107: The grass in the corner of the yard was withered, but now the roots of snails are moistened to nourish the soil, and the snails' nests help them multiply.

Morning mist drifted through the ventilation mesh of Shengxi Academy. Beneath the mesh, the Sprout-Penetrating Earthworm holes shimmered gold. The wind passed through the holes, causing the seedling leaves to tremble lightly.

Nian Xue carried a basket of rotting leaves, with Little Color following at her feet. "Let's deliver food to the Sprout-Penetrating Earthworms, then check if the Dew Cleansing Worms are awake."

A Qing's tail swept past the corner of the courtyard, then suddenly stopped. "Why is the seedling protection grass here wilting? The leaf tips are all drooping."

Everyone gathered around and saw that the grass leaves at the corner of the courtyard had turned brownish, their root tendrils exposed above the soil. The soil surface was dry and hard, seeming parched yet not quite.

"The roots aren't withered, but they lack the strength to penetrate the soil. The Qi beneath the earth isn't moist enough." A Spirit Plant Clan Seedling Cultivation Master pulled up a clump of grass to examine its roots.

A Star Spirit Clan student raised a crystal stone, which glowed a faint brown. "It's 'Dry-Root Soil.' The soil contains Qi but lacks moisture; the roots can't absorb nutrients."

Clear Snow gathered Life-Breathing water in her palm and poured it on the soil. "The water can't penetrate; the soil is compacted deep down. The roots wilt because they can't reach the water."

Lin Chen crouched down and dug into the soil. About two inches below the surface, there were several small bluish-gray snails, spitting silver threads to wrap the soil. The wrapped soil became moist.

"They're Root-Moistening Snails! The silk they spit can lock in moisture and moisten the soil, allowing roots to absorb both Qi and water. They specialize in rescuing grass suffering from dry roots." The Seedling Cultivation Master exclaimed in delight.

The Root-Moistening Snails' shells bore light brown patterns, small as fingernails. The silver silk they spat was fine as hair, wrapping around soil particles, instantly making the soil soft and moist.

Nian Xue whispered, "They're so tiny! The patterns on their shells look like shengxi vine, and the silk they spit is shiny, like silver thread."

Little Color moved closer, touched a snail shell with its crystalline claw. The snail retracted slightly but didn't flee. Little Color gently waved its claw, as if greeting it.

A Qing lowered its head to sniff, its Dragon Breath extremely gentle. "No strange odor. After the silk wraps the soil, the earth has a moist feeling of Life-Breathing Qi."

Soon after, the Dry-Root Soil at the corner of the courtyard was thoroughly moistened. The wilted grass roots re-penetrated the soil, the leaf tips gradually straightened, and a golden luster returned.

The Root-Moistening Snails crawled back beneath the soil, continuing to spit silk and wrap the earth. The cracks on the soil surface slowly closed, as if hiding their presence.

"They want to stay underground to moisten the roots!" The students gathered around. "Let's use life-breathing mud to mold little homes for them, so they can settle comfortably."

The Spirit Plant Clan student mixed mud with Life-Breathing Powder, shaping it into small semi-circular shelters placed near the soil roots. The Root-Moistening Snails quickly crawled inside.

During the morning's "Root-Moistening Class," Nian Xue pointed at the silver threads on the soil surface. "This is the silk spat by Root-Moistening Snails. It can lock in water, preventing the soil from drying out."

She demonstrated gently digging the soil. "Everyone look, the soil near the snail shelters is all moist. Roots inside can absorb sufficient nutrients and won't wilt."

A small aquatic clan student asked, "Can the snails go to dry realms? Our clan has a patch of land that's always dry; the grass doesn't grow well."

Lin Chen nodded. "They aren't afraid of dryness. As long as there's a life-breathing mud shelter, they can take root in dry soil and help moisten the grass roots."

In the afternoon, the Seedling Cultivation Master taught the students to make "water-storing spheres": "Wrap water with Life-Breathing Gel, bury it underground. The snails spit silk to wrap the ball, and water slowly seeps out."

Nian Xue made the roundest one, burying it under the soil at the courtyard corner. The Root-Moistening Snails quickly crawled over, spat silk to wrap the ball, and water seeped along the threads toward the roots.

Little Color helped pass the Life-Breathing Gel, picking up small pieces with its crystalline claw and handing them to Nian Xue, making the students laugh.

A Qing helped carry the life-breathing mud, using its Dragon Breath to soften the mud lumps, making it easier for the students to mold shelters. Soon, the courtyard corner was filled with snail homes.

Suddenly, the Vitality on the shed roof cried out. The Seedling-Urging Butterfly flapped its wings and flew out from the courtyard corner. The Root-Moistening Snails crawled out of the soil, spitting silk more urgently.

"The soil for the life-breathing flowers over there is drying too! There aren't enough snails!" The Star Spirit Clan student's crystal stone glowed an even deeper brown.

Everyone rushed over and saw the life-breathing flowers in the flower bed were also wilting, the soil surface turning pale. Root-Moistening Snails crawled over, spitting silk to wrap the soil.

The Seedling-Urging Butterfly flapped its wings, scattering powder to help the flowers disperse the dry Qi; Little Kite swooped down, using its beak to peck open the hard surface layer of soil, making it easier for the snails to crawl.

"Let's bury water-storing spheres! Help the snails lock in water!" Nian Xue shouted. The students held up water-storing spheres and buried them in the soil beneath the flower bed.

Lin Chen and Clear Snow laid a circle of Life-Breathing Bands around the flower bed. Life-Breathing Qi enveloped the moisture, preventing the soil from compacting further into dryness.

Half an hour later, the soil in the flower bed was thoroughly moistened. The life-breathing flowers bloomed anew, the golden patterns on their petals shining dazzlingly, their fragrance wafting even farther.

Nian Xue crouched by the flower bed, watching the Root-Moistening Snails crawl back to their shelters. "They must be tired, right? Let's sprinkle some Life-Breathing Algae Powder for them."

Little Color brought the algae powder bag in its mouth. Nian Xue sprinkled it near the snail shelters. The Root-Moistening Snails poked their heads out, seemingly eating the powder, their movements slow and leisurely.

In the evening, as the students left school, they all gently dug the soil to check on the Root-Moistening Snail shelters. Some even helped add life-breathing mud to reinforce the shelter edges.

A small earth spirit clan student said, "I want to take some life-breathing mud and snails back home, to make the dry soil in our realm moist too, so the grass can grow lush."

Nian Xue gave her the water-storing sphere she had made. "Take this too. Bury it underground; the snails will wrap it with silk, and the water will last for several days."

The setting sun slanted across the academy. The kite on the vine wall, the butterfly in the shed, the insects on the corner, the earthworms and snails beneath the soil, along with the flowers, grass, and seedlings filling the courtyard, were all bathed in golden radiance.

Lin Chen and Clear Snow stood in the center of the courtyard, the marks on their palms flashing with golden light, intertwining with the flowing Life-Breathing Qi within the academy, warm as melted gold.

Nian Xue lay Lying down on A Qing's back, Little Color curled in her arms. Together, they gazed at the thoroughly moistened soil at the courtyard corner, as if saying goodnight to the Root-Moistening Snails.

Shengxi Academy's guardian team had added the bluish-gray Root-Moistening Snails. These tiny creatures, with their ability to spit silk and moisten soil, joined the kite, butterfly, insects, and earthworms in guarding the leaves of seedlings, the petals of flowers, the roots of grass, and the moisture of the soil. They ensured every inch of life-breath could take root in moist earth, stretch out in warm winds, and flourish year after year.