden wheat from the earthenware jar, took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, and carefully put the golden wheat into it.

Catherine glanced at God's movements, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes beneath the mask.

She simply assumed that Gao De was stubbornly refusing to believe what Loich said.

Of course this is not the case.

Gaode's insistence on this was entirely due to his alternative approach.

Golden wheat can only grow in the northern lands, but it is not cold-resistant, so it can only be planted and produced in special terrains such as volcanic lands.

Volcanic land is a rare find, and even if you do find it, it's highly likely to be occupied by large tribes, leaving Gaode with little chance of owning it.

But Gaode Maps has a killer weapon that completely overcomes volcanic and soil-related challenges!

He had a cold-resistant barley seed hidden in his hand, which could only germinate and grow in temperatures as low as minus sixty degrees Celsius!

If the advantages of such a cold-resistant barley variety could be combined with those of Golden Glory barley, which can only grow in the northern lands and can absorb sunlight and has an excellent taste, wouldn't it be a near-perfect northern crop?

Of course, merging and combining are not simple.

Even the people of this world wouldn't entertain such a thought.

But for Gaode Maps, all of this is not without clues.

After all, his initial idea was to ensure his unique competitive advantage through hybridization.

And isn't this Jinhui wheat an excellent parent of hybrid barley?

Now that he has the Jin Hui wheat seeds, his only problem is how to grow a crop of Jin Hui wheat as a parent stock.

(End of this chapter)