Shit Stirrer

Isabelle's return finally gave Lu Yao someone he could directly communicate with and issue complex commands to.

The [Drifting Letter] now only had one page of letter paper left to use; once it was consumed, it would become invalid. Lu Yao needed its output of +1 Faith per hour, so it could basically only serve as a mascot.

In the past, when Lu Yao wanted to issue commands, he had to go through the Prophet for interpretation, which was then further conveyed to the tribe. However, through this series of information being pondered and relayed by the Prophet, in the eyes of the tribe's villagers, Lu Yao as a god became even more obscure and unfathomable.

The whole process was like picking your nose with a wool glove.

Both the hand and the nose felt something was off.

Through Isabelle's words, Lu Yao, stuck in a fixed top-down perspective, could finally know what was happening in this pixel game world.

"According to the Bedou Tribe's description, the bandits in the desert only started appearing in recent years. And before the monsters attacked the oasis, one thing happened."

Above Isabelle's head, her statement floated into view.

"The Salt Pool Tribe once found the Bedou Tribe, wanting them to transport goods for the Salt Pool Tribe in the desert and establish a Salt Pool Tribe outpost at the oasis."

"This was opposed and rejected by the Bedou Tribe."

"Shortly after that, the desert monsters that had originally stayed far from the oasis suddenly rioted, surging toward the oasis in large numbers. The Bedou Tribe couldn't resist, so they had to abandon the oasis and flee temporarily."

"During the escape, the desert bandits took the opportunity to strike, killing many of the Bedou Tribe's people and plundering their camels and flocks."

"The Salt Pool Tribe is very dangerous," Isabelle commented.

Lu Yao thought to himself, what's meant to come will always come.

If the Garlic Tribe had refused to trade with them back then, they might also have been in a mess, running into all sorts of unexpected trouble.

The Salt Pool Tribe's reach extended everywhere, and the Garlic Tribe had to prepare to deal with them as well.

Lu Yao glanced at the eleven Salt Pool Tribe captives, and suddenly an idea popped into his head.

He quickly typed on the keyboard.

--Send all eleven captives to the East River Tribe as aid to them.

"Yes, my lord."

--Also, ask the East River Tribe about their cooperation with the Salt Pool Tribe.

After receiving the order, Isabelle met with [Grandmother].

"It's actually an Apostle!"

[Grandmother] was extremely surprised, a question mark appearing above her head.

She thought to herself, "Luckily the tribe has been praying and making offerings all along. Ordinary gods can't have Apostles; it seems God Yao is a terrifying god on the same level as Prayer God."

This also put Lu Yao on alert.

That Prayer God also had Apostles; if they ever crossed paths, he'd have to be extra careful.

[The East River Tribe's attitude has become Intimate.]

Sending out this batch of captives indeed earned the East River Tribe's gratitude and goodwill.

So Lu Yao shifted his attention to the other side.

The addition of the Bedou Tribe's remnants brought a series of major changes to the Garlic Tribe.

[The Garlic Tribe has learned the method of raising and using camels.]

[The Garlic Tribe has learned the method of raising and using sheep.]

[The Garlic Tribe now possesses livestock.]

[The Garlic Tribe has discovered Wool.]

The two domesticated types of livestock each had their uses.

After the Garlic Tribe started raising camels, the camels began replacing human labor, carrying heavy loads like wood, stone, and fish, greatly increasing transport and collection efficiency.

The Pixelated Villagers started riding camels to explore everywhere. With this mode of transport, the tribe's villagers' range of movement expanded significantly; they could enter and exit the Forest and Mountains in a short time, and the Garlic Tribe set foot in the desert for the first time, searching for usable resources there.

The arrival of sheep brought two important resources.

Meat and Wool.

In the past, the Garlic Tribe's meat came entirely from hunting by the Hunters. Hunting was not only seasonal but also dangerous; even with the Bow and Arrow now equipped, the Hunters still often got injured.

After domesticating sheep, the meat supply became stable.

Wool was also an important material for warmth.

The Bedou Tribe members were all skilled at raising livestock; they were not only good at raising camels and sheep but also mastered the techniques of spinning and weaving wool. As they integrated into the population, their techniques became the Garlic Tribe's knowledge, spreading and becoming widespread.

Lu Yao's main focus was on Shahan, the leader of the Bedou Tribe remnants. He was an old man with graying hair, bearing the title of [Astrologer].

[Astrologer Lv4] Shahan

Attack 0 Defense 0 Knowledge 4 Mana 2 Luck 0 Morale 1

[Ability]

Astrology Lv3: Divines celestial changes and fortune through the stars.

Somewhat similar to Shahan was the Shaman, Lie Cang.

[Shaman Lv3] Lie Cang Attack 0 Defense 0 Knowledge 2 Mana 2 Luck 0 Morale 1

[Abilities] Healing Lv2: Can treat various illnesses and injuries. Healing ability is related to ability level, knowledge, and mana.

The abilities of the Astrologer and the Shaman were both highly practical and versatile.

After arriving at the Garlic Tribe, the Astrologer set up a sheepskin tent beside the Temple, where he worshipped the God while observing the stars for divination.

Most of the time, he served as the tribe's weather forecaster.

"Rainfall is plentiful; this spring is suitable for sowing."

"A gale is brewing at the edge of the sky. Pack up your things and take shelter early."

"Wrath will erupt within the Mountains. Do not enter the mountains."

Lu Yao specifically verified this and found that Shahan's predictions of major disasters—such as Torrential Rain, Earthquake, and Hurricane—were highly accurate.

The Garlic Tribe had absorbed the Bedou Tribe, further expanding its borders and industries. With food becoming more abundant and plentiful, the Pixelated Villagers mostly wore smiles above their heads.

On the other hand, the situation at the East River Tribe continued to deteriorate.

The Sea Monsters, already suffering from an incurable disease, were growing weaker and dying off. Only two Sea Monsters remained alive.

Isabelle returned to the Temple and reported, "My lord, I used Lingering Prayer at the East River Tribe to awaken the spirits of the dead Sea Monsters. After questioning and verification, I determined that the cause of their illness is poisoning."

"The Sea Monsters usually forage in the water, eating Fish, Shrimp, and shellfish. However, over the past year, a strange kind of Meat suddenly appeared at the bottom of the water."

"This Meat was all fresh, and the Sea Monsters liked it very much. Though their bodies were enormous, their minds were not sharp—about the same as infants."

"After eating this Meat, the Sea Monsters began to show varying degrees of illness: their scales festered, their bodies grew weak, and they felt drowsy and wanted to sleep. As the symptoms worsened, the Sea Monsters died."

The poisoning of the Sea Monsters was aimed at the East River Tribe.

This meddlesome style immediately reminded Lu Yao of a certain group.

He typed on the keyboard.

--Salt Pool Tribe.

"My lord has indeed seen through everything."

Isabelle continued sharing her findings.

"I used Lingering Prayer to question the spirits in the East River. The spirits said that a group of mysterious people came by boat after dark, specifically to a spot not far from the East River Tribe's Ship Island. They threw the Meat into the water. It was confirmed to be the work of the Salt Pool Tribe."

"According to the East River Tribe, they have a conflict with the Salt Pool Tribe. The Salt Pool Tribe has been trying to trade slaves and salt for Sea Monsters, but the East River Tribe refused."

"The Salt Pool Tribe took great offense at this, seeing it as betrayal and distrust. The relationship between the two sides grew colder, and trade volume kept decreasing."

Lu Yao understood.

The Lingering Prayer skill wasn't just for summoning the dead to fight—it was a divine tool for gathering intelligence.

He thought for a moment and made a decision.

--Tell the East River Tribe the truth.

--Then tell them that the Garlic Tribe is willing to offer a piece of land by the river for them to settle and live on land, so they won't have to worry about the wind and waves or climate issues on the water. Being closer to the Garlic Tribe will make trade convenient, and both sides can look out for each other.

"Yes, my lord."

Isabelle accepted the order.