My Apocalypse System Arrives 10 Years Early

Chapter 575: Chapter 355: Second Wave of the Beast Tide

It might be related to a type of Space Exotic Beast called the Star Remnant Rift Beast. When they are killed, the runaway energy briefly opens a micro-wormhole.

The largest of these eight Space Gemstones contained five to six cubic kilometers of space, while even the smallest held dozens of cubic meters. Li Xiang activated his Crystal Gold Armor and set these Gemstones into rings, bracelets, necklaces, and armbands, crafting them into exquisite pieces of jewelry.

He had previously owned jewelry firms and a Jade Processing Factory. Although he later transitioned into the restaurant business, he had retained a small number of his Gold Jewelry shops. With chain stores in 72 Hive Underground Cities across the country, he still had a considerable foundation in the jewelry trade.

During his inspection tours of the various jewelry chain stores, he had learned the art of jewelry making from the craftsmen. Plus, having been a blogger about rural life in the past, he had always enjoyed tinkering with small things. As a result, the pieces of jewelry he created were all exceptionally beautiful.

He planned to take them back for the women in his life, upgrading the spatial devices they currently had.

Sometimes Li Xiang would sneak into Exotic Beast lairs to carry out surprise attacks or decapitation strikes. On one such occasion, he unintentionally stumbled into a place that reeked to high heaven. ’Damn,’ he thought. It was covered in Exotic Beast droppings, piled high as mountains.

He was about to flee at once, but then he recalled Zhao Xueqing mentioning that as the underground farm expanded, fertilizer was getting scarce. And so, he used the largest of the Space Gemstones to collect a vast quantity of the Exotic Beast droppings.

When he returned to Underground Dungeon 03 and gave this beautiful gemstone bracelet to Zhao Xueqing, she was quite happy at first. But the moment she took it and her Spiritual Sense probed inside—’Oh, for crying out loud’—she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

”Brother Xiang, most people give jewelry or flowers. You... well, you gave me jewelry, but you filled it with all this... filth.”

Li Xiang replied, ”That one’s for work. Now, this is the piece of jewelry I got just for you.”

As he spoke, he produced an exquisite gold necklace. Its pendant was inlaid with a Space Gemstone that shimmered with iridescent light. The space within was as large as a football field, filled with Spiritual Medicine, Spiritual Soldiers, Battle Armor, and various other supplies. He personally fastened it around Zhao Xueqing’s neck.

”Thanks, love.” Zhao Xueqing glanced around. Seeing no cameras or people nearby, she leaned in and gave Li Xiang a sweet kiss.

The three women—Yao Yao, Zhao Xueqing, and Lei Xiaohui—all knew about Jiang Cai’Er’s Superpower, ”the King of the Internet,” so they were especially careful about their privacy.

Now in their thirties, they were all getting to an age where they wanted children. However, living in the same Underground City as Jiang Cai’Er, with her incredible virtual-world Superpower, it would be nearly impossible to have a child without the secret being exposed. Thus, the three of them had temporarily pushed the thought aside.

Still, despite being thirty, as Saint Tier Transcendents, they were adept at preserving their youthful appearance. They looked to be only twenty-four or twenty-five—in the absolute prime of their lives. Furthermore, Saint Tier Transcendents had long lifespans, so the concept of being a high-risk older mother didn’t apply. There would be chances later.

Whenever they engaged in Dual Cultivation, Zhao Xueqing’s Spirit Dew Rain would be produced in large quantities. Li Xiang collected a great deal of it. He was inevitably injured during his battles, but thanks to this miraculous healing medicine, he recovered incredibly quickly, which greatly enhanced his combat effectiveness and endurance.

The fertilizer Li Xiang brought back solved Zhao Xueqing’s most pressing problem.

Thanks to Li Xiang’s Earth Pivot World Record, Underground Dungeon 03—especially its farm sector—was in a state of constant expansion.

This underground farm was unlike the surface farms of peacetime. It had no seasons, relying instead on artificial lighting and temperature control. In theory, crops could be grown year-round. It employed many modern agricultural techniques, and with Zhao Xueqing constantly breeding high-yield seeds, the average annual yield per acre far surpassed that of the old world. The only issue was the limited space; feeding more than 15 million people was still a monumental task.

That was why Li Xiang came to expand the underground farm whenever he had free time. The standard of living in Underground Dungeon 03 was still relatively high; in some other Underground Cities, people were already going hungry, unable to get a full meal each day.

Because the crops grew all year, the demand for fertilizer was immense. Underground Dungeon 03 had a chemical fertilizer plant, but its production capacity was limited and could no longer meet the growing demand.

Therefore, Zhao Xueqing planned to start using organic fertilizer on a large scale. This included waste from humans and various animals, which would be fermented and composted before use.

She also recruited many residents of the Underground City for farm work. The farm was naturally not privately owned but a collective enterprise under City No. 03’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Workers were paid in Heat Coins based on their hours, and a large number of full-time farm laborers were also put under contract.

As a result, nearly all residents of City No. 03 were able to find work; there was no issue with unemployment or people being unable to support themselves.

Zhao Xueqing’s agricultural research institute and administrative office were built right on the underground farm. She rarely returned to the main city district, and when she did, it was usually for meetings or to visit her parents during holidays.

As for her parents pressuring her to get married? Not a chance. Zhao Xueqing was powerful and influential—one of the top six leaders in Underground Dungeon 03—and a Saint Tier Extraordinary Being on top of that. Who would dare rush her?

The peach tree, Golden Thunder Bamboo, gourd vine, and chili tree that had been transplanted from Li Xiang’s old backyard were now bathed in abundant Extraordinary Particles. Under Zhao Xueqing’s meticulous care using her Spirit Plant Telepathy, they had all begun to slowly mutate. The peach tree, gourd vine, and chili tree, in particular, were expected to bear Spirit Fruits any day now.

These few Spiritual Objects were planted separately in the small courtyard of the agricultural research institute, watched over by an Extraordinary kitten. Unauthorized people were not allowed to approach.

Zhao Xueqing planned to gather more Spiritual Objects or their seeds in order to cultivate an entire Spirit Field.