The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows across the valley as Teng Lin stood at the edge of the fertile land. His hands were rough from the day before, but his resolve was firm. Chen Bo trailed behind him, his expression caught between curiosity and hesitation. The valley seemed quiet, yet alive, as if waiting for something to unfold.
The system's voice rang clearly in Teng Lin's mind, its familiar tone carrying an air of urgency.
System Notification:
New Mission Initiated.
1. Dig a moat 100 feet around the center of the valley.
2. Till the entire valley.
Mission Type: Two-for-One Rewards.
Teng Lin's breath caught slightly. Two-for-One Rewards? He had never seen the system offer such a deal before. A faint smile touched his lips—this was going to be worth it.
"Something on your mind?" Chen Bo asked, studying Teng Lin.
Teng Lin shook off the distraction, forcing a neutral expression. "Just planning."
Chen Bo frowned. "Planning what? You said we were here to work, but you've been awfully vague about what exactly we're doing."
Teng Lin turned to face him, his tone calm but enigmatic. "We'll start with the moat. You'll see why soon enough."
Chen Bo muttered under his breath but followed as Teng Lin marked a rough circle around the center of the valley. The two began to dig, the soil damp from recent rains.
For the first hour, they worked in silence, the only sounds the rhythmic crunch of shovels breaking into the earth. Chen Bo's frustration bubbled over as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"This is ridiculous," he said, straightening his back. "Why a moat? Who digs a moat around farmland?"
Teng Lin leaned on his shovel, his expression thoughtful. "Every great tree must first push through the earth," he replied cryptically, leaving Chen Bo to stew over the remark.
Nearby, Wei Jian leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. "You know," he said, his voice laced with skepticism, "this doesn't look like farming to me. What kind of crops need this much effort?"
Teng Lin ignored the comment, focusing instead on widening the trench. The work was grueling, but the system's mission loomed large in his mind.
System Notification:
The moat is not wide enough. Adjust accordingly.
Teng Lin stiffened as the system's voice resounded in his head, almost as if the valley itself were whispering to him. He set his shovel aside and turned to Chen Bo.
"It's not wide enough," Teng Lin said firmly, gesturing to the trench.
Chen Bo blinked. "What?"
"The moat," Teng Lin repeated, his tone steady. "It needs to be wider. We're not done."
Chen Bo groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You've got to be kidding me. How wide does it need to be?"
Teng Lin didn't answer directly, instead stepping into the trench to demonstrate the adjustments. His deliberate movements and focus left Chen Bo with no choice but to follow.
As they resumed digging, the trench expanded inch by inch, its circumference growing wider and deeper. Wei Jian occasionally let out exasperated sighs, muttering to himself as he watched.
"This is absurd," Wei Jian said to no one in particular. "They're working like they're building a fortress."
The sun crept higher, casting harsh light on the freshly turned soil. The trench now stretched across the valley in a wide circle, a jagged scar in the otherwise pristine land.
Teng Lin paused, wiping dirt from his brow. Chen Bo leaned heavily on his shovel, his face red with exertion.
"Is this enough?" Chen Bo asked, his voice hoarse.
Teng Lin hesitated. His instincts told him they were close, but the system hadn't confirmed it. He glanced over his shoulder at the tilled land that still needed attention.
System Notification:
The moat has been sufficiently widened. Proceed to till the valley.
Teng Lin exhaled deeply. The first task was done. Without missing a beat, he moved toward the untouched soil at the center of the valley.
"Now we till," Teng Lin said simply.
Chen Bo let out a sharp laugh. "You're joking, right? After all that, you want us to dig through the rest of this land?"
Teng Lin's gaze was steady. "The land needs to be prepared. You'll see why soon enough."
"Prepared for what?" Wei Jian asked, pushing himself off the tree and walking closer. "You keep talking like this is some grand undertaking, but none of it makes sense. A moat? Tilling the entire valley? What's next—planting spirit crops?"
Teng Lin didn't reply, bending down to start tilling the soil. His hoe cut through the ground with precision, each strike deliberate.
The tilling process was slower than the trench work. The soil was heavy, its rich, dark hue suggesting fertility, but the sheer scale of the task made it daunting. Chen Bo followed Teng Lin's lead, though his grumbling grew louder with each passing hour.
"This is insane," Chen Bo muttered. "Normal farmers don't do this. This isn't farming; it's torture."
Wei Jian stood nearby, arms crossed. "He's right. There's no way this is normal."
Teng Lin paused, glancing at the two of them. His expression remained inscrutable, but his voice carried a hint of weariness. "Normal farming doesn't yield extraordinary results."
Wei Jian snorted. "And this is supposed to yield something extraordinary?"
Teng Lin didn't answer, his focus returning to the task.
As the day wore on, the tilling stretched across the valley, leaving the land unrecognizable from its earlier state. Chen Bo's movements had slowed, his exhaustion evident.
System Notification:
The ground is not tilled deep enough. Adjust accordingly.
The voice came again, clear and commanding, and Teng Lin's heart sank slightly. He'd hoped they were closer to completion.
"It's not deep enough," Teng Lin announced, standing up straight.
Chen Bo let out a sharp laugh. "You're kidding."
"Does it look like I'm kidding?" Teng Lin asked, his tone sharper than before.
Chen Bo stared at him for a moment before groaning loudly. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Wei Jian, now leaning against a rock, shot a bemused look toward Teng Lin. "Whatever this is, it had better be worth it."
Teng Lin said nothing, though his own doubts lingered. The system's demands were growing, but he trusted its guidance. Whatever the outcome, he knew it would be significant.
The sun dipped behind the horizon, and the first stars blinked into view as Teng Lin and Chen Bo continued their labor. Their tools struck the soil with mechanical rhythm, but even the hardest work had its limits.
"I'm telling you, I'm done," Chen Bo groaned, dropping his hoe and wiping his brow with a filthy sleeve. "Teng Lin, if you tell me this isn't deep enough, I'm going to pass out."
Teng Lin smiled faintly, leaning on his shovel. "Almost there. Just one more row, then we can check."
Chen Bo muttered under his breath but picked up his tool again. Wei Jian, perched lazily nearby, snorted. "If he drops dead, you'd better explain how this is all worth it. What are we even digging for?"
"Purpose," Teng Lin replied simply, his tone neutral but firm.
Wei Jian raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet.
At last, the tilling was complete, and the earth seemed to sigh in relief under the weight of their effort. Teng Lin straightened, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease.
System Notification:
The valley has been tilled to the required depth. Mission complete.
The calm was shattered by a deep, resonant rumble beneath their feet. The ground trembled, and a wind swept through the valley, carrying with it the scent of freshly turned earth and something far older.
Chen Bo stumbled back. "What's happening?!"
Teng Lin gripped his shovel tightly, his pulse quickening. Wei Jian jumped to his feet, staring at the ground as cracks began to spiderweb through the freshly tilled soil.
"Is this supposed to happen?" Wei Jian barked.
Teng Lin didn't respond. His heart raced, but he kept his expression neutral, focusing on the unfolding changes.
The soil in the valley's center began to darken, its hue shifting to an almost liquid black. A rich, earthy scent filled the air, more potent than before. Tendrils of mist curled from the ground, swirling in hypnotic patterns.
From the farmhouse, the sharp tap of a cane echoed.
Su Xianyu emerged, his eyes narrowing as he took in the strange sight before him. "What in the name of the heavens…" he muttered, his cane striking the ground with increasing urgency as he approached.
The tremors intensified, and a roar of rushing water filled the valley. From the edges of the newly dug moat, streams of shimmering liquid began to pour, flowing with impossible clarity and speed. The water cascaded into the trench, glowing faintly under the moonlight as it spread, filling the circle.
"This—this isn't normal!" Chen Bo shouted, pointing at the glowing water. "What's happening, Teng Lin?!"
Wei Jian, his jaw clenched, turned to Teng Lin. "You'd better start explaining. Right now."
Teng Lin didn't reply, his gaze fixed on the center of the valley. Clouds had gathered overhead, dark and swirling, casting shadows over the scene. As the two boys argued, Su Xianyu stopped a few paces away from Teng Lin, his expression unreadable.
The old farmer bent down, running his fingers over the blackened soil. His hand lingered for a moment, then pulled back, his face a mask of awe and confusion. "This soil…" he whispered. "It's alive."
The clouds overhead churned violently, and then the first drop of Heaven's Dew fell. It shimmered like a tiny star as it landed on the ground, sinking instantly into the rich soil. A second followed, then a torrent, the droplets cascading from the heavens in streams of ethereal light.
Chen Bo shielded his face from the onslaught, his voice raised in panic. "This can't be real! Is it magic? Teng Lin, answer us!"
Even Wei Jian, usually composed, looked shaken. He gestured at the glowing water and mist. "This isn't normal. This is—this is sorcery. What are you doing, Teng Lin?"
Teng Lin stayed silent, letting the transformation run its course. The Earth God's Soil pulsed faintly, each beat like the rhythm of a deep drum, resonating through the ground and into their bones. The Heaven's Dew soaked the valley, and as the last drops fell, the air stilled.
Su Xianyu stepped closer to the transformed land, his cane sinking slightly into the soft, blackened soil. He said nothing for a long moment, his sharp eyes taking in every detail—the glistening earth, the glowing moat, the mist hanging in the air.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and deliberate. "Power like this doesn't come without consequences, boy. You'd best be careful."
His words sent a chill through the group. Chen Bo opened his mouth to argue, but the weight of Su Xianyu's tone silenced him. Even Wei Jian looked uneasy, his earlier bravado fading.
Teng Lin turned to the old farmer, his expression calm but guarded. "The land needed healing," he said. "I've only given it what it needed."
Su Xianyu tilted his head, his piercing gaze locked on Teng Lin. "And at what cost?"
Teng Lin hesitated, then sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Every great tree must first push through the earth," he said quietly.
Wei Jian snorted, though his unease was clear. "Cryptic as ever. One day, you'll actually answer a question, Teng Lin."
Chen Bo frowned, gesturing at the transformed valley. "If this was just farming, why does it look like the heavens themselves descended here?"
Before Teng Lin could respond, the system's voice echoed once more.
System Notification:
Rewards Delivered: Earth God's Soil & Heaven's Dew.
The ground vibrated faintly as the blackened soil seemed to exhale, releasing a wave of vitality into the air. The shimmering moat sparkled, its surface rippling as if alive.
The group fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Su Xianyu straightened, his cane tapping against the earth as he turned to leave. "Be mindful, boy. Power demands responsibility. Whether you like it or not, the land has chosen you."
As Su Xianyu disappeared into the farmhouse, the two boys turned their attention back to Teng Lin.
"What aren't you telling us?" Chen Bo asked, his tone more uncertain than accusatory.
Teng Lin glanced at the valley, now transformed into something almost unrecognizable. He allowed himself a small, enigmatic smile. "The land is ready now. That's all you need to know."
Wei Jian shook his head, muttering, "You're impossible."
As the moon rose higher, casting silver light over the valley, Teng Lin knew that the journey was only beginning.