"Based on my assumptions about the professional skill's ability to boost both crop yield and quality, and considering the 'low' yield of wheat this time, the probability of breaking the Star Source record by growing wheat again is already low. I've already compressed the professional skill's application time to the absolute moment of maturation—there's nowhere further to go. Although I could try to increase the yield through methods like more intensive land treatment, the chances of success are slim, so I'll have to temporarily put a stop to growing wheat.
Perhaps I should plant a crop on this one mǔ plot that matures in a single day, so I can harvest it simultaneously with the potatoes? That would make planning the use of all the fields much easier," Shen Xingyan habitually reasoned like an ordinary farmer, thinking about standardizing management across all fields, which would indeed simplify his daily work.
"Besides, the potatoes will mature tomorrow. Based on the average yield of ordinary farmers, each mǔ gives about 3,000 kg of potatoes. That means four mǔ will yield 12,000 kg. As far as I know, for every 5 kg of Level 2 potatoes, I get 1 EXP, meaning I'll receive 2,400 EXP.
Considering the pattern of growth in required experience for a level-up, I can roughly estimate that this will be enough to increase by 4 levels, reaching Level 9. And that's a conservative estimate! What if the day after tomorrow, the potato yield exceeds the Star Source record? If each mǔ is even just 300 kg above average, reaching Level 10 will be completely easy.
Then, with the privilege of cultivating higher-level crops, I could sow all five fields with Level 3 seeds. And Level 3 crops bring a qualitative leap in both experience and money compared to the current Level 2 crops."
This idea began to take shape in Shen Xingyan's mind. Under normal circumstances, such an approach would be optimal—he would only need to wait two days, and all five mǔ of land could be sown with higher-level crops.
However, after reflecting for a while and weighing the pros and cons, he rejected this idea.
The fact was, this plan only considered the crops themselves and the convenience of cultivation, but it entirely failed to account for the Star Source rewards for breaking yield records, let alone maximizing this opportunity.
Shen Xingyan recalled the rewards received for the three broken records—two professional privileges and the Talent Stone. All of them caused him genuine astonishment.
Although he didn't know what kind of reaction these items would provoke in the outside world, their influence on him was enormous. All three rewards became more valuable the further he advanced. This showed their true worth, which far exceeded the usual farming income at this stage.
Therefore, he couldn't plan his plantings just by thinking about the crops—he had to consider both aspects. And if they conflicted, breaking records must take priority.
Having defined this direction, Shen Xingyan focused on his assumptions about the professional skill.
While analyzing the situation, a fleeting idea suddenly struck his mind, causing him to freeze in place. Gradually, a plan formed in his head:
"What if I continue to grow potatoes on this mǔ of land? After harvesting the other four mǔ, my professional level will reach Level 10, and I'll be able to cultivate Level 3 crops. Then, I'll sow each mǔ with Level 3 seeds, staggering the planting by one day.
And when the potatoes or other crops have 10% progress remaining until full maturity, I will control the timing of my professional skill application, regulating the time until final maturation and the yield, in order to 'shear the Star Source's sheep'?"
This idea of "shearing the sheep," having barely appeared in Shen Xingyan's mind, instantly took root and grew like a vast tree that was impossible to ignore. His eyes shone brighter than ever.
When his plan was fully formed, Shen Xingyan looked up at the sky of the professional space, and a slightly embarrassed expression appeared on his face.
This reaction showed that the emergence of such a plan caused him some awkwardness. After all, since his arrival in the Star Source world, his journey had been surprisingly smooth: first, the mutation of his professional skill illuminated his gloomy career, then the pleasant surprise with his Innate Talent, allowing his small skeletons not only to persist but to care for the fields around the clock, and finally, the generous rewards for breaking records.
All of this made him feel that the Star Source was full of benevolence toward him, that it was his place of fortune. And now he was about to "trick" this blessed location, which instinctively felt wrong.
However, recalling the generous rewards for breaking records and the possibility of obtaining another Talent Stone, he instantly pushed his awkwardness into the furthest corner of his mind, where it could no longer cause any agitation.
Ultimately, in the real world, he was surrounded by Calamities. If he didn't increase his strength as quickly as possible, he might not even have a chance to develop should a sudden influx of Calamities occur.
Under the pressure of this necessity, he was forced to temporarily set aside his instinctive doubts.
"I'm sorry, Star Source, it's all for survival. I'm compelled to resort to such a strategy only due to life's circumstances. Please be understanding; I apologize in advance!"
Having successfully convinced himself, Shen Xingyan hastily set aside his shovel, folded his hands in a gesture of prayer, and bowed several times toward the Star Source sky.
After a few bows, the guilt in his heart significantly diminished.
Imagining how he would soon be able to break the Star Source yield records every day or two, receiving a multitude of rare items and rewards, Shen Xingyan couldn't help but break into a smile. This energized him, and he began working his shovel with even greater enthusiasm and vigor.
If the Star Source could learn of Shen Xingyan's plans, the sky he had just bowed to would likely not remain so placid—it's entirely probable that several bolts of lightning would strike directly at Shen Xingyan, sending him straight back to the real world!