Free Web NovelChapter 451: Chapter 249: Returning to the Village to "Fill the Pits
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Soul Gathering Stele
Tier: Tier Nine
Yin Realm: 2100 meters
Quantity: 30,000/30,000
Abilities: Ghost Wall (Level 8); Illusion (Level 6); Soul Capture (Level 3)
Other: Locked
Note: Promotion requirements not met. Please find a Divine Soul for the Soul Gathering Stele to absorb as a medium for its promotion.
Controller: Cheng Zongyang
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Cheng Zongyang looked at the Soul Gathering Stele’s information, his expression one of surprise.
’A Divine Soul again. So the Soul Gathering Stele specifically needs a Divine Soul to be promoted. It seems I’ve underestimated the value of these steles, which cost 1,000 Points each.’
When he refreshed the item list in the Jade Stone Market, he saw two and bought them both.
The price was the same as when the cabin sold them: 1,000 Points each.
’A Divine Soul... Where am I supposed to find one of those?’ Cheng Zongyang was speechless.
’Anything that could be called a Divine Soul would have to come from someone who had entered the Extraordinary. That means an existence in the Essence Refining and Qi Transformation Realm. Where am I supposed to get one of those?’
’It’s a pity that Huangfu Ren is just a half-finished product, so he’s no use.’ Cheng Zongyang shook his head slightly, deciding to shelve the idea for now.
’I’ll wait until my adaptation Talent improves, deal with the matters in the County Town, and then enter the East Sea Abyss to see if it’s possible to get one.’
After storing the Soul Gathering Stele in the market cabin, he prepared to take out all the Crystal Stones.
Just then, the trio of Luo Dingran, Li Xingyun, and Emperor Ye came down the stairs.
"My Lord."
Seeing Cheng Zongyang, the three men hurried down the stairs and cupped their fists in a salute.
"All of you together. Were you on the Fourth Level?" Seeing Li Xingyun and Emperor Ye both present, his first thought was about the farming in the Fourth Level’s Transmission Space.
"Your Lordship is wise," Luo Dingran said with a smile. "The two of them have been working on the farmland recently. They have some results to show for it now."
As Luo Dingran spoke, he looked toward Li Xingyun and Emperor Ye.
The farming matters had now been transferred to Emperor Ye’s management. Anyone with farming experience and Talent was now under his command. As for Li Xingyun, he had become the deputy.
Emperor Ye picked up where Luo Dingran left off, explaining in detail:
"My Lord, we have set up four separate plots. Two are on the Fourth Level, and two are outside the house.
For the two plots on the Fourth Level, we built up the soil to a height of about half a meter. We are conducting an experiment by watering one plot with a normal water source and the other with a diluted nutrient solution. The two outdoor plots are being handled the same way.
The crops in all four plots have now sprouted. Comparing the Fourth Level to the outside, there’s no significant difference in growth speed for the plots using the nutrient solution. However, for the plots watered normally, the ones outside are growing several hours faster than those on the Fourth Level.
Based on the growth over the past two days, the nutrient solution still doesn’t make a major difference. With normal watering, the outdoor plots are already a full day ahead of those on the Fourth Level.
My Lord, unless we use the nutrient solution for all irrigation, normal watering isn’t suitable for cultivation there. Moreover, the rice needs sunlight, which also makes it unsuitable for farming on the Fourth Level, unless we can solve the sunlight problem."
Cheng Zongyang listened and understood the problem. Rice couldn’t grow without sunlight—starch synthesis requires photosynthesis, after all—and he had no artificial light source to provide.
After a moment of thought, he looked at Emperor Ye. "If we use the nutrient solution for all irrigation, can we grow rice that way?"
Emperor Ye shook his head slightly. "We could, but it would be slow. A normal four-month cycle would likely take five months there, and the yield might be lower. My Lord, I still advise against planting Wilderness Rice on the Fourth Level. However, it wouldn’t affect vegetable cultivation."
At this, Cheng Zongyang gave up on the idea. "Alright then. Plant whatever you can. Of course, plan and prepare first. We’ll expand the space once we have enough Points."
Emperor Ye and the others immediately cupped their fists. "Yes, My Lord."
’After next month, the Jade Stone Market will close, which means the biggest drain on my Points will end. From then on, my Points will gradually accumulate, and I can use them to expand the space.’
’Of course, with the Jade Stone Market closing, the demand for Gold will also disappear.’
’The need for one million taels of Gold for the tenth slot is gone now. I would have rather earned that one million taels of Gold to unlock the item slot than have the market close. If I had known that connecting to the Jade Stone Market would get me targeted, I never would have handed over the Jade Stone Box.’
’My plan now is to keep accumulating a steady stream of Points to raise the cabin’s Level and increase my own strength. Then, in the future, I can connect to the market again.’
Afterward, Cheng Zongyang left the Wilderness World, taking with him three boxes of Crystal Stones and the two new Soul Gathering Steles.
「Three days later, at the back gate of the Cheng Residence.」
Cheng Zongyang placed the two Soul Gathering Steles and three sacks of Crystal Stones onto a carriage.
Sacks were less conspicuous than boxes, which would save Ma Yue some unnecessary trouble. In the future, once these Crystal Stones were fully charged and started to glow, using boxes would be fine.
Xu Dong was also going this time. His task was to bring back the fifty Crystal Stones that should now be fully charged.
"I’ve prepared everything you’ll need. Be careful on the road," Cheng Zongyang said to Ma Yue.
"Don’t worry, My Lord. Over at the border, it shouldn’t take more than a month to finish," Ma Yue said with a smile as he climbed onto the carriage.
"Good. If anything happens, remember to send word back. You can bring all the Crystal Stones back together once they’re fully charged," Cheng Zongyang replied with a chuckle.
"Yes, My Lord!"
Then, Ma Yue drove the carriage while Xu Dong rode a horse, and they slowly made their way toward the West City Gate.
Watching the carriage depart, Cheng Zongyang wasn’t worried about their safety.
’I gave Ma Yue ten Geomagnetic Stones for this trip. If he encounters a danger he can’t handle, he just has to open the box. Even I feel a little uncomfortable when it’s open; a typical Fifth Grade Martial Artist would probably be left dizzy.’
