Chapter 380: The Divine Farmer

[Research Sphere]

[Quality: Epic | Type: Laboratory]

[Area: 7,000 square meters]

[Recruitable Troops: Geneticist — Epic; Mechanist — Epic; Riftstrider — Rare]

[Available Research: Riftstrider Mech; Spirit-Sealing Array; Miracle Serum; Seraph Serum; Awakening Serum...]

[Building Traits: Research speed +100%; technology-skill proficiency growth +100%.]

The troops and Building traits interested Cassian less than one particular question. He wanted to know what Life Essence could do for Genetic Unlocking.

"Lys. Time to work."

Light flashed, and Lysette appeared in the Research Section.

She glanced at the floating Sphere without showing much surprise. Then she tilted her head toward him.

"You certainly know how to be a boss. I’ve only just settled in, and you’re already putting me to work."

Veyra had spent the intervening half day showing her around the Domain and arranging the access she needed. Her Affinity had risen to 85. Cassian was pleased; apparently, she liked her new surroundings.

He adopted a serious expression.

"The Realms are dangerous. Our Domain is surrounded by powerful enemies. We can’t afford to waste a day."

He placed more than a dozen additional bottles of Life Essence in her arms.

"Only by continuing to grow can we reach the top—and gain the strength to solve the disaster in your old world."

"I used to give my people speeches like that when I was in charge." A trace of nostalgia crossed her face. She accepted the bottles all the same. "Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll work hard. I want to see what this Essence can do just as much as you do."

A column of light descended from the Sphere and drew her inside.

Cassian watched her go with a complicated expression.

"The new Heroes are getting harder to manage."

She was only eighty, but he suspected she knew more tricks than Aurelia had picked up in seven thousand years.

——

Founding a Nation had changed one of his available Buildings. The Palace unlocked at Rank XVIII had become a Royal Palace.

It required a tremendous quantity of resources. Fortunately, Cassian had already gathered them.

"Build the Royal Palace. Complete it immediately."

He committed the materials and paid the completion fee.

"Merge the Lord’s Hall into the Royal Palace."

Soon, a magnificent palace stood at the center of his Domain, replacing the old Hall. It rose a hundred meters high and covered more than a hundred thousand square meters.

"If the Domain hadn’t expanded when I became Sovereign, finding room for that would have been difficult."

He admired the gleaming Building, then turned to Veyra. Her eyes were shining.

"We’ll have a larger home from now on."

She gave him an inviting look.

"It might feel a little empty with only a few of us. Why not let Rhea, Nine, and the others move in too?"

Cassian’s eyes brightened. He gave her a playful pat on the bottom.

"Approved."

The Royal Palace had many functions, foremost among them the appointment of national officers. He had no time to examine the rest closely. The sun was sinking, and his guests would soon arrive.

This would be the first gathering of the Divine Nation’s leading Lords. It deserved something special.

Using the tea set’s utensils, he took out a leaf that had already been brewed twice and listed it on the Worlds Market.

Then he opened his Gate’s access permissions to the invited guests.

Less than a second later, Nessa stepped through with a spring in her stride.

Cassian stared at her.

"How long have you been waiting?"

"It’s been ages since I visited. I was looking forward to it."

She caught his arm and leaned against it. Then she noticed the enormous Building behind him and stopped.

"A Royal Palace!"

Her excitement burst out all at once.

"Cassian, can I stay for a few days? Just save me a little room!"

He patted her head.

"You can have a large one."

Elara and the rest of Divine Province’s leading Lords soon emerged from the Gate.

Darian had grown up around palaces. Even so, he looked at this one with feeling.

"You really do move quickly, Cassian."

Elara admired it for a while before her expression turned troubled.

"Divine Nation is one thing. Provinces and Nations can choose their names freely. But if you ever establish a greater Domain, please don’t call it Divine Domain."

She had warned him about this once before, when Tidecrown became Divine Province.

His answer had not improved.

"Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing."

"That doesn’t make me feel any better."

The name of a greater Domain was unique. A name invoking divinity could bring extraordinary power, but the Realm’s qualification trial would be just as extraordinary.

Even rulers as capable and ambitious as Edran Frost had paid dearly for exalted names. And they had still stopped short of claiming a title as absolute as Immortal alone.

It was a question for another day. For now, Cassian had a Nation to run.

Within a dozen minutes or so, all twelve allied Governors had arrived, including Lana, Alwin, Silas, and Seren. Cassian had also invited Orion Valcrest, but the man had politely declined again. He seemed intent on avoiding the other Valcrests.

Darian did not disappoint Cassian.

He proudly brought out a pot of Enlightenment Tea—its third infusion—and poured everyone a little less than half a cup.

"We’re in luck! That Lord on the Worlds Market listed another leaf just in time. Only two infusions used!"

Everyone perked up at the name.

"We owe you for this, Darian." Lana took a careful sip, then sighed in satisfaction. "I’ve heard about the tea being sold there. The prices are enough to make me keep my distance."

"We’ve fought together. What’s a little tea between comrades?"

Darian’s generosity was effortless.

Lana cradled her cup and continued.

"There’s a rumor that the tea seller is the same Lord who supplies all that Legendary produce. Florentia’s Elves call the seller the Divine Farmer. They’re offering a great deal of money to learn who it is."

Alwin looked up.

"Then I have something interesting to add. House Valcrest received news about this Divine Farmer only half an hour ago."

He was nearing thirty, the foremost of his generation within the House’s ruling line, with more than ten years of experience in older sectors. When he lowered his voice, everyone listened.

"The seller... may be a Homeworld Lord."

The table stirred.

Transaction fees had narrowed the seller’s origin to one of roughly a thousand nearby civilizations. The Homeworld lay within that range, but a Lord from their own world producing so much was still difficult to believe.

Even Cassian felt a small jolt of alarm.

"A Homeworld Lord?" Nessa looked toward him immediately. "Then it must be Cassian."

Darian gave her a light tap.

"Don’t jump to conclusions. Even with those Time-Space Farms, he couldn’t produce that much Legendary spirit food."

Cassian let Darian’s old assumption stand.

"Our leader may be unbeatable in a fight, but farming is a different specialty," Alwin added quickly, sparing him any possible embarrassment. "At noon today, Florentia’s ambassador to the Homeworld visited Bharan."

"Bharan? Oh—I know who you mean."

Darian seemed to remember something.

"A Farming Lord suddenly made a name for himself there. People say he was a powerful farmer of the Third Realm’s Peacock Dynasty in his previous life. Several of his farming skills have reached Transcendence. Apparently, his old memories only returned a few months after this sector opened."

He frowned.

"But is he really that capable?"

"That’s the one," Alwin said. "According to reliable reports, he has admitted that he’s the Divine Farmer."

Alwin shook his head in admiration.

"They say an Elder Buddha Bodhisattva favored him in his previous life and gave him a Bodhi Tree. Now he’s obtained Enlightenment Tea as well. Quite a fortune to carry from one life into the next."

At the mention of the Elder Buddhas, the mood around the table grew more serious.

They were a powerful race, no weaker than Angels, Demons, or Logicians, and one of Bharan’s strongest sources of support.

Tobias frowned.

"A Farming Lord that capable, with Florentia recognizing him too... That isn’t good news for us."

Bharan was hardly friendly toward the Crown, least of all the thirteen Provinces now gathered under the Divine Nation.

"Let’s leave this Divine Farmer for another time."

Cassian smiled and clapped his hands, bringing the conversation back to the evening’s purpose.

"I invited you here mainly to discuss the Divine Nation’s offices. What would you suggest?"