Pioneer Wizard's Notebook

【Name: Higher Sunflower】

[Type: Beginner Magical Plant]

[Description: A beautiful flower, evolved from the sunflower, as brilliant as if sculpted from gold.]

【Effect ① Magic Storage: After the flower matures, it can absorb solar magic and natural magic from the surrounding environment, neutralizing its frost properties. Its large petals allow for efficient magic storage.】

Linde recorded the experimental results in the wizard's journal.

He then reached out and touched the petals of the superior sunflower, and could clearly feel that the petals were hot to the touch.

A considerable amount of magic lies dormant within the petals.

After the sunflower completes its evolution, it can absorb both solar magic and frost magic from the surrounding cold environment.

Through neutralization, these violent natural magics are transformed into gentle, stable magics, which are then stored in the petals.

In other words, advanced sunflowers are natural magic batteries that can be recharged simply by basking in the sun.

Moreover, during its evolution, Linde discovered that some special magical runes had appeared on its petals.

"Let me see. Resistance, dispel, heat, and some patterns with unknown effects. This rune is quite complex."

With his discerning eye, Lind studied it carefully.

Unfortunately, he has severely lost his memories of witchcraft and cannot analyze them thoroughly in a short period of time.

"Is it a means of self-protection that they evolved? Although the analysis is incomplete, we can roughly guess its effect."

Linde stopped his study and took a torch from the burning fireplace in the manor.

The special runes on the advanced sunflower will release heat when stimulated by external factors, repelling pests and natural enemies.

But the results were not good enough for Lind's expectations.

Linde plucked a petal, went to the open space, and lit it with a torch.

In an instant, the blazing flames engulfed the petals, the runes were fully activated, and the magic power stored inside the petals was quickly transformed into a high-temperature air wave that spread outwards.

The scorching heat melted the ice and snow, and Linde felt as if he had entered a sauna, sweating profusely from the heat.

A smile appeared on his face, which was exactly the effect he wanted.

【Effect ② Solar Wind: When the petals are ignited, their internal magic is activated, transforming into high-temperature hot winds that dispel frost.】

Open the Wizard's Journal and add to the record.

To be honest, using fire to stimulate higher sunflowers is an absolute waste.

The efficiency of magic utilization is extremely low, somewhat reminiscent of using crude oil as firewood.

Limited resources didn't bother Linde. Methods are not inherently superior or inferior; if they achieve the desired effect, they are good methods.

What needs to be done now is to test whether the Solar Wind can have a restraining effect on the Iceborne Ghost.

Lind recalled the conversation he overheard his father the night before last.

There is an Ice Demon imprisoned in the territory; it was captured by the Rangers not long ago, and a Knight Squire died in the process.

Linde didn't rush to search, but instead went back to his room to meditate and recover.

This also allows the superior sunflower to absorb sunlight, increasing the concentration of magic in its petals.

Half a day has passed.

He came out of the room, picked the entire flower of the superior sunflower, and walked towards the manor gate.

As expected, there were three guards standing at the gate.

"Before leaving, the Baron instructed that no one was allowed to leave the manor unless there were special circumstances."

Linde looked at the knight who had spoken up to stop him.

He was around thirty years old, with a sword at his waist, wearing chainmail, and a knight's robe with a sunflower emblem for warmth.

The other party was William Winter, the only family knight remaining in the territory and the adopted son of Baron Jefferson.

The two men beside Knight William were soldiers from the Sunflower Manor.

They were probably the only three fighters left in the entire territory; the other knights and soldiers had already been taken away by Baron Jefferson.

Linde sized up the Knight William before him and asked, "Even you've been abandoned?"

William tensed, his hand involuntarily gripping the hilt of his sword, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "What are you saying!"

"You're a member of the Rangers, you know what I'm talking about. Don't worry about it, I'm just lamenting our shared fate."

His words left the two soldiers behind him looking puzzled.

William remained silent for a moment, then his hand, which had been gripping the hilt of his sword, fell limply to his side.

"It seems you've heard something. Well then, stay put in the manor. Women, wine, food—whatever you need, I'll bring it to you."

Lind shook his head and said, "This isn't the future you and I want, is it? Take me to see that Ice Demon; we need to start solving our problems."

"Solve it? Who do you think you are?"

William scoffed, "The abandoned second son, the adopted son who was never cared for, can do nothing but accept their fate."

He stepped forward and pressed down on Lind's shoulder, intending to obey the Baron's orders before he left and take him back to his room.

Linde gently stroked his robe and said, "Do you still remember the oath you took when you became a knight of the Blossom Territory? To protect this land, even if it costs you your life."

"William Winter, answer me according to your heart: will you follow Jefferson, who abandoned his lands and fled alone, or will you stand before me now, Lord of House Senwright, determined to resist disaster?"

William's arm stiffened, and he looked over in a daze.

The two locked eyes.

After a moment, William lowered his head, took a step back, and turned to lead the way.

"Come with me."

"You made the right choice."

Linde followed behind, smiling as he spoke.

At the same time, the two soldiers who followed looked uneasy.

From the conversation just now, they vaguely guessed something, but were unwilling to believe it.

The four arrived at a tower, where William opened the wooden planks of the dungeon and led the way down.

There were braziers lit on both sides of the dungeon passage, but the two soldiers following them felt no warmth at all.

What appeared before them was a naked, ice-blue humanoid monster.

Sensing the arrival of living people, the monster let out a chilling laugh and lunged forward to bite, but fortunately, chains bound its hands and feet, keeping it in place.

Instead of being comforted, the soldier took a step back and cried out in terror.

"This is... an Icefield Demon? No, by God the Father, this can't be real!"

It has been fifty years since the last appearance of the Icefield Demon.

But countless stories circulating in the Flowery Territory tell people one thing: the appearance of this monster means the arrival of bloody death.

The monster from the story appeared before them, and the two soldiers finally understood why the baron had left in such a hurry; their faces turned deathly pale.

"Has your body been modified by frost magic?"

Lind observed the Ice Demon, then went to William's side and drew his longsword.

"Lend it to me for a bit, I'll pay you back."

William remained noncommittal, leaning against the dungeon wall with his arms crossed, observing coldly.

Linde approached the Ice Demon with his sword and swung it forcefully towards its neck.

With a loud thud, as if striking thick leather armor, the enormous recoil deflected the longsword, causing Linde to stagger backward.

"Ha, I must be crazy to actually expect him to save me."

Upon seeing this, William, standing by the wall, lowered his head in self-mockery, finding his earlier sliver of expectation laughable.

However, in the next instant, an indescribable heat wave spread out.

William quickly looked up, his pupils constricting as he witnessed an incomprehensible scene.

Swept up by the heatwave, the Ice Demon let out a painful roar as if it had encountered its natural enemy.

Lind swung his sword again.

The sword technique, seemingly weak and feeble, fell like a farmer hoeing the ground, yet it easily cleaved the Icefield Demon in two, its body shattering upon impact!