Mingyue's task for Bao Bao was to lead the survivors in reclaiming land and farming.
The ice had melted, and the floods had receded.
With the threat of low temperatures gone, the climate had returned to normal.
Everyone could leave the Purple Gold Palace and rebuild their homes.
The first step was to solve the food problem.
Although the food Mingyue had provided in the Purple Gold Palace could last for about half a year, the growth cycle of plants required time, so preparations needed to be made early.
Even though Mingyue possessed the Water of Life, which could shorten growth periods, she didn't want to use it yet. It wasn't an emergency, and she didn't want to waste it.
Mingyue had said she wouldn't hold Bao Bao accountable, but the desolate, scorched earth outside was, after all, Bao Bao's doing.
So, what she called a reward was actually a way to make Bao Bao bear responsibility.
"Sister, I don't know how to farm! Can I have a different reward?"
Bao Bao looked worried, his face creased like a bitter melon.
"No. After the baptism of your Three-Legged Golden Crow Fire, the soil is now filled with a large amount of fire element, making it impossible to grow anything. Only you can neutralize the fire element now to allow for sowing. That's why you're assigned to lead everyone in reclaiming the land. You reclaim, they farm."
Mingyue said sternly, then took out the crop seeds she had collected before the apocalypse from her spatial storage.
She had used quite a lot in Yunmeng Mountain, leaving only this last portion.
"Don't worry, I'll help you. Ren Jian can also help. You could also try to elevate other elementalists' fire abilities to contain the Golden Crow Fire imbued with true solar power, and then you'll have even more helpers."
Ba Jiu comforted Bao Bao, offering advice from the side.
"I didn't realize you were such a strategist, Ba Jiu. Then this matter will be entrusted to the two of you."
Seeing that Ba Jiu, who used to be silent all day, was analyzing things so clearly, Mingyue nodded with satisfaction. Ba Jiu had now fully transformed into a human, his mind was sharp, and she felt very pleased.
With Ba Jiu's support, Bao Bao gained confidence.
The two excitedly went to find the elementalists to count how many fire elementalists there were and began preparing for the land reclamation. Mingyue and Ji Shiyou also left the Purple Gold Palace.
"Do you have something on your mind?"
Standing before the Purple Gold Palace, looking at the world shrouded in wisps of smoke, a scene of devastation resembling ruins, Mingyue asked.
"Nothing much. I was just thinking that reclaiming and farming isn't simple. It's not just about solving the problem of seeds and land. We also need tools. Otherwise, planting with bare hands will be very inefficient and won't allow for large-scale cultivation, thus still failing to solve the food problem. How about we go back to Yunmeng Mountain? To see if there are any tools left undamaged in the base within the mountain. Or, you could find another problematic world and go on a mission to bring back some tools using your spatial ability?"
Ji Shiyou said softly, his arm around Mingyue's shoulders. He hadn't spoken up earlier when he saw Ba Jiu and Bao Bao full of confidence. His foresight was much further than Ba Jiu's. In this world, everything was wiped clean. Forget farming tools, there wasn't even a wooden stick. They couldn't even practice primitive slash-and-burn agriculture and would have to rely solely on their hands. Therefore, knowing that Mingyue intended to reclaim the land, he thought of ways to help her share the burden and not let her get too tired.
"You are truly my capable assistant! I hadn't thought of things you've already considered for me."
Mingyue looked at Ji Shiyou and kissed him on the cheek. She truly hadn't considered Ji Shiyou's concerns. She was good at setting the overall direction, but when it came to refining details, she wasn't as meticulous as Ji Shiyou.
"I'm not just your capable assistant; I can also be your vanguard. This is what a perfect husband is, a man who always supports you!"
Ji Shiyou pulled Mingyue into his embrace and kissed her forehead. They had held three weddings in the apocalypse, modern times, and ancient times. They were truly husband and wife, but after returning, they were often separated and spent little time together. Now that only the two of them were left in the world, they both felt a surge of emotion.
"You two are really leisurely, being all lovey-dovey here? The sky is falling, and you're not even worried. I'm so busy at the Temporal Regulation Department that I'm spinning like a top and exhausted like a dog. Don't you feel ashamed acting like this?"
A sarcastic voice, out of place, interrupted their sweet moment. It was Qing Lan.
"How did you get here? Didn't I tell you not to look for me for anything, not even for important matters? Are you handling all the affairs of the Temporal Regulation Department?"
Mingyue looked at Qing Lan and said coldly. She hadn't expected Qing Lan to find her. Traveling between worlds was very difficult. Furthermore, according to the information provided by the Heavenly Dao Disk, there were two ways for the Temporal Monitoring Department to undertake missions in other worlds: one was to use the Heavenly Dao Disk, and the other was the department's temporal gate. Both methods could only be used to travel to problematic worlds, not normal ones. This was to prevent disrupting the world's operations by entering normal worlds. Otherwise, Ji Shiyou wouldn't have suggested she go on a mission to another world to find tools under the guise of an assignment. Now that the light spot of Tianlong Star had returned to normal, it was impossible to come through the temporal gate. So, she was curious how Qing Lan had arrived and why he had come. However, she had no good feelings towards Qing Lan or the Temporal Monitoring Department, so her words were very impolite, even tinged with disgust.
"Supervisor, that's unfair. You are the Supervisor, and I am merely a Monitor. If there's something I can't resolve, I must come to you, right? I'm different from you; I was born from chaos with the cultivation of a Quasi-Sage. Time and space travel is a piece of cake for me. As long as the world's operational trajectory isn't altered, I won't be rejected by the world's rules. What kind of world is this? It truly opens my eyes."
Qing Lan also looked down on Mingyue, bringing up his origin. Then, looking at the ruined world before him, he gaped. He had visited many worlds, but this was the first time he had seen such... such a special world.
"Brother Qing Lan, ah no! Elder Brother Qing Lan. You can freely travel through time and space to any world? I'm truly impressed. Could you do this little brother a favor?"
Upon hearing Qing Lan's words, Ji Shiyou's eyes lit up. He walked over, put his arm around Qing Lan's shoulder, and started to curry favor. He wanted to ask Qing Lan to help him get some tools. This way, Mingyue wouldn't have to work so hard, and missions inherently carried risks.
"Who's your brother? Let go. What was I just saying? You people are too carefree. Supervisor, aren't you concerned about why I'm here? As the Supervisor, you're too nonchalant about your work. Open the Heavenly Dao Disk and take a look; something big has happened."
Qing Lan pushed Ji Shiyou's arm off his shoulder, looking very impatient and even a little anxious.
"What is it? Can't you just say it directly? You're so hesitant, not like a man at all. Like an old woman. What's so important?"
Seeing Qing Lan push Ji Shiyou, Mingyue pulled Ji Shiyou back. She didn't want to see her man groveling to beg for help only to be scorned.
"The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is. In this past world, your mother's life trajectory is about to become abnormal. She's going to fall out of love and cheat on someone else. If this isn't stopped, the direct consequence will be your non-existence. This will change both the present and future worlds. Moreover, you are the Supervisor, and the interconnected worlds are even more numerous. The resulting butterfly effect is no different from the sky collapsing."
Seeing that Mingyue still seemed indifferent, Qing Lan shouted anxiously.
"My mother is cheating! What are you saying?"
Mingyue's mind couldn't quite grasp it, and she asked doubtfully.