CHAPTER 343: CHAPTER 343: TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, CHANGING OF THE SEASONS

[The sun gradually lost its gentle spring warmth and increasingly blazes upon the earth. The cicadas’ song calls forth the summer’s heat, and the seasonal changes bring a novel experience to the homeland...]

[Early morning Wilderness Ascension]

At precisely six in the morning, with a system prompt, Jiang Yuan watched as the thick clouds flew higher and vanished, while the bright sunlight shone down with a fervent heat.

The lotus flowers in the Furong Spirit Pool instantly bloomed;

The Carefree Lotus planted in the Spirit Pool also stretched out a small green leaf, swaying in the wind;

The faint chirping of cicadas echoed in the forest, indeed signaling the breath of early summer in the air.

[The season is incorrect, and crops will cease to grow. Should they be removed?]

After breakfast, he walked to the farm to inspect the last batch of green veggies which hadn’t matured yet, when the system promptly popped up a hint.

He had no choice but to take out a shovel, and with a "swish", the entire plant was shoveled away and immediately wilted into yellow light that disappeared.

"Indeed, seasonal crops don’t leave even the slightest residue, new crops can be planted immediately." Jiang Yuan deliberately examined the rectangular patch of "blank" soil.

He found the loose fertile soil had neither dead branches nor rotten leaves, not even tiny thin roots, as clean and fresh as newly cultivated earth.

"Master, why remove the crops when they’re perfectly fine?" Wan Mingchuan came over curiously to inquire, then proactively rolled up his sleeves and said, "Let me help. Just tell me which ones to remove."

Without raising his head, he replied, "It’s the start of summer, time to plant summer crops, all these must be removed for new ones. You should hurry and cultivate, I’ll handle the work in the field."

Removing crops and sowing can both increase Farming Skills experience, this task can’t be delegated, otherwise when leveling up Farming Skills during a mission, it would be a missed opportunity.

That’s the way farm simulation games work, day after day, each skill accumulates bit by bit, no shortcuts or laziness allowed.

"Well... I have to give a lecture later. If Master is busy, should I just call my brothers and sisters to lecture at the field’s edge?"

"Sure, you can give your lecture as usual, I can hear you."

Since Jiang Yuan truly didn’t understand those abstruse topics, perhaps this distinguished mortals from cultivators, where those capable of true cultivation possessed a certain intuition, while he was purely a pretender.

Yet the system could receive signals to proceed with progress bars, efficiently multitasking between work and readings.

One by one, he removed all ordinary crops from Level One farmland, let Little White water them thoroughly, then opened the courtyard thumbnail to contemplate the planting areas for each crop.

In the system mall’s summer seed section, the first half was wheat, harvestable for milling into flour at the mill to craft various cuisines, no longer just monotonous rice with everything.

Big white buns, dumplings, noodles, meat buns, pot stickers... with flour, the stove’s cuisine is half unlocked.

No need to ask, this staple food is surely the most demanded in summer orders.

Therefore, wheat’s planting area must occupy more than half the farmland. Luckily, the seed’s growth cycle is favorable, as planting begins it takes only three days to mature for harvest.

Vegetables like cucumbers, peppers, gourds, tomatoes, must all be planted to share the bounty; watermelon is a must-have summer specialty, needing at least a row—tasty, refreshing, and can juice stock...

[Farming Skills increased to Level 6, Physical Strength +30]

After completing the sowing, the system finally indicated an upgrade in Farming Skills.

You Meng, the elf guarding the World Tree, mentioned that after upgrading, all basic skills must reach Level Six before qualifying to enter the upper floor of the mine, extracting higher level new minerals besides the Hundred-Year Fruit that boosts lifespan.

"No wonder Li couldn’t resist temptation, in the Cultivation World, even slightly precious things have an irresistible allure, especially with no laws or moral constraints here." Jiang Yuan saw his already plenty of lifespan, yet still couldn’t resist the Hundred-Year Fruit’s temptation.

Who would complain about living longer?

Moreover, in his storage box, there’s a Demon Cultivation Technique requiring lifespan to activate. If he could hoard lifespan as plentifully as a bank balance, he could play freely without restraint.

An impatient heart even felt anxious over other skills not upgrading yet, pondering why materials for upgrading the World Tree to Level Two weren’t accumulated.

It’s imaginable how crossing into the Otherworld, a lawless chaotic land, along with a system making easy other cultivators’ achievements, can inflate one’s ego, losing moral boundaries.

No wonder Li could utter such words about mortals being ants—a self-assumed superiority, disregarding mortals’ worth.

Automatically embodying Li’s behavior, equates to oneself then entering by topping up gold coins to lure Riverfront Village villagers and nearby refugees, duping them into unpaid labor, only to kill each for Heaven-Burning Flame upgrades.

Skills upgrading, then leaving to harm other villages, burning, looting, rapidly completing primitive accumulation...

"Ugh, completely unachievable." Even considering feels sinful, every obtained log stained with blood, absolutely unacceptable for any normal person.

Nor could cross the moral line to eat "human blood buns."

Compared to the previous "player", he was more hurried, didn’t even gain the most basic Skill Book yet, impatient to rush into the village to spend money delighting in a harem.

The outcome was encountering Riverfront Village controlled by the three major families, otherwise, in another place, buying one’s way would very likely succeed.

"System, did you organize this ’meeting’ for me as a lesson—to not lose humanity despite high combat strength, right?" Jiang Yuan speculated increasingly that there was significant warning value inside.

At the same time, he was curious about the system’s purpose of selecting a host, transporting to the Otherworld using a game format.

What if, like him maintaining a good state, gradually fulfilling tasks, what would occur? Ascend to immortality? Or complete the "game" for eternal life rewards?

During work, letting his thoughts wander, a spark struck his mind, he suddenly thought of a possibility—could the system want him to steadfastly start from farming, manage a vast manor, and save this imperiled world?

The last time handling the Demon Cultivator incursion, didn’t the system indicate upgrading home to Level Eight to initiate the task?

Li entered the Otherworld at a home on Wilderness Island, the prior and himself should both have "logged" in the Human World’s Shuiyun Lake, based on current clues, the system never deviated from these nocturnal merging worlds.

If indeed managing through farming and exploring side quests can turn the tide, saving the Wilderness World from demon ravages, letting the Human World achieve Spiritual Energy Revival and thrive again, it would truly be immeasurable merit!

After Wan Mingchuan finished his lecture, Jiang Yuan’s progress bar finally reached 1.4%. Slowly but resolutely, once the dispute over Wo Hu Temple’s Immortal Peach concluded, it’s urgent to think of ways for his advancement.

Once his Realm increased, data transmission from lectures could amplify, enabling him to swiftly gain new skills!

"Senior Bai, what are you watching?" Near dusk, as the setting sun gilded the courtyard in gold, Yun Mo piped down from the canopy to question.

Standing on the Cloud Tier of the tree house gazing afar, Bai Yunqi had a heavy expression, "Today is the start of summer, the Wilderness Descends needs to switch location, I am somewhat concerned."

Hu Zhile looked up and responded, "Deserted Island’s location is remote, seems less enticing, won’t lure overly dangerous areas."

Jiang Yuan was perplexed, "Is there any explanation about Wilderness Descends?"

"Naturally," Bai Yunqi replied, "There are numerous opinions on Wilderness Descends rules, they say the more fertile and prosperous the land, the stronger the atmosphere, easily catch the attention of certain beings, seizing resources during seasonal transitions. Though Deserted Island lies remote, the Venerable Family laid Furong Spirit Pool and tree house, I fear they might invite coveting."