Large income streams flowed into Jinyo's accounts, saving him from financial ruin. It seemed like tremendous income but couldn't compare at all with circulating money among power cultivators. Exploding Potatoes gained popularity as delicious food ingredients but had no medicinal properties. As for cultivation assistance, nearly zero. If it had medicinal properties and helped cultivate faster, prices would spike many times more.

  If Jinyo chose high-class farmer paths, focusing on exporting produce with special properties, he'd make tremendous income because markets supported it. Hungry hyena packs craving raw materials helping make high-class food and medicines. The problem was people with production potential alarmingly few. Must be large guilds with capital supporting botanists to have cultivation of those specific miraculous plants. Or farmer families with long experience having unique secrets.

  While others risked lives in dungeons and Hollow Gates, Jinyo instead earned income from watching gardens and cultivating power within. But he didn't think of holing up in gardens waiting for harvest days idly. If no monsters invaded, Jinyo wouldn't get rewards as cultivation tickets. He planned that he must adventure surrounding Erich Chester city areas after recovering strength first.

  Jinyo discovered problems that if he left Garden of the Sword, Nature Synthesis Technique would make his planar recovery rates extremely low to the ground. Bonus damage from agricultural equipment also absent. Facing monsters would be extremely challenging. He must hurry increasing his own strength as fast as possible before exam days arrived.

  Jinyo wielded swords, Song of the Sword, same movements repeatedly. High-detail recording drones Naho bought from another city recorded his movement images. Displayed on computers for Jinyo using Eye of the Sage finding movement flaws. Like he used it on Rina.

  Movements had no flaws. Jinyo practiced Peach Blossom Dance over twenty years. Its movements perfect as if copied from manuals. Problems the system pointed out were power transmission points through meridians. Sharp planar release timing not enough. Could compensate through repeating dozens or hundreds of times.

  Spirit now at 18. Nature Synthesis Technique had level 20 proficiency. Jinyo now recovered 1000 units planar in just 5 minutes. He used Sword Spirit and Peach Blossom Dance 70 times in 1 hour. Rested reading exam books 35 minutes for planar to fully recover. Then returned using Peach Blossom Dance another 70 times. Skill proficiency acceleration formulas only Jinyo could use. As long as he didn't step outside Garden of the Sword, his development was faster than sound...

  Speaking of that, sometimes he also had times wanting to delude himself.

  Ryse and Gretel played in huts but didn't come out disturbing Father's training. Rina cautioned that Jinyo would have important exams—forbidden from making him lose focus. Children peeked through doors watching Father's training. They were bored with no adults supervising. Rina immersed in technique improvements. Naho busy repairing training halls. The only thing coming to play with them was white rabbits knowing how to bake potatoes. It learned making baked cheese potatoes serving its two young masters. Ryse got long-eared playmates running playing with her while Gretel sat quietly reading books. If having timing, wouldn't miss repetitive movement training Jinyo was doing.

  When dusk darkened, Naho opened refrigerators taking leftover breakfast to warm in lunch boxes for grandchildren to eat. No portions for Rina or Jinyo because those two people had focus until not perceiving time. Rina quit training to roast potatoes and go sleep. But there was someone refusing rest time, dedicating to training.

  Moonlight granted warmth and recovery power for Jinyo, reducing recovery time. He executed movements 100 times then returned reading manuals. Jinyo slept on paddy fields instead of walking back to huts just a few hundred meters away. Just one hour then woke continuing sword dancing. From outsider perspectives, seemed he was forcing himself but not at all. Jinyo didn't feel such pressures. No different from when he worked as botanists at foreign institutes. Had to keep recording plant growth day and night. Pressure until no rest time. Even if dizzy, couldn't breathe, he had to continue working. When comparing, now he could choose when to rest. Much more comfortable.

  Jinyo ran back making food at mansions. No matter how busy, he must eat breakfast together with family. Today Naho would take Ryse and Gretel playing in cities, resulting in only Rina and Jinyo in mansion areas. But except massage times, they wouldn't orbit encountering each other anyway.

  "55 hours, 2240 times. Finally succeeded."

  [Nature Synthesis Technique (Basic Stage), Skill Proficiency promoted to level 25] [Sword Spirit, Skill Proficiency promoted to level 44] [Peach Blossom Dance (Basic Stage), Skill Proficiency promoted to level 100 (MAX)] [Your Song of a Hundred Flowers technique understanding at Expert level. Peach Blossom Dance Basic Stage level 100 adjusted to Peach Blossom Dance, Common Stage, level 1]

  [Peach Blossom Dance (Common Stage) level 1: Violent continuous strikes. Create illusion images as peach blossoms attacking enemies. Damage depends on [Strength + Willpower, planar Quality] X [Skill Proficiency (X0.02) + 1]

  Has chances making opponents stuck with [Enchanted] status. Create confusion to enemies. Status sticking chances depend on [Charm + Intelligence + Willpower] X [Skill Proficiency (X0.02) + 1]

  Descriptions almost identical to before. Except Skill Proficiency X 0.02 and +1. Originally Skill Proficiency at X 0.01.

  Meaning if before Skill Proficiency level 50 created 0.5 damage, now would be 1. Plus still having +1 at the end becoming 2. Even if Skill Proficiency reset returning to 0, Jinyo would create more damage than when at Basic Stage. The higher proficiency boundaries, it would increase exponentially and become more terrifying.

  Jinyo changed from Basic Stage to Common Stage in just 7 days after returning to cultivate. It was monster development. He aimed that in another two months, he'd change Song of a Hundred Flowers skill proficiency all movements to Expert. From experience and retellings, you needed one attack move at Expert level to survive in worlds with only resource competitions in dungeons or Hollow Gates. If wanting better, must have Expert level all skills, and if wanting comfort, must reach Grandmaster stages.

  Jinyo sat resting under trees. Cool breezes and warm sunlight helped heal weary minds and bodies almost breaking apart. He sat still like statues as if one with trees. He barely moved fingers. His mind too exhausted to respond to any stimuli occurring. Not even one monster invaded gardens. Seemed good but made him have no resources to accelerate plant time.

  Another thing weighing on Jinyo's mind was his Flower Element still at F and showed no signs of budging.

  Flower Element increased through family cultivation techniques. But Jinyo had no qualifications using other power cultivation techniques besides Nature Synthesis Technique. He must find other ways increasing Flower Element quality. Otherwise, no matter how high Skill Proficiency, couldn't create full damage.

  Jinyo returned to mansions and prepared going to markets. He planned arranging luxurious big meals celebrating Peach Blossom Dance promoting to Common Stage. Jinyo was happy, wanted sharing happiness with important people. During dusk when the sun bid farewell to horizons, white seven-seater pickup trucks drove parking in front of mansion entrances.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Men wearing dark glasses carried baskets down vehicles, stepping through mansion gates. Food scents attracted guiding him without fearing getting lost in wide but deserted mansion areas. He hummed happily, but the first thing appearing to welcome was plastic balls appearing from who knows where. Pressed fully into his face until dark glasses fell to floors.

  "Ow, my glasses." William cried lamenting when favorite glasses worth thousands got dusty. Small bodies appeared from building corners. Giggling laughter sounds like success songs accomplished well. William turned looking at voice sources deserving catching to spank. Boys couldn't dodge in time but disappeared back into buildings.

  "Hey! That little terrorist is whose mischievous child? I'll sue for damages for sure. Know how much these glasses cost?"

  "Just playing a little." Gretel poked heads out for William to clearly see faces. William rubbed his own eyes to see clearly. This boy resembled Jinyo in William's memories as if copied exactly. Just friends in his memories were orderly children. As for brat devils before him, delinquent children.

  "Did your parents teach you to kick balls pressing adults' faces like this?"

  "Not at all! But Mother taught me to dedicate to dreams. Now I'm aspiring to become world-class footballers and Uncle is in future world-class footballer honor histories. So don't be angry. Don't tell my mother."

  "Oh ho! Means the person kicking balls pressing my face isn't ordinary children then? If you get Ballon d'Or before age 30, I won't sue your mother. But if can't do it on 30th birthdays, I'll send letters collecting backdated debts plus interest plus inflation rates. Collecting from you in the future should be more fun than collecting from Mother. Right?"

  "Has anyone ever told Uncle you're unlikable?"

  "Haha, heard that often until now friends remaining countable on fingers. But money matters don't involve anyone else. Even siblings, whatever should collect must collect. This is my life philosophy."

  Life philosophies with nothing wrong but felt nothing truly right.

  Gretel swore to himself wouldn't grow into adults like this and shouldn't get involved from the start. Gretel walked leading William into mansions. Meal times hadn't started. Jinyo sat quietly reading books on sofas. Beside had Rina sitting cross-legged meditating, circulating power. Eye of the Sage surveyed training progress. Speeds improving Rina's sword techniques advanced well but still required long times before reaching Master boundaries.

  "Brother Yo, I brought friends." Gretel almost shouted loudly echoing mansions. Jinyo turned seeing William holding gift baskets. Had luxurious champagne bottles, expensive tea and snack boxes. Things not wanting to believe ground-dragging fangs men like William would visit and give high-value gifts to others.

  "Yo, I came visiting. And have matters wanting to talk about too. Am I interrupting any romance?"

  "There's no romance at all. Haven't seen each other long, William." Rina countered first.

  "Oh my, turns out Miss Rina. No wonder lately Jinyo's complexion brightened much. Turns out living under same roofs with beautiful ladies like you. Plus still having mischievous Jinyo clones. Matters like this still bothering hiding. You traitor." William nudged elbows lightly at Jinyo until barely feeling. Jinyo used hands brushing away like annoyed at men entering uninvited.

  "It's not matters needing telling anything. Plus Rina only staying temporarily. Soon she'll return to duties. Have business? Let's talk elsewhere better." Jinyo didn't believe William came visiting him to mansions wanting to give gifts. Must have some hidden intentions William didn't think of hiding.

  "Oh my, seems Young Master Jinyo doesn't want me in ladies' sights long. Afraid of getting stolen away?"

  "What nonsense. Cunning foxes aren't in her sights anyway."

  "Oh, what kind of men would catch her eyes? Bankrupt ones?"

  Jinyo didn't counter mockery. Led William to marble benches middle of mansions, open and comfortable. Had dim lights enough giving brightness. William's coming wasn't beyond expectations. But moves Jinyo laid since days making Naho sell Exploding Potatoes.

  Finding large quantities Exploding Potatoes at once wasn't impossible. As botanists and military preparatory schools for many years, he knew methods hunters used finding Exploding Potatoes in dungeons. True that no one knew cultivation methods outside dungeons, but if inside dungeons, making small Exploding Potato gardens theoretically possible. But required luck and chances so much, not worth time investments lost. Jinyo could play cards claiming he was botanists with expertise about Exploding Potatoes.

  Jinyo cooperated with Naho who was experienced hunters, finding methods harvesting lots of Exploding Potatoes at once. Just this, Jinyo could completely claim he had no potential producing Exploding Potatoes outside dungeons. Just taking harvested Exploding Potatoes from gardens into dungeons then taking out. Could claim they were Exploding Potatoes from dungeons.

  However, as botanists, how could he not know every Exploding Potato had excessively equal quality?

  Spirit in dungeons had no consistency. Exploding Potatoes didn't grow equally, plus had behaviors liking sprouting in same spots. Competed for nutrients growing. Unlike Exploding Potatoes Jinyo planted himself. Spaced apart to receive equal water and spirit. No resource or sunlight competitions. Every fruit had excellent quality, unlike natural produce.

  No way escaping from William's sharp gazes.

  "Oh my, must thank and highly honor letting me learn genius botanist talents. Your planted Exploding Potatoes sold out completely from day 2. At first, everyone didn't believe good quality goods entered shops in large batches. But after seeing with eyes, rushed pulling money from pockets. I slept dreaming well because of you."

  "If wanting to thank me, next time help buying at better prices. Production costs are high."

  "Oh my, admitted then that you know Exploding Potato cultivation methods. Truly excellent. I like your boasting but not boasting. How did you do it?" William squinted looking at men he knew since childhood. Jinyo was called fallen geniuses or cursed children of Southerncross families. He had sword technique talents inherited from Mother but unluckily lost power when most prosperous. When changing to academic paths, Jinyo graduated with PhDs abroad at just 24.

  Everyone believed sooner or later, Jinyo must win Nobel Prizes within his life. Found Jinyo returned from abroad to Erich Chester. Didn't work at research institutes or miraculous plant breeding companies. But just special tutors at ordinary tutoring institutes.

  Jinyo was lucky as young masters born with silver and gold spoons. Had both high noble families and educational qualifications anyone must envy. But every time life graphs surged to maximums, he'd dive down under Y-axis lines. Good-looking but no girlfriends. Career progress couldn't find. Then suddenly invented Exploding Potato cultivation methods. Strange mysterious depths invited William peeling truths to reveal. He wanted knowing what else Jinyo hid.

  "You know it's trade secrets. I can't tell and don't think of telling."

  "Speaking of that, knew already who'd be stupid enough to tell."

  "I want you helping release my produce. But must help concealing production sources tightly too." Jinyo's needs just one. He didn't want Garden of the Sword secrets spreading because would attract terrifying power poles coming to compete. Jinyo now too weak to protect himself from blood-thirsty hyena packs. He must have trustworthy and tight-lipped partners enough.

  Jinyo received lessons already. He must find most trustworthy people, and the single most suitable person was William. Though charging expensive service fees, buying with suppressed prices, but still fair. Had connections and wide acquaintances. Opposite Jinyo who didn't socialize. Had no connections including no stability.

  But walking requesting cooperation wouldn't impress playful curious people like William. He must drop bait through sisters so innocent and naive, and fish got hooked.

  However, he didn't realize at all that dropped fishing lines broke, disappearing with fake bait already.

  "That's it. This side, after selling out, rushed coming immediately. Asking for sureness—you didn't contact other middlemen merchants, right?"

  "Not at all."

  "You thought correctly! Because no one's suitable as trading partners as much as me. But if you have thoughts going to other middlemen merchants, please stop thinking would be better. This is for your own sake too." Soft deep tones with words full of goodwill. Don't know what schemes hid through those sentences. Jinyo tensed until backs drenched with sweat. Tens of thousands of needles stabbed him all directions. Negotiation table pressures made him who was superior sides got experienced merchants tilting currents toward other sides.

  "I'll speak bluntly without beating around bushes. I want that side buying 350,000 per 100 kilograms. 1000 kilograms monthly."

  "Wait, young man. Actually, I have another gift." William revealed meaningful smiles. Cards he revealed would explode negotiation tables unrecognizable again.