In Teyvat, it all begins with rescuing the grass god.

However, such active elemental crystals are extremely rare, and the refining process is exceptionally difficult.

This is also the main reason why Fengwozhihui has such powerful effects.

"The formula is secondary."

"The key is the grass element particles."

Rhodes shook his head, abandoning the idea of ​​researching the recipe for Abundance of Fertility.

This is something that cannot be replicated by an individual alone.

Concentrated element crystals.

This kind of thing would be a closely guarded technological secret in any country, not to mention that the Sumeru element crystal is so unique.

Rhodes had serious doubts.

The elemental crystals in the Abundance of Fertility likely also utilized the power of the Grass God.

This makes it even less likely to be replicated.

"Forget it, let's just use what's readily available."

After putting away the bounty, Rhodes took out a small notebook and wrote a lot in a language that had never appeared on the continent of Teyvat.

Do not misunderstand.

It's not a diary.

Who would write a diary if they were serious?

Rhodes wrote down the materials needed for tomorrow's planting experiment, as well as the specific experimental steps.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 19 Rhodes' True Thoughts

Farming in the desert.

This is no easy task.

Even in Aru Village, a place with water and land, which other desert dwellers call a treasure trove flowing with gold, the grain production here is only enough to feed the villagers themselves.

Moreover, much of the grain in Aru Village is reserved for reserves to prevent food shortages in the event of natural disasters.

This meant that they had to purchase some cheap food from the Church each year to fill the gap.

Moreover, after this period of observation...

Rhodes also discovered a problem.

That is, no livestock are raised in Aru Village.

They don't even keep crocodiles, which are a favorite pet of tribes in desert areas.

to this end.

Rhodes went to ask Attia and the others.

The answer I received was that we didn't have the money to do it.

Whether raising herbivorous livestock or carnivorous crocodiles, it requires a significant investment.

All of Aru Village's income must be used to support the villagers' livelihoods.

Admittedly, raising livestock and crocodiles can indeed generate considerable profits, but the initial investment alone is beyond the reach of the law-abiding Aru Village.

about this point.

Rod could only say one thing with regret.

Conservative thinking has harmed me.

Yes, it's conservative thinking.

The elderly in Aru Village, like the desert dwellers, are extremely hostile towards people from the rainforest.

Before Candice became the guardian, the entire village of Arru was an extremely isolated and traditional desert village, living the same life year after year, guarding its own little plot of land.

It wasn't until a few years ago that Candice officially took over the shield and spear that symbolized the guardian.

She and Uncle Anpu, the village chief, secretly plotted and successfully introduced rainforest merchants to Aru Village, and in a few years, they transformed Aru Village into a major trading town in the desert.

It was that very first transaction.

The village's retired guardians angrily surrounded Uncle Amp and Candice's house, demanding that they drive the rainforest merchants out of Aru village.

As a result, Candice silenced them all with her personal strength.

"Might makes right."

"It's the same everywhere."

Rod couldn't help but laugh whenever he thought about it.

The development of Aru Village is evident to all, and all of this is inseparable from this strong-willed guardian.

However, although the business activity was allowed.

However, Aru Village can only make a living by doing business, and this kind of business is extremely dependent on the attitude of Sumeru City.

Even Rhodes, an outsider, could see it.

The current prosperity of Aru Village is entirely built on the fact that the Church allows them to do business with the rainforest area.

If the village continues to lack any sideline businesses, given the abbot's attitude towards the desert people, the potential risks are still very high.

From this perspective...

Aru Village is not even as good as Tanit, a desert tribe.

When it comes to hostility towards the rainforest, the tribal people are no less hostile than those from Aru village.

Other desert tribes.

They're already being lenient by not robbing merchants; expecting them to do legitimate business is pure fantasy.

The Tanit tribe is an exception.

After the elder named Babel took office, they began trading with the rainforest region, and chose the Adventurers' Guild, which was completely beyond the jurisdiction of the Church, as their main trading partner.

that's it.

Through trade, smuggling, hunting, robbery, and genuine desert farming, they rose to become the most powerful tribe in the desert region, with a number of small tribes struggling to survive under their command.

Despite Rhodes's deep hatred for the Tanit tribe.

He also had to admit one thing.

That was Babel of the Tanit tribe, a true tyrant whose vision and methods far surpassed those of other leaders in the desert region.

To put it bluntly.

Candice also needs to consider the opinions of the village elders, while Babel is unscrupulous and even wants to kill all the old folks to make it easier for him to take over.

This is also why Rhodes, despite harboring resentment towards the Tanit tribe, has been unable to exact revenge.

With such a leader, the strength of this tribe is unimaginable.

Rod didn't believe that with his current abilities, he could easily wipe out the tribe as effortlessly as that blond traveler.

Therefore, without absolute personal strength, he still needs the support of Aru Village if he wants to take revenge on the Tanit tribe.

So how can one gain Aru Village's support?

The first thing Rod thought of.

It's just farming.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Aru Village can now produce enough grain to be self-sufficient every year.

In reality, their farming methods are very backward.

The soil in desert regions is already fertile, and they don't know how to rotate crops, so their annual harvest is highly dependent on the bounty of fertile land.

This is another major hidden danger in Aru Village.

If the Church were to cut off the supply of Fertile Land, Aru Village would immediately face a food crisis.

What Rod is doing now.

By using his own experimental field, he first tested out the crops suitable for cultivation in Aru Village, and then figured out how to make use of the land around the village that was severely affected by soil erosion to expand grain production in Aru Village.

Talk about it.

Rod had another thing to be thankful for.

Said it before.

Aru Village was a place where the Church of Jesus exiled scholars.

Although these scholars were expelled, they maintained the arrogant attitude typical of scholars from the Order of the Church, completely disregarding the goodwill extended by Aru Village.

Rod knew that one of these scholars was a proponent of the theory of life.

The so-called "life theory" school.

This is a school of thought founded by the great tree king, the deity of Sumeru, at the beginning of Sumeru's creation. The earliest sages of the Shenglun school even followed the great tree king in research on how to cultivate rainforests. Its specialties include biology, ecology, medicine and many other sub-disciplines.

To put it in simpler terms...

The students of this school of thought are either farming or raising livestock.

If that scholar of the bio-theory were willing to help Aru Village.

The problem of Aru Village relying solely on the bounty of fertile land to repeatedly cultivate the same few crops could have been addressed long ago.

But he did nothing at all.

What’s even more infuriating is...

Despite being provided with the best food and drink in Aru Village every day, and even given the best house in the village, he moved to a remote mountain far from Aru Village and refused to set foot in the village.

This is perfect for Rhodes.

He didn't need to think much to know that Candice and Uncle Amp must also know what the problems are in Aru Village.