Chapter 263: Chapter 263

Si Yan arrived at her designated spot, which was completely empty, devoid of anything.

This was her first time participating in such a competition, and she was a bit confused.

A Beastman from Myriad Beasts City smiled very politely at Si Yan and said, "Miss Si Yan, since it’s your first time competing, you might not be familiar with the rules. Let me clarify them for you."

Si Yan nodded and said, "Go ahead."

The Beastman explained, "During the Wisdom Contest, no tools are provided to the competing wise ones. The wise ones are allowed to leave the venue to search for any items they might need. However, they must carry out the crafting here."

Si Yan asked, "If it lasts for seven days, can I go back to sleep during this period?"

The Beastman replied, "Yes, you can. As long as your crafting is done on-site, it’s all permitted."

Si Yan nodded. That would be convenient.

After all, Xi Qing’s facial injuries had not yet healed.

Si Yan then asked, "Does it start now?"

The Beastman replied, "Yes, the Wisdom Contest has already begun."

After finishing the explanation, the Beastman left. Jin Tong and Tai Seng stood before Si Yan, asking anxiously, "Si Yan, have you decided what we are going to do?"

Si Yan nodded and said, "I’ve decided."

In her mind, she had a list of many storable foods, and there was one she had been wanting to make for a while.

Si Yan said, "Since we need to help the weaker Beastmen stockpile food, we should make food that best suits them. What I plan to make isn’t very complicated, and the main ingredient is the Red Earth Fruit."

In Beast World, Red Earth Fruit was considered quite easy to grow and abundantly productive.

Si Yan said, "Tai Seng, later you’ll help me dig up a large amount of Red Earth Fruit."

Tai Seng’s tail wagged excitedly, and with a slight blush on his face, he said, "Okay."

Jin Tong asked Si Yan, "Si Yan, do you plan to do the bonus question?"

Si Yan smiled and said, "Of course, why wouldn’t I?"

The bonus question was what she found most interesting.

"On the way back from the Divine Temple," Si Yan continued, smiling at the two, "I saw a lot of black stones and some clean yellow mud on the mountain. Later, we’re not only going to dig up a large amount of Red Earth Fruit, but we’ll also need to collect black stones, yellow mud, and dried branches to bring back."

Si Yan listed a long series of things in one breath, leaving Tai Seng and Jin Tong confused. They didn’t understand what she was up to.

But Si Yan was fully energized and excited. A competition that started from scratch was very interesting.

Si Yan, along with three companions, set off to look for items. Quite a few curious Beastmen followed them to watch.

Hui Wu was also preparing for his own test questions. He looked enviously at the Beastmen following Si Yan as she left.

He too wanted to go and watch, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.

Jin Yao, Jin Yang, and a regular Beastman also reached their spot. They saw that Si Yan and her team had already departed.

Jin Yang’s gaze was constantly on Si Yan.

He didn’t understand why, despite being blood-related siblings, Number Six treated him so coldly. Taking good care of Yao Yao, indulging her—was that too much to ask of her? After all, for the past twenty-some years, hadn’t it been Yao Yao filling in for her, taking care of their parents and brothers?

Jin Yao looked at Jin Yang and followed his gaze to where Si Yan was, feeling a sudden pang in her heart.

Although Jin Yang said he didn’t care about Si Yan, he still kept an eye on her, didn’t he?

Jin Yao’s sense of crisis resurfaced. Newest update provıded by 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝕟𝕖𝕥

Only when Si Yan’s figure was out of sight did Jin Yang come back to himself and ask Jin Yao, "Yao Yao, do you have any plans for the Wisdom Contest?"

Jin Yao said, "I do."

Preparing for material storage had been taught by the tribe’s wise ones. And tools—just make one or two as needed, enough for those weaker Beastmen to use.

Si Yan arrived at the foot of Divine Mountain, and the group of Beastmen following her also reached the foot of the mountain.

Using her Wood-based Ability to sense the surroundings, Si Yan said to Tai Seng, "Tai Seng, there are a lot of Red Earth Fruits here."

Without saying another word, Tai Seng began digging up Red Earth Fruits and indeed, unearthed a particularly large pile.

A kind-hearted Beastman threw over a large beast skin. Tai Seng caught it and wrapped all the Red Earth Fruits inside.

"It seems that the Lady of the Lord’s group is planning to use the fruits as reserve food."

"I’ve also heard that there’s a way to make dried Red Earth Fruit."

"I’ve heard about it too and find it amazing; I’ve never seen it before."

Si Yan heard everyone discussing and turned around with a smile. "Indeed, Red Earth Fruit can be made into dried fruit and can certainly be preserved. It’s one of the methods weaker Beastmen use to store resources. However, this time, what I’m going to make for you all is not dried Red Earth Fruit, but another type of delicious food."

The Beastmen, seeing a female as beautiful as a fairy talking to them, blushed with excitement and asked, "Lady of the Lord, what are you going to make? Can you give us a hint?"

Si Yan smiled and said, "I’ll keep you in suspense for now. You’ll see it later."

The Beastmen replied with anticipation, "Alright then, we can only wait and see."

Next, Si Yan found the iron ore she had seen earlier—the black kind, rich in iron elements.

The voice of Old Gecko popped into her head, "Sweet grandchild, you really plan to make iron tools. But it’s not as simple as you think. First, the melting point of iron is over a thousand degrees, which far exceeds the burning temperature of regular firewood. Secondly, you need to find a container that can withstand temperatures over a thousand degrees."

"Mm, I know," Si Yan murmured.

She pointed to a piece of iron ore and had Jin Tong carry it on his back.

Then she found the clean and fluffy yellow clay she had passed by earlier.

Si Yan said excitedly, her face joyful, "Look, clean pottery clay!"

Old Gecko exclaimed in shock, "You! You’re going to make pottery?"

Yes! Pottery clay has a melting point of over 2,000 degrees—enough to contain molten iron.

But how would she solve the problem of achieving temperatures over a thousand degrees? Old Gecko looked at Si Yan in amazement. Iron tools! Pottery! If she succeeded, it would propel both pottery and iron tool-making forward! For the backward Beast World, and for the weaker Beastmen, the significance would be enormous!

Si Yan said, "Exactly."

She grabbed a handful of yellow clay, rubbed it, and sniffed. "No problem, this is it."

She turned to the two males and said, "This soil, the clean part here—dig up more of it."

Although they did not know what Si Yan was planning, Jin Tong and Tai Seng did not question her and came over to dig the soil.

Si Yan dusted off her hands.

The Beastmen watching Si Yan became even more curious. They could understand her digging up Red Earth Fruits; after all, weaker Beastmen liked to eat them, and this fit their lifestyle. But what was she doing digging up both stones and clay?

Si Yan turned to the group and said, "We still need a lot of dry wood. Tai Seng and Jin Tong can’t carry any more. Could everyone else help us bring some back?"

The Beastmen who had followed her excitedly said, "Of course, no problem!"

"Just a few pieces of wood? That’s a small matter. Leave it to me!"

"I’m on it! Lady of the Lord, tell me how much you need, and I’ll make sure it gets to you!"

Old Gecko watched, dumbfounded, and continued, "Sweet grandchild, I’m not trying to discourage you, but whether it’s making pottery or iron tools, both require high temperatures—very high temperatures."

Si Yan smiled and answered, "I know, Grandpa Gecko."

"The temperature of burning wood is not enough," Old Gecko pressed. "Have you thought of a solution to this problem?"

"Yes," Si Yan replied. "Burning wood doesn’t reach the necessary temperature, but we can make charcoal, Grandpa Gecko. The temperature of burning charcoal can reach up to 1,300 degrees."