I became a god by treasure hunting after arriving 500 years early

"And moreover, this job is both arduous and exhausting, and it doesn't create much spirit essence... At best, you are merely a cog in the machine, with no one knowing your achievements."

"And even if you're passionate now, how long can that passion last?"

"Sigh, the youth."

He meant well in giving a reminder.

"Teacher, you are wrong, this is not a waste of youth." A young person suddenly said seriously, "This is our mark."

"If we only look from the perspective of spirit essence, the wealth we create truly isn't much. Our lifespan can't compare to Dad Lu and Conch Mother, our time with them is limited."

"But moving a mountain, that's the mark we leave behind, isn't it? Even if mankind were to disappear and become extinct, as long as this mountain remains, our mark also stays."

The Rat Artisan was momentarily at a loss for words, actually unable to refute.

He indeed had become too utilitarian.

Many things on the material level are beyond the measure of spirit essence.

"Today's human children really study philosophy well."

"Haha, taught by Conch Mother, she has a very youthful way of thinking, and a bit of a literary air... I hope she stays young forever."

Talking with these young people, the rat people also felt that "qi".

Truly full of the spirit of struggle.

The Rat Artisan tried to recall if the Shu Mi Dam Civilization ever had such moments filled with ideals, or a day filled with toil and struggle?

He really... couldn't remember.

The Rat Artisan couldn't help but fall into a gloomy stupor, annoyed at the passing of his youthful days, the most painful thing being the inability to even recall what youth was like, only perceiving the decline of civilization.

Under such melancholy, the Rat Artisan grew even more desperate, walking out the door of his room.

After strolling the streets for a while, Lu Yuan had finished his speech, and everywhere there was a lively atmosphere of discussion. Of the population of 120,000, nearly 100,000 were raised communally by society, and as the elderly slowly faded away, the proportion of community-raised children grew higher, their general standard elevated by good education.

"Being young is truly wonderful... everything is good." The Rat Artisan muttered in his heart.

"Rat Artisan, don't you want to join in the labor? You might even be worshipped by humans." A rat craftsman master, Shu Tongtie, greeted him, "I'm going to add some Solid Runes to their foundation!"

You could tell, this guy was very accustomed to such a relaxed and lively social atmosphere, already beginning to take initiative in working for humans.

Really spineless!

You, a master, working on such engravings.

"Working there is not as good as forging more iron, the value of a rare piece of equipment is higher than those engravings!" The Rat Artisan said this and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Right, always thinking about earning spirit essence.

But haste makes waste, without experiencing life, where could one find any inspiration.

On the contrary, this fellow mingling with the humans, might actually find his second spring.

Shu Tongtie didn't mind at all, laughing, "Our kinsmen will be leaving in a few months."

"The king is visiting Commander Lu, why not have a look?"

"Sure, I'm free anyway, might as well see them for the last time."

...

At this moment, on the edge of Sky City, Lu Yuan was receiving Shu Huangfeng and his party.

"Commander Lu has officially started the mountain-moving project?"

"Yes, I've mobilized everyone."

"It's definitely a wise choice, wishing you a smooth start."

Shu Huangfeng felt a bit of envy; as a leader of his civilization, he deeply understood how great such organizational ability was to have rallied all the common folk so quickly.

Of course, he wasn't there just to chat.

Shu Huangfeng brought a yellow stone the size of a water jar, instructing the rat artisans who were staying behind, "This is the Life Stone of the Stone-carrying turtle, should humans encounter any accidents, hide your souls inside it, and submerge into the ground."

"We will sense you... if we can, we will save you."

"In two thousand years, if our caravan is still alive, we will also try to rendezvous with you."

This stone was a split piece from the Giant Turtle Stone, capable of harboring their souls.

It was their last lifesaver.

The Rat Artisans began to feel a trace of sentimentality... Indeed, parting with the main force, how could they not feel sentimental.

Shu Huangfeng sighed. Perhaps this was the ultimate fate of the Alien Civilization, to disintegrate and fragment.

"These are your servants, keep a good watch over them," he pointed at a group of Ratmen dressed in black, a total of more than two hundred.

They were the most docile and obedient kind, on the borderline between having and lacking sentience.

They could wash clothes, do some housework, and serve as slaves...

They could also reproduce, but their offspring were still non-sentient, fit only to be servants.

As their king, he had done all he could in kindness and righteousness.
Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

"If there's nothing special, we will be leaving soon. We will still stay here for the last few months."

Before leaving, Lu Yuan gave them branches of the Opium poppy, so they could contact each other through dreams in the future...

But that would be only occasional contact.

It will never be like now, having face-to-face conversations...

Shu Gongye watched the slowly departing main force of Ratmen.

The sky was vast, the wilderness boundless, the parched earth cracked, the sunset of the evening sky, the departing brethren...

Together with the ascendant Human Civilization...

He suddenly felt a strong sense of déjà vu, the splendor and decline, the changes of time and people, once parted, it becomes difficult to meet again.

The world is still the same world, but civilizations had changed many times over.

This "Qi" that had been brewing for a long time, suddenly burst forth like a dam burst from the depths of his mind, collapsing everything!

Craftsmanship...

Inspiration... erupted!

...

Shu Huangfeng, who was sitting atop a giant turtle, slowly moving away, seemed to sense something and turned his head, looking around suspiciously for a while, "I have this sudden hunch, what happened?"

A Blue-clothed Ratman beside him was operating a telegraph machine, which buzzed and clicked.

He joyfully said, "King, there is a message from the Humans! Shu Gongye's inspiration has erupted, and he's crafting a Legendary Equipment."

Shu Huangfeng's eyes widened with surprise and suspicion, "How many days has it been, and he's already inspired?"

"There's absolutely no mistake in the message!"

He couldn't help but sigh deeply, "The Luck of Humans... indeed thrives!"

But he knew in his heart that to explain it purely as "Luck" was unreasonable. "Luck" is not just about random chance; a significant part is crafted by humans, for instance, the cultural environment, the spirit of enterprise, the societal atmosphere, and many other factors contributed to the strength of "Luck."

They wanted to imitate, but couldn't!

...

Many craftsmen gathered to observe the creation process, including Lu Yuan.

Shu Gongye's expertise in smelting and engraving was extraordinary, but he had forgotten a lot about Engravings and was scratching his head in anxiety for a while.

"What are you trying to make?" Lu Yuan asked, "If it really doesn't work, I can lend a hand."

Shu Gongye gestured with his small, short hands, "I want to create two mirrors... capable of long-distance communication, and if they could have some teleportation function, that would be even better!"

Lu Yuan frowned thoughtfully.

The relevant Engraved groups, he had just studied.

That Legendary Item "Yin Yang Bowl" presented by a Demon had spatial-related Engravings.

And the airship of the Great Lai Empire also had complex spatial Engravings.

And the two collaborating on creation was not uncommon; after all, most people have limited talents and can't specialize in everything.

Of course, it was Shu Gongye, in an "Inspiration state," who was the main creator, while Lu Yuan just assisted with a bit of Engraving on the side.

After a day and a night, the freshly forged Legendary Items officially appeared.

Named "Sunrise and Sunset," two mirrors both exquisite and archaic.