Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1869: 1403: Pending Repairs 2
Previously on Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan...
“Sigh!”
The elderly village leader felt a touch of unease, worried that Li Zhirui could inquire about hidden affairs, yet he never anticipated such a minor issue, responding swiftly, “Our villagers sustain themselves well, and with past reserves, existence remains quite comfortable.”
“The trouble selling this spirit rice and spiritual items stems from our own excessive desire!”
Another deep sigh escaped the old village chief as he shared a tale with Li Zhirui.
A few years back, the village stumbled upon a novel variety of spirit rice that bolstered qi-blood, drawing fierce competition from numerous sects eager to acquire it, which drove the cost sky-high.
Encouraged by this success, they abandoned other spirit rice and spiritual plants, concentrating the efforts of the entire village on growing this Red Blood Spirit Rice, which ripened only once every three years.
Within a short span, villagers amassed surplus funds and started upgrading their homes while elevating their daily comforts.
As the value of Red Blood Spirit Rice climbed ever higher, it fueled their avarice, leading them to hike prices relentlessly, since no comparable spirit rice existed then, forcing buyers to swallow their frustration and pay up.
However, prosperity proved fleeting; such lavish gains inevitably sparked envy, and once the spirit seeds of Red Blood Spirit Rice got pilfered, rivals succeeded in growing similar spirit rice.
Furthermore, after perfecting their versions, these competitors kept the development under wraps, hiding the intelligence as best they could while scaling up production.
By the time the village's Red Blood Spirit Rice harvest was ready for market, the rivals flooded it with their product at bargain rates!
This cheaper alternative, offering nearly identical benefits, swiftly turned buyers away from the genuine Red Blood Spirit Rice of the village, rendering it impossible to shift.
Consequently, the three-year-old crop sat gathering dust in the granary, unsold.
That is, until Li Zhirui's arrival today.
Recounting those events, regret etched deeply across the old village chief's features. Had greed not overtaken them then, this hoard of Red Blood Spirit Rice wouldn't remain trapped now.
At first, they refused to drop prices, but when desperation finally pushed them to slash rates, even rock-bottom offers drew no takers.
Despite meticulous storage, merchants dismissed it as outdated grain from years past, unfit for sale, and haggled to pay mere broken rice rates.
Li Zhirui heard the full account in silence. He refrained from suggesting they form their own merchant group to haul the spirit rice to distant state domains for trade.
For these lifelong villagers, whose travels rarely extended beyond the local county seat, such ideas lay far beyond their grasp, and they possessed neither the knowledge nor the means.
“Village chief, state your price—I'll purchase every bit of this spirit rice.”
From his earlier inspection, the essence within this spirit rice flowed gently, ideal even for children to absorb without strain, perfectly suiting the Li family's young ones as they tempered their skeletons to build a stronger base.
“We've got thirty-five thousand two hundred dan of spirit rice in total; at five taels of silver each jin, that totals seventeen million six hundred thousand taels.”
The old village chief did the math in a flash and declared right away, “The honored guest need only offer fifteen million taels of silver.”
“That's unnecessary.” Li Zhirui declined with a shake of his head, then proposed, “I lack sufficient silver here—would Human Immortal Rank Healing Pills suffice for the purchase?”
“This truly favors us greatly; our gratitude.”
True to form, crafting Human Immortal Rank Pills cost him little effort and held no real value. He promptly handed over eighteen vials of them, then whisked the entire granary's spirit rice into his storage artifact.
The old village chief stowed the pills with utmost caution. Representing tens of millions in silver value, such treasure demanded vigilance.
“I intend to head back to the sect and grow this Red Blood Spirit Rice. Might the village chief share any insights on its cultivation?” Li Zhirui inquired.
These over thirty thousand dan of spirit rice would sustain the Li family for years aplenty, yet depletion loomed inevitable, compelling him to learn the growing techniques and banish future shortages.
“Yes, indeed we do.” The old village chief at once summoned his son, urging him to rush home and fetch that manual.
Having secured the spirit rice, Li Zhirui examined the assortment of spiritual objects in the adjacent storehouse. On this occasion, he selected merely a dozen or so, abandoning the remainder.
These proved novel additions to his stores, albeit mere Loose Immortal Grade, bolstering his catalog of specimens.
In like manner, he requested the spirit seeds for those chosen spiritual objects from the village chief.
Soon enough, the desired cultivation notes and spirit seeds fell into Li Zhirui's hands.
“Village chief, are you aware the Farmer School has lately bred a Human Immortal Rank spirit rice?”
A puzzled expression crossed the old village chief's face, utterly clueless about the reference.
Noting this, Li Zhirui realized the man likely knew nothing of it. Deeming no further benefits possible, he prepared to depart the village.
“Sunset approaches—why not spend the night here before continuing your journey?” the old village chief offered hospitably, facing such a generous patron.
“I appreciate the hospitality, village chief, but pressing duties call, so I must decline.”
With those words, he took his leave.
Behind him, the leftover villagers erupted in jubilant cheers.
…
A few days onward, Li Zhirui reached Nongcheng, the capital of Jiangzhou State.
——