Lin Feng unzipped his suitcase, revealing carefully organized supplies:
- **30 kg of compressed biscuits** (enough for over a month)
- **50 kg of tools, equipment, and defensive weapons**
- **20 kg of life-energy-absorbing plant seeds**
Plant seeds were classified into seven grades, with higher grades offering faster life-energy absorption and more valuable fruits. Some premium variants prioritized rapid growth—a favorite among newcomers.
Currently, the open market only offered up to **Grade-D seeds**. Grade-C seeds were monopolized by elite farmers and conglomerates, never publicly sold.
Before his system activated, Lin Feng had prepared conventionally: half his seeds were **Grade-E**, half **Grade-D**—remarkable for an orphaned transmigrator without backing. Many classmates with family support could barely afford a handful of Grade-D seeds.
At the lakeshore, Lin Feng set up a portable water purifier and began planting.
"Start with **Grade-D Brambleberries**—fast growth," he decided, loosening soil with a hoe.
Brambleberries prioritized speed over potency—their life-energy yield was modest even at Grade-D, but newcomers needed quick returns. Without a system, the standard strategy was:
1. Plant fast-growing crops immediately.
2. Harvest around Day 20.
3. Sell produce to fund defensive structures or mercenaries.
4. Survive post-trial monster attacks.
Lin Feng sowed Brambleberry seeds across multiple plots, then moved to **Grade-D Strawberries**.
These weren't ordinary strawberries. Earth-native varieties were ungraded, but Floating Island-modified strains reached up to Grade-C (unavailable to Lin Feng). His Grade-D strawberries matured in **3.5 weeks**—33% faster than Earth variants—with better shelf life.
By noon, the Life Tree had surged to **over 20 meters tall**.
"Unreal growth speed," Lin Feng marveled as he purified water. He then fashioned a solar concentrator fabric into a pot shape, focusing sunlight to boil water in two hours.
After boiling the water for over ten minutes to sterilize it, Lin Feng filled a flask and stored the remaining water in his storage space. This supply would last him several days.
Once the water cooled, he ate compressed biscuits with warm water and resumed work. By afternoon, he had planted four types of crops:
- Grade-D Brambleberries
- Grade-D Strawberries
- Grade-E Potatoes
- Grade-E Cabbage
The Grade-E potatoes had a short 25-day growth cycle in the Floating Island World. Their main advantage was high yield, though they absorbed life energy poorly. Similarly, Grade-E cabbage matured quickly but was inefficient at energy absorption. Fruits and flowers typically excelled in energy absorption, while vegetables like potatoes and cabbage rarely surpassed Grade-E.
Lin Feng checked his system interface:
**Host:** Lin Feng
**Farm Rating:** Unranked
**Key Plants:** Life Tree (10 base growth points/day before amplification)
**Crops:**
- Brambleberries (1)
- Strawberries (1)
- Potatoes (0.5)
- Cabbage (0.5)
(Values in parentheses indicate base daily growth points before amplification.)
"So even these crops contribute to the system's growth points?" Lin Feng wondered.
The rates varied:
- Life Tree: 10 points/day
- Grade-E crops (Potatoes/Cabbage): 0.5 points/day
- Grade-D crops (Brambleberries/Strawberries): 1 point/day
The accelerated growth hinted at untapped potential beyond mere speed.
**"Having some growth points is still good. Let's see what changes tomorrow brings."**
Lin Feng thought.
The sky had darkened, stars now shimmering overhead. Newcomers' floating islands occupied the lowest layer of the sky, spaced far apart, but even from his position, Lin Feng could see clusters of stars.
He pulled out a pack of compressed biscuits. They were tasteless but packed with nutrients. As he ate, he opened his Island Owner wrist device. The chat channel overflowed with friend requests and group invites. He accepted one and joined a group.
"Wow, Lin Feng finally joined!"
"The top student must've been busy. Welcome!"
It was his class group. Lin Feng replied with a quick "Thanks," then muted the notifications and switched to the Newcomer Forum.
The forum buzzed with posts. One stood out: a wealthy heir boasting about hiring **1,000 workers** on day one. Teams farmed, mined stone, and built defenses.
"Unreal! Who hires 1,000 people on day one?"
"This game's rigged for the rich. The rest of us are doomed."
"With 1,000 workers, I'd never get eliminated."
"Try recruiting investors!"
"Who'd trust us?"
Comments flooded in, equal parts awe and bitterness. Hiring workers from Earth cost a steep price: non-owners paid **1 day of lifespan** to enter or exit the Floating Island World. Their bodies aged instantly by a day each way. Owners like Lin Feng were exempt, but ordinary workers demanded high wages to offset the loss.
Lin Feng checked his class group again. They were discussing the same post:
"Imagine having 1,000 workers…"
"Hey, didn't Lin Feng reject a nine-figure investment? What a waste!"
"I'd kill for that chance."
"Maybe it's nothing to him."
"Even the rich kid at school hired 100 people."
The conversation pivoted to him. His refusal of the conglomerate's offer had spread like wildfire.
Lin Feng ignored it. He closed the device, spread a thin blanket under the Life Tree, and lay down. The island's air was crisp, unlike Earth's polluted haze.
Morning arrived. Lin Feng woke and froze.
Overnight, the Life Tree had shot up to 100 meters tall, its trunk massive, leaves glowing faintly.
"It's already this tall?"
Lin Feng stared up at the Life Tree.
The tree now stood 100 meters high, its trunk over ten meters thick, with a sprawling canopy stretching two to three hundred meters wide. The density of its foliage was staggering. If he hadn't seen it himself, Lin Feng would never have believed the Life Tree could grow so much in a single night.
He opened the tree's status panel:
Farm Plant: Life Tree
Status: Mature
Level: 3 (1100/5000)
Growth Value: 500 (500 per day)
Energy Points: 150 (150 per day)
Energy Points Note: Energy Points represent the life energy absorbed daily by the Life Tree. These can be used to summon or upgrade Elemental Spirits. 100 Energy Points are required to summon a Level 1 Elemental Spirit.
Additional Note: Higher elevations within the Floating Island World grant increased daily Growth Value and Energy Points.
The panel remained simple but now included the Energy Points section.
"Elemental Spirits? What are those?" Lin Feng wondered.
With 150 Energy Points, he could summon one Elemental Spirit.
"Let's try it."
He selected the summoning option. The Life Tree's leaves rustled faintly, as if brushed by an unseen breeze. The air around the tree grew heavy with energy.
"It's working," Lin Feng thought.
Instead of waiting, he grabbed his tools and seeds to continue farming. Planting 20 kilograms of seeds would take time, and the previous day's crops needed watering.
The day passed swiftly.
"They've sprouted already?"
By evening, nearly all the crops had broken through the soil. The system's daily Growth Value clearly accelerated their growth. Satisfied, Lin Feng returned to the Life Tree at dusk, chewing on another bland compressed biscuit.
"Summoning complete. You have obtained a Level 1 Elemental Spirit."
The system's voice chimed.
"Done?"
Lin Feng stood and looked up. A softly glowing orb descended from the Life Tree's trunk, floating into his open palm.
Elemental Spirit (Level 1)
Current Form: Undefined. Morphs according to the host's preferences.
"This is an Elemental Spirit?"
The orb's light dimmed, leaving a warm, pulsing mass of energy. Though intangible, it felt alive—playful even, nuzzling his hand like an affectionate pet.
"It takes shape based on my preferences?"
Images of animated characters flickered through Lin Feng's mind. The energy shifted and condensed into a small, doll-like girl in a frilly princess dress. Her face was delicate, with large, star-bright eyes.
"Yaa~!"
The tiny spirit squealed and threw herself into Lin Feng's arms, giggling as she buried her face in his chest.