Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 322 On-site Meeting, Higashi Natsuki, Weather Regulation, Life Resonance
What is meant by actual control?
Places that once belonged to this homeland but have now changed hands and even their inhabitants have changed cannot be counted.

Countries that have already gained independence and established their own systems are naturally completely excluded.

Furthermore, areas that are highly similar to this region in terms of race, customs, and even language, cannot be under actual control even if the border has been drawn.

The World Tree cannot affect places that are legally separate from the country where the "Sprout" originated.

And then there are other areas where everyone talks their own game.

For example, those "Acala" figures are now using their own methods to uphold the Buddhist tradition.

There are still some areas where contradictions and disagreements exist.

Due to insufficient control, the World Tree is powerless to do anything about these places!
After reviewing the entire list, it turned out that the scattered islands that had been controlled in order to "stir up trouble and attract attention" were the ones that were actually the ones that were brought under control.

As for those waters where bald eagles frequently deploy underwater drones and sea wasps, the World Tree seems to maintain only a very limited influence.

The current regime of Dongxia is a relatively pragmatic regime. For a long time, its principle in handling controversial issues has been to put them aside, shelve the disputes, and wait for the regime to develop.

Once you have all six essential items, the controversy will cease to be a controversy, or rather, the point of contention can be shifted elsewhere.

Now that it has grown to the third stage, the new ability of the World Tree recruit [Sprout] has suddenly made the disputed or undisputed area around the border look quite an eyesore.

It is a major obstacle to the unfolding of the grand plan.

"I have a question!"

Just as the atmosphere in the meeting room was becoming slightly tense, a voice broke the silence.

The speaker was the second chief advisor of Cihang, who was known for his meticulousness. The old man carefully flipped through the notebook in front of him and asked a series of questions.

"Is this climate regulation proactive or reactive? In other words, does the 'budding' mechanism spontaneously maintain a favorable environment, or does it only act when we give it a command?"

What are its self-evaluation criteria for "favorable weather"? Is it based on its own sense of comfort, or are there other reference values?

"Could we implement targeted interventions? For example, down to a specific county or a particular body of water, to carry out targeted adjustments?"

"To what extent can it be regulated? For example, in the event of a hurricane disaster, will it cause the hurricane to disappear in its original location, or will it be redirected to another location?"

"Can it regulate purely weather phenomena, such as wind, frost, rain, snow, temperature, and humidity? Or does it include other more destructive geological factors, such as... volcanic eruptions or earthquakes?"

Looking up from his notebook, the consultant emphasized his words slightly.

"Finally, and most importantly, will such adjustments come at a cost? If so, what is the cost? Is it the consumption of some substance within the [Sprout] itself, or the psionic energy we provide?"

"Can we conduct a quantitative assessment? In other words, how much 'cost' does it actually take to bring rain or quell a storm?"

The participants fell into deep thought. The research institute had made some preparations for the questions raised above, but clearly not to this extent.

[Budding] I probably don't even know this much myself...

Seeing this, the chief commander of the [Compassionate Voyage] project simply tapped the table lightly with his finger and said directly, "How about we go to the [Purple Cloud] Nature Reserve and hold an on-site meeting?"

"Look at the little guy, and let's also extend our greetings to the comrades here, especially the hardworking and meritorious researcher Changlin!"

"If there are any problems, we can communicate and coordinate on the spot to avoid going back and forth!"

The proposal was quickly and unanimously approved by the participants.

Besides efficiency in handling official business, everyone actually has a private motive that they can't openly admit.

The previous second stage, "Budding," already demonstrated a very special ability—"Life Resonance." Its main effect is to make people within its influence feel refreshed and energetic, and it can also bring certain physical healing benefits.

Based on very limited testing, the effects are quite significant. Look at Mr. Zhang Changlin's current condition. Although he received special treatment from [Mengya], even the regular version is a precious treatment that everyone longs for.

Of course, such a powerful skill can't be given away for free; it has to cost money.

That is, to provide psionic energy.

After understanding the specific circumstances, the [Compassionate Voyage] Engineering Department ordered, and communicated with [Budding Sprout], to temporarily disable the [Life Resonance] skill.

The stated reason is to reduce the consumption of spirit crystals, prioritize the growth of the [Sprout] as much as possible, and avoid excessive energy loss.

However, in reality, there are deeper, more complex considerations behind the [Cihang] project that are not easy to discuss openly.

This thing is not yet feasible for widespread adoption. If such a "Life Resonance" area were allowed to exist within the "Purple Cloud" region, then who could go there and who couldn't?
Is it possible that a very small number of individuals might intentionally linger at the Ziyun base under various pretexts such as "inspecting the growth of the World Tree," "visiting researcher Zhang Changlin," or "guiding on-site work in the reserve"?

Could there be a situation where "even chickens and dogs rise to heaven" (meaning everyone benefits from the same source)?

For example, some of the staff of the Cihang Engineering Office have elderly parents, many of whom have made outstanding contributions to this land. Should they come to Ziyun to enjoy their retirement?
Then, even more complex distinctions will arise, such as whether distant relatives can come, whether boyfriends and girlfriends can come, whether godfathers and goddaughters can come, whether "life-or-death friendships" can come, and whether "a teacher for a day is a father for life" can come.
The saying goes, "In literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second." But when it comes to judging merits, it's not a competition, so there's bound to be some wrangling!
In short, as long as the "Life Resonance" mechanism exists, there will always be people trying to take advantage of this privilege.

This is permissible, but absolutely not!
Many things are interconnected; what is originally a great thing that benefits the country and its people can, if handled improperly, seriously disrupt the normal work order of [Cihang] and even cause internal divisions!

Human nature is the most difficult thing to fathom, and the lower limit of human nature must be taken into account when formulating policies.

Dongxia has always had this tradition: policies cannot be introduced lightly, even if they are delayed, they cannot be advanced!

In the delayed stage, the problems that were going to arise and the consequences that were going to occur are basically clear. It's like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted; it's just that a few sheep were lost before, and it's not really that serious.

However, it is difficult to fully consider all the consequences of forward-looking policies based on mere speculation. For example, every major reform can lead to unexpected distortions in implementation, and adjustments to economic strategies can plunge some countries into an abyss.

Therefore, the government of Dongxia is usually very forward-looking in its plans regarding the objective technological development and research of "things," daring to make plans several years, even decades, in advance.

In terms of strategies for social issues concerning "people," there is usually a serious lag. Whether it is regulations or laws, the public opinion is already in an uproar, and the public's voice is impatient, but the relevant policies are still slow to arrive.

This is not indifference, but rather an understanding of the complexity of social governance, preferring to proceed slowly and steadily.

Therefore, since the door to "life resonance" has been opened, it's impossible to predict what kind of chain reaction it will trigger. So, until the conditions are right, let's just not let anyone use it!

Cihang Engineering Department, citing a shortage of spirit crystals and a lack of spiritual energy resources, has formally requested Mengya to disable the function of Life Resonance.

This request almost terrified the young "Budding Sprout".

Beings like the World Tree all carry some genetic memories inherited from their ancestors, otherwise they wouldn't be able to awaken those special abilities at each stage. In the impression of the [Budding] inheritance, the function of [Life Resonance] is the most important ability for their survival and development in their infancy, without exception.

It is precisely because of this ability that they are able to receive the unreserved investment and nourishment from the species they inhabit, thus surviving the most difficult "seedling period" before growing into a true World Tree, a period that is both fragile and requires a frantic absorption of resources.

This is like a beautiful woman who knows that her greatest asset is her stunning looks. She is planning to use this to please her master when the big shot opposite her suddenly waves his hand and says, "Cover your face!"
The core consciousness of "[Budding]" is filled with immense confusion and panic.

What are they trying to do? Do they not like me? Or am I not doing enough? Do they... no longer need me?
If it weren't for the fact that it was in the second stage and couldn't move at all, [Sprout] would definitely have run away.

It was only through the daily care and pampering of Zhang Changlin, the only researcher who could gain the complete trust of [Sprout], that the little guy gradually relaxed.

To this end, the little guy even seriously studied the historical and modern political classics of Dongxia, trying to understand why this strange phenomenon occurred.

As a result, I didn't understand it at all!

History is too long...

As for political theory, [Mengya] falls asleep as soon as she picks up a book...

Finally, [Sprout] has cautiously weathered this period of anxiety, and now, the situation is different.

After successfully entering the third stage of [Budding], its [Life Resonance] ability is greatly enhanced, and it can truly influence the deep repair of "body functions" and the subtle extension of "life limits"!
This is enough to drive most people in the world crazy!

With the problem of psionic energy supply largely resolved, continuing to shut down this function would likely cause various anxieties, even among the comrades within the [Compassionate Voyage] Engineering Department!
Therefore, this large-scale on-site meeting of the [Compassionate Voyage] Project Office is not only to solve problems, but also to reward those who have been fighting on this hidden front for a long time, so that they can feel the atmosphere of [Life Resonance].

We also need to reassure [Budding Sprout]... Yes, that should be it!

Thus, an unusual plenary meeting was held at the [Purple Cloud] base, under the enormous canopy of the world tree [Sprout] that blots out the sky.

Senior management is located in the inner ring, responsible for unifying thinking and proposing strategies; middle management is located in the second ring, responsible for drafting plans and breaking down tasks; and frontline staff are located in the outer ring, responsible for understanding the spirit of the plan and implementing it.

In short, it was an efficient, successful, and victorious conference.

The meeting focused on resolving the following issues and clarifying the core ideas for the future.

The weather regulation capabilities of [Sprout] are divided into two types: normal and abnormal. Normal refers to the basic favorable weather, which adjusts the natural environment to a relatively friendly growth atmosphere for organisms; while abnormal refers to the ability to cope with various sudden extreme disasters, which requires [Sprout] to take the initiative to respond.

Both normal and abnormal situations involve consumption, with abnormal situations resulting in greater consumption.

After some discussion, the highest command of the [Cihang] project gave the following guidance: for the main grain crop producing areas of Dongxia, normal weather regulation should be introduced slowly and gradually, with gentle breezes and light rain.

The function of emergency response to disasters has greater strategic significance and should be used with caution. The command has established the basic principle of "ignoring minor disasters, intervening in medium-sized disasters, containing major disasters, and prioritizing people."

Then comes the most sensitive and crucial issue—should this upgraded "Life Resonance" be made available? And if so, how?
Sitting under the World Tree, everyone felt their minds were much more active, and the discussion was particularly lively.

Finally, the consultant gave a concluding speech.

"As Comrade Changlin just explained in detail, the basic conditioning effect of this [Life Resonance] on the body has obvious marginal effects; it's not a case of the more the better."

"According to this energy cycle, the most significant effect is achieved by receiving a complete 'Life Resonance' treatment approximately every eighteen months. The effect of the second treatment may only be a fraction of that of the first, and by the third treatment, it is practically negligible, serving more as a psychological comfort."

"That does align with scientific principles! It's similar to the immune system developing an adaptation, or the body's benefit mechanisms reaching a certain threshold."

"I agree with the Commander-in-Chief. Let's discuss how to get as many citizens of Dongxia as possible involved, while ensuring that the psionic energy consumption is manageable!"

He paused slightly, his tone becoming exceptionally serious: "I know that although many of you may not say it, you're probably wondering in your hearts why such good stuff should be given to peasants?"

"As for this principle, I will go back and read more of the books of the ancient philosophers. I won't go into details."

“In the past, we spent decades on poverty alleviation and tackling key problems, solving the basic livelihood issues of the people so that they could have enough to eat and wear.”

"In the next few decades, we may need to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the World Tree to address their health issues, making them healthier and reducing their need for medical care."

"Of course, the specifics of how to do it require a meticulous, thorough, and feasible plan, while strictly maintaining secrecy!"

The old man's gentle gaze swept across the room, and everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

"The general direction of popularizing this among the people cannot be changed!"

The commander-in-chief, sitting at the top, chuckled and interjected, "We may not be able to completely eliminate the existence of certain groups, but everyone has their own standards. In my personal opinion, at most, we can allow for 'first' and 'later,' but not 'existence' and 'non-existence'!"

"You can take a bite first, but you can't break the rules and not let others have any. Otherwise, the foundation of our system will soon cease to exist!"

The meeting was a complete success, achieving a high degree of unity in thought and direction. After the meeting, several senior officials of the highest authority in Dongxia strolled slowly under the canopy of the [Sprout] tree.

The tree's surface possessed a vibrant bronze hue, with a subtle shimmer flowing through its veins. Looking up, layers upon layers of branches and leaves obscured most of the sky, filtering down dappled sunlight that scattered across the ground like fragments of gold.

Looking at this miraculous ancient tree, the advisors couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of the world.

The most straightforward military advisor, an old general, was still somewhat resentful.

"I think your statement is inappropriate. What does 'first and last' even mean? There shouldn't be any order of precedence!"

"Or rather, even if there is a priority, the people should come first, and we should come later!"

Upon hearing his old comrade's words, the commander-in-chief slowly stopped, reached out and gently stroked the rough trunk of the [Sprout] tree, feeling its immense vitality, and then let out a long sigh.

The sigh was filled with a complex mix of emotions.

“You’re right!” He turned to the old advisor, looking at him as honestly as possible. “Logically, and ideally, you’re absolutely right!”

"But, old friend, the reality is... we can't do it!"

"Our ancestors, the first people in thousands of years of history, with the glorious momentum of founding the nation and immense prestige, ultimately failed to accomplish what we have. How can we possibly achieve it?"

"All we can do is try our best to make things relatively fair and reduce the space for privilege."

"We're not even sure how long this relative fairness can last!"

"Take it one step at a time, and leave the rest to the future!"

(End of this chapter)