Chapter 558: Dragon Vein Qi (Extra Chapter with Monthly Votes 6)

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lamp

Could it be that this person's talent in spiritual planting is no less than his talent in swordsmanship!

Yan Shaoyin thought to himself, looking at Chen Mobai's excessively young face, feeling increasingly uneasy. As a fourth-tier alchemist, he was also a third-tier spiritual planter, in order to understand the properties of various medicinal herbs. He had always believed that in the entire Eastern Barren, there were few who could compare to him in terms of spiritual planting. He never expected that Chen, the newly formed Golden Core Sect Master of the Divine Wood Sect, would actually surpass him.

“This Panlong Spirit Rice, in addition to needing Earth Vein energy, also requires the absorption of Dragon Vein energy to be sown, survive, and thrive…”

Chen Mobai and Yu Shuji immediately hit it off. Chen Mobai asked about the Panlong Spirit Rice he had just noticed, and Yu Shuji readily answered his questions. This was because only their Star Heaven Dao Sect possessed the seeds of the Panlong Spirit Rice. There was no harm in telling Chen Mobai these details. Huitian Valley had the complete technology for sowing, fertilizing, cultivating, and harvesting Panlong Spirit Rice. However, they still had to hand over 70% of their harvest to the Star Heaven Dao Sect each year. This was not only because they relied on the latter as their patron, but also precisely for this reason. With the seeds in the Star Heaven Dao Sect's hands, if they did not provide them, the tens of thousands of acres of third-tier spiritual fields in this Flower Country would simply go to waste.

In the Heavenly River Realm, spiritual plant cultivation techniques could be easily restored with enough research. Therefore, the seeds were the most precious. It was precisely for this reason that when Zhou Shengqing obtained the cultivation method for Jade Bamboo Spirit Rice, Grand Ancestor Hunyuan greatly praised him. He even specially dispatched elites from the Five Elements Sect's spiritual plant department to establish sixty acres of third-tier spiritual fields on Little South Mountain for research. Previously, when Chen Mobai cultivated a new second-tier Azure Jade Spirit Rice, Fu Zongjue, delighted, rewarded him with a million spirit stones. In the Eastern Barren, spirit rice seeds were indeed this valuable. If a complete spirit rice cultivation technique, including seed propagation, was obtained, it could serve as a sect's most treasured artifact.

Among the three major sects in Eastern Yi with Nascent Soul cultivators, only the Xuanxiao Dao Palace and Bathing Sun Sea possessed third-tier spirit rice seeds, specifically the Golden Haze Rice and Fire Crystal Rice, which showed their rarity. Moreover, if their own seeds were found to have leaked outside the sect, these major sects would not hesitate to wage war. For instance, another major sect in Eastern Yi, Empty Mulberry Valley, once cunningly obtained the Golden Haze Rice seeds from Xuanxiao Dao Palace, intending to combine them with the Jade Bamboo Spirit Rice method to cultivate a new third-tier spirit rice. Although they managed to get the seeds, the very next day, Grand Ancestor Jinfeng of Xuanxiao Dao Palace led twelve Golden Core cultivators and tens of thousands of cultivators to attack Empty Mulberry Valley.

This war was the largest in Eastern Yi in the past two hundred years, with countless casualties on both sides. Seven or eight Golden Core cultivators perished, practically involving half of the Eastern Yi cultivation world. Later, Grand Ancestor Baiwu of Bathing Sun Sea, unable to stand idly by because many of his own disciples were involved and suffered casualties, came forward to mediate. However, at that time, Grand Ancestor Jinfeng and Grand Ancestor Muqin were in a bloodthirsty frenzy, completely disregarding him and intent on fighting to the death. Feeling disrespected, Grand Ancestor Baiwu also grew angry and immediately summoned his good brother Grand Ancestor Hunyuan and Sun Huangwu from Eastern Wu. In addition, the Star Heaven Dao Sect, whose business was affected by the war between the two sects, also sent a Nascent Soul elder. Under the suppression of the four Nascent Soul cultivators, the two Nascent Soul cultivators from Xuanxiao Dao Palace and Empty Mulberry Valley finally calmed down. Since Empty Mulberry Valley was in the wrong, after the final negotiation, the Nascent Soul cultivator of Empty Mulberry Valley, under pressure, returned all the Golden Haze Rice seeds and even expelled their own sect master to put an end to the matter.

However, the impact of the war between the two sects was far-reaching. Both Nascent Soul cultivators, Jinfeng and Muqin, used life-risking secret techniques during this war, and both suffered severe vital energy depletion and damage to their lifespan afterward. However, because Xuanxiao Dao Palace possessed the Profound Heaven Black Gold Pill, Grand Ancestor Jinfeng's condition was somewhat better, allowing him to occasionally make appearances or even take action. But there had been no news of Grand Ancestor Muqin of Empty Mulberry Valley for nearly a hundred years, and many speculated that she had already passed away. This incident made all cultivators in the three regions of Eastern Yi, Eastern Barren, and Eastern Wu aware of the preciousness of spirit rice seeds.

Chen Mobai, however, did not place much importance on spirit rice. In the Immortal Gate, due to various geographical climates, there were dozens of types of third-tier spirit rice, and even fifth-tier immortal rice specially for Soul Transformation grand ancestors. To him, the spirit rice seeds, which were considered extraordinarily precious by the sects of the Heavenly River Realm, were like roadside pebbles. What Chen Mobai was concerned about, instead, was the information revealed in Yu Shuji's words.

“Dragon Vein energy… there’s actually a Dragon Vein flowing beneath this Flower Country!”

A so-called Dragon Vein required long-term civilization to nurture upon it to potentially combine with Earth Veins and form. The Primeval Star, where the Immortal Gate was located, although scarce in resources and thin in spiritual energy, had Dragon Veins almost universally present in all Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands, precisely because of its brilliantly glorious civilization. However, the Dragon Veins in the Immortal Gate were protected resources and could only be utilized after approval from relevant departments. Chen Mobai knew that the Jumang Dao Academy had a pill recipe called Earth Vein Pill, which required extracting Earth Vein and Dragon Vein energy for refinement. After consumption, it could be used to increase one's Earth spiritual root value. Thinking of this, his eyes flickered as he looked at the ground beneath his feet.

Dragon Vein energy required the cultivation of secular dynasties and civilizations, often taking over a thousand years to show effect. The major sects in the Heavenly River Realm had also discovered the marvelous uses of Dragon Vein energy. They generally protected the mortals within their territories and even supported them in establishing dynasties. Of course, the ultimate ruling power remained in the hands of the cultivators. Only in the Eastern Barren, where two successive hegemons, the Myriad Ancient Sect and the Five Elements Sect, had disintegrated directly after their Nascent Soul cultivators passed away, did the maintained dynasties scatter like stars and clouds, and Dragon Veins naturally did not manifest. How the Star Heaven Dao Sect discovered the Dragon Vein in this Flower Country was unknown. Was it a bit wasteful to use a Dragon Vein for farming? And how many Earth Vein Pills could be refined if this entire Dragon Vein were drained?

Chen Mobai's mind began to race, wondering if he could use this resource to improve his Earth spiritual root. After all, the orthodox cultivation method for the Hunyuan Dao Fruit required a Heavenly Earth spiritual root. His previous inability to gain enlightenment at Golden Light Cliff was likely due to a spiritual root issue. If he could change his Heavenly Fire spiritual root to a Heavenly Earth spiritual root, and then drink a pot of Dao Enlightenment Tea, he would surely be able to fully comprehend the Hunyuan Dao Fruit! Unfortunately, this matter was not easy to handle. After all, if it were just Huitian Valley, the Divine Wood Sect could find a way to eliminate it. But this Flower Country was clearly a property of the Star Heaven Dao Sect. If the Dragon Vein, crucial for the Panlong Spirit Rice, were drained, the Star Heaven Dao Sect would probably launch a war, even across Eastern Yi. This was a super sect with several Nascent Soul cultivators guarding it, holding exclusive dominance over the Eastern Peak region. Once it got angry, it had the power to turn the entire Eastern Barren into ruins. Still, my strength is insufficient!

Chen Mobai thought to himself, a smile on his face, as he continued to discuss spiritual planting with Yu Shuji.

“Sect Master Chen, since you’re here, why don’t we discuss this year’s allocation of Panlong Spirit Rice?”

At this moment, Yan Shaoyin, who had been sitting by, finally couldn't hold back and interrupted the two, who were getting along increasingly well. High-level cultivators of major sects generally knew that consuming spirit rice for long periods could refine the body and increase the success rate of breaking through realms. As Golden Core cultivators at the pinnacle of the Eastern Barren, their desire for third-tier spirit rice was even more intense. The Panlong Spirit Rice produced by Huitian Valley each year was always in short supply. For Golden Core cultivators to maintain physical improvement, they needed to consume at least ten catties of spirit rice daily. There were currently nine Golden Core cultivators publicly known in the Eastern Barren, meaning over thirty thousand catties were needed annually. However, Huitian Valley's annual output was only around fifteen thousand catties. Yan Shaoyin would certainly keep some for his own consumption and reserve a portion for the Foundation Establishment cultivators within his sect who had hopes of forming a Golden Core, leaving only about ten thousand catties available for sale.

These ten thousand catties were previously equally divided, with the Five Elements Sect and the Divine Wood Sect's Golden Light Cliff each taking four thousand catties, and the remaining two thousand catties distributed among Ji Zhensheng, Nan Shidao, and Kong Lingling. Now that two were gone, Kong Lingling naturally dared not monopolize two thousand catties. Yan Shaoyin had already informed the Divine Wood Sect and the Five Elements Sect that after the future Panlong Spirit Rice harvests, the Five Elements Sect would receive four thousand catties, and the Divine Wood Sect would receive five thousand catties. The extra one thousand catties for the Divine Wood Sect was meant for Chen Mobai, as a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator! Neither party had responded to this arrangement.

Chen Mobai's visit to Huitian Valley this time also had to do with handling this matter. However, he didn't have much need for third-tier spirit rice himself, as one of the basic benefits for Open Yuan Hall council members in the Immortal Gate was an annual supply of sufficient spirit rice. If he wished, Chen Mobai could eat different third-tier spirit rice varieties for thirty days each month, and occasionally even snatch some precious fourth-tier immortal spirit rice through the Immortal Gate Network. Moreover, given enough time, and with Zhuo Ming's assistance, he was certain he could research and develop third-tier spirit rice seeds suitable for growth in the Giant Wood Ridge's environment. But for now, he still needed to purchase Panlong Spirit Rice for Fu Zongjue and Mo Douguang to consume. Zhou Shengqing no longer had a physical body, so he didn't need to be considered.

Chen Mobai felt that five thousand catties of Panlong Spirit Rice would not be enough. If Golden Core cultivators were to have their needs fully met, each would require at least four thousand catties annually, meaning he would need to procure at least eight thousand catties.

“Master Yan, keep five thousand catties for your personal use, and just sell the remaining ten thousand catties entirely to my Divine Wood Sect.” Chen Mobai generously stated his intention to buy all of this year's Panlong Spirit Rice.

“Sect Master Chen, you jest. Due to the discovery of Earth Spirit Locusts, this year’s harvest might only be 80% of previous years. What can be sold will likely only be eight thousand catties.” Yan Shaoyin had not yet discovered signs of the locusts when he notified the Divine Wood Sect and the Five Elements Sect, so he had miscalculated this year's yield. Yu Shuji, the vice-president of the Star Heaven Grand Chamber of Commerce overseeing the Eastern Barren region, had also heard about the potential reduction in yield. He had hurried from Eastern Peak via a large teleportation array to Eastern Yi, and then made his way here.

“This is a natural disaster, so Master Yan cannot be blamed. Then let’s make it a bit less, eight thousand catties.” Chen Mobai’s words left Yan Shaoyin speechless, but he could only refuse.

“The three Golden Core cultivators of the Five Elements Sect still need to be taken care of. How about giving them three thousand catties and the Divine Wood Sect four thousand catties?”

“Oh, then what about the remaining one thousand catties?”

“Five hundred catties will be reserved for True Person Kong, and the rest will be kept here in Huitian Valley for my personal use.”

Yan Shaoyin had deliberated this amount for a long time and discussed it with Yu Shuji, believing it to be a fair distribution. After saying this, Chen Mobai fell into contemplation, seemingly pondering. His silence immediately made Yan Shaoyin a little nervous. The latter couldn't help but look up at Yu Shuji, wanting him to speak up and exert some pressure to finalize this year's Panlong Spirit Rice matter. If it was settled this year, then it could be followed for the next few decades. Moreover, with Yu Shuji present, it would be considered a decision made by the Star Heaven Dao Sect, which the Five Elements Sect and Divine Wood Sect would surely have to abide by.

But Yu Shuji was also hesitant. It wasn't because he had gotten along well with Chen Mobai earlier, but because the Divine Wood Sect's current fierce reputation was too great. Furthermore, with Zhou Shengqing potentially forming a Nascent Soul, even the Star Heaven Dao Sect did not dare to overly pressure them. At his level of cultivation and status, every statement needed to be made with extreme caution. In the Heavenly River Realm, there were too many cultivators who toiled for a thousand years, and after attaining the Dao, annihilated the sects that had caused them inner turmoil. However, he certainly had to help Huitian Valley here. After all, over the years, they had saved the Star Heaven Dao Sect a lot of trouble in the Eastern Barren. Finding a suitable helper was not easy.

“Sect Master Chen, are you satisfied with this amount? If you think it’s too little, I can sell you another one thousand catties of Panlong Spirit Rice in the name of the Chamber of Commerce this year. Going forward, as long as there are no locust plagues, Huitian Valley will try its best to ensure you receive five thousand catties. How about that?”

Seeing that Chen Mobai still hadn't spoken, Yu Shuji smiled and offered his sincerity. As the vice-president of the Star Heaven Grand Chamber of Commerce, he could control the sale of ten thousand catties of spirit rice. Even so, providing one thousand catties was already quite difficult. After all, the locust plague had the greatest impact on their own 70% share of the spirit rice.

“Since Master Yu says so, then let’s settle on this share.” Chen Mobai had been waiting for Yu Shuji to speak. In the Eastern Barren, he no longer feared anyone, but he still needed to show deference to a major power like the Star Heaven Dao Sect. Moreover, in previous years, the Divine Wood Sect would also purchase other third-tier spirit rice from the Chamber of Commerce or Eastern Yi for their Golden Core grand ancestors. Being able to buy five thousand catties from Huitian Valley was already quite good.

“Excellent, excellent! Although Sect Master Chen is young, he is discerning!” Yu Shuji was very satisfied upon hearing this, feeling that his words carried weight.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that Huitian Valley has quite a bit of Green Wood Malice. I’ve just achieved Great Completion in my Blazing Flame Sword Art and need this to condense sword malice. I wonder if it can be sold to me?” After discussing the Panlong Spirit Rice, Chen Mobai brought up his own matter.

“Oh, how much does Sect Master Chen need?” Yan Shaoyin, not yet realizing the significance of “Great Completion in Blazing Flame Sword Art,” casually asked.

“The more, the better. Eighty-one strands would be ideal!”

“Where would there be so much? This Green Wood Malice is also an excellent spiritual material for boosting flame temperature. I need to add one strand when refining high-tier pills. Currently, there are only about twenty strands cultivated in the Earthly Fiend Yin Acupoint. If Sect Master Chen needs it, I can give you one or two strands.” Yan Shaoyin shook his head, indicating that Green Wood Malice was very useful to him as well.

“Sect Master Chen, could it be that you have cultivated Golden Flame!?” But at this moment, Yu Shuji, who was beside them, changed his expression slightly and spoke in shock!