543 Returning (1/2)
The Da Qian World. Nine Extremes Mountain.
The Green Wood Sky Net Array sparkled. It was powerful yet calm at the same time.
Within the array, the Nine Extremes Mountain was covered in an abundance of greenery. Stalks of Yellow Grain Rice in the spiritual fields enjoyed rapid growth and brightened up the landscape.
As Liu Mengmei walked about in the fields, she suddenly felt a sense of tranquillity.
A human being's most basic needs were survival and reproduction. Survival would be ensured as long as one had shelter and food. In times of chaos, these were precious commodities.
People had begun to settle down comfortably on the Nine Extremes Mountain and there was no longer any talk of leaving.
”After this season's crop of Yellow Grain Rice is ready for the harvest, we would be more than self-sufficient. We would even be able to trade!”
Liu Mengmei did her calculations. Dream masters were more adept in agricultural techniques than one would expect them to be. They had to be, for they had to make preparations for their prosperous land and Hollow in the future.
From just a glance, she was able to estimate the yield of the fields. It was more than enough to fulfil her objectives.
”I have to say, the Yellow Grain Rice is quite an unorthodox crop…”
Meng Tian paced her from behind.
”The yield and growth rates of this plant are extremely high...Of course, nothing beats the Nine Extremes Rice cultivated by the mountain leader! 10 stones per mu is quite a shocking statistic!”
”I've heard that the mountain leader intends to spread the seeds of the Nine Extremes Rice plant all over the world. This would greatly benefit mankind!”
Meng Tian inquired expectantly.
”The Yellow Grain Rice may be great, but it is still the food of the dream masters. Can the average man afford to eat it?”
Liu Mengmei picked a flower and held it to her nose wistfully. As Fang Yuan's trusted subordinate, she knew things.
She knew that he had massive ambitions and had set his sights on the big picture. The little benefits brought about by a small trade like that was of no concern to him.
However, it would not hurt if he made use of the process of propagating the seeds to strengthen himself.
”Are you saying...that the Nine Extremes Mountain has been seeing an influx of refugees lately, as well as cultivators?”
Liu Mengmei raised a brow and suddenly had an idea.
”Having set up our temple in the Nine Extremes Mountain, we have to maintain the security of the region. The areas protected by the Green Wood Sky Net Array will keep them out, but there are other pieces of land that are available for settlement. We will only provide them with food and seeds if they recognise our authority and pledge allegiance to us…”
A large organisation would definitely have several subsidiaries. No matter how vulnerable and insignificant the mortals in the human establishments may seem, they provided the organisation with a constant supply of people and should not be discounted.
”Also...the Realm Alliance, Baize Mountain and other factions have traded with us before, but can't seem to stop putting on airs?”
Liu Mengmei laughed coldly.
”From today onwards, we will categorise our trade partners into tiers. A trade limit will be placed on reserved items and core products will only be made available to our most esteemed customers…”
All these were things that Fang Yuan had mentioned before, and Liu Mengmei merely reiterated them.
”The Dream Masters Alliance of the present day is virtually powerless and yet they continue to act tough! We need to assert our dominance over them!”
”Your wish is my command!”
Meng Tian nodded and bowed respectfully as he retreated.
”Sigh…”
Liu Mengmei was downhearted as she gazed at the Nine Extremes Mountain.
”The mountain leader...when will he finally come out of his closed-door cultivation?”
Suddenly, a noise came from the temple gates.
”Has Extreme Darkness returned?”
Liu Mengmei went over to receive the arrivals and saw that a group of people were indeed gathered at the temple gates.
”Sister Extreme Darkness...how did the deal go?”
She ran her fingers through her hair and approached them with a smile.
”It was alright…”
Extreme Darkness's face stiffened. On the Nine Mountains, Liu Mengmei was in charge of the agricultural affairs while she was in charge of security. Extreme Darkness also had the added responsibility of settling external dealings. However, Liu Mengmei seemed to have something against her and always tried to antagonise her.
”With the armed escort provided by the mountain leader as well as the protection of Ado's Demon Army, those small fries wouldn't dare to try anything funny.”
Extreme Darkness rolled her eyes.
”What about you, Sister...still pining for the day the mountain leader comes out from his closed-door cultivation? Hehe…”
She had wanted to say more, but two rays of green light suddenly flew into their arms.
”The mountain leader has returned?”
Liu Mengmei was overcome with happiness and rushed towards the main hall without a second look at Extreme Darkness.
”Hmph! What a vixen!”
Extreme Darkness looked on as Liu Mengmei ran off into the distance and laughed. Then she paused for a moment before laughing even harder.
...
”What a dream!”
In the bathroom, Fang Yuan let the warm water cascade down his body as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was stunned.
”After passing through so many worlds, I sometimes wonder who I really am.”
Fang Yuan rubbed his face.
The man in the mirror still retained his youthful looks and did not look a day past 30, yet he was already one of the most powerful men in Da Qian.
Still, the present Da Qian was a shadow of its former self.
Fang Yuan glanced at his belly.
A black mark with a purple spot in its middle had appeared there.