The rainy season brought new problems. The rock crevices on the sandy beach used to be ideal natural salt deposits, forming saturated brines that would precipitate edible sodium chloride crystals every so often.
But now, the brines in the rocky pits diluted by the rain had freshened back into ordinary seawater, or even fresher than ordinary seawater, unable to precipitate any salt crystals at all.
Lu Zhe tried looking around to see if there were any sheltered places with residual salt crystals left.
If it really came down to it, they'd have to boil seawater, but the purity and taste of the sodium chloride crystals extracted this way were far inferior to those produced naturally from brine.
He searched for hours but didn't find any.
July 16th, the 37th day stranded on the deserted island. Lu Zhe had Ning Shu and Tang Xiaoguo boil seawater while he himself went into the woods to look for food.
After all, the salt-boiling method Tang Xiaoguo had learned from somewhere could tide them over for a period of time.
They would have to wait for an opportunity to settle down and use vats to crystallize salt from brine.
Unexpectedly, Lu Zhe had originally gone into the woods to find food, but ended up finding "salt" there!
Saltwood!
Anacardiaceae, a deciduous tree!
The fruits inside the canopy bore white crystals. Lu Zhe tasted one, it was slightly sour with a prominent saltiness. This "salt" tasted much better than what they boiled out, though unfortunately it was a resin that couldn't provide sodium.
Still good though!
He could bring some back to season their food, and also soak it in water to make vinegar!
"Ding! Obtained medicinal item Maydis Fructus, +1 potential point!"
This thing was formidable, a famous traditional Chinese medicine, capable of stopping diarrhea, staunching bleeding, and reducing inflammation.
But it wasn't the fruit of the saltwood tree. Rather, it was a gall formed from aphid secretions on the saplings, easily reminding one of certain uncomfortable images from the Bug Valley of Yunnan.
He'd take it back for later use.
Returning to camp to try his luck by the seaside again, he found Ning Shu looking very pleased with herself. Turned out she had found a 20-plus kilogram sea turtle on the beach.
Lu Zhe looked at the sea turtle and nodded approvingly: "Not bad, we've got our protein for today."
"Lu Zhe, you're going to eat it?"
"What else?"
"Hey! Turtles are so docile and cute. When I flipped it over, it didn't resist at all, just like a human's best friend. How could you just say you're going to eat it like that?" Ning Shu said indignantly, then added lightly: "At least... give it a trial first!"
Lu Zhe almost spewed out a mouthful of blood.
"And you'd be totally fine with that?"
"Yup!"
"Well I can't think of any charges."
"Then... I know, my hand got cut when I picked it up!"
Lu Zhe nodded: "That's charge enough!"
Tang Xiaoguo had also finished boiling the salt. The white salt crystals looked no different from table salt.
He tasted some. Slightly bitter, still mixed with small amounts of magnesium chloride and potassium chloride. Couldn't eat too much of it, but occasionally supplementing their sodium intake with it shouldn't be an issue.
That night, they used the turtle shell as a pot placed over the campfire. Seasoned it with spicy salt, and enjoyed a delicious turtle feast.
On July 17th at noon, Lu Zhe brought the two girls back to the bear cave, finally reuniting with their companions.
Five days felt like a whole month. Meeting again inevitably aroused some emotional outbursts.
Once everyone had calmed down, Lu Zhe recounted what he saw and learned during the mountain ascent.
Shen Bing asked: "So you've decided to move?"
Lu Zhe nodded: "This move should be our last on Volcano Island. There's fresh water, mountain goats, and arable land there. It's also relatively close to the sea. I think it's the most ideal habitation site on this island."
Jiang Yao sighed: "We have gotten a little sick of it here. We should find a new place."
Lin Qianqian said: "When do we set off then?"
"We can start preparing today. Bring food and necessary tools, and we can head out tomorrow."
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
Resolve] Gu Yang was once a true disciple of the Falling Cloud Sect, but after failing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, his cultivation regressed, his foundation was damaged, his lifespan was nearing its end, and he was about to be demoted to a menial servant. At his moment of despair, he awakened the [Daily Intelligence System]. By refreshing it daily, he could learn about countless hidden opportunities and secrets within the cultivation world! [Today's intelligence has been refreshed] [White Intelligence: One month ago, the Foundation Establishment spiritual item "Profound Ice Spirit Marrow" used by the host to attempt his breakthrough contained a trace of the poison "Bone-Corrobing Spirit-Dissolving Powder".] [Purple Intelligence: Tonight during the Yin hour (3-5 AM), a wisp of "Golden Crow Primordial Flame" will overflow... If this flame is devoured, it can recast the shattered cultivation foundation, fully restore cultivation, and awaken the one-in-ten-thousand—Primordial Supreme Yang Body. [Click to view coordinates]] [Golden Intelligence: Shen Qingyue, a Golden Core elder of the Falling Cloud Sect who possesses the Nine Yin Body, suffers from backlash of cold energy every full moon night, causing her strength to plummet and excruciating pain. Grand Elder Zhao Wuji has secretly bribed Shen Qingyue's personal maid, Hongxiu, and learned the rear gate array node of the protective formation "Clouds and Mist Veiling the Sun Array". Tomorrow late at night, he intends to take advantage of Shen Qingyue's flare-up of the cold poison, when she is weak and unable to resist, to use a secret technique to refine her into a cauldron and force her into a Daoist partnership. [Click to view coordinates]] The cultivation world is a jungle where the strong prey on the weak, and human hearts are as treacherous as ghosts? Sorry, but I can read the script! From then on, relying on his informational advantage, Gu Yang proceeded step by step with careful planning. Seizing opportunities, plundering fortunes. Selling intelligence. Playing rivals against each other. Step by step, he ultimately became the Immortal Emperor!
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
