Chapter 17: Let’s Start Farming [Asking for Recommendation Tickets!]

“Where have you been running off to? Why do you always come back so late? You’re making me worry! Don’t end up like that good-for-nothing father of yours, hanging around with the wrong crowd and dying God knows where…”

Returning home, his mother’s nagging once again echoed in his ears.

Pus listened obediently while devouring the dry bean rice in front of him.

After finishing every last grain, he took out a few copper coins and placed them on the table. “Mom, this is what I earned today. I’m full. I’m going to sleep now.”

With that, he hurriedly dashed into the shabby side room.

Back in the room, he leaned against the door to check if his mother was still busy with the dishes. Only when she didn’t approach did he sit with his back to the door and start chanting quietly.

“Great being from the Azure Star, you are the lord of language and words. You are the pioneer of the Internet. Under your protection, I will connect with all beings!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt his soul seemingly connect with a great presence.

The Internet God responded to his prayer, and a Phantom Scroll unfurled before him.

The glimmering light made his pupils contract, but he couldn’t resist opening his eyes wide, trying to grasp the entirety of the Internet.

At this moment, despite preparing himself mentally, Pus couldn’t stop his hands from trembling with excitement. His muscles tightened, and his breath quickened.

Of course, compared to the first time, he was handling it much better now.

No one knew how terrified he was the first time, chanting the Prayer in the basement and summoning the Internet!

It was like a bolt of lightning striking him from head to tailbone, leaving him completely numb!

You have to understand, when Raymond sold basic magic knowledge, even that act was enough to make a group of poor boys cry tears of gratitude!

Let alone magic knowledge being offered for free?

At that moment, he realized that his almost hopeless future could change from today onward!

This was also one of the fundamental reasons he was so excited about becoming a follower of the Internet God when he was in the basement. Unfortunately…

Pus recalled the mysterious figure who enslaved demons.

He had said:

“God loves all people. My Lord is merciful. As long as you spread my Lord’s glory, you are his follower!”

After saying this, the young man left.

But those words deeply shook Pus’s soul!

In the Empire’s propaganda, though they never denied the powers of the gods, they subtly suggested that gods were just a bunch of swindlers, using their strength to trick believers into offering wealth and souls.

So why should humans try to curry favor and beg the gods for power?

Humans can completely cultivate magic on their own!

This would be a power that truly belongs to them, and if they can cultivate to the Archmage level, they might possess power comparable to the gods!

But today, Pus’s resolve wavered. He felt that the Internet God was the true deity.

He asked for nothing: no offerings, no followers, no wealth, no souls. And yet, he bestowed upon the world the most precious treasure—knowledge.

A seed of faith quietly took root in Pus’s heart.

Perhaps it would be ground down by life;

Perhaps it would take root and sprout;

Perhaps it would even ignite, becoming a spark that could set the world aflame.

That night, Pus was almost sleepless, browsing the Internet the whole time!

Even as someone born in Willis City, he was dazzled by what he saw on the Internet and was given a jolt of new insight!

Here, he saw the not-so-glamorous life behind the scenes of mercenaries—the grueling journeys, the constant life and death struggles;

He saw the nobles, lofty as they were, fretting over territory, magical beasts, and bandits. Of course, some were abusing and exploiting the common people;

He saw powerful, mysterious magicians arguing over esoteric knowledge he couldn’t even begin to understand, building tall towers of arguments;

He also saw countless people from the lower classes, just like him, posting to seek a way out.

The pitch-black room began to brighten with the dawning light.

Despite staying up all night, Pus didn’t feel tired at all, nor did he experience the soul power drain that the Internet was said to cause when you logged on using a Prayer.

He swiftly disconnected from the Internet and pushed open the door.

Though the sky was still dim and gray, he felt that the world had suddenly become extraordinarily wonderful!

He picked up a wooden bucket and bolted out of the house, sprinting to the community well. After filling a bucket with water and drinking to his heart’s content, he continued to fill the home water tank. Then, he greeted his mother and dashed out the door.

He already knew what he needed to do today.

First, tell his closest friends about the existence of the Internet and spread the glory of the Lord.

Second, he had learned from the Internet that an old house in the Western District was bought by a great lord, who was planning to build a mansion there. They urgently needed labor, and it’s said they were offering 20 coppers a day!

He decided to give it a try.

…

…

As Yu Sheng’an savored his refined breakfast, he noticed, through the Divine Spark of Contracts, that the boy who wished to become his follower was now working up a sweat, moving bricks and rubble at a construction site—without even having breakfast. He froze.

To be honest, Yu Sheng’an had observed Pus for a long time last night, being his very first ‘little fan’ in this world.

When he saw the excitement on Pus’s face as he browsed basic magic knowledge, Yu Sheng’an also revealed a knowing smile.

Watching him quickly familiarize himself with the Internet, skillfully using search techniques to find work, Yu Sheng’an was genuinely pleased. He even voluntarily consumed some source energy to support Pus’s browsing.

Otherwise, with his limited soul power, Pus would’ve felt exhausted after just two or three hours. Forcing himself to continue would have resulted in an automatic disconnection from the Internet.

It was obvious that Pus’s family was very poor, but Yu Sheng’an never expected them to be so poor that they couldn’t even afford breakfast.

Yu Sheng’an glanced out through the glazed window. On the streets, pedestrians hurried by, most of them looking rather emaciated.

Of course, from time to time, burly mercenaries carrying exaggerated weapons would ride past on unicorns, whistling as they went.

“It’s hard to imagine that in a magical capital possessing power comparable to the gods, the common people can’t even fill their bellies!”

Yu Sheng’an couldn’t help but exclaim.

To be honest, coming from Blue Star, he had long taken having enough to eat for granted.

But after arriving in this world, he finally understood that having enough to eat was actually something incredibly difficult to achieve.

“Your Excellency, you are kind-hearted! The food problem has always been a chronic headache for the Empire. Not only is the land scarce for the population, but practicing magic also requires a lot of resources. Fertile land is naturally prioritized for growing magical plants. Of course, we are also doing our best to ensure a bountiful harvest. For example, the magicians stationed in each city have annual rain duties to ensure a good harvest of crops.”

Dundar, who was having breakfast with Yu Sheng’an, politely replied.

This morning, Dundar had come to invite Yu Sheng’an to breakfast.

Hearing Dundar’s words, Yu Sheng’an sneered, “That’s no excuse. If the land isn’t fertile, you can always selectively breed high-yield, drought-resistant crops that can thrive in saline or sandy soil.”

After a brief silence, Dundar replied, “Breeding special crops through magic takes unimaginable effort. Without enough benefit, no wood element magician is willing to invest the energy and cost required.”

Yu Sheng’an didn’t bother asking why the Empire doesn’t allocate special funds to support such activities.

At its core, the Kewell Empire still lacked strong centralized power. The society naturally became one led by interests!

Moreover, in a society where absolute power is controlled by the magician class, the role of the lower classes is mainly to sustain the magicians’ daily needs.

Of course, a small infusion of new blood can also ensure the vigor of the magician community.

As a result, the lives of common people were as cheap as grass!

Thinking of this, Yu Sheng’an felt uncomfortable and agitated!

Everyone was pursuing their own interests. If only there were a great magician who could lower his gaze just a little, perhaps the lives of common people would be totally different.

What the place lacked was true aristocratic spirit.

With a glint in his eyes, Yu Sheng’an suddenly spoke, “Your Excellency, how about this? Could you assign some of Felix’s wood element magicians to me? I won’t use too many of your resources—magic apprentices will do. I will take on the job of breeding crops! And of course, I will pay for their services. What do you think?”

Dundar was stunned.

Weren’t we supposed to be discussing the promotion of Internet Divine Magic? How did this conversation shift to crops?!