8: Farmers fertilize their fields, finally resolving the food crisis! (Part 1)

The retaliation of the Astral Goblins was easily crushed, not only failing to shake the Divine Realm in the slightest, but instead delivering key intelligence — the 【Grey Rock Trail Goblin Stronghold Star Map】, and causing the Tiangong Dwarves to fully pledge their loyalty. The interior of the Divine Realm was unprecedentedly united, orderly, and developing rapidly.

However, Lin Zhou was not carried away by victory, immediately launching a mop-up operation against the goblin stronghold. He knew the principle that "the troops and horses move, but the food and fodder must go first." With the Divine Realm's population breaking one hundred and thirty (102 Elves + 28 Tiangong Dwarves), and daily consumption increasing with activities and Cultivate, the food supply, which originally relied on natural berry bushes and a small amount of hunting and gathering, began to become stretched thin.

Especially after the Tiangong Dwarves joined, these burly fellows with huge energy consumption caused food reserves to drop at a speed visible to the naked eye. Although the Literary Heart Elves had smaller appetites, they also needed sufficient energy replenishment to maintain the Cultivate of 【Vast Righteous Qi】 and daily high-intensity learning and manufacturing.

A trace of hidden worry began to surface in Lin Zhou's heart. Through the Divine Realm interface, he clearly saw the changes in resources:

【Divine Realm Resource Real-time Monitoring】:

Food Reserves: Daily consumption ≈ 180 units, natural regeneration + hunting acquisition ≈ 150 units, reserves continuously declining (Current reserves: 1200 units, expected to last less than 7 days).

Iron Ore Reserves: Sufficient (Daily output 800 units, consumption stable).

Power Of Faith Reserves: 450 units (Steady growth).

"If the food problem is not solved early, let alone a long-distance expedition to mop up the goblins, even the stability and development of the Divine Realm itself will be severely restricted." Lin Zhou's consciousness swept across the Divine Realm, seeing some Literary Heart Elves and Tiangong Dwarves looking at the increasingly sparse berry bushes during work breaks, with subtle worry revealed in their eyes.

Elwin and Bronzebeard Stonehammer also prayed to him one after another, mentioning the problem of increasing food pressure.

"If the Foundation is unstable, the building will collapse." Lin Zhou once again cast his gaze toward the 【Temple of Civilization】. On the interface, the 【School of Agriculture】 thought, representing life and reproduction, cultivation and harvest, was emitting a gentle and vibrant light.

"Unlock 【School of Agriculture】 thought!"

"Consumed 100 civilization points, successfully unlocked 【School of Agriculture】 thought (Elementary Insight)."

"Obtained infusion of partial content from core School of Agriculture classics: 《Book of Fan Shengzhi》 and 《Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People》."

"Obtained initial wonder building blueprint — 【Altar of Shennong (Projection)】!"

"Unlocked core School of Agriculture skills: 【Fertile Soil Technique】, 【Adapt to Local Conditions】!"

A gentle and majestic torrent of knowledge about farming seasons, soil improvement, crop selection, and water conservancy construction poured into Lin Zhou's consciousness. That was the supreme wisdom accumulated by the ancestors of China in dealing with the land for thousands of years, and it was the most fundamental path of practicing the belief that "the people regard food as their heaven"!

A blueprint of an ancient, vicissitudinous altar that seemed to blend with the earth emerged in his heart — 【Altar of Shennong】! It was not as wise as 【Jixia Academy】, not as exquisite as 【Tiangong Workshop】, nor as majestic as the 【Temple of Law】; it radiated an atmosphere of thickness, tolerance, and nurturing all things.

Construction began immediately. The Power Of Faith consumed this time was 600 units, focusing on communication and guidance with the rules of the earth and life.

When the 【Altar of Shennong (Projection)】 stood up in the south of the center of the Divine Realm, near the main water source and relatively flat land, the "vitality" rule of the entire Divine Realm seemed to be awakened! The land became more moist, and a refreshing fragrance of grain permeated the air.

【Altar of Shennong (Projection)】 (Wonder Building)

Effect:

Significantly increases soil fertility and crop growth speed within the Divine Realm.

The comprehension of plant cultivation and soil modification by the kin within the range is improved.

Sacrifices can be held here to pray for favorable weather, slightly affecting the microclimate within the Divine Realm.

Has a chance to attract gentle wild creatures with agriculture-related traits to approach.

Trait: 【Endless Life】 - Accelerates the regeneration speed of natural resources within the Divine Realm.

Immediately after, Lin Zhou integrated the two core skills of the School of Agriculture into the Divine Realm.

【Fertile Soil Technique】 (Active / Domain Skill): Consumes Power Of Faith, guides the vitality of the earth, significantly increases the soil fertility of the target area, and accelerates crop growth. Current Rank (Elementary): Can shorten the crop growth cycle of the target area by 30%, and increase yield by 50%. Range: Initial 100 meters * 100 meters, expands with skill improvement.

【Adapt to Local Conditions】 (Passive / Rule Skill): Enables the Divine Realm to have the potential to adapt to and transform different harsh environments (such as barren, arid, saline-alkali, etc.) into good farmland. Current Rank (Elementary): Can slightly improve barren land.

With the skills established, practice began!

Lin Zhou descended an oracle, teaching the essence of the School of Agriculture and the skills to Elwin and all the kin. The Literary Heart Elves and Tiangong Dwarves, who had long been worried about the food problem, immediately burst into great enthusiasm!

Under the direction of Elwin and several Literary Heart Elves Elders who were particularly sensitive to nature, a vigorous "Great Production Movement" was launched in the Divine Realm:

Planning Fields: According to 【Adapt to Local Conditions】, they selected large tracts of land near water sources, with flat terrain and sufficient sunlight, cleared weeds and rubble, and planned neat ridges.

Deep Plowing: Bronzebeard Stonehammer led the Tiangong Dwarves, using their powerful strength and newly crafted metal farm tools (plows, rakes, etc.) to perform deep plowing, breaking the compacted soil layer. Subsequently, Elwin guided the Literary Heart Elves to take turns casting 【Fertile Soil Technique】, and light green vital energy merged into the land, causing the originally ordinary soil to become dark, fertile, and radiating Spiritual Qi at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Seed Selection and Seedling Raising: Through the oracle, Lin Zhou provided information on several high-yield, barren-tolerant basic grains and tuber crops (similar to millet, wheat, taro, etc.). The Literary Heart Elves were responsible for careful seed selection and seedling raising, and their delicate perception of life played a huge role here.

Water Conservancy Construction: Drawing on the Mohist Mechanical Arts and School of Agriculture water conservancy knowledge, they built simple dams and irrigation canals on the upper reaches of the stream to ensure worry-free irrigation of farmland.

Intensive Farming: All idle kin were invested in field management, weeding, fertilizing (using wood ash and decomposed manure), pest control... The light of the 【Altar of Shennong】 shrouded this piece of newborn farmland, accelerating the growth of crops.

A miracle was born in sweat and wisdom!

Under the triple effect of 【Fertile Soil Technique】, 【Altar of Shennong】, and the hard work of the kin, those crops that had just been sown actually broke through the soil, sprouted, and headed at a speed that defied common sense! The grains that originally needed months to mature were nearing maturity in just over ten days under the rules of the Divine Realm! The heavy ears bent the stalks, and tuber crops grew vigorously underground.

At the same time, the original berry bushes also became lush again under the influence of the 【Endless Life】 trait of the 【Altar of Shennong】, with shorter fruiting cycles and increased yields. The edible wild vegetables and fungi in the Divine Realm also increased somewhat.

【System Prompt】: Successfully opened up standardized farmland (100 mu)! First large-scale application of School of Agriculture thought and technology!

【System Prompt】: Your kin have a deep understanding of the natural law of "spring growth and summer development, autumn harvest and winter storage," and their cognition of the world is more complete!

【System Prompt】: 【School of Agriculture】 thought has been practiced, and the unlock progress has increased to 4%!

【System Prompt】: Divine Realm food crisis resolved! Current daily food production reached 300 units, far exceeding consumption! Reserves began to recover rapidly!

【System Prompt】: Detected linkage between 【School of Agriculture】 and 【Confucianism】 (respect for natural laws), and linkage with 【Mohist】 (tool improvement and water conservancy projects), the rules of the Divine Realm are more harmonious.

The Divine Realm interface ushered in an update again:

Divine Realm Name: Unnamed (Foundation stable)

Divine Realm Environment: Order Forest (Habitability: 70 / 100, due to farmland opening and vitality improvement)

Resource Situation:

Food: Daily production 300+ units, reserves continuously growing.

Iron Ore: Stable.

Faith: 500 units (Food is worry-free, faith is more devout).

New Buildings / Landforms: 【Altar of Shennong】, 【Hundred Mu of Fertile Fields】, 【Elementary Water Conservancy System】.

Core Kin:

Literary Heart Elves - New trait: 【Careful Farming Lv1】 - When engaged in agriculture-related activities, efficiency + 10%.

Tiangong Dwarves - New trait: 【Deep Plowing Lv1】 - When using farm tools to reclaim land, efficiency + 20%.

Looking at the golden, ready-to-harvest grains and lush fields in the Divine Realm, feeling the abundant vitality and the completely stable atmosphere of faith, Lin Zhou knew that the last short board restricting the development of the Divine Realm had been filled!

With sufficient food and fodder, stable morale, complete technology, and harmonious rules.

The timing for the expedition to 【Grey Rock Trail】, to mop up the Astral Goblins and seize more resources and opportunities, had matured!

Lin Zhou's consciousness projected onto the captured star map, locking his gaze on one of the largest and most clearly marked goblin strongholds.

"Elwin, Bronzebeard Stonehammer."

"my god!" The two heroes responded immediately.

"Assemble the expeditionary force, target — Grey Rock Trail, 'Rusted Gear' goblin stronghold! It is time to let those greedy green-skinned scumbags pay a real price for their covetous journey!"