Gardener of Eden

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: New Catalog

Closing his eyes in his room, Rowan allowed his mana to synchronize with the [Origin Earth Pulse]. Space rippled gently before him, opening a shimmering, emerald-gold portal straight into [Domain: The Virgin Soil].

Stepping through, the warm, time-dilated air of his private sanctuary washed over him. High above, the World Tree’s vast canopy rustled softly, casting a soothing, starlit glow over endless fields of hyper-fertile earth. Thanks to the extreme temporal flow inside the domain, the entire landscape was a dazzling kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, rich aromas, and dense elemental vitality.

Rowan unslung the Hoe of the World-Tiller from his shoulder, his golden-amber eyes sweeping across the sprawling plots.

[Breath of Eden - Lv. 5]

A gentle wave of liquid gold rippled outward from his boots, signaling the soil to release its yield. Guided by Rowan’s precise spatial control, the crops detached smoothly, floating into the air in a breathtaking, organized stream.

First came the staple spirit crops and elemental produce:

60 Units of Verdant Crown Tomatoes (Grade-B Starlight Variant) floated up like glowing green gems, alongside 25 Units of Amethyst Solar Squash (Grade-B) radiating a deep violet warmth.

100 Sheaves of Aether-Thread Wheat (Grade-B) bound themselves into neat bundles, settling beside 30 Units of Ignis-Bloom Sweet Peppers (Grade-B) that crackled with subtle fire mana.

Cooling the surrounding air, 15 Units of Mature Frost-Melons (Grade-B) drifted into insulated crates, their dark rinds shimmering with a delicate layer of icy condensation.

Across the specialized mana fields, Rowan harvested a batch of Solar-Flax Flowers ready for Tier-2 mana fiber processing, followed by radiant Magma-Lily Blossoms carrying Tier-3 elemental heat. Heavy sacks of Vitality Grain filled their designated storage spaces alongside 35 Fresh Units of Azure Dew Berries and 5 Preserved Crates packed with concentrated berry reserves. From the deep root beds, 3 Crates of Earth-Core Roots were cleansed of soil by passing wind currents, resting neatly beside 10 Crates of Golden Spirit Flour freshly milled from spirit wheat.

Next, Rowan directed his focus toward the orchard groves:

4 Crates of Sun-Gilded Jade Avocados, heavy with smooth, nutrient-dense vitality.

10 Crates of Amethyst-Gold Peaches, glowing with rich, meridian-soothing juice.

10 Crates of Sun-Crystalline Eden Apples, glittering like polished jewels under the World Tree’s canopy.

Finally, Rowan walked toward the subterranean oak groves and cold granite streams—the domain’s newest, highest-grade additions.

From the damp, mana-rich soil beneath the ancient oak roots, the earth parted smoothly. 1 Crate of Royal Imperial Black Truffles, dense with heavy, earthy umami mana, and 1 Crate of Celestial Diamond White Truffles, sparkling with fine silver starlight, were lifted delicately into silk-lined stasis containers.

Along the crystal-clear, fast-flowing stream channels, Rowan harvested the thick, radiant rhizomes of the Dragon-Vein Emerald Wasabi, packing 2 Crates of the sharp, vaporous roots.

Rowan lowered the Hoe of the World-Tiller, watching the massive array of high-tier produce lock securely into spatial storage vaults, preserved at peak freshness.

He adjusted the brim of his Enchanted Straw Hat, looking over the freshly turned, steaming soil with a grounded, satisfied smirk. With the Grade S truffles, Emerald Wasabi, and fruit crates loaded, Eden International’s Monday reopening was about to set a whole new standard for luxury in the Empire.

***

Rowan stepped out of his room carrying three pristine, silk-lined stasis containers containing the crown jewels of his recent harvest. Walking down the wooden staircase, the heady, intoxicating scent of Grade S mana crops subtly preceded him into the sunlit kitchen.

Martha was at the central counter preparing a light meal, with Arthur leaning against the stove sipping hot coffee. When Rowan set the three containers onto the granite table, the latent energy radiating through the insulated seals made the air in the room hum with a crisp, refreshing vitality.

”What do you have there, Rowan?” Martha asked, setting down her paring knife and looking up with curiosity.

With a smooth pop of the runic latches, Rowan lifted the lids.

The aroma hit the room instantly. From the first box, the deep, rich, earthy umami of the Royal Imperial Black Truffles resonated like a heavy bass chord. Beside them, the Celestial Diamond White Truffles glittered with microscopic specks of silver starlight, releasing a delicate, core-soothing scent that made Arthur’s eyes widen. Finally, the two crates of Dragon-Vein Emerald Wasabi practically glowed, their thick, jade-like rhizomes emanating a sharp, vaporous heat that instantly cleared everyone’s senses.

”Fresh from the domain,” Rowan said with a confident smirk. ”Grade S Black and White Truffles, and Dragon-Vein Emerald Wasabi. I brought these down for lunch today. I figured we ought to taste-test the first harvest ourselves before the rest of the world gets a shot at them.”

”Good grief,” Arthur marveled, stepping over to examine the emerald wasabi root. ”The mana flowing off these rhizomes is sharper than high-grade forge steel. A single slice of this on cold beef or fresh aquatic fish would wake up a sleeping dragon.”

”They’re absolutely breathtaking, son,” Martha said, gently touching the velvet-like exterior of a Celestial Diamond White Truffle. ”The high-tier culinary guilds are going to lose their minds.”

”That’s the second part,” Rowan added, adjusting the brim of his straw hat. ”Mom, can you list these on the Eden International portal for pre-order today? We’ll make it clear that this initial batch is an absolute exclusive—available only at our Imperial Capital flagship store when we reopen the doors on Monday.”

”Consider it done,” Martha smiled warmly, already pulling up her administrative tablet. ”Exclusive flagship releases always drive the high-society collectors into a frenzy. I’ll put up the product profiles right now while lunch cooks.”

As Martha began crafting the stunning new listing on the web portal—uploading high-definition sensory scans of the glowing truffles and vibrant green wasabi—she set aside a portion of each crop for their meal.

Within fifteen minutes of the pre-order notice hitting the Eden International website, the luxury agricultural forums went into complete meltdown. Guild quartermasters, royal stewards, and Michelin-star imperial chefs flooded the system with inquiries, trying to reserve even a single gram of the Grade S delicacies for Monday morning’s boutique launch.

In the Vance manor kitchen, however, the mood remained wonderfully grounded.

Martha prepared a delicious lunch, shaving paper-thin ribbons of the Celestial Diamond White Truffle over fresh, buttery spirit-pasta and grating a small portion of the Dragon-Vein Emerald Wasabi onto chilled slices of prime roast beef. The resulting meal was nothing short of divine—each bite sending waves of soothing, meridian-cleansing warmth through their bodies and leaving them completely refreshed.

Rowan leaned back in his chair, enjoying a quiet moment with his parents over an incredible meal, fully aware that come Monday morning, the flagship store in the city was going to experience a grand reopening like nothing the Empire had ever seen.