Chapter 431

Ten points per plant?

Wu Yue's eyes lit up in a flash as she gazed at the small patch of herbs before her, her eyes turning green.

Oh my goodness, today is shaping up to be a prosperous rhythm.

Her small hands waved, leaving afterimages, and the herbs before her began to diminish at a visible speed.

After a moment, Wu Yue smacked her lips somewhat unsatisfied: 'Eh, still too little; if I had more, could I exchange it for a solar-powered car to drive?'

Tongzi sneered mercilessly: 'Host, I advise you to stop dreaming; never mind whether your points are enough for a car, even if you exchanged all your possessions for one, in such a vast forest, where would you drive it?'

Or perhaps you'd just drive around the tribe's clearing twice a day?

Wu Yue's face stiffened; an image of herself driving a car around the tribe's clearing inexplicably popped into her mind, leaving her feeling awkward.

Sure enough, to get rich one must first build roads; the ancients were not deceiving me.

After earning a large sum of points, Wu Yue was in good spirits, about to finish work and head home, when suddenly a patch of plants not far away caught her attention.

She rubbed her eyes in disbelief: 'Tongzi, quickly look—is that the plant from the book you gave me, drawn on trees, that can be made into fabric?'

Tongzi, who had been happily gnawing on a candied haw skewer, froze at her words, then carefully hid the remaining three candied haws before solemnly observing.

After a moment, just as Wu Yue thought she was seeing things, Tongzi's sour voice sounded: 'You damn host, you've really struck dog-shit luck; this kind of plant is quite rare on this continent.'

Do you still remember the clothes worn by those super-tribe shamans before?

After a moment of recollection, Wu Yue nodded helplessly: 'I remember.'

Speaking of which, can those even be called clothes?

They're literally just pieces of fabric draped over the body and tied with straps.

Hearing her mutter, Tongzi rolled his eyes impatiently: 'Don't underestimate those cloth garments; only those of special status in the tribe can wear them.'

So...

Wu Yue's eyes shone as she looked at the vast expanse of plants before her, feeling that Tongzi's words had opened a new world for her.

If their tribe also had this kind of plant, the tribe's fame would further expand; who knows... hehe...

Quickly wipe your drool; I'm not trying to discourage you, you damn host—good things require strength to protect.

The Snow Tiger Tribe is mighty in the Polar Forest, but out there it's nothing much—even the tribes of the Chiyan Pingyuan can't compare, let alone the super-tribes outside.

We'd better develop in a low-key way.

Wu Yue hummed in agreement; she naturally understood this reasoning, blaming only her current weakness.

She suddenly recalled what Yuan Lang had said a few days ago—that beastfolk need a totem blessing to advance to the Gold Rank—and asked.

Tongzi licked his beloved candied haw, then said with disdain: 'What totem-pole blessing? Yuan Lang guessed right—it's just shamanic power infusion, and if you ever get a chance to receive direct shamanic infusion, don't accept any totem blessing.'

Wu Yue wondered: 'Why?'

Tongzi huffed arrogantly: 'The great shaman's power on the totem pole is limited, and those super-tribe great shamans are deep‑minded, dividing their power into portions.'

It's only enough for each beastman warrior to barely break through to Gold Rank, not enough to solidify the realm, and then it's gone.

If a great shaman directly infuses the power, it's abundant and can guarantee a stable realm—that's the best.

Then doesn't that mean we won't be able to go to other tribes to receive blessings in the future?

Wu Yue frowned; this was problematic, as a great shaman would not infuse power into outsiders.

So if you want to receive blessings later, it's best to go to a super-tribe that has a great shaman; a super-tribe's totem with a great shaman presiding shouldn't involve splitting the power.

After all, it's for their own tribe's people; those great shamans wouldn't do such a treacherous thing.

Such totem poles exist merely as a tool for super-tribes to restrain tribes lacking a great shaman.

We'll talk about the future later; if worse comes to worst, we'll just go find the Kuma tribe—anyway, it's a bit affected.

Having said that, she waved the small sickle in her hand, bared a tiny white tooth, and declared: 'Dear little grasses, big sister has come—accept big sister's love.'

Inside the system space, Tongzi involuntarily shivered: 'Damn it, where did this weird auntie come from?'

Meanwhile, the Kuma envoy tribe far away in a mountain range all felt an itch in their noses, as if someone were thinking of them.

The healing shaman sat meditating on a great wild beast, his bosom bulging with the crystal cores he'd obtained from hunting ferocious beasts in the polar deep forest earlier.

Because of the Salt Rock Tribe's connection, this time they went out for selection and actually brought back neither a promising shaman nor a beastman warrior.

But thinking of those crystal cores in the great shaman's embrace, the beastman warriors' eyes grew hotter by a degree.

With those crystal cores, their contribution would surpass that of going out to select any shaman or beastman warrior.

The beastman envoy captain evidently realized this as well; his face remained calm, but the smile at the corners of his mouth never faded.

He had brought back such precious items on this outing, yet the few riding wild beasts ahead couldn't catch up.

With those crystal cores, his standing in the tribe would surely rise another level, bringing him closer to the chieftain's position.

Thinking this, he felt so excited he almost laughed out loud, but he clenched his fists and held it in tightly.

In the Polar Forest.

Wu Yue filled her little basket with the fabric‑making plants, then diligently dug up more and stored them in her system space.

Many even still had soil clinging to them.

She planned to return and try planting them; if they could be cultivated, fabric could be mass‑produced.

Tongzi, once I, your host, manage to produce fabric, the first piece will be made into clothes for you.

Wu Yue, rare in her conscience, said to Tongzi.

Tongzi, who was crunching the last piece of candied haw, felt his whole self go bad upon hearing this; his host's first attempt at making fabric would surely be a miserable sight.

How could I give it to you? The first piece must go to the tribe's most prestigious shaman; he's surely heard of this fabric, and if he learns you can make it...

After a moment's thought, Wu Yue nodded: 'Alright, what you say makes some sense.'

I don't know why, but even though Tongzi's reason sounds perfect, she always feels it's not quite that.

After returning to Bu Luo, Wu Yue couldn't wait to bid farewell to her gathering teammates and sprint toward her home courtyard.

After dumping the plants from her basket, she took a big breath: 'Goodness, these things are really not light.'

She wiped the sweat from her forehead: "Tongzi, what do we do next?"

Tongzi was about to climb onto his small bed for a nap, staggered, then after a moment swayed to his feet.

"You don't know what to do?"

Wu Yue, right or wrong, didn't know, but her spirit was bold: "Of course not, I've never seen this before."

If she hadn't previously boredly flipped through the rewarded books, she wouldn't have recognized it.

"You were so awesome earlier, I thought you'd mastered some craft, but taking over you're just an outsider, hehe."

"Dog host, I really misjudged you."

After a round of bickering, Wu Yue finally paid the price of two candied haws to squeeze out a simple production method from the system.

"Why call it simple?"

"It really is simple—aside from the rough procedure, there are absolutely no specific details."

"Want details?"

"No problem!"

"Hand over the points."

"Is Wu Yue the type who's stubborn about small details?"

"No, that's not her, so she decisively decided to explore on her own."

"Ideal is plump, reality is just this scrawny; at the first step of stripping the plant's outer skin, her hand was cut—this plant's skin is truly tough."

"Even if she were as careful as possible, after stripping those plant skins from the bamboo basket, her hands still ended up with several small cuts."

"They were clearly visible on her delicate white hands."

"But the next moment, a flash of shamanic light appeared on her palm, and the previously noticeable wounds instantly vanished."

"The washed plant skins lay quietly on the stone table, but looking at them made Wu Yue feel utterly unwell."

"What are you thinking? Your scrunched-up face looks like an old grandma."

"A low, magnetic voice sounded in her ear; her left side touched a scorching body, the beastman's heat making her feel the half of her body near him about to burst into flame."

"She turned her head to meet the beastman's deep eyes—'Hmm, good, man, you've successfully caught my attention.'"

"Faced with beauty, she... she really... silently lifted a hand to wipe away the unintentionally shed tears of heartache, only able to forcibly drag her lustful gaze from the beastman's finely textured chest."

"Then she regained a solemn expression: 'Hmm, I'm thinking about how to draw out the fibers inside these plant skins.'"

"Yuan Lang raised an eyebrow at the female's struggle to withdraw her gaze, the corner of his mouth twitching; she still resisted temptation well, so next time he'll increase the intensity."

"He glanced at his own bare upper body, then looked further down—..."

"Never mind, this scale is a bit too much."

"Watching her little gesture of wiping her mouth, Yuan Lang secretly raised an eyebrow—did he only now think to wipe his mouth, unconsciously being slow?"

"I've long known you're lusting after my body, hehe!"

"Is the female thinking of weaving cloth?"

"In the camp, many soldiers, due to poverty at home, had their womenfolk go up the mountain to cut hemp grass to weave cloth themselves."

"But even the cloth produced this way had to be packaged and taken to the city to exchange for money to subsidize the household."

"Many soldiers said that their mothers, wives, or daughters stripped hemp thread by hand, day and night, just for that money to subsidize the household, all with tear-filled tiger eyes."

"Upon hearing this, Wu Yue's face instantly scrunched up; although she possessed healing shamanic power, the pain from the plant skin slicing her palm was all too clear, and she truly did not want to feel it again."

"Let me try."

"Yuan Lang said this, then sat on the stone stool beside her and began meticulously stripping the hemp fibers, an operation that left Wu Yue stunned."

"She looked in disbelief at the towering beastman beside her."

"But soon, beads of sweat appeared on Yuan Lang's handsome, upright face, and his movements were no longer as relaxed as before."

"All right, all right, I'll think of something myself; worst case, I'll call a few partners to help."

"Saying that, he reached out to take the plant fibers he had extracted from the beastman."

"Yuan Lang frowned; these weaving tasks were really not for him—he'd rather go to the battlefield and kill a few back and forth."

"But being seen through by the female, he felt a bit embarrassed, and his tsundere little property flared up."

"He couldn't bear to take his temper out on the female, but venting his anger on a little plant skin should be okay, right?"

"Thus... the sinister beastman warrior, while the female took the plant fibers, quietly extended his sharp claws, producing a remarkably smooth sound."

"The most feared thing is a sudden silence in the air."

"Looking at those plant fibers softly hanging from the beastman's thigh, Wu Yue was completely dazed, her gaze toward Yuan Lang shimmering."

"'Turns out you really can do it—I just saw you sitting there looking uncomfortable and thought you were bragging.'"

"'Sorry, I really was bragging.'"

"Yuan Lang silently complained in his heart."

"But the next second, the little pride on his face could hardly be concealed: 'As this general, I empathize with the people's conditions; these trifles are naturally no problem.'"

"Wu Yue looked at him with full respect; a moment later, her little claw slammed heavily onto the beastman's bare arm..."

"Wuyue:..."

"Don't ask why it's the arm—our shoulders just can't reach."

"'You're definitely a good general who serves the country and the people.'"

"Yuan Lang guiltily raised his eyes to the blue sky, gave a dry cough twice: 'Well... that's natural.'"

"Seeing the female still wanting to say something, he quickly changed the subject: 'I still have to go work on the city walls later; while I have time, let me first help you draw out the hemp fibers.'"

"Wu Yue's attention immediately returned to the task at hand; the two of them, one extracting fibers with claws, the other organizing and airing them out."

"Not much plant skin, and it was soon processed."

"'The weather's been good these days; tomorrow should be about done... I guess.'"

Seeing the little female's sparkling eyes look over again, Yuan Lang felt for the first time that time was so agonizing: "I only know part of it, after all, as a general my daily military duties are busy, and I can't personally handle everything."

Wu Yue nodded solemnly: "Me too."

He quietly wiped his sweat, seeing the little female's attention fixed on those plant fibers on the rack, Yuan Lang decisively took off toward the courtyard gate.

"I'll go check how they're doing on the city wall construction, so these guys don't slack off."

As his words fell, there was no one left in the courtyard.

Wu Yue looked dubiously at her own gate: "The sun's rising from the west—before they'd rather stay glued here, but today they're running off so fast?"