Chapter 54: A Small Seedling

Although the castle had been thoroughly cleaned, it did not feel damp. This was mainly due to the water magic, as the eighth-level great mage Merlin had perfect control over it. The water only carried away the dirt from the castle without leaving much moisture behind. The entire castle was as if it had been wiped clean with a cloth. If it weren't for the long years, it would probably be shining now.

However, Zhao Hai did not have time to pay attention to these details. After Merlin cleaned the castle, Zhao Hai immediately took out some living supplies, such as common items in the castle, corn stalks, and the things the slaves used, like field stoves. After all, they still needed to live.

After putting these things out, Zhao Hai left Meg and the others to tidy up the castle and took Merlin and Meg to the canyon. They wanted to see if the canyon had also become like the Black Soil Wasteland.

However, for the safety of the castle, Meg still placed the wooden logs on the iron mountain, where he could monitor the movements in the Corpse Swamp. Now that the monsters and undead had just retreated, they had to be cautious, as who knew if those things might come back for a surprise attack.

Glen also wanted to see the land that Zhao Hai and the others had placed great importance on. If it hadn't been destroyed, then they would have a good granary.

Merlin used water magic to take the two of them straight to the canyon. Zhao Hai was still uneasy, knowing very well that the canyon probably wouldn't be much better than the outside. When he first went to the canyon, it was all black soil, just like the outside.

As soon as they entered the canyon, Zhao Hai's mind buzzed. As he had expected, the improved land in the canyon had once again turned back to its original state.

After a while, Zhao Hai sighed and carefully examined the land. Upon closer inspection, he really did notice something. He found no footprints on the land, meaning that no monsters had come here. So how did the land turn into this state?

Zhao Hai looked at the land in confusion, while Glen sighed beside him and said, "It seems this is where the flying monsters detoxify. There are no monster footprints on the ground, but there are many black spots on the canyon walls. It seems these are the toxins excreted by the flying monsters."

Hearing Glen's words, Zhao Hai also looked at the canyon walls and indeed found many black spots. It seemed that Glen was right, and the flying monsters came here to detoxify.

Zhao Hai was puzzled. "It's strange that the monsters in the Corpse Swamp don't detoxify in the same place. Flying monsters and ground monsters are not in the same place. What's going on? Are the ones in the sky and the ones on the ground fighting over the toilet?"

At this moment, Merlin, who was wandering around the land, suddenly shouted excitedly, "Young Master, come and look, Young Master."

Zhao Hai and Glen were both taken aback, not knowing why Merlin was so excited. They quickly walked over, but when they saw what was in front of Merlin, they were also stunned.

What was in front of Merlin was not anything special, just a small seedling, a young corn seedling that had just sprouted.

This small seedling was not very noticeable, but don't forget that the land here had turned into black soil. Under these conditions, for the seedling to still grow was quite strange.

Both of them stared at the small seedling in confusion. Zhao Hai asked in puzzlement, "What's going on? The land has already turned like that, how can it still grow?"

Merlin and Glen also didn't know how to answer. This question was also a mystery to them. Zhao Hai, not believing in evil, dug up the soil around the seedling and found that the black soil was only on the surface. The roots of the seedling were still in good soil and had grown quite robustly, which is why the seedling could still grow.

Seeing this situation, Zhao Hai was stunned. He stared at the roots of the seedling, his mind racing.

When he was on Earth, he had gone to the countryside to see people planting corn. When they took out the seeds, Zhao Hai was surprised. He had never thought that corn seeds would look like that. They were very different from the golden corn he usually saw. The seeds were actually pink, with a very strange color.

At that time, Zhao Hai was very curious. He thought the seeds were naturally that color, but when he asked, the people laughed and told him that corn seeds were not that color. They had been soaked in a pesticide to prevent them from being eaten by insects after being planted.

This was in the north, where the climate was such that people generally did not germinate the corn seeds before planting. If you wanted the corn to sprout early, you could soak the seeds in water to germinate them and then plant them. Of course, the water could also contain pesticides.

Of course, what Zhao Hai thought of was not just the pesticide issue. He wondered if the corn seeds in the space could also be soaked in space water and then planted, and if watering them with space water could make the corn grow without improving the land, as space water could detoxify.

Glen and Merlin also stared at the seeds, equally surprised. They thought that after this disaster, the corn planted here would be destroyed, but they didn't expect the corn to still survive.

Zhao Hai dug around another seedling and found that the other corn seeds had also sprouted and were about to emerge from the soil.

Zhao Hai patted the soil in his hands, stood up, and turned to Glen and Merlin, saying, "Grandpa Glen, Grandma Merlin, after we go back and settle down, let's plant the land here. We can use space water to germinate the corn seeds and then water the seedlings with space water when we plant them. Space water can detoxify and improve the land. Let's see if we can succeed. If we do, we might be able to plant more land every day."

Merlin was taken aback and turned to Zhao Hai, saying, "Young Master, isn't it stipulated that only ten acres of land can be improved each day in the space?"

Zhao Hai smiled slightly and said, "Of course, that's the rule, but we're not using the space to improve the land ourselves. We're just using space water, and there are no rules about using space water. So we can do it ourselves and plant more land. We can also treat it as an experiment. We have over ten thousand pounds of corn, and we can use it as seeds. There's no harm in trying."

Before Merlin could speak, Glen nodded and said, "Young Master's idea is good, but won't we use up all the water in the space?"

Zhao Hai smiled slightly and said, "I don't think so. We have so many people, and we eat and drink in the space every day, using a lot of water, but have you ever seen the water in the space decrease?"

Glen recalled and said, "It hasn't decreased. This is indeed a good method. However, Young Master, I still think we should first deliver the radishes to the Makider Trading Company and exchange them for what we need. Then we can plant oil trees and alfalfa on the mountain to gradually improve the land. Watering the mountain with space water can shorten the growth time of the oil trees. This way, regardless of whether the crops are bountiful, we will have a steady income."

Zhao Hai nodded and said, "Yes, that's what we should do. However, I'm a bit worried. If we go to deliver the radishes, what will happen to the people in the castle? I'm worried that if we leave for a while, the monsters might attack again, and they won't be able to defend themselves."

Glen chuckled and said, "Young Master, what's there to worry about? We can take everyone in the space. Since the space moves with you, wherever you go, the space goes with you. We can just put them in the space and take them with us."

Zhao Hai was taken aback, then smiled. He had forgotten this point. Since he had the space, he could take everyone, and even if it delayed the planting, the safety of the people was the most important.

Merlin also nodded and said, "This is a good idea. Let's go back and prepare. By the way, Young Master, shouldn't we also disguise the castle? The people on the continent should already know about the disaster in the Black Soil Wasteland. They will certainly send people to investigate. We might as well pretend to be dead, so they won't find us. If we do this, we might not have to worry about those people in the future."

Glen smiled and said, "That might be difficult. You've already cleaned the castle thoroughly. If someone comes to investigate, it might not be hidden. However, if we all disappear, they won't have anywhere to look. This time, we won't be gone for too long. We need to sell the radishes and find more unique seeds."

Merlin smiled bitterly. She hadn't realized that cleaning too quickly could also be a problem. Zhao Hai smiled and said, "Alright, let's do it. We need to leave as soon as possible so that those people can't find us."

Glen smiled and said, "Then let's go, Young Master. We'll leave immediately after we get back. We have a lot to do this time, and we'll have even more to do when we return."

Zhao Hai and Merlin both nodded, and the three of them hurried back to the castle. This disaster was indeed a great calamity for them, but it was also an opportunity, an opportunity to escape the surveillance of the major families.