Wasteland Development Diary

These threads are somewhat similar to plant Guangna Organs, but they themselves are not complete; they can only absorb the abundant Circular Flow energy naturally present here.

The growth of Bermuda grass on Mars is rapid; on Earth, their growth cycle is around 45 days, but on Mars, they flourish in just 6 days, also due to the abundant energy on Mars.

However, they still fall within the normal range of plants, with no other abnormalities except for growing fast and dense.

Based on this success, the company continued with the incubation of wheat.

The Incubator modified a batch of wheat seeds, but the seedlings that successfully sprouted had a mutated characteristic; these wheat seemed to have some special mechanism for perceiving the outside world and interacting with it.

Zhou Yi tried it.

When he approached, the Mars wheat seedlings would cautiously avoid him. If he stood among the seedlings, some would gently touch him, as if trying to confirm what kind of outsider he was.

Qing Liu said, "Cultivator, they are a life form with vague self-awareness, which is a very rare and precious occurrence. This is because Mars itself has a large amount of Consciousness Fragments. During incubation in the Incubator, there is a very small probability of nurturing this rare kind."

According to its explanation,

The organisms incubated by this biological machine are divided into two levels.

The first is ordinary life, which is an improvement and modification based on prototypes, like Biological TV and Bermuda grass.

The second is conscious life, which is a species inherently possessing a certain consciousness, with a probability close to winning the lottery's first prize.

Under normal circumstances, to hatch and cultivate conscious life, postnatal implantation of Consciousness Fragments or Consciousness Bodies is needed. But this artificial editing fusion can also cause rejection reactions and subsequent various issues.

The madness and chaotic state of the Killer Rat is one of the side effects caused by artificial editing.

The carnivores' craving and addiction to high-grade meat, an insatiable desire for meat, is much like severe addiction and is also considered a side effect.

But these side effects have all been adjusted and utilized by the Seeder.

Conscious life that is naturally born is extremely precious and rare.

Because consciousness is an intrinsic force and reason for evolution. Without consciousness, there is only the survival instinct to adapt to the environment. With consciousness, there is the initiative of self-will, leading to incomparable growth and potential.

"In the future, whether they gradually evolve towards order and socialization, or towards chaos and madness, is related to the environment."

Qing Liu stated, "If the environment itself tends toward order, they will also be influenced. If the outside world is disorderly and chaotic, they will adapt to and become like it."

What Zhou Yi cared more about was,

These wheats have now become conscious organisms.

Can they still be eaten?

"They can be eaten."

Qing Liu assured, "And they are of better quality than Earth wheat."

"Although this species has a nascent form of consciousness, developing a complete self-consciousness will still require a long time for evolution and transformation. In this regard, there is no need to worry, as any new species, from its initial bud to maturity, requires at least tens of thousands of years."

That's no problem then.

On Earth, even the super early-maturing spring wheat needs a minimum full growth cycle of 90 days, with winter wheat reaching 300 days. However, the full growth cycle of Mars wheat is only 41 days, and it can be harvested in just over a month.

The Legal Front conducted a comprehensive test on this new variety of wheat and produced a detailed report.

[Nutritional content (per 100 grams)]

Energy: 2380 kcal (9961kJ)

Protein: 13.2g

Fat: 2.1g

Carbohydrate: 72.0g

Vitamins: ...

...

Mars Wheat No. 1 is basically the same as common Earth wheat in other aspects, except it carries a lot of energy, approximately 7 times that of Earth, and it contains special energy radiation substances.

This energy radiation is generated due to the Circular Flow environment and is not suitable for direct consumption by ordinary people, as it could cause radiation sickness or lead to massive cell death.

However, it is a very special food.

Mars-native Killer Rats, Electric Cats, and even Electric Souls are fanatically fond of it.

As long as the wheat is scattered on the Martian surface outside the base, they will swarm to it to snatch it up, even Killer Rats, which usually chase dust storms, will rush over for it.

Previously for Mars Electric Cats, the company offered many generous conditions, allowing them to take vacations on Earth, providing the electric facilities and sites they needed, and giving opportunities to transfer to other departments through exams... However, the number of Electric Cats willing to work remained very low.

This portion of the local Electric Cats willing to participate in labor were almost entirely recruited, with the remaining 90% being unwilling to change.

However, once Mars wheat appeared, and the local Electric Cats ate this wheat, they couldn't stay calm. In order to eat this special cat food, they actively requested to join the company to work, just to be able to get a stable food supply every day.

It had clearly become a special feed.

The Old King was greatly shocked: "So this is how Mars wheat is used... I initially did not understand why cultivate wheat on Mars. Just producing starch could meet the carbon needs of humans and biological life. So this was your plan."

"Cultivating food needed by local Martian life to integrate them through food."

"You are truly skilled at breaking conventions in foundational fields, controlling situations from the inside out, in a way that no one else can match..."

Zhou Yi: "..."

He thought to himself, buddy, I was just experimenting with wheat on a whim.

Didn't expect the luck to explode.

Created a rare species.

The key to Mars Wheat No. 1's strong attraction to Martian life lies in the energy radiation substances within.

Jue Mingzi and 703 mobilized the computing power of hundreds of thousands of Mechanical Life forms to conduct targeted in-depth analysis of this.

They ultimately concluded,

This radiation substance is a splitting body - or rather, a reactant produced by the Incubator's organic matter and Martian Circular Flow, causing Martian life to find it attractive and addictive.

Furthermore, the Mars wheat contains consciousness components, so its appeal is stronger, whereas Bermuda grass did not have this effect.

Its essence is an instinctual need for the organic matter of the Incubator.

Zhou Yixin thought it made sense; Electric Cats, Killer Rats, and even Electric Souls, all originated from life nurtured in the Incubator.

It was also because of this that,

Mars Wheat No. 1 immediately confirmed its significant strategic value and status, not only spreading throughout the Incubator but also being mass-cultivated in other farms at the Mars Base.

The Incubator also received an official name [Steve No. 2].

The only somewhat regrettable aspect was that several types of plants cultivated subsequently were quite ordinary. They could adapt to survive and grow in the Mars Base environment, but no consciousness emerged anymore.

Even so, Zhou Yi was already very satisfied.

Luck is something that can never be forced.

Having already drawn an SSR, who needs a bicycle?

Using Mars wheat as raw material and adding Dead Sea Fruit, Hundred-Change Fruit, and other auxiliary ingredients, the produced Mars Biologic Food quickly became a star product in the base.

The Mars Electric Cats spontaneously began their working careers to purchase this food.

After all, they need to eat.

Consuming this food creates a high level of addiction; not eating it for a day makes one uncomfortable, and it's hard to endure days without eating it. It's like how ancient humans, after eating meat, could never accept chewing on berries every day again.

One day, three months later.

A major news item came from the Mars Affairs Department.

"Chairman, we have tamed the first Mars Killer Rat using biologic food and Evil Brain Motor!"

Duke Destructive's voice couldn't hide the joy.

"It is the first wild Light Core Body we have tamed to date!"

Zhou Yi was shocked.

What the heck.

Your progress is a bit too fast!

He immediately hurried to the Mars Base to check out the specific situation.