Gardener of Eden

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Grade B Crops

Rowan stepped into his quiet quarters, closing the heavy wooden door to shut out the lingering chatter of the complex corridors. Unstrapping his tactical gear, he rested the Hoe of the World-Tiller against the wall and took a deep, steadying breath. Before retiring for the night, he needed to inspect his personal pocket plane and check on the field plots he hadn’t managed in a while.

[Activating Domain: The Virgin Soil]

A brilliant pulse of golden light washed over the room, dissolving the stone walls into a vibrant landscape of pristine, rolling hills bathed in warm, ethereal sunlight. The air within the domain was dense with pure, unrefined vitality mana.

Rowan walked down toward the central cultivation beds. Because of the extreme time dilation and rich sovereign earth flow within The Virgin Soil, the crops he had sown prior to the intense trial schedule had been left to thrive untouched under optimal conditions.

As he approached the rows, Rowan paused, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face.

Instead of the modest D-grade spirit produce he had originally planted, the stalks and flora pulsed with a deep, dazzling radiance. Sweeping his palm over the crop bed, he triggered the domain’s detailed inspection log:

Domain Crop Evaluation & Grade Log

Location: The Virgin Soil (Eden)

Maturation: Extended Passive Absorption

Soil Synergy: Sovereign Earth Flow

Quality Evolution Detected:

Original Status: Grade-D (Standard Organics)

Evolution 1: Grade-C (Mana-Infused Flora)

Evolution 2: Grade-B (High-Purity Spirit Botanicals)

Ready for Harvest:

Grade-B Starlight Sun-Tomatoes x60

Grade-B High-Mana Crisp Lettuce x40

Grade-B Azure Dew Berries x35

Grade-B Ignis-Bloom Sweet Peppers x30

Grade-B Amethyst Solar Squash x25

Grade-B Aether-Thread Wheat x100 Sheaves

Grade-B Frost-Melons x15

***

The crops hadn’t merely reached maturity—they had jumped two full quality ranks. The untouched D-grade produce had continuously soaked up the domain’s concentrated vitality mana, leaping straight past C-grade to evolve into B-grade spirit botanicals.

The sun-tomatoes glowed like polished rubies, humming with warm elemental energy, while the crisp lettuce leaves shimmered with translucent veins of emerald mana. Beside them, the Azure Dew Berries hung in heavy, crystal-clear clusters, practically bursting with concentrated nectar.

Rowan ran a hand through his dark hair and let out a soft laugh. In a market where high-end distributors like Crestview Culinary Holdings went to great lengths just to procure pristine D+ or C-grade produce, raw B-grade spirit crops were an absolute rarity. They would fetch extraordinary prices for Eden International and provide massive stat-nourishing benefits for Squad 07’s ongoing training.

Gripping his Hoe of the World-Tiller, Rowan smiled as he looked over the glowing, high-tier field. Sleep could wait just a little longer—he had an extraordinary B-grade harvest to gather.

Rowan moved with practiced efficiency across the vibrant expanse of Eden, bringing his full attention to finishing the harvest of his high-purity Grade-B crops.

With a gentle pull of his mana, he harvested sixty plump Grade-B Starlight Sun-Tomatoes and forty vibrant heads of Grade-B High-Mana Crisp Lettuce, setting them carefully into padded transport boxes. He then gathered thirty-five cluster-bound Grade-B Azure Dew Berries, thirty fiery Grade-B Ignis-Bloom Sweet Peppers, and twenty-five shimmering Grade-B Amethyst Solar Squash. Finally, he bundled one hundred sheaves of Grade-B Aether-Thread Wheat and carefully lifted fifteen heavy, frost-coated Grade-B Frost-Melons from the fertile loam.

Once every last piece of produce was secured, Rowan packed the inventory into fifteen sturdy wooden crates emblazoned with the Eden International brand. Sealing the latches tight to preserve their elevated mana purity, he stepped out of his internal domain and back into the bustling perimeter corridors of the arena.

Pulling up his communication interface, he dialed his mother, Martha.

”Hey Mom, I just finished wrapping up the entire harvest,” Rowan said as her warm, smiling projection materialized on his screen. ”I’m heading out toward the staging bay now. We need to deliver fifteen crates directly to the Colosseum so I can load up the special crop batches for the store.”

”I’m on it, Rowan,” Martha replied, her fingers already flying across her tablet terminal. ”I’ll dispatch the transport line to the Colosseum staging grounds immediately. Make sure you hold onto the priority inventory—the shop’s early morning queue is already growing.”

”Will do. See you soon, Mom,” Rowan smiled, closing the channel.

Adjusting the strap of the Hoe of the World-Tiller across his shoulder, Rowan headed down the grand corridor toward the Colosseum entrance, ready to receive the 15 crates and prepare the special stock for Eden International.

Right as the low hum of a mana-engine echoed through the Colosseum’s staging bay, a customized transport van glided to a smooth stop. The side paneling bore the polished silver crest and deep emerald lettering of Eden International, gleaming bright under the high bay lights.

Rowan stepped up as the rear doors swung open, revealing rows of sturdy wooden crates neatly prepped with thick, insulated velvet-cloth linings. Reaching out with his mana to access his spatial inventory, he began systematically transferring the harvest. Batch after batch materialized in smooth succession: sixty radiant Grade-B Starlight Sun-Tomatoes pulsating with gentle warmth, forty crisp heads of lettuce, clusters of sparkling Azure Dew Berries, and fiery Ignis-Bloom Sweet Peppers. Finally, he carefully settled the heavy, frost-dusted Grade-B Frost-Melons into their custom fittings, the sheer density of high-grade mana immediately filling the back of the transport with a sweet, invigorating aroma.

Before sealing the back, Rowan leaned inside to inspect the internal environmental controls. He pressed his palm against the central rune matrix of the transport’s enchantment chiller, verifying that the frost-runes were humming at peak efficiency. A clean layer of crisp, sub-zero air swept across the crates, locking in the vital energy and pristine freshness of the crops to ensure zero mana decay during transit.

Satisfied, Rowan pulled a small velvet pouch containing 50 gold coins from his belt and handed it over to the driver. ”Keep the chillers running steady all the way into the commercial district,” Rowan said with a confident smile. ”Every single piece in the back is high-purity stock for our debut.”

The driver’s eyes widened at the heavy weight of the tip in his palm. ”You got it, boss! Not a single leaf will lose its chill on my watch,” he promised, hurriedly locking the rear doors shut before hopping back into the cab.

Rowan waved as the van pulled out of the Colosseum loading complex, merging into the main traffic corridor. Watching the Eden International logo disappear down the boulevard toward their first official flagship store, Rowan felt a deep surge of satisfaction. The harvest grown within The Virgin Soil and cultivated by his Hoe of the World-Tiller was finally making its way to the public stage, marking the true beginning of their empire.

***

Walking through the quiet corridors of the Colosseum, Rowan made his way back to the assigned private suites. The energetic roar of the Colosseum crowds had finally faded into a dull, distant hum, swallowed by the heavy acoustic wards insulating the living quarters.

Stepping inside his chamber, Rowan let the heavy door slide shut and seal behind him. The sudden tranquility was an immediate relief after a grueling day of high-stakes trials and domain cultivation. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Unslung from his shoulder, the Hoe of the World-Tiller settled with a familiar heavy chime against the room’s weapon rack. Rowan took off his Enchanted Straw Hat, resting it beside his gear as the soft, ambient glow of the room’s mana-lanterns bathed the private quarters. Without the constant buffing effects of his hat and the high-purity soil of The Virgin Soil, a deep, bone-weary exhaustion finally washed over him.

A soft chime rang out from the brass compartment on the wall as a covered tray arrived, bearing a steaming, mana-enriched meal provided for the qualifying competitors. Sitting down at the small table, Rowan ate slowly, feeling the nutrient-dense food fuel his vitality while his rare Prime Human bloodline quietly worked to cleanse any lingering fatigue from his body.

His mind briefly traced over the day’s achievements. Every member of Squad 07 had fought tooth and nail to secure their places—Barney’s masterwork in forgecraft, Seraphina’s precision in alchemy, Caelen’s relentless duels in melee combat, and Mirei’s sharp marksmanship. Coupled with his own top placement in the farming and herbology division and the successful shipment of high-purity Grade-B stock to Eden International’s flagship store, they had laid down a solid foundation.

Now, only the finals lay ahead. Half the cohort had been culled, and tomorrow’s trials would pit the absolute best against one another under the eyes of Head Dean Sterling and the entire academy leadership.

Finishing his meal, Rowan washed up, pulled off his academy uniform, and sank onto the firm mattress. As he closed his eyes and regulated his breathing through the calm rhythm of the Breath of Eden, his mana core stabilized into a peaceful ebb and flow.

Within minutes, Rowan fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, gathering every ounce of strength for the battles that awaited at dawn.