54: Chapter 54 The wetland is first formed

"System, let me see the new territory."

[Loading real-time ecological footage of Origin Star Wetland...]

The scene before his eyes changed.

The place that was previously just a muddy hollow had now completely come to life.

The dark green swamp water shimmered, clusters of reeds and cattails grew straight and tall, and scattered duckweed floated on the water's surface.

"Where are the Marsh Frogs? Let me see."

Lin Muchen swept his consciousness over the area.

By the water's edge, twenty Marsh Frogs were puffing out their cheeks, croaking away joyfully.

Beneath the water, leeches twisted slowly in the mud, and dragonfly larvae swam about like tiny submarines.

Diving beetles paddled their legs, moving with great speed.

Swamp Shrimps raised their claws, warily observing their surroundings.

Most conspicuous were the water striders; dozens of these thin, long-legged creatures skated across the water's surface with "shua-shua" sounds, as if they were using Flash.

"Not bad, these 200 points were well spent," Lin Muchen said.

[Long-term Ecological Mission 3 "Establish Five Types of Ecosystems" progress update: 4/5.]

[Completed: Terrestrial, Freshwater, Marine, Wetland.]

[Incomplete: Forest (10/12).]

[Overall completion for Mission 3: 80%.]

"Only two species left for the Forest." Lin Muchen rubbed his chin. "This 65% stability for the Wetland is a bit too low."

He circulated his Cultivation Technique, trying to absorb the Spiritual Qi fed back by the Wetland.

Inside his Dantian, the five light orbs rotated steadily.

A faint but clear Spiritual Qi, carrying the moist scent of vegetation, fed back from the Origin Star's swamp area, flowing into his Meridians along the Five Elements Cycle.

In particular, that deep blue water element node visibly brightened for a moment.

[Detected weak resonance between the Wetland ecology and the water element node.]

[Feedback Efficiency stabilized at 9.02%.]

[Hint: The more stable and prosperous the ecology, the deeper the resonance with the corresponding Five Elements Node, and the stronger the feedback may become.]

"Then I must get that stability up." Lin Muchen felt energized. "System, recommend a plan. How can I complete the Wetland food chain with the minimum points?"

[Analyzing...]

[Wetland currently missing: Intermediate consumers (preying on Marsh Frogs, Swamp Shrimps, etc.), and top consumers (preying on Intermediate consumers).]

[Recommended step-by-step construction:]

[Step 1: Introduce Intermediate consumers. Recommended species: Water Snake (1 already exchanged, can add more), Kingfisher (2 already exchanged, can add more).]

[Water Snake (50 points each), adept at preying on Marsh Frogs.]

[Kingfisher (30 points each), adept at preying on Swamp Shrimps and small fish.]

[Recommended addition: 1 Water Snake, 1 Kingfisher. Total cost: 80 points.]

[This configuration can preliminarily build a simple food chain of "Plants → Marsh Frogs/Swamp Shrimps → Snakes/Birds".]

[Step 2: After the water area expands, introduce potential top consumers.]

[Juvenile Swamp Crocodile (requires approximately 300 points; current ecological conditions not met).]

Lin Muchen glanced at his points balance.

279 points.

"80 points, that's fine." He made the decision. "Buy them!"

[Exchange successful.]

[points consumed: 80.]

[Current points balance: 199.]

[Items issued: Water Snake (1), Kingfisher (1).]

Using his intent, he guided the new Water Snake and released it into the deep water area of the swamp.

He then placed the Kingfisher onto the reed clusters by the swamp's edge.

The Water Snake entered the water, swimming noiselessly toward a Marsh Frog that was sunbathing.

The Kingfisher stood on a reed stalk, its sharp little eyes staring at the water's surface, waiting for a Swamp Shrimp to show its head.

[Wetland food chain preliminarily improved.]

[Ecological stability assessment: 65% → 72%.]

[Energy flow begins to show signs of a faint closed loop.]

"It went up by 7%!" Lin Muchen's eyes lit up. "Not bad, not bad."

Just then, that deep blue water element node in his Dantian brightened again.

The water-and-wood Spiritual Qi feeding back seemed... a tiny bit thicker?

[Slight fluctuation in Feedback Efficiency: 9.02% → 9.03%.]

[Hint: Increased ecological stability may trigger additional resonance from the corresponding Five Elements Node.]

"Even 0.01% is still progress!" Lin Muchen grinned. "This deal was worth it."

He exited his Internal observation and opened his eyes.

"System, summarize the current situation."

[Summary of current status:]

[Cultivation: Ninth Level of the Qi Refinement Stage.]

[Omitted]

[Wetland: Standard met, stability 72% (New).]

[Forest: 10/12 (Standard not met).]

[Long-term Ecological Mission 3 progress: 4/5.]

[points balance: 199.]

[2 more species needed for the Forest to meet the standard, estimated cost: 100-150 points.]

[Introducing a top consumer to the Wetland (such as a Swamp Crocodile) requires approximately 300 points and an expansion of the water area.]

"Still need two more for the Forest..." Lin Muchen rubbed his chin. "199 points is enough to buy two forest species with a bit left over."

"But the top consumer for the Wetland needs to be arranged too."

"I'm running low on points again."

He sighed.

"System, are there any missions with high rewards that also allow me to collect some new species data along the way?"

[Scanning missions posted in the Mission Hall today...]

[Analyzing...]

[Mission 'No. Ding-187': Collect five segments of 'Ironwood Core' and twenty 'Red-Tailed Squirrel Tail Hairs'.]

[Location: Ironwood Forest on the north side of the back mountain.]

[Reward: 320 contribution points, four Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.]

[System conversion to points: Approximately 600 points.]

[Mission Analysis: Ironwood is an Artifact Refining material; the Red-Tailed Squirrel is a First-Order Demonic Beast, and its tail hair can be used to make low-grade Talisman Pens.]

[Ecological connection: The Ironwood Forest is a typical forest environment with rich species diversity.]

[Executing this mission allows for on-site collection of forest ecological data, providing a direct reference for species exchange in the Origin Star forest ecosystem, and may lead to the discovery of new species suitable for exchange.]

[Risk Warning: There may be activity from the Second-Order Demonic Beast 'Ironback Bear' deep within the Ironwood Forest; caution is advised.]

"600 points!" Lin Muchen's eyes lit up. "Let's do it!"

"Ironwood Forest, forest ecology... just right to fill the last two spots for the Origin Star forest."

"Red-Tailed Squirrel, maybe this thing can be exchanged directly."

He flipped out of bed and headed straight out.

There still weren't many people in the Mission Hall; he squeezed to the front of the bulletin board and immediately saw the brown mission paper.

"No. Ding-187, Ironwood Forest..."

He reached out and tore it down.

The Registration Deacon looked up at him. "Ironwood Forest? The trees there are hard, the squirrels are fast, and you might run into an Ironback Bear. Going alone?"

"Yes," Lin Muchen nodded.

"Alright, the mission deadline is four days." After finishing the registration, the deacon handed him the plaque. "Be careful, don't be too greedy."

"Thanks."

Lin Muchen took the plaque and turned to leave.

Leaving the Sect, he headed straight for the north side of the back mountain.

On the way, he opened the System mall.

"System, what should I prepare for going to the Ironwood Forest?"

[Recommended exchange: Basic Healing Pill (15 points/bottle)]

[Haste Talisman (Elementary, 20 points/sheet).]

[Total consumption: 35 points.]

[Current points balance: 199 - 35 = 164 points.]

"Exchange!"

[Exchange successful.]

[Items issued.]

In his hand appeared a small porcelain bottle and a pale green talisman paper.

He tucked the healing pill into his robe, stuck the Haste Talisman on his leg, and injected spiritual energy.

He felt his body become much lighter, and his pace quickened.

After walking for nearly an hour and a half, the surrounding scenery changed.

The trees became taller and taller, their trunks a dark brown and their texture hard.

The air was filled with a scent of wood mixed with earth.

"I've arrived."

Lin Muchen stopped.

Ahead was an endless expanse of Ironwood Forest.

The trees were tall and straight, their bark rough and hard, and their leaves a deep green.

"System, scan the environment and mark the activity areas of Ironwood and Red-Tailed Squirrels."

[Scanning...]

[Environmental Analysis: Typical hardwood forest terrain, poor soil, spiritual energy concentrated in the trees themselves.]

[Detected spiritual energy fluctuations from 'Ironwood', fifteen locations in total, already marked.]

[Warning: Detected traces of large biological activity, suspected to be the Second-Order Demonic Beast 'Ironback Bear', located deep in the forest; dangerous areas already marked.]

Over a dozen pale yellow light spots appeared before Lin Muchen's eyes, indicating the locations of Ironwood.

In the distance, a large pale red circle marked the Ironback Bear's activity range.

He chose the nearest light spot and carefully entered the forest.

Ironwood was indeed hard.

He hacked with his star dagger for quite a while before managing to cut off a branch as thick as a bowl.

Peeling back the bark, the wood inside was dark brown with a tight grain, emitting a faint metallic aura.

"Quality is good."

Lin Muchen put the Ironwood Core into his Storage Pouch.

[Collected 'Ironwood Core' x1.]

[Ecological data recorded: Ironwood, hardwood category, wood as hard as iron, contains faint metallic spiritual energy, can serve as a special plant species for the forest ecosystem.]

[Exchange points: 25 points per segment.]

"25 points a segment? Five segments is 125 points; the wood alone covers twenty percent of the cost." Lin Muchen felt even more motivated.

He followed the markers, checking them one by one.

Two hours later, four more Ironwood Cores were in his Storage Pouch.

One segment left.

Lin Muchen approached.

That Ironwood tree was indeed thick; it would take three people to wrap their arms around it.

There was a hollow at the base of the tree.

He had just squatted down, preparing to cut the last branch.

"Zhi-zhi!"

Suddenly, a red shadow darted out from the tree hollow!

It was extremely fast, heading straight for his face!

"Holy crap!"

Lin Muchen's reaction was even faster; he tilted his head, and the red shadow flew past his ear.

It landed on a nearby branch.

It was a squirrel.

It was a size larger than a normal squirrel, with a bright fiery-red, fluffy tail and beady black eyes that were warily fixed on him.

[Target: First-Order Demonic Beast 'Red-Tailed Squirrel'.]

[Body length: Approximately thirty centimeters (including tail).]

[Characteristics: Extremely fast, adept at climbing and jumping, tail hair contains faint fire-attribute spiritual energy.]

[Personality: Timid but protective of food, relatively aggressive toward those who approach its nest.]

He activated his "Natural Affinity" talent.

A clear, wary emotion with a strong sense of warning transmitted from the Red-Tailed Squirrel.

"Don't be nervous, I'm just cutting some branches." Lin Muchen smiled. "How about we make a deal?"

Of course, the squirrel couldn't understand human speech.

But it felt that this "two-legged beast" before it had an aura that wasn't too unpleasant.

Not like those fierce Yao Beasts, and not like those humans who recklessly chopped down trees.

It was a bit... kind?

It tilted its head, its beady black eyes full of confusion.

Lin Muchen pulled out a wild fruit from his Storage Pouch, one that was left over from the Origin Star's production.

This fruit contained a faint spiritual energy and was somewhat attractive to Yao Beasts.

He placed the fruit on the ground and stepped back a few paces.

The Red-Tailed Squirrel stared at the fruit, then looked at him.

It hesitated for a few seconds.

With a "shua," it darted down, grabbed the fruit, and with another "shua," darted back onto the branch.

Holding the fruit, it began to crunch away.

Its emotions changed to: happy, satisfied, and a little bit curious.

Lin Muchen took the opportunity to slowly approach the Ironwood tree and cut off the last branch.

[Collected 'Ironwood Core' x1.]

[Mission 'Collect Five Segments of Ironwood Core' completed!]

[points conversion: +125 points (estimated).]

Done.

"Thanks," Lin Muchen smiled.

The squirrel gave a couple of "zhi-zhi" cries, darted back into the tree hollow, and disappeared.