Chapter 1035 – Mo Lan’s Child-Rearing Daily Life 2

The four families’ courtyards stood side by side, their front yards symbolically separated by low hedges to maintain independent entrances and private spaces, while their backyards connected directly, forming a vast and open shared green space along the lakeshore.

This enormous shared backyard had been collectively crafted through their combined spellwork.

On the lakeshore near Mo Lan’s side, the originally simple fishing platform had been widened and reinforced into a spacious deck that served both angling and sightseeing purposes. A small, elegant dock extended from its edge, with several adorably designed little wooden boats and brightly colored children’s pedal boats tied to it—all prepared for future water activities.

The log pavilion beside it, which had been preserved and lightly refurbished, now served as the shared backyard’s “activity center.” Inside sat a long picnic table and comfortable seating—a perfect spot for outdoor meals, afternoon tea, or mothers chatting leisurely.

Near the area behind Sylph’s house, lush green grass spread like a thick carpet, dotted here and there with clusters of low berry bushes bearing tempting fruit, and several fruit trees with branches spread wide, casting comfortable shade.

This was the planned “Nature Picking and Exploration Zone,” where children could learn about plants and taste fruit they picked with their own hands.

Further along, near Vasida’s backyard, the ground had been magically shaped into a small patch of soft golden sand, flanked by whimsically designed yet safe climbing frames, a small slide, and swings.

Clean sand-playing tools were scattered about the sandy area as well.

At the very back, near Lilith’s backyard, was a sizable swimming pool with crystal-clear water.

The pool water was precisely filtered, and a constant-temperature magic circle maintained the most comfortable temperature and purity. The poolside featured a gradual slope for wading in, along with lounge chairs and parasols for resting.

The pool walls and floor were decorated with ocean creature patterns that shimmered and shifted gently with the water’s flow, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Mo Lan had already finished compiling the 《Child-Rearing Encyclopedia》, and everyone had read through and discussed it together repeatedly. Their theoretical knowledge was well prepared. Today was the day they had agreed upon—the day to set up their Planting Witch Trees and nurture the little witches’ dwellings.

Mo Lan’s dwelling at Emerald Creek Plains was already prepared. She strolled out from her own backyard, passed through the picking area, and arrived at Vasida’s back door.

The door was ajar. She knocked lightly and pushed it open.

“Back so soon?” Vasida was lounging lazily in a huge sofa covered with soft animal hide in the Living Room, holding a thick, dog-eared copy of the 《Child-Rearing Encyclopedia》.

She hadn’t gone out of her way like the others to find a place with special childhood memories or scenic beauty.

For her, the shores of Spring Sight Lake were the best place of all.

Now she was simply waiting for the others to finish their preparations so they could plant their Witch Trees together.

“Mm.” Mo Lan sat down beside her, sinking almost entirely into the impossibly soft sofa. “The Mobile Residence Cards were all designed in advance, and there’s plenty of open space at Emerald Creek Plains—hardly anything needed clearing.”

“I just plopped my special spatial planting pot in the front yard and that was that!” Vasida laughed. “As for the interior decorating, I’ve pretty much got it all sorted. Just a few finishing touches left.”

While the two were chatting, sounds came from outside the door.

Lilith and Sylph had returned.

Lilith had come back from the boundary between the Sea of Roses and Sunset Forest. She had replanted her mutant hollow tree there, but the interior needed major renovations. Her special spatial planting pot had been placed directly on the treetop platform.

Sylph had returned to the depths of the Starlight Forest where she had spent her early childhood, but the area was dense with trees and required careful clearing to make space for her dwelling.

“Everyone’s back? Does that mean we can redeem our Witch Tree seeds now?” Vasida snapped her 《Child-Rearing Encyclopedia》 shut with a clap and sprang up from the sofa, her face brimming with eagerness. Theoretical knowledge—fully stocked. Supplies and sites—all ready. Everything was in place; all that was missing was that seed representing the beginning of new life!

Sylph nodded solemnly at this.

She extended her hand, and the air above her palm rippled faintly as an antique wooden box slowly materialized.

She was about to channel her Mana to have the Box of Ten Thousand Seeds coalesce the Witch Tree seeds when Mo Lan suddenly raised her hand and stopped her softly: “Wait!”

Three pairs of eyes immediately focused on her.

Now that the moment to plant the Witch Trees had actually arrived, Mo Lan suddenly felt a wave of nervousness. “How about I use Divination Magic to divine an auspicious time for coalescing the Witch Tree seeds?”

Vasida blinked. “I’ve never heard of needing to pick a specific time to redeem Witch Tree seeds!”

“The results of Divination Magic may sometimes be vague, but they are never wrong. Let’s at least try!” Lilith also hoped to choose the best possible time to welcome the Witch Tree seeds.

Sylph felt that this sense of gravity was something she hadn’t had when she’d planted her own Witch Tree before, and she nodded in agreement.

Seeing that all three of them wanted to pick a better time, Vasida nodded as well. “Go ahead then! Hopefully the wait won’t be too long!”

Mo Lan closed her eyes, converting her Mana into the power of fate.

“Got it.” She let out a soft breath, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. “Three days from now at dawn, within a quarter hour before and after sunrise—that’s the most auspicious time.”

“Three days from now at dawn?” Sylph murmured, her eyes lighting up. “At sunrise, when all things awaken… that truly is a moment brimming with vitality.”

“Three days—perfect!” Lilith nodded. “We can use this last stretch of time to inspect our dwellings one more time and adjust our mental states to their best. Make absolutely sure nothing is left to chance.”

“Alright, three days—not too long!” Vasida said.

The three days slipped by in a flash, filled with methodical final preparations and ever-mounting anticipation.

The night before the appointed day, they all had a good night’s sleep, keeping their Mana at full reserves.

At dawn, they gathered in Vasida’s Living Room.

Sylph summoned the Box of Ten Thousand Seeds once more. When the moment arrived, she channeled her Mana into it.

Moments later, the lid opened, and inside lay four Witch Tree primal seeds brimming with vitality.

Sylph reached in and took out the four seeds one by one, handing them to Mo Lan, Lilith, and Vasida, who had been waiting eagerly, keeping the last one for herself.

The primal seeds were all identical. They still needed to be continuously nourished by the witch-mothers’ Hybrid Mana until they sprouted—only then could they be planted.

The four of them cradled their Witch Tree seeds with utmost care, and in unspoken unison converted their Mana into Hybrid Mana and began nurturing them.

Other witches would need several days to complete the nourishment of a primal seed and coax it into sprouting, but for these four high-ranking Sorceresses, it took only a few minutes.