Lin Ling held the miniature Holy Light Stasis core in her hands and looked down at it for a moment.
The outer white crystalline shell was quiet and transparent.
Deep blue magic swirled slowly inside.
It was a miniature domain, compressed to the size of a thumb and materialized by the infusion of a massive amount of magic.
This thing was dangerous.
But it was also very useful.
The problem was, burying it directly in the field was still too risky.
If the outer structure ruptured, the sealed magic inside would explode instantly.
Even if it didn't explode, if the release rate was too fast, it might "drown" the seedlings again.
Lin Ling thought for a moment and looked at Baroque.
“Lord Baroque.”
“Do you have any ordinary ore on you?”
Baroque frowned.
“Ordinary ore?”
“Yes.”
“Not magic ore.”
“The more ordinary, the better. Preferably something hard.”
Baroque was silent for a moment, then took out a grayish-black ore from his waist.
“Rock Iron Ore.”
“A common ore used for city defense repairs.”
“It has no magic storage properties.”
“It's hard enough.”
Lin Ling took the ore and nodded with satisfaction.
“Good, you'll do.”
A vein on Baroque’s temple throbbed.
“What are you trying to do now?”
Lin Ling held up the miniature Holy Light Stasis core.
“It’s too fragile right now; I can feel it.”
“Burying it directly in the soil isn't safe. I’d feel guilty if it exploded one day.”
“So, I’m going to give it a shell.”
She held up the piece of Rock Iron Ore.
“I’ll embed this domain core into the ore.”
“Then, I'll create tiny magic channels inside the ore to draw magic from the domain.”
“That way, the magic inside the core won’t rush out all at once; it will slowly evaporate through the ore.”
“Finally, I'll put a weakened version of Holy Light Stasis on the outer layer.”
“To make the release rate even slower and more stable.”
Phelan looked down and recorded.
——New plan: Embed the materialized miniature Holy Light Stasis core into ordinary Rock Iron Ore.
——Purpose: Use the ore as a physical shell and conduction medium to allow the internal magic to evaporate at a low speed.
——Additional weakened Holy Light Stasis on the outer layer to further restrict the release rate.
——Provisional name: Magic Slow-Release Stone.
Lin Ling didn't protest this time.
Because this actually sounded like a proper invention.
She took a deep breath and began to work.
First, she had to open a “path” inside the Rock Iron Ore.
Ordinary ore lacked the natural magic-conducting patterns found in magic ore.
When magic entered, it was like hitting a thick wall.
Lin Ling could only thin out her own magic bit by bit, letting it seep into the tiniest crevices of the ore like flowing water.
She couldn't force her way through.
She had to clear a path.
She carved out extremely fine channels inside the ore.
Next, she carefully embedded the miniature Holy Light Stasis core into the center of the Rock Iron Ore.
The pale white shell of the core vibrated slightly.
The deep blue magic inside swirled slowly.
Lin Ling immediately suppressed it with Holy Light Stasis.
“Be good.”
“Don't explode.”
“You’re not a Spirit Bomb right now.”
“You are a mature piece of agricultural equipment.”
Everyone: “...”
Cecil said in a low voice:
“Now she’s started talking to agricultural equipment.”
Aliviel sighed.
“You’ll get used to it.”
As the domain core was embedded into the ore, fine blue-white patterns gradually emerged on the surface of the grayish-black Rock Iron Ore.
Those patterns looked like root systems.
Or irrigation channels.
They slowly spread from the center to the edges.
Phelan’s gaze grew more focused.
“The internal structure of the ore is changing.”
Baroque looked at him.
“Even ordinary ore can do this?”
Phelan didn't answer immediately.
After a moment, he said in a low voice:
“Theoretically, it’s very difficult, as it requires a massive amount of magic to carve the ore.”
Cecil looked at the Rock Iron Ore in Lin Ling’s hand.
“But it seems she’s already doing it.”
Lin Ling had no time to pay attention to them now.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
She was simultaneously controlling the domain core to keep it from spiraling out of control and opening magic-conducting patterns in the Rock Iron Ore.
At the same time, she had to maintain the Holy Light Stasis over the experimental field.
She felt like she was carrying a basin of water while chopping vegetables, all while trying to prevent the kitchen from exploding.
She was very busy.
It was very dangerous.
And very unsuitable for a Saintess who hadn't been awake for very long.
Finally, Lin Ling covered the outer layer with an extremely faint white light.
That layer of white light was very thin.
It wouldn't completely seal off the magic; it only slowed the flow.
Turning a “rush” into a “seep.”
A moment later.
The Rock Iron Ore quieted down.
It didn't explode.
It didn't crack.
It merely emitted a very faint blue mist of light from its surface.
Phelan immediately brought a detection crystal close.
The crystal lit up with a soft glow.
“The magic release rate is very low.”
“The fluctuations are stable.”
“The outer Holy Light Stasis is effective.”
“The internal domain core hasn't ruptured.”
“There are no signs of bursting for now.”
Lin Ling let out a long sigh of relief.
“Did it work?”
Phelan looked at the ore.
“Initial success.”
Lin Ling clapped her hands.
“Then let's test it!”
Baroque frowned.
“Now?”
Lin Ling pointed at the experimental field.
“Why not?”
“We’ve come this far. I can’t exactly take it back and use it as a bedside lamp, can I?”
Cecil chuckled.
“I think it would suit you quite well.”
“It could keep you from getting lost when you get up in the middle of the night.”
Lin Ling whipped her head around.
“Don't mention getting lost!”
Holding the modified slow-release domain ore, she walked to the center of the experimental field.
The Holy Light Stasis was still being maintained.
The magic concentration inside the experimental field had already been suppressed.
Those few seedlings swayed slightly, looking a bit more relaxed than before.
But they were merely “not being crushed to death.”
They weren't exactly growing yet.
Lin Ling crouched down and buried the slow-release domain ore next to the seedlings.
Then she lightly patted the soil.
“There.”
She took a step back.
All of them held their breath.
A pale blue mist of light slowly emerged from beneath the soil.
It wasn't a violent surge of magic.
Instead, it came in wisps—light and thin.
Like morning mist.
This magic didn't overwhelm the seedlings.
Nor did it turn the leaves black again.
On the contrary, it was as if they were being absorbed by the roots, slowly integrating into the plants.
Niya’s eyes widened.
“The leaves...”
The first to change was the seedling that had lifted its leaf yesterday.
It had been barely hanging on.
The edges of its leaves were still black.
But now, that blackness was actually fading away bit by bit.
It was slow.
But visible to the naked eye.
The tiny stem straightened up a bit.
The leaves unfurled.
Then, a second leaf also lifted gently.
Lin Ling held her breath.
“It really works?”
A moment later.
Another nearby seedling that had been on the verge of withering also began to move.
Its curled leaves slowly opened.
The blackness near its roots gradually receded.
A hint of faint green peeked through the branches and leaves.
Niya covered her mouth.
Her eyes instantly reddened.
“They’re growing...”
“They’re really growing...”
On Phelan’s recording board, his pen tip almost never stopped.
“Growth rate is abnormal.”
“Magic absorption state is stable.”
“Leaf magic pollution is decreasing.”
“Root activity is increasing.”
“Holy Light Stasis remains stable.”
“The release volume from the slow-release domain ore is temporarily stable.”
Baroque stood rooted to the spot.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
The smile on Cecil’s face had completely vanished.
Aliviel looked at the experimental field, the pale blue mist reflected in her purple eyes.
Ivelia remained quiet as always.
But her fingers tightened slightly.
In the experimental field.
The seedlings were still growing.
They were originally just a few dying little sprouts.
But after the Holy Light Stasis isolated them from the high-concentration magic outside, and under the nourishment of the faint magic, it was as if they had finally found a suitable environment.
Their stems grew taller.
Their leaves unfurled.
Little by little, tiny bits of green covered the once withered and black branches and leaves, beginning to grow upward—stable, healthy, and full of vitality.
Lin Ling watched this scene.
Even she was stunned.
She had originally just wanted the seedlings to hold on a bit longer.
She hadn't expected them to actually start growing.
“This...”
“Isn't this a bit incredible?”
No one answered her.
Because everyone was staring at the experimental field.
After a long time, Phelan suddenly said in a low voice:
“If this method can be replicated...”
He didn't finish his sentence.
But everyone understood.
If it could be replicated.
The demons could establish low-mana cultivation zones.
If Magic Slow-Release Stones could be produced reliably.
They wouldn't just be able to keep plants alive.
They could nourish crops with controlled magic.
What did that mean?
It meant food.
It meant no longer having to rely solely on meager stockpiles.
It meant that demon children might not have to struggle in excessive magic from a young age.
It meant that the hunger that had long weighed upon everyone in the Demon King's Castle finally had a crack in it.
Just then, the crop closest to the ore in the experimental field suddenly sprouted tiny spikes at its tip.
Niya stared blankly.
“Is that...”
“An ear of grain?”
The crop, which had just been a seedling, quickly completed a growth phase under the nourishment of the magic.
The grain spikes at the top weren't large.
But the kernels were plump.
They were darker than ordinary grain, with a faint golden luster.
Phelan immediately stepped forward to inspect it.
His movements were swift.
Yet more careful than usual.
After a moment, he looked up.
His voice was very low.
“It's already edible.”
Niya’s breath hitched.
Phelan continued:
“It contains trace amounts of stable magic.”
“There is no pollution reaction.”
“The nutritional structure is fuller than ordinary grain.”
“If consumed long-term, it might be more suitable for the demon constitution than ordinary food, and could even help demons adapt to high-intensity magic environments.”
The air fell completely silent.
Lin Ling blinked.
“So that means...”
“This food is going to taste better, right?!”
Phelan: “...”
He looked at Lin Ling.
He was silent for two seconds.
“Based on the composition, yes.”
Lin Ling’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Premium grain!”
She suddenly pumped her fist.
“I knew it! The Saintess’s great efforts would definitely be rewarded. The god of grain is smiling upon me!”
“As long as the technical path is correct, improving the food in the Demon King's Castle isn't just a dream!”
Baroque finally spoke.
His voice was somewhat raspy.
“This is only a few plants.”
Lin Ling nodded.
“Yeah.”
“And it's still unstable.”
Phelan added calmly:
“We need repeated experiments to confirm the sustainable duration of the Holy Light Stasis, test the stability of the slow-release stone, and test the adaptability of different crops...”
Lin Ling’s head throbbed just hearing it.
“So many 'needs'.”
Cecil finally laughed again.
“Miss Pet, solving the demons' food problem isn't as simple as eating a single meal, you know.”
Lin Ling sighed.
“I know.”
She looked at the crops that had grown, then at the slow-release stone buried in the soil.
Then she said softly:
“But at least it's not zero anymore.”
As those words fell.
No one refuted her.
It was true.
At least it wasn't zero anymore.
Over the past few centuries, the demons had tried countless methods.
Every single one had failed.
Every time, they could only watch the soil turn black again and the seedlings wither.
But now.
Before their very eyes.
In the black soil, ears of grain had truly grown.
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