The tribe entered a period of unprecedented growth.
But this growth came not only from the gifts bestowed by the gods. It also sprang from the knowledge the people had accumulated through years of diligent study.
With the [Earthen Blast Furnace] and the [rough bellows] working together,
the tribe melted Black Stone in clay [Crucibles], then poured it into molds they had dug out beforehand. One after another, Black Stone tools were born.
These Black Stone tools proved exceptionally durable and sturdy.
They were soon put to use in every aspect of tribal life.
Farm tools, weapons, even shipbuilding.
After the [Black Stone Farm Tools] and [Black Stone Arrows] had both proved successful,
the Artisans finally began experimenting with building ships from Black Stone and wood. But even shipbuilding remained a small-scale, independent project, as if it were something to be kept secret.
That was because some of the elders still believed it was unwise to build ships and venture out to sea.
But Ned pushed ahead.
Soon, the criticism within the tribe died down.
One reason Ned gave also addressed a concern they had considered before.
"Our island's land is limited, while our people will keep growing in number."
"One day, the tribe will need more land and more food."
"We can't wait until famine comes before we start worrying about all this."
"Perhaps we'll find other islands in the sea, and open up more hope and possibilities for the gods and the tribe's future."
Ned's words won over some of the elders.
Just as Ned had said,
the sea might not represent nothing but endless danger.
It could also be a symbol of hope.
A group of elders threw their support behind the idea of building ships and sailing out to sea.
"We'll build ships and carry on the great undertaking our forefathers left unfinished."
After Ned announced the decision,
countless Artisans cheered.
They no longer needed to hesitate. They could focus entirely on developing ships.
At this point,
the [Ship] connection point Mona had unlocked for the people long ago finally began to make a difference.
And with Blair, the tribe's most outstanding and widely acknowledged wise man, joining the effort,
ship design and research advanced at an almost explosive pace.
Ned also controlled the Shell Insects, following the Artisans' instructions and using their sharp, scissor-like mandibles to cut wood into the shapes people needed.
This greatly sped up both logging and shipbuilding.
Some ship parts had originally taken months to make. With the Shell Insects' help, they could now be finished in a matter of weeks.
All kinds of unusual ship structures and components began to appear.
From [Ship Anchors] to [Decks], from simple [Driftwood Boats] to [Sampans], and then to [Sailing Ships] capable of carrying more than ten people.
While the work by the sea was in full swing,
the island's interior was also filled with new hope.
Boer gradually learned how to control the Bobbit Worms, using them to break apart small rocky hills and level the land.
The Bobbit Worms devoured the larger rocks, or the stones were used to carve images of the gods. The smaller fragments were hauled away on wooden carts and used as building materials.
Once the rocky hills were cleared, the tribe gained more flat land for use.
With land available,
the first thing the tribe did was not to open up farmland.
The people would not forget:
all of this was a gift from the gods.
Besides carving myths into stone tablets,
they also considered recording the likeness of the gods' messengers.
"The Rot Spirit Flower conveyed the divine oracle to us and gave the tribe wondrous insects. We should also show the gods' messengers our devout respect."
"The Temple of Eternity should not be dedicated only to the gods. The gods' Apostles should be worshipped there, too."
The elders discussed the matter.
They would carve the image of the Rot Spirit Flower onto a stone tablet, and inscribe the words "Rot Spirit Flower" beneath it.
As for why they chose a stone tablet instead of a statue, the reason was simple—
the tribe's primitive techniques could not possibly reproduce the Rot Spirit Flower's delicate, graceful petals.
Before long, the people set up a stone tablet representing the Abigail Flower atop the sacred mountain leading to the Temple of Eternity. It signified that before gazing upon the great statue of the gods, one must first receive the blessing and approval of their messenger.
Now,
it was not only the Temple of Eternity.
The other temples also had their own priests to lead the people in worshipping the gods.
The new priests were the elderly members of the tribe who had become [Prophets] in the previous dream.
At the same time,
the Prophets soon noticed that, besides receiving knowledge in their dreams, they had also learned another wondrous power.
It was the ability to peer into people's hearts: "Divination."
At first, the elderly priests thought they were imagining things.
But as more and more voices flooded the Prophets' minds,
they finally realized those voices were no illusion.
The priests began seeking people out, asking about their doubts and feelings to confirm what they suspected: they could sense the shifting emotions in people's hearts.
Among them, the oldest priest, named Moro, possessed the strongest "Divination lv. 2" talent.
Moro could do more than simply detect changes in people's emotions.
He could even pick up faint shifts in the deeper thoughts of their souls. By combining these with their expressions, he could figure out what they were thinking.
This wondrous ability startled the people of the tribe.
Almost no one's secrets could stay hidden from Priest Moro.
"Shijade, are you afraid someone will find out you secretly took two dried fish from Poi's family on the shore?"
"Pike, I can feel your devotion to the gods. That's good."
"Babi, the last time you got a stomachache, you went straight into the bushes near the gods' messenger and..."
People whose innermost thoughts had been so easily exposed either stared in shock or fled from the temple in deep embarrassment.
Boer and Ned also heard about the old priest's wondrous ability. Astonished, they went to visit him in person.
Ned asked,
"Priest Moro, can you see what I'm thinking?"
Priest Moro replied respectfully,
"You seem to be communicating with insects. In your soul, I sense thoughts that don't belong to a human."
A trace of emotion finally appeared on Ned's face.
"Such an ability can really reach this level?"
After witnessing the power of this ability for himself,
Ned's expression grew excited.
He invited Priest Moro, who possessed such a powerful gift.
"This may be a little presumptuous, but I'd like to ask you something."
"Priest Moro, if the ships are ever completed, would you be willing to follow us and see the sea? Your ability could prove extremely useful."
Priest Moro remained respectful. He knelt on one knee.
"The gods bestowed this ability upon me. I could never let them down. If you ever need this old man, just ask. Moro will not hesitate to help."
After they left the temple where Priest Moro lived, Boer couldn't help asking his older brother,
"Brother, why would we need Priest Moro's mind-reading ability out at sea?"
He had tried to figure it out,
but couldn't understand what his brother was thinking.
Ned smiled softly.
He simply asked Boer a question in return.
"Boer, you know our ancestors came to this sea by ship."
"Do you think we're the only humans in this sea?"
"If we aren't the only humans, do you think we speak the same language?"
Hearing his brother's words, Boer immediately understood. His face filled with admiration.
So that was what his brother had in mind.
With such a powerful mind-reading ability,
they could understand what others were thinking, even if they didn't share a language, and communicate that way.
Before long,
Ned continued visiting the island's talented and unusual people.
One by one, he gained courageous and capable followers.
When the day came, they would follow this chosen one of the gods into the mysterious and magnificent sea, in search of new hope.
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