Lin Qianyi saw the Dao Instrument.
It was something he had seen many times online.
A massive metallic sphere encased it. Lin Qianyi didn't know the exact internal details he only knew that it stored countless Dao patterns, and could directly input that information into a person's brain.
Beneath the Dao Instrument were several infusion pods.
Using these pods, the selected information could be transmitted directly into one's consciousness.
This technology was known as [Imbuement].
The Federation had once used such machines to assist with learning. Any knowledge could be injected into the brain in a short time.
But a major safety incident occurred many people were brainwashed by the imbuement technology.
Now, only a few places and the Dao Instrument still used imbuement.
After verifying his identity, and under Ji Ruixiang's guidance, Lin Qianyi registered for use, selected the Dao pattern he wanted, and entered it into the database.
He still had to wait in line three people were ahead of him.
But imbuement was fast just a matter of minutes. Lin Qianyi didn't have to wait long.
In fact, it was only eight minutes.
"Go ahead," Ji Ruixiang said to Lin Qianyi.
Lin Qianyi nodded, passed through the checkpoint, underwent disinfection his body scanned by a wave of energy then walked to his designated infusion pod and sat down.
[Please place your hands and feet on the indicated spots. Align your head with the imbuement port. Closing pod... please remain still...]
Clack !
The pod door closed. Some metallic sensory devices approached Lin Qianyi's head, adjusting their shape to fit closely against his scalp. He could vaguely feel a weak current flowing rapidly over his head, especially a distinct bulge at the back of his neck.
[Imbuing Dao pattern data... Current pattern: Tier-1 [Body Enhancement] Dao pattern... In progress...]
Suddenly, Lin Qianyi's brain was filled with knowledge.
He saw countless dots interweaving into lines, then forming a pattern.
This pattern was constructed from one's essence, energy, and spirit. It was matter, but also information, and even pure energy. It formed a deep connection with both body and consciousness, like an organ residing within.
Lin Qianyi couldn't describe it in words, couldn't draw it but somehow, he understood it completely.
He now knew how to manifest it inside his body.
It could only be sensed not explained.
[Imbuement complete. Please exit via the right-side passage...]
Lin Qianyi got up and left through the right-side passage, still a bit dazed.
"How was it?" Ji Ruixiang asked.
"The knowledge just appeared out of nowhere... I feel like if this tech were used to learn other subjects, everything would be so easy," Lin Qianyi said in awe.
"If the cellular units can't bear the information load, they'll collapse and die en masse. And a lot of knowledge is subjective imbuement learning can imprint ideologies onto people, leaving them with no original thoughts," Ji Ruixiang explained.
"So that's why the Federation doesn't widely use imbuement?" Lin Qianyi asked.
"Not just that. It's also hard to control. It's easily misused. For actual learning, memory-based methods aren't that hard either. Our academy has many Dao patterns that enhance memory just one can give you photographic recall," Ji Ruixiang said.
Lin Qianyi nodded thoughtfully, signaling he understood.
Then, the two boarded an air shuttle.
"Your third senior brother already took you to the planting zones, right?" Ji Ruixiang asked.
"He did," Lin Qianyi nodded.
"Zones 4 to 8 are currently vacant. I plan to allocate them all to you ten mu in total. Each mu has standard environmental control modules. You can use the control panel there or download the 'Happy Farming' app developed by former students. It allows remote control and is very user-friendly."
The shuttle floated in the air, returning to the new plantation area.
Back at the office, Ji Ruixiang handed Lin Qianyi a tablet. "Choose one and try it out."
"What is it?"
Lin Qianyi took the tablet. Several files were displayed:
[Giant Pumpkin], [Giant Sugarcane], [Giant Potato], [Giant Watermelon], [Giant Carrot]...
"Some fun and easy-to-grow plants. Choose a few to cultivate. For your first semester, just complete this task over the two months," Ji Ruixiang said.
"Why are they all giant plants?" Lin Qianyi asked. "Teacher, are there other options?"
What he really wanted to ask was are there any powerful plants?
"You young folks like big things, don't you?" Ji Ruixiang said, confused, but continued, "There are other types, but you lack the foundation. You haven't condensed patterns like [Wood Spirit] or [Plant Body], so even if I gave them to you, you wouldn't be able to grow them. So just start with these. They're low maintenance and fully automatable. But still, be attentive. Keep a detailed journal. Next semester, your project will be to select a variant from these and guide its evolution."
"Do you know the two main methods of guided evolution?"
"Environmental guidance and genetic guidance," Lin Qianyi replied.
These were basics he already knew.
Environmental guidance involves altering the plant's surroundings to induce changes during growth.
Genetic guidance involves selecting or altering genes through iteration, tech-based editing, or crossbreeding.
"If you understand that, good. If you have problems, message me. Let's add each other on 'Boundless'," Ji Ruixiang said.
Boundless was the Federation's official social app. Lin Qianyi also used it regularly.
He pulled out his phone and added Ji Ruixiang. His username made Lin Qianyi pause:
[Battle God Guagua]
His mentor... was a Guagua fan!
Guagua was a very popular frog both as a meme and a real intelligent lifeform.
A domain-level entity, Guagua was a friend of the Lord of the North Source Realm, one of the core domains of Taiyi. He once fought off foreign invaders alongside Taiyi's forces, achieving legendary feats, hence nicknamed Battle God by fans.
"Besides me, you can also reach out to your second senior brother and first senior sister. They're usually out collecting materials, so not around often. We have a group chat I've invited you."
Lin Qianyi accepted the invite. The group name was:
Plant Evolution Guidance Group
[I'm a Farmer] joined the group
After joining, Lin Qianyi saw there were only four others.
His mentor, "Battle God Guagua" (with a frog avatar).
The senior sister had a ponytail girl avatar and went by "Only Drinks Milk" her real name, as Lin Qianyi had checked, was Shen Yaxin.
Second senior brother Zhang Zeyun used his real name and a generic male avatar.
Third senior brother Gao Chen had a flashy photo of himself in sunglasses and the username "Boss Gao."
After Lin Qianyi joined, Gao Chen immediately welcomed him:
[Boss Gao]: Welcome, Little Junior Brother, to our Plant Evolution family!
[Zhang Zeyun]: Welcome.
[I'm a Farmer]: Please take care of me, Senior Brothers and Sister.
The senior sister didn't reply maybe busy, or maybe just aloof.
After replying, Lin Qianyi was now officially part of the team.
"What topic are you planning to choose?" Ji Ruixiang asked.
"Can I choose all of them? I have ten mu of land," Lin Qianyi asked.
He mostly just wanted free seeds.
"That works too," Ji Ruixiang said. "I'll give you the seeds. Keep them safe don't share them. They're low-grade, but the school strictly controls them. If leaked, they could pollute the external gene bank."
"I won't bring them outside," Lin Qianyi said.
Ji Ruixiang's ring flashed. He pulled out several small round containers, each labeled.
Spatial tech.
Not uncommon in the Federation.
Tier-1 Evolvers could purchase small portable storage tools, but they were expensive usually 3–5 million credits for just 0.3–0.5 cubic meters of space. They weren't like the stabilized dimensional warehouses in planting zones more like an extra backpack.
Following Ji Ruixiang's instructions, Lin Qianyi packed up all five types of giant seeds.
"Just place them in the automatic planting modules. There should be enough inside. Don't plant too densely. The system will monitor them just check occasionally and keep a log. The rest, you can leave to automation," Ji Ruixiang said.
"Got it. Anything else I need to do?" Lin Qianyi asked.
"Wait until the first batch matures. For now, focus on visualization condense your [Body Enhancement] Dao pattern first."
"Understood, Teacher," Lin Qianyi nodded.
"That's all then. Go digest what you've learned," Ji Ruixiang smiled.
"Goodbye, Teacher."
"Goodbye."
---
Lin Qianyi carried his seed case back to his apartment.
He went straight to his room and began trying to condense the Dao pattern.
The path to transcendence had already begun. He had long been eager to take his first steps.
Clearing his mind, he began visualizing the [Body Enhancement] Dao pattern.
Visualization was the core training method of this world's evolution system.
All Dao patterns were condensed through visualization.
Lin Qianyi already had the imprinted information and was very focused. As soon as he closed his eyes, he sensed specks of light forming in the darkness of his consciousness.
They converged toward the center, forming the [Body Enhancement] pattern.
Among Tier-1 patterns, this one was the most basic.
It had been refined countless times making it the easiest to condense.
It was also highly compatible, capable of layering with nearly any other pattern without conflict.
It was the best foundational pattern. Many of the Federation's Domain Lords had used it when beginning their cultivation.
In the dark, the glowing dots outlined the shape of the pattern, turning it from imaginary into a translucent structure, clearer and clearer.
Lin Qianyi was immersed in the process, entering a state of ethereal focus.
Until suddenly it felt like he was hit in the head with a hammer. He snapped out of the visualization, his vision went black, and he felt like he had low blood sugar.
His head spun with stars. He realized he had overdone the visualization.
Normally, beginners should visualize for only ten minutes. Lin Qianyi felt like he'd gone for over half an hour.
His essence, energy, and spirit were drained like after an intense workout.
Thanks to his strong constitution, he didn't faint like some would.
"How could I get so excited I forgot such a basic rule!" Lin Qianyi scolded himself.
Then, he took out a Sea God Pill, popped it into his mouth.
In moments, he started to recover.
The Sea God Pill was made from a healing-tagged Sea God Herb. He had five, but never used them until now.
Soon, Lin Qianyi felt much better.
He sighed resources really are everything.
Normally, he'd need to rely on food to restore his energy, which was slow. Who knows how long it'd take to fully condense his first Dao pattern?
Speaking of which, his premium-quality Sea God Herb was still sitting in storage.
What a waste. He should find time to explore a training world and find a way to use it.
As for why not study it at school?
Because he couldn't explain where it came from yet. Otherwise, the New Plantation's research facilities would've been far more effective.