As a lord, I was forced to farm

With Hu Lian and other students already in the military not participating, the more than twenty students who participated, led by He Xiaoling, Hu Yi, and Wei Zhizhi, performed very well in the Qingyue Competition battle, achieving the highest total score and helping Da Su win first place in the battle.

The weapon-refining competition brought back some of the disciples who were apprentices at the Feng family. Su Hong's disciples performed adequately and won second place in the competition.

The alchemy competition was a very weak area for Suhong Academy, ranking last.

After considering all three matches, Da Su ranked second, while Tian Long Gong ranked first.

This is not the fault of Su Hong's disciples. After all, Tianlong Palace is a sect that can enter the top fifty in the power competition, and its overall strength should not be underestimated.

Yang Guiying cupped his hands and asked, "It's already June, and the continent-level power competition is being held at the Mindao Academy in the Wanhu region. Your Highness, should our Suhong Academy also go and join in the fun?"

Four years ago, Da Su won unparalleled glory in the power competition for the first time, and Yang Guiying and others couldn't help but miss the glory of that time.

As soon as Yang Guiying finished speaking, someone stepped forward and shook their head to stop him. Qiu Baishui said, "Lord Yang, Wanhu is far away. Everyone in Dasu is busy. Commander Wei and Deputy Commander Zhou are not in Dasu either. Commander Tian is even more busy guarding the border. Nangang Town cannot relax either. Who would lead the students of Suhong Academy to Wanhu to participate in the power competition?"

Moreover, everyone understood that Suhong Academy's entry into the top fifty of the power competition was entirely due to His Highness the Prince.

His Highness only needs to make one public appearance; the officials do not want the Prince of Dasu to participate in the power competition again.

Despite being rejected, Yang Guiying wasn't annoyed. After thinking about it for a moment, she realized it made sense.

At this moment, Jiang Ran's calm voice came from above, "Next year's power competition is set to be held in Mingxiao City again. Lord Yang should pay more attention to the construction of Suhong Academy."

Yang Guiying was taken aback, realizing the implication: at this time next year, His Highness intended for Su Hongxue students to once again participate in the power competition.
He immediately bowed and accepted the order, saying, "Yes! Your humble servant will certainly urge Su Hong to improve his cultivation as soon as possible."

……

All matters in Dasu were proceeding in an orderly manner. In mid-June, the sun's rays had gained weight, pressing down heavily. Under the shade of the trees, cicadas chirped incessantly. In the hot wind, the wheat fields rippled, their golden-red hues tinged with a hint of lingering green.

In Biquan Bay, winged spirits occasionally catch a glimpse of each other.

The spirit insects are more cautious and timid, and it is often difficult to see them.

Sometimes, the sounds of human conversation could be heard in the beautiful and tranquil environment. At this time, the spirits, including the timid little spirit insects, would peek out to see if the foolish humans were discussing what delicious food to offer them.

"Lord Nancheng, a spirit insect has been born in Biquan Bay! We are so grateful for your discovery!"

The farm attendants who guarded the sacred fields of Biquan Bay were overjoyed.

With the birth of a new spirit, His Highness the Prince is in a good mood, and the farm servants will also be rewarded, as they will be able to bring back a pork dish for the family to eat later.

A tiny, white, crystalline insect timidly stared at a two-legged beast, whose size was countless times larger than itself, with its eyes wide open. The little spirit was frightened and rolled up a long rice leaf, burying itself in the leaf as if hiding from a ghost.

The leaves are still trembling slightly.

“This little demon is rather timid, so please keep your voices down,” Jiang Nancheng said in a low voice to the excited servant. The servant immediately covered his mouth with his hand and nodded hurriedly.

Jiang Nancheng carefully took out the scissors and, along with rice leaves, placed the little spirit in a glass jar with a spirit-trapping ring. He then added some milk cotton grass. Watching the little spirit gradually relax from its fear and cautiously peek out to eat the delicious spirit food, he couldn't help but smile.

This is a white crystal rice spirit insect. Because it was born from the cocoon not long ago, it is relatively small, only about the thickness of two fingers, and its whole body is white.

"My hands are a little dirty." Jiang Nancheng picked up the glass box containing the white crystal rice spirit insects and walked to the Biyue Creek to wash his hands.

The water was flowing gently. He squatted down and just as he put his hand into the water, he saw out of the corner of his eye dozens of large insects, each about the size of two palms, hiding in the stream.

"Danger!"

Ma Yunzhen, the pageboy behind Jiang Nancheng, narrowed his eyes and shouted. At this moment, Jiang Nancheng had already reacted and quickly pulled his hand back.

Looking at the two large pincers on the black, ferocious demonic insect in the water, Jiang Nancheng felt lingering fear. If he hadn't dodged quickly, being pinched by those pincers would have either severed his finger or caused him severe pain.

His gaze swept across the water, scrutinizing it. "What kind of demonic insect is this? Why has it suddenly appeared in the stream of Biquan Bay?"

……

"It's terrible, Your Highness! For some reason, black demonic insects have appeared in dozens of rivers in Dasu. The Weng River in our Zeyan County is teeming with them, floating on the surface like a thick fog. The entire river is blocked by these densely packed insects, and the people on both banks of the Weng River dare not approach it to drink water!"

"Zhuoli County has suffered severe losses! The little phoenix spirit carp that the people have carefully raised have been completely devoured by black demonic insects!!"

"Sister, something terrible has happened! Many ferocious demonic insects have appeared in the streams of Biquan Bay..."

Jiang Ran, who was meditating in her residence, was suddenly interrupted by several people in a hurry.

Che Heng, a minister in charge of the county's waterways, hurriedly stepped forward to report, "The appearance of the demonic insects has caused great unease among the people, and some have even spread rumors that the rivers are cursed."

"Demon insect?"

Jiang Ran frowned. After briefly learning the whole story from Che Heng, she took her attendants to Zeyan County, which was said to have the largest number of demonic insects and was the most severely affected by the disaster.

On the Anding Bridge, Li Mei, the magistrate of Zeyan County, stood behind Jiang Ran with a worried expression and said, "After reviewing the documents, the officials of Zeyan County believe that these demonic insects are black-clawed worms. We have sent people to catch and dispose of these black-clawed worms, but these insects reproduce extremely quickly. Every time they are caught, the riverbed is covered with black worms again in less than half a month."

Jiang Ran lowered her head and looked down.

All that could be seen were numerous black-spined worms; the entire Weng River was devoid of the ripples of fish tails swaying, and the river water seemed to have turned into stagnant, thick ink.

The black-striped beetle is covered in smooth, dark brown scales, with a faint orange-red tinge at its joints. Its segmented cerci, when closed, resemble a folding fan.

It has eight slender walking legs, which nimbly crawl along the bottom of the water. Two black bean-like eyes protrude from either side of its triangular head, turning alertly. Most striking are its pair of pincers with fine serrations, raised ferociously, gleaming with a cold black light. (End of Chapter)