Ordinary observers in fast time travel

"Muxia, our cultivation base is divided into three areas: grain area, vegetable area, and fruit area. We are now visiting the grain area."

Before them stretched a green rice paddy, where four or five planters were channeling their wood-based abilities. As time passed, the rice paddy was turning yellow at a rate imperceptible to the naked eye.

"Brother Zhong, how long does it take for the planters to plant one acre of rice?" Shi Jia turned to ask the staff member next to him.

Zhong Qingyu said, "A fifth-level planter needs 10 days with a 0% mutation rate, a fourth-level planter needs 15-20 days with a 2% mutation rate, and a third-level planter needs one month with a 5-8% mutation rate."

“Planters of level two and below are not assigned to plant rice. They are responsible for planting vegetables. It takes about 15 days to plant one acre of vegetables, and the mutation rate is 2-5%.”

"Mutation rate? Can the vegetables and grains grown by planters also mutate?" Shi Jia asked in surprise.

Zhong Qingyu nodded. "Yes, the cultivation base is not completely isolated from the outside world. The air contains viruses and chaotic energy, which can cause the rice and vegetables to mutate. Of course, it also depends on the strength of the grower's ability and the length of time the cultivation has been carried out."

Then Zhong Qingyu said, "However, the planters will discover this anomaly immediately, so it will not affect the yield of rice and vegetables."

Upon hearing this, Shi Jia could not be optimistic. Even the plants carefully tended by the planters could mutate, which showed how serious the current food crisis was for humanity.

"Mu Xia, I heard from Uncle Yuan that you have awakened a wood-type ability. Are you planning to become a planter?" Zhong Qingyu suddenly asked.

"That's the idea," Shi Jia said, looking at the lush green rice paddies in front of her, her spirits high.

"Really? That's great! Come on, let me show you around the vegetable section." Zhong Qingyu's face immediately lit up with a smile, a stark contrast to his previous indifference.

Compared to the lush and verdant grain-growing areas, the vegetable-growing areas appeared somewhat "desolate," sparsely scattered here and there. Interspersed among them were large patches of yellowish-brown—oh, that's the color of the soil.

Several planters were working diligently in the field. Shi Jia didn't need to ask Zhong Qingyu; just from the energy fluctuations of those people, she knew that their abilities were between the second and third tiers.

"Ahem, as you know, most of the mid-to-high-level planters have gone to the grain and fruit areas, and the planters in the vegetable area are only at the low-level, so..." Zhong Qingyu scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed.

Shi Jia smiled and said, "I know, Brother Zhong. Can I go in and take a look?"

“Of course.” Zhong Qingyu nodded, and was about to accompany Shi Jia into the vegetable garden when his bracelet rang. Shi Jia turned around and smiled, “Brother Zhong, if you have something to do, go ahead and do it. I’ll just stay here and watch.”

"Okay." Zhong Qingyu quickly turned around to answer the call. His expression changed slightly, and he ran very fast.

Meanwhile, Shi Jia was already squatting in the field with great interest, watching the little planter plant vegetables! That's right, the little planter was a girl of fifteen or sixteen years old, who looked like she had just awakened her superpower.

The girl took a seed from her pocket, placed it in the dug hole, covered it with a thin layer of soil, and then scooped a ladle of water from the bucket beside her, pouring a little on top, just enough to slightly dampen the soil. Then, the little girl stretched out her hands, hovering about 10 centimeters above the seed. Her face flushed red, clearly she was exerting force, and in the next instant, a pale green energy poured into the seed.

Eight minutes later, the soil was pushed up, and a yellow-green sprout emerged. The little sprout shook itself, and the soil on its head was shaken off. The little sprout took the opportunity to stretch its small body and grew 3 centimeters taller in an instant.

Seeing this, the little girl quickly withdrew her powers and looked at Xiao Miao with joy. Her slightly pale face turned rosy.

Without delay, the little girl moved on, continuing to dig holes, plant seeds, water them, and channel her supernatural abilities.

Shi Jia grabbed a handful of soil; its sandy texture indicated severe nutrient loss. If this continued, it would likely turn into gravel in no time.

Shi Jia frowned, wondering about the other bases. The agricultural development of this Yanzhong base alone was fraught with problems. If this continued, people would probably only know that planting required superpowers, but not that plants also needed fertilizers to grow.

Shi Jia couldn't help but think of those novels about interstellar farming, where agricultural development is distorted, people don't know the conditions for plant growth, and they don't know what fertilizer is. Could this be the reason?
"Who are you?" Shi Jia was deep in thought, clutching the sand, when she suddenly heard a soft, hoarse voice. She looked up and saw a pale little face.

"Hello, I'm Yuan Muxia. I just awakened my wood-type ability a couple of days ago and I'm here to visit the training base today," Shi Jia said with a smile. "I saw you were very engrossed in your work, so I didn't disturb you."

The little girl relaxed considerably upon hearing this. "Hello, my name is Wang Baobao, I'm a Level 1 planter, and this is the vegetable garden I'm in charge of." Wang Baobao?
Shi Jia paused for a moment, then thought that perhaps the little girl's mother had experienced the apocalypse when she was pregnant with her and often went hungry, so she hoped that her daughter would have plenty to eat every day.

What a name full of beautiful wishes!
Shi Jia smiled and said, "Your name is very nice."

"Huh? Really?" Wang Baobao opened her mouth wide and looked at Shi Jia in surprise. Although she also thought her name was good, people used to laugh at her when they heard it.

"Of course, your mother would definitely want you to eat well and live a good life." Shi Jia smiled and looked at the pocket between her legs.

Upon hearing this, Wang Baobao nodded her little head vigorously, "Yes, yes, that's what my mom said! And I awakened a wood-type ability as soon as I woke up, and I even successfully became a planter."

"Do you still have any seeds?" Shi Jia asked, pointing to her pocket.

"There's one more thing." After saying that, Wang Baobao quickly covered her pocket and looked at Shi Jia warily, as if she were looking at a despicable thief.

Shi Jia chuckled, "Could you lend me five seeds? I'll return them to you later."

Wang Baobao quickly shook her head, "These seeds were distributed by the cultivation base; I can't afford to lose even one."

"How about I pay for it? I'll give you two hundred contribution points." Shi Jia showed her bracelet.

Wang Baobao was tempted. Losing the seed would only cost 100 contribution points, leaving him with 100!

"Also, I'll give you five more seeds in a bit, how about that?"

"Okay!" The simple-minded Wang Baobao was unaware that the plants grown by the superhumans were incapable of reproduction.

Of course, that applies to other superhumans; Shi Jia is different.

Shi Jia smiled, took the seeds, casually dug five holes in the soil, and followed the little girl's planting steps, watering and releasing her supernatural power.

Shi Jia was only slightly taken aback when the seeds sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, quickly growing true leaves and entering the seeding stage.

"Oh, it's lettuce."

"Wow—" Wang Baobao opened her mouth wide in surprise.

Shi Jia watched the lettuce grow without rushing to transfer his supernatural power. Instead, he probed the five lettuce plants with his mental energy to observe their physiological structure and genetic condition.

After observing for a while, Shi Jia frowned. He didn't find anything unusual. Logically, their seeds should be capable of reproduction.

Shi Jia thought for a moment and continued to channel her powers into the lettuce. As the powers entered, Shi Jia sensed that the virus in the air was invading the lettuce.

Viruses and superpowers are like natural enemies. When they meet, they fight like lightning and fire, and the intensity of their battle is like an atomic bomb explosion.

With a thought, Shi Jia probed in with his spiritual power once more.

After a while, Shi Jia suddenly realized that the two "fighting" had broken the lettuce's reproductive genes.

Now that the cause has been found, it's much easier to handle. (End of Chapter)