Chapter 213
Inside the insulation hood of the research laboratory, the mercury column of the thermometer was fixed at -48°C. Even with the three manganese crystal insulation devices that Su Jing had exchanged turned on inside the hood, the temperature could only be maintained at around 5°C.
Several pots of heat-resistant wheat, which had been successfully cultivated during the polar day, now have all their leaves wilted and turned black. Their roots are frozen stiff by the low temperature and crumble at the slightest touch, scattering into the cultivation substrate, completely lifeless.
Agricultural expert Professor Li squatted in front of the cultivation pot, his hands, gloved against the cold, trembling slightly as his fingertips brushed against the cracked wheat stalks, his eyes filled with anxiety and resentment.
"This is the third attempt. The cold resistance limit of heat-resistant wheat is only -10℃. Even if it is kept at 5℃ with insulation equipment, it still cannot survive without sunlight for photosynthesis."
He turned to his assistant beside him, his voice hoarse, “With no sun during the polar night and a sharp drop in temperature, existing crops will either freeze to death or be unable to synthesize nutrients. If we can’t find any food that can grow in this environment, large-scale food shortages will break out at various cold-weather shelters in less than a month.”
On the other side of the laboratory, several plant-based ability users were concentrating, their fingertips glowing with a pale green light, trying to use their abilities to grow a modified potato.
However, as soon as the pale green supernatural power came into contact with the potato tuber, it was weakened by most of the surrounding cold air. The potato not only failed to sprout, but was also frozen even harder, and fine ice cracks appeared on its skin.
“Professor Li, no! Our ability level is too low. At most, we can only withstand temperatures as low as -20°C, and we can’t replace sunlight to provide the energy needed for photosynthesis, so we can’t germinate the seeds.” One of the ability users withdrew his hand and said helplessly.
Outside the laboratory, Wang Peng from the official logistics team was urgently communicating with Su Jing through a communicator: "'I am the God of Wealth,' the research laboratory urgently needs a batch of high-strength insulation modules and energy conversion equipment to maintain the temperature of the cultivation environment and the operation of artificial light sources. We have prepared 50 Tier 3 Demon Cores. Can we exchange them for them at the previous bulk discount? Also, do you have any special plant seeds or energy resources that can replace sunlight?"
At this moment, Su Jing was sitting in the studio of the villa. On the metal table in front of her were various plant seed samples that she had collected before, including cold-resistant wheat seeds found from the abandoned farm, seeds of mutated plants, and spiritual herb seeds that she had reserved beforehand.
She looked at the message on the communicator and quickly replied on the screen: "1. Manganese crystal insulation module (enhanced type, can maintain a constant temperature of 15℃ in an environment of -60℃): 1 third-tier demon core = 3, 50 demon cores can be exchanged for 150, and 10 spare modules are given as a gift."
2. Solar energy conversion storage device (compatible with artificial light sources in polar nights, can be powered by demon core energy): 1 Tier 3 demon core = 2 units, 50 demon cores can be exchanged for 100 units;
3. Provide 10 portions of mutated cold-resistant grass seeds (taken from deep mountains, can withstand -30℃, no strong light required), which will cost an additional 5 Tier 3 Demon Cores;
4. Materials will be delivered within 2 hours. Please carefully review the installation instructions for the received research equipment.
Upon receiving the reply, Wang Peng immediately felt relieved and replied, "Thank you! I have paid for 55 Tier 3 Demon Cores. Please ship them as soon as possible. The laboratory cannot wait any longer!" He knew that the food shortage during the polar night was more deadly than the low temperature—the low temperature could be resisted with Xuanbing Pills and warm clothing, but without food, even if one survived the cold, one would starve to death.
After confirming that she had received the demon core, Su Jing took out the insulation module, energy storage device, and mutated grass seeds from her space and sent them through the system channel.
She looked at the remaining spirit herb seeds on the table, a faint green spiritual energy emanating from her fingertips as she sensed the energy within the seeds—
The spirit herb seeds are naturally able to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, do not need to rely on sunlight, and are extremely cold-resistant. They may be the key to cultivating food during polar nights. However, she did not hand them over immediately. Instead, she decided to observe the official research progress first. The principle of equivalent exchange cannot be broken. The value of the spirit herb seeds is far higher than that of ordinary mutated seeds, and they cannot be easily exchanged.
The laboratory was put into use immediately after receiving the supplies.
The manganese crystal insulation module was installed around the cultivation area to form a sealed insulation layer, and the temperature inside the cover quickly stabilized at 12℃.
The solar energy conversion and storage device is connected to an artificial light source. The staff put the third-tier demon core into the energy tank. The pure energy of the demon core is quickly converted into stable light energy, simulating the spectrum required for plant photosynthesis, which covers the entire cultivation area.
Professor Li carefully scattered the mutated, cold-resistant grass seeds provided by Su Jing into the cultivation substrate, and then had the plant-type ability user use their ability to help them grow.
This time, the pale green supernatural power was not weakened by the cold air. After the seed came into contact with the light energy and supernatural power, it sprouted tiny shoots in just half an hour. The shoots were pale green and covered with a layer of fine down, which was obviously a special structure to resist the low temperature.
"It's sprouted! It's really sprouted!" the assistant shouted excitedly, breaking the silence of the laboratory.
Professor Li could not hide his excitement and immediately used instruments to test the growth status of the buds: "The root system is active, chlorophyll synthesis is normal, and photosynthesis can be carried out normally even under artificial light. The cold resistance test shows that it can withstand a low temperature of -40℃. This is a breakthrough!"
He immediately ordered, "Increase the scale of cultivation, and at the same time try to use the genes of this mutant grass to improve the seeds of heat-resistant wheat and potatoes, and strive to cultivate grain crops that are both cold-resistant and can produce high yields under artificial light!"
The good news from the lab was quickly transmitted to the chat area of China via communicator, eliciting cheers:
[Official Logistics Team]: "Urgent Announcement: Initial progress has been made in the cultivation of polar night food. The mutant cold-resistant grass seeds provided by 'I am the God of Wealth' have successfully germinated and can withstand temperatures as low as -40℃. They do not require natural sunlight and will be further improved into a high-yield food. There is no need for excessive panic!"
【North Wind Howls】: "Great! Finally, I don't have to worry about running out of food! Thank you, official team! Thank you, 'I am the God of Wealth'!"
【Hanjiang Duyu】: "Those people who hoarded grain before were really stupid. Only by following the authorities and abiding by the rules can you survive!"
[Nanshan Snow]: "Can the mutated grass be improved into food? How long will it take? Our food reserves are almost empty!"
Professor Li personally replied in the chat area: "The cultivation of the first batch of improved seeds is expected to be completed within 10 days, and the first season of food can be harvested within 20 days. During this period, the official will uniformly allocate the existing food reserves, giving priority to the elderly, children and researchers. Everyone can exchange the rationed food with demon cores through the system shop. Hoarding and looting are strictly prohibited!"
The shadow of the food shortage had not completely dissipated. At a temporary shelter in the city, a refugee, unable to exchange for enough food, attempted to break into the supply storage area to steal.
Wrapped in a thin thermal suit, he rushed toward the gate of the storage area during a shift change, only to be stopped by the laser warning device at the gate. A red beam swept across his leg, leaving a scorch mark in an instant.
"Let me go! I'm starving! Why can he get more food, but I can't!"
The refugee roared, his voice filled with despair and anger—he only had half a first-tier demon core, which could only be exchanged for two days' worth of food, while a refugee next to him, who held two second-tier demon cores, had exchanged for a week's worth of food. This disparity made him completely lose his mind.
The guards immediately stepped forward, subdued him, and pinned him to the ground: "The exchange rules are clearly written. Exchange is based on the number of demon cores. No one can make exceptions! If you want to exchange more, go kill mutated beasts to earn demon cores. If you dare to steal again, you will be expelled from the cold-proof point according to the rules!"
The refugee struggled, but was bound by the winter clothing. He could only watch helplessly as the food rations in the storage area filled him with greed and resentment. Finally, he was dragged out of the shelter and disappeared into the darkness of the polar night—no one knew if he would survive the night.
Such conflicts occur frequently at various cold-weather shelters.
The extreme cold of the polar night makes hunting mutated beasts extremely dangerous. Many people dare not go out because they do not have enough cold-weather gear. Naturally, they cannot earn demon cores, and therefore cannot exchange them for food and Xuanbing pills. They can only struggle in hunger and cold, and take risks to plunder supplies.
Those with the ability and equipment formed small teams to hunt polar night mutated beasts during the day (there is no day or night during the polar night, only periods of slightly bright light). They could earn demon cores to exchange for supplies and obtain the meat of mutated beasts as supplementary food, making their survival conditions far better than those of ordinary refugees.
In global public chat, the food shortage situation in other countries is even more severe.
They lacked the scientific research capabilities of a nation like China, and they also lacked the insulation equipment and mutated seeds provided by Su Jing. They could only barely survive by relying on stockpiled food and hunting mutated beasts, and the death toll continued to rise.
[United States - Heart of Steel]: "Our food reserves are only enough to last 5 days. Is there any country willing to exchange for cold-resistant seeds? We are willing to exchange 10 fourth-tier demon cores!"
[Russian Polar Bear]: "The polar night mutated beasts are too powerful. The hunting team has suffered heavy losses, and our food and cold-weather supplies are almost exhausted. 'I am the God of Wealth,' we are willing to exchange 20 fourth-tier demon cores for your mutated grass seeds and insulation equipment!"
[Ou·Canyang]: "Please, 'I am the God of Wealth,' open the grain exchange channel! We are willing to exchange gold and minerals, as long as we can get cold-resistant seeds!"
Su Jing looked at these messages calmly, offering no response. She opened the system shop backend and listed "Polar Night Emergency Rations" (made with previously stored grains and mutated beast meat, vacuum-packed, and durable) separately for the China region chat.
Exchange rules: 1 Tier 1 Demon Core = 3 portions (1 portion can sustain 1 person's rations for 1 day), with a daily purchase limit of 10 portions per person. The official bulk exchange is 1 Tier 3 Demon Core = 100 portions.
As soon as the message was sent out, the orders in the regional chat of the Flower Country were instantly flooded, while she completely ignored the complaints and pleas in the global public chat - food is the foundation of survival, and she would not easily give it to other countries unless they offered high-level demon cores of sufficient value and without threatening the supply of the Flower Country.
In the laboratory, the cultivation work is in full swing. Professor Li's team used the mutant grass gene provided by Su Jing to successfully improve potato seeds. The newly cultivated "cold potato" germinates three times faster than ordinary potatoes, has a more developed root system, can survive at a low temperature of -50℃, and matures in 20 days under artificial light. Its yield is twice that of ordinary potatoes.
"Great! The cold-resistant potatoes have been successfully cultivated!" the assistant cheered excitedly, digging the mature cold-resistant potatoes out of the substrate. The potatoes had a light yellow skin, were plump, and showed no signs of frost damage.
Professor Li immediately had the cold potatoes cooked and tested. The nutritional information showed that the protein and starch content was comparable to that of ordinary potatoes, which could fully meet the human body's needs.
He immediately reported to the authorities via communicator: "Cold-resistant potatoes have been successfully cultivated! They can be planted on a large scale. Request the immediate allocation of manganese crystal insulation equipment and energy storage devices to establish small cultivation areas at various frost protection points to solve the food shortage problem!"
The authorities responded immediately, exchanging an additional 500 insulation modules and 300 energy storage devices for Su Jing, paid with 180 third-tier demon cores.
Su Jing shipped the goods according to the rules and posted a message in the chat of the Flower Kingdom region: "The Cold Potato Seeds have been officially cultivated in batches and can be exchanged for with Demon Cores through official channels. For individual users, 1 Tier 1 Demon Core = 5 seeds. For official batch exchange, 1 Tier 3 Demon Core = 200 seeds. It is recommended that strongholds with the necessary conditions establish their own cultivation areas to ensure the supply of food."
After the news was released, the chat in the China region was in an uproar again, with various strongholds placing orders to exchange for seeds, and the shadow of the food shortage gradually dissipated.
Looking at the data on cold potato cultivation transmitted from the laboratory, Su Jing had a new plan in mind. The low temperatures of the polar night continued, and although the country's food problem had been initially solved, stronger cold-proof equipment was still a necessity, especially for researchers and teams hunting mutated beasts. They needed equipment that could withstand temperatures of -60°C or even lower. It was time to start building the cold-proof manganese crystal suit that she had promised before.
She put away her communicator, walked to the metal table in the workshop, took out a large amount of Tier 3 manganese crystals and the cold-resistant beast pelts she had collected before (obtained from hunting polar night mutant beasts), activated her Tier 3 mineral ability, and her fingertips glowed with a blue-green light as she began to forge the prototype of the cold-resistant manganese crystal suit.
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