Chapter 40: Unlocking New System Features

Chapter 40: Unlocking New System Features

"Did Number 1 discover something?"
"Does any expert recognize the plant Number 1 is digging up?"
"Looking at the leaves, it seems to be kudzu root?"
"It’s clearly cassava, but cassava is poisonous!"
"Cassava is divided into sweet and bitter varieties. Bitter cassava is highly toxic and requires special processing, while sweet cassava has low toxicity and can be eaten directly after cooking without causing poisoning."
"Then... is the one Number 1 is digging up sweet or bitter?"

In the livestream chat, viewers were curious to see Xu Yi digging something up. After all, Xu Yi rarely dug for things. Since he was doing it, it was likely edible—or at least, something Xu Yi deemed edible.

Xu Yi hadn't identified the cassava by its leaves; he had discovered it using his X-ray vision, noticing several large rhizomes beneath the plant. Generally, such large tuberous roots are rich in starch and many are edible. Xu Yi felt that what he needed most right now was botanical knowledge. If he could recognize enough plants and understand the medicinal properties of most herbs, survival would become much easier.

Soon, Xu Yi unearthed the plant. Because the soil had been soaked by rain, it was much easier to dig up than it would have been under normal conditions. There were four root tubers attached to the base, each thick and long, similar to large yams, and estimated to weigh about a pound each. Xu Yi tossed them to the side and continued to the second plant. Regardless of whether they were edible, he would dig them up first. Perhaps Su Keke would recognize them?

There were three plants in total, and Xu Yi dug them all up. One had five tubers beneath it and was the heaviest of the lot. To make it easier for Su Keke to identify, Xu Yi carried the entire plants back.

"Dad, what are you digging up?" Su Keke asked curiously as she saw Xu Yi returning with his haul. They didn't have this in her village, so she was very puzzled.

"System, System, what plant is this? Can you tell me?" Since the system listed animal names whenever he received rewards for eating them, it must have a database. Perhaps it had information on plants as well. Regardless, it was worth a shot.

However, the system did not respond. It was awkward—very awkward. If he found out later, how would he explain it? Would the livestream kill him for it?

[Per the host's request, the species scanning function is now enabled.]
[Each scan will consume 10 days of the host's theoretical lifespan.]
[Scan result: Primitive sweet cassava, mildly toxic; toxicity can be neutralized through heating.]

"I..." A single scan cost him 10 days of his life? That was ridiculously expensive! A human's lifespan is only about 30,000 days, and he had already lived for nearly 9,000. He was just performing a scan, and it was going to dock 10 days? "System, we need to talk. We really need to talk. Your pricing is too capitalistic!"

"Dad?"

[This... does Number 1 not know what this is? Otherwise, why would he ignore Keke and stare blankly for so long?]
[I have a feeling this isn't edible. If he gets poisoned, it won't just be painful—he'll be eliminated!!]
[He must know, why else would he dig it up?]
[Doesn't look like he knows.]
[If he didn't know, he wouldn't be digging it up. He clearly knows.]

Hearing Su Keke call him, Xu Yi immediately snapped back to reality. "Oh, this is cassava. It's edible." Xu Yi winked at Su Keke, then snapped off two pieces of the sweet cassava. He began to dig a small pit in the mud, preparing to roast them.

"System, can you lower the price? 10 days of life for one scan is way too expensive. I think 10 hours should be enough." Xu Yi bargained hard, thinking that perhaps such a highly intelligent entity could be negotiated with.

[System rules have been established and cannot be changed.]

Xu Yi felt an urge to draw his blade. One scan meant 10 days less to live! Was there anything more predatory than this?

"Then you at least have to tell me how much lifespan I have left, right? And wait, I think I heard you mention 'theoretical lifespan' just now?" Xu Yi remembered reading a report stating that theoretical lifespan is calculated based on the number of times human cells can divide. If human cells can divide about 50 times in a lifetime, then the human limit should be over 120 years.

[Opening character panel, displaying data.]
[Xu Yi]
Lifespan: 108 (Remaining theoretical lifespan)
Ability: X-ray vision
Health: 89 (100 is the peak of human health)

Seeing that he had 108 years of theoretical life remaining, Xu Yi let out a sigh of relief. It really was theoretical lifespan. If he had no diseases, he could live to be 131. However, few humans reach their theoretical limit; the current average age didn't even reach 90. Looking at it this way, losing 10 days wasn't as heartbreaking.

"Also, I have to complain—this character panel is too simple. It doesn't show my other stats, like strength, combat power, or reaction time."

[System rules have been established and cannot be changed. Changes require the next system upgrade.]
[This system has an automatic upgrade function. Time remaining until next upgrade: 80 years.]

He was speechless. What kind of system takes 80 years to upgrade? Xu Yi gave up on negotiating with the system. At worst, he would just stop scanning and rely on rewards. After all, his last reward had improved his poison resistance. As long as the dosage was low, it certainly wouldn't kill him. Wasn't there a saying that talking about toxicity without mentioning dosage is just being a hooligan?

"Dad, can you really eat these tree roots?" Su Keke picked up a piece of cassava, looking at Xu Yi with great curiosity. She had absolutely no idea what it was.

"Yes, this is cassava. The 'pearls' in bubble tea are made from cassava starch." This was the only application of cassava Xu Yi knew.

Hearing about the pearls in bubble tea, Su Keke's eyes lit up. "Then... it must be delicious, right?"

"It should be pretty good. We'll find out once it's roasted." Xu Yi patted Su Keke's head and checked on the water bucket. The bottom was still thick enough to continue burning for a while.

Outside, the rain was gradually subsiding, and the thunder had ceased. If things went smoothly, the rain would stop completely within an hour. At that point, he could take Su Keke and continue on their way. Today, Xu Yi hoped to find a water source.