The midday sun poured its unrelenting brilliance over the land, its fiery rays blazing with a heat so intense it seemed to set the heavens and earth ablaze, painting a canvas of light and shadow.

  Serathus raised his head to gaze at the boundless blue sky, the wisdom he had accumulated during his arduous studies of astronomy surging within him. At this moment, the scorching sun hung proudly high, its hands having quietly crossed the threshold of noon.

  To the north, a few flat patches of land were scattered with sparse trees that seemed to whisper under the relentless sun, each one exuding a primal, rugged charm, as if recounting the earth’s most ancient secrets.

  To the south stretched a majestic, unbroken mountain range. Its undulating peaks, exposed rocks, and scattered debris made it unsuitable for farming, but it was perfect for quarrying stone and building sturdy structures.

  After careful consideration, Serathus decided to set aside thoughts of developing agriculture in the southern mountains for now and instead focus his attention on the flatter region to the south.

  He strode forward, following a small path along the mountain’s base. After navigating the rugged terrain, he soon arrived at the edge of a relatively flat forest.

  The trees here, though not dense, formed a natural barrier, blocking some of the sunlight and keeping the soil moderately moist and temperate.

  Serathus felt a flicker of delight: this might just be the ideal spot to complete his first planting task.

  As his feet sank into the soft soil, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. However, he quickly realized that farming was no easy task—first and foremost, he needed a reliable water source.

  Without water, no plant could take root and grow.

  He looked around and noticed the tender leaves on the treetops still bore the fresh green of spring, while the air carried a moist fragrance. Occasionally, he caught sight of bees busily darting among the wildflowers.

  These signs indicated that the area was in the transitional period between spring and summer.

  He walked to an open, unshaded patch of land, crouched down, and used his sharp dragon claws to carve shallow lines into the hard soil.

  The soil, long untilled, had become compact and stubborn, while deep underground, a network of tree roots greedily absorbed the nutrients, posing a significant obstacle to the growth of new plants.

  At the same time, weeds thrived, bolstered by the ambient magical energy, making the land a mix of vitality and wildness.

  Serathus fell into a brief reverie, a glint of wild determination in his eyes as a bold idea flashed through his mind: using his scorching dragon breath, a torrent of molten flame, to eradicate the rampant weeds.

  As a majestic red dragon, his body burned with a fire capable of shaking the earth, and every breath could ignite a blaze that lit up the heavens.

  However, as he closed his eyes and imagined the sweeping inferno, a deep concern arose—the intense dragon breath, with its thousand-degree heat, could scorch the land, rendering it infertile.

  Though the weeds’ seeds and roots would be utterly destroyed, the seeds he planted would struggle to grow in such damaged soil.

  At the same time, another practical issue surfaced—there was no obvious water source nearby.

  Perhaps the dense foliage obscured the view, and the water was hidden behind the thick vegetation.

  But then another idea came to him: water elemental magic. Perhaps he could summon water for irrigation.

  Serathus attempted to channel his internal magical energy. Dragons were naturally attuned to fire, making his grasp of water elemental magic somewhat clumsy.

  He focused, trying to recall fragments of knowledge from the dragon tomes he had studied, attempting to gather the moisture in the air.

  However, the water elements in the air were like mischievous sprites, difficult to bind with his fiery dragon magic. After several attempts, only a few tiny droplets formed at his fingertips, far from the amount needed to irrigate the field.

  It seemed that, at his current level of mastery, water elemental magic was insufficient to solve the irrigation problem.

  Reluctantly, he abandoned the idea for now, deciding to rely on natural water sources like rivers.

  Fortunately, the system’s beginner’s gift pack included an elemental water jug capable of holding ten liters of water. He could use this for emergency irrigation—a practical solution for the time being.

  Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air from the treetops. What should have been a clear birdcall turned into a shrill alarm.

  The birds in the towering ancient trees scattered like black feathers, their wings flapping madly, turning the canopy into a boiling vortex of sound.

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  These panicked birds, like iron pellets in a storm, collided with branches, leaving bloody trails—they had caught sight of the primordial beast perched atop the spruce.

  It was merely Serathus casually folding his wings, his vertical, molten-gold eyes glowing faintly.

  The mere presence of his draconic aura turned the air within a hundred paces into viscous amber, each feather bearing the crushing weight of a mountain.

  These creatures, lacking higher intelligence, might not understand fear, but the bone-deep trembling made it clear: their primal survival instincts were screaming in alarm.

  Serathus remembered one more task: finding a water source. Looking at the sky, he realized it was still early, and he had time to explore nearby for water. With this in mind, he began his search, relying on his keen memory and the marks he made along the way to ensure he wouldn’t lose his path.

  He paused, carefully observing his surroundings.

  He noticed that the soil here was more moist than elsewhere, and certain plants, like reeds and water hyacinths, began to appear in the low-lying areas.

  At the same time, the waterfowl circling above and the occasional wildlife hinted at the presence of water.

  Following these signs, he pressed on, and soon, a shimmering blue lake came into view.

  Gazing at this picturesque scene, Serathus felt an indescribable emotion well up within him.

  He couldn’t help but think of the rivers and lakes back on Earth, polluted by heavy metals from industrial development—once-clear waters turned into glaring, contaminated hues, the surfaces littered with colorful oil slicks and foul garbage, the air filled with nauseating chemical odors.

  Those who chased profit had callously destroyed the natural environment they depended on, turning sweet, clear waters into murky, stinking cesspools.

  Plastic waste and household trash were carelessly dumped into once-beautiful rivers, where pitiful fish and shrimp struggled to survive, gasping for life before succumbing to a painful death…

  His mind flashed to scenes from Earth’s news documentaries—people suffering from strange illnesses after drinking polluted water, their agonized moans, the helpless and despairing eyes of children… The sorrowful images of murky waters deeply pained his heart.

  Yet, here was a different world.

  The water was clear and pure, sunlight penetrating its surface, even the silhouettes of fish swimming freely clearly visible.

  The lake’s water was sweet and refreshing, a generous gift from nature.

  Serathus lay by the lake, drinking deeply of the sweet water.

  As he gulped it down, it felt as if all his weariness was washed away, the delicious water flowing down his throat, leaving him utterly satisfied.

  After quenching his thirst, Serathus thought of a way to bring water back—using the water jug. He opened the system panel and found the elemental water jug in his inventory, capable of holding ten liters. This was the best solution for now.

  In the system space, Serathus’s gaze fell on the ten-liter elemental water jug.

  He gently lowered the jug into the lake, and after a moment, lifted it to find it filled to the brim with clear, sweet water.

  Just as he picked up the full jug, Serathus noticed a warm sensation where his dragon claws touched it.

  As a red dragon, his body temperature far exceeded that of ordinary creatures, and even an unintentional touch could transmit significant heat.

  This heat seeped through the jug’s peculiar material, affecting the water inside.

  In an instant, the water in the jug rippled slightly, tiny wisps of steam rising.

  Serathus thought to himself, “The material of this elemental water jug is indeed extraordinary, able to sense my body heat and conduct it so quickly… But if I don’t return with this water soon, much of it might evaporate.”

  He frowned, pondering for a moment, then had an idea: “If I can store it in the system space, it shouldn’t evaporate, right?”

  With this thought, he decided to try.

  He had previously attempted to store meat or stones in the system space but failed. Now, testing it, he found that the filled water jug could be transferred successfully.

  After careful inspection, Serathus saw that the jug remained intact in the system space, the water level unchanged. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

  Thus, he returned the jug to the system space, relieved that he wouldn’t have to lug the water back to the farmland.

  With his spirits lifted, Serathus strode forward, the dry leaves crunching underfoot.

  Suddenly, he noticed the surrounding silence—the squirrels that had been leaping among the trees froze, watching him warily; a nearby herd of deer quietly retreated, their hooves snapping twigs before they disappeared into the forest.

  Returning to the flat area near the volcano, Serathus planned to make this his farming base.

  He tried using his dragon claws to dig into the soil but found that each swipe left only shallow scratches and scattered clumps of dirt—the efficiency was abysmal.

  The soil was as hard as if it had been compacted over years, and the weeds were deeply rooted, siphoning off the limited nutrients.

  After brief consideration, he decided to try the tools in his system space.

  He opened the system interface and retrieved a hoe.

  The hoe was made of a strange material, light yet sturdy, as if blending magic with modern craftsmanship.

  Serathus gripped the hoe, and though his dragon claws were less dexterous than human hands, the tool’s efficiency improved significantly.

  With a single swing, the hoe sank into the soil, easily turning over the hardened earth, the clumps of dirt tossed aside and quickly reclaimed by the hoe.

  After about fifteen minutes, a small 6x6 grid of farmland, each square roughly half a meter, had taken shape.

  Though it was tiring, Serathus felt a quiet sense of triumph: at least, the first field was taking form.

  Just as Serathus was basking in this initial farming success, he remembered a critical issue—the weeds.

  The long-untilled land was rife with weeds, and with the ambient magical energy, they grew exceptionally vigorously.

  But during the tilling process, weed seeds could mix into the soil, and if not thoroughly removed, they would sprout again come spring.

  With this in mind, Serathus had an idea: as a red dragon, his body radiated intense heat. Why not use this unique advantage?

  Serathus slowly lay down on the farmland, letting his body heat seep into the soil.

  As the temperature rose, the weed roots began to wither, emitting a faint burnt smell.

  He shifted his body to ensure the entire field was evenly heated.

  Next, he took out the elemental water jug from the system and carefully watered the newly tilled land.

  The water moistened the hard soil, making it slightly softer.

  Then, he retrieved 20 carrot seeds from his inventory—small, round seeds with intricate patterns on their surfaces, as if imbued with some magical secret.

  Considering the risks, Serathus decided to plant only 18 seeds, leaving a few in reserve in case of unforeseen damage. The exchange shop would only open after a successful harvest, so he needed to be cautious.

  He used simple tools to divide the field into even small plots, each about half a meter wide, planting the seeds evenly in the center of each plot, with a few scattered along the edges.

  After placing the seeds, he carefully marked each area to ensure he could track their growth accurately.

  Once the planting was complete, Serathus took out the seeds of the Sunlight Mushroom—a peculiar plant resembling small white mushrooms, their veins faintly glowing yellow.

  He carefully scattered these seeds in a distant corner of the field, intending to diversify his future crops.

  Then, he used the water jug to meticulously water each plot, ensuring the soil remained moist and wouldn’t crack from dryness.

  But as he repeatedly watered, the jug began to run low.

  Reluctantly, Serathus had to return to the nearby river, refill the jug, and head back.

  On the way, he worried that birds or animals might trample or eat his hard-earned crops.

  He racked his brain for a solution.

  Just then, his gaze fell on a sturdy tree by the path.

  A clever idea struck him—use the tree to create a barrier.

  Serathus quickly returned to the farmland and found a thick tree that had stood for decades.

  Though the tree was tough with age, it was no match for Serathus’s powerful dragon claws.

  Without hesitation, he swung his claws, swiftly cutting the tree in half. It fell with a resounding crash, shaking the ground and startling a flock of birds resting in the forest.

  They let out piercing cries, their wings flapping wildly as they circled in panic before vanishing into the forest depths, leaving behind an eerie silence.

  Now, Serathus stood on his carefully cultivated land, gazing at the freshly sown seeds and the fallen tree, pondering how to use the logs to build a fence to protect his fragile crops from being trampled or eaten.

  Building a fence might be simple for humans, but for Serathus—a massive red dragon—it was a delicate and challenging task.

  He had never used his bulky dragon body for such precise manual labor, and he was momentarily stumped.

  Though his dragon claws were strong enough to tear through rock, they were far from the dexterity of human hands.

  He tried using his claws to grasp the heavy logs and position them into a fence, but the massive claws struggled to control the angle and placement of the wood.

  The logs slipped clumsily in his grasp, refusing to align as he envisioned.

  To make matters worse, smoothing the rough wood to avoid splinters cutting his claws was another issue he couldn’t ignore.

  Serathus paced around the logs, occasionally extending his claws to test their grip, then lowering his head to blow a breath over the wood, his mind racing through possible solutions…

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