Chapter 192: Fish and Rice (In celebration of the Platinum Grand Alliance Leader! )
Chapter 192: Fish and Rice (In celebration of the Platinum Grand Alliance Leader! )
“Azure Wood Divine Thunder Array, rise! ”
The former Yan family manor was now repurposed by Fang Xi into the ‘Evergreen Pavilion,’ a refined and elegant cave mansion.
Surrounding this cave mansion was the ‘Azure Wood Divine Thunder Array’!
Originally, this array was incomplete, with a limited coverage area and several missing functions.
After Fang Xi advanced to a second-order superior-grade array master, he performed various adjustments and repairs. While it couldn't be said to have fully recovered its former glory, it had at least regained seventy to eighty percent of its power, and its coverage had expanded significantly. It could now easily encompass the Evergreen Pavilion, the Spirit Herb Valley, and a portion of the fish farm—the most crucial areas—without any issues.
On Dragon Fish Island, there were actually quite a number of mortals living there, even forming a self-contained, small kingdom.
If Fang Xi wished, he could even arbitrarily appoint a mortal to be their emperor.
The former Dragon Fish Zhong Clan had done just that, designating a mortal from their direct lineage who possessed no spiritual root to serve as the ruler, and then having them govern the other mortals.
When the Song Clan later exterminated the demons, the Yan family arrived and, as was customary, executed the Tai Shu family's emperor, then installed one of their own to take the throne.
This Yan family emperor's fate wasn't entirely bad; he led a portion of his clansmen to migrate with the Yan family to Spirit Sky Island, and it was quite possible he would continue to oversee the mortal affairs on Spirit Sky Island.
“The succession of power in mortal kingdoms. . . it's all manipulated by cultivators from behind the scenes. . . ”
“Currently, most of the mortals on Dragon Fish Island are still descendants of the Zhong Clan, with a smaller portion from the Tai Shu, Yu Chi, and Xiahou families. As for the Yan family, naturally, all who could be moved had already been relocated. . . and there were also some miscellaneous surnames. . . ”
Although the Song Clan had slaughtered the cultivators of the three Tai Shu families, they had not eradicated all the mortals—that would be a purely demonic act.
Within such a massive mortal population, it was natural for children with spiritual root aptitude to be discovered every now and then, forming small groups of rogue cultivators.
Many of them coveted Dragon Fish Island's spirit veins and had not departed with the Yan family, choosing instead to remain and 'work' for Fang Xi.
As they were all just little fellows in the Qi Refinement stage, Fang Xi didn't pay them much mind.
He arrived at the main hall of the Evergreen Pavilion and casually sent out a few transmission talismans.
Not long after, over a dozen streams of light wound their way over, revealing the cultivators who were controlling their artifacts within them.
Among them were both old and young. As they gazed at the faintly glowing ‘Azure Wood Divine Thunder Array,’ expressions of awe appeared on all their faces.
Following the path Fang Xi had opened, they made their way to the main hall. There, seated on the main dais, was a young cultivator with a jade-like countenance, clad in a green Daoist robe, radiating an aura of vibrant vitality.
“Greetings, Island Master! ”
These cultivators dared not be remiss, each performing a deep bow in salute.
After all, this was a great Foundation Establishment cultivator! One who could force the Yan family to leave, preventing them from even daring to damage the spirit lands!
“Rise, all of you. . . ”
Fang Xi swept his Divine Consciousness across them and found that among these individuals, the lowest in cultivation were only at the first or second layer of Qi Refinement, while the highest was an old man in a straw rain cloak, who had already reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, his face weathered with traces of hardship.
“Everyone, introduce yourselves. You may start. ”
He casually pointed to the old man in the straw rain cloak.
“Reporting to the Island Master, this old man is Zhong Qi. I have always managed the fish farm, feeding the Jade Carps. . . ”
Zhong Qi revealed a fawning smile.
“Zhong, you say? Are you a descendant of the Zhong Clan? ”
Fang Xi wasn't surprised and asked casually.
“My ancestors might have been, but it's been dozens of generations already, and I'm not listed in the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan's family registry. Instead, my family has toiled and farmed for the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan for generations. Only this old man was found to possess a spiritual root, granted a cultivation method, and later tasked with raising fish for the Zhong Clan. . . ”
Zhong Qi answered candidly. His situation was actually quite common among immortal cultivation families.
Generally, if a cultivator emerged from a collateral branch, they would be entered into the family registry. However, he had offended a direct descendant of the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan, which hindered the process, and the matter never came to fruition.
This, ironically, later saved his life. Because he wasn't on the Zhong Clan's family registry, he wasn't purged by the three major families, and his skill in fish farming meant he was ordered to continue his work after surrendering.
The same held true when the Yan family arrived; after all, the Yan family held no significant animosity towards the Zhong Clan.
One could say it was a blessing in disguise.
“Not bad, not bad. Do you know how to rear small green dragons? ”
Fang Xi touched the spirit beast pouch at his waist. This pouch was one he had bought on a whim; a second-order demon beast found it quite cramped inside.
Previously, he naturally hadn't cared, letting Big Green endure the discomfort. . .
But now that he had the means, he could let Big Green guard the fish farm.
This fish farm was actually an inland lake on the island, connected to the Myriad Islands Lake by a water vein. Its spiritual energy was abundant, making it very suitable for the growth of spirit fish.
“This old man does not know how. . . ”
A hint of difficulty flashed across Zhong Qi's face: “The rearing of Jade Carps is a unique art of the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan. This old man merely assisted them, and through prolonged exposure, learned the method for rearing first-order low-grade Jade Carps. . . even mid-grade ones are somewhat difficult. As for small green dragons, that is a secret transmission of the Zhong Clan, known only to core members. . . ”
The fact that he could learn a bit of the fish-rearing techniques was thanks to his Zhong surname; even if he wasn't in the family registry, he was still more trustworthy than those external rogue cultivators or guest elders.
“Very well. From now on, you will still be in charge of the fish farm. . . ”
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then assigned a few more rogue cultivators to the old man.
In any case, with Big Green overseeing the fish farm, nothing significant could go wrong.
“Xiahou Zun pays respects to the Island Master! May the Island Master live ten thousand years without end! ”
The rogue cultivators introduced themselves one by one, until only a man and a woman remained.
The man was about seventeen or eighteen, strikingly handsome. He performed a deep bow to Fang Xi, revealing a fawning smile, but his cultivation was low, only at the third layer of Qi Refinement.
Through his self-introduction, Fang Xi learned that this person's ancestors were immigrants from the three major families who had moved to Dragon Fish Island. When the Song Clan exterminated the demons, he had not yet had his spiritual root tested, and as a mortal, had ironically escaped disaster.
When the Yan family later took charge, he naturally became a tenant farmer for them.
During this recent relocation, however, he had not followed his former masters.
“This is my clan sister, named ‘Xiahou Ying’. . . The Island Master is busy with myriad affairs every day, and cannot be without attendants. Your humble servant wishes to offer my clan sister as a maidservant to attend to the Island Master’s daily needs. . . ”
After Xiahou Zun finished speaking, he pulled the female cultivator behind him forward.
This female cultivator appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, with bright eyes and white teeth, willow-like brows and peachy cheeks. Though not yet fully bloomed, she was clearly a budding beauty.
Upon hearing this, the other rogue cultivators secretly cursed him for his shamelessness, simultaneously regretting that they did not possess such a sister to offer to the Island Master. . .
“You truly have a thoughtful heart. . . ”
Fang Xi glanced at Xiahou Ying, noticing she was only at the second layer of Qi Refinement: “What cultivation method do you practice? ”
“Reporting to the Island Master, I. . . I possess dual mid-grade spiritual roots of Gold and Water, and I cultivate the ‘Black Water Art’! ”
Xiahou Ying replied timidly.
“Dual mid-grade Gold and Water spiritual roots, you say. . . If you find a suitable cultivation method, your cultivation speed would be faster than that of someone with a single mid-grade spiritual root. Cultivating the Black Water Art is somewhat wasting your talent. ”
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, then retrieved a jade slip from his storage pouch: “This ‘Gold Water Art’ just happens to be a cultivation method that promotes the mutual generation of Gold and Water. I shall bestow it upon you. ”
He had long forgotten which unlucky soul's storage pouch this cultivation method had been confiscated from.
“Many thanks, Island Master! ”
Xiahou Ying prostrated herself in gratitude. Beside her, Xiahou Zun let out a long breath, paying no mind to the various glances cast his way by others.
Their three major families had previously been branded as demonic cultivators, and now, fearing further discrimination, they had no choice but to diligently scheme and curry favor.
Fang Xi accepting a maidservant so readily wasn't because he coveted her beauty, but rather to demonstrate his willingness to accept local rogue cultivators.
Indeed, the cultivators below, even Zhong Qi, let out a sigh of relief in their hearts upon witnessing this scene.
“As for you, Xiahou Zun. . . you shall be the steward of the Spirit Herb Valley. . . ”
Fang Xi, with his hands clasped behind his back, walked out of the Evergreen Pavilion: “Let us take a stroll through the Spirit Herb Valley. . . ”
...
The Spirit Herb Valley.
This place was not far from the Evergreen Pavilion. The valley was rich in spiritual energy, containing well-tended second-order spirit fields and herb gardens.
Not far away, there were also remnants of the Zhong Clan's alchemy rooms and similar structures, which had now been converted into residences by the tenant farmers.
“Reporting to the Island Master, the Spirit Herb Valley primarily cultivates spirit herbs, supplemented by spirit rice. . . When the Yan family departed earlier, they uprooted all the spirit herbs. . . ”
Xiahou Zun trailed Fang Xi closely, reporting in a low voice.
“Never mind. . . it hasn’t been many years anyway. ”
Spirit herbs are valued for their age. This Spirit Herb Valley had already suffered a catastrophe when the Zhong Clan fell, and even if new plants were re-sown afterward, they would still need time to mature.
Unfortunately, it then endured the chaos of the Three Families' conflict, making it truly a mess.
“From now on, in this Spirit Herb Valley, the ten mu with the most abundant spiritual energy shall be designated for planting spirit herb seeds, and the rest shall be used for farming ordinary crops. . . ”
Fang Xi touched the soil on the ground, making a decision: “What kind of rice did the Zhong Clan typically grow? ”
“Mainly first-order Green Jade Rice, and also second-order Dragon Scale Spirit Rice. . . The Green Jade Rice is fine, but the second-order Dragon Scale Spirit Rice is a secret transmission of the Zhong Clan. Although we have some seeds, they are very difficult to cultivate successfully, or they simply degrade. . . ”
Xiahou Zun looked a bit dejected.
“Hmm, it's normal for cultivation methods for high-grade spirit rice to be kept secret. . . ”
Fang Xi was also an experienced farmer; his few questions were all on point, causing beads of cold sweat to faintly appear on Xiahou Zun's forehead.
Finally, Fang Xi drew a conclusion: “It seems the key factors are still the fertilizer and water. . . ”
“Yes, Old Zhong also said that when the Zhong Clan cultivated spirit rice, they often drew water from the fish farm. But we tried irrigating with spiritual water rich in Jade Carp waste, and it didn't do any good. . . ”
Xiahou Zun wiped a bead of cold sweat and replied.
“Perhaps the Jade Carps are not of a high enough rank. . . at least small green dragons are needed. ”
“No matter. We can try it in the future. ”
Fang Xi, however, was quite confident about this. After all, a Green Corner Fish Dragon was a second-order demon beast, much more valuable than a first-order small green dragon. Its bathwater should be useful for Dragon Scale Spirit Rice, right?
If this second-order spirit rice were consumed regularly, it would have a good effect even on him.
After specifically instructing Xiahou Zun, Fang Xi returned to the Evergreen Pavilion.
Looking down from the top of the pavilion, one could clearly see a verdant flood dragon joyfully swimming in the shimmering fish farm.
“This is. . . my estate! ”
Fang Xi felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
Now, he was finally no longer living under someone else's roof like he had in White Peace Immortal City; he had truly settled down.
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