CHAPTER 368: CHAPTER 337: TURNING BEANS INTO SOLDIERS

"So you must be Junior Brother Qi."

On an elevated, cushion-like patch of earth, Li Qingshan smiled, inviting Qi Xiu into his thatched cottage. The cottage had already been tidied and was spotless, save for some furniture and a few ancient tomes with faded covers.

"And you must be the former Agriculture Official, Senior Brother Li Qingshan."

Qi Xiu smiled as he clasped his hands towards Li Qingshan in a gesture of respect.

Two months ago, his master, Daoist Yunxiong, had briefed him on some matters regarding this Senior Brother Li.

One should not judge this Senior Brother by his farmer-like appearance.

In actuality, he was a personal disciple of Dongfang Qing, the Supreme Patriarch of the Shenxiao Sect.

Having joined the sect for five hundred and thirty years, he had reached the Extreme Realm of Bloodied, with half a step into the Dao Body Realm.

Within at most a hundred years, he could break through the final barrier and enter the illustrious realm of the mighty.

"This time, for the sake of your appointment as the Agriculture Official, Daoist Yunxiong has pulled strings and spared no expense, exhausting every connection inside and out—it truly was an arduous effort."

As he invited Qi Xiu to take a seat, Li Qingshan produced a set of tea service with a flip of his hand and brewed a cup of tea whose clear broth held a rich aroma.

"Try this. I grew the tea myself—the flavor is astringent but lingers with a rich aftertaste."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Although I am merely a disciple from a branch family, Master has always treated me very well. However, I’m not even a hundred years old yet, and Master is already busy planning for my longevity—isn’t it... a bit early?"

After taking a light sip of the tea Li Qingshan passed him, Qi Xiu immediately felt a strong bitterness spreading in his mouth. But as the tea mixed with saliva and flowed down his throat, a lingering and mellow fragrance suddenly bloomed, making him unable to resist the urge for a second sip.

"Junior Brother, you might not be aware. The Dao Body Realm is different from the Dao-Entering Realm and the Blood-Stained Realm. To achieve this body of great power, one’s Cultivation, aptitude, destiny, and Opportunities are all indispensable. In this vast world, there is no shortage of individuals like you, Junior Brother—young, yet already in the Blood-Stained Realm, or even at the Pinnacle of the Bloodstained Realm, before the age of one hundred. However, ninety-nine percent of them ultimately fail to take that final step. Do you know when I reached the Blood-Stained Peak?"

Assessing Li Qingshan, who appeared to be no more than in his early twenties, Qi Xiu ventured a guess, "A hundred years old?"

"Hehehe, I reached the Pinnacle of the Bloodstained Realm at the age of twenty-nine. After that, it took me a full five hundred years just to barely take half a step into the Dao Body Realm."

Hearing that Li Qingshan had reached the Pinnacle of the Bloodstained Realm at only twenty-nine, Qi Xiu, who had seen his fair share of talented prodigies, was still shocked by the number.

Twenty-nine years old—was he cultivating in his mother’s womb?

"So... Master is worried that my longevity will be insufficient, causing me to halt before the Dao Body Realm?"

Grasping the implication in Li Qingshan’s words, Qi Xiu somewhat understood why his master wanted him to take up the role of Agriculture Official—to extend his life.

He was sixty-seven this year, at the fourth level of the Blood-Stained Realm. According to his current cultivation speed, if there were no accidents, he would need to be at least one hundred and fifty years old to reach the Blood-Stained Peak.

This speed was not considered slow in the Shenxiao Sect; it was at least an above-average level.

But for achieving the Dao Body Realm, this age was already considered quite advanced.

Li Qingshan reached the Blood-Stained Peak at twenty-nine, a testament to his exceptional talent and aptitude.

Yet even so, five hundred years had not allowed him to fully enter the Dao Body Realm, merely to touch its threshold.

Looking at it this way, he was indeed falling significantly behind.

"In a single province, cultivators are as numerous as carp crossing a river, easily exceeding ten million, yet only a few hundred achieve the realm of the mighty. Junior Brother, you should understand the hardships involved. Longevity is always the greatest challenge we cultivators must face."

Li Qingshan’s words were spoken in a calm tone, yet they carried an undercurrent of chill.

Hearing this, Qi Xiu also slowly nodded his head in agreement.

Cultivators transcend the mundane world, earnestly seeking the Dao.

Yet human effort has its limits; lifespan is an eternal chasm that cannot be crossed.

Ordinary people may consider a century long.

But cultivators often spend years, or even decades, in seclusion at a time.

If they cannot break through to the next realm, they can only watch their lifespan dwindle, their heaven-shaking abilities ultimately and sorrowfully turning to white bones.

"I understand Master’s painstaking efforts. Rest assured, Senior Brother—I will definitely not disappoint his kind intentions."

"That’s good. Let’s go; I’ll show you around the Spirit Rice Valley. Though the role of Agriculture Official is an excellent posting, it is by no means easy."

With a wave of his hand, Li Qingshan summoned two pale white cloud clusters. The two of them stood atop the clouds, looking down over the Spirit Rice Valley.

"This Spirit Rice Valley spans over twelve thousand acres and matures once every thirty years, yielding about a million catties of Spirit Rice. Spirit Rice is precious and demands extremely harsh environmental conditions. Beneath the land where it’s planted lie a total of one thousand, six hundred and seventy-eight spirit-gathering great formations. The nurturing water used is also the rare Heavenly One Pure Water. Every stalk of Spirit Rice has a dedicated Douhu tending to it, ensuring no issues arise during its growth."

Gazing down at the vast expanse of the Spirit Rice Valley, Qi Xiu’s expression flickered. "Previously, Master mentioned that aberrations were spying on the Spirit Rice, intending to steal it. The duty of an Agriculture Official is to protect both the Spirit Rice and the Douhu. What kind of aberrations can infiltrate the Mountain Gate and come to steal the Spirit Rice?"

"That creature is called the Jiunie. It’s an aberration that resembles a mouse, with snow-white fur and three tails. This creature is naturally endowed with Cosmic Bi divine marvels and possesses an extremely sensitive sense of smell. Although it lacks combat power, it’s very difficult to catch. However, they are very timid. If you discover them entering, just use Thunder Magic to scare them away."

After explaining to Qi Xiu some of the miscellaneous matters related to guarding the Spirit Rice Valley, Li Qingshan pointed to the thatched hut in the middle of the valley.

"From now on, you’ll live there. That hut might look ordinary, but it’s actually constructed from wood of the Profound Treasure Woodland. It’s conducive to quieting the mind, nourishing the spirit, and keeping out external demons. I planted some Spirit Fruits near the entrance. If you have time, just water them daily, and they will thrive. Guarding the Spirit Rice can be monotonous. Having some small tasks to do can help alleviate the boredom."

"Rest assured, Senior Brother. I have always been able to endure loneliness. I will take good care of these Spirit Fruits. If you find the time, you can come and visit, and we can enjoy them together," Qi Xiu replied.

"Alright, it’s settled then."

Smiling at each other, Qi Xiu and Li Qingshan returned to the thatched hut.

As a vital sacred ground of the Shenxiao Sect, only Dao Body Realm Elders and the Agriculture Official were permitted to reside long-term in the Spirit Rice Valley.

Having relinquished the position of Agriculture Official, Li Qingshan did not linger. After bidding Qi Xiu farewell, he conjured a cloud of light and departed towards the horizon.

After Li Qingshan left, Qi Xiu was the only one remaining in the vast Spirit Rice Valley.

Inside the thatched cottage, besides the table, chairs, and bed, there were also a dozen ancient books. Qi Xiu casually flipped through them. The contents were all short essays and stories, likely written by some former Agriculture Official to pass the time during moments of boredom.

Since they were not taken when their authors departed, they had remained in the cottage.

Guarding over twelve thousand acres of rice fields day and night is truly exhausting. Even with the robust physique and abundant energy of someone in the Blood-Stained Realm, one couldn’t withstand such long-term, constant vigilance.

Recalling Li Qingshan’s instructions before he departed, the Jiunie were cunning and sly. Once they spot an opening, they’ll emerge to steal the Spirit Rice. Moreover, these creatures always appear in swarms. If left unchecked, they could carry off more than half the Spirit Rice in half a day.

Muttering to himself, Qi Xiu casually reached into his sleeve and pulled out a handful of bright yellow, round beans.

As he silently chanted ancient and obscure syllables, he was seen exhaling a cloud of iridescent mist from his mouth onto the beans in his hand.

The next second.

With a soft cry, he gently scattered the yellow beans in front of him.

Instantly, the tiny beans seemed to respond to some mysterious summons, rapidly swelling and growing larger as they met the breeze.

In the air, they transformed in a flash into a troop of imposing and upright figures.

In the blink of an eye, these once-insignificant beans had become a group of stalwart strongmen, clad in iron armor and wielding sharp weapons. Their yellow headbands, contrasting with their resolute faces, shone brightly, making them resemble divine generals and immortal soldiers from ancient myths.

Sowing Beans into Soldiers!

One of the spells from the Yellow Official Document.

Previously, when Dongfang Qing had sent Qi Xiu into Ten Thousand Caves Mountain, he had lent him this Yellow Official Document.

Now, it was proving useful.

These Yellow Turban Strongmen, created from the beans, were agile and immensely strong. They could soar through the sky at speeds no slower than common Escape Skills. Their long knives were inscribed with the Demon Suppression Seal; a single slash could make even ancient blood demons howl in pain.

More importantly, these Yellow Turban Strongmen could draw upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth to sustain their existence. Unless destroyed by external forces, they could exist indefinitely.

At Qi Xiu’s current level of Sowing Beans into Soldiers, these Yellow Turban Strongmen all possessed strength equivalent to the Dao-Entering Realm. This was more than enough to drive away the Jiunie.

After scattering the yellow beans several times in succession, in a mere moment, a dense, dark mass of figures filled the sky above the thatched cottage!

Thousands of Yellow Turban Strongmen, brandishing their knives, stood high in the air, their pairs of clear, sharp, tiger-like eyes radiating a resolute determination, as if ready to brave any danger.

"Go."

Imprinting the image and appearance of the Jiunie into the minds of the Yellow Turban Strongmen, Qi Xiu waved his hand. They all knelt on one knee, responded with a shout, and then immediately dispersed, beginning to patrol and roam throughout the Spirit Rice Valley.

Unlike other otherworldly beings, Yellow Turban Strongmen were full of Spirit Essence, were no less intelligent than ordinary people, and possessed absolute loyalty.

In a sense, if his proficiency in Sowing Beans into Soldiers was high enough and he accumulated a sufficient number of Yellow Turban Strongmen, Qi Xiu could single-handedly overpower most sects.

Luckily, I’m someone who keeps to myself; otherwise, the world would sooner or later descend into chaos.

Taking out the rocking chair he had brought with him, Qi Xiu stretched and lay down. With a flip of his palm, he retrieved a Dragon Scale that gleamed with a deep, dark green luster.

This Dragon Scale was a parting gift from the Water God of Dianchuan. It was a treasure of the True Dragon Clan, one that could endure through endless ages without deteriorating.

When the Water God gifted him this Dragon Scale, he had told him to keep it safe, for it would be of great use when an Opportunity presented itself.

After so much time, he had almost forgotten about this Dragon Scale.

Yet, just moments ago, while patrolling this Spirit Rice Valley with Li Qingshan, this ancient Dragon Scale had suddenly emitted a faint tremor.

Although weak, he had clearly perceived it.