Earth Dragon Family

Perhaps sensing the resentment in Lin Yan's heart, a cold, mechanical voice abruptly rang out in the depths of his consciousness.

Lin Yan froze. "???"

He jolted violently, and his long, slender body instinctively arched.

"Who? Who's speaking?"

``` [System binding successful. Respected host Lin Yan, the Ecology Civilization Spark System is at your service.]

Lin Yan was stunned. Then, an indescribable surge of wild joy and excitement flooded his heart.

System Daddy!

A transmigrator's benefit package—late, but it had arrived!

"System Daddy, you finally came! I knew it. The great being who sent me here couldn't possibly just watch me waste a transmigration slot." Lin Yan was nearly crying with joy.

"Quick! Tell me, what can you do? Can you turn me back into a human? Is there a beginner's gift pack? Can you help me defy fate and run rampant through the Primordial World...?"

He fired off questions at the system in rapid succession.

System: [This system exists to assist the host in spreading the Ecological Civilization Concept, improving the Prehistoric World's living environment, and preserving the Civilization Spark. It cannot directly increase the host's cultivation or alter the host's form. The evolution of the host's form can only depend on his own efforts.]

Lin Yan's enthusiasm was doused by the system's icy voice. "Huh? You can't change my form, and you can't make me stronger directly... Wait, what does improving the living environment mean? Big Brother, I'm an earthworm. How am I supposed to improve the Prehistoric World's living environment? By eating dirt all day? And besides, you're a system. You don't help me get stronger; you just make me work? What use are you?"

[The System Panel has been activated. Please inspect it yourself, Host.]

The system completely ignored Lin Yan's dissatisfaction. With a notification chime, an exceedingly simple, translucent screen appeared within his consciousness.

[Ecology Civilization Spark System]

[Host: Lin Yan]

[Race: Earth Dragon (Earthworm)]

[Cultivation: Shaping Stage (20%)]

[Current Task List:]

Improve the ecological environment within the current thousand-li radius and prevent an Ecological Disaster;

Establish at least one community clan and continue the clan's civilization;

Host, please note: only upon completing the above tasks may your cultivation break through its current realm and advance into the Earth Immortal Realm.

[Function List:]

Primordial Basic Knowledge Atlas (unlocked within a thousand-li radius)

Mini Ecology Simulator (unlocked within a thousand-li radius)

[Rewards: (Because the host indirectly improved the ecological environment for the first time, relieved Earthfire pressure, prevented a regional Ecological Collapse, and indirectly saved the lives of his kin)]

Spirit Qi absorption rate x2.

"Is that it?" Lin Yan was somewhat dumbfounded. He studied the panel again and again.

"There aren't any miraculous pills, advanced cultivation techniques, or powerful magical treasures in the rewards? Just double Spirit Qi absorption? I'm an earthworm—I already absorb Spirit Qi slowly. What's the use of doubling it?"

"And I have to complete tasks before I can advance?"

"What kind of lousy system are you? You're seriously useless. What do I need a system like you for?"

Lin Yan cursed at the System Panel like a shrew, but the system gave no response whatsoever. Only the glaring panel continued to flash in the depths of his consciousness.

At last, after cursing himself tired, Lin Yan felt refreshed. These past days, he had eaten dirt alone, slept alone, and lived alone in the cramped underground. It had truly been stifling.

Today, he had finally found something to vent at. Even though it was only an intangible system, it made him feel a little less bored.

"What the hell are the atlas and simulator in the function list?" Having finished venting, Lin Yan finally had the mood to study this inexplicable system.

He tried focusing his thoughts and first opened the icon labeled [Primordial Basic Knowledge Atlas].

In an instant, an enormous amount of information—at least for an Earth Dragon's simple brain—poured into his consciousness. This was not information like the Bloodline Inheritance, which he could understand through instinct. It was more as if someone had forcibly stuffed a compressed file into his brain, and he had to unzip it himself before he could view its contents.

Lin Yan curiously opened the atlas and found that it recorded illustrations of many common Spirit Ore minerals, flora, and fauna of the Prehistoric World. Beside the illustrations were thoughtful written descriptions, mainly introducing their appearance and basic characteristics.

"Good stuff!" Lin Yan perked up. "This is practically the primordial version of the Wilderness Survival Guide and the Primary Flora and Fauna Atlas." This knowledge was not some profound cultivation method, but it was incomparably practical for him right now.

After all, Lin Yan knew next to nothing about the Primordial World. As for his original body—the Earth Dragon—the knowledge in its Bloodline Inheritance was pitifully scarce.

After briefly browsing through the atlas, Lin Yan discovered that much of its content remained locked, and the material he could view was extremely limited. He guessed that he might only be able to access it after completing System Tasks or raising his cultivation.

So, he opened the [Mini Ecology Simulator] icon.

A Sand Table model labeled with all sorts of data instantly appeared before him.

The Sand Table displayed miniature terrain spanning roughly a thousand li in every direction around him. A yellow light spot presumably represented his current location.

Upon the Sand Table, the mountain ranges, Earth Veins distribution, Water Vein flows, spiritual root locations, mineral reserves, and other information throughout the thousand-li area were all visible at a glance.

From this Miniature Sand Table, Lin Yan could see that he was currently inside a canyon surrounded by mountains on all sides.

Aside from scattered patches of green, the mountain body around the canyon was mostly represented by gray rock.

A pale blue line passed through the canyon's southern side, likely representing a river on the surface.

Several red Light Spots lay within a pale red area. One of them kept flashing beside him, and Lin Yan guessed that it might represent an Earthfire eruption point.

Aside from that, several barely discernible yellow Light Spots were slowly moving through the yellow-brown areas representing soil.

According to the usage instructions beside the Sand Table, Lin Yan could conduct simple simulations on it through his consciousness. For instance, adding a tunnel here would weaken the intensity of Earthfire eruptions; redirecting that weak Water Vein could save a nearby patch of spiritual herbs; clearing a section of Earth Veins at the foot of the mountain could greatly increase the concentration of Spirit Qi there...

"This... this is practically a divine tool for ecological restoration!" As an ecological environment restoration expert in his previous life, Lin Yan immediately recognized the simulator's value. He loved this tool, which so perfectly suited his profession, from the bottom of his heart.

"Wait, what the hell does 'indirectly saved a miniature Earth Dragon clan (Number: 9)' mean? Could there actually be others of my kind here?" Lin Yan suddenly thought as he eagerly played with the Mini Ecology Simulator.

He hurriedly reopened the Mini Ecology Simulator, found those little yellow Light Spots, and tried concentrating his thoughts to "touch" one of them. A brief line of information immediately appeared beside the simulator: [Juvenile Earth Dragon, Innate Being, intelligence unopened].

"They really are my kind!" A strange feeling welled up in Lin Yan's heart. Ever since he had transmigrated into an earthworm, he had always lived alone. He had felt at least a little lonely. Now that he knew others of his kind existed in this barren and dangerous world, that loneliness was instantly diluted considerably.

Relying on the simulator's precise terrain display, as well as an Earth Dragon's innate ability to hide and move through soil, Lin Yan carefully avoided areas of unstable energy and wriggled toward those small Light Spots.

It did not take long for Lin Yan to find the nine little Earth Dragons. At that moment, they were trembling as they huddled into a ball, clearly frightened by the earlier Earthfire eruption.

When Lin Yan approached them, the little Earth Dragons seemed to sense something and turned their "heads"—or rather, their front ends—toward him.

A silent exchange passed through their bloodline, relying not on language but on a wondrous aura perception and spiritual fluctuation. Lin Yan could clearly feel the fear, confusion, and desire for shelter that they conveyed. In turn, he naturally gave off a sense of closeness.

Looking at those muddled little Earth Dragons, who acted entirely on instinct, he suddenly felt the responsibility of having a family to support. Though this "family" was a little strange.

The little Earth Dragons slowly wriggled over to Lin Yan's side and continuously rolled their bodies around him. Clearly, they regarded Lin Yan as their "leader" or "parent."

"Fine, at least I've got company. And I can use you to complete the first task, too." Lin Yan spoke after glancing at the System Task that read, "Establish at least one community clan."

Lin Yan tried sending a simple message to the Earth Dragons through his consciousness: "I'm the boss, and you're the younger brothers. From now on, follow me. I'll protect you..."

The little Earth Dragons clearly understood Lin Yan's meaning. Each of them sent back thoughts of excitement and submission, then obediently followed behind him and began gnawing on the surrounding dirt.

Watching the little Earth Dragons gather around him and work hard at eating dirt together, Lin Yan suddenly found the scene both comical and strangely heartwarming.

"Alright, then our earthworm family—no, the Earth Dragon Family—is officially established today. I, Lin Yan, am your clan leader, your boss. Our mission is to eat dirt... and improve the environment," he encouraged the Earth Dragons. "Our goal is... to survive first, then strive to shed the form of soft-bodied animals as soon as possible."

Other than Lin Yan, the nine little Earth Dragons all looked utterly confused...