Chapter 18: God Doesn't Play Dice
Lu Yao found himself invigorated at the mention of the word "sacrifice." Intrigued, he clicked on the temple, only to discover a gleaming golden object occupying the [Sacrifice] slot.
...
Within its confines, a artifact known as the [Golden Dice] awaited. The description stated that each roll would consume 2 points of faith, and should fortune smile upon the roller with a six, a reward would be granted.
The new, however, dampened Lu Yao's initial excitement. He couldn't help but feel a surge of skepticism towards the Yanchi tribe, who had presented this gambling tool as an offering. Being acutely aware of the value of faith, Lu Yao couldn't help but question the whereabouts of the faith points consumed with each roll. The merchants of the Yanchi tribe and their peculiar three-god worship practices came to mind, leaving him suspicious that a certain deity was manipulating the golden dice to deceive others. It was as though they had found an ingenious way to swindle faith deposits from unsuspecting gods—an audacious scheme far surpassing Lisa's laborious acts of robbery.
The notion of rolling a six to obtain a sacrifice was particularly vexing. The probability of this occurrence seemed entirely beyond control. The description claimed success when it struck, and failure when it missed, exposing a blatant black-box operation. Albert Einstein's words echoed in Lu Yao's mind, "God does not play dice." Despite his reservations, however, he saw no reason to reject the offering from the Yanchi tribe, since they had sent it forth.
Yin Shabel had previously mentioned that any superfluous sacrifices could be thrown into the fire of faith, transforming them into mere firewood and accruing a modicum of faith in the process. Acting upon this advice, Lu Yao promptly disposed of the seemingly worthless [Golden Dice], casting it into the temple's bonfire, where it vanished in an instant.
Faith increased by 10, confirming its true insignificance.
Turning his attention to the current geographic landscape of the Garlic Tribe, Lu Yao observed that the basin and plain formed their stronghold, leaving ample undeveloped land for future utilization. Space was not a pressing concern in the short term. To the north, the forest extended indefinitely, impeded only by the river flowing to the east. The western region was adorned by towering mountains, while the southern expanse gave way to a desolate desert.
Despite the continual expansion of the world map through the tireless exploration of the pixel villains, no other populations seemed to encroach upon their territory. If rapid development was the aim, forging alliances and integrating with neighboring tribes emerged as the most prudent course of action.
Presently, the Garlic Tribe had but one secure conduit to connect with the outside world: the mountains, specifically the Yanchi tribe residing behind them. Import and export affairs remained firmly under the control of the Yanchi tribe, establishing them as the primary gateway. Another potential channel existed in the form of the Bedou tribe's oasis to the south, though it would require time for Yin Shabel to establish contact there.
In stark contrast to the barbarian tribe's forceful conquest policy, the Yanchi tribe embraced a flexible approach to civilization. Currently, they actively engaged in trade with the Garlic Tribe, with no foreseeable conflicts of interest. Thus, the situation appeared relatively stable.
...
Ever since the Garlic Tribe devised their unique script, several resource indicators adorned the game panel. Furthermore, a significant change occurred as the pixelated inhabitants began to exhibit rudimentary thought processes, rendering the question marks above their heads no longer exclusive to prophets and shamans.
Curious, Lu Yao clicked on the question marks adorning the various pixel villains, delving into their minds.
"Upon awakening today, I found myself hungry. Yet, once satiated, hunger returns the following day. Since perpetual hunger plagues me, does the act of eating hold any true purpose?"
"The weeds in the wheat field grow at an alarming pace, outpacing the growth of the wheat itself. No matter how vigorously we uproot them, our efforts prove insufficient. If only the wheat could thrive with the same tenacity as the weeds—flourishing autonomously, impervious to our hunger. Oh, how magnificent that would be!"
"Meat is good, as is wheat, and the pungency of garlic. But the ultimate pleasure lies in their harmonious amalgamation. This secret, I believe, is known only to me. Hehe."
"The prophet and the shaman have both aged significantly. Who do I help—prophet or shaman? What an agonizing predicament."
Lu Yao's attention was captivated by the insightful idea of a farmer among the ruminations of the tribal villagers. Concerns regarding the abundance of weeds, pest infestation, and a prevailing drought echoed through their shared anxieties. The wheat harvest held immense importance for the entire tribe, as their sustenance during the approaching winter relied heavily upon it.
Moved by the farmers' genuine worries and their acute awareness of the environment and food resources, Lu Yao delved into a thorough search on the web. After careful screening and verification, he identified the next crucial item to be remotely provided to the struggling tribe.
In the kitchen, Lu Yao retrieved a potato and positioned it atop the mouse, initiating the process of bestowing the divine gift of [Potatoes] upon the faithful believers.
As the potato materialized within the pixelated realm through the temple, a collective sigh of relief swept through the tribe. The villagers' exclamations reverberated with joyous anticipation.
"Once again, the gods have graced us with their benevolence!"
"Potatoes, potatoes!"
"These potatoes, when buried in the soil, flourish! A crop resistant to drought!"
"A more bountiful yield than wheat!"
"A novel addition to our gastronomic delights!"
Among the farmers toiling in the fields, an array of beaming smiles adorned their faces.
"Marvelous! The gods have truly bestowed their blessings upon us!"
"God Yao, in divine foresight, recognized the impending poor harvest and gifted us with potatoes!"
"No soul shall suffer from hunger this winter! We shall endure without scarcity!"
"Praise be to God Yao!"
The farmers promptly set to work, diligently planting the potatoes in the newly opened fields, initiating a fresh cycle of sowing and nurturing their precious grains. As the pixelated inhabitants busied themselves with this newfound gift, the dry season gradually relented, offering a semblance of vitality to the earth through sporadic rain showers.
However, autumn's fleeting presence was soon usurped by the arrival of snow, signaling the onset of winter. As anticipated, the wheat harvest proved meager this year. Within the list of food items, wheat's prominence dwindled from its previous 80% to a mere 40%, while potatoes claimed a 30% share, with meat accounting for 20%. A tinge of yellow cast a somber hue over the grain reserves as a whole.
Fortunately, the timely influx of potatoes staved off an impending food crisis, averting potential population loss. This advantage stemmed from the advancement of civilization, wherein the capacity for critical thinking, concern, observation, and increased interactions and experimentation among the people facilitated progress.
As the concealed deity orchestrating events, Lu Yao keenly observed the subtle changes unfolding in the pixelated world through the doubts of the villagers. These insights enabled him to implement targeted adjustments and responses to suit their evolving needs.
Throughout the comparatively brief winter, two significant events transpired within the Garlic Tribe.
Firstly, the Yanchi tribe arrived, offering to purchase a substantial amount of grain at a considerably high price. According to the Yanchi tribe's villagers, prolonged drought had plagued most of the tribes they encountered, leaving them in dire need of sustenance. The Garlic Tribe, boasting a relatively abundant food supply, emerged as a prosperous region to fulfill these desperate requirements.
The second occurrence involved the voluntary migration of 22 individuals from the Yanchi tribe, comprising carpenters, pharmacists, and a salt miner. This marked the first instance in which the Garlic Tribe attracted a group of skilled professionals. Motivated by their prior residence in the Yanchi tribe, familiarity with the Garlic Tribe's customs and beliefs in Yao God, and the adverse effects of this year's drought and food scarcity, they sought refuge in the food-rich territories of the Garlic Tribe.
The carpenters, armed with their expertise and experience, ventured into the winter forest, deftly felling trees and transforming them into rough-hewn lumber. Their diligent efforts culminated in the construction of the Garlic Tribe's inaugural wooden dwelling.
The arrival of the pharmacists bridged the healing skill gap that had hitherto been the exclusive purview of the tribe's shaman. Regular forays into the forest allowed them to gather herbs and administer life-saving treatments, thereby preserving numerous lives.
The salt miner specialized in extracting salt and fortuitously stumbled upon rock salt reserves within the western mountains. Although the yield was modest, the discovery offered an alternative means of procuring this vital seasoning for the Garlic Tribe.
Savoring a glass of ice-cold Coke and relishing cucumber-flavored potato chips, Lu Yao marveled at the bustling labor of the pixelated beings in the tribe. It felt as if he had become one with them, his presence bolstering their collective strength.
"God doesn't play dice," he contemplated.
"Brothers merely seek stability and happiness."