Chapter 1640: Li Jian’s Ability

Qingpu Base.

During wartime, the operations of all three major bases had been moved underground.

At a depth of over a hundred meters below ground, tens of thousands of apocalypse survivors now lived, including the original inhabitants of the Qingpu District, as well as the Huaxu Nation people that Zhang Yi had later brought in from other cities.

The emergence of elemental ore had solved Tianhai City's energy problem, ensuring that they would never again have to worry about heating.

As for food, this had also been properly resolved thanks to the ability to fish by the sea and the vigorous development of agriculture. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Inside the underground biological storage of Qingpu Base, within a massive subterranean farm, the head of the Agriculture Department, Li Jian, wore a white protective suit and was carefully inspecting the growth of this season's crops.

As a plant-type Transcendent, his method of enhancing his supernatural powers was uniquely different from combat-type Transcendents.

He only needed to continuously cultivate crops to strengthen his skill proficiency and develop his supernatural potential.

Combined with the special nature of his ability, he had received Zhang Yi's particular attention and was given considerable resources for cultivation.

Now, he was already a Transcendent with an ability index of 8,000 points.

To Li Jian, these abilities were fundamentally difficult to apply to combat, but he could accelerate the maturation of crops within the base and could greatly increase their yield.

It could be said that the entire crop supply needed by Tianhai City now came from him.

Li Jian carefully plucked a stalk of green wheat from the field, then meticulously counted the wheat ears, while nearby workers recorded its characteristics and the number of grains.

Li Jian carefully counted each grain one by one, then his brow relaxed, and he said to the worker: "The wheat is growing well this season! It looks like this quarter's grain output will increase by about 5% compared to last quarter."

The worker's face was also full of joy, and while recording, he said: "This is all thanks to your efforts, Department Head! Nowadays, our Tianhai City can already achieve grain self-sufficiency. Even looking at the entire world, this is a remarkably proud achievement!"

Li Jian smiled faintly, filled with both satisfaction and emotion.

"This is all thanks to Mr. Zhang! If not for him, whether we could even survive right now would be a question."

Just as the words left his mouth, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Li Jian, long time no see! You seem to be in good spirits. What, lately you haven't needed to use your own body to cultivate seeds?"

The moment Li Jian heard this voice, his body stiffened for an instant, because he was far too excited.

He was very familiar with this voice, it was Zhang Yi's!

And he had not seen Zhang Yi's face for far too long.

The wheat ears in Li Jian's hand fell to the ground, and he hastily turned around, only to see Zhang Yi walking over with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Zhang!"

Li Jian's voice carried obvious excitement.

Zhang Yi glanced at him, but his eyes swept across the entire massive underground farm.

Beneath Qingpu Base, the area of the developed underground farms was dozens of times larger than above ground!

This single field before him alone spanned over a hundred mu!

And there were dozens of similar experimental fields beneath the entire city of Tianhai.

Thousands of mu of land, with the enhancement of Li Jian's ability and the help of modern agricultural technology, could complete six rounds of planting and harvesting each year.

This basically satisfied Tianhai City's demand for grain.

After all, the people who could enjoy food made from fresh grain were all native residents of Tianhai City. As for outsiders, they still mainly relied on canned food and sea fish as their staple diet.

"This is really great! This field is set up quite impressively. Perhaps one day..." Zhang Yi's eyes lowered. "We too might be able to survive in an underground world."

He involuntarily thought of those mysterious underground civilizations.

Especially the Nash Kingdom beneath the Southwest Region.

They too had built a complete ecological chain tens of thousands of meters underground and had persisted for a vast span of years.

Could it be that one day, they too would be forced to enter underground life?

"Lord Supreme!"

All the experimental personnel in the field placed their right fists over their chests, gazing at Zhang Yi with faces full of excitement.

Their trembling eyes were as if they were beholding a god.

The training model that Ma Wenzheng used for the Shadow Troop had long ago been quietly adopted by the major bases.

This was Yang Xinxin's instruction.

If they were going to create a god, then it had to be done thoroughly.

They had to make Tianhai City a completely independent region with Zhang Yi as its sole leader.

And the best way to maintain the stability of such an independent region was to have a supreme ruler.

Zhang Yi was still somewhat unaccustomed to this mode of interaction, but Yang Xinxin had also told him that those in high positions needed to maintain sufficient distance from their subordinates.

Otherwise, once the subordinates lost their sense of mystery toward the one above them, their hearts would no longer be so submissive, and they would no longer hold such reverence for Zhang Yi's orders.

Zhang Yi nodded at them, then looked at Li Jian. "Your condition has been quite good lately. Has your ability improved again?"

Li Jian smiled and said: "Thanks to you, I've now undergone organizational testing, and the latest report states that I've reached the standard of an 8,000-point ability index."

The smile on Zhang Yi's face grew even brighter.

"Very good. It wasn't in vain that I specially cultivated you back then!"

He waved his hand at the others, and the other workers immediately understood, realizing that Zhang Yi had something to discuss with Li Jian alone, so they all took their leave.

After there was no one else around, Zhang Yi's face revealed a serious expression.

"Li Jian, right now I have a very important matter that I need you to do! This matter could concern the survival of all of Tianhai City!"

Hearing Zhang Yi say this, the muscles on Li Jian's face tensed up.

He straightened his posture, his heart filled with immense excitement, probably because he had never expected that someone like him, who only knew how to farm, could be entrusted with such an important task by Zhang Yi!

"Zhang... Lord Supreme! Wherever I am needed, please just give the order! Even if it costs me my life, I will definitely strive to complete the work!"

Zhang Yi looked deeply at Li Jian, his brow slightly furrowed, pondering for a long time, and inwardly he let out a soft sigh.

Because this task might truly cost Li Jian his life.

But right now, Zhang Yi had to do it this way, because his time was extremely tight.

"I need you to cultivate a special plant for me! A very special plant."

After Zhang Yi finished speaking, with just a thought, the silver-gray ring on his right wrist immediately transformed, and the massive Sword in the Tree extended out, turning into vines one after another.

Li Jian looked at the Sword in the Tree that moved like an animal, his eyes wide open.

"I can sense its powerful and surging vitality!"

"This plant is truly extraordinary! Lord Supreme, you want me to cultivate it, is that right?"

Zhang Yi nodded. "Yes. I know your cultivation method. Using your own flesh and blood for cultivation is the fastest and most effective way."