"Spirit Hoof Clan Leader, Stone Armor Clan Leader, and Red Flower Clan Leader, you can settle here for now and move when you find somewhere better. But before you move, remember not to damage the environment here." Lin Yan pointed at Warm Jade Valley as he spoke to the leaders of the three surviving tribes.
"Move? Um... Captain Lin, could we stay here and not move away?" the Spirit Hoof Clan Leader asked cautiously.
"Yes, yes, Captain Lin. The environment here is simply too good. We probably won't find a better place than this. We want to live here from now on. Would that be alright?" The Stone Armor Clan Leader also looked at Lin Yan hopefully.
The Red Flower Wood Spirit Clan Leader looked at Lin Yan with pleading eyes as well.
From the moment the three leaders first laid eyes on the valley, they had no desire to leave.
"Hmm? Is that so? Then do as you wish. This is unclaimed land anyway; whoever gets here first owns it. But if you plan to stay long-term, this place is still too crude, and you lack the necessary tools for production and daily life. It needs some improvements." Lin Yan paused, then spoke indifferently.
Since they had decided to settle here permanently, Lin Yan led the people of the three surviving tribes around the small valley for an inspection, intending to offer them some suggestions for improvement.
"Look at the walls around this valley. They seem sturdy, but there are actually many cracks in them already. Your Stone Armor Clan and Red Flower Wood Spirit Clan should work together. Use the Vine Technique alongside the Stone Solidifying Technique to reinforce the rock walls, and preferably set up some simple illusion formations for warning purposes."
"This sun-facing slope in the valley has a large amount of warm jade buried beneath it. As long as you activate the earth energy, Spirit Qi will seep out. Then, use warm spring water for irrigation, and you can grow Sunlight Grass, Calming Flowers, and other spiritual herbs that thrive in sunlight and warmth. Not only will this improve the valley's scenery, but once the herbs mature, you can trade them with other tribes for supplies."
"The shaded rock wall over there can be excavated into Cave Dwellings. Spread Dry Grass Spirit Moss inside, and they can serve as daily residences. Of course, if you prefer wooden houses, you can fell trees and build them, but remember not to cut down all the spirit trees on the mountain."
"Also, the old, weak, and young in your tribes can tend the spiritual herbs and maintain the camp. As for the young and strong... well, although you do not have many of them now, they must take on patrol and guard duties. If ferocious beasts attack, they can at least buy everyone more time to escape."
The three leaders were initially somewhat bewildered, but their eyes grew brighter the more they listened. Captain Lin Yan was not only extraordinarily powerful in battle, but also understood the way of construction. If they followed his suggestions, it would not take long for this valley's environment to rise to another level.
"Captain Lin Yan, no, Benefactor Lin, we truly cannot thank you enough. This old man... I represent the entire tribe in thanking Benefactor Lin for showing us the way." The three leaders finished speaking and were about to bow deeply to Lin Yan. He had not only given them a valley where they could live, but also hope for survival. This kindness was simply too great.
Lin Yan hurriedly supported them. "The Prehistoric World is dangerous, and survival is not easy. We can only huddle together for warmth. I hope that from now on, you will work together with one heart and help each other in times of need. Only then can you live better."
"We will not disappoint you, Benefactor Lin," the three said in unison.
Over the following days, the three tribes each put their strengths to use and began working together to transform the small valley according to the community model Lin Yan had planned for them.
By the time the Patrol Team had finished resting, construction in the small valley was still in full swing. These survivors from small tribes that had endured countless hardships and stood on the brink of extinction had finally found a peaceful place to call their future home. Every one of them threw themselves into the work with tremendous enthusiasm, and they were deeply grateful to Lin Yan for giving them hope to live on.
When Lin Yan and the Patrol Team departed, the living beings of the three tribes gathered of their own accord to see them off.
The elderly Spirit Hoof clansman represented all the survivors and bowed deeply to Lin Yan and Elder Xuan Yue. "Benefactor Lin Yan, Elder Xuan Yue, we will never forget the Kirin Clan's great kindness. This place will be our new home from now on, so we ask that Benefactor give it a new name."
Lin Yan looked at the land before him, now brimming with life force, and at the living beings whose eyes had rekindled with hope. Smiling, he said, "This place was reborn because all of you united as one. Why not call it Concentric Valley? May you be like its name from now on, united in purpose and helping each other in times of need."
"Concentric Valley... good! A wonderful name!" The elder was overwhelmed with excitement. "Rest assured, Benefactor, we will not disappoint you!"
After leaving Concentric Valley, the Patrol Team encountered and rescued several more groups of weak tribes who had suffered similar misfortunes. Lin Yan repeated the same approach, helping them establish settlements based on the different terrain and environments, while teaching them how to survive and develop.
At the edge of Miasma Swamp, he rescued the Azure Water Toad tribe, who excelled in water-based techniques, and settled them on a marsh peninsula where Lin Yan had purified the source of the poison and cleared the springs.
In the Cracked Stone Gobi, he rescued the Sand-Walking Mole tribe, who were skilled at controlling sand and locating underground water sources but had been driven away by Sandstorm Gargoyles. He guided them to a Gobi Oasis where Lin Yan had stabilized the Earth Veins and drawn out an underground river.
In the Thunder Mountain Foothills, he aided the Thunder Pattern Dwarf Stone tribe, who could summon weak lightning to temper ore but had suffered attacks from Sha Gold Ants. He brought them to a fortress converted from abandoned mine tunnels, where Lin Yan had calmed the chaotic lightning spirits.
Each time, Lin Yan did far more than drive off ferocious beasts and resolve their immediate crisis. Based on their innate talents and actual circumstances, he gave them exceptionally detailed and highly practical advice for survival and development.
As more and more settlements built by Lin Yan appeared, Elder Xuan Yue, Shi Yue, and the others gradually sensed that something was off.
Deputy Captain Yan Feng shook his enormous tiger head and muttered to Shi Yue, "Captain, have you noticed that the settlements Lin Yan built for all the tribes we rescued were chosen along our patrol route?"
Shi Yue froze. After thinking back carefully, he slapped his thigh. "Hiss... now that you mention it... that's true. Concentric Valley, Clear Spring Peninsula, Gobi Oasis, Thunderclap Fortress... not only are they all along the patrol route, but they do not seem very far apart either. Every time we patrol, we can conveniently protect these settlements too. He's... making our Patrol Team serve as free guards for these settlements."
Mo Xuan burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Big Brother Shi Yue, you only just realized it? Let me tell you, Lin Yan looks honest and simple, but he's full of tricks. I guarantee he had this idea from the very beginning. These settlements were all carefully calculated by him."
"That's right. Lin Yan has a talent for thinking countless steps ahead from the moment he takes the first step. He must have planned this long ago." Ao Ye spoke with certainty as he played with a ferocious beast's horn.
Mo Xuan and Ao Ye had traveled with Lin Yan for a thousand years and understood his far-sighted schemes very well. From the moment Lin Yan began transforming the ecological environment of the first place, they knew he definitely had further plans.
"This Lin Yan has a far-reaching vision and deep foresight. He cannot be underestimated. Fortunately, he is a friend rather than an enemy. Otherwise, he would scheme us to death." Lei Zhen spoke in a deep, muffled voice.
Naturally, their discussion could not escape Elder Xuan Yue's Divine Sense. He had remained silent as he followed the group, observing everything. The way he looked at Lin Yan had gradually changed from scrutiny and curiosity to something much deeper, with even a trace of indescribable gravity and... appreciation.
Lin Yan had actually told him about the subsequent plan already. Elder Xuan Yue had been shocked when he first heard it, but he had no certainty that the plan would succeed.
Now that the patrol mission was essentially complete and the Patrol Team was about to return, this was the perfect opportunity to test whether Lin Yan's plan could succeed.
Before you continue