By creating irrigated farmland, Galen Yu's food supply on the Sky Island was finally secured.
With just the pull of a lever, he could harvest his crops; the only thing left to do was the planting.
But even that didn't require Galen Yu to do it himself.
Among the villagers, there were several with the farmer profession, and he could trade various foods with them for emeralds.
He could also trade emeralds back to them for golden carrots and other food items.
Trading was one thing, but more importantly, they would automatically sow seeds on any tilled land that lacked crops.
At the cost of just a few loaves of bread, a fully automated farm capable of producing stacks of food at once was completely perfected!
Walking through the Sky Island, he occasionally overheard the villagers' conversations.
"Hrm..."
"Hrm, hrm..."
Their speech was somewhat obscure and difficult to understand, but according to the Architect's translation, it roughly meant:
"My great Lord! Look at the magnificent miracle he has created!"
"Heavens, he made an automated farm with just a few buckets of water. Our beloved Lord is greater than the Creator!"
Hearing such praise from a few ordinary villagers made Galen Yu feel a bit embarrassed.
After ensuring the machines were running smoothly, he saw new blocks spawning not far away and decided to head over to explore.
Farming and development were practically etched into his bones; no one from the Nine Provinces would ever turn down such things.
Wholly immersed in his work, Galen Yu didn't remember at all that there was another player outside his chunk.
If anyone were to mention it to him now—about the Stick Nation or Soren Park—he would surely be utterly confused.
"Stick Nation? What Stick Nation? Soren Park or whatever, I've never heard of him!"
After all, as far as that tiny Mushroom Island was concerned, Galen Yu hadn't given it a second thought since entering the block world.
It had zero strategic value and wasn't even worth a glance; spending energy on it would be a complete waste of time.
In contrast, on the Mushroom Island...
Soren Park had been living in a constant state of anxiety.
It wasn't until daylight that he finally saw a hopeful turning point.
If one were to ask who was happiest when the news of the alliance broke, he would definitely be at the top of the list.
Stranded on the Mushroom Island, he had almost no defensive equipment or buildings.
He only had a stone sword crafted in a hurry; dealing with zombies wasn't exactly easy—it was overwhelming.
He also had to stay on guard against Galen Yu; every second spent on the Mushroom Island was a dual test of his mental and physical endurance.
Finally escaping this sea of misery, he felt incredibly relaxed.
The Stick Nation viewers were equally relieved.
"Fantastic! He's finally escaped that demon's clutches!"
"Phew, I can't imagine what would have happened if he stayed. Soren Park might have been ambushed and killed at any moment!"
"With Mark and the others there, at least he doesn't have to live in constant fear!"
"That nine-shot bow is terrifying just to look at. We have the Freedom Nation to thank for this!"
"I love this alliance!"
While all the viewers were celebrating their luck, they had no idea that Galen Yu had completely forgotten who Soren Park even was.
He didn't even have the qualifications to be a rival. Fearing that the Mushroom Island would be stolen was nothing more than Soren Park flattering himself...
When Soren Park arrived at the designated meeting point, quite a few people were already standing there.
Someone had written 'Anti-Galen Yu Alliance' in large letters, making the whole thing look quite official.
However, as he drew closer, he realized this alliance wasn't as peaceful as it seemed on the surface.
The other contestants were standing around, encircling three particular players.
As Soren Park approached, he realized they were the contestants from the Samurai Nation and the Indus Kingdom.
"The SlashBlade belongs to us Samurai. You'd better hand over that key!"
"Listen, my blade is singing!"
Perhaps because she had slain so many monsters, Kira Oakmoor was becoming increasingly proficient with the SlashBlade, and her usage time was growing.
As the sharp blade left its scabbard, it let out a ringing sound, as if it were truly resonating with the key in Kapil's hand.
"Your skills were inferior. Why should I hand over the key?"
Naturally unwilling to give it up easily, Kapil held his Ironwood Sword with extreme vigilance.
This was something he had obtained only after enduring the Naga's Curse; how could he give it away after just a few words?
Besides, the charge was only a tiny bit away from being full. Even without killing a boss, he could fill it just by slaying ordinary zombies.
Every contestant had their own pride; how could they possibly let others reap the fruits of their labor?
Standing nearby, Soren Park felt a literal itch in his throat, wanting to play the peacemaker and shout:
'Stop arguing! The SlashBlade is a heritage of my Great Stick Nation; the item should rightfully be given to me.'
However, since he hadn't been to the Twilight Forest and his equipment was pathetic, he could only bite his tongue.
Beyond just Ronan Mountwell, Kira Oakmoor, and Kapil, the viewers behind the screens were also arguing incessantly because of this.
"The SlashBlade was ours to begin with. Now it's just returning to its rightful owner!"
"Bullshit! Does it have your name on it? Our Kapil risked his life to get that. Why should he give it to you?"
"You are trampling on the dignity of us Samurai!"
"Where was your dignity when you tried to ambush Galen Yu right after entering the Twilight Forest? You didn't even land a hit before you ran away with your tails between your legs!"
"Baka! Kira Oakmoor was performing a strategic retreat! What do you mean 'ran away'?!"
"If you're so brave, let your Kapil go. Who could withstand an epic-grade weapon?"
"Cowardice is cowardice. Stop making so many excuses!"
"I look down on you people!"
The bullet chats were already a total mess, filled with toxic arguments.
Looking at Kapil, Ronan Mountwell spoke with direct sarcasm.
"Our skills were inferior? Is the origin of your key honorable at all? Do we need to go over that backstabbing incident again?"
"You!"
Betrayal was a shameful thing, especially when it involved betraying the Serpent God of one's own mythology.
Having been poked in his sore spot, Kapil's eyes widened in fury.
Seeing that the conflict was about to escalate further, a loud shout stopped the three of them.
"What are you arguing for? Did we form this alliance just to bicker here?"
Mark and Jett had returned from the Twilight Forest, their cold gazes sweeping over the crowd.
The two of them were currently in a position of great power; one wore enchanted Netherite armor, while the other possessed Fiery equipment.
Their strength was far beyond what the other contestants—who were still wearing Naga Scale Leggings or basic iron gear—could compare to.
Wary of Mark's equipment, the three of them snorted coldly and withdrew their weapons.
"I don't care who the SlashBlade belongs to, or about some key. Right now..."
"We are gathered here to deal with the Crisis Zombies and Galen Yu!"
Scanning everyone present, Mark spoke coldly.
"Your personal matters can be settled later. Most of you came here wanting to form an alliance. Since we all share the same goal..."
"I believe an alliance cannot function without a leader. From now on, you will all follow my commands!"
Exuding immense pressure, Mark spoke in a commanding tone.
Most of the contestants didn't mind; people like Soren Park, who couldn't even complete a full iron set, didn't dare to object.
However, some of the contestants who had entered the Twilight Forest and obtained Ironwood sets or Naga Scale Mail expressed their dissatisfaction.
"On what grounds?"
Kira Oakmoor was the first to step forward and voice his discontent.
In his mind, even an alliance should be a partnership, rather than Mark arbitrarily trying to turn everyone into his servants.
The Samurai Nation had two contestants who had also entered the Twilight Forest; he didn't think they were any worse off.
A few other contestants also expressed their disapproval, causing Mark's eyes to narrow.
"Good, very good. Then let's compare our strength. Only the strong have the right to speak!"
He pulled out his Zombie Scepter, summoned a Loyal Zombie, and pointedly displayed the Fiery Set he was wearing.
Now, not a single person dared to speak up.
Dissatisfaction was one thing, but they weren't stupid; they could see that this equipment was incredibly strong. No one was foolish enough to invite trouble.
Everyone was waiting for someone else to take the lead, but in the end, no one did. Only Mark's loud laughter remained.
"Since no one objects, from now on, everyone will move to the vicinity of my chunk. We will build our defenses on my land!"
[Support the story with Reviews, Power Stones, and Comments—they mean a lot and keep me going! 30+ chapters waiting on patreon.com/elite_reads]