Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Deep within the earth's core, Ling suddenly realized the Weird World Consciousness had been eerily silent for a long time—it seemed to be absent.

Where could it have gone?

Ling recalled Ying Yuanxing, whom he had met before, and his eyes narrowed slightly. Could the Weird World Consciousness have gone to find Ying Yuanxing? He hoped Ying Yuanxing wouldn't say anything he shouldn't.

Having spent so much time with the Weird World Consciousness, Ling understood that in its eyes, the Weird World was paramount, but the Weird beings themselves were also very important. Even when extracting Weird Qi, from a certain perspective, it was actually being lenient.

If the Weird World Consciousness were to hear something it shouldn't from Ying Yuanxing, it would inevitably shake its single-minded resolve to repair the world core.

Ling did understand the Weird World Consciousness quite well. However, he didn't consider other Weird beings as companions, overlooking how merely observing the lives of ordinary Weird beings could sway the Weird World Consciousness's conviction.

The Weird World Consciousness returned from the world barrier, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't go to see Ying Yuanxing. Instead, it returned to the earth's core to check on the world core and, incidentally, on Ling.

Ling noticed the Weird World Consciousness's return and was about to speak when he frowned, staring intently at it. It appeared even weaker than before.

"Did you lose the fight?" Ling immediately misunderstood, assuming the Weird World Consciousness had gone to seize Blue Star's origin energy because he had mentioned its own dwindling reserves.

The Weird World Consciousness was about to deny it but then realized it still carried the aura of the Salvation Game. To deny would require too many explanations, so after a moment of hesitation, it nodded in agreement.

Although it could have fully explained the entire situation, the Weird World Consciousness instinctively chose not to.

Ling's eyes flickered, but he didn't press further.

Silence once again settled over the earth's core. This kind of quiet was once utterly familiar to the Weird World Consciousness, but perhaps because it had chatted with Ying Yuanxing and then had a lively exchange with the Salvation Game, it now felt strangely unaccustomed to this stillness.

If nothing else happened, this discomfort would eventually pass.

But then it remembered that Ying Yuanxing had offered so many ideas, and it had consulted the Salvation Game. It owed Ying Yuanxing an explanation and couldn't leave him waiting indefinitely for an answer.

So, it decided to visit Ying Yuanxing again.

...

Ying Yuanxing wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. He closed and reopened them, only then confirming that the Weird World Consciousness had indeed returned.

"Mother?" Ying Yuanxing tilted his head.

The Weird World Consciousness recounted the advice it had received after finding the Salvation Game, looking at Ying Yuanxing with some concern, fearing he might be disheartened.

Ying Yuanxing, however, wasn't overly disappointed. When he had proposed his suggestions, he had already considered a crucial point: to make Weird beings do what you want, it's not just about incentives; there must also be the power to suppress them. Otherwise, Weird beings wouldn't be so compliant.

While the Weird World Consciousness did have some suppressive power over Weird beings, complete suppression was still lacking.

"Mother, it's fine. If they can't help you, I can. Besides, we can always think of other solutions," Ying Yuanxing said.

Seeing that Ying Yuanxing wasn't discouraged, the Weird World Consciousness breathed a sigh of relief.

However, watching Ying Yuanxing cultivating the fields, it frowned.

It knew how large the farm was. At Ying Yuanxing's current pace, he would have little time to rest if he wanted to finish plowing this entire area.

Feeling a pang of sympathy for Ying Yuanxing's hard work, the Weird World Consciousness settled onto his farming tools, intending to modify them for him.

"Can these tools be modified?" Ying Yuanxing asked in surprise.

"Mother, my tools are tied to my own abilities. They can only be upgraded with ores; they've never been modified before," Ying Yuanxing explained, not wanting to risk a failed modification.

"Are they already at their highest level?" the Weird World Consciousness asked.

Ying Yuanxing shook his head, explaining, "No, I haven't found the ores needed for the highest tier yet."

But then, Ying Yuanxing suddenly realized. The entity before him was the Weird World Consciousness, which should know the world like the back of its hand. If the ores he wanted still existed in this world, it could surely tell him their location.

"Mother, the ores look like this..." Ying Yuanxing quickly described the appearance of the gold ore, then looked at the Weird World Consciousness with eager anticipation.

The Weird World Consciousness vaguely felt it had seen the ore Ying Yuanxing described somewhere before. After thinking carefully for a while, it remembered seeing such ores in the earth's core.

"Wait a moment," the Weird World Consciousness said. Its main body in the earth's core opened its eyes, swiftly collected some gold ores, and then sent them to its returning clone.

"Are these the ores?" the Weird World Consciousness asked, presenting the ores.

Ying Yuanxing looked at the labels above the ores and nodded, quickly tossing them into the smelting furnace. Since the metal ingots would take some time to melt, Ying Yuanxing simply continued his work.

The Weird World Consciousness didn't disturb Ying Yuanxing, instead secretly slipping into the general store to observe the Weird beings' behavior there. Although it had watched such scenes countless times before, it never grew tired of it.

Especially after a quick glance at the living conditions of Weird beings elsewhere, it found the contrast even harder to accept.

Soon, the metal ingots were ready. Ying Yuanxing picked up his farming tools and headed straight to the blacksmith for upgrading.

The upgrade would take several days, so the Weird World Consciousness stayed at the farm during this time, as it still needed to wait for the tools to be upgraded to see if it could help Ying Yuanxing modify them.

Thus, over these few days, viewers noticed that Xuan Ying had become overly clingy, often releasing mist without warning, preventing them from seeing what Ying Yuanxing was doing.

[Why is Xuan Ying so clingy all of a sudden? He wasn't like this before.]

[I strongly suspect that what happened earlier made him insecure, so he particularly wants to be close to Ying Yuanxing.]

[Look at the crops the host is growing, then look at my strawberry seedlings. If only I could share his farming skills, I'd be so envious!]

[You absolutely cannot say that in front of your strawberry seedlings. If you do, they'll grow even worse.]

[I wouldn't dare! I just complain in the livestream. But my strawberry seedlings have been growing better lately; it feels like the praise method is quite effective.]

[Of course it is! It's been officially certified by the research institute. I heard foreign growers are also using this method for planting Weird plants, but the results aren't very good.]

[They don't know how to plant them, nor do they have suitable fertilizer. It's perfectly normal for them not to grow well.]

The audience only paid attention for a while before losing interest, but Xuan Ying took all the blame. However, Xuan Ying wasn't without gains.

Xuan Ying knew little about how to grow stronger and had no way to ask other Weird beings for advice. After all, without any kinship or connection, no Weird being would bestow favors upon a stranger. If any did, they almost certainly had ulterior motives.

Throughout his journey, Xuan Ying had relied solely on his innate talent and perseverance to grow stronger.

This method of strengthening was effective when he wasn't strong enough, but as his power grew, it began to hold him back.

The Weird World Consciousness, however, knew too many ways for Weird beings to grow stronger. Noticing Ying Yuanxing's concern for Xuan Ying, and also realizing that Ying Yuanxing's own combat strength wasn't sufficient, he needed a powerful Weird being to protect him.

The Weird World Consciousness initially wanted to find Ling to protect Ying Yuanxing, as there was no Weird being stronger than Ling in the entire Weird World. Moreover, it also wanted Ling to look after Ying Yuanxing more.

Perhaps if they were together, some affection could develop.

However, after much hesitation, the Weird World Consciousness abandoned this idea. Ling was busy on and off and couldn't always protect Ying Yuanxing. Xuan Ying, on the other hand, based on its observations, was always by Ying Yuanxing's side.

With the guidance of the Weird World Consciousness, Xuan Ying's understanding of how to grow stronger advanced by leaps and bounds, even causing him to slightly revise his already made plans.

While teaching Xuan Ying, the Weird World Consciousness also noticed that many crops from the farm were being sent out via the Weird Trash Can. It remembered that the Salvation Game, to help humans resist Weird beings, had created a shopping app and signed a contract with the Weird Trash Can to send some items from the Weird World to Blue Star.

So, were all these crops from Ying Yuanxing also being sent to humans?

The Weird World Consciousness wanted to ask, but seeing that Ying Yuanxing might have been deliberately avoiding it while sending them, it realized that even though it had confirmed Ying Yuanxing's identity, Ying Yuanxing still couldn't forget humanity and harbored a protective heart toward them, naturally wanting to help them.

Yet, seeing Ying Yuanxing's arduous labor in farming, the Weird World Consciousness still felt a pang of distress, and at the same time, realized that its previous idea might not be feasible.

Humans and Weird beings hadn't fully interacted yet, and neither could resist the Weird. Ying Yuanxing had to toil in farming to help humans—what would happen if the Weird World and Blue Star merged? What would become of Ying Yuanxing?

Ying Yuanxing didn't know that his hard work these past few days had further shaken the Weird World Consciousness. If he had known, he would have exaggerated his struggles even more, so that the Weird World Consciousness wouldn't impulsively cause trouble.

Time passed quickly. Ying Yuanxing, calculating the time, immediately went to the blacksmith to retrieve his upgraded farming tools.

The upgraded tools had transformed from a brilliant gold to a somewhat mysterious and magnificent purple, more understated than before, but still beautiful.

The moment he held the hoe, Ying Yuanxing felt a difference. It was as if he wasn't just holding a hoe, but something else entirely.

"Mother?" Ying Yuanxing turned to the Weird World Consciousness, seeking its help.

After spending these past few days with the Weird World Consciousness, Ying Yuanxing's trust in it had grown considerably, and he had witnessed its extensive knowledge. What he didn't know, the Weird World Consciousness surely would.

Hearing Ying Yuanxing's question, the Weird World Consciousness immediately began to guide him. Teaching a student and teaching one's own child felt entirely different.

When teaching Xuan Ying, the Weird World Consciousness usually explained things only once. If Xuan Ying understood, that was fine; if not, he would be scolded. At most, out of consideration for Ying Yuanxing, it might explain it again. After all, if Xuan Ying didn't learn well and his strength wasn't solid, Ying Yuanxing would be in greater danger.

But when facing Ying Yuanxing, the Weird World Consciousness's attitude was completely different. Not only did it teach Ying Yuanxing hand-in-hand, but it also explained things several times without any impatience whenever Ying Yuanxing struggled. Its attitude was so good that Ying Yuanxing even felt a little ashamed, thinking he was learning too slowly.

Fortunately, after several attempts, Ying Yuanxing finally managed to activate the hidden ability within the farming tool.

Ying Yuanxing understood what this ability entailed: as long as he formed a contract with someone, he could share this ability with them.

Of course, this also required the other party to possess a farming tool to use this ability.

"Doesn't seem very useful!" Ying Yuanxing sighed. This ability was probably meant to help him reduce the labor of farm production, but honestly, the Weird beings he trusted were already on the farm, and he would never share the ability with those he didn't trust.

But looking at the Weird World Consciousness, Ying Yuanxing froze. If certain conditions could be met, it might not be entirely impossible.

After learning that the Weird World Consciousness wanted to help all the Weird beings in the entire Weird World, Ying Yuanxing knew that no matter how much he expanded the farm or recruited Weird beings to help with farming, unless his Weird allies could occupy half or even a third of the Weird World, there would be no way to help all Weird beings.

Only Weird beings themselves could save the Weird.

However, Ying Yuanxing wasn't a saint who would disregard his own safety and recklessly save the Weird.

But the Weird World Consciousness might be able to help.

This was an inspiration Ying Yuanxing drew from his own farming game. If the Weird World was a severely polluted, famine-stricken world, and only a few people farmed while other Weird beings waited to be fed, it would be beyond salvation.

Couldn't they farm and purify the pollution themselves? Couldn't they cultivate their own food?

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

The Weird World Consciousness noticed Ying Yuanxing's eyes growing brighter, though it had no idea what he was thinking.

"Mother, we can try this method," Ying Yuanxing said excitedly.

This was the first time he saw a glimmer of hope for peaceful coexistence between humans and Weird beings. No matter how much he had predicted before, he always felt it would be difficult for humans and Weird beings to live in peace, as this was a life-and-death war between two races.

But now, perhaps there was a possibility for change.

The Weird World Consciousness was a bit bewildered, but it listened as Ying Yuanxing finished explaining his idea. Its already bright eyes lit up even more.

"It... seems like we could try," the Weird World Consciousness murmured.

Viewers noticed that the mist around Ying Yuanxing's area had thickened again, appearing more frequently than ever, making them sigh in resignation.

However, since the farm's daily routine was quite peaceful and without conflict, even when the mist obscured the livestream, there was no problem in continuing to watch once the mist cleared.

Again, the mist obscured the view. The audience understood. Some left the livestream to do their own things, while others watched the misty screen, speculating about what was happening.

"Mother, what is this?" Ying Yuanxing looked at the crystal-clear, diamond-like gem that the Weird World Consciousness had brought back, feeling a bit puzzled, but an implicit guess formed in his mind.

"This is a World Core Fragment imbued with the power of contracts," the Weird World Consciousness's words confirmed Ying Yuanxing's suspicion.

"However, this fragment isn't very large. You can only contract Weird beings weaker than yourself, and the number can't be too high, or you won't be able to restrain them," the Weird World Consciousness explained.

"Mother, shouldn't all the core fragments be collected to repair the world core? Why are you giving this to me? What about the world core?" Ying Yuanxing was both surprised and deeply moved, but also a little worried.

"It'll hold together even if it's barely pieced together. Sacrificing this fragment won't make a difference. You need this fragment more right now," the Weird World Consciousness said, directly pressing the World Core Fragment into Ying Yuanxing's hand.

The core fragment didn't look large, at least not as big as the half-core Mu Ye had given him, but Ying Yuanxing knew even more clearly how precious this fragment was.

According to his previous conversation with Ling, this fragment might have been broken off from the world core itself.

Ying Yuanxing glanced at the Weird World Consciousness. Seeing him hesitate, it urged him to quickly absorb the core to ensure his safety.

Ying Yuanxing absorbed the core and finally understood what "contractual power" meant. In short, if he signed a contract with another Weird being and they dared to violate it, under the restrictions of the rules, he could impose any punishment on them.

Moreover, he seemed to already carry the scent of a contract, though judging by its aura, it had been established long ago.

Tracing back along the timeline, Ying Yuanxing realized this contract was the one he had signed with Yuan Qing to build the kitchen, but the contractor wasn't Yuan Qing, but Yuan Xiu.

Yuan Xiu also had a World Core Fragment!

Knowing this news, Ying Yuanxing felt both shocked and unsurprised. After all, considering that Xuan Ying and Mu Ye both had fragments, it seemed quite normal for Yuan Xiu to possess one as well.

It was just that, did these World Core Fragments perhaps like to gather together? Even if dispersed among other Weird beings, they would still cause their hosts to congregate.

Ying Yuanxing suddenly thought of Li An; he suspected Li An might also have a World Core Fragment.

"What's wrong?" The Weird World Consciousness grew nervous when it saw Ying Yuanxing freeze, fearing something had gone wrong during the absorption of the world core.

"Mother, it's nothing. I'm just figuring out how to use this contractual ability," Ying Yuanxing shook his head.

Only after confirming he was fine did the Weird World Consciousness relax.

Mastering contracts was just the first step. Next, Ying Yuanxing and the Weird World Consciousness worked together to adjust the farming game they had designed.

That's right, they decided to learn from the settings of the Salvation Game. However, considering that Weird beings couldn't go to another world to farm, they could only combine reality and the game.

Game design was quite difficult, but fortunately, Ying Yuanxing had extensive experience with farming games. Combining his own experiences and addressing the pain point of Weird beings lacking Weird food, he created a suitable farming game.

Of course, to encourage Weird beings to farm voluntarily, certain necessary things had to be provided, such as seeds, farming tools, and various exchange mechanisms.

After all, Ying Yuanxing wasn't running a charity. It was impossible for him to subsidize Weird beings with the crops from his farm. Weird beings would essentially borrow his seeds, his tools, and his fertilizer, and then after the crops were produced, they would keep a portion for themselves and return a portion to Ying Yuanxing.

Ying Yuanxing suddenly felt as though his farm was about to become a Hongxing Supermarket.

However, this illusion vanished the moment he glanced at the prices of Hongxing Supermarket's products and their exploitation of suppliers. Compared to them, he felt he was a very simple and honest farmer.

All his actions were primarily aimed at enabling Weird beings to be self-sufficient and, incidentally, to avoid losses. Hongxing Supermarket, on the other hand, was largely siphoning off the wealth and resources of Weird beings; they were still different.

After testing the farming game with Weird beings on the farm and confirming there were no issues, the Weird World Consciousness, following Ying Yuanxing's instructions, found the first batch of Weird beings for testing.

Just like the Salvation Game, the Weird World Consciousness also contacted other Weird beings.

However, considering this was a great opportunity, forcing it upon them would be counterproductive. When some Weird beings were unwilling to sign the contract, the Weird World Consciousness didn't force them, instead directly moving on to the next Weird being, leaving the rejecting Weird beings somewhat bewildered and a little disappointed, wondering if they had missed a good opportunity.

He Yingqiu was incredibly lucky to be among the first batch of Weird beings selected by the Weird World Consciousness. Upon hearing the voice that inexplicably appeared in her mind, her first reaction was vigilance, and she immediately told her daughter to flee.

He Xiaomei was still gathering fruits. Hearing He Yingqiu's words, she ran out without looking back, but her direction was towards Granny Lin.

She knew her mother was in danger, and she couldn't help by staying put, but Granny Lin could definitely help.

Only after sending her daughter away could He Yingqiu focus on the words in her mind—and what she heard left her stunned.

Planting Weird plants? Providing seeds, farming tools, and fertilizer? All she needed was to find a plot of land—was this manna from heaven?

He Yingqiu didn't believe it at first. But what if it was true? Moreover, her previous experience in the treatment room had made He Yingqiu more cautious about certain choices.

After all, if she hadn't taken that risk back then, her daughter might not have survived until now. The best outcome would have been mother and daughter separated, not like now, continuing to live together, and even living better than before.

He Yingqiu was still hesitating, but the countdown in her mind had already reached five. He Yingqiu gritted her teeth and finally agreed.

The moment she accepted, a light screen appeared before her. It was a contract, and its aura immediately told He Yingqiu that if she signed this contract, once she violated it, she would be completely at the other party's mercy.

He Yingqiu meticulously read the contract, finding that it also contained a confidentiality clause, stating that she couldn't mention this matter to other Weird beings. This wasn't a major issue for her.

After reading the contract thoroughly and confirming there were no hidden traps, He Yingqiu signed her name and imprinted her soul mark.

The light screen flickered, transforming into a stream of light that rushed into He Yingqiu's body. Then, another light screen opened again.

Its content was simple: there was a task bar for planting Weird plants, and Weird coin rewards, though the Weird coins weren't much, clearly indicating it was optional.

Next was a shop section. He Yingqiu found seeds, fertilizer, and even purified, impurity-free water available for outright purchase. Farming tools could be rented or bought, but both required ores plus Weird coins.

The most striking feature was the farming skills section: plowing, sowing, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and various minor subdivisions. The prices weren't low, but it stated that purchasing the full set guaranteed crop maturity.

The last section was the recycling bin. By clicking "Recycle," she could sell her harvested crops. Although the price for Weird plants wasn't as high as outside, it could increase her credibility points, allowing her to buy more seeds.

Moreover, selling this way was very safe. While Weird plants fetched high prices, if you lacked strength, your Weird plants could be snatched by other Weird beings the moment you displayed them, leaving you with no Weird coins. Because of your farming ability, you might even be kidnapped by other Weird beings.

By the time Granny Lin arrived with a group of Weird beings, all they saw was He Yingqiu staring blankly into the air, a joyful expression on her face, as if she were possessed.

Wait, no—they were the Weird ones. How could they be possessed?