Born with immortal seed

Chapter 161 First Disciple
"Senior Brother Liang, do you mean I don't need to hand over the Dragon Tooth Rice Seeds and can continue planting them as before?"

Bai Zichen hadn't expected Liang Yu to say that. If he had the support of the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, then no matter how much the other elders complained, it wouldn't affect him.

"Junior Brother Gu later did some calculations for me... The sect currently has forty-six Foundation Establishment elders. If we supply them openly, we can only get ten thousand catties of Dragon Tooth Rice a year, so there is no need to expand the planting scale. However, Black Mountain has always been poor in terms of resources, but it gives outsiders the impression of being rich in demon beast resources, and a large amount of demon beast materials are sold every year."

Liang Yu gestured for him to calm down and listen to what he had to say.

"But if we can develop Longya Rice into a specialty of Qingfengmen, with an annual output of more than 20,000 shi, we will have a certain bargaining power in the market."

"Why does the market price of spirit rice in the entire Liang Kingdom fluctuate with the price of spirit rice sold in Shennong Sect shops? Because in addition to having the most and best spirit plant masters, Shennong Sect produces more than 40% of the high-grade spirit rice in the Liang Kingdom!"

The reason for agreeing to Gu Xisheng's appointment was that he had no powerful backers and low personal prestige; a weak leader was in the interest of the Law Enforcement Hall.

However, several of his actions after taking office forced Liang Yu to admit that Gu Xisheng was indeed very capable in handling administrative affairs.

“Junior Brother Gu has done some research. Because the Shennong Sect has to disperse its spiritual fields to plant various types of second-tier spiritual rice, the annual output of Dragon Tooth Rice is at most 10,000 shi. If we can achieve an annual output of 20,000 shi, we will become the largest producer of this type of spiritual rice in the Liang Kingdom!”

"For several body-refining sects, second-grade spirit rice is extremely tempting."

"We can even use Dragon Tooth Rice to make Qingfengmen Market famous and establish it as a landmark product like the spirit beasts of Wanshoufang."

Bai Zichen remained silent. Gu Xisheng's explanation, combined with his plan for ten thousand acres of spiritual fields, seemed to have a certain degree of feasibility.

Although the allure of Dragon Tooth Rice cannot compare to that of spirit beasts, even if the Azure Maple Sect truly controls the pricing of Dragon Tooth Rice, it is impossible for the market to attract customers from millions of miles away.

Unless it replaces Shennong Gate and becomes the trading center for spiritual rice in the entire Liang Kingdom.

But no matter what, it's still much better than the current stagnant market where you can only earn spirit stones from Black Mountain County cultivators.

"But no matter how nicely he puts it, handing over the spirit seed will definitely affect your interests... I've already discussed it with Junior Brother Gu: 50,000 sect contribution points will buy your Dragon Tooth Rice spirit seed. If you feel this is inappropriate, just pretend you didn't hear what I said before. Gu Xisheng would never dare to force you!"

"Since it is of great benefit to the future of the sect and can also bring contributions, then of course it is acceptable."

Bai Zichen was shocked by Liang Yu's outrageous demands and hurriedly agreed.

It was only because this Senior Brother Liang took the sect’s rules and regulations very seriously that he felt this matter violated his principles, which is why he asked Gu Xisheng for this number.

Fifty thousand sect contribution points, based on the general exchange value of sect collectibles, are equivalent to seventy thousand spirit stones.

It's worth noting that the exchange price for a Foundation Establishment Pill is only 10,000 contribution points.

With the matter of the spirit seed settled, both of them breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of the matter would be handled by the people under Lingtian Hall and Baiyulou.

"Junior Brother Bai, you'll be starting out in two years. What's the plan I mentioned to you back then?"

Liang Yu clearly hadn't let go of his original thoughts and brought up the old matter again.

“I have expelled Ma Ming from the Enforcement Hall, and the five patrol teams are now short of an elder…”

Bai Zichen waved his hands repeatedly, refusing, "Senior brother, you know I'm lazy and can't do this job. Besides, I don't even have enough time to cultivate on weekdays."

"If there were a less demanding job, I would definitely be willing to join the Enforcement Hall."

The Law Enforcement Hall has five patrol teams, each with one steward, four managers, and one hundred and fifty late-stage Qi Refining disciples.

They rotate through different areas every six months, and have the authority to investigate matters both inside and outside the sect, wielding immense power.

But Bai Zichen thought about how he would often have to travel around Black Mountain County, mediating disputes between cultivation families, chasing down thieves, or killing second-tier demonic beasts that had run away and entered familiar territory.

This job, which involves running around all day, is seriously affecting my cultivation progress.

Unlike his senior brothers who are stuck at a bottleneck and whose cultivation level remains stagnant, he can go out and do things without wasting time. While accumulating sect contributions, he might also encounter opportunities.

"Then let the Enforcement Hall supervise it. It has no specific responsibilities, it is only responsible to me... It can launch an independent investigation for any illegal activities."

Liang Yu shook his head with a wry smile and pulled out this long-vacant position.

"An inspector from the Law Enforcement Hall? Excellent."

Upon hearing the name, Bai Zichen knew it was a prestigious position, the kind where one only receives a salary and doesn't do any work, which suited his taste perfectly.

"Oh, right, there's something else I wanted to tell you. Junior Brother Wei emerged from seclusion three days ago and has made another step forward, reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment!"

Liang Yu spoke in a calm tone, as if he were recounting a trivial matter, but the slight twitching of his eyes betrayed his inner emotions.

Being surpassed by a junior who is almost fifty years younger than him must have filled him with mixed feelings.

But that's how it is on the road: those who start first may not reach the end, and those who have a smooth journey may stumble and fall, never to get up again.

"Then congratulations, Senior Brother Wei."

Bai Zichen nodded slightly. For any cultivator who can reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, it means that the door to Core Formation has been opened halfway.

I don't know how many more years it will take me to reach that level.

With the thought of soon receiving 50,000 sect contribution points, Bai Zichen felt even more confident in his shopping and directly asked Senior Brother Liang Yu if the sect had any top-grade defensive spiritual artifacts or treasures specifically designed to resist divine sense attacks that he could exchange for.

However, they were told that the Qingfeng Sect naturally possessed treasures of this caliber, and in fact, quite a few of them.

However, they are all stored in the secret hall, together with the treasures left by past Core Formation cultivators, and cannot be found through normal exchange channels.

Just like the last war of reclamation, the Demon-Locking Divine Fire Drum activated by Weidao was temporarily taken out from the secret hall.

However, according to the rules of the Qingfeng Sect, only those who have become the sect leader or the master of the fifth hall can enter the secret hall to choose a treasure.

Or, if they have performed a monumental service that saved the sect from peril, and the elders unanimously agree, ordinary elders may be granted entry into the secret hall as an exception.

Bai Zichen sighed deeply. The feeling of having money but not being able to spend it was too painful.

I already asked at Wanbaoge, and they said that mid-grade spiritual artifacts were the limit. The number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Black Mountain was limited, so the sales of such high-end products were limited.

If a request is made, it will take at least a year and a half for the Wanbaoge headquarters to send the artifact, and even then, the top-quality spiritual artifact that is finally delivered may not meet one's expectations.

……

"You little rascal, you've been following me for years, and you're still only a mid-tier first-order..."

Bai Zichen picked up Gun Gun and brought it to him. Apart from getting even fatter, his spirit beast was exactly the same as when he brought it back from the Ten Thousand Beasts Workshop.

If it weren't for the excellent reputation of the Spirit Beast Pavilion at Wan Shou Fang, he would have suspected that they had chosen a low-quality, incomplete spirit beast to fool him.

Amidst the innocent and affectionate emotions conveyed, all that could be done was hug and eat.

According to the disciples who cultivate the spirit bamboo, Gun Gun's greatest skill is that it can easily and quickly find the tenderest spirit bamboo with the most abundant spiritual energy among tens of thousands of bamboo plants.

Then, waving its claws, it dug through the soil, dragged the spirit bamboo back to its hut, and could happily gnaw on it all day long.

"I really don't know what kind of third-tier demon beast bloodline you have mixed in with, to become such a lazy creature. Don't wait until I'm already in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and you're still a mid-tier first-tier spirit beast."

Bai Zichen sent out an order, urging Gun Gun to grow stronger and advance in rank as soon as possible, though he didn't know if it could understand.

Today is the day Tong Huan formally becomes a disciple, but Bai Zichen doesn't make a big fuss about it; only a few of his own people from Baiyulou are there.

The only visitors were two neighbors who happened to be visiting: Zhou Suqing and Su Li.

"Anyone who can earn Junior Brother Bai's favor and be accepted as a disciple must be a top-tier talent..."

Just as Luo Qiuzhen said, Zhou Suqing had already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment and was qualified to compete for the position of the Five Palace Master.

This Senior Sister Zhou, who was looked down upon by most people, unknowingly stood among the top group of people in Qingfeng Sect, apart from Core Formation Realm cultivators.

"Hehe, I'm just an average-looking person, I don't deserve such praise from Senior Sister Zhou."

Bai Zichen looked slightly embarrassed and raised his teacup as a cover.

The spirit fields that Old Man Tong offered to contract became his most stable and largest source of spirit stones.

The Dragon Tooth Rice seeds earned him 50,000 sect contribution points in one go.

This is almost equivalent to the sect salary of an ordinary elder for thirty or forty years.

Of course, this is related to Bai Zichen's identity and the conditions Liang Yu and Gu Xisheng negotiated. If it were another elder, they might only give him 10,000 or 20,000 contribution points.

Bai Zichen couldn't convince himself that Tong Huan was only a nominal disciple and not a formal one.

I'll use the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror to thoroughly examine Tong Huan later, hoping that before Old Man Tong passes away, he can see his grandson reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

The auspicious time had arrived, and Lu Song led Tong Huan to the stage, letting the boy come forward on his own.

"Disciple Tong Huan greets Master."

Tong Huan's face was flushed, clearly indicating that she was nervous.

"I am fortunate to have become a disciple of Baiyulou. From now on, I will respect my teacher, be tolerant of others and honor the virtuous, and never disgrace my master's reputation."

May the Master's virtues extend endlessly, and may the Great Way flourish forever.

After Tong Huan finished speaking, he held a scroll above his head, which was his gift to his apprentice.

“You are thoughtful… You are my first disciple, and there are no other rules. From now on, just remember the essence of cultivation and be respectful to your hometown.”

Bai Zichen waved his hand, helping Tong Huan up, and the book fell into his hands.

Upon opening it, one could see the words "Tong's Spiritual Plant Insights" in large characters, freshly added with new ink.

He glanced at Old Man Tong below the hall, his eyes filled with tears, staring straight at Tong Huan's back.

With the vision achieved, I couldn't contain my emotions.

Knowing that this book represents Old Man Tong's life's work and can be considered a second-tier spirit plant master's inheritance is no small feat.

If left out, it would be a treasured heirloom for a family of independent cultivators.

"This ink bamboo sword is my first magical weapon, which I am giving to you as a gift... There's no need to rush the art of flying swords. I will teach you when you have a certain level of cultivation."

Bai Zichen took the Ink Bamboo Sword out of his storage bag and slowly presented it to Tong Huan.

Tong Huan is twelve years old this year and has reached the third level of Qi Refining.

Considering his environment, this cultivation speed is relatively slow.

Regardless of his reasons for taking on a disciple, now that the disciple has become his official student, Bai Zichen feels a sense of responsibility as a master and decides that he still needs to take some time to personally guide him.

We cannot dump all the teaching and guidance work onto Lu Song.

"Thank you for bestowing the sword upon me, Master!"

Tong Huan gripped the ink bamboo sword tightly, knelt down excitedly again, and kowtowed three times.

The two people watching from the sidelines naturally couldn't remain silent.

Su Li gave her a second-tier low-grade talisman, while Zhou Suqing gave her a heart-shaped jade pendant, which was considered a high-grade magic weapon. When attacked, it would automatically activate to generate twelve light shields that did not require magic power to maintain.

This magic artifact is quite suitable for disciples with low cultivation levels.

After the apprenticeship ceremony, the three moved to a side hall and had their tea refilled.

"Senior Sister Zhou, Junior Brother Su, what brings you to my White Jade Pavilion?"

Bai Zichen certainly didn't think that the two of them had just met on the road and visited together.

"I went out to find some spiritual herbs a few days ago and discovered a mineral vein about 700 miles north of Feiyue Lake..."

Although Zhou Suqing looked like an old woman, her voice was clear and melodious, just like that of a young girl.

It turned out that she had discovered a place that seemed to have a mineral vein. Worried that it might be guarded by a monster, and lacking confidence in her own combat strength, Zhou Suqing thought about it and approached Su Li, with whom she had a past relationship, hoping to get him to explore the area together.

Su Li did not refuse, but suggested that, just to be on the safe side, it would be best to have Bai Zichen join the team.

That's why the two of them ended up at Baiyulou together today.

(End of this chapter)