Chapter 16: Proportion

Zhao Hai casually tossed the water orb into the spring within his space. Since the water wasn't toxic and the quality was decent, he decided to let it return to its source.

Next, Zhao Hai turned his gaze toward the pile of unprocessed black soil. It wasn't a massive amount, just a mound about half a meter high.

Zhao Hai now knew he could use the spatial soil and spatial water to transform this black soil, but he wasn't in a hurry to start. He wanted to conduct some experiments first to find the optimal transformation formula.

After staring at the pile of black soil for a moment, Zhao Hai said in a low voice, "Shovel, divide this into ten equal parts."

As soon as the command was issued, before the Shovel could even move, the black soil on the ground automatically divided itself into ten equal portions. Seeing this, Zhao Xin couldn't help but feel a surge of joy; it seemed that as long as something entered this space, it could be manipulated according to his will. This was truly wonderful.

With this thought in mind, Zhao Hai decided to test further. He said solemnly, "Space, calculate the optimal ratio of spatial soil to spatial water for improving black soil."

"Permission exceeded. Unable to calculate!"

"Damn it. Relying on heaven and earth is nothing compared to relying on oneself. Better to do it myself," Zhao Hai muttered under his breath. He filled a bucket with spring water from the springhead, carried it over, and took a small shovel to scoop out a portion of spatial soil.

The reason Zhao Hai wanted to calculate this ratio was that he feared using too much spatial soil would deplete the soil within the space. If that happened, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

Currently, the space was Zhao Hai's greatest reliance. If the space were compromised, all his plans would vanish into thin air, leaving him unable to achieve anything. He would return to that state of being penniless, guarding a dead land and waiting for death.

With this in mind, Zhao Hai wanted to find the perfect ratio of spatial soil and spatial water. This would not only improve the black soil more effectively but also ensure that neither resource was overused.

Although the space currently functioned much like the basic settings of the game he had played, it had become his final lifeline. He could no longer afford to be casual as if he were playing a game; every step had to be calculated.

Zhao Hai first sprinkled the spatial water onto the black soil, watching the changes intently while carefully calculating the ratio.

When the spatial water hit the black soil, it was like celestial dew from a Guanyin willow vase. The black soil underwent an immediate transformation. The oily, sand-like blackness gradually receded, replaced by the characteristic color of fertile black earth. The sandy particles within also slowly vanished, turning into ordinary soil texture.

Once that small pile of black soil was completely transformed, Zhao Hai carefully calculated the ratio: it was approximately fifteen to one. In other words, using one-fifteenth the volume of water could transform a pile of black soil.

Zhao Hai was quite satisfied with this result; it meant the spatial water had a very strong ability to improve black soil. Next, he sprinkled spatial soil onto another pile. This time, the change was different from when he used water. The soil transformed by spatial soil looked even more fertile than that transformed by water, but the ratio of spatial soil to black soil was ten to one.

Zhao Hai turned to a third pile. This time, he used spatial water and spatial soil at a nine-to-one ratio. The result was successful, but the improved soil was no different from the one improved with only spatial water.

He tried an eight-to-two ratio, and the result was the same. He tried seven-to-three, and the result was still the same. At a four-to-six ratio, the black soil became as fertile as the soil improved with pure spatial soil. At five-to-five and six-to-four, there appeared to be no significant difference.

By now, Zhao Hai no longer needed to experiment. Using spatial water and spatial soil at a six-to-four ratio seemed to be the most reasonable method; it wouldn't cause excessive waste and yielded the best soil quality.

Satisfied with these experimental results, Zhao Hai put the bucket back in its place, returned the soil to the ground, and left the space.

Back in his room, Zhao Hai sat quietly, organizing the gains from this trip to the space. The land had upgraded, meaning he could begin farming; he had found the optimal formula for improving black soil. He needed to start preparing immediately. It was already April; if he didn't start now, he would miss the farming season.

Although Zhao Hai knew nothing about agriculture, he understood the basics: spring planting and autumn harvest. Since it was just the beginning of spring, it was time to plant.

Currently, his space contained two hundred gold coins, six bags of forage seed, two bags of cabbage seed, two bags of corn seed, two bags of wheat seed, and his warehouse held eighty thousand catties of radishes from the previous season. This was his current net worth.

Fortunately, all the seeds could be brought out of the space for use. This meant that once he improved the land outside, he could plant the seeds produced within the space.

Thinking this, Zhao Hai walked outside. He needed to measure the land as quickly as possible to begin the improvement process. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Mutou and Shishi standing guard at the door; it seemed no one had come looking for him.

Zhao Hai nodded to the two of them. "Mutou, go find a coil of rope and a ruler. We're going to measure the land." Although Mutou didn't know why Zhao Hai wanted to do this, he complied and went to find them immediately.

Since they were in the Black Soil Wasteland, a place where nothing existed, Green had prepared almost everything needed for survival. The largest portion was grain and seeds, but various daily necessities like ropes and rulers had also been prepared in abundance.

However, Mutou did not rush off. Instead, he turned to Zhao Hai and said, "Young Master, it's almost lunchtime. Grandma Merlin has returned to prepare lunch for you. Let's wait until after we eat."

Zhao Hai paused and looked at the sky; it was indeed midday. Hearing Mutou's words, he felt a bit hungry. He nodded. "Alright, we'll talk after lunch." With that, he led the two toward the castle dining hall.

As they entered the dining hall, they saw Merlin and Meg setting the table. Seeing Zhao Hai, Merlin bowed. "Young Master, you're up. I was just about to send Meg to call you for lunch."

Zhao Hai smiled. "I'm up, Grandma Merlin. In the afternoon, don't have the slaves clean the caves; wait until tomorrow. Since the Blue-Eyed Rabbits can't be transported in right now, use the afternoon to prepare the ruler and rope. We need to measure the black soil outside. Mark it every ten acres. Spring plowing is coming soon; we have to hurry."

Upon hearing this, Merlin's expression turned grim. "Young Master, that black soil outside cannot be farmed at all. Although we bought many seeds, they are meant for the mountains. Planting them in the black soil would be a total waste. Measuring it is useless."

Zhao Hai smiled. "Don't worry, Grandma Merlin. I have a way to improve the black soil outside. I can turn it into fertile land suitable for farming. You just need to be responsible for measuring it."

Merlin's eyes lit up. "Young Master, are you serious? You truly have a way to improve the land and make it farmable?" Her voice trembled with excitement. The Black Soil Wasteland was the largest plain in the entire AKS Empire, covering a third of its total area. However, it had never been counted as part of the empire's territory because it was considered a dead land.

But if this land could be farmed and crops could grow, what would it become? It would become the wealthiest, most coveted region in the entire AKS Empire.

Although the Ark Continent was a magical civilization where people prioritized magic, martial arts, and mana crystals, it remained an indisputable fact that in any era or plane, agriculture was the foundation of a nation.

Food is the lifeblood of the people; no matter how strong your magic is, it cannot be eaten! No matter how high your martial arts are, you still need to eat! Even the wealthiest nation cannot afford to leave its land unplanted. No country would ever leave the vital matter of food security entirely to the whims of other nations; to do so would be to invite imminent destruction.

If all the land in the Black Soil Wasteland could be farmed, it would undoubtedly become the granary of the entire continent. There was no other place on the continent as flat and easy to cultivate as this.

Most importantly, and the reason for Merlin's intense excitement, was the political situation. To ensure the Buda family would never have a chance to rise again, His Majesty AKS Abyor, witnessed by messengers from the Temple and other nations, had reached an agreement with the Buda family. Under the gaze of the gods, the Black Soil Wasteland was designated as the permanent fiefdom of the Buda family.

One should not underestimate this agreement. Because it was witnessed by international envoys and recognized by the Temple, it carried the witness of the gods. Anyone who dared violate it would be seen as defying the divine and would face the wrath of all powers on the continent and divine punishment.

Furthermore, due to the presence of the international envoys, even if the AKS Empire were to fall and other nations took control of the land, the Black Soil Wasteland would remain the property of the Buda family. No empire, including the Temple, had the authority to reclaim it.

Imagine the scene when Zhao Hai had completely improved this land. Zhao Hai would possess the largest fiefdom on the Ark Continent—a permanent one that no one had the power to take away!

How could Merlin not be excited? If Zhao Hai truly improved the land, the Buda family would become the wealthiest and most powerful family on the entire Ark Continent.