Chapter 173 Unexpected Situations
Su Han was startled. Based on an average consumption of about a pound of grain per person, for the 5,000 people in the camp, the daily consumption would be around 5,000 to 6,000 pounds. Therefore, 4 million pounds would be sufficient for the camp\'s consumption for about seven to eight hundred days, which is approximately two years.
"Yes, and among this batch of crops, we found new evolved kinds, like Crystal Jade Corn and Golden Wheat. Their yield is lower, but they possess stronger vitality and contain more nutrients and spiritual energy. Master Cao and Qilan have already researched it, and it\'s safe to eat."
The maturity of the crops and such a harvest is naturally good news. At least, the limited urban land won\'t become a shackle for the human survivors.
"The evolved kind of fish is expected to produce 15,000 pounds of fish meat, which is also quite a significant amount."
"Not bad, some of the food can be used for cultivating these evolved kinds."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"We have already planned for this, and the breeding of Tough-skinned Rabbits and Four-horned Sheep has begun."
As they walked, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the farmland. The towering corn stalks stood tall in the fields, each one straight as an arrow, with broad leaves interlacing like a dense green wall. At first glance, the corn was much taller than a person, about three meters high—an indication of an unusual growth spurt.
Beneath them was the slightly shorter layer of wheat, a golden expanse that stretched continuously to the villas in the distance.
If it weren\'t for the apocalypse, if what illuminated these fields was sunlight instead of the light from the Ancient Tree Crystal, and if outside the range of that light there wasn\'t a thick white fog, this would surely be an excellent agricultural scenic area.
But even now, it wasn\'t too bad. At least people were still alive.
Everyone looked at Su Han and held their breath in anticipation, waiting for a command in unison.
Su Han understood and smiled. "Begin the harvest!"
As his words fell, cheers erupted. People wielding sickles cheerfully entered the fields and commenced the ritual of harvesting.
There was not much talk, but everyone could feel the distinct significance of this harvest, which was especially precious in the post-apocalyptic world.
Especially those who had joined the Tree Domain Camp later on. Having experienced the perilous apocalypse, they knew how rare and valuable such occasions were.
Some people laughed, while others cried, and some laughed until they too began to cry.
Su Han did not continue to participate; the ceremony was over, and many needed to vent their emotions.
This was also one of the purposes of this ceremony, as suggested by the elder, Master Cao.
Under the apocalyptic conditions, people need to vent.
After venting, they could move forward and become integrated.
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"Maotai, they opened an entire case of Maotai!"
At the base near the spatial rift, amidst the buildings reeking of burnt smell—even though the signs of battle from seven or eight days earlier had been cleaned up—the surrounding environment was still somewhat desolate.
Zhu Xiong kept grumbling, pulling Guo Gang along, and even the watermelon in his hand was no longer appetizing.
Guo Gang also munched on watermelon, with a goofy smile on his face, and said, "Eat up, my daughter helped with the harvest."
Zhu Xiong was annoyed at the mention and insisted, "The giant basin-sized spicy fish head, dry pot grilled fish, and Maotai! Old Guo, don\'t you crave it?"
"My wife won\'t let me drink much."
Zhu Xiong looked dejected. Then he bit fiercely into his melon several times. Well, at least the harvested watermelon was really sweet.
Although they were stationed away and couldn\'t participate personally, Zhu Xiong and the others hadn\'t been forgotten by the main camp. The products of the harvest, including the fish meat from the evolved kinds and the fruits, were sent over in full, just as planned.
But there was one thing missing: alcohol.
Back at the main camp, Su Han didn\'t drink, nor did Ye Kailing, Yan Meiyu, and the others. Moreover, with the presence of the Mother Nest Ancient Tree, the defensive pressure was not great, so there was a booze-for-contribution affair going on.
Zhang Dahai, the big spender, was most willing to spend his points. He exchanged a whole case of Maotai with his contribution value and drank it all with a bunch of colleagues and subordinates.
Among the survivors, there were capable people; there were several chefs who made many delicious dishes using ample supplies, even if they only had fish to work with.
No wonder Zhu Xiong was constantly nagging; after all, they missed out on the feast.
However, despite his complaints, it wasn\'t hard for those around him to hear the joy in Zhu Xiong\'s words.
It felt like a real camp when there was a bountiful harvest and life.
Guo Gang was a man of understanding. He just grinned and said, "Our shift here is almost over, soon it will be Kailing\'s and Old Gan\'s turn to stand guard. When we get back, we\'ll have Old Zhang treat us."
Zhu Xiong\'s eyes narrowed. A treat from Old Zhang?
You big, burly man with unexpectedly crafty thoughts—I like it.
"Alright, let\'s do as you say. I\'ll exchange for a bighead carp, and have Master Zhou help with cooking..."
"Wuu—"
Before he could finish, the sound of the alarm had already begun to wail.
Zhu Xiong\'s brow furrowed. "The creatures are coming again; the spiritual energy radiation attracts quite a lot of them."
Guo Gang put his watermelon down, picked up his Pu knife, and said, "Let\'s go have a look."
The two of them, weapons in hand, strode out of the dilapidated building and immediately summoned their envoys.
One was the Bone Armor Giant Pig, the other the Chang Resentment Tiger—both massive in form, with robust aura that had grown even thicker since a few days earlier.
They swiftly headed towards the source of the alarm and soon arrived at the road junction fence.
A search team of dozens of people was guarding the wall and the metal gate, their crossbows aimed at the creatures outside, continuously firing crossbow arrows.
Zhu Xiong and his group moved to the edge of the wall. Outside, hordes of flesh corpses, a dark tide of Cockroach Scythe Monsters, and a swarm of crawlers were attacking en masse.
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The streets were overrun with monsters, easily three to four hundred of them, with two Second Order creatures leading them. One of them resembled a monstrous insect, brandishing two sharp pincers.
The other monster was an Aberrant Claw Crawler with claw-like arms nearly three or four meters long, almost folding upon themselves.
Zhao Yimin\'s two Angels Envoy had already jumped down and were locked in combat with the two monsters.
His two Second-Rank Apostles, one was a Rotpoison Ratman that had undergone Metamorphosis from High-Grade Gray Inferior Demon through a Divine Initiation Ritual to become a Second-Rank Monster.
The other was an Ash Shadow Cat Monster that had been lurking in the scorched ruins and attacked due to its Spiritual Energy.
Its body was surrounded by ash, completely black, twisted and bizarre, resembling a skeletal cat, bearing a resemblance to a charred corpse cat.
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The two Second-Rank monsters tangled with each other, and Zhao Yimin didn\'t seem to be at a disadvantage, but he struggled to defend himself as monsters from the surrounding area periodically joined the attack.
"Brother Zhu."
Seeing Zhu Xiong hurry over, Zhao Yimin immediately cried for help, to which Zhu Xiong responded with a nod, and the Book of Blood Spirit lit up: "I\'m here."
The Glutton was summoned and leaped down, swiftly rushing towards the Second-Rank monstrous insect.
"Hisss hisss"
The monstrous insect swatted its pincers, attempting to knock the Glutton down, but the next moment, its huge right arm hardened like a hammer and crashed down, smashing the tough exoskeleton of the creature.
"Crack"
The carapace shattered, the insect shrieked, but the Glutton showed no mercy, cleanly snapping off the pincer with one hand and then with another heavy blow, floored it.
A dark shadow rushed from beside the Glutton, unmistakably belonging to Guo Gang\'s one-eyed giant Angel Envoy.
The giant crimson eyeball emitted a Mental Shock, nearly knocking the insect monster unconscious in an instant.
The next moment, the insect\'s movements slowed, and then the giant one-eyed monster\'s tentacles quickly coiled around it, binding it tight.
With one monster dealt with, Zhao Yimin\'s Claw Inferior Demon was free to join forces against the Aberrant Claw Crawler.
Together with Zhu Xiong\'s Glutton, it only took a few exchanges to break the limbs of this monster as well.
Once the two leading Second-Rank monsters were subdued, the Claw Inferior Demon and the Ash Shadow Cat Monster immediately charged at the group of monsters.
Without resistance from creatures of the same rank, even the combined attack of First Order Upper Grade monsters only caused some trouble, and they were soon all slaughtered.
"Clear the battlefield, bring over the large cage, and have the Sky Cavalry Squad ready for control and transport."
"Yes"
Zhu Xiong ordered his subordinates with a calm demeanor, cleaning up the battlefield in the usual manner.
The number of times the other-dimensional rift base had been attacked by monsters was high, and it wasn\'t rare for there to be Second Order leaders among them.
In emergencies, they would resort to decisive action, coordinating with the defense crossbows to kill the monsters and then clean up the swarm.
The primary mission was to ensure the safety of the camp.
For smaller beast tides, like the few hundred present without weakening defenses and in face of manageable scenarios, they aimed to capture rather than kill where possible and imprison the creatures.
Although he and Guo Gang\'s Angels Envoy didn\'t possess paralytic toxins like Yan Meiyu\'s Rotpoison Ratman or the Mother Nest Ancient Tree, one of them had an arm that could harden and extend like a rope, making controlling the monsters a non-issue.
The other\'s single-eyed Mental Shock and tentacle control were especially suited for subduing beasts.
Working together, they were a natural fit for the hunt.
The camp was rapidly expanding, and with the second echelon soon to break through to the Second Order, the selection of the second Angel Envoy would naturally prioritize Second-Rank candidates.
Apart from the four vacant beast slots for Su Han, other monsters could also be supplemented and even used for experimentation.
The two monsters still tried to resist, but under the control of the Apostles, they were obediently locked in massive iron cages. Once the metal bars were shut, their slamming and banging were futile against breaking free.
These were large cages specially condensed by Scorpion Spider Demon, even more secure than the gates.
Six meters in length, width, and height, they were much larger than a room. Want to get out? Try ramming with your life.
Zhu Xiong chuckled and said, "The fathead fish Contribution Value is in the bag, and spicy fish head is on the way."
"Brother Zhu, are you treating us?"
Hearing this, Zhao Yimin asked subconsciously. Sponging a meal, especially from a superior, and getting to eat Evolved Kind fish—what a treat.
He had just broken through to Second Order, and just the help from Zhu Xiong in killing the Ash Shadow Cat Monster meant he owed a hefty Contribution Value, making him quite poor.
"You\'re the only one who can eat. Brother Zhang is treating; he\'s in real estate, rich..."
"Shh!"
A harsh braking noise suddenly erupted, and from the fog, a speeding black car charged out.
Zhu Xiong\'s expression changed instantly, and he rushed to protect his subordinates who were cleaning up the battlefield, with the Glutton and Bone Armor Giant Pig blocking the way.
Guo Gang moved at the same time, his one-eyed giant Angel Envoy\'s tentacles extending and swiftly taking control of the runaway car.
"Bang"
With a loud noise, the airbags deployed, cushioning the driver.
But before any questions could be asked, roars already came from the fog, and the man in the car shouted, "Watch out behind you, there\'s a Second-Rank Insect People!"
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