Chapter 400: Ten Thousand Acres of Spiritual Fields

Chapter 400: Ten Thousand Acres of Spirit Fields

On the Immortal Sect's side, in the great plains, a single person could manage thousands of acres of spirit fields.

The reason this was possible was due to various powerful agricultural machinery spirit tools.

From tilling and fertilizing to sowing and finally harvesting, everything could be easily accomplished by simply operating these machines.

These machines didn't need to be purchased; one only needed to apply to the Immortal Sect to rent and use them on a queuing basis.

Of course, the yields from large-scale cultivation were certainly not as good as those from meticulous farming, and the spirit fields also had to be in vast plains. In hilly and mountainous areas, the effectiveness of large machinery would be greatly reduced.

The Giant Wood Ridge area, being hilly, had its best central plains already developed into medicinal fields, where the most precious herbs of the Divine Wood Sect were cultivated.

However, for cultivators, altering mountains and rivers was not a difficult task.

"You mean, flatten the area south of Giant Wood Ridge."

After listening, Meng Hong reached into the courtyard and pulled out a map. He pointed to a large area centered around Little South Mountain, noting that while there were many abandoned spirit fields there, the presence of numerous hills and mountains divided them into scattered, disorganized plots.

However, if Chen Mobai's plan to remove and level all the mountains here were implemented, it could indeed create vast plains of spirit fields.

"This is my idea, Elder Meng. What do you think?"

"I'm afraid that's not feasible. Flattening an entire mountain can barely be achieved even by our two Grand Patriarchs. Moreover, the spirit veins throughout Giant Wood Ridge have array flags from the mountain-protecting formation embedded in them. If you were to move mountains, this grand formation would need to be reconfigured, which is too massive an undertaking. The Three Halls and Twelve Divisions would not agree."

Although Meng Hong was very tempted by Chen Mobai's vision of cultivating spirit rice in vast plains, after his own analysis, he concluded that it was an almost impossible task.

If it were only a matter of moving one or two mountains, given Chen Mobai's status, the two Grand Patriarchs and Chu Zuoxu might turn a blind eye.

But if he wanted to level hundreds of mountains on the south side of Giant Wood Ridge, it would tamper with the very essence of Giant Wood Ridge's spirit veins. Even the two Grand Patriarchs would not dare, nor could they achieve it.

"In that case, we can only settle for the second-best option: developing the hills and mountains into terraced fields. However, if it's not a plain, the role of machinery will be limited, and the workforce would have to increase. We wouldn't need spirit plant masters, just farmers who understand cultivation."

"You mean mortals?"

Meng Hong, having served as sect leader himself, immediately understood Chen Mobai's words.

"Precisely. Although there are quite a few mortals within the sect, I feel the manpower is still insufficient. We don't need too many people; each mortal can manage three or four *mu* of land. I've calculated that approximately a thousand mortals would suffice."

There were indeed mortals in Giant Wood Ridge, mostly around Divine Wood City. They primarily tended various medicinal fields under the guidance of sect disciples, as the Divine Wood Sect lacked a sufficient number of spirit plant masters.

Chen Mobai's idea of having mortals oversee spirit fields for growing spirit rice was essentially following an existing example.

Zhuo Ming, for instance, hired a dozen farmers each year to help manage the spirit fields in Little South Mountain and Little Yang Ridge.

These farmers didn't need to know spirit plant cultivation techniques; they merely had to oversee the fields daily, notify Luo Yixuan when there was a water shortage, and inform Zhuo Ming about pests or diseases.

For everything else—sowing, fertilizing, harvesting, and so on—Zhuo Ming would arrive at scheduled times.

"Using mortals to manage thousands of acres of spirit fields solves one problem, but sowing so many spirit fields simultaneously would likely be beyond the capabilities of just you and your disciples, wouldn't it?"

Meng Hong then thought of another crucial point: the planting and harvesting seasons each year lasted only a few days. Relying solely on Chen Mobai's faction to both terrace the hills and sow the seeds, he couldn't imagine how it would be accomplished.

"I recently acquired three puppet blueprints from the Longevity Sect's talent tree: a sowing puppet, a rock-breaking and soil-tilling puppet specifically for terracing, and a harvesting puppet. Just by inserting spirit stones, even mortals can operate them freely."

As a puppet prodigy, Chen Mobai had long studied treatises on the combination of agronomy and puppetry, making him thoroughly knowledgeable about agricultural puppets.

However, as these ideas were too advanced, he decided to attribute them to the Longevity Sect from the Divine Tree Secret Realm. After all, the sect's upper echelons already knew of his astonishing talent and believed he had received the Longevity Sect's true heritage.

Chen Mobai took out paper and pen and sketched the three types of puppets in front of Meng Hong, who was greatly impressed.

"Ingenious ideas, truly heavenly craftsmanship!"

The Immortal Sect's research into spirit tool machinery completely surpassed that of the Heavenly River Realm. However, due to the scarcity of spirit stones, many such tools were typically only found in large agricultural collectives. In places like Chen Mobai's hometown, Qingling Village, cultivation was still largely done by meticulous manual labor.

The main reason was the overabundance of cultivators in the Immortal Sect, leading to a surplus of labor.

The situation in the Eastern Barrens was entirely different. While there were many cultivators, most were preoccupied with cultivation and rarely willing to farm. Thus, Chen Mobai thought of using agricultural puppets operated by mortals as a solution.

This would allow for the gradual development of the thousands of scattered spirit lands on the south side of Giant Wood Ridge. If his vision were realized, in addition to the previously barren spirit fields, another six to seven thousand *mu* of terraced fields could be reclaimed.

By then, all the spirit fields could be connected into a single expanse, likely exceeding ten thousand *mu*.

If all these spirit fields were used to cultivate spirit rice, not to mention Foundation Establishment cultivators, even the Divine Wood Sect's three thousand Qi Refining cultivators could eat five meals of spirit rice a day, with plenty to spare.

"This is good, but making these three types of puppets also requires skilled puppeteers. The sect's Puppet Division is largely for show; I'm not sure if they can produce satisfactory puppets."

Although the Puppet Division was one of the Twelve Divisions, the Divine Wood Sect's puppet legacy only consisted of one complete set: combat puppets based on the Longevity and Immortality Scripture.

From the first-tier Scarlet Sun Puppets to the second-tier Azure Sun Puppets and the third-tier Golden Sun Puppets, all were made using spirit wood from Giant Wood Ridge.

If it weren't for Fu Zongjue, who was once the head of the Puppet Division and still held some affection for the department, Meng Hong would have long since abolished this division, which consistently ranked last among the Twelve Divisions, decades ago.

"It's fine. As long as the Puppet Division is willing to send people to assist, I have some experience in making puppets."

If Chen Mobai wanted to convert the entire southern hilly area of Giant Wood Ridge into terraced fields, he would certainly need many agricultural puppets.

He alone definitely couldn't accomplish it.

Fortunately, he had a reasonably powerful sect backing him.

Even if the Puppet Division consistently ranked last, it still had dozens of puppeteers available.

Because Chen Mobai had guided Li Yixian, he had some rapport with the Puppet Division. However, to dispatch the entire elite force of the Puppet Division to help make puppets, that favor would certainly not be enough.

Furthermore, developing the entire southern part of Giant Wood Ridge was a significant undertaking. Although he was the sect's future, he was still young and not yet considered sufficiently steady in the eyes of the two Grand Patriarchs.

If Meng Hong could help by putting in a good word, it would certainly yield twice the results with half the effort.

"You should focus on cultivating diligently and strive to form your core as soon as possible; that would be your greatest contribution to the sect. Why bother with all this strenuous work?"

At that moment, Mu Yuan had already steamed the jade bamboo spirit rice Chen Mobai brought. Meng Hong picked up a stalk, broke it open, and ate it while sighing with emotion.

"With the strength of just one person, even if I were to form a Nascent Soul, I could at most elevate the Divine Wood Sect to a peak Five Elements Sect. But if, in the future of the sect, there are endless individuals like me and Honghe standing out, then the Divine Wood Sect can forever dominate the Eastern Barrens, bringing eternal rule and peace to this land."

Chen Mobai would never forget the awkwardness he felt when he first encountered the Eastern Barrens, where the values he had cultivated since childhood in the Immortal Sect clashed with the customs of the local cultivators. He never stopped wishing to change this Eastern Barrens land.

Before, even if he had voiced these thoughts, others would have merely dismissed them with a smile.

But now he felt it was time to begin acting.

Starting with improving and transforming the sect.

"I hope I, this old man, can live to see that day."

Although Meng Hong knew that Chen Mobai's grand ambition was virtually impossible to achieve in the Eastern Barrens, for some reason, his heart, which had grown desolate after failing to form his core, felt a long-lost stir of excitement and anticipation after hearing these words.

It was as if he had found a new purpose and motivation.

The next day, Meng Hong and Chen Mobai went together to meet An Jinghui, the head of the Puppet Division.

"Regarding this matter, since there's no decree from the Divine Wood Hall or the Punishment Hall, as head, I find it difficult to order my disciples."

After hearing Chen Mobai's explanation, An Jinghui's face showed a troubled expression.

As the Puppet Division had the fewest members among the Twelve Divisions, every puppeteer was extremely busy, either maintaining their own puppets or constantly acquiring materials for new ones.

Whenever a task arose, An Jinghui had to give a month's notice so that his disciples would have enough time to arrange their current work.

"Consider it me personally hiring them. The spirit stone compensation can be disbursed through the Spirit Treasure Pavilion."

After hearing An Jinghui's difficulties, Chen Mobai blamed himself for not inquiring beforehand. He hadn't expected the Divine Wood Sect's puppeteers to be so busy.

"I'll try my best to arrange it, but ordinary spirit stone compensation might not be enough to entice them."

An Jinghui looked apologetic, but he promised to definitely send his disciple, Li Yixian, to serve under Chen Mobai. After all, despite Li Yixian's failure in Foundation Establishment, Chen Mobai's guidance was a significant favor that needed to be repaid.

"Thank you, Head An."

As he left, Chen Mobai took three puppeteers, including Li Yixian. This showed the considerable influence of An Jinghui as division head; had anyone else come, it's likely he wouldn't have gotten even one.

"You can start by leading the team to make the puppets. I'll handle communication with the Spirit Plant Division, Spirit Vein Division, Formation Division, and Spirit Beast Division."

Chen Mobai's plan encompassed the entire southern side of Giant Wood Ridge. These areas fell under the Spirit Vein Division, contained formations set up by the Formation Division, and housed various spirit beasts and spirit plants overseen by the relevant divisions.

If he had to communicate with all four major divisions individually, setting aside whether they would give him face, even if they did, it would likely take a considerable amount of time for back-and-forth negotiations.

However, with Meng Hong willing to step in, it was different. The Three Halls and Twelve Divisions were all his former subordinates. Moreover, even though Meng Hong had failed to form his core, he was still a Pseudo-Core expert, second only to the two Grand Patriarchs in the sect. His influence would definitely be greater than Chen Mobai's.

With Meng Hong assisting in dealing with the three divisions, Chen Mobai felt at ease leading Li Yixian and the other two in puppet production.

Among them, Li Yixian was actually considered a second-tier puppeteer.

With An Jinghui's help, he had exchanged a significant amount of Azure Sun Spirit Wood from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and upgraded his own puppet to the second tier. Thus, according to the local rules, he was considered a second-tier puppeteer.

However, in Chen Mobai's view, he could only barely be counted as a first-tier puppeteer.

As for the other two, there was even less to say; in the Immortal Sect, they would only be considered puppet-making enthusiasts, not even having truly entered the field.

Yet, even these puppeteers were only willing to take on the task and come out of seclusion because of Head An Jinghui's intervention.

Chen Mobai led Li Yixian and the other two to his courtyard, which he had converted into a puppet workshop. After all, the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was in Divine Wood City, making it convenient to acquire any necessary items.

"Martial Uncle Chen actually has a complete piece of Azure Sun Spirit Wood! I wonder if we could be compensated with the leftover scraps after use, instead of spirit stones?"

The moment Li Yixian and the other two entered, they spotted a piece of Azure Sun Spirit Wood in the corner. Their eyes immediately lit up, and they rushed towards it, wanting to touch it but seemingly daring not.

"Oh, are you very short on Azure Sun Spirit Wood?"

Chen Mobai nodded, then asked his question.

"Of course! Every single Azure Sun Spirit Tree in the sect is closely watched by the Foundation Establishment elders. Besides being used to produce second-tier tree seeds, many are also waiting for the spirit trees to transform and yield Azure Sun Fire Seeds. We Qi Refining cultivators simply never get to see them listed in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion."

One of the puppeteers, Sui Kun, sighed and explained that if their combat puppets were to be upgraded to the second tier, all their components would need to be replaced with Azure Sun Spirit Wood.

However, in the entire Puppet Division, only Li Yixian had managed to acquire enough Azure Sun Spirit Wood from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, thanks to An Jinghui's influence.

Most of the other puppeteers had only managed to replace a single palm or half a leg.

Seeing a complete piece of Azure Sun Spirit Wood in the corner of Chen Mobai's courtyard, even Li Yixian, who already possessed a complete second-tier puppet, had reddened eyes.

"If I pay with Azure Sun Spirit Wood, how many people from your Puppet Division would be willing to come help?"

Chen Mobai asked after hearing this.

"No one wouldn't come!"

Sui Kun declared emphatically.

If they knew there were Azure Sun Spirit Wood scraps available, the Puppet Division would probably turn out in full force.

"I understand."

Chen Mobai nodded, but he didn't immediately use Azure Sun Spirit Wood to recruit more people. He planned to first lead Li Yixian and the other two in producing samples of the three basic agricultural puppets.

This particular piece of Azure Sun Spirit Wood was something he had synthesized when experimenting with the *Jiamu Art*, taking him half a month to complete.

If he recruited too many people, he wouldn't have enough Azure Sun Spirit Wood.

He hoped that his spider puppets, deployed for exploration in the Divine Tree Secret Realm, would be able to find genuine Azure Sun Spirit Trees.