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Chapter 148: The Spirit Cranes' Journey
Chapter 148: The Spirit Cranes' Journey
"Similarly, under such precarious circumstances, the Spirit Cranes would not prioritize reproduction and rearing offspring." Lu Chen added, "After all, they are not ordinary beasts. They possess higher spiritual intelligence, and while they cannot break free from their constraints, they can still make certain choices."
Lu Chen turned to look at Xu Yi as he spoke, his expression thoughtful.
Xu Yi asked, "Then, according to your suggestion, brother Lu, how should we address this issue?"
"It's quite simple," Lu Chen replied. "We need to alleviate the pressure on the Spirit Cranes, improve their living conditions, provide them with opportunities for advancement, and ensure that mother cranes during their reproductive period receive extra care."
"Naturally, they will be more inclined to procreate and thrive," he concluded.
Xu Yi pondered Lu Chen's words for a moment before responding. "Improving their living conditions is the easiest part. We can enlist the help of a few more fellow disciples to feed them more spirit clams, spirit snails, and spirit fish. We can also expand the water and marsh area significantly."
"As for your suggestion about giving the Spirit Cranes room for advancement, I must admit I don't fully understand," Xu Yi said.
"Additionally, reducing their workload might be a challenge. After all, our sect is vast, and countless outer disciples rely on the Spirit Cranes for communication and transportation."
"Spirit Cranes may be tools," Lu Chen acknowledged without hesitation, "but they are not ordinary ones. For those cranes that work diligently, you can provide them with items similar to Beast Spirit Pills. Let them understand that if they work hard and earn spirit stones, they will have a chance to improve their strength and break free from the constraints of their bloodlines."
"I have a suggestion on how to reduce their burden," Lu Chen offered. "Brother Xu, have you noticed that in certain areas, the number of Spirit Cranes seems excessive?"
"The number of cultivators traveling in those regions is low, and there's no need to station so many Spirit Cranes nearby," Lu Chen explained.
"You can conduct an investigation and collect data on the average number of Spirit Cranes required at different locations and during different time periods each day," he suggested. "Based on the statistics, you can deploy more Spirit Cranes in popular areas like the Steward Hall and the Dan Hall, while reducing their numbers in remote locations."
Xu Yi's eyes lit up as he heard Lu Chen's proposal. "That's a brilliant suggestion, brother Lu! By optimizing the deployment of Spirit Cranes, we can reduce unnecessary assignments and allow them to have a better work-rest balance, making their lives much easier."
"You're too kind, brother Xu," Lu Chen said humbly.
"If the conditions are right, we can even collaborate with fellow disciples from the Artifact Hall and the Array Hall," Lu Chen continued. "We can refine a small communication artifact, with one piece attached to the Spirit Cranes and the other to the outer disciples. That way, the Spirit Cranes won't need to wait idly in one place."
"When a fellow disciple needs to ride a Spirit Crane, they can send a request through the artifact, and a nearby Spirit Crane will swiftly arrive to transport them," Lu Chen elaborated. "We can even set up an array with positioning, communication, and control functions. Once a disciple sends a request through the artifact, the Array Hall disciples can immediately notify a nearby idle Spirit Crane based on the disciple's location."
"In this way, all Spirit Cranes will be in a state of high-speed operation," Lu Chen said excitedly. "For the same transportation route, we will need fewer Spirit Cranes, and the efficiency of transportation will be greatly improved."
"Of course, this is just an idea," Lu Chen added with a smile. "I don't have much knowledge about arrays and artifact refinement, so I'm not sure how difficult it would be to implement."
"Brother Lu, your ideas are truly extraordinary!" Xu Yi exclaimed, impressed by Lu Chen's suggestions. "The requirements for the artifacts are manageable, but the array might be a bit demanding. I believe only a talented Foundation Establishment stage array master could achieve this. However, it's definitely worth trying. If we succeed, brother Lu, you will have made an outstanding contribution!"
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed, and every night in the camp was filled with the resounding cries of cranes.
Over forty mother cranes were now pregnant, and this phenomenon brought Xu Yi to the camp daily to inspect the remaining mother cranes.
The usually calm and composed Xu Yi couldn't hide his delight at the results. During one of these visits, he confided in Lu Chen that the sect was already working diligently on refining the array and artifacts based on Lu Chen's suggestions, and that they would revolutionize the way spirit cranes were used for transportation.
On the other hand, Zhou Zhengqing's camp, having adopted the modified breeding method, no longer witnessed any extreme behaviors like self-mutilation from their spirit cranes.
As a result, the breeding rate in his camp was only slightly higher than before, a fact that he had to accept with a heavy heart.
"Brother Lu, we truly owe you a debt of gratitude. The sect has now calculated the approximate demand for spirit cranes in each area, and in a few days, we will reduce their average workload."
In the camp, Lu Chen and Xu Yi walked side by side through the watery grass.
"That's wonderful news," Lu Chen said, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon where countless spirit cranes soared freely.
"My task here is complete, and it's time for me to bid farewell to Brother Xu."
Xu Yi, now well-versed in Lu Chen's method for improving the cranes' fertility, nodded in agreement without attempting to detain him further.
Lu Chen returned to his humble abode, packed his meager belongings, and made his way to the watery marshland where the spirit cranes resided. He intended to call upon one of the cranes to carry him back to his cave abode.
Just as he was about to mount a crane, a loud and crisp cry rang out in the distance.
A majestic and colossal spirit crane, with a pure white plumage, sped toward Lu Chen and landed gracefully beside him.
This crane was nearly twice the size of an ordinary spirit crane, towering at a height of about ten feet, its feathers as white as jade, and its wingspan reaching an impressive thirty to forty feet when fully extended.
"A third-grade spirit crane! This crane has an extraordinary bloodline!" Lu Chen exclaimed, his spiritual sense sweeping over the majestic bird in awe.
Most spirit cranes peaked at the first-grade level, with only a select few possessing superior bloodlines that allowed them to reach the second grade. This was the first time Lu Chen had laid eyes on a third-grade spirit crane.
"This is the Crane King, a third-grade spirit beast and the ruler of all spirit cranes in this watery realm," Xu Yi explained, his face a mask of surprise as he deciphered the crane's call.
"The Crane King wishes to personally send you on your way, Brother Lu," Xu Yi said, a hint of disbelief lacing his voice. It was highly unusual for a Crane King, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, to offer itself as a mount to Lu Chen, a mere outer sect disciple.
"It seems I underestimated the impact of your suggestions on the spirit crane community, Brother Lu," Xu Yi added, a touch of envy in his tone.
Lu Chen faced the towering Crane King, his hands clasped in a respectful salute. "In that case, I gratefully accept the Crane King's offer."
With that, Lu Chen leaped onto the Crane King's back and settled into a comfortable seat.
The massive crane let out a triumphant cry, flapped its pristine wings, and soared into the sky.
"Caw! Caw!"
Lu Chen heard the familiar cries of the spirit cranes behind him and turned to see the hundred cranes he had tended to following closely behind the Crane King. It was their way of bidding farewell to Lu Chen.
Soon, their numbers swelled, with two hundred, three hundred, and eventually over a thousand spirit cranes trailing behind the Crane King in a spectacular display.
Lu Chen waved at the majestic flock, a smile on his face. "Feel free to make more little ones. I'll visit you when I have the time."
(End of Chapter)
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