CHAPTER 139: GOLD AND SILVER TREES

In the Potion Room,

Sylas set up the cauldron and lit the fire.

He added dew collected on the night of the full moon to the pot. Once the water boiled, he added two spoonfuls of mugwort infusion, stirred six times clockwise, then six times counter-clockwise.

Then, he added six drops of earthworm juice, stirring one time clockwise and one time counter-clockwise after each drop until the earthworm juice was fully integrated into the liquid.

At this point, the mixture turned green and emitted a bitter smell along with the fresh scent of earth.

Having reached this step, Sylas lowered the flame, then successively added ten drops of dragon blood. The liquid turned red, then simmered at a low temperature for three days.

Three days later, Sylas added figs and continued to boil for another day.

He stopped the fire and filtered the mixture three times to remove impurities, then cooked it again, adding seven drops of giant spider venom, stirring seven times clockwise and one time counter-clockwise.

After boiling at high heat for fifteen minutes, he added seven strands of Legolas’s hair, generously contributed by him.

This step was originally supposed to use unicorn hair, but since there were no unicorns in this world, Sylas found a new approach, choosing elf hair, and the result was, as expected, a success.

He then removed the cauldron from the fire, allowing it to cool naturally, and waited for seven days.

On the seventh day, the liquid turned into a bright silver, mercury-like substance.

Thus, the growth potion used to accelerate the growth of magic herbs was completed.

Sylas poured the potion into crystal bottles, filling three bottles in total, which he placed in an empty potion cabinet on the other side.

Growth potion is a very obscure potion, specifically used to accelerate the growth of magical plants. Apart from manor lords who cultivate potion herbs or master herbalists, most people are unfamiliar with this potion.

Sylas only learned how to make this potion after acquiring the knowledge and memories of Professor Sprout, a master herbalist.

With the potion completed, Sylas eagerly grabbed a bottle and left the Potion Room.

He left the tower directly and went outside.

The dwarf craftsmen were bustling with activity, busy constructing the castle, expertly using various mechanical pulleys.

The preliminary foundation of a magnificent castle, covering the entire mountaintop, was gradually taking shape.

There was also a dragon who, to save money, repeatedly airlifted huge stones and timber materials from afar, directly saving most of the labor, material resources, and material costs.

Sylas did not disturb them, going alone to the garden area that had been designated and divided by the castle designer, Balin.

In the center of the garden, there was an area protected by magic, where no one else could approach except Sylas himself.

This was precisely where the white tree and mellon tree seeds were buried.

The area where the seeds were planted was intentionally enclosed by Sylas with stone bricks to form a flower bed.

And in the two flower beds, located a hundred meters apart, two newly sprouted tender shoots had emerged.

The two tender shoots were extraordinary; one could immediately feel the immense vitality contained within them.

The golden mellon tree sprout reflected golden light in the sun, emitting warm energy, like a sun tree.

While the silver-white white tree sprout exuded a sacred and cool aura, like a moon tree.

Looking at the two tender shoots, Sylas’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

Ever since he buried the seeds, Sylas had regularly watered them with the stream water given by Lady Galadriel, but the two seeds were slow to sprout, making Sylas at one point mistakenly think something had gone wrong.

It was not until the tender shoots appeared a few days ago that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Sylas took out the freshly made growth potion and first dripped one drop onto the mellon tree sprout.

The potion was quickly absorbed by the mellon tree sprout, and under Sylas’s expectant gaze, it began to grow at a visible rate.

In a few breaths, it grew from a newly sprouted tender shoot into a small tree half a meter tall.

One drop of growth potion had the effect of one month’s growth.

Seeing how quickly the mellon tree could grow, Sylas’s eyes lit up, and he immediately dripped ten more drops consecutively.

Soon, the mellon tree grew larger and larger, quickly surpassing Sylas’s height, continuously growing as if time were accelerated.

The dwarf craftsmen working nearby inadvertently noticed something blocking the sunlight.

When they turned to look, their eyes widened and their mouths dropped open, their faces filled with shock.

They saw a large tree, at least twenty meters tall, appear in the center of the garden, and it was still growing at a visible rate.

The tree was tall and straight, extraordinarily beautiful, with silver-gray bark and broad, fan-shaped leaves that looked like they were made of gold, reflecting dazzling golden light in the sun.

The entire tree shone with golden brilliance, mesmerizing the dwarves who saw it, making them unable to tear their eyes away.

This tree perfectly matched the dwarves’ aesthetic.

The eldest, Balin, was equally amazed. Being well-traveled, he quickly guessed the type of tree.

"Is this the mallorn tree of Lórien? It truly lives up to its reputation."

What surprised him even more was that Sylas was able to grow a mallorn tree at Amon Sûl, and it could grow so rapidly.

But soon, an even more astonishing scene appeared to Balin and the other dwarves. A silver-white tree quickly emerged a hundred meters away from the mellon tree, and it grew taller and taller.

The silver-white tree was not as straight as the mallorn tree, but rather winding like a dragon, with dense dark green leaves, like emeralds.

The undersides of the leaves were bright silver, reflecting a hazy, cool light in the sunlight, exuding a noble and sacred aura.

The two large trees, one gold and one silver, appeared in the garden, making the surroundings much brighter. Even the air around them seemed to become much fresher.

And Sylas, being close, felt it even more distinctly. Around the twin trees, the magic energy became much denser.

Especially the power of the white tree began to influence the surrounding environment. Wherever it was, everything would thrive, grass and leaves would be lush and evergreen, flowers would bloom perpetually, and bodies would feel light and healthy.

Sylas still had half of the growth potion left in his hand, but he did not continue to accelerate the growth of the two trees.

Growth potion was not a panacea. Over-accelerating growth would consume the trees’ essence and foundation, which would be counterproductive.

Immediately, Sylas picked some leaves from the white tree and the mallorn tree.

The sap of the white tree leaves could heal wounds, relieve toxicity, and dispel dark magic.

As for the mallorn tree leaves, they were used by the Elves of Lórien to wrap lembas bread, allowing it to be preserved for a long time.

Lembas, made from mallorn tree fruits, was rich in nutrients, could nourish the will, replenish energy, and help the user recover from injuries and illnesses faster. Moreover, one piece could sustain a full day’s journey, making it the Middle-earth version of a compressed biscuit.

Therefore, Sylas planned to use the leaves of the white tree and the mellon tree as reserve materials for potion making.

After accelerating the growth of the two trees, Sylas did not leave, but instead took out a spatial bag with a hint of disdain.

He cast a Bubble-Head Charm on himself to block the smell, then manipulated the bag to pour its contents at the roots of the two trees.

What he poured out was the most fertile dragon dung fertilizer.

The Herbology course at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would use dragon dung fertilizer to help magical plants grow, and Professor Sprout particularly favored this fertilizer.

The dragon dung produced by Smaug was, of course, far more potent than anything from the dragons of the wizarding world.

If Sylas wanted the White Tree and the mallorn to grow stronger and healthier, there was no avoiding it, he would have to hold his nose and apply the dragon dung fertilizer himself.

To make matters worse, he’d had to endure the smug, mocking stares of that overgrown lizard, who clearly enjoyed watching him work. Smaug had even been given a specially designated area to relieve himself, an arrangement Sylas still considered one of the more humbling indignities of his life.

Once the pungent fertilizer was buried at the roots and covered with a fresh layer of soil, Sylas made a hasty retreat, casting several powerful Cleaning Charms on himself. Even so, he could still detect a faint, unwelcome whiff clinging to his robes.

Back inside the tower, he ascended to the sixth floor, where his private herb garden awaited.

The first stop was the chamber where the king’s grass was planted. A wave of warm air greeted him as he stepped inside. The space stretched far beyond normal proportions, several times the size of a football pitch, and above, instead of a ceiling, a magical illusion revealed a blue sky dotted with white clouds. Sunlight streamed down, a soft breeze whispered through the grass, and ripples danced across the lake at the garden’s heart. Water lilies drifted lazily on its surface while schools of fish glided below.

The transformation here was remarkable. Where once the king’s grass had drooped and wilted, now hundreds of plants stood tall and verdant, their leaves lush and healthy. Many had already sprouted new shoots.

Sylas conjured a watering can, added a measured drop of growth potion, diluted it with water, and began to sprinkle it over the plants.

The results were immediate. The king’s grass seemed to drink in the potion greedily, growing taller before his eyes. Flowers bloomed, seeds ripened, and Sylas deftly collected them with a flick of his wand. He sowed the seeds on a fresh patch of soil, watered them again, and watched as new life erupted from the ground, shoots pushing upward in moments where nature might have taken weeks.

In short order, the original hundred plants had become a thriving field of green.

"With this much king’s grass," Sylas murmured with satisfaction, "I won’t have to worry about running out of ingredients for a long time."

To ensure their continued health, he scattered a careful layer of dragon dung fertilizer among them.

Then another thought struck him. Raising his wand, he cast, "Revelio!"

A narrow beam of light leapt from the wand’s tip, pointing him toward the far hillside beyond the lake.

Following the trail, Sylas found himself in front of a patch of thick grass. Parting it, he smiled knowingly. "So that’s where you’ve been hiding."

With a firm grip, he yanked a plant from the soil, though this was no ordinary plant.

It was the Mandrake he had cultivated months earlier. Once transplanted into the garden, it had apparently decided to burrow deep and stay put.

Now uprooted, the Mandrake flailed furiously, its root-like limbs twisting, its tiny face contorted in outrage. It let loose an earsplitting scream, one that could have been fatal, had Sylas not already cast a Silencing Charm on himself.

He merely grinned at its little tantrum. "Still as bad-tempered as ever."

After teasing it for a moment, he took a dropper and fed it three drops of the growth potion. The Mandrake paused mid-scream, smacked its lips, and gave him a wide-eyed, expectant look.

"You little glutton," Sylas chuckled, giving it three more drops before setting it gently back down.

The moment its roots touched the soil, the Mandrake vanished underground with a soft plop. Moments later, it burst back up, larger, healthier, and crowned with a cluster of delicate purple flowers.

The blooms quickly faded, giving way to three plump orange fruits shaped like tiny apples. Sylas waited until they were nearly ripe before harvesting them. He split each with a silver knife, extracting the precious seeds and carefully preserving the fragrant pulp in a crystal bottle.

Mandrake fruit was among the most prized potion ingredients in the wizarding world, potent in healing draughts and complex enchantments alike.

Burying the seeds in fresh soil, Sylas gave them another dose of growth potion. Almost instantly, three new Mandrakes sprouted, young, magical, and in no need of the intensive cultivation their predecessor had required.

He topped their patch with a generous layer of dragon dung fertilizer.

With the king’s grass and Mandrakes thriving, Sylas moved on through the rest of the herb garden. In each room, he repeated the same process, first the growth potion, then the dragon dung fertilizer, until his supplies were completely spent.

When at last he stepped out of the garden, his robes were a little stained, his potion vials empty, but his spirits high.

From this day forward, his stores of magical plants and rare herbs would be well-stocked. He would be self-sufficient, with no need to depend on erratic supply lines or the whims of merchants.