Ch 68: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

Upon learning about this bizarre custom, Jiang Lin developed an intense curiosity about the Frost God of the Tu Su tribe. What kind of god of destruction was this? It would be more fitting to call him the God of Green Hats! He was practically a walking emblem of infidelity!

The Tu Su tribe was indeed a strange place.

In short, one of the Tu Su God’s sons had died.

He had many sons, so the death of one, Zi Qi, didn’t particularly sadden him. However, the fact that the actual prince of the Tu Su tribe died in the Eastern Sea was a blow to the Frost God’s reputation.

Thus, the Tu Su tribe soon sent representatives demanding an explanation from the sea clan.

The Dragon Emperor, known for his temper, responded by saying that the Eastern Sea was vast, with plenty of water, so if their prince drowned himself, what did that have to do with him?

Moreover, the Tu Su tribe only sent a single emissary, clearly not valuing Zi Qi much. The Dragon Emperor didn’t even bother to meet them and directly turned them away from the sea domain.

The Tu Su tribe’s emissary stayed at the sea’s edge for several days, and after confirming the Eastern Sea’s stance, they just left.

“The Tu Su tribe’s people left?” Jiang Lin was surprised.

Ao Yue nodded, slightly disdainful, “That tribe really has no backbone. No matter how scummy Zi Qi was, he was still one of their own, right? Yet they just abandoned him like that.”

She clearly looked down on them.

Jiang Lin was also a bit surprised by this outcome, but considering Zi Qi’s personality and some of the things he had mentioned about his past, Jiang Lin could understand.

That tribe always put profit first. Since Zi Qi didn’t have the favor of the Frost God, no one who could stand up for him would do so, and the officials sent on this mission naturally didn’t want to offend the Dragon Emperor over it.

Who knows what Zi Qi would have thought if he were alive and learned that his tribe had so easily given up on him?

But now that he was dead, such speculation was pointless.

In any case, this was good news for Jiang Lin, as it eliminated a potential threat.

He set aside all other concerns and focused on his work, splitting his time between the Shen Nong tribe and Sea City.

The agriculture in the Shen Nong tribe had already been set on the right path. The Shen Nong god, highly interested in this model and proud of his son’s accomplishments, almost handed over the duties of the God of Agriculture to Jiang Lin.

Meanwhile, in Sea City, the Shen Nong tribe’s store had also settled into a steady rhythm.

Jiang Lin had already selected suitable personnel to take over, and he only occasionally stopped by to check on things.

The effects of the food were remarkable.

In less than three months, the sea folk began to notice that the crops grown by the Shen Nong tribe not only tasted good but also seemed to benefit their health!

These subtle changes were hard to notice in daily life, so Jiang Lin discreetly spread word about the health benefits of the fruits and vegetables.

After hearing this, the sea folk observed themselves and indeed realized: “Oh right! My complexion seems to have improved! My wounds are healing faster, and my gums aren’t bleeding as easily!”

The produce from the Shen Nong tribe had such miraculous effects!

Buy it!

The Shen Nong tribe’s business in Sea City thrived even more.

Some observant and clever sea folk noticed that while the Shen Nong tribe could grow delicious crops, their lifestyle was quite rudimentary. Their clothes were either made from animal skins or the simplest hemp cloth, with no bright colors. They also lacked intricate handicrafts, and their household items were very plain.

This observation led to the rise of several handicraft shops within the sea clan, specifically targeting the newcomers from the Shen Nong tribe. While these shops were initially established purely for profit, they undeniably helped to quickly bridge the gap between the sea folk and the Shen Nong tribe, allowing both sides to better understand each other.

Most importantly, both parties possessed what the other lacked.

Trade and cultural exchange proceeded so smoothly that it even exceeded the Dragon King’s expectations. He met with Jiang Lin again.

“I now think that you were right,” the Dragon King said to Jiang Lin. “What made you consider cooperating with the Eastern Sea region?”

Jiang Lin responded candidly, “Initially, it was because the Tu Su tribe was becoming restless, so I decided to take the initiative.”

“Initially?”

“Later, I changed my mind,” Jiang Lin calmly faced this world’s most powerful being. “If the Eastern Sea region wasn’t suitable, I wouldn’t have considered it. But the facts have proven that there is endless potential for mutual cooperation and benefit between the Eastern Sea and the Shen Nong tribe, isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

“Mutual cooperation and benefit?” The Dragon King repeated the phrase several times, then looked at Jiang Lin with a smirk, “I have nearly a hundred children, but not one of them has a mind like yours.”

Jiang Lin pretended to sigh, “The dragon clan is naturally blessed and has no natural enemies. If they monopolized all the benefits, even the heavens might not tolerate it.”

The Dragon King pondered this.

Regardless, the matter was now settled.

Of course, the formalities had to involve the Yan Emperor.

After a formal meeting between the Dragon King and the Emperor Yan, news spread that the Eastern Sea region and the Shen Nong tribe had officially formed an alliance, vowing to support and help each other and to pursue peaceful development together.

Once the alliance was established, both sides moved quickly.

By the time the Tu Su tribe reacted, the sea clan had already built a larger city next to the teleportation array in Sea City to welcome their new allies.

The Shen Nong tribe was not to be outdone, constructing a massive city near the teleportation array and digging a broad river to accommodate the sea folk.

Ao Yue finally fulfilled her long-cherished wish—she became the first official representative of the sea clan’s royal family to visit the Shen Nong tribe.

She chose her timing perfectly, arriving at the Shen Nong tribe in the autumn.

As soon as she stepped out of the teleportation array, Ao Yue was stunned by the scene before her—under the golden sunlight, there was nothing but an endless sea of golden rice stalks, shimmering brighter than the sunlight itself. As the wind blew, the heavy branches swayed, creating a surging golden wave.

In the distance, the golden waves seemed to stretch on forever, like a vast golden ocean.

This was a magnificent sight that Ao Yue, who had grown up by the “real” ocean, had never seen before.

“It’s truly beautiful,” she said as she curiously walked a few steps forward, gazing at the plump rice stalks beneath her feet. “Is this the rice I’ve eaten before?”

“Yes,” Jiang Lin replied with a proud smile. “This is a view that only the Shen Nong tribe can offer.”

“You all are truly remarkable,” Ao Yue praised.

The dragon clan’s first visit was very pleasant. They arrived at the Shen Nong tribe during the harvest season, where they not only witnessed the golden rice stalks but also tasted many freshly harvested, delicious crops.

Ao Yue, an ocean dragon with little experience in the world, almost forgot her mission due to her sheer enjoyment—though, to be fair, she was just a mascot with no real tasks to begin with.

The other dragons not only enjoyed various delicious specialties from the Shen Nong tribe but were also impressed in other ways. For instance, not only could the Shen Nong tribe farm, but they were also incredibly strong fighters!

Dragons, lacking much in the way of intelligence, were drawn to shiny, pretty things and admired strength. Now, they had a newfound love for good food. The people of the Shen Nong tribe not only grew delicious food, but they were also physically strong, often sparring with young, robust men in their free time, which was incredibly satisfying for the dragons.

The friendship between the two sides quickly deepened.

By the time the Tu Su tribe finally realized what was happening, the relationship between the sea clan and the Shen Nong tribe had already evolved beyond a simple alliance of mutual interests. There was now an undeniable, intricate bond between them.

This development surprised even Jiang Lin.

Initially, all he wanted was to ensure that the Shen Nong tribe wouldn’t waste their fertile lands and to use this opportunity to benefit from the sea clan. Who would have thought that the simplicity and honesty of the world’s inhabitants would lead to such unexpected outcomes?

Meeting twice, sharing a meal, and sparring once could turn people into good friends.

With both sides curious about each other’s land and sea, and with the convenience of the teleportation array, many sea folk had already built houses in the Shen Nong tribe’s territory, while many from the Shen Nong tribe had gone to the Eastern Sea to experience a new way of life.

When the sea clan’s popular weaving techniques and oceanic clothing styles spread to the Shen Nong tribe, and the Shen Nong tribe’s flowers and fruits became essential in the daily lives of the sea folk, the barriers between the two sides nearly vanished.

At the very least, Jiang Lin was now certain that if the Tu Su tribe attempted to attack the Shen Nong tribe, the sea clan would absolutely not stand by and do nothing.

—Initially, all Jiang Lin had wanted was to ensure that if war broke out between the Shen Nong tribe and the Tu Su tribe, the sea clan wouldn’t stab them in the back. This unexpected outcome was certainly a pleasant surprise.

Subtle changes were also taking place in less noticeable areas.

The simple people of the Shen Nong tribe, after visiting the sea clan, realized that there were so many new things in the world. The more they interacted, the more they discovered that the sea clan was entirely different from them—sea folk worshipped the Dragon King and held his commands in the highest regard, yet in their daily lives, they didn’t feel connected to the Dragon King.

For example, in matters of love.

If someone from the Shen Nong tribe won the affection of a beloved girl, they would joyfully praise, “Thank you, dear Sun God, for granting me good fortune.”

But the sea folk would merely think, “It’s because I’m so charming.”

These subtle differences might not show immediate effects, but over time, as the two sides continued to interact, they would start to influence each other in subtle ways.

Jiang Lin deliberately guided this mindset: he wanted the people of the Shen Nong tribe to see more of the world, to realize that they could achieve many things on their own, rather than relying solely on the gods.

No matter how long it would take for this influence to bear fruit, the seed had been planted, and one day it would break through the soil.

The Emperor Yan saw all that Jiang Lin was doing.

One day, Jiang Lin received a summons from the Emperor Yan. When he arrived, he found the Emperor Yan and Yuan Nu sitting solemnly in their chairs.

They were kind and gentle parents who rarely had such serious moments in private.

Jiang Lin was puzzled, but soon saw his older brothers and sisters arriving as well.

His siblings were still their usual carefree selves, asking, “Father, Mother, why have you called us all together? Is something wrong?”

The Emperor Yan and his wife exchanged a glance before the Yan Emperor spoke, “Your mother and I have discussed this and made a decision.”

“What decision?” they asked.

The Emperor Yan said, “I’ve decided to pass on the responsibilities of the Sun God and the God of Agriculture to you all.”

“What?” The group was stunned.

The Emperor Yan looked at them with pride, “You’re all very exceptional, and you make your mother and me proud. Now, the Tu Su clan dares not make any moves, and there are no large-scale wars. Your mother and I thought we’d travel around.”

“But,” Jiang Lin couldn’t see the logic, “you don’t need to give up your divine status just to travel, do you?”

After all, they had traveled before.

The Emperor Yan, looking quite righteous, said, “But when your mother and I are alone together, we keep hearing people praying to me—how annoying!”