NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 6: Digging Toolman +1
【You listened to your friend, Scholar Wu Xiu, talk about the geography and customs of the Great Li Kingdom, gaining favor +1. Current favor: 1 star】
“So that’s how it is, this Great Li Kingdom is indeed quite good.”
Chen Xiyi responded in agreement with Wu Xiu. Although the latter claimed to have not traveled, he still knew quite a bit.
From the current perspective, it seemed that there were no cultivators or immortals in this world. If there were any, they were just part of myths and legends, unless these extraordinary beings were hidden hermits unknown to the public.
However, this possibility was unlikely. If such people truly existed, why would they be willing to stay hidden? It might be possible for one or two individuals, but if there were many, it would be impossible. Not everyone would possess such indifference towards fame and fortune.
Since the founding by the Great Ancestor, the Great Li Kingdom had stood for 327 years, with fourteen emperors governing diligently. The country enjoyed peace and prosperity, and the people lived in harmony, making it a rare golden age.
They were currently in the outskirts of Sunan Lingqu City.
Sunan was not only the granary of the Great Li Kingdom but also a place abundant in literary talent. Ninety percent of the officials in the Great Li Court hailed from Sunan.
The word “su” in Sunan represented the abundance of rice and grain.
Chen Xiyi had a rough understanding of this. This place was probably equivalent to the Jiangnan region from his previous life, known for its abundance of scholars and rich resources.
Of course, this world was not limited to just the Great Li Kingdom. There were also barbarians from foreign lands who lacked manners and etiquette, lingering around the Great Li Kingdom.
Occasionally, there were barbarian uprisings, but most of them were quickly suppressed.
“Of course, Immortal, is there anything else you wish to know?” Wu Xiu suddenly felt closer to this so-called Immortal, especially since the latter was willing to listen to his explanations about the Great Li Kingdom.
“No, but earlier, did you say that if I ordered you to do something, you would be willing to comply?” Chen Xiyi felt that since there were no cultivators or immortals transcending the mundane, things seemed much simpler now.
Particularly when Chen Xiyi noticed that the fatigue debuff on Wu Xiu’s status bar had disappeared, it sparked some unwarranted thoughts in his mind.
Honestly, Chen Xiyi had always viewed Wu Xiu as a friendly NPC rather than a person, especially with his name and status displayed. Without those indicators, Chen Xiyi might not have thought this way. But now, he simply regarded him as an NPC tool.
“Please give your orders, Immortal.” Upon hearing this, Wu Xiu solemnly replied.
“Very well, I do have a small matter that I need your help with. Rest assured, I will not treat you unfairly.” Chen Xiyi said with a smile, even though his expression was hidden behind the wooden helmet, unseen by Wu Xiu, who could only detect the happiness in Chen Xiyi’s voice.
After finishing the conversation, Chen Xiyi took out a wooden storage box from his inventory, and after exchanging it a couple of times with another wooden storage box, he finally pulled out a wooden pickaxe and handed it to Wu Xiu.
Wu Xiu dumbfoundedly took the wooden pickaxe. The scene just now was more shocking than before, especially when the wooden storage box appeared out of thin air, and another one was taken out from it, leaving Wu Xiu bewildered.
He then saw Chen Xiyi collecting the wooden storage box using the same method.
“Dig soil and stones with me, I lack manpower and will reward you.” Chen Xiyi looked at the dumbfounded Wu Xiu and said.
“As you wish, Immortal.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Xiu hesitated. After all, how could he, a mere mortal, engage in such a lowly task with an Immortal like Chen Xiyi?
Sensing Wu Xiu’s hesitation, Chen Xiyi explained, “I am digging these soil and stones to refine the Divine Earth Essence. If you are unwilling, you may leave.”
Wu Xiu didn’t know what Divine Earth Essence was, but with the word “divine” attached to it, he knew it must be extraordinary.
“I dare not, but dear Immortal, I have been studying and reading since I was young, I have no experience with such tasks.” Wu Xiu held the wooden pickaxe in his hand, feeling awkward.
Realizing that leaving would mean missing a great opportunity, Wu Xiu decided to stay, even though he had never seen a pickaxe before, as he came from a wealthy family and only studied the Sacred Sage Book.
“It’s simple, use the pointed end to dig the soil.” Chen Xiyi explained, trying to see if NPCs could use weapons or tools.
“Yes, Immortal.” Although it seemed strange to Wu Xiu, since the pickaxe didn’t look like a tool for digging soil, he followed the Immortal’s instructions.
Wu Xiu began to strike the earth in front of him with the pickaxe. ‘One strike, two strikes, three strikes.’
As Chen Xiyi counted silently in his mind, on the tenth strike, a square cavity opened beneath Wu Xiu, causing him to fall in.
The unearthed items floated and transformed into white light before being absorbed into Chen Xiyi’s body and stored in his inventory.
[Scholar Wu Xiu helped you dig with a pickaxe, you obtained: 3 units of soil, 1 unit of stone.]
“It seems that items produced in the homestead game can be used by others.”
“Wonderful, Immortal, what just happened to me?” Wu Xiu climbed out of the pit and asked, clearly in pain.
Chen Xiyi could see that Wu Xiu had lost 3% of his health.
“I forgot to mention, this pickaxe is made from the branches of the Divine Tree, capable of mining all kinds of earth and stone veins as you’ve witnessed. It’s best not to dig under your own feet, as you’ve just learned.” Chen Xiyi explained.
Upon hearing the words “Divine Tree,” Wu Xiu was astonished and immediately thanked the Immortal for the reminder.
The soil and stones near Chen Xiyi suddenly disintegrated and transformed into resources absorbed into his body.
“That’s why.” Seeing Wu Xiu’s further astonishment, Chen Xiyi explained mysteriously.
“Understood, understood.” Wu Xiu nodded and began to excavate with the pickaxe.
Although he found it strange that an Immortal would use a pickaxe when they could just use magic, Wu Xiu did not dwell on it. In his eyes, an Immortal’s ways were not to be questioned.