What wish?

Jian Xingyi’s eyes sparkled brightly.

It must be an SS-grade seed!

S-grade watermelon seeds weren’t just rare and delicious—they also boosted stamina. Jian Xingyi couldn’t even imagine what kind of marvel an SS-grade seed would be.

He even wondered: if S-grade already offered enhanced taste and attribute bonuses, what advantage did SS-grade hold? Was it amplified effects, or did it possess even more unique mechanics?

After making his wish, Jian Xingyi received a system notification.

【Remember: rewards must match your current capabilities. What the Fire God can grant you is only what you can possess now.】

Jian Xingyi: “…”

The system was implying his wish wouldn’t be granted—was he not worthy of an SS-grade seed?!

Jian Xingyi decided to bargain anyway. He’d test the system’s limits by making an outrageous demand.

“If one SS-grade seed won’t do, how about ten S-grade seeds?”

【Please remember rewards match your capabilities. The Fire God can only grant what you currently possess.】

Jian Xingyi: “I still want to wish for ten S-grade seeds.”

【Player 【Xinghe】 wishes for S-grade seeds x10】

【System processing… The system cannot fully grant the request. Player 【Xinghe】 receives S-grade seeds x2. Reward generation in progress. Will be delivered to the player’s inventory shortly. Please check your inventory.】

Jian Xingyi blinked.

Alright, so it seems he could only get two S-Ranks at most.

But… It’s fine!

This is still great! Even though he didn’t get SS, two S-Ranks are already a pleasant surprise!

Jian Xingyi happily clicked confirm, waiting for the seeds to arrive in his backpack.

Before the Flower King vanished, Jian Xingyi didn’t forget to click on the essence.

The Flower Queen looked incredibly powerful, giving the impression that it contained vast amounts of essence. Yet when Jian Xingyi actually clicked it, he found only 30 points.

Perhaps the pollution levels in this land were simply too high. The flower only had 30 points because it had just bloomed.

With 30 points plus the 380 he already had, Jian Xingyi now possessed a total of 410 essence points.

Although Jian Xingyi had completed his task, the other two hadn’t. Just as they were about to head to the third Fire Spirit Flower location, Liehuo contacted Jian Xingyi, instructing them to return and continue discussing the contract.

The three exchanged glances.

Here we go!

After Jian Xingyi returned, Liehuo shook his head. “I never thought it would end like this.”

Sisi remained nonchalant, but Qingtian had been in the same guild as Liehuo for a long time. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

“Well, they got what they deserved.”

Liehuo took out the contract. “This concerns the new land. We’ll assign people to manage it for you. You can instruct them on any matters.”

Once the contract was signed and the black-and-white text entered the system, neither party could renege without being erased.

Liehuo continued explaining the contract details to Jian Xingyi.

For instance, these fields were under Wildfire’s control. Outsiders couldn’t enter, and anyone attempting to sabotage them would face Wildfire’s punishment. Thus, Jian Xingyi needed credentials to access the land.

Anyone wishing to tend the fields for Jian Xingyi must present their authorization credentials.

The credentials were sent to Jian Xingyi’s terminal as a string of code.

Both sides also agreed on an 80-20 split. Liehuo smiled, “We don’t restrict what you plant, but we’re more in need of staples. If you’re willing to grow staples on these fields, it would make our lives much easier.”

Jian Xingyi nodded.

He agreed.

He certainly wouldn’t dare plant rare seeds like chili peppers or watermelons on land not his own. Liehuo and the others likely understood this, so he might as well focus on staples.

The land’s usage rights were thus divided between Jian Xingyi and Liehuo.

“As for the commodity handling fee…” Liehuo paused, then murmured, “We… still find it a bit steep. Is there truly no room for negotiation?”

Jian Xingyi shook his head. “Then forget it.”

If he backed down now, wouldn’t they gradually ride roughshod over him in the future?

If the guild before him were some long-established, venerable institution like theirs, Jian Xingyi wouldn’t have made things difficult.

But this was a top-ten powerhouse guild. Though barely scraping into tenth place, there weren’t many guilds across the entire service region that could match them. And… they might lack food, but they certainly weren’t short on money!

They were already formidable and had intended to squeeze them from the start. If Jian Xingyi conceded now, it would mean retreating step by step!

Liehuo froze. “But… you have so many fields. If you sell all your harvest in the Peace Mountain, won’t your goods pile up unsold?”

Liehuo smiled and analyzed for Jian Xingyi, “At first, people might find it novel and want to buy it to try. But over time, unless they’re truly desperate and starving, they won’t keep buying. Can the wealthy bigwigs who can afford to buy consistently really sustain your business? You need to open up new markets.”

Jian Xingyi’s merchant level was currently just one step away from advancing to Level 2.

He had previously earned 150,000 to reach Level 1. Currently, excluding the watermelons sold through the mall, he has also earned 580,000, totaling 730,000.

One million would unlock Level 2 and the Lava Mountains.

By then, his farmland would expand significantly, and the Peace Mountain truly couldn’t sustain him.

But…

Jian Xingyi smiled faintly. “If I really can’t sell my goods, I’ll come discuss it with the Guild President.”

Ultimately, as long as the Guild President didn’t budge, he wouldn’t sell.

Liehuo raised an eyebrow. “Agreed.”

They signed the agreement and pressed their thumbprints.

After the handover, Lone Wolf and Haihai continued searching for the Fire Spirit Flower, while Jian Xingyi inspected and managed his new fields.

His liaison was a girl named 【Tiantian】, though she looked like a tough, capable older sister—not sweet at all.

Tiantian stated, “Besides Liehuo, I’m the guild’s highest combat power. I oversee these fields—no one dares steal here.”

Jian Xingyi nodded, and they exchanged contact information.

Afterward, Jian Xingyi entered the premises.

Twenty D-grade plots…

Jian Xingyi first visited the VIP mall of the Grand Merchant to purchase Magic Synthesis Fluid, instantly upgrading all 20 D-grade plots to C-grade.

Each Magic Synthesis Fluid costs 3,000 dawn coins, totaling 30,000 for his purchase.

Since only he could access this mall and outsiders knew nothing of its prices, Jian Xingyi directly requested 60,000 from Liehuo, adding to his personal stash.

Combining the funds “obtained” from Sisi and Qingtian with Liehuo’s 30,000, he now held 130,000 coins—briefly becoming wealthy.

These were his personal coins for daily use, separate from guild gate upgrades.

After all, he needed money for regular expenses, so more was always better.

Upon completing the upgrade, he gained 10 additional C-grade plots.

【Ding!】

【Detected player owning over 20 fields across different regions. Enable remote control?】

Jian Xingyi’s eyes lit up.

After confirming, he discovered he could now directly manage his family’s fields through the terminal. This meant he wouldn’t have to constantly run back and forth—all fields under his name could be managed and sown at once.

So even standing here now, he could simultaneously manage his home fields.

He currently earned 410 essence, so he casually upgraded his home’s 4 C-grade fields to B-grade.

This left his home with only 3 C-grade fields! 80/300 essence… the goal was getting closer!

As for the lava volcano zone, he wasn’t willing to risk spending that much essence. Better to use that effort to upgrade his own family’s farming area. Let the lava fields stay C-grade—they were usable enough.

In other words, combining his family’s fields with the lava zone, he now had 10 C-grade and 13 B-grade plots.

This was no small number.

Jian Xingyi crouched down, carefully considering how to plan his seeds and goods.

With a week left before the zombie tide arrived, he’d earned 660,000 out of the 1.4 million needed. He still needed 740,000—the goal felt both near and far.

During the last trading session, aside from watermelons, many goods were selling more slowly than before—no longer flying off the shelves instantly. Still, they were definitely selling.

Jian Xingyi rubbed his chin.

Planning would have to wait until the system’s two S-grade seeds arrived.

Fortunately, just as he thought of them, they arrived.

【Ding! Player 【Xinghe】’s wished-for S-grade seeds x2 have entered your inventory. Please check your items.】

“?!?”

Here they come!!

Jian Xingyi reverently opened his inventory, basking in the golden glow.

Two!

Folks, two!

Though it wasn’t his first time unboxing golden S-class seeds, the joy of one versus two was incomparable—like the difference between a single gold pull and a double-yolk egg!

Jian Xingyi’s heart raced, his hands trembled.

Open them!

【Variety: S-Class Doomsday Potato x60】

【Description: The potato reigns supreme over famine and apocalypse. Unlike ordinary staples, this doomsday potato possesses mystical magic. Consumption increases satiety by 10% and yields significantly greater harvests!】

【Source: Flame Spirit Divine Flower Queen】

Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened.

Significantly greater harvests… How much greater?

Jian Xingyi couldn’t wait to plant and harvest them.

Jian Xingyi clicked on another.

【Variety: S-Grade Lychee x60】

【Description: “A rider gallops through the dust, the concubine smiles—none know it’s the lychee that brings her joy.” Consumption instantly transports you from the apocalypse to a life of extravagant luxury and refined indulgence. Precision +100%, but yield is extremely low!】

【Source: Fire Spirit Divine Flower King】

Jian Xingyi: “?”

These are complete opposites compared to potatoes, seriously!

One boasts high yield as its S-grade feature, the other is precious yet low-yielding; one is post-apocalyptic sustenance, the other refined living…

And “extremely low yield”… just how low?

But “100% accuracy”? That’s insane! So if he eats lychee, he’ll hit every shot with his gun for the next day?

Even tossing a tissue into the trash from his bed would be perfect every time?

Jian Xingyi pondered for a moment. He now had a decent variety of food to choose from.

Since he had potatoes—a staple said to yield more than rice—he decided not to plant rice.

Jian Xingyi ultimately chose to plant three plots each of two types of radishes, two plots each of bamboo shoots and chili peppers, across ten C-grade plots in this new lava volcano area.

His dual-variety pickled radish jar was the cheapest item in his entire inventory, priced at just 1000 dawn coins. A merchant’s principle dictated that even if he stocked exquisite, rare, high-end goods, he still needed to offer some inexpensive items. After all, there would always be customers who needed—and could only afford—budget-friendly products.

Jian Xingyi decided to combine bamboo shoots and chili peppers into pickled bamboo shoots with chili, raising the price from 2000 dawn coins to 2500 dawn coins. Bamboo shoots are inherently a delicacy, targeting consumers who are both capable and willing to spend.

At harvest time, with 90 jars of double-pickled radish and 20 jars of pickled bamboo shoots, the Wildfire Guild would take 18 jars and 4 jars, respectively, according to the contract. Jian Xingyi thought to himself that he wouldn’t plant precious seeds here.

After all, even radishes and bamboo shoots, harvested every two days, were more than enough to keep the Wildfire Guild happy.

Jian Xingyi thought to himself: No concessions!

He would fight tooth and nail for double the price!

Of his 13 plots, he planted feed crops on all three C-grade fields. Though he only had five sheep, they were voracious eaters…

The remaining B-grade plots were reserved for potatoes, watermelons, and lychees.

After completing all this, Jian Xingyi felt quite exhausted.

Perhaps because he’d finally resolved a matter weighing on his mind, Jian Xingyi slept soundly that night.

He had a dream he’d last had long ago.

In the dream, he was being chased. But his flight wasn’t driven by the same desperation he’d felt when pursued by Qingtian that day. It was still fear, but whereas before he’d feared being killed, in this dream…

What was he afraid of?

What was he running from?

“Savior—save us—”

After running for what felt like an eternity, the figure he pursued finally came into view.

That stern silhouette seemed familiar. Where had he seen it before?

Just as the figure turned to speak, he jolted awake.

Jian Xingyi: “…”

How to describe it? Like the feeling when the power cuts out right at the climax of a movie.

Jian Xingyi suddenly found himself preoccupied.

What could this possibly mean?

Unfortunately, no one could interpret dreams, nor could anyone teach him how to control his dreams to see clearly who that person was.

But that person had come much closer than last time. What could that signify?

Ah, never mind. Thinking about it too much would just give him a headache.

Jian Xingyi still had plenty to do.

First was sorting through the haul from the lava volcano.

The fields and seeds were already taken care of.

As for the rest…

He stowed away Sisi’s accelerated fertilizer—it could come in handy during emergencies. And the meat in her backpack… Since it was essentially taken from someone else, Jian Xingyi planned to sort it and place it on the synthesis table to treat the guild members. After the feast, half the stock could be sold with potatoes, or he could simply eat it himself over time.

Next came organizing the accessories given to him by the Wildfire Guild. He selected the useful ones, while the useless… Jian Xingyi had considered selling them, but worried they might be needed in the future, so he kept them all.

Jian Xingyi carefully upgraded his pistol to A-grade. Once he upgraded it to S-grade, he could consider switching to a more powerful rifle!

After finishing these tasks, Jian Xingyi suddenly felt his confidence soar!

He now had an A-grade pistol and had transformed from a Level 6 noob to a Level 56 noob!

Jian Xingyi dashed off to Peace Mountain in high spirits.

The Lava Volcano Zone offered little essence value on the map beyond special missions. Having completed all side quests and even dungeons, he figured he might as well return to his home base at Peace Mountain!

He finally felt confident enough to tackle the previously locked summit.

After all, he had conquered the Lava Volcano!

Before leaving the guild, Jian Xingyi distributed processed game meat and rice seeds to members.

He climbed the mountain at a leisurely pace, choosing a different path this time to spot unique plants and unlock new essences.

He still needed 300 points to upgrade all his C-grade fields, yet he only had 11.

Shouldn’t be… too hard!

Not hard…

Hard…

By nightfall, Jian Xingyi reached the summit without incident.

No way. Not a single essence.

Not even one!

Jian Xingyi felt like crying. He sat down by the waterfall to rest, his body numb.

This waterfall was upstream from where he’d rescued Haihai during the mudslide. Haihai must have fallen from this very spot.

Jian Xingyi drank some water and prepared to spend the night outdoors.

It was already past midnight. His crops… should be ready for harvest, right?!

Woohoo, long-range functions are so handy!

Jian Xingyi opened his terminal.

But before he could access the farm section, he noticed everyone in the guild chat was tagging him.

【Got a gift from @Xinghe first thing this morning—thanks, big shot! Waaah, after watching players in both zones bicker and scramble for supplies these past days, I never expected to receive meat personally delivered by a big shot, plus rice seeds! Planting them right here on my little slope field! So grateful!】

【Thanks @Xinghe wuwuwuwu. Suddenly feel like I’ve latched onto a big shot’s coattails】

【Amazing @Xinghe, with all this food, aren’t you really the savior of the apocalypse?! Wuwuwu!】

Jian Xingyi’s sturdy frame trembled.

He stared blankly at those words, feeling inexplicably afraid.

Jian Xingyi was lost in thought for a moment before quickly closing the page to check his fields.

What he saw shocked him.

Potatoes, high yield.

Lychees, low yield.

So that’s how it works?!

Jian Xingyi looked at the mountain of potatoes nearly bursting out of his field, some already spilling onto the ground. Then he glanced at the neighboring plot with its two paltry… clusters of lychees.

That single cluster bore only three fruits—enough for just three bites.

Jian Xingyi: “…”

Holy crap!

In that instant, Jian Xingyi experienced both elation and despair—half his brain was crying, half was laughing.

Before he could process his emotions, he heard… the cries of zombies nearby.

Jian Xingyi froze, drawing his pistol.

How come… There seems to be more than one?