Zhou Yi had planted Spirit Rice for over a thousand years, having never stopped since he first entered the Cultivation World.
With the large quantity and long ti, occasionally, so of the Spirit Rice plants underwent mutations. Most mutations were positive, but a few were negative declines.
In those days, such mutations were not considered strange in the Cultivation World. Similar phenona occurred with the cultivation of Spiritual dicine and the dostication of exotic beasts. To the cultivators, more Spiritual Energy and stronger dicinal effects were good things; otherwise, it was considered a bad deal.
Take, for example, the rice grain in Zhou Yi's hands—it was a typical case of decline. After maturing, it surprisingly did not contain any Spiritual Energy, fruitlessly wasting both the spiritual field and Mana.
Ordinary cultivators would certainly discard it like chaff, but influenced by his past life, Zhou Yi paid considerable attention to the mutated Spirit Rice.
After conducting trials, he found that the mutated grains contained no Spiritual Energy, so their growth process did not require it. Yet, they retained the advantages of Spirit Rice plants, such as adaptability to various terrains and vigorous life force, among others.
The drawback was the low yield; the output was only about one stone per mu.
"One stone!"
Jin Jing couldn't help raising his voice upon hearing Zhou Yi's introduction, "Can this rice really be grown on the mountains with a yield of one stone per mu?"
"This variety of rice, once planted, has a vitality even greater than wild grass. It can grow anywhere in the mountain crevices,"
Zhou Yi nodded and said, "The actual yield also depends on the mountain terrain. Too many rocks naturally an it won't produce a full stone. When I traveled around Cloud Continent, rice yields were three or four stones per mu or even more."
"In our mountain hollow, how can we dare to compare with the plains and rich fields?"
Jin Jing sighed and said, "The fields around Moyun City, no matter how hard we toil, day and night, taking great care, the yield is barely over one stone. Master, this rice of yours makes us drool with envy, but even selling this old man wouldn't bring it within reach!"
"In my view, this fish scale holds greater value."
Zhou Yi passed the rice grain to Jin Jing, speaking, "Yesterday, after observing Golden God's celebration, I deeply understood the hardships of the human race in the Ten Thousand Mountains. It is only through the pioneers' struggles and toil that we have today's prosperity.
This rice shall be nad Yi Rice; one reason being that it is easy to cultivate, and the other is to say to outsiders that it is a gracious gift from the deity Jin Yi!"
"Isn't this selling you short, Master?"
Jin Jing clutched the rice grain tightly and said, "With Master's generosity, could it be that you fear others' jealousy? Rest assured, anyone who dares to be your enemy is an enemy of Moyun City!"
Moyun City may seem like just a city, but its citizens are all trained in martial arts; it is a case of a fully ard populace.
The human tribes of the Ten Thousand Mountains also look up to Moyun City with respect, with a population under their command in the tens of thousands. With one command, they could gather a force of a hundred thousand elite soldiers, whose might is not inferior to any small country on Cloud Continent, and in terms of military capability, they are even more formidable.
"These are all but empty titles. I am devoted to my ascetic cultivation, wishing not to be disturbed by anyone."
Zhou Yi perford a ceremonial bow with his hands together and said, "No more courtesies, I thank you for your hospitality, and now I must take my leave."
Jin Jing bowed deeply in thanks and said, "I won't see you to the distance, Master. From now on, we must earnestly cultivate Yi Rice, and there's no ti for fishing at Greenwave Pond in the short term."
"Then let's make plans to et again in a few years."
Zhou Yi waved indifferently, and with a breeze under his feet, he vanished in an instant.
...
Dawn.
The mountains awaken, the morning clouds erge from the ravines.
The wind swept through the forest, the mist slowly dissipated, and suddenly, a burst of singing echoed through the mountains, breaking the natural calm.
The mountain villagers followed the sound and saw a middle-aged Taoist walking down from the mountain.
The Taoist had a wooden hairpin carelessly inserted into his hair, his face was gaunt, a green bamboo fishing pole draped over his shoulder, and he moved with steps that seed slow but were actually fast. Lightly stepping on the tips of the grass and branches, he soared into the air, as if gliding across the sky.
As the Taoist approached, the familiar farrs greeted him with a salute, "Master, are you coming down the mountain to feed the fish again?"
"Got tired of chanting scriptures, just out for a stroll to clear my mind."
Zhou Yi responded with a smile, and within the span of their conversation, he had already walked dozens of yards, quickly reaching the foot of the mountain.
Before them was a pond of clear water, reflecting the imnse expanse of green waves under the spring sun. The shore was turned into orderly fields where farrs were weeding and irrigating, all greeting Zhou Yi respectfully as they saw him.
"Master, this is a strange rock I found in the mountains."
"Thanks to the dicine formula Master provided, my boy's illness has already cured."
"Our boat is moored over at the bank; Master, please don't ride in old man Niu Er's, his leaky boat will take on water."
"..."
Zhou Yi returned their salutes one by one, very familiar with the villagers, appearing not as a lofty celestial being looking down from the heavens, but truly like a hermit Taoist living in the mountains.
Zhou Yi never expected the mutated Spirit Rice he had given to Jin Jing to bring about such great changes. The population of the Ten Thousand Mountains had exploded, and in just thirty years, several villages had ford around Greenwave Pond.
Yi Rice could grow easily without being picky about soil, but additional irrigation could increase the yield, so rivers and lakes in the mountains beca gathering places for villages.
Greenwave Pond, being the largest lake in the Ten Thousand Mountains and as extensive as an inland sea, was situated on the north side of the mountains and naturally beca the pri choice.
"The mountains are vast and the yield of grain is low, but without the harsh taxes and exploitation of officials, what's left in hand is actually more than what the people of Cloud Continent have. I heard that many people from Qing Kingdom, unable to make a living at ho, have burrowed into the mountains seeking survival."
Over these years, Zhou Yi had not been in secluded ditation. Every now and then, he would co down the mountain to fish and treat the villagers' illnesses, so he was quite inford about the outside world.
But the information was sowhat outdated, as the mountains were remote and information was confined, with news reaching him being two or three years old already.
Sitting cross-legged by the lake, he gently cast his fishing line into the water.
No sooner had the hook sunk than fish approached eagerly, circling the fishhook in an attempt to swallow the Spirit Rice into their bellies. However, the fishhook seed illusory, and no matter how they bit, they couldn't get a hold of it.
"A bunch of lazy good-for-nothings, still thinking of swindling food and drink off your Master!"
Zhou Yi recognized these green fish; each one was sly and lazy, having eaten the Spirit Rice without seeking to show gratitude, only thinking of staying put to continue enjoying the feast.
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