Chapter 6: Grain Collection Officer
Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Grain Collection Officer
The Cyan Yang Sect was located in the northeast of Wuchi Country, nestled against the mountains. The main peak backed onto a long, ancient Tier Three Spirit Vein. Within the sect, there were several Golden Core Ancestors and countless Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
There were another one hundred and twelve Immortal Peaks, whose Peak Masters were equally Foundation Establishment Great Powers. Under its jurisdiction were several Marketplaces, tens of thousands of acres of Spirit Fields, and innumerable Spirit Pools. It could truly be considered a behemoth.
Purple Cloud Peak was situated due east of the Cyan Yang Sect, ten thousand miles away from the main peak. Every late autumn, in the tenth month, it was time for Purple Cloud Peak to mobilize and collect rent.
From the horizon, a Flying Sword pierced through the air. Standing on the Flying Sword were a man and a woman. The man had sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes, radiating a formidable sense of oppression. The woman had skin as smooth as alabaster, her robes fluttering in the wind. Anyone who caught more than a passing glance would mistake her for a celestial being.
"Senior Brother Li, the Peak Master is really something. It’s just grain collection, yet he troubled you to come personally."
The young woman’s surname was Si, and her given name was Yu. She had joined Purple Cloud Peak five years ago. In just a few short years, she had cultivated from a mere mortal to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Such speed was exceedingly rare even across the entire Cyan Yang Sect. Therefore, in her third year after entering the sect, she was exceptionally accepted as a disciple by the Peak Master of Purple Cloud Peak, becoming one of the dozen or so highest-ranking individuals within the peak!
"Junior Sister, you are completely devoted to Cultivation and have too little contact with mundane affairs. You have yet to learn that wherever there are people, there are selfish motives." Li Shangxian manipulated the Flying Sword with his hands behind his back, heading straight for the Marketplace at the foot of the mountain.
The matter of grain collection was incredibly tedious. Purple Cloud Peak alone had far more than ten thousand acres of Spirit Fields, likely employing thousands of Spirit Plant Cultivators. Collecting from them one by one, even with a Flying Sword, would take at least half a month. This inevitably delayed their Cultivation.
Yet even so, none of the Peak Masters in the Cyan Yang Sect would delegate the task of grain collection to outsiders. Only their most trusted disciples could shoulder this heavy responsibility.
This was a major event concerning the development of the entire Immortal Sect! Mortals needed to eat, and Immortals needed to eat as well. Although Fasting Pills were good, they were vastly inferior compared to Spirit Rice! Coupled with those Spiritual Birds, Spirit Fish, Spiritual Beasts, and Spiritual Medicine—these were the foundation of a Cultivation Immortal. How could they let them fall into the hands of others?
In the early years, some Peak Masters allowed the Marketplaces to collect their own rent, but it inevitably led to corruption and the lining of their own pockets. Over time, it became an established convention, rendering it one of the most important matters for the Immortal Sect.
Si Yu muttered a complaint. Of course, she knew this, but she was still somewhat dissatisfied. She had been cultivating perfectly well before being dispatched as a Grain Collection Officer. Having to interact with those lowly Spirit Plant Cultivators and Spirit Nurturers ruined her mood completely.
"Senior Brother, Ancient Dust Marketplace is just ahead. The Pavilion Master seems to be waiting there."
"Mhm."
Li Shangxian nodded lightly and directed the Flying Sword downward. In mere moments, they arrived at the bustling area below.
There were thirty-seven Marketplaces in total at the foot of Purple Cloud Peak. Each Marketplace had jurisdiction over a thousand acres of Spirit Fields and several Spirit Pools. To become a Pavilion Master, one had to be a Cultivator at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer or higher!
The two pierced through the air and arrived. A middle-aged Daoist greeted them with a face full of smiles, bowing respectfully with cupped hands. "Ancient Dust Marketplace respectfully welcomes the two Immortals."
"Master Niu, there is no need for such formalities," Li Shangxian said, his face as calm as an ancient well.
"What are you saying!" Niu Youliang feigned displeasure, but a moment later his fawning expression returned. "Elder Li, this humble one has prepared wine and food to wash away the dust of your journey!"
"There is no need. Time is tight. After we finish collecting here, we have to go to the next Marketplace."
"It is a rare occasion for you to visit. Won’t you let this junior fulfill his duties as a host?"
Li Shangxian narrowed his eyes, staring at him. "Host? Is this Marketplace not the property of Purple Cloud Peak?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Niu Youliang’s expression drastically changed. He slapped his own face in terror and said, "This junior misspoke! I misspoke!"
PFFT.
Seeing such a comical scene, Si Yu covered her mouth and giggled. Indeed, just as her Senior Brother had said, the people of the Marketplace were incredibly shrewd and mercenary!
"Enough. Tell me, how many Spirit Plant Cultivators are there in Ancient Dust Marketplace?"
"Ancient Dust Marketplace has a total of 1,132 acres of Spirit Fields, which have been rented out to 388 Spirit Plant Cultivators as required. Among them, 155 also hold the position of Spirit Nurturers, raising 4,122 Spirit Chickens, 3,111 Spirit Ducks, and 383 Spiritual Oxen and Spirit Sheep each. Currently, 2,255 Spirit Chickens, 1,291 Spirit Ducks, and 77 Spiritual Oxen are fully grown... There are also Spirit Pools..."
Niu Youliang fluently reported the assets within the Marketplace. These were details he had to keep track of. Every year, the Peak Master would send someone to audit the numbers. But even so, the Marketplace had plenty of ways to hide a portion and line their own pockets.
"Then I will have to trouble Master Niu to accompany us on this trip."
With his hands behind his back, Li Shangxian’s Flying Sword took to the air once more. Niu Youliang similarly summoned a Flying Sword and quickly followed suit.
Chen Mo waited another eight days after he finished harvesting his grain.
For the first two days, he still attempted to sit in meditation and cultivate, without casting any Magic. But facing the completely stagnant experience of his Qi Cultivation Technique, he eventually gave up. With his Talent being what it was and having no Spiritual Sand, Cultivation was like trying to cook a meal without rice—impossible to sustain.
Consequently, over the next few days, he cast Flaming Palm every single day. In just six short days, the experience for this offensive Magic rose from 22 points to 60 points. In at most another ten days, he would become proficient in this Cultivation Technique!
On this day, Chen Mo systematically cultivated Flaming Palm, just as usual. Suddenly, the cry of a sword rang out from the horizon, and in the blink of an eye, three people arrived simultaneously. Their speed was faster than he could have ever imagined.
"A Flying Sword?!" Chen Mo’s heart surged with excitement. "One day, I will also own a Flying Sword," he thought.
The Grain Collection Officers consisted of two men and one woman. A young Daoist stood upon the Flying Sword, not even bothering to touch the ground. Another middle-aged Daoist jumped down.
Before he could even open his mouth, Chen Mo first heard a sarcastic remark.
"People actually learn such low-level Magic like Flaming Palm?" Si Yu curled her lips, her face full of disdain.
Just this single sentence instantly evaporated any goodwill Chen Mo might have had toward these three. Especially that Female Cultivator. She had excellent looks, but she stuck her nose so high up in the air it was pointing at the sky!
"How could the status of a Spirit Plant Cultivator compare to yours? It is already quite good for them to have a single piece of Magic to learn," Niu Youliang said, half explaining and half pandering.
"Greetings to the three Immortals!" Chen Mo said, cupping his fists.
Annoyed as he was, his current strength was far from enough to allow him to rise up in rebellion. Not to mention, they were backed by Purple Cloud Peak and the Cyan Yang Sect.
"Where is the grain?" Niu Youliang asked.
Chen Mo turned around and hauled three gunny sacks out of the house. "Each sack contains 100 catties, making it 300 catties in total."
As soon as his voice fell, Si Yu leaped lightly. She reached out and lightly tapped the Spirit Rice, and in the next second, it instantly disappeared.
"A Storage Ring?" Chen Mo thought as he stared at the ring on her hand.
Its design and material were quite quaint and archaic, yet the aura it contained was extraordinary. Such a Storage Ring would probably cost quite a few Spirit Stones. No! It might not even be something one could buy with Spirit Stones!
"Let’s go, next household!"
The Grain Collection Officers came quickly and left just as fast. In their eyes, he was just a Spirit Plant Cultivator of extremely low status, not even worth a second glance!
Chen Mo watched the retreating backs of the three with an expressionless face, before performing another round of Flaming Palm.
[Flaming Palm +1]