I Became The Chief Of A Primitive Village

Chapter 1012, Desert

Translator: Silavin

Lu Zi came to the Yong’an Building after finishing class. Since she carried an umbrella, so her body was not wet.

Upon entering, she performed a very polite respectful gesture and asked, “Shaman, why did you summon me?”

“I want to understand matters concerning your continent.” Su Bai asked.

Last time, he had asked briefly but not in extreme detail, because at that time, his desire for the other continent was not particularly strong. But he could not endure experiencing approximately three months of the rainy season every single year. This was genuinely inconvenient.

Since the other continent did not experience rain, should he consider spending future rainy seasons there, perhaps next year or beyond?

“Shaman refers to our Mountain Elephant Tribe matters, correct? That area has extremely high water demand, completely different from here.”

Lu Zi recalled her Tribe. “That area also lacks abundant trees. It’s completely different from here.”

“Is it filled with sand everywhere? Trees and water sources are extremely scarce, correct?” Su Bai asked.

After hearing her description last time, he thought the other continent resembled a desert, while this continent was forest.

However, he was not entirely certain then, because he recalled that during the primitive era, deserts apparently did not really exist.

Regarding natural conditions, an arid climate was an important condition for forming extensive deserts. In arid regions, besides rocks weathering into debris, there were also large quantities of sediment and stones brought down by dried rivers.

With the ground lacking vegetation cover, once strong winds arose, ground sediment would be swept up in massive quantities.

This airborne dust, when wind weakened or encountered obstacles, would accumulate extensively to form deserts. Large-scale deserts were frequently scattered across arid regions or relatively low-lying basins.

Su Bai had studied this knowledge. On Earth, large-scale deserts were primarily distributed across two arid zones.

One was his country’s northwestern desert region. This location was far from oceans, with large mountains blocking moist ocean air from reaching it. Additionally, rainfall was particularly scarce, thereby encouraging desert formation.

The second was the Sahara Desert in a certain African region. That location had high pressure. Weather and wind direction were relatively stable. Dry winds blew year-round. Rainfall was scarce. Gradually, deserts formed.

This was not the only reason. Desert formation also involved human factors.

Due to humanity’s reckless deforestation, excessive grazing, and blind land reclamation, plus localized warfare destroying water conservation facilities in arid regions, all these accelerated the desertification processes.

Long-term Human consequences of reckless reclamation, deforestation, and grazing caused catastrophic destruction to arid region ecological balance.

After Su Bai’s extremely rigorous analysis, he concluded that deserts probably shouldn’t exist at this time. Therefore, he previously dismissed the notion that the other continent was a desert.

However, hearing Lu Zi speak now, he suddenly felt the other continent truly resembled a desert.

“Shaman, what is a desert?” Lu Zi didn’t understand what desert meant.

“Simply put, there’s sand everywhere. An endless land of sand.” Su Bai took a sip of tea. “Meaning they lack the concept of soil. Everywhere, stepping down causes you to sink into sand.”

He could only conceive such colloquial explanations. Should he explain extensively about desert formation to her?

That would be somewhat too rigid and incomprehensible.

“More or less. Most Tribes occupy locations with trees, but such places are extremely scarce. So, warfare frequently occurs.” Lu Zi recalled some sorrowful matters. “Our Tribe was sacrificed under such warfare. This is why I came here.”

“Your area severely lacks water, correct? What if we brought our water there to trade? Do you think we could obtain resources from there?” Su Bai asked.

Sometimes, finding certain things in the primitive forest was impossible. For instance, various types of ores. The desert area would have more ores, or perhaps other foods, fruits, or vegetables.

“Definitely possible. That area has extreme water demand. If Shaman brought water to trade, everyone would compete for it.” Lu Zi responded without hesitation.

“In that case, if you guided us, would you know how to return?” Su Bai asked.

He thought about not expending all time on this continent, because surrounding exploitable resources had already been fully utilized.

Currently, they need to wait for surrounding resources to gradually recover. They were in a development phase. Even with ambition to accelerate, there was no method.

Therefore, he wanted to focus on the other continent. This would also accelerate the Flame Dragon Tribe’s urbanization.

“If we just walk back, I doubt I will remember it well. If I use a hot air balloon to fly overhead, perhaps I’d remember the way back.” Lu Zi said.

Although the young woman’s expression appeared calm, internally she was extremely, extremely excited. If not for being before the Shaman, she would have already jumped excitedly. She still needed to restrain her image somewhat, after all.

“Recently, I’ve been considering new transportation vehicles. Perhaps we won’t need hot air balloons. After all, they can’t guarantee one hundred percent safety.” Su Bai explained.

Correct. This was his recent contemplation. Relying solely on hot air balloons was definitely not good enough.

He also wanted to directly manufacture airships or aircraft like those in novels.

Unfortunately, although he had the concept in mind, he lacked the materials to realize them.

Actually, the primary airship material was steam engines. The Flame Dragon Tribe already possessed these. However, another equally important material was the airship’s exterior material.

If they simply used iron ore to refine iron, then used that iron to create exterior iron plating, the entire airship would be extremely heavy.

Forget whether it could fly. The entire safety of the airship could not be guaranteed.

Therefore, a completely new material needed development. This material had to be extremely lightweight and durable.

“I’m fine with whatever the Shaman has planned for me. If the Shaman needs me, I can prepare immediately.” Lu Zi said happily. Although her face showed smiles, her body remained very upright, with no disrespectful intention whatsoever.

“Return for now. When I’m prepared, I’ll summon you.” Su Bai waved his hand.

He thought it was time to prepare new transportation vehicles. This would definitely astonish the Tribe’s people tremendously.