Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 341: Agricultural Convergence, Arrival at Twin Moon Lake!

"Huh, it actually materialized a flame from the trait that Blaze can consume?"His gaze landing on the four words "Special Flame" in the description, Cheng Ye could hardly conceal the joy in his heart.

Blaze's appetite was growing by the day, yet he had remained completely clueless about finding a compatible flame.

The Sunflame was the first Special Flame he had found, and he wondered what kind of changes it would bring after being consumed.

However, reading further down, the description similar to the Tear of the Horned Starfish took him somewhat by surprise.

The Fiery Sunflower, corrupted by the S4 Virus, was already a bona fide Infection Source. Yet, just like the extraordinary Tear of the Horned Starfish he had looted from the Starfish Epidemic fusion entity back then, the Sunflame materialized from the Stone Sunflower Person's trait could also provide an extraordinary buff for a short period.

Of course, the gap between a Treasure and a Transcendent Object remained obvious.

The Tear of the Horned Starfish could allow a person to directly enter the Symbiotic Guard State, causing their strength to skyrocket.

The Sunflame, on the other hand, was more like a short-term buff. An ordinary person would still be an ordinary person after using it. Perhaps it would only display miraculous effects when dealing with monsters possessing special mechanics like the Seamless Shadow Puppet.

'I wonder if a higher Rank and more energy in the future will allow me to materialize true Transcendent Objects?'

Pondering this, Cheng Ye put away the Pendant and continued letting the Collector recharge before dark.

Truth be told, with the Sunlight Slate mounted on the roof, they didn't even need to turn on the headlights despite the overcast sky.

The scattered light from the slate acted like a modified high-power Searchlight, illuminating everything within a fifty-meter radius clear as day.

Over ten minutes later, the Armored Vehicle set off once more.

As the setting sun slowly sank, the Sunlight Slate on the roof also gradually dimmed. By a little past six-thirty, when the last sliver of light vanished, the Collector's energy absorption ceased as well.

In just an hour and a half, it had replenished twenty-two percent of its energy. The efficiency was quite impressive.

"This lower route is indeed much safer than the middle route, just a bit more desolate," Liu Bi sighed, withdrawing his gaze from the window.

After bypassing the treacherous mountainous section, the vehicle drove into the plains.

Due to the sparse population in this vast area, the infrastructure from the old era was preserved relatively intact.

The occasional villages they passed by looked quite decent, as if people still lived there. Whenever the headlights swept past, they would always catch a few silhouettes flickering at the courtyard gates.

However, when Cheng Ye pressed the horn, letting out a piercing blare, those figures acted as if they hadn't heard a thing. They stood there blankly, their heads turning slowly to track the vehicle's progress.

These beings, akin to earthbound spirits, were perhaps poor souls from many years ago, or Migrants who had passed through in the last couple of years.

After being ravaged by Infection Sources, they were doomed to be trapped in this place for all eternity.

But precisely because of their presence, it indicated a high probability that this area wouldn't harbor a transcendent Infection Source like the Fiery Sunflower.

Crawling forward little by little in the dark, it was nearly ten o'clock when the vehicle gradually decelerated and turned into an abandoned Gathering Place by the roadside.

Compared to the previously encountered New Pond Gathering Place and Red River Gathering Place, this place named "Luogang" undoubtedly fit the documentary definition of a Gathering Place much better.

Its population had been small, peaking at fewer than five hundred people during its heyday.

The interior looked as if an old-era village had been cleared out, with a simple perimeter wall erected around it.

However, after so many years, the wall had mostly collapsed, leaving only an outer ring that barely maintained its outline. Broken rebar and weathered bricks were scattered across the gaps.

After the Armored Vehicle came to a halt, Liu Bi got out first to scout the perimeter. Only when safety was confirmed did Cheng Ye step out carrying a Camping Lamp, hanging it on the roof to illuminate the surroundings.

The dim, yellow light pierced the night, illuminating the abandoned buildings one by one.

Perhaps due to its proximity to Guang Province, the houses here were no longer ordinary Bungalows, but moisture-proof stilt houses, some single-story and others two-story.

The skewed signboards were rust-mottled, their lettering barely legible upon closer inspection.

The wooden stilt house right at the main entrance of the Gathering Place was relatively well-preserved. A wooden sign reading "Big Small Hole Tavern" was snapped in half, precariously suspended from the lintel by Iron Wire. The sign's surface was stained with dark red blemishes mixed with mildew, resembling dried blood that had soaked into the wood.

A few shattered coarse porcelain bowls lay scattered at the tavern's entrance, brown wine dregs still clinging to their bottoms. The stone blocks by the threshold had been worn smooth, making it easy to imagine how many people had crouched there to rest back in the day.

Looking inside, the counter had long since collapsed. Rusted wine jugs and broken table and chair legs littered the floor. A few bundles of rotten straw were piled in the corner, likely serving as makeshift beds for the Travelers of that era... no, more accurately, for the Hunters.

"During the Great Reclamation Era, merchant caravans traveled endlessly along the upper routes, but it also became a hunting ground for desperadoes. Many Hunters formed gangs and specifically targeted remote sections to ambush and slaughter caravans. They never dared to rest in Shelter Cities or large Gathering Places. After succeeding, they would bring the plundered resources to small, hidden Gathering Places like this to fence them,"

Liu Bi spoke with the confidence of an experienced veteran. "Our Happiness City must have destroyed at least eighty, if not a hundred, of these hidden Gathering Places. But they were like mosquitoes; no matter how hard you swatted them, they would just quietly pop up somewhere else. However, after the Great Reclamation Era ended, the defensive forces assigned to the caravans grew stronger and stronger. Only then did the scattered Hunter gangs collapse one by one, leading to the abandonment of these Gathering Places as well."

From the New Era Year 10 to Year 22, during those twelve chaotic years, quite a few wretched hives of scum and villainy had indeed spawned.

Cheng Ye gave a slight nod. His gaze swept over the building next to the tavern, where faded wooden plaques were nailed to most of the lintels, bearing barely legible words like "Resting Place" and "Temporary Quarters."

To think that functional buildings akin to inns had developed here even earlier than in the Shelter Cities.

Clutching his flashlight, he curiously stepped into these inns. Some doors hung crookedly on their hinges, while others were reduced to bare frames.

Moldy straw covered the floors, and broken wooden chests sat in the corners. Occasionally, he spotted a few gambling tables with dartboards hanging on the adjacent walls.

Looking toward the western side of the Gathering Place, the layout grew even more chaotic: gambling dens, brothels, food stalls, weapon shops...

Small as a sparrow, yet possessing all its vital organs—it had everything one could need.

Cheng Ye took a stroll around, able to faintly glimpse the sheer madness that must have gripped this place during that chaotic era.

Hunters would bring their plundered goods here to split the spoils and drink, pass out in the lodging houses, and then seek fleeting pleasure in the red-light district and gambling dens.

It wasn't until the caravans were equipped with formidable defensive forces that this chaotic feast finally came to a complete close alongside the collapse of the Gathering Place.

"Let's pitch our tents and rest here for the night. It looks quite safe," Cheng Ye suggested.

Liu Bi gladly nodded.

The tents were set up inside the tavern, with the Armored Vehicle parked right at the entrance, ready for an immediate evacuation if any danger arose.

However, Zhang Daping politely declined the offer to sleep in a tent.

He had a broken leg. If they encountered danger and had to Flee, there was no guarantee anyone would be able to look out for him if he remained stuck in a tent.

They agreed on the night watch schedule, with Liu Bi once again taking the first shift.

The moment Cheng Ye lay down in his tent, he practically fell asleep as soon as his head hit the makeshift pillow.

After driving all day, he finally truly realized just how much Vigor this seemingly simple task consumed.

It was completely different from driving in modern times. Back then, driving merely required keeping the car within the lane on well-regulated roads with the aid of navigation, demanding very little active attention.

But driving in the Wasteland required being absolutely hyper-vigilant at all times, constantly watching out for hidden dangers beneath the road surface.

Not only did he have to dodge sharp objects to prevent tire blowouts, but he also had to remain on high alert for Infection Sources that could pop up at any moment.

Laying down now, the exhaustion accumulated over the entire day washed over him instantly, and he soon fell into a deep slumber.

It wasn't until Liu Bi gently patted his calf that Cheng Ye opened his eyes. Looking out the tavern window, he saw a faint glimmer of light already shimmering on the horizon.

"It's five o'clock. You go out and keep watch for a bit while I catch some shut-eye," Liu Bi chuckled.

They had originally agreed to swap shifts at three, but how could he bear to make Cheng Ye get up so early after a grueling day?

If he hadn't been worried about Niu Fu's unhealed hand injury preventing him from properly handling any danger, he would have let Cheng Ye sleep straight through till dawn.

"Mgh... Brother B..." Cheng Ye opened his mouth to speak but ultimately just gave a helpless smile and got up.

Fortunately, they would reach the outskirts of Twin Moon Lake tonight, sparing them from having to arduously traverse completely unfamiliar territory any longer.

He stood at the tavern door, stretching his stiff body a couple of times before walking over to a secluded corner and summoning his Pendant.

First, he took out the Perching Cauldron. Sensing the aura of fire, Blaze immediately darted out from the Spirit Body Space and landed on his shoulder.

The little fellow tilted its head with great intelligence, using its sharp, awl-like beak to preen its fiery feathers.

'Raising a Transcendent Creature is really convenient. I don't even have to feed it every day...' Cheng Ye mused to himself.

Since venturing out into the Wilderness, Recharge Value had become exceptionally precious. Taking out and storing the Perching Cauldron consumed Energy, so Blaze had consequently entered a semi-dormant state. Without new flames to replenish it, it had halted its Shaping process.

However, ever since acquiring the Sunlight Slate, he had been letting Blaze out on a regular schedule to "nourish" itself these past few days, finally ensuring his great contributor wasn't lacking rations.

Now, lifting the lid of the Perching Cauldron, he saw that the flame reserves inside had plummeted once more.

Of the two streaks of dry wood fire, one had been completely devoured, and the remaining one was down to a mere twenty-two percent.

The peat fire reserve stood at sixty-one percent, while the Earth Core Fire was the most abundant, remaining at seventy-two percent.

The Perching Cauldron could currently store four streaks of flame, so there was exactly one spot left open to store the Sunflame.

"Hold on a second, wait until I let you taste something new," he whispered.

After suppressing the little fellow's impulses, Cheng Ye touched his Pendant and selected 'Place.'

The space inside the Perching Cauldron shimmered slightly, and a ripple-like light illusion surfaced before the golden-red Sunflame settled steadily within.

Without the sunflower disc to anchor it, this flame looked similar in form to the Earth Core Fire, with only a slight difference in color.

Blaze clearly paused for a moment. After gently sipping a couple of mouthfuls of the diffusing aura, it immediately fluttered its wings, dove into the cauldron, and began gulping down the newly appeared Sunflame.

Sizzle.

A faint sense of connection quietly transmitted over, akin to basking in the warm winter sun, bringing a bone-deep feeling of comfort.

Cheng Ye curiously raised his hand and rolled his neck, only to find that the exhaustion permeating his body had inexplicably dissipated by more than half.

'Wait, the flame's effect can be transferred to me without even entering the Symbiotic State?'

Astonished, Cheng Ye patiently waited for Blaze to finish its meal.

Roughly two to three minutes later, the little fellow's head drooped, and it curled up directly inside the cauldron, falling fast asleep.

This reaction was Cut from the Same Cloth as every time it absorbed Earth Core Fire. Clearly, the quality of this Sunflame was exceptionally high, far surpassing that of dry wood fire or peat fire.

'I wonder if Liu Kun's Searing Hawk has ever eaten such a good thing...'

Cheng Ye pondered silently, glancing at the Sunflame reserve as he retracted the Perching Cauldron.

A single feeding session had consumed five percent of the reserve. By that calculation, this Sunflame would only be enough for Blaze to eat for twenty days.

The appetite of a Transcendent Creature was truly terrifying!

He opened his System Panel once more and navigated to the Symbiotic State page. The attributes and skills displayed there had yet to change; he would have to wait for Blaze to fully digest the flame before unlocking the growth buffs.

However, under the "Shareable Abilities" section at the very bottom, a new entry had strikingly appeared:

[Power of Sunflame (Lv0, Rare, provides continuous life force recovery when bathed in sunlight)

Recovery Rate: 0.5% per hour; No Limit]

'Just as I thought. The Sunflame's special blessing can be directly transferred to me through Blaze consuming it...'

Cheng Ye came to a realization.

Directly using the Sunflame merely granted a "probability" of obtaining the Sun Blessing, and the life force recovery had a cap.

But after being devoured by Blaze, it not only skipped the RNG aspect but also directly yielded the core ability, and even the recovery cap restriction was entirely removed.

It was just that the amount Blaze had absorbed so far was insufficient. Once this ability upgraded to Lv1, Lv2, or even higher tiers, its effects would likely far exceed the original Sun Blessing, truly achieving the "Breathing Regeneration" effect seen in video games.

"Mhm, not bad at all!" Cheng Ye declared, closing the panel in satisfaction.

The Sunflame trait still had a hundred percent remaining. In the short term, there was absolutely no need to worry about Blaze's rations; just the existing reserves were enough to feed it until the end of the year.

Later on, if he "borrowed" some traits from Stone Sunflower People to replenish it, he could establish a perfect food loop.

What's more, by consuming a treasure-grade flame like the Sunflame, Blaze's growth speed would undoubtedly be far faster than if it were eating ordinary flames. Once it completely passed the Shaping phase, the ability bonuses it provided might even surpass those of the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse!

As the sun gradually rose, the Sunlight Slate on the roof shone ever brighter. The Recharge Value steadily accumulated at a speed exceeding a 120kw fast charging pile.

Past eight-thirty, the Armored Vehicle set out once again.

If the lower route was safe at dusk, the brightly lit lower route after dawn was undoubtedly even safer.

Liu Bi watched the road conditions for a while before letting out a long yawn. As drowsiness surged over him, he simply lay down and began to catch up on sleep.

Niu Fu took his place in the passenger seat, dedicating his attention to navigating and meticulously analyzing any potential road condition changes ahead.

Perhaps because they were arriving at a Gathering Place with human activity today, both Yin Ruofeng and Zhang Daping could barely conceal their excitement. Their eyes remained wide open all morning, staring intently out the windows to help monitor their surroundings, terrified of missing even the slightest anomaly.

It wasn't until four in the afternoon, when they were still a hundred kilometers away from the Twin Moon Lake Gathering Place, that the Armored Vehicle steered back toward the middle route.

The weeds along the roadside had been evenly sheared away, exposing a compacted, level road surface. Not a single loose piece of gravel could be seen; instead, it was covered in distinct tire ruts, declaring that traffic here had never ceased.

Even more surprisingly, every two or three kilometers stood a brand-new road sign. The wooden posts were coated with anti-corrosion paint, and two lifelike crescent moons were carved at the top, gazing into the distance like a pair of eyes.

At the center of the crescent emblem, the large, orange-red characters spelling out "Twin Moon Lake Gathering Place" were written in bold, forceful strokes, giving off a warm, striking luster under the sunlight.

Below the road signs, one could occasionally spot red banners with yellow text fluttering in the wind. The style was clearly modeled after Happiness City's propaganda campaigns: "Twin Moon Lake, the fertile soil of Shi Province. Plant a seed, reap a harvest!"

"Yields of three tons per acre aren't a pipe dream; with self-sufficient produce, life gets sweeter day by day!"

"Sow a grain, sprout a seedling; a bite of freshness, a serving of stability!"

These unexaggerated slogans infused the area with a palpable, vibrant human presence.

Seeing this, Cheng Ye brought the Armored Vehicle to a steady halt in the middle of the road, then climbed onto the roof to stow away the highly conspicuous Sunlight Slate.

It was best to maintain a low profile when bringing such a specialized energy device into unfamiliar territory.

Afterward, he did a lap around the vehicle to inspect it, ensuring no traces of Infection Sources remained that might cause unnecessary trouble when entering the Gathering Place.

Hopping back in and driving a bit further, the roadside banners grew even more frequent.

However, the banners on the very outskirts still bore Happiness City's towering wall emblem printed in the top right corner.

But as the Armored Vehicle drew closer to Twin Moon Lake, about fifty kilometers from their destination, the emblem on the banners inexplicably changed to a massive green banyan tree.

The tone of the slogans shifted noticeably as well, shedding their rustic agricultural simplicity in favor of an indescribable ambition and rallying cry: "From mud huts to workshops—we can forge plowshares and weld city walls!"

"A Shelter City is not just a dream! From the fields to the factories, we aren't just planting grain; we are cultivating tomorrow!"

"Skilled laborers, look here! We offer heavy rewards and desperately need you to join us!"

"Guanghong Alliance: The alliance of Belief uplifting humanity's tomorrow!"

"

"

"I still remember back in June, Station Master Tang Si mentioned to me that Twin Moon Lake was considering cutting off their nutrient paste partnership with our Happiness City.

It's not even November yet. In less than half a year, they've decisively boarded the giant ship that is Radiant Rainbow Shelter City."

Noticing Niu Fu's somewhat strange expression as he read the banners, Cheng Ye smiled and explained.

Having physically traversed this entire route, he could now completely understand why Twin Moon Lake had broken away from Happiness City.

This seemingly six-hundred-kilometer journey was actually much more arduous to travel than indicated on the Map. The hazards along the way and the complex road conditions drastically prolonged the travel time.

Even without any harassment from Infection Sources or Mutant Beasts along the way, a round trip would still take at least half a month.

As far as Happiness City was concerned, with its vast territory and abundant resources, it certainly didn't lack a raw material supply point for nutrient paste like Twin Moon Lake.

But for Twin Moon Lake, relying on the distant Happiness City was far less practical than joining the closer Guanghong Alliance, which could provide tangible support.

With the middle route of Shi Province entirely abandoned, it was already commendable that Twin Moon Lake had held out for two years, only breaking their agreement with Happiness City today.

Of course, understanding their termination of the partnership didn't mean he understood their decision to defect to Radiant Rainbow Shelter City.

Cheng Ye rolled down the window and took a breath of the moist air, his heart brimming with doubt.

This place was equally far from Great Banyan Shelter City.

Before the grand bridge was repaired, it had been a full five hundred and seventy kilometers away; even now, it was still four hundred and fifty kilometers out.

With the power of Great Banyan Shelter City and the Guanghong Alliance backing it, clearing a safe route and establishing a controlled zone wouldn't be difficult. But would they really pay such a heavy price just for Twin Moon Lake?

Cheng Ye absolutely didn't believe it.

There was clearly an ulterior motive hidden behind this, one that Happiness City hadn't yet uncovered.

Suddenly.

Two figures flashed out onto the side of the dirt road.

The person on the left wielded a red flag faintly bearing the words "Twin Moon Lake." The person on the right held a rifle with the muzzle pointed down, gesturing repeatedly with both hands to signal no ill intent.

"Just the two of them." The moment the figures appeared, Niu Fu had already opened his Terminal, using the Radar Scan of the Surroundings.

"We should still be about forty kilometers away from Twin Moon Lake," Yin Ruofeng chimed in, leaning over to confirm the precise distance against the terrain.

'They arranged personnel to screen outer security forty kilometers out?'

Cheng Ye secretly praised them in his heart. After consecutively visiting three abandoned settlements, the Twin Moon Lake before him was the first functional human faction he had truly encountered in the Wasteland—technically the second, including his own!

The Armored Vehicle came to a smooth stop in the middle of the road. The flag bearer on the left immediately pulled the fabric taut, first displaying the text on the front:

Twin Moon Lake "Crescent Moon" Guard.

Once Cheng Ye saw it clearly and nodded, the man flipped the red flag over, revealing two lines of numbers on the back:

[412.375 MHz; 77.0 Hz]

[415.825 MHz; 88.5 Hz]

"Main Frequency, Sub-Audio Code?"

"Good lord, it's actually a Radio Communication Channel?"

Cheng Ye was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected the Wasteland Gathering Place to be so heavily guarded that they wouldn't even verify identities face-to-face.

He grabbed the two-way radio beside him, switched it to VFO Mode, and inputted the Main Frequency.

Next, he entered and saved the Sub-Audio Code 77.0. Gently turning the volume dial, he stopped once he heard the static rustle.

Pressing the push-to-talk button, he cleared his throat and announced, "This is Happiness City Inspector Cheng Ye, here to execute Field Duty, over."

Over ten seconds later, a deep male voice crackled through the radio. "Crescent-7 receiving. Requesting Inspector Cheng to provide your identity verification code, over."

"Identity verification code: 3-7-2-55-14, over," Cheng Ye recited the numbers in a steady tone.

This was the sole method Happiness City used to contact its subordinate Gathering Places to prove their identity.

After all, an Inspector Badge could be stolen, and an identity could be impersonated by an outsider, but the identity verification codes that updated periodically were extremely difficult to leak.

It was just that the verification codes specifically assigned to Twin Moon Lake hadn't been updated in over a year.

After nearly a full minute of waiting, the male voice spoke through the radio again, now carrying a distinct tone of respect. "Identity verification passed. Inspector Cheng, please remain in your current area and keep communications open. We will dispatch a guard convoy within twenty minutes to escort you into the Twin Moon Lake Gathering Place, over."

"Copy that, over."

Cheng Ye set down the radio. The two figures standing by the road seemed to have received orders as well, immediately retreating behind their cover without showing the slightest intention of stepping forward to make conversation.

He had to admit, this point alone utterly shattered his preconceived notions about Wasteland Gathering Places.

Going by the tropes of American TV shows, settlements in the Wilderness should have been chaotic, disorganized, and as undisciplined as loose sand.

When danger struck, the inside would erupt into pandemonium. In the face of sheer survival, all rules and regulations would go straight out the window.

But the two individuals from Twin Moon Lake displayed an almost draconian level of discipline.

Cheng Ye couldn't help but turn to Liu Bi in the backseat. "Brother B, are all Gathering Places this regulated?"

"Any Gathering Place of a decent size operates like this. Without high risk-resistance capabilities, the only way they can survive on their own in the Wilderness is by relying on these strict systems. Otherwise, allowing even a single Infected Body or Infection Source inside would lead to a devastating catastrophe."

Liu Bi nodded lightly. "Besides, Twin Moon Lake doesn't even count as a large Gathering Place; a population of two thousand is medium-small at best. When you visit those Gathering Places with tens of thousands of people in the future, you'll find that many of their rules are so absurd you won't even be able to comprehend them."

After speaking, he added, "Of course, behind every absurd rule lies an equally incomprehensible origin. Too many Gathering Places have been destroyed by ridiculous accidents. To avoid repeating those mistakes, they can only use rules to corral everyone's behavior within a safe boundary."

This reasoning was both realistic and cruel. Hearing it, Cheng Ye couldn't help but think of all those seemingly outrageous regulations in modern society.

There would never be a shortage of people courting death. Especially in the peril-ridden Wasteland, if a Gathering Place wanted to survive in peace, utilizing such extreme measures was perhaps the only way.

After waiting a short while longer, two Off-road Pickups appeared at the end of the dirt road.

Cheng Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning the vehicles and their driving posture before quickly concluding that these two trucks were completely battery-powered.

'Could it be that Twin Moon Lake has already received Guanghong's backing and established an energy grid?'

The two pickups executed a practiced U-turn right in front of the Armored Vehicle, constantly maintaining a safe distance of ten meters.

The radio crackled to life once more. "Inspector Cheng, please follow our vehicles to the quarantine and disinfection zone, over."

Cheng Ye didn't reply verbally. Instead, he started the engine, lightly stepped on the gas, and trailed behind them.

With the two pickups leading the way, the three vehicles traveled down the dirt road while hidden figures occasionally peeked out from the roadside.

A forty-kilometer radius was evidently the outer defensive perimeter delineated by Twin Moon Lake.

Catching sight of the rugged, exceptionally domineering Armored Vehicle, obvious awe flashed in the eyes of those figures.

Traveling with such a Vehicle in the Wilderness—even without prominent identification badges—instantly informed anyone that its users possessed an extraordinary status.

Barely five kilometers into the drive, the scenery bordering the dirt road completely divorced itself from the desolation of the Wilderness.

The previously scattered weeds had been entirely eradicated, replaced by vast expanses of neatly cultivated farmland. The field ridges were tamped down firmly and evenly, and at regular intervals lay shallow trenches—specially excavated drainage ditches.

In the outermost area that first caught his eye, the fields were planted with corn, potatoes, and various legumes. The cornstalks had grown over a person's height, topped with plump, thick ears of corn. The husks bore a faint yellow tint, indicating they were nearing maturity.

Potato vines crawled all over the ground, their leaves thick and glossy. The tubers hidden beneath the soil had undoubtedly already swelled into shape.

Further inward were endless stretches of rice paddies. Perhaps because they were planted late this year, the rice had not yet reached the yellow ripening stage and was still in the grain-filling phase.

Clear lake water poured continuously into the paddies through irrigation pipes, the water's surface sparkling with fragmented ripples of light.

Layer upon layer of rice panicles had already emerged, bowing under their heavy weight. The grains were bulging and plump, taking on a waxy yellow hue. Even from a distance, the faint fragrance of rice blossoms drifted over.

Bamboo poles were erected beside each field ridge, tied with different colored cloth strips to differentiate the plots.

Scattered farmers stood in the flooded paddies with their trouser legs rolled up, conducting inspections. Seeing the convoy pass by, they merely glanced up for a second before bowing their heads to resume their farming chores.

Beyond the rice paddies was the vegetable zone, divided into dozens of smaller plots by wooden fences, each growing different crops.

Emerald-green cucumber vines climbed up bamboo trellises, from which hung prickly cucumbers topped with flowers; some had already grown as long as half an arm.

Tomato vines drooped under the weight of fully red fruits, interspersed with numerous unripe, green ones clinging to the branches. The leaves glinted under the sun.

Green peppers and eggplants grew closely packed together.

Purple eggplants dangled beneath leaves, while green peppers hung like little lanterns, perfectly plump and thriving exceptionally well.

Although Cheng Ye wanted to keep his mouth dry, the sheer sight of it all made him involuntarily gulp in anticipation.

Was this what an agricultural Gathering Place looked like?

It was truly spectacular enough!

Having seen nothing but the barren Wasteland along the journey, suddenly stumbling upon such an orderly agricultural marvel—bursting with Vitality and thriving crops—made his mood brighten considerably.

Inevitably, Cheng Ye was even reminded of the farmlands they had carved out back in East Peace Town.

Would the entire East Peace Town usher in such a gratifying bumper harvest by next autumn?

Liu Bi was also staring unblinkingly out the window, evidently harboring similar thoughts at this moment.

Along the road, a simple irrigation pump house appeared every two kilometers. Buried PVC pipes stretched out toward the various farmlands, with their joints securely bound by Iron Wire. Occasional droplets of water seeped out, forming damp rings on the soil.

As the convoy proceeded, the number of figures by the road gradually increased. Most were farmers clad in coarse cloth, while some were Able-bodied Youth carrying farm tools on their backs.

The older, middle-aged individuals kept a certain distance from the vehicles, their eyes filled with reverence.

Meanwhile, the youths lifted their heads, their gazes tracking the convoy with obvious curiosity.

However, regardless of age, none dared approach to gawk, much less casually cross the dirt road.

The guard posts along the route became increasingly dense. Armed guards stood inside the booths, merely raising their hands to signal identity verification as the convoy approached. The entire process was meticulously orderly.

This place was a far cry from the secluded haven of the New Pond Gathering Place. Twin Moon Lake was indeed a rare treasure trove within the Wilderness.

The convoy drove for nearly forty minutes and still hadn't passed through the continuous stretches of farmland. The sheer acreage of cultivated land was truly jaw-dropping.

However, the two lead pickups finally slowed down. A short distance later, their field of vision suddenly opened up.

A single-story building bearing a sign that read "Twin Moon Lake Inspection Station" abruptly materialized before their eyes!