Chapter 592: Qingyu Garden
Chapter 592: Qingyu Garden
"Is the cultivation area large enough?"
Fei Changnong nodded, "And?"
"It's quiet enough, I don't want to be disturbed every other day..."
Fang Xing smiled.
"As expected of my junior brother, a dedicated cultivator."
Fei Changnong showed a hint of hesitation.
Seeing this, Fang Xing discreetly passed him a flying mouse bag.
In any system, as long as humans are involved in management, there will inevitably be personal connections and various relationships.
Fei Changnong moved his sleeve, subtly accepting the bag, and after glancing at the spell money inside, his smile became even more genuine, "Indeed, a large cultivation area is necessary, and our sect does have some, but most are remote, resulting in insufficient Sha Qi and Gang Qi, which is not conducive to magical power cultivation and recovery... However, my junior brother, you've come at the right time. What do you think of this task?"
He tore off a page of golden paper and handed it to Fang Xing.
Fang Xing took it and read, "Take care of the medicinal garden?"
He scanned it a few more times, and his heart stirred.
This medicinal garden was located on the outskirts of Qingmu Mountain, in a marginal position, but it was vast, spanning tens of thousands of acres.
Moreover, it was situated in a valley, extremely serene and leisurely, usually managed by only a handful of Qi Perception disciples.
One could say that the Dao Ji cultivators who went there were in charge, and their word was law, easily deciding the life and death of those few disciples.
Furthermore, within the medicinal garden, there was a ten-thousand-year-old evergreen wood that had become a 'Spirit Source', sufficient to support the cultivation of Dao Ji cultivators.
Everything had been considered.
"Indeed, it's very suitable for me."
Fang Xing nodded with a smile.
"Well, this task of taking care of the medicinal garden is a long-term one. Once you take it on, you can't leave easily for at least a hundred years... Of course, you can take a few days off occasionally."
Fei Changnong said, "Furthermore, every ten years, a batch of hundred-year-old spiritual herbs must be handed over... The more you contribute, the higher your sect's merit and contribution will be. But to be honest, the previous junior brothers and sisters who took on this task all considered themselves skilled in spiritual farming, yet they didn't earn much in the end..."
One could say that the task's value for money was not high, which was why it had been left until now.
However, for Fang Xing, who was both a Druid and had cultivated the 'Yuconglong' Dao Ji, this task was a perfect fit.
Of course, he wouldn't go overboard with it.
"I think it's good; this is the place."
Fang Xing smiled.
"Since that's the case, I'll register you as the manager of Qingyu Garden from today onwards."
Fei Changnong picked up his brush and recorded it in the golden account book. He then immediately refined a wooden token and handed it to Fang Xing, "This is the formation token for Qingyu Garden... Junior brother, you can go now."
"Thank you."
Fang Xing took the token, gave a respectful fist salute, and left the small hall.
Fei Changnong watched Fang Xing's departing figure, his eyes flashing, deep in thought.
'This kid... he only asked for a remote medicinal garden manager position?'
'He even resorted to bribery and used the connections Fei Clan accumulated over the years?'
As he was pondering, a figure in red gracefully entered and sat on his lap, "Brother Changnong... Is that person who just left the one recommended by the Fei Clan, Fang Xing?"
Her voice was enchanting, making it hard to resist.
A hint of a smile flashed in Fei Changnong's eyes as he embraced her slender waist, feeling her softness and vitality, and said with a smile, "Yes, him... I thought he had some ulterior motive, but I didn't expect him to request the Qingyu Garden assignment..."
"Qingyu Garden? What's the difference between that and exile?"
The woman in red giggled, "Is this person... stupid?"
"Hmph, either he's pretending to be foolish, or he's a dedicated cultivator. After reaching the Dao Ji realm, with no path for advancement, he had no choice but to join the sect... That's why he chose to manage Qingyu Garden, seemingly self-exiling himself, but in reality, he's not taking sides..."
Fei Changnong said, "Although I have the surname Fei, I'm already several generations removed from the Fei Clan. Naturally, I prioritize the sect and need to carefully observe this person's true intentions."
"How should we test him? Why don't... I give it a try?"
The woman in red giggled.
"Your 'Longing' will be too much for him to handle..."
Fei Changnong chuckled, "Time will reveal a person's true nature... It's just a matter of waiting a few years. If he has any ulterior motives, he won't be able to hold back for long."
...
Qingyu Garden.
As Fang Xing flew, he noticed it becoming increasingly remote. Just as he was about to fly out of Qingmu Mountain's range, he saw a canyon.
At the entrance of the canyon, there was a layer of green light.
However, when he took out the token made by Fei Changnong, he was able to enter smoothly.
The canyon was vast, indeed covering tens of thousands of acres.
Most of it, though, was still in a wild state.
Only the central area had been developed into a medicinal garden, occupying a few hundred acres.
At the center of the garden stood a ten-thousand-year-old evergreen wood.
In Fang Xing's Druid perception, this ten-thousand-year-old evergreen wood sensed his arrival and immediately exuded a friendly and familiar atmosphere.
"So that's how it is... If not for this ten-thousand-year-old evergreen wood, Qingyu Garden might not have been established at all."
Fang Xing made a quick assessment, "This medicinal garden is just an addition; the main purpose is to take care of this ten-thousand-year-old evergreen wood."
It seemed to be a node of the earth's veins, related to the grand formation of Qingmu Mountain Range?"
"Who is it?"
His arrival had already caught the attention of the disciples in the medicinal garden. One by one, the disciples took to the skies.
Fang Xing looked around and found that there were only three of them in total.
Among them, an emaciated old man was flying with the support of his Gang Qi, appearing to be in his seventies or eighties. In the mortal world, he would be considered elderly, but for cultivators, he still had many years of vigor left.
The other two were a farmer in his thirties or forties with a kind and honest face, and an old woman approaching fifty with rough and sturdy features.
These two could only cultivate to the fifth or sixth level of Qi Perception, making it difficult for them to fly on their own. Instead, they relied on paper kites and similar artifacts.
'I thought there would be some smarter disciples, but it seems those sent here are indeed the ones sitting on the sidelines. What good talent could they have?'
Fang Xing inwardly mocked them, then took out his own disciple token.
Upon seeing that Fang Xing was a Dao Ji cultivator, the three disciples understood the situation.
They all bowed, and the old man was the first to speak: "Disciple Meng Tiandong greets the manager of the medicinal garden."
"Disciple Yu Santi and Hua Qing... pay our respects to the manager."
The other two disciples quickly followed suit.
"Hmm, let me take a look at this medicinal garden..."
As Fang Xing entered the garden, he saw field after field of medicinal herbs, arranged in a pleasing manner, still brimming with vitality.
"Give me an introduction."
"Yes."
Meng Tiandong took the lead without hesitation: "This medicinal garden mainly cultivates Qingyu Grass, as well as Qinglong Flowers and Trilife Fruits. The outer fields of spiritual rice covering several acres are tended by us disciples."
"Hmm, you've put in some effort."
Fang Xing understood their predicament; they were struggling to the point of having to cultivate new lands.
However, he wasn't going to interfere. He would turn a blind eye to their situation.
He understood the principle that when the water is too clear, there are no fish.
Furthermore, their ability to cultivate spiritual rice indicated their proficiency in spiritual farming techniques, which explained why they managed the garden well.
"According to the sect's rules, various spiritual herbs are harvested once every ten years. We must hand over thirty hundred-year-old Qingyu Grass, twenty Qinglong Flowers, and ten Trilife Fruits... If there is a shortage, the manager of the medicinal garden will deduct our merits, and we will face punishment..."
Meng Tiandong's voice carried a hint of fear as he led the way to the center of the garden: "Beneath this ten-thousand-year-old Changqing Tree is an excellent cultivation site, naturally reserved for the manager."
Fang Xing noticed several wooden houses built beneath the lush canopy of the Changqing Tree.
He thought for a moment and said, "I prefer tranquility. I'll grant these wooden houses to you, and I'll find another place to reside. Additionally, I'll inform you of my rules."
"Please instruct us, manager..."
Meng Tiandong and the other two disciples were delighted. They knew that cultivating beneath the ten-thousand-year-old Changqing Tree was a privilege reserved for Dao Ji cultivators.
Previously, they had only managed to get a small share, which was already pushing the boundaries. They never thought of occupying it long-term.
They were surprised that the new manager was so easy to talk to.
"I enjoy planting trees, and I plan to fill the valley with Changqing Trees... But I hate indiscriminate logging. If I find out you're cutting down saplings..."
Fang Xing narrowed his eyes.
"We dare not," Meng Tiandong and the others quickly shook their heads. Yu Santi and Hua Qing, however, inwardly mocked him, wondering why the manager had such a peculiar obsession.
Weren't Changqing Trees already abundant in the valley?
Why would he want to plant more?
Fang Xing paid no heed to their silent criticism. He rode the wind and flew around the entire valley, selecting a spot to build his forest cottage.
Although cultivating beneath the ten-thousand-year-old Changqing Tree could slightly enhance his cultivation speed, he was no longer solely reliant on personal cultivation.
As long as he filled the valley with Changqing Trees, his cultivation would far surpass that of any top-tier Sha Qi node, regardless of his location.
Even if he left Dolong Slope, the ten-thousand-acre bamboo forest would continue to provide him with support.
'Alas... after level 13, Druid advancement slows down. I wonder when I'll reach level 15 and obtain the [Eternal Youth] talent...'
Fang Xing sighed inwardly.
With his current Life Span, he could only outlast Yinshen Immortals. Once he obtained the [Eternal Youth] talent, he could even outlast Yangshen cultivators...
'Moreover, at level 15, Wilderness Shapeshifting will undergo a qualitative change, allowing me to transform into a Qiulong... Qiulong may be a young dragon, but it's still a dragon, not a mere snake or python...'
'Qiulong transformation should be able to fight Yinshen...'
'In other words, a level 15 Druid is equivalent to a Yinshen Immortal, so a level 20 Druid should be comparable to a Yangshen cultivator?'
As Fang Xing pondered, he casually scattered the seeds of the Changqing Tree.
Then, with his Plant Growth talent, the saplings shot out of the ground and grew vigorously.
When they reached a certain limit, he took a deep breath, and his spiritual power surged.
Dao Ji—Yuconglong!
The Changqing Trees grew taller, like pillars filling the gaps and transforming into walls of trees...
Before long, a forest-style cottage gradually took shape...
(End of Chapter)
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