The next morning, Gu Baizhou awoke early, training hard in the fresh mist.Sweat drenched him, muscles trembling and sore—yet a deep satisfaction stirred inside.
Level Up – Comprehensive Physique Lv3: 0/15
After stretching tight muscles, he picked up his crossbow, eyes locked on the target.
+1 Comprehensive Archery EXPComprehensive Archery Lv2: 6/10
Golden sunlight spilled into the hut as the Hilichurls stirred awake. Gu ended his practice.
"We'll survey the terrain and find a field for farming," he told them.Since receiving the sand-bearing stone vial, he carried the old shaman's aura and his authority had soared.
Soil fertility revealed itself through many signs:color, water retention, looseness, the life it held…
Gu knew little of agriculture, yet by simply observing he gained knowledge.
+1 Geology EXP+1 Agricultural Ecology EXPLevel Up – Comprehensive Farming Knowledge Lv2: 0/5
Leading the Hilichurls across hills and gullies, he reached a broad, sunlit clearing hidden between low mountains.Against the cliff wall, translucent yellow crystals gleamed.
"That is Cor Lapis," the Geo Shaman explained, "a rare Geo-element crystal."
Intrigued, Gu asked, "Can you help me extract it?"
The shaman struck the ground with its stone staff. Golden ripples spread.
Crack.A long fissure split the crystal. Gu plucked it free and examined it.
+1 Materials EXP
If only it melted at a lower temperature…A daring idea sparked: using elemental slime gels—Fire, Electro, Hydro—to craft elemental grenades.Cor Lapis or similar crystals could form the shell.Three chambers inside, each holding different slime gels separated by removable Cor Lapis plates.Pull the plates, and in seconds the Hydro gel would react with Fire and Electro, igniting an explosive burst.
I'll test this someday, he thought, bringing his mind back to the present.
Sunlight, geology, water, concealment—all perfect for a farm.
"What to plant?" he mused. "Potatoes, radishes, cabbages… too cheap. I need something delicious and mass-producible."
Milk tea? Cola? Sprite?A homebody's thoughts naturally drifted to drinks.
"We'll plant potatoes and radishes for food," he decided, "but also sunset-fruit trees to experiment with carbonated drinks."
The sweet, common fruit could become a novel beverage rivaling anything on the market.Containers would need to be custom-made in a city, and sales required planning.As for the carbonation, perhaps a Wind Hilichurl Shaman could provide the gas.
Swish!A stone sickle cut through tall weeds.As the earth's green coat peeled away, hoes bit deep, turning the soil.
"Another productive day," Gu said, satisfied as Hilichurls labored diligently.
He turned to the Geo Shaman. "Do you know where we can find a Wind Shaman?"
"Beyond the rock pillars, across the cliff, another Hilichurl tribe," it replied.
Gu recalled the towering stone pillars from yesterday."Let's prepare and visit them. Maybe they'll join us."
Without bottled carbon dioxide, he couldn't explain the precise gas he needed, so the drink plan would wait—but he could still recruit the Wind Shaman.
He packed leftover grilled bass in large green leaves and set off with several Hilichurls.By afternoon they reached the nine soaring pillars and skirted the cliff to the small tribe.
A Hilichurl with a wooden club patrolled.
"Olah! (Hello!)" Gu greeted in fluent Hilichurl speech.
"Olah!" the guard replied.
The sand-bearing stone vial's effect clearly worked on all Hilichurls.Gu stated his purpose and was led inside.
This tribe was smaller—one hut and two watchtowers, sparsely populated.
"Hello."The Wind Hilichurl Shaman approached, leaning on its staff, horned smiling mask in place.
"Wind Shaman," Gu said, revealing the fragrant grilled fish wrapped in leaves.Hilichurls around them drooled.
"What is it you want?"The Wind Shaman stayed calm, though it wiped a trace of saliva.
"This area is dangerous. Why not join us for safety?" Gu spoke earnestly."We'll teach farming and fishing. You'll have steady meat on your table."
"Humans do not allow Hilichurl gatherings," the Wind Shaman replied, shaking its head.
Gu knew this was survival wisdom.In the game's main story, that red-and-white-clad girl—clearly a Traveler—would exterminate Hilichurl camps.
"No. Our place is hidden. Humans won't find it," he persisted."Soon I'll hold influence in human cities. Then Hilichurls can live as ordinary beings in my lands."
He meant every word.If his vision succeeded, these Hilichurls would be recognized as workers, not hunted monsters.
"I want to see," the Wind Shaman said, tempted by a future where Hilichurls had stability—and meat.
By journey's end, Gu's group had grown from seven to twelve Hilichurls.
He planned to build their homes beside the farmland, a new dome-shaped hut.The Wind Shaman accepted the hidden site but disliked farming.
"Plants… not tasty," it said.
"But plants plentiful, filling," the black-furred Hilichurls, now seasoned by Gu's lessons, replied."Can trade plants for meat."
"Really?"The Wind Shaman's eyes lit with interest.