159: Farmers are working hard, and spiritual plants are everywhere, filling granaries to overflowing.

Lin Zhou's voice, imbued with a faint divine majesty and firm belief, was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, rippling through the anxious hearts of the initial 眷族. The bewildered crowd quieted slightly, and countless gazes, filled with fear, hope, and doubt, turned towards the vague divine phantom in the air, which nevertheless exuded a mysterious warmth and sense of order.

The instinct for survival overrode everything. In this barren land, where survival was clearly difficult at a glance, a deity who claimed to lead them in establishing a home, no matter how unfamiliar, became the only driftwood for those drowning.

“This land is barren, but heaven never seals off all exits.” Lin Zhou's Divine Thought swept over the cracked, grayish-brown earth, the murky streams, and sparse shrubs below. He quickly formulated an initial Breakthrough strategy centered on the School of Agriculture's philosophy, supplemented by other schools. He could not use large-scale divine miracles to transform the environment (due to insufficient Divine Power and the divine personality's inability to bear the burden), but guiding thought, teaching techniques, and subtly adjusting rules were the strengths of the Way of Civilization.

“The first priority is survival and sustenance.” Lin Zhou's voice was steady and clear as he issued the first few “divine oracles”:

“One, all able-bodied adults are immediately divided into four teams.

Team A (three hundred people): Using existing tools, clear rocks and weeds on the sunny, sheltered southern slope to open up the first experimental field, approximately fifty mu in size. Follow the method of ‘deep digging and shallow planting, ridging for moisture retention.’

Team B (two hundred people): Responsible for gathering. Focus on collecting all edible dried fruits from the shrubs at the bottom of the slope, carefully collecting their seeds. Simultaneously, search for water sources and look for minerals (such as limestone fragments) or plants that can purify water.”

Team C (two hundred people): Responsible for construction. Cut down (only dead shrubs and a small number of necessary branches) and collect Materials to build temporary shelters next to the experimental field, and begin constructing the first batch of simple reservoirs (using clay and stones) to collect rainwater and divert stream water.”

Team D (one hundred people, including some elders): Responsible for logistics and caring for the old and young, and attempt to process more convenient stone and wooden tools using existing crude tools.”

“Two, effective immediately, implement a wartime rationing System. All food and drinking water will be uniformly distributed by the elders, earned according to labor, and private hoarding or waste is strictly prohibited. Violators will be subject to the ‘Punishment of Idleness’ (Lin Zhou's initial deterrence set with a combination of Legalist philosophy and weak divine authority).”

“Three, I will impart to you the basic concept of ‘Fertile Soil Cultivation’ and preliminary knowledge of ‘Identifying Soil and Seeds.’ Comprehend diligently, practice assiduously.”

The commands were simple and direct, meeting survival needs, and initially introducing organization (School of Military distribution philosophy) and discipline (Legalist rationing philosophy). More importantly, Lin Zhou began to slowly infuse the most basic and practical knowledge of the School of Agriculture into the consciousness of the Team A members responsible for cultivation, like a trickling stream, through his Divine Thought.

This was not the indoctrination of profound theories, but the most 樸素 (simple, unadorned) wisdom: how to observe the soil's wetness, color, and feel to determine its general composition and nutrient deficiency; how to judge acidity and alkalinity through simple “tasting” (minute amounts) and plant indicators; how to perform initial composting using limited plant ash, animal manure (currently unavailable), and humus (collected withered grass and fallen leaves); and most importantly—how to shallow-bury, retain moisture, and intercrop those shriveled shrub seeds, guessing they might be a drought-resistant, barren-tolerant tuber or berry crop, to maximize survival rate and yield.

At the same time, Lin Zhou mobilized the barely manifest authority of the [Civilization · Education] divine office, combined with the phantom of Jixia Academy (which could only form a very faint aura of enlightenment in the simulated divine domain), to envelop Team A, enhancing their comprehension and learning speed. Although the effect was greatly diminished due to his poor state and the barren environment, for these ordinary humans with an average intelligence of 6-8, it was already a profound awakening.

“God... is teaching us to farm?” Among Team A, a middle-aged man named Shigeng, whose calloused hands held a crude stone hoe, was somewhat at a loss. But when he tried to crush and observe a handful of grayish-brown soil according to the clear “images” and “sensations” in his mind, recalling the key points of “soil identification” from the divine oracle, a strange sense of enlightenment arose. “This soil... is too compacted, it lacks 'vitality,' it needs to be loosened first, mixed with some rotten grass leaves...”

Action began. Clumsy, slow, but with a goal and initial methods.

Team B carefully collected the shriveled, bitter “brown berries” (tentative name) and gathered seeds. Team C began excavating the reservoir foundations and processing clay. The elders of Team D started trying to grind sharper stone flakes and cared for the frightened children.

Lin Zhou's Divine Thought, like the most precise monitoring network, covered the entire initial area. He constantly monitored everyone's status, physical exertion, and work progress, making subtle adjustments. When he discovered that a reservoir site might leak, he would prompt them through an elder's “accidental” discovery; when the gathering team encountered a small patch of relatively lush weeds, he would guide them to observe its root characteristics to determine if there might be shallow water underground.

Day one (simulated divine domain time) ended.

Experimental Field: Approximately thirty mu were cleared, and the land was initially tilled, but soil fertility showed no improvement.

Gathering: Approximately five hundred jin (dry weight) of “brown berries” were obtained, and about twenty jin of seeds.

Construction: Reservoir foundations were completed, and ten temporary shelters were built, barely accommodating some of the old and young.

Food Consumption: Approximately one hundred jin of stored dry rations were consumed.

Loyalty: Slightly increased to 62 (seeing actual work and divine guidance, panic slightly decreased).

The beginning was difficult, but the first step was finally taken. At night, Lin Zhou did not rest. He continued to absorb the remaining faith crystals in the space to recover himself, while also more deeply deducing specific application plans for School of Agriculture techniques in this environment. He realized that relying solely on the existing barren land and unknown crop seeds, achieving food surplus or even excessive reserves within 90 days was almost impossible. There must be a Breakthrough improvement!

His gaze fell upon the collected “brown berries” and their seeds. His divine personality began to fully analyze (though it brought a stinging pain) the potential characteristics of this crop.

Days two to five.

Work continued. The experimental field expanded to fifty mu and completed the first round of simple composting (using withered grass, traces of collected animal manure, and initially processed human waste). The first batch of “brown berries” seeds was sown using the improved method. The reservoirs were initially built and began to accumulate muddy rainwater and diverted stream water.

But problems followed one after another. On the third day after sowing, some seeds failed to germinate, and the germinated seedlings appeared withered and weak. Soil fertility was too low, water quality was poor, and key nutrients were lacking.

More troubling, mild diarrhea symptoms began to appear in Team D, suspected to be related to water quality or food. Morale began to drop somewhat.

“More effective soil improvement methods are needed... cleaner water sources are needed... the true potential and improvement direction of the crops need to be confirmed...” Lin Zhou felt the pressure. Time was passing, and the small amount of food accumulated in the Early Stage was rapidly being consumed.

Just on the evening of the fifth day, a turning point appeared.

As Team B expanded its gathering range, they discovered several oddly shaped plants under a shaded rock crevice. They had thick, silver-gray leaves and well-developed roots, clinging tightly to the meager damp soil in the crevice. Most peculiar, the top of one plant bore three dark-red, longan-sized fruits with subtle scale-like patterns on their surface, emitting an extremely faint Spiritual Qi fluctuation that was out of place with the surrounding barren environment!

“This is... a nascent spiritual plant, naturally mutated in such a barren and low-magic environment?” Lin Zhou's spirit was invigorated! He immediately instructed the gathering team to carefully transplant these plants, along with their root soil, back to a specially reserved “observation plot” next to the experimental field, and ordered them to be protected as a priority.

At the same time, he intensified his Divine Thought's analysis of these special plants, combining it with the deeper concepts of “adapting to local conditions,” “observing the nature of things,” and “guiding mutations” from the School of Agriculture's philosophy, attempting to understand their mutation causes and potential value.

Analysis revealed that this silver-leaf plant might be an extremely rare benign adaptive mutation of a drought-resistant shrub, stimulated by extreme barrenness and trace amounts of Chaos Qi (inert residues in the environment). It seemed to have evolved the ability to more efficiently extract trace nutrients and energy from barren soil and thin air, storing it in its fruits. Weak but stable earth-attribute and faint life-enhancing Qi were detected in the dark-red fruits!

“An opportunity!” Lin Zhou's eyes blazed. He decided to stake the focus of his future work on this accidentally discovered mutated plant! He would use the techniques of the School of Agriculture, combined with the guidance of the faint Fire of Civilization, to accelerate and direct the cultivation of this mutation!

Days six to fifteen.

Lin Zhou adjusted his strategy.

Concentrate Resources: Prioritize the best compost (after initial fermentation) and relatively clean water sources (after simple sedimentation and sun exposure) for the mutated plants and the most robust rows of the earliest sown “brown berries.”

School of Agriculture Secret Art · Intent Guidance: Lin Zhou consumed a small amount of precious Divine Power daily, combined with the [Civilization · Education] divine office, to deeply guide the farmers responsible for caring for the mutated plants (selecting the most patient ones). This was not directly bestowing power, but subtly implanting advanced School of Agriculture concepts such as “observing subtle plant changes,” “understanding their needs (sunlight, water, nutrient ratio),” and “trying to encourage their growth with gentle intent” into their consciousness. This was similar to a combination of “meticulous cultivation” and “spiritual communication,” which would be considered pseudoscience on Earth, but in this world with deities and extraordinary powers, under the blessing of the Fire of Civilization, it had a glimmer of possibility.

Micro-environment Modification: Simple Materials were used to build small shelters for the mutated plants to shade them (avoiding scorching midday sun) and retain moisture, and crushed specific rock powder (containing trace minerals) was used to attempt to improve the soil around their roots.

Expand Basic Planting: Other parts of the experimental field were not abandoned; “brown berries” continued to be planted, but mostly as a backup for accumulating experience and ensuring a minimum food supply.

During this period, Lin Zhou's divine personality bore a heavy burden, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. The effects began to show!

The transplanted mutated plants quickly adapted to the new environment and began to grow. Under careful care and Intent Guidance, the dark-red fruits of one of the most prolific mother plants gradually became plump, their color deepened, the scale-like patterns became clearer, and the life Qi they emitted strengthened slightly. More importantly, the soil around it seemed softer and more moist than when it was first transplanted, and its color was slightly darker—a sign of its root System improving the soil!

And the earliest sown “brown berries,” in the most meticulously cultivated rows, though growing slowly, the plants were noticeably more robust, and the fruits they bore, though still shriveled, were slightly larger, and the bitter taste seemed to have faded a tiny bit.

Day twenty.

A surprise erupted!

The specially cultivated mutated mother plant's three dark-red fruits were fully mature! At the same time, the soil around its roots, approximately one square meter, saw its fertility rating increase from an initial 15 points to 25 points! Although still barren, this was a tangible improvement! Moreover, next to the mother plant, more than a dozen new seedlings with similarly silver-gray leaves spontaneously sprouted—it had successfully reproduced!

Lin Zhou immediately ordered the careful picking of the three mature mutated fruits. The fruits felt heavy in hand, with tough skins, emitting a faint fragrance similar to a mix of post-rain soil and some kind of berry.

He personally (guiding the farmer through Divine Thought) peeled open one of the fruits. The flesh was a dark-red gelatinous substance, with three crystalline, similarly dark-red seeds in the center.

“Shigeng, you labor the most diligently, comprehend the most deeply, and have no hidden ailments. This fruit is bestowed upon you; after consuming it, report your feelings to me in detail.” Lin Zhou's voice resonated in the mind of Shigeng, the farmer responsible for caring for the mother plant.

Shigeng was both surprised and delighted. Under the envious gazes of the crowd, he respectfully accepted a small piece of the fruit pulp and swallowed it.

A moment later, Shigeng's face flushed red (it wasn't poisoning). He waved his arm and shouted in surprise, "God! I... I feel strength throughout my body! It's like... it's like I'm not tired even after carrying rocks all day! My stomach is warm too; I felt a bit unwell from catching a cold earlier, but now I'm completely fine!"

Data Feedback (Lin Zhou Divinity Monitoring):

Consumer (Shigeng) Temporary Status Change: Strength Attribute +1 (Temporary, lasts approximately 6 hours), Stamina Recovery Speed +50%, Minor Illness Status Cleared.

Fruit Component Analysis: Contains stable Earth attribute elements, gentle life energy, and a small amount of unknown mutation factors. Possesses the potential for weak permanent Physique enhancement (with long-term consumption) and a low probability of positively guiding the consumer's Bloodline (in an extremely subtle direction)!

"It succeeded!" Lin Zhou was excited. This mutated fruit was not only high-quality food that could slightly enhance the consumer, but it could also improve the soil! This was exactly the Breakthrough he had dreamed of!

He immediately named this new crop the "Earth Spirit Fruit (First Generation)" and designated its seeds as the highest priority strategic resource!

Day 21 to Day 40.

The strategic focus completely shifted to the rapid cultivation and expansion of the "Earth Spirit Fruit"!

Seed Retention and Propagation: The three fruits yielded a total of nine seeds, which, along with over a dozen naturally sprouted seedlings around the mother plant, were all given the most meticulous care. Lin Zhou deepened his instruction on the School of Agriculture's knowledge of "seed selection and breeding" and "cutting and division."

Soil Improvement Cycle: The soil improved by the earliest maturing Earth Spirit Fruit plants was used as "mother soil," mixed with compost, to amend new experimental fields. This formed a preliminary positive feedback loop: "plant Earth Spirit Fruit → improve soil → expand planting." Although the Early Stage speed was slow, the snowball had begun to roll.

Optimized Cultivation Method: Combining previously accumulated experience, a cultivation method better suited for the Earth Spirit Fruit—"deep pit shallow burial, companion composting, and regular trace mineral supplementation"—was summarized and quickly promoted under the [Civilization · Enlightenment] halo.

Food Distribution Adjustment: The last inventory of gathered food and a small amount of the earliest harvested "brown berries" were kept as a reserve. The first batch of matured Earth Spirit Fruits was preferentially distributed to the hardest-working members of Squad A and tribesmen with weaker Physiques. The effect was immediate: overall labor efficiency increased, and the sickness rate dropped. Loyalty steadily rose to 68.

By the end of the fortieth day, the planting area for the Earth Spirit Fruit had expanded from the initial one square meter to five mu! Although most were still seedlings or not yet bearing fruit, they were growing well. The area of soil improved by the fruit reached about two mu, with fertility scores generally hitting 30–35 points.

At the same time, the original "brown berries" also showed positive changes in plots that received improved soil and better care: fruit yield slightly increased, and the bitterness decreased.

Day 41 to Day 60.

Development entered the fast lane!

Earth Spirit Fruit First Generation Propagation Success: The first batch of nine Earth Spirit Fruit plants grown from seeds began to bear fruit sequentially. Although the yield was lower than the mother plant (1–2 fruits per plant), the characteristics were stable. The survival rate for naturally sprouted and artificially propagated seedlings exceeded 70%.

Land Improvement Accelerated: As more Earth Spirit Fruits matured, the amount of "Spiritualized Humus" (Earth Spirit Fruit leaves, residual roots, and specifically composted byproducts) available for soil improvement increased, accelerating the rate of land improvement. The total area of experimental fields expanded to eighty mu, of which twenty mu reached the standard of "ordinary barren" (fertility above 40 points) and were dedicated to planting the Earth Spirit Fruit and the optimized "brown berries" (renamed "Drought-Resistant Wheat," as its seeds, after multiple generations of selection, were closer to grains).

Food Structure Improvement: The Earth Spirit Fruit began to serve as an important dietary supplement. The energy and beneficial effects it provided significantly boosted the dependents' Physiques and working capabilities. Due to improved nutrition and health, natural population reduction ceased, and even one newborn was delivered (under simulation rules), greatly boosting morale.

Preliminary Surplus Appeared: Under strict rationing and increased production, daily food consumption began to fall below output, resulting in a small reserve of grain. Loyalty surpassed 75, and there were scattered signs of faith Rank beginning to transition from Lay Believer to True Believer.

Day 61 to Day 80.

The Eruption Period and Unexpected Harvest!

When the Earth Spirit Fruit planting area surpassed twenty mu and the second round of large-scale expansion began, Lin Zhou decided to attempt a bolder move—guiding a second round of beneficial mutation!

He selected ten Earth Spirit Fruit plants with the best growth and highest fruit quality to serve as "parent stock." During their flowering and pollination period, he expended more Divine Power than usual, combining the concepts of "creation" and "order" within the Fire of Civilization, along with the School of Agriculture's highest principle of "selecting the best among the best and guiding trends," to perform deep "conceptual impregnation" and "rule fine-tuning." This wasn't direct genetic alteration, but rather maximizing the plants' intrinsic evolutionary potential within the limits of the simulated divine domain's rules, probabilistically biasing the outcome toward "higher yield, stronger beneficial effects, and better soil improvement capabilities."

Simultaneously, Su Yueyao's Moonlight Divine Power link (the coordinates of their divine domains were accidentally adjacent in the simulation space, establishing a weak connection) also provided valuable assistance. The clear, cold moonlight regularly sprinkled down, not only promoting plant growth but also, through its purity and calming properties, seemingly stabilizing the mutation process and reducing the probability of undesirable mutations.

The effort yielded astonishing returns!

On the eightieth day, among the ten specially cultivated "parent stock" Earth Spirit Fruit plants, the fruits borne by three of them underwent significant changes!

The fruit volume increased by one-third, and the color changed from dark red to a deeper, metallic-sheen dark gold! The scaly patterns on the surface became more complex, vaguely forming patterns resembling Dragon scales. The Spiritual Qi fluctuations and life aura emitted were more than five times greater than those of the ordinary Earth Spirit Fruit! Furthermore, the speed and range of its root System's soil improvement also increased significantly!

Even more surprising, a trace of an extremely weak reinforcement factor, similar to "Dragon Vein" or "Blood Qi," was detected in the fruit of the most obviously mutated plant! This was likely related to the conversion of trace amounts of Chaos Qi in the environment, combined with the synergistic effects of Lin Zhou's Fire of Civilization, Su Yueyao's Moonlight Divine Power, the conceptual guidance of the School of Agriculture, and multiple other factors!

Lin Zhou named this brand-new, more powerful variant the "Dragon Blood Rice (First Generation)"! Although named rice ( 稻), its plant morphology was closer to a shrub, and its fruit was berry-like. However, considering its potential as a future staple food and its "Dragon Blood" characteristics, it was named as such.

[Dragon Blood Rice (First Generation) · Spiritual Plant Attribute Analysis]:

Grade: Excellent (Green) ~ Rare (Blue) Potential (Limited by the simulated environment, not yet in its complete form).

Fruit Effects (Estimated, based on testing of the first batch of mature fruits and data after volunteer Shigeng consumed it):

Upon consumption, Strength Attribute is permanently slightly increased (+1 to +3 points, cumulative based on individual absorption capacity and consumption amount, with an existing cap).

Greatly restores stamina and energy, and accelerates the healing of minor injuries.

Long-term consumption can slowly improve Physique, enhance resistance to disease and harsh environments, and has an extremely low probability of subtly purifying the Bloodline (direction unknown).

Planting Requirements: Requires soil with fertility above 50 points (which it can rapidly achieve through its own improvement), ample sunlight, and regular trace mineral supplementation. The growth cycle is slightly longer than that of the ordinary Earth Spirit Fruit.

Special Effect: The root System possesses extremely strong soil improvement and solidification capabilities, effectively inhibiting the desertification of barren land and slightly increasing the surrounding environment's Divine Power concentration (about 0.01 unit/per hundred plants).

Propagation Method: Seed propagation; cuttings are difficult. Select seeds can retain most of the excellent characteristics.

The appearance of the "Dragon Blood Rice" completely changed the rules of the game! Not only did it provide energy and benefits far exceeding ordinary food, but its ability to improve the environment was strategic-level!

Day 81 to Day 90 (Final Sprint).

Lin Zhou launched a general mobilization!

Full Expansion: All optimal resources were invested in expanding the planting of "Dragon Blood Rice" and high-quality "Earth Spirit Fruit." Utilizing their rapid soil improvement characteristics, new fields were cultivated like a rolling snowball. The planting area expanded at an astonishing speed!

Technology Solidification: The successful experience of cultivating "Dragon Blood Rice" (seed selection, special composting, conceptual communication essentials, mineral formula, etc.) was systematized and quickly used to train more farmers through the [Civilization · Enlightenment] halo and the newly established simple "Agricultural Lecture Hall" (School of Legalism organization + School of Confucianism educational function).

Warehouse Construction: Dozens of large cellars and simple granaries were newly constructed to store the increasing harvest.

Slight Population Increase: Good nutrition and hope led to a small natural population increase, bringing the total population to approximately 1,050 people.

Day 90, before the assessment time ended.

As the regulatory power of the simulated divine domain began to envelop the area, preparing for the final evaluation, Lin Zhou's divine domain had undergone a massive transformation!

On the originally gray-brown, Death Qi-ridden fifty square kilometers of land, over a quarter of the area (about 13 square kilometers) was covered by neat field ridges and vibrant greenery! Among this, the planting area for "Dragon Blood Rice" reached 300 mu (about 0.2 square kilometers), "Earth Spirit Fruit" reached 800 mu (about 0.53 square kilometers), and optimized basic crops like "Drought-Resistant Wheat" reached 1,000 mu (about 0.67 square kilometers).

Throughout the fields, irrigation ditches crisscrossed (School of Mohism simple water conservancy concept), and reservoirs were scattered like stars. The newly constructed villages were neat and orderly (School of Legalism planning). Although the farmers were still dressed plainly, their faces were ruddy, their eyes shone, and their labor was well-ordered. Occasionally, one could even hear them humming simple, rhythmic farming chants (School of Confucianism ritual music nascent).

In the central largest granary area, mountains of "Dragon Blood Rice" grains (processed fruits), baskets of "Earth Spirit Fruit," and bundles of "Drought-Resistant Wheat" piled up, emitting a rich food aroma and a faint Spiritual Qi glow.

[Final Development Data Statistics (Simulated Divine Domain Rules Automatic Assessment)]:

Total Food Reserve (Converted to Standard Energy Units): 15,800,000 units.

Assessment Basic Requirement (Estimated, based on average development level): 5,000,000 units.

Achievement Percentage: 316% (216% overachievement)!

Dependents Average Rank: Increased to LV3 (due to heavy consumption of spiritual plants and labor training).

Dependents Potential Assessment: Significantly improved (due to long-term consumption of spiritual plants, improving Physique and spiritual foundation).

Land Average Fertility Score: Increased from 15 points to 48 points (local "Dragon Blood Rice" experimental zones reached 65 points).

Divine Domain Overall Prosperity (Environment + Dependents Status): Score 82/100 (leaping from extremely barren to good).

Special Achievements:

Successfully cultivated and optimized a new type of spiritual plant, the [Dragon Blood Rice (First Generation)], in an extremely barren environment.

Established an efficient sustainable agricultural development model: "Spiritual Plant Improves Soil → Expansion Increases Output."

Achieved the beginning of an overall beneficial evolution in the dependents' Physiques without external resource input.

Civilization (School of Agriculture) Ideology Spread and Dependents Acceptance: High.

As these final data, along with the thriving scene of the divine domain, were extracted and summarized by the simulation rules and were about to be uploaded to the assessment System, Lin Zhou's tired but fulfilled consciousness slowly withdrew from this "Land of Hope" that he had personally carved out of the wilderness.

The School of Agriculture exerted its strength, transforming heaven and earth.

Spiritual plants covered the land, and granaries overflowed.

In this second round of resource development competition, he submitted a report card far exceeding anyone's imagination.

Yet, the real challenge might have just begun. What kind of stir will this report card cause?