Chapter 28: Pond Aquaculture

Under the effect of the beast pen, the tree bees did not attack the wild chickens. Instead, they distinctly divided into two areas, living together peacefully.

James also did not take the black tiger bee swarm out anymore, leaving them in the beast pen as well.

Next, James left the shelter intending to continue chopping trees.

But as soon as he stepped outside, a surprise hit him right on the head!

Not far from a nearby stream, a flash of green light shimmered, catching his eye.

A bronze resource box?

The surprise was so sudden that James was momentarily stunned.

But fortunately, this was not the first time James had obtained a bronze resource box, so he was quite composed.

He quickly walked to the edge of the stream and dragged the bronze resource box closer with a wooden pole.

This was the first time he had found a resource box in the water. Based on past experience, resource boxes found in different places contained different items.

For example, resource boxes obtained from hunting wild animals mostly contained tools and weapons.

Those gained from chopping trees often contained seeds and the like.

Resource boxes found on common ground could contain almost anything, including but not limited to food, freshwater, clothes, and tools.

"I wonder what could be in this resource box from the water!"

James thought curiously as he lifted the resource box from the water.

Since he was near the shelter, James decided not to wait until night to open it but to do so immediately.

A green light spread, and James's heart thumped wildly.

Three items appeared in the resource box:

[Pond (Good Quality)]

[Crucian Carp (Good Quality) × 10]

[Qingyue Algae (Good Quality)]

All three items were quite substantial.

James initially thought the pond was an item similar to the beast pen, but after reading the information, he realized its purpose.

The pond, like a garden or a basement, could expand the shelter's area.

[Name: Pond (Good Quality)

Function: Capable of storing water, suitable for aquaculture. Comes with a drainage function.

Description: 20 square meters, not included in the shelter's area.]

This was an excellent item, especially for survivors lacking water sources, practically a miraculous tool.

It could store a large amount of freshwater!

However, for James, its utility was not that significant.

Coincidentally, the second item was 10 crucian carps, just right for breeding in the pond.

Although he was unsure whether they would survive, it was at least a thought.

The third item, Qingyue Algae, was an aquatic plant.

James initially thought it was just ordinary algae and didn't pay much attention.

But when he read the description, he was utterly astounded.

He realized then that the Qingyue Algae was the most valuable item in the resource box!

This aquatic plant's value was immense!

[Name: Qingyue Algae (Good Quality)

Function: 1. Purify water, maintaining its purity for drinking.

2. Maintain water temperature. Waters completely covered by Qingyue Algae are insulated from the air, moderately maintaining the underwater temperature.

3. Mature Qingyue Algae can be consumed as vegetables, providing various vitamins.

Description: A multifunctional economic crop!]

A plant with three functions, each extremely practical and durable.

The water purification was self-explanatory. Since the system claimed it could maintain the water in a drinkable state, the water quality must completely meet drinking standards.

James could transfer water from the stream to the pond in the future, using the Qingyue Algae's purification ability to clean the water for drinking.

The second function was even more miraculous, maintaining water temperature.

Previously, James had wondered how the fish could survive in such low temperatures, with the water likely to freeze.

The second function of the Qingyue Algae perfectly solved this problem, ensuring the pond would not freeze even in winter, making aquaculture possible.

The third function further elevated the value of the Qingyue Algae!

In a survivor's eyes, what is absolutely essential?

Of course, food!

All survivors in the foggy world fought for food every day.

And the Qingyue Algae itself was a high-quality food source!

Looking at the three items, James felt it was incredible: Was today's luck a bit too good?

The pond, crucian carp, and Qingyue Algae interacted with each other, forming a complete cycle.

It was almost like creating an entire aquaculture system from scratch.

This made James feel like he was dreaming, and he couldn't help but rub his numb face.

Since such good items had been found, why bother chopping trees anymore? Isn't food more valuable than wood?!

He put down his heavy axe, tired of chopping wood every day, a life of hard labor.

In the future, he could simply buy wood or hire Nancy to chop it for him.

James felt that he could do more meaningful things instead of wasting time chopping trees every day.

He put all his tools back in the shelter and began to set up the pond.

He planned to place the pond next to the shelter's yard, close to the beast pen.

In the now 40 square meter yard, the upper left corner near the house was piled with wood and stone materials.

The upper right corner had a spring and guardian thorns.

And in the lower left corner, just below the wood and stones, was the newly established beast pen.

James planned to set up a 4x5 meter pond to the left outside the yard next to the beast pen.

As he used the tool, a white light emerged, enveloping the land and the left wall.

After a few seconds, the scene before his eyes transformed completely.

A 4x5 meter pond, about 1.5 meters deep, made entirely of blue stones, appeared, with a grid-shaped drain in the corner of the pond.

It looked neat and orderly.

James fetched two buckets from the house and started carrying water from the stream to the pond.

Since the shelter was only about 50 meters away from the stream, it was not too difficult to carry the water.

And because of the physical training and the enhancement from good-quality food, James's physical condition had greatly improved, making the task relatively easy.

After about forty or fifty trips, the water in the pond finally reached a depth of 1 meter.

Even with James's good physical condition, he was quite tired.

But looking at the shimmering water in the pond, he felt very satisfied.

He took out the ten crucian carps, put them in the pond, and also added the Qingyue Algae.

The crucian carps, about 15 inches long, looked robust and lively, swimming freely in the pond, indicating their high quality.

The Qingyue Algae, resembling large lotus leaves, spread across the pond as soon as they were placed, almost overcrowding the space.

So James removed two or three leaves, leaving just enough to cover the surface of the pond.

The removed Qingyue Algae were large, each about half a square meter in size, and could be used as a vegetable for about a week.

"Not bad, I can change the menu tonight, add some vitamins, and let Luke and Nancy try something new."

James thought happily.

However, there was one essential condition for the successful survival and breeding of the crucian carps in the pond.

Oxygen!

The water in the pond could not flow, lacking sufficient oxygen to support the fish, so oxygen supplementation was necessary.

James had two ideas in mind.