43: Water Filtration

Ning Ruogong decided to check his status to see if he was fully prepared. A status screen appeared in his mind.

Status

Name: Ning Ruogong

Energy: 33,284,584

Skills: Synchronized Thinking, Beginner Map, Intermediate Clavis Language, Candlelight, Yin-Heat Conversion Technique, Night Vision I, Cross-dimensional Storage (Time Stop; 12KG), Air Cutter, Telepathy

"Damn it. I need to collect more energy. Telepathy alone requires so much energy. I don't know how much more energy I need, especially now that I've decided to create a body for cultivation."

He looked around and found that the fields were ready for watering. So his next task was to find water for the fields. He began to ponder the 'Beginner Agricultural Knowledge' he had bought to find some ideas.

"Hmm... I need crops that can grow without water, but I don't know how useful that would be for those people. Can they even plant them?

Let's find a water source instead." He started thinking again.

"It would be great if I could irrigate with seawater, but the excessive salt in seawater would destroy the plants. I would never be able to grow anything," he thought. But then, he thought of something.

"Unless... unless I can turn seawater into regular water. I could do that with regular evaporation and distillation, but that would take too long.

I need to use everything I can. Uh... System, I need filtration capabilities. Is there anything in the shop for that?" he asked.

<Yes>

<You can purchase Filtration Knowledge and do it yourself>

<You can also purchase Water Filtration skill to filter anything from water>

<You can also purchase Liquid Filtration skill to separate anything from any other liquid>

Ning Ruogong looked at the three different options and thought, "Hmm... The first one won't work. If I have to do it myself, I wouldn't need this system in the first place. Let's see, the second one is suitable, but it looks like the third one is the best option here because it's not just for water." "Wait, System, can I use the second one? Most liquids contain water, so is it possible that the second one wouldn't work because most water isn't water, but other liquids?" he asked.

<Substances with a water content exceeding 95% are considered water>

"Okay, that's good. So, what's the price for Liquid Filtration?" he asked.

<Liquid Filtration costs 18,000,000,000>

"Why-- why is this more expensive than everything else I've bought so far?" he asked. The Liquid Filtration system was even more expensive than the next cap extender he bought with thermal energy.

"So, what's the price for Water Filtration?" he asked.

<Water Filtration costs 36,000,000 energy>

"That's pretty good, but alas, I have to go collect more energy again.

I wish I could increase the limit again so I could collect more energy every day," he thought. His next thermal energy unlock cost 10,000,000,000 thermal energy, while sound energy was still very cheap at 10,000,000.

"I wish I could see how much sound energy I have. Uh... I should buy the Separated Energy while I have the chance. How much does it cost?" he asked.

<Separated Energy costs 10,000,000 energy>

"That's quite cheap by current standards. Uh... that's all for today. I'll accumulate energy for the next few days." He decided and then went to sleep.

For the next few days, he did nothing but wake up to absorb thermal energy and then immediately go back to sleep. About ten days passed, but he felt like he had only slept for an hour at most.

"Okay, System. Purchase Separated Energy." he commanded.

<Separated Energy costs 10,000,000 energy. Are you sure?>

Yes.'

<Congratulations on purchasing Separated Energy>

"Great. How do I check it now?" he wondered. He tried to use the skill but failed. "System, what's going on?" he asked.

<Separated Energy has been added to Status. Please check Status>

"Oh, okay. Status."

Status

Name: Ning Ruogong

Energy: 132,954,482

Separated Energy

Thermal Energy: 132,868,027

Sound Energy: 86,455

Skills: Synchronized Thinking, Beginner Map, Intermediate Clavis Language, Candlelight, Yin-Heat Conversion Technique, Night Vision I, Cross-dimensional Storage (Time Stop; 12KG), Air Cutter, Telepathy

"Oh my! My sound energy is too low. I should do something about it. Hey, System, is there a way to save it?" he asked.

<Yes>

<Now that you have Separated Energy, you can specify which energy to use to purchase skills>

"Excellent!" he exclaimed happily. "Then, use thermal energy to buy Water Filtration."

<Water Filtration costs 36,000,000 energy. Are you sure?>

"Don't ask stupid questions every time. Just buy it when I tell you to," he said angrily.

<Confirmed>

<Congratulations on purchasing the skill 'Water Filtration'>

"Okay, explain it. What's going on? Is this mental energy or regular energy?" he asked.

<You can use energy to filter any liquid with a water content exceeding 80% and remove the remaining components from the water. You can choose what to remove and what to keep>

<It costs 20,000 energy per liter of separated water>

<You must be in contact with the water to filter it>

"20,000 energy per liter?" He was shocked by the absurd price. He turned and looked around, slowly surveying his surroundings. By his estimation, this large field would require at least 1,000 liters of water, if not more.

Moreover, he couldn't just flood the fields with water; that would be very disadvantageous. So, if he really wanted the farm to succeed, he would also need to dig irrigation canals, and he hadn't even thought of the second problem yet.

"Alas, this will take longer than I imagined."