Chapter 103: Beneath the Golden Apple Tree

After climbing more than twenty steps, the two arrived in a spacious chamber. In the center of the basement stood a teleportation circle, powered by a small elemental pool nearby.

Angus turned his head, looking solemnly at Vaelin, and said, "You are about to be exposed to some of our family's secrets. Remember, do not discuss this with anyone else."

"I understand, Father."

The two stood in the center of the small teleportation circle, which activated automatically. A flash of white light swept over them, and their figures vanished.

...

White Rock Plantation, the secret plantation of the Ecks family, is located in White Rock Canyon within the Silver Prosperity County of the Eagle Territory. Deep underground lies a magic crystal vein of immense reserves, bathing the entire plantation in an environment of high magical energy.

The entire White Rock Canyon covers an area of thirty square kilometers, shrouded by a veil of light designed to block external probing. Less than one hundred kilometers away lies the Stony Plain, home to the garrison of the Eagle Knights.

As the scene shifted and Vaelin opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the dim basement but in the midst of a garden.

"Follow me."

Vaelin obeyed, trailing behind his father. Along the way, he saw many miraculous plants, each being meticulously tended to by numerous workers.

"This is the family's secret plantation. It houses many extremely rare and precious plants. Most are consumed internally by the family, and only a tiny fraction are sold. Even so, it generates thirty million gold coins in revenue for the family each year."

"As for those that are sold, it is only to maintain beneficial ties with allied families; otherwise, not a single thing would be released to the outside world. Everything would be kept for the family's own use."

Vaelin walked and listened to his father's words, silently calculating. This pocket-sized place was perhaps more important than the entire Eagle Territory.

"Angus, you've come," said an old man with grizzled hair and casual attire, stopping his work to smile at Angus.

Angus bowed in greeting and introduced him to Vaelin: "Vaelin, this is Arlo Ecks, your grandfather's younger brother, a Master Druid."

"Greetings, Great-Uncle Arlo." Vaelin stepped forward and bowed to show his respect.

"Such a good boy. Here, a gift for our first meeting."

Arlo reached into his worn pocket and pulled out a few seeds, handing them to Vaelin. Seeing the faint glow radiating from the seeds, Vaelin accepted them and tucked them away carefully. Anything gifted by a Master Druid was bound to be extraordinary; he was already eager to return home and cultivate them.

"Great-Uncle, I came to see you today for a specific reason."

"Wait a moment, let me finish what I'm doing first."

With that, Arlo ignored the father and son, gently stroking a magical plant. After a moment, the plant swayed its leaves as if responding to him.

"Good, good, such good children. Keep growing strong today."

Vaelin watched as his great-uncle tirelessly communicated with the other plants, offering words of praise that elicited responses from them. An hour later, Arlo stopped and approached Angus, saying quite casually, "Speak, what is it?"

Angus gave a brief explanation.

"Come, my dear grand-nephew, follow me. Let's find a cozy home for the Golden Apple Tree." Before Angus could even finish speaking, Arlo took Vaelin by the hand and headed toward the depths of the plantation.

After walking a considerable distance, the three arrived at a location with extremely high magical energy.

"This is the core of the magic crystal vein. It should meet the requirements for planting the Golden Apple Tree."

Vaelin took out his storage book, tore off the page containing the Golden Apple Tree, and tossed it toward the clearing ahead. The page was enveloped in light, merging with the soil and slowly expanding upward. In less than a minute, a massive orb of light had formed.

Suddenly, the light dissipated, and a thirteen-meter-tall golden tree, thick enough for three men to circle with their arms, appeared before them. As if liberated from its cramped space, the Golden Apple Tree rustled its leaves as if in celebration.

Arlo stepped forward, gently stroking the trunk, injecting his own magical power, and closing his eyes to commune with it. Angus and his son exchanged glances, retreating to the side to wait, not daring to disturb the communication between Arlo and the tree.

After more than ten minutes, Arlo opened his eyes and said with a smile, "Good child, this is your new home. Don't be lonely, don't worry, Great-Uncle will come to talk to you every day."

*Whoosh—*

A breeze imbued with magical energy brushed against Vaelin's face, opening his eyes to the truth: plants, too, possess thoughts.

"Vaelin, thank you for letting the Golden Apple Tree join the White Rock Plantation family. I have gained another child," Arlo said, taking Vaelin’s hand in a slow, measured manner.

"Er, it... it was my duty, Great-Uncle Arlo." Vaelin took a deep breath and replied.

"Great-Uncle, since there is nothing else, we shall be returning now."

"Then I won't keep you," Arlo said with a smile, waving goodbye before sitting down under the Golden Apple Tree to continue his conversation.

On the way back, Vaelin could not help but ask, "Father, how old is Great-Uncle Arlo?"

"Let me think... My father is two hundred and sixty-two this year, and Great-Uncle was born forty years later, so he should be two hundred and twenty-two now."

The first ancestor of the Ecks family had built everything from nothing—from commoner to Count—in just one hundred and twenty years, and he had only married when he became a Count. Vaelin had read in the family history that the reason for this delay was a promise—a promise made to a friend. When Vaelin first read this, he thought his ancestor was the protagonist of destiny, but he never expected that the man would fail to break through to the Gold rank throughout his life, passing away at the age of one hundred and fifty.

Perhaps because the ancestor set a bad precedent, most of the Ecks family heirs married very late. In the main line of the Ecks family, his father Angus was the earliest to marry at sixty, and he was now one hundred and ten years old. Other branches varied, but most married in their thirties.

However, although members of the Ecks family married late, every generation was prosperous, ensuring the family size remained unaffected and the succession remained orderly, preventing internal strife. Perhaps before long, this record might be broken by his older brother, Ilisis.

"But Great-Uncle Arlo is a Master Druid of the Soul-Intent rank. He should have a lifespan of at least five hundred years. Why does he look so frail and elderly?"

"His mindset is old. Great-Uncle has appeared this way for over thirty years," Angus replied, shaking his head without further explanation.

The two then returned to Windsor Castle via the teleportation circle.