CHAPTER 176: CHAPTER 176 -SLEEPY POLLEN

The sunlight in the back garden was soft that morning, filtering gently through the leaves and spreading a pale golden glow over the earth. The air carried the faint fragrance of soil mixed with the scent of blooming flowers, and a few bees buzzed lazily nearby.

Luciel stood beside a bed of mixed flowers, sleeves rolled to his elbows, his hands slightly dusted with soil. His calm gaze swept across the rows of plants, and his thoughts were quietly turning.

"Mino, is this flower suitable?" he asked with a faint smile, crouching beside her.

Mino was squatting low in front of a small patch of flowers. The sunlight caught the pale blue tint of her hair, and her long rabbit ears twitched slightly as she pointed to a tiny yellow blossom, no larger than a fingertip.

"I’m not sure yet," Luciel said after a moment of observation. "Let’s pick one more and compare."

He was in the midst of selecting plants that could be domesticated—those that could adapt easily and bloom steadily. These were meant for the future bee colonies that would help pollinate the crops around Black Tortoise.

Mino’s clear voice sounded again. "Then how about this one?" she said, pointing to a broader, palm-sized flower nearby. Its petals were pale orange, spreading outward like a small sun resting on the soil.

Luciel examined it for a while and nodded. "Still uncertain," he murmured.

There were more than a dozen varieties in front of him—each with its own color, scent, and temperament. He was looking for something that could branch quickly, bloom in clusters, and survive in the ever-changing conditions of the city’s new gardens.

While they worked quietly, a soft, familiar voice came from behind.

"Luciel, what are you two doing?"

He turned slightly. Ariel was walking over, her golden eyes reflecting the light like two calm lakes under the sun. She held a small basket filled with herbs, with little Lanzi perched on her shoulder, holding a tiny leaf as if it were treasure.

Mino, already accustomed to Ariel’s quiet entrances, replied cheerfully without turning her head. "Luciel’s trying to find flowers that can be tamed."

Her tone was simple, yet full of innocent pride. Mino had recently advanced to Tier Two. Just two days ago, she had taken the strengthening secret medicine, and her natural hearing had become even sharper. She had probably heard Ariel’s soft steps long before she arrived.

Ariel knelt down beside them, brushing a lock of blonde hair from her cheek. "You’re looking for plants that can be domesticated? What kind of flowers are you choosing?"

Luciel straightened a little, wiping the soil from his fingers. "Something that can branch and bloom quickly," he said gently. "If possible, I’d like them to have some medicinal value too."

Ariel tilted her head, thinking for a moment. Then her gaze drifted to the far corner of the garden, where several darker flowers swayed quietly in the breeze. "What about that one—the Sleepy Flower?"

Luciel followed her gaze. The flower she pointed to was palm-sized, its petals deep black, glimmering faintly under the light.

"This flower can be used as a main ingredient for secret medicine," Ariel added, her voice steady, though her eyes avoided his for a moment.

Luciel’s lips curved slightly. "That could work," he said. "Are there any others?"

"There’s also this one," Ariel said, standing up and moving to a vine that climbed along a nearby trellis. The vine bore small purple flowers, each no larger than a thumb, their slender stems swaying gently. "It’s called the Anesthesia Flower. It grows from broken vines, and its thorns can make people dizzy if they touch them."

Luciel looked at both plants thoughtfully. The two flowers each had potential—one carried a calming fragrance, the other held a faint numbing power. Both were delicate yet resilient in their own ways.

"I discovered these when making the Star Secret Medicine," Ariel explained softly, as if remembering something from long ago.

Luciel smiled, warmth flickering in his eyes. "Then both are worth testing."

He crouched again, studying the flowers more carefully. The black Sleepy Flower was rich in color, its petals almost velvety. The purple Anesthesia Flower, by contrast, gave off a faint shimmer as if mist were resting upon it.

"Which one should we start with?" Ariel asked, curiosity lighting her face.

Luciel chuckled quietly. "Why choose only one?"

Ariel blinked, surprised. "You can evolve both?"

Luciel nodded. "Yes. There’s no rule that says I must choose. Both have value."

In the past, he would have hesitated—resources were tight, and the cost of evolution was high. But now, with the city’s foundation stable and the commercial street thriving, he had enough evolution points to spare.

"Alright," he said, pressing his palm lightly against the leaves of the Sleepy Flower. "System, domesticate and evolve to fifth level."

A faint ripple of energy moved through the air.

A soft chime echoed in his mind.

"Ding! After deducting ten domestication points, domestication successful."

"Ding! Level one evolves to level five. Deducting evolution points: 11,110."

"Ding! Mist Flower evolution successful."

"Ding! Inherit talent: Sleepy Pollen?"

Luciel’s eyes gleamed faintly. "Inherit the talent."

The response came at once.

"Ding! ’Sleepy Pollen’ talent adapting and integrated."

The transformation began quietly. The Sleepy Flower’s black petals expanded, unfurling like the slow breath of night. The plant grew taller—two meters, then three—until it stood nearly six meters high. The once-small flower now resembled a majestic black lotus, each petal reflecting faint waves of light.

Luciel looked up at it, the shadow of the enormous bloom spreading over him like cool silk. "It looks almost like a black lotus," he murmured.

"What a big flower," Mino whispered in awe, her blue eyes wide.

"I want to study the petals," Ariel said quickly, her golden eyes bright with fascination. "Luciel, can I take some samples?"

He nodded with a smile. "Of course."

A gentle fragrance began to fill the garden. It was faint at first, then deeper—sweet but heavy, curling softly through the air like mist.

Mino blinked a few times. "Why... am I so sleepy all of a sudden?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "I went to bed early last night..."

Ariel’s nose twitched slightly as she caught the scent. "Such a familiar feeling," she murmured, leaning closer to the flower.

Luciel didn’t need to test the ability. The drowsiness that spread through the air was proof enough. Even without activation, the flower’s passive ability was strong—its very fragrance carried the Sleepy Pollen’s power.

Mino swayed unsteadily. "Luciel... I’m sleepy..."

Her soft voice trailed off as she leaned against him, eyes fluttering shut. He caught her easily, smiling helplessly as she fell into his arms like a child lulled by the wind.

"Go on, sleep," he said quietly, adjusting her gently.

The Mist Flower’s fifth-level power was already overwhelming. Its natural aura alone was enough to put a second-tier being like Mino instantly to sleep. If Luciel were to let it release its full talent, it might be enough to knock unconscious anyone below fifth tier in the entire city.

He sighed softly. "The Sleepy Flower’s effect really did strengthen after evolution."

Ariel was already scribbling in her notebook, her expression half-studious, half-enchanted. "I’ll note that down," she murmured.

Luciel glanced at her curiously. "You’re not affected?"

She blinked up at him, puzzled. "Me? Oh, no. Didn’t I tell you about my ability?"

Luciel shook his head. "No, I don’t think you have."

Ariel smiled faintly, with a hint of pride. "My ability makes me immune to poisons. In fact, when I take poison, it strengthens my body."

Luciel paused, genuinely surprised. "An immunity that turns toxins into strength?"

She nodded. "I discovered it by accident. When I first started making secret medicines, I tested a few on myself. They made everyone else ill, but I felt... fine. Stronger, even."

Luciel couldn’t help but laugh softly. "You’re a strange one," he said, his tone both fond and amused. "No wonder you’re so confident with your experiments."

Ariel scratched her cheek, embarrassed. "I didn’t realize it at first. I thought I was just lucky."

Luciel looked at her—her golden hair glinting in the sunlight, her calm face framed by the tall petals of the Mist Flower—and his expression softened. "You might be lucky," he said quietly, "but you’re also careful. That’s rarer."

She smiled at that, shy but sincere. "Thank you."

The garden was peaceful again. Mino slept soundly in Luciel’s arms, her long ears twitching lightly in her dreams. The newly evolved Mist Flower swayed gently above them, casting faint motes of black pollen that drifted like dust through the sunlight.

Luciel looked at the second flower—the Anesthesia Flower still waiting nearby. "Next, let’s evolve this one," he murmured.

Ariel nodded eagerly. "I’ll prepare my notes."

The faint breeze stirred the leaves, carrying away the sweet drowsiness. Somewhere above, the golden light spilled across the blossoms, turning even the dark petals of the Mist Flower into soft, glowing silk.

And in that quiet corner of the back garden, surrounded by the scent of life and growth, Luciel’s work continued—patient, steady, like the slow unfolding of a new Chapter for Black Tortoise itself.