Chapter 351: Man and Nature
Concerning the turmoil happening in the underground world.
Matthew was still completely unaware, excitedly watching a large field of rapidly maturing wheat.
The heavy wheat ears, swelling and ripening, gradually turned from green to yellow.
In just over ten breaths, they had matured.
Old Li, who had finished casting the spell, came over.
He watched Matthew curiously, as Matthew controlled a harvesting golem, swiftly gathering an acre of wheat in just a few moves, marveling and exclaiming:
"If other spellcasters saw you spending hundreds of gold coins and materials just to build a golem for harvesting crops, they'd probably be so mad they'd cough up blood."
Shrugging nonchalantly, Matthew watched as the harvested wheat was piled into the granary, then looked at the weighed result and replied:
"What's it matter? I'm not the one coughing up blood!"
Old Li chuckled silently, turning to look at the changing weight, which settled at 700 jin, leaving him in a daze.
It seemed like it had been a long time since he last paid attention to the yield of crops in the fields.
"Ha, 705 jin, an improvement over last time, very good..."
Shaking his head slightly, Old Li felt a deeper understanding of the Druidic path as he looked at Matthew, who was tasting the wheat grains, and impatiently asked:
"Well? Would you call this progress?"
Without hesitation, Matthew gave him a thumbs-up and answered confidently:
"Definitely. Five thousand gold coins or materials of equivalent value will be sent over later!"
Rubbing his hands together in delight, Old Li looked at the dozen or so busy assistants taking notes, and curiously asked:
"Do Bay Territory's Druids not choose the Path of Nature?"
The Path of Nature that Old Li mentioned was the most important development path for Druids in the Western Continent.
Their principle and philosophy were:
To maintain the status quo of nature, without allowing any changes.
Whether man-made or something that disrupts the balance of nature, it must be corrected.
To give a simple example:
The reclamation of wasteland in Bay Territory would be forbidden in the eyes of these Druids!
The entire area had to remain in its wild state.
As for not having enough land to produce enough food for Bay Territory, that was beyond their consideration.
Another example:
If the number of gnolls in the Dark Forest increased and they started hunting more creatures.
These Druids would be hostile to them and choose to cull some gnolls to maintain the previous balance.
And that was just their attitude towards change.
They had many peculiar requirements for themselves as well.
For instance, they weren't allowed to wear metal objects or even anything man-made.
Some even more extreme factions didn't allow clothing at all, maintaining a wild state and returning to nature.
Matthew "respected" their choice but also sneered at their actions.
"Is maintaining the status quo the Path of Nature? Such a path seems narrow-minded."
"All things in the world have the instinct to grow and thrive."
"This version of the Path of Nature goes against the natural development of things, which is why their numbers keep dwindling and their influence keeps waning."
Everything develops?
These seemingly ordinary words had a different effect on Old Li.
Remembering the Path of Nature that retreated to the primeval forest, gradually severing connections with the human kingdoms and organizations.
Recalling the human Druids' awkward position, caught between two sides, and the dwindling members of the Divine Punishment organization, Old Li deliberately asked:
"Oh? Then how should the Druid path be followed?"
It was a grand topic.
Even many Archdruids approached it with caution.
But for Matthew, who had a different understanding and knowledge.
Such a question didn't faze him at all.
While observing the experimental fields of various rice strains, he answered confidently:
"From initial barrenness to the abundant life we have today, nature itself has been progressing."
"All things have life, and with life comes the instinct to grow."
"The path of human Druids is to provide a better living environment for humanity and explore a path of sustainable development."
Sustainable development?
Old Li perked up his ears, noticing that Matthew seemed eager to say more, and discreetly gestured for him to continue.
Noticing the Druid apprentices, Elona, and the Wisdom Tree approaching the lab, Matthew spoke freely:
"Simply put, why do humans reclaim wastelands and cut down forests?"
"Some may say it's for unchecked desires."
"But I say it's merely for survival, to obtain more food, a basic survival instinct."
"Representing humanity, individuals always want to live more comfortably and gain more resources, so naturally, the idea of exploration and expansion arises."
"Restraining excessive desires is one thing; maintaining basic survival rights is another."
"Let's not talk about lofty ideals."
"The future of human Druids is to use the same land and resources to create more of what we need."
"We could even establish a cyclic resource system, much like the new rural models."
"For example, to cultivate more professionals, we need more magical plants and food."
"If we only plunder, then as our numbers grow, we'll eventually exhaust the magical plants and food."
"However, if we can achieve large-scale cultivation, like the Druid greenhouse we're building now."
"With further advancements in technology and research, wouldn't we be able to fulfill our resource needs?"
"Not only would we avoid consuming more resources, but we'd also take control of our development and our lifeline!"
"We humans are also part of nature, just like other intelligent beings, ordinary plants, and animals."
"Human Druids must study our living environment and the broader ecosystem."
"As we develop, we should also drive the overall environment to develop together."
"This is the future I envision for human Druids!"
"Not just endless consumption and destruction..."
Listening to Matthew's confident speech, even Old Li couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Indeed!
Humans are part of nature, no matter how special they claim to be, they cannot exist independently of their environment.
So why separate the two?
Why not find a path where both can develop together?
Besides Old Li, everyone else who heard this—including the tree—couldn't help but feel a little stunned.
Humanity developing alongside the environment?
Can it really be done?