Chapter 79: Upgrading the Agricultural Zone!

After Xu Zhengyang reviewed the attributes of the regional special effects, he nodded in satisfaction. He then opened his task list to check the latest main quest:

[Main Quest: Upgrade Agricultural Zone (In Progress)]

[Your shelter is becoming increasingly complete, and you have successfully resolved the issue of basic sustenance.

However, in this apocalyptic world.

You need a variety of foods to stimulate your taste buds, keeping your mental state pleasant at all times.]

[Quest Objective: Designate an agricultural zone within the shelter

(The agricultural zone must cover an area of no less than 1,500 square meters, with the planting area being no less than 500 square meters and the breeding area no less than 1,000 square meters; the planting area must include at least one hundred different types of vegetables, fruits, and spices; the breeding area must raise at least twenty types of edible meat.)]

[Quest Reward: Regional Special Effect · Group Immunity]

After reading the quest details, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but furrow his brow.

Even after three expansions, Xu Zhengyang's shelter still had ample space, and there were no height requirements for the agricultural zone.

So, for the first task requirement, Xu Zhengyang only needed to have the Engineering Robot partition off a section in the shelter.

The challenge of this task lay in how to ensure that Xu Zhengyang's entire agricultural zone could achieve the most basic internal circulation.

Thinking of this, Xu Zhengyang sighed, "It seems I can only visit Professor Bai at White City University one more time."

With that, Xu Zhengyang turned to Da Bai and said, "Da Bai, I am now granting you control over the Engineering Robot.

Please outline a space of 1,500 square meters in the shelter!"

"Understood, Master."

Just as Xu Zhengyang completed the authorization, Da Bai had already begun operating the Engineering Robot to get to work...

*An hour and a half later, Xu Zhengyang drove to White City University.

As the year-end approached, most students had already gone home for the holidays. Unlike the usual hustle and bustle, the campus was now eerily quiet and empty.

...

Before arriving, Xu Zhengyang had already called Bai Kaiyuan to explain his purpose.

When Bai Kaiyuan heard Xu Zhengyang's request, he was quite surprised, but he did not refuse. Instead, he appeared to have some unspoken concerns and asked Xu Zhengyang to come for a face-to-face discussion.

Upon entering Bai Kaiyuan's office, he saw Bai Kaiyuan busy at his computer. Bai Kaiyuan greeted Xu Zhengyang and said, "You're here, have a seat.

I still have some things to finish up. Please help yourself to some water, and we can chat later."

"Okay."

Xu Zhengyang readily complied.

...

About twenty minutes later, Bai Kaiyuan saved his work, stretched wearily, and then apologized to Xu Zhengyang, "Sorry, Xu.

I've been swamped with tasks lately, and some of the units I'm coordinating with are quite... assertive.

So I have to finish some work before I can focus on my own matters."

"I understand, I understand."

Xu Zhengyang offered a polite response and then got straight to the point, "So, Professor Bai, can you help me design a large-scale Vertical Farm like this? As for compensation, I assure you I won't disappoint you!"

"Haha, that's easy to say."

Bai Kaiyuan took a sip from his thermos and then, with a serious expression, said to Xu Zhengyang, "Given the requirements of your project, you must be building a shelter as well, right?"

Xu Zhengyang keenly noticed Bai Kaiyuan's use of the word "also."

So he said nothing, simply watching Bai Kaiyuan quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing Xu Zhengyang's caution, Bai Kaiyuan smiled and waved his hand casually, "This is already an open secret; you don't need to be so cautious."

After a sigh, Bai Kaiyuan continued, "Thanks to my field, there are many places where my expertise is needed.

So I'm not worried about the safety of my family.

However..."

Bai Kaiyuan's eyes filled with concern as he said, "It's my few incompetent disciples; I can only bring two of them in.

These kids are quite diligent, and they've learned most of what I have to teach."

At this point, Bai Kaiyuan shifted his tone and asked Xu Zhengyang seriously, "I wonder, Xu, are you still recruiting technical talent? Do you need a few people to help you manage agricultural ecology?"

"Recruiting people?"

Xu Zhengyang was taken aback. He finally understood why Bai Kaiyuan insisted on meeting in person.

It turned out Bai Kaiyuan wanted to find a place for his students to land, to survive the upcoming upheaval...

"Well..."

Xu Zhengyang hesitated for a moment but didn't want to deceive Bai Kaiyuan.

So he quickly found an excuse to refuse, "Sorry, Professor Bai, we have fixed quotas for everyone here."

"…"

Bai Kaiyuan fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "I guessed as much..."

With that, Bai Kaiyuan tiredly rubbed his temples.

It was clear that he cared deeply for his students.

"Recruiting people is indeed not feasible..."

Xu Zhengyang quickly added, "But I can make a decision to offer you a higher compensation.

With money, your students can prepare in advance. While I can't guarantee they'll thrive, they will at least have a chance to survive."

"Mm."

Bai Kaiyuan nodded and said to Xu Zhengyang, "Come by tomorrow around noon to pick up the plan."

Xu Zhengyang was surprised by Bai Kaiyuan's quick response, "So soon?"

Bai Kaiyuan explained, "I previously participated in an ecological system project covering an area of 5,000 square meters.

That plan just needs a few modifications to meet your requirements."

Xu Zhengyang's face lit up with joy upon hearing this.

He then took out a bank card with a password written on the back and handed it to Bai Kaiyuan, saying, "This is the compensation; thank you, Professor Bai!"

"Mm."

Bai Kaiyuan accepted the card and placed it in his drawer, nodding. He then looked at his watch and said to Xu Zhengyang, "It's just about mealtime. Would you like to join me for a meal? There's a noodle shop in our cafeteria that serves quite good food."

"Sure, let's go together."

Xu Zhengyang was also hungry, so he readily agreed and followed Bai Kaiyuan to the school cafeteria.

...

*After finishing the meal.

Xu Zhengyang bid farewell to Bai Kaiyuan and drove back to his shelter.

On the way, Da Bai's voice suddenly came through the car's audio system, "Master, there's a situation in the High-tech Zone!

It's the same commercial area where seven zombies appeared last time, and now there's a super big one!"

As soon as Da Bai finished speaking, a video appeared on Xu Zhengyang's car screen.

It showed a super zombie over three meters tall, with bulging muscles, dark red skin, and glowing red eyes!