Chapter 524

This chapter is an additional update for the "Xiao Haozi" reward.

"Happy birthday, Liszt."

"Happy birthday, Liszt."

"Thank you, Levis and Gloria, for the gifts you brought."

"Happy birthday, Liszt."

"Thank you, Lvera."

At half past ten in the morning, a group of carriages arrived, carrying all members of the Tulip family, including the not-so-healthy Penelope, who came in person.

To celebrate Liszt's birthday.

"My boy, you've grown another year older, yet you remain the youngest sky knight in the Sapphire Duchy," Penelope smiled as she hugged her grandson, now her proudest, receiving unique affection.

However, her caretaker and servants were holding a potted plant, handing it over to Liszt's servants—even with all the pride, the gift was still a potted plant.

Liszt smiled and had the servants move the plant to the flower bed.

He no longer expected to receive spirit bugs from Penelope; how could such a small balcony produce so many spirit bugs? But out of habit, he quickly cast his Magic Eye, scanning the peculiar potted plant.

Penelope had introduced it earlier as a green ingot, a leguminous plant.

As for why it's called a green ingot, one could see at the root part on the pot two large, egg-sized green seed pods resembling ingots, explaining the name. These are the seeds of the green ingot, which split upon sprouting, with one part extending downward to form roots and the other upward to grow into a trunk.

This tree is a type of arbor, capable of growing up to four meters tall.

Its young seedlings, with their large seed pods, do not get absorbed like typical seeds after sprouting. Instead, they become leaf-like, continuing photosynthesis, making them highly ornamental, and many choose to grow them as potted plants. Its fruit is a pod, also called a green ingot, which can be roasted and eaten, though it tastes mediocre, like a poor version of a potato.

Yet, with just that glance.

A faint magic aura was immediately detected by Liszt, gathering on the left seed pod.

"Wait a moment!" he immediately called out, stopping the servants from moving the green ingot, and carefully observed, confirming that there was indeed an aura in the seed pod, a sign of a spirit bug being nurtured.

"What is it, Liszt?" Penelope seemed to realize something and leaned in closer, "Is there something wrong with my potted plant?"

Liszt smiled, choosing not to hide his joy, and said happily, "Grandmother, my dear grandmother, if I am not mistaken, this green ingot is likely nurturing a spirit bug. I don't know how to thank you, this is the third spirit bug you've given me!"

"What!" Penelope exclaimed, "It really has a spirit bug?"

Her tone suggested she didn't believe her potted plant could continue to nurture spirit bugs—she probably didn't think so when she gave it, her years of life experience having taught her to be thrifty, using the hype of the first two spirit bugs to save on gift money.

But at this moment, no one cared about her tone.

Standing nearby, the count and his wife, Levis and his wife, Lvera, Lytton, and other nobles all gathered around, eager to see for themselves.

The count spoke directly, "Liszt, are you sure? Is this really a plant nurturing a spirit bug?"

"Father, my sensitivity to magic is very acute. I felt the magic of a spirit bug on the green ingot, there's no mistake. The question is whether we can cultivate it, but I have some experience in nurturing spirit bugs, and so far, none of the plants I've discovered have ever lost one."

"My goodness!" Mary covered her mouth in disbelief.

She wasn't surprised by a spirit bug, but by the fact that it belonged to Liszt, and was nurtured in Penelope's potted plant.

"Viscount Liszt is truly a child of glory!" a noble began to flatter.

"My dear brother, why does the glory of knighthood always favor you? Grandmother's potted plants have already given birth to three spirit bugs, all gifted to you," Lvera said with envy.

Liszt smiled again: "You should wonder why grandmother's potted plants always produce spirit bugs; the glory of knighthood also favors her."

Penelope laughed heartily, shedding her usual reserve: "Although I am just an old woman, the glory of knighthood has not abandoned me. You all always thought I was fooling you with potted plants, but who knew my plants are all treasures!"

The Green Ingot was ceremoniously moved to the flower garden.

But the flattery did not stop; the nobles continued to tirelessly discuss how Liszt was favored by the glory of knighthood, and family members kept congratulating Liszt.

This yet-to-be-born Green Ingot spirit bug became the highlight that elevated the atmosphere of the birthday celebration.

As he listened to everyone's flattery, Liszt felt an indescribable sense of superiority—just a small spirit bug made other nobles envious. If they knew he had a Fire Drake sleeping on his chest, wouldn't they be green with envy?

Although it can't be ridden and takes a century to mature.

But the Fire Drake can still continuously help him enhance his Dragon Aura level, and his strength is still increasing. Now he confidently asserts that, with the Fire Drake's recent refinement and output, his Dragon Aura has surpassed that of a full-level Sky Knight, second only to the Duke in the Sapphire Duchy.

A Dragon Knight and a Sky Knight are not in the same league.

It appears that above the full-level Sky Knight is the Dragon Knight, but the gap between them is an unfathomable chasm. Only by obtaining a dragon can one bridge the gap, turning the chasm into a thoroughfare. Liszt is incredibly fortunate to have found his dragon at the age of eighteen.

The downside is that the Fire Dragon only consumes and does not produce.

With a mindset of "I have a dragon but I keep it under wraps," Liszt warmly entertained the guests, enjoying a sumptuous lunch in the dining hall.

Although funds for medicine are lacking, the castle is not short of ordinary food.

Mrs. Abi and her team of chefs have already perfected new-style dishes such as stir-fries and braised dishes. Seafood is plentiful, pastries are abundant, and even the staple food comes in various forms: dumplings, noodles, bread, buns, millet rice, and more.

Unfortunately, Chef Bavell still hasn't been able to make tofu, which infuriated Liszt to the point of wanting to kill him—he's just a fraud who swindled ten gold coins in sponsorship money. Otherwise, tofu alone could create countless varieties, adding more richness to the castle's dishes.

Even so.

After the luncheon, the nobles still praised the castle's abundant food and inquired if they could send their chefs to learn from Mrs. Abi.

Liszt cleared his throat and said, "Except for some secret recipes, Mrs. Abi is willing to teach you other dishes. However, the most authentic dishes can only be tasted in Flower Town. You are all welcome to visit Flower Town and enjoy these delicacies."

Flower Town will focus on trade as its future development direction, and delicious food is an excellent way to attract merchants.