Spirit cultivation and immortality, how do you control an aircraft carrier?

Shen Huang could tell that Yin Kongtian in front of him probably had a considerable sense of belonging to "Jiguo".

This is quite normal, and it's also within the conclusions of many experts on the home planet.

Because, until the great calamity came, Jiguo was a country that was developing rapidly and constantly prospering.

In this process, both cultivation sects and families, as well as many ordinary people, have benefited.

Since there are benefits, it will inevitably increase cohesion and a sense of belonging.

However, what Shen Huang wanted to know even more was how the Ji Kingdom was doing now after the great calamity.

He didn't ask any questions, because Yin Kongtian quickly got to this point.

"But when the great calamity arrives, everything changes."

As expected, Yin Kongtian shook his head slightly and sighed, "Junior Brother Shen, do you know how many mortals of my Ji Kingdom perished when the gray fog first descended?"

"There must be quite a few." Shen Huang could imagine the scene.

The gray fog descended suddenly, catching everyone off guard. Then, malevolent energy entered their bodies, and fog monsters were born.

Faced with this series of changes, even a powerful cultivation dynasty could be completely destroyed.

"In just three short years, at least half of the mortals, that is, billions of people, perished!" Yin Kongtian seemed to recall the scene described in the book, and sighed deeply, "The lives of mortals are indeed like mayflies and weeds, born in the morning and dying at night, but at that time, the world truly changed color, all things collapsed, and devastation was everywhere."

Billions!

Although Shen Huang had expected it, he was still greatly surprised by the number.

Billions of people, and only half of them?

Wouldn't this Ji Kingdom originally have had a population of several billion, or even tens of billions?

How big must that be!

It's important to understand that even on the home planet where productivity has increased dramatically, there are still fewer than 10 billion people. And although this Ji Kingdom is a cultivation kingdom, its productivity at the mortal level is still stuck in the feudal era.

This country can support a population of tens of billions, and the size of its territory and the abundance of its resources are simply unimaginable!

What's even more frightening is that the country of Ji is not the strongest country in the world.

Whether it's the information in the jade slip or the few descriptions from Yin Kongtian in front of him, it all points to the fact that the place where Ji Kingdom is located is very likely just the tip of the iceberg of this world.

"Is this the world of cultivation?" Shen Huang couldn't help but murmur to himself.

It's just a number, yet it seems to bring an incredibly vast world right in front of you!

An idea suddenly popped into Shen Huang's mind.

Could it be that the world is truly flat, with a round sky and a square earth?

While this defies the laws of the universe, the size of this world and its gravity also defy the laws of the universe!

Even things like cultivation, gray fog, and blood moon have appeared, which seems to defy common sense yet is also within the realm of common sense.

However, from the perspective of Shen Huang, or his home planet, the more vast, mysterious, and powerful the world is, the more advantageous it is.

After all, this also represents greater profit potential.

"This calamity is truly unprecedented," Shen Huang exclaimed, then asked with a look of amazement, "However, judging from this place, even under such a calamity, the Ji Kingdom still exists?"

"Of course!" Yin Kongtian's face showed obvious pride. "It has to be said that His Majesty the Emperor was truly a man of great talent and ambition, far surpassing ordinary great men and emperors."

The fact that the country could still exist under such circumstances was a miracle, even in the eyes of people like Yin Kongtian who were born in the era of great calamity.

Yin Kongtian clearly knew the events of that year like the back of his hand.

He held up two fingers: "After realizing the great calamity of heaven and earth and the collapse of order, His Majesty the Emperor did two things directly. First, he summoned the great powers of the immortal sects to discuss solutions and made contact with those outside the realm. The Spirit Control Technique was born at that time, and we cultivators became Spirit Control Masters from then on."

Shen Huang nodded.

He already knew about this matter, which could be considered the most crucial self-salvation decision for this cultivation civilization.

"Secondly, the Emperor relinquished most of his power to all the immortal sects and clans, forming what is known as the Immortal Alliance."

Shen Huang was taken aback.

"I don't know the specific reason either, but—" Yin Kongtian changed the subject, "The book says that before the Great Calamity, the Ji Kingdom was actually a supreme Immortal Dynasty. Many Immortal Sects and Immortal Clans were forced to submit to the Emperor Ancestor's power, but they also resisted in secret. After the Great Calamity, the Immortal Alliance and the Emperor Clan jointly governed the territory. Therefore, someone like me is not only the head of the Immortal Dynasty, but also an outer disciple of the Star River Immortal Sect, and a disciple of a collateral branch of my Yin family."

As Yin Kongtian concluded, he sighed with emotion: "My talent is extremely ordinary. If it were before the Great Calamity, I would have been just another ordinary person. But during this Great Calamity, I have had more opportunities. First, the Spirit Control Technique brought me a spiritual creature whose talent surpasses mine. Then, as the village head, I was able to receive a salary from the Immortal Dynasty. Furthermore, I was able to receive rewards and assistance from the Immortal Sect and my family..."

These words truly expressed the author's sincere feelings.

In the past, talent meant everything.

Those who lack talent, or have only average talent, are basically abandoned, with all resources concentrated on those with exceptional talent.

Nowadays, talent is still important, but almost all places with abundant spiritual energy have fallen. Spiritual energy is scarce and resources are limited, so even those with great talent usually have to go into the gray fog to refine spiritual energy themselves.

The Immortal Dynasty and its families also need a sufficient number of Spirit Masters to create a sanctuary to shelter mortals and maintain the population.

Compared to the past, the demand for practitioners has increased significantly.

The Spirit Mastery Technique still has a chance to compensate for its lack of talent by using high-quality spiritual items.

Therefore, for someone like Yin Kongtian, who lacks talent, aside from having to face the dangers within the gray fog, there are actually more opportunities and possibilities in terms of cultivation than before the Great Tribulation.

However, even a prodigy like Shen Huang couldn't receive the same treatment and attention as before the great calamity.

After all, the environment is dangerous now, and even the most talented person will inevitably have to venture into the gray fog. The chances of them surviving and growing up are much lower than before.

Otherwise, the immortal sects wouldn't have loosened the restrictions on cultivation techniques and spread them so widely.

At this moment, Shen Huang finally had a general understanding of the social situation in this place.

"So, this village may seem independent, but in reality, it is also intricately connected with the Immortal Dynasty, the Immortal Alliance, and the families?" he asked directly.

"That's exactly right."

Yin Kongtian nodded and smiled, "There are four benefits to my opening up of this protected land."

Firstly, it was for his own cultivation by refining spiritual energy.

Secondly, it was to protect mortals, who could receive a stipend from the celestial court every year.

Thirdly, we can cultivate guards and discover geniuses. Even if we don't encounter a prodigy like my junior brother, someone with talent like He Ye can enter the outer sect once he reaches the mid-stage of the Transcendent Realm, earning me a share of cultivation merit.

Fourthly, cultivating spirit rice, raising offspring, and collecting treasures and resources can also yield some resources from the family.

Shen Huang understood.

It is these four core interests that have led countless Spirit Masters to establish sanctuaries scattered throughout the Gray Mist, barely managing to maintain the existence of the two main orders, the Kingdom of Succession and the Immortal Alliance, during this great calamity.

This land was spared from falling completely into chaos and darkness.