34: Chapter 34 Ecological Perception

"System, is this Ecological Perception just used as a radar?" he asked in his mind. "It feels a bit overkill."

[Ecological Perception is a growable ability.]

[Currently in Elementary form, it only provides basic biological state perception.]

[The Host can consume points to upgrade and unlock more Advanced functions.]

[Such as: perceiving Spiritual Qi flow trajectories, analyzing energy interactions between species, predicting ecological change trends, etc.]

[Upgrade option: "Ecological Perception Enhancement", requires 200 points. Do you want to view details?]

"Let's see." Lin Muchen became interested.

The description popped up before his eyes.

[Ecological Perception Enhancement: After upgrading, the perception range expands to five hundred meters in radius, and accuracy increases by 300%.]

[New functions:]

[1. Spiritual Qi Vision: Can clearly "see" the distribution and flow direction of Spiritual Qi concentration in the air, soil, and water.]

[2. Energy Link: Can identify subtle energy transmission and transformation relationships between different species and landforms.]

[3. Status Pre-read: Has a very faint pre-judgment of the future behavior intentions of creatures within the perception range for several seconds.]

[Hint: After upgrading, it will greatly assist the Host in guiding Origin Star's ecological construction and building energy cycles.]

"Building energy cycles?" Lin Muchen caught the keyword. "What new gameplay is this?"

[Long-term Ecological Task (Series) has been updated.]

[Given that the Host has completed basic ecosystem construction, the associated sub-task is now released: "Establish Elementary Energy Cycle."]

[Task Description: Guide Origin Star's existing organisms and geological units (such as volcanoes, oceans) to form a preliminary spiritual power interaction network, achieving orderly flow and transformation of energy between land, ocean, and atmosphere.]

[Requirement: Establish at least one complete miniature energy chain including "geological energy release - biological absorption and transformation - Spiritual Qi feedback to environment."]

[Reward: 300 points, Feedback Efficiency permanently +0.5%, unlock subsequent ecological task clues.]

[Failure penalty: None.]

[Hint: The upgraded Ecological Perception ability is a key tool for completing this task.]

Lin Muchen glanced at his points balance, 327 points.

"Let's do it!" He didn't hesitate at all. "This task reward is sweet; 0.5% Feedback Efficiency is like adding a permanent buff to my Cultivate speed. 200 points for this is a huge profit."

[Exchange confirmed.]

[Ecological Perception Enhancement: -200 points.]

[Current points balance: 127 points.]

[Ability upgrading...]

A cool sensation spread from his Dantian, sweeping through his entire body instantly.

When Lin Muchen "looked" at Origin Star again, the entire Universe was different.

Before, he could only see the light dots and emotional colors of living beings.

Now, he saw "Qi currents."

Above the forest, a faint green halo floated, which was the vibrant Spiritual Qi emitted by plants, slowly rising.

On the ocean surface, a layer of blue water Spiritual Qi rippled with the waves.

The volcano was the most exaggerated, with streams of hot red Qi (geothermal heat mixed with fire Spiritual Qi) spewing out. Part of the red Qi rose into the sky, while another part drifted around with the volcanic ash.

He could even see that some volcanic ash fell on the soil at the edge of the forest, and that patch of soil immediately glowed faintly red, with a slightly higher Spiritual Qi concentration than the surrounding area.

"Oh my god..." Lin Muchen was stunned. "This perspective... it's like having a 'Spiritual Qi Filter' turned on."

"System, are those red Qi currents the geothermal energy released by the volcano?"

[Correct.]

[It contains trace amounts of fire-attributed Spiritual Qi and mineral essence.]

[Currently, most of this energy dissipates chaotically, with only a small amount passively absorbed by nearby soil and microorganisms, utilization rate is less than 5%.]

[Task Objective: Guide this energy to be efficiently absorbed and transformed by specific organisms, eventually feeding back into the environment in a purer, more ecologically absorbable form of Spiritual Qi, forming a cycle.]

Lin Muchen's mind raced.

"Guide... how do I guide it? I can't just move those Qi currents with my hands, can I?"

[The Host can concentrate their spirit and, through the upgraded Ecological Perception, exert a "tendency influence" on specific biological groups or subtle natural processes.]

[For example, you can strongly "wish" the Iron-Tooth Ant Colony to transport those Spiritual Qi-rich volcanic ash, and they will receive a faint guidance from your will.]

[Or, you can "suggest" Moonlight Grass (which prefers shade and is sensitive to mineral energy) to absorb more treated volcanic ash energy.]

[This guidance is very weak and will not violate biological instincts, but it is enough to promote changes in energy flow.]

"Understood, it's like being a 'Planet Project Manager,' assigning tasks to employees (species) below, and optimizing work processes." Lin Muchen realized.

He immediately began to try.

His consciousness focused on the area downwind of the volcano.

There was a pile of newly fallen volcanic ash, glowing red.

"Iron-toothed Ant brothers..." Lin Muchen muttered in his heart, "Over there, that reddish soil, it's good stuff, carry some back to your forest home to improve the quality of the soil around your nest..."

He concentrated his spirit and, through Ecological Perception, "broadcasted" the thought of "transporting volcanic ash" to the Iron-Tooth Ant Colony in that area, like a radio.

At first, there was no movement.

After a few seconds, a team of Iron-toothed Ants patrolling nearby suddenly stopped, their antennae wiggling.

Then, they actually turned towards the pile of volcanic ash and began to pick up small ash particles with their mandibles, forming a line and moving towards the forest.

"It's working!" Lin Muchen was delighted.

He continued to guide, encouraging more ant colonies to join this "Cross-Regional Logistics Project."

Soon, a "red ash particle transport line" composed of Iron-toothed Ants extended from the foot of the volcano towards the forest.

Next, Lin Muchen turned his attention to the Moonlight Grass that had recently been planted in the forest.

The Moonlight Grass was planted in the shade, its leaves emitting a soft, silvery-white glow in his conscious vision.

"Grass brothers and sisters," Lin Muchen began to "broadcast" again, "Later, the ant brothers will bring some 'nutrient soil' over, it has good stuff, absorb more, and after absorbing it..."

"Hmm, emit more 'fragrance' (purified Spiritual Qi)."

He deliberately linked the two thoughts of "absorbing volcanic ash energy" and "emitting purified Spiritual Qi."

The Moonlight Grass swayed gently, as if it had received something.

When the first wave of Iron-toothed Ants transported a small amount of volcanic ash to the soil near the Moonlight Grass.

Lin Muchen clearly "saw" that the roots of the Moonlight Grass immediately reacted, slightly extending towards those ash particles.

The silvery-white glow of the grass leaves brightened slightly.

Then, wisps of purer, softer, pale silver Spiritual Qi, compared to before, rose from the leaves of the Moonlight Grass and merged into the green Spiritual Qi halo of the forest.

This was not all.

The nearby Wind Chime Grass seemed to sense the special Spiritual Qi emitted by the Moonlight Grass and also swayed gently.

Emitting a pleasant "emotional fluctuation" that only Lin Muchen could perceive.

The faint glow on its leaves resonated weakly with the silver radiance of the Moonlight Grass.

A very faint, unique Spiritual Qi, mixed with the purifying power of the Moonlight Grass and the natural rhythm of the Wind Chime Grass, circulated among the few plants.

[Energy flow detected!]

[Geological energy (volcanic ash) → Transporter (Iron-toothed Ant) → Transformer (Moonlight Grass) → Spiritual Qi feedback (purified Spiritual Qi) → Resonator (Wind Chime Grass) → Environmental Spiritual Qi (forest).]

[A complete miniature energy chain has been initially formed!]

[Estimated energy utilization rate: increased from less than 5% to approximately 18%!]

[Judging...]

[Congratulations, Host, for completing the sub-task: "Establish Elementary Energy Cycle"!]

[Rewards issued:]

[points +300!]

[Feedback Efficiency increase: 4.0% → 4.5%!]

[Unlock subsequent ecological task clue: "Energy Cycle Network Expansion." (Requires establishing at least three different energy cycles and achieving network interweaving)]

[Current points balance: 427 points.]

"It's done!" Lin Muchen punched the air excitedly.

Almost simultaneously, a warmer current, purer and more "orderly" than before, surged from his Dantian.

This feedback spiritual power was no longer a hodgepodge; it clearly contained a hint of the cool purification from Moonlight Grass and the natural rhythm of Wind Chime Grass.

Making the entire spiritual power flow smoother and softer, and the nourishing effect on his Meridians seemed even better.

"4.5% feedback..." Lin Muchen felt the "experience points" surging within him. "This upgrade speed, even a rocket is too slow; it must be a spaceship."

"And with this energy cycle established, Origin Star itself feels more 'alive.'"

"The volcano isn't spewing for nothing, the ants aren't running for nothing, the grass isn't growing for nothing; everyone is working in a 'project team,' and finally, I, the 'boss,' get the dividends."

"This model is sustainable!"

He exited his introspection and rubbed his stomach.

In his Dantian, the miniature world that had just established its first "production line" was madly charging him at a super efficiency of 4.5%.

"Next step is to expand reproduction and create a few more energy cycle lines."

"My points have also recovered, 427 points; I can start thinking about new things again."