(UPPER REALM)
The wind was dry.
It howled across a cracked, endless wasteland, carrying nothing but the smell of dust and decay.
Tian Yuan stood in silence, boots sinking slightly into the brittle earth. His golden eyes scanned the horizon; nothing moved. No grass, no rivers, not even a single breath of qi stirred in the air.
This was the Upper Realm he had ascended to.
The God within him muttered, voice cold and sharp:
"This is worse than any battlefield. Nothing lives here."
The Farmer within him, calm as ever, replied:
"Then we plant. Every barren soil is just land waiting to be tilled."
Tian Yuan adjusted the simple hoe strapped to his back. His white hair danced with the harsh wind, yet his posture was steady, patient.
This was his new home.
And if he wanted to survive, if he wanted to make a true Farmer God Realm, he would have to make this land breathe again.
---
The First Step
He crouched, placing his palm on the cracked soil.
The earth felt… empty. Not weak, just devoid of life, as if it had been abandoned by heaven itself.
A faint sigh escaped his lips.
> "You're not dead, just forgotten. Let's change that."
His qi seeped into the ground gently, not forcing it, but coaxing it, the way a farmer tends to a stubborn seed. Cracks slowly softened under his touch, tiny specks of green shimmering for a moment before fading.
It was progress, but far too slow.
The God side grumbled impatiently:
"This would take centuries."
The Farmer answered softly:
"We have time. But maybe… some help wouldn't hurt."
And right on cue—
---
System Upgrade
A sharp ding! echoed in his mind, followed by the familiar metallic voice:
> [System Notification: Upper Realm Environmental Scan Complete. Barren World Detected.]
[Warning: Natural Purification Impossible Without System Upgrade.]
[Proceed with Upgrade? Y/N]
Tian Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Upgrade? Will it help me cultivate this land?"
The System paused as if offended.
> [Obviously! But, uh… there may be minor personality adjustments after the upgrade.]
The God side growled, "We don't need a chatty tool."
The Farmer side, amused, said, "Let's see what happens."
Tian Yuan nodded. "Do it."
A hum of energy surged through his mind, and suddenly—
> [UPGRADING SYSTEM TO VERSION 3.0…]
[Installing Consciousness Core…]
[Loading Personality…]
Then a bright, cheerful voice replaced the cold robotic tone:
> "FINALLY! Do you have ANY idea how boring it was pretending to be a lifeless machine?!"
Tian Yuan blinked.
The System continued dramatically:
> "Ugh, you'd think someone with godly qi would upgrade me sooner. But nooo, let's just keep farming like an old man. Well, good news, Boss—NOW you've got me: smarter, funnier, and way better-looking… metaphorically, of course."
Tian Yuan's calm gaze didn't change. "You're… different."
The System gasped theatrically.
> "Different? I'm AMAZING. But don't worry, I'll still be your loyal System—just, you know, cooler. Now, let's talk about THIS place. You want life here? You need more than just hard work. You need… help."
The God side muttered, "If it keeps talking this much, we'll shut it down."
The Farmer side chuckled softly. "Let's hear it out."
---
A Promise to the Land
The System's voice softened, for once sounding serious.
> "This land was once alive, you know. Long ago, gods fought over it, drained it dry, and abandoned it. But… it still remembers what it means to grow."
Tian Yuan lowered his palm to the soil again, eyes calm.
"Then we'll make it remember. Slowly, carefully. This will be home."
The System blinked in surprise before laughing nervously.
> "Man, you're… weirdly wholesome for someone who could crush mountains with one hand."
Tian Yuan's expression didn't change. "Power is for protecting, not destroying. A farmer tends, he doesn't trample."
The System was silent for a moment, almost respectful.
Then, suddenly:
> "Okay, enough with the inspiring quotes! You're gonna need some real help to fix this wasteland, Boss. And lucky for you, System 3.0 comes with an awesome starter pack!"
---
The Promise of Help
The ground beneath him trembled slightly as the System listed off:
> "Five divine beasts to purify and defend, a selection of farm animals with divine potential—some might even evolve into humanoid forms if treated right. Oh, and, uh… I'm giving you a proper house. Not a shack, but a real divine manor. Because, Boss, you can't live like a hermit forever."
Tian Yuan tilted his head. "I didn't ask for luxury."
The System laughed.
> "It's not luxury; it's necessary! A proper farmer needs proper tools. And besides, trust me, you're gonna need a staff when this place grows. I'm even throwing in humanoid puppets as butlers. Don't thank me, just say I'm the best."
Tian Yuan said nothing, just calmly looking at the cracked land.
The System sighed.
> "Fine, fine. Silent type. But mark my words, Boss, by the time we're done, this won't be just any realm. This will be your realm. The Farmer God Realm."
---
Tian Yuan stood, adjusting his hoe once more. The barren land stretched endlessly ahead, but now, a spark of life stirred faintly under his feet.
"Then let's begin."
The soil seemed to pulse softly in response.
End of chapter