Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World Chapter 1143 - 553: Three Years Later at the Primordial Talisman Sect, Immortal Destiny—All-Embracing Myriad Flames (Part 2)

"So the sect is now vigorously developing the medicinal gardens."

"Almost every city on the Southern Continent has established extensive medicinal gardens."

"This is considered a top priority for development."

Shen Yanci nodded.

If there were only a few dozen or hundreds of disciples, perhaps large-scale cultivation wouldn't be necessary.

But that wasn't the current situation.

Within the Primordial Talisman Sect's domain, nearly everyone could cultivate.

Just imagine the sheer quantity of Spirit Medicines and Elixirs consumed annually.

Without large-scale cultivation of Spirit Medicines, it would be impossible to satisfy the needs of so many.

"Currently, the True Disciple most adept at cultivating Spirit Medicines is likely Mu Yuan."

"It's rumored he possesses the legendary Wood Emperor Body, giving him a natural affinity for Spirit Medicines."

"Any Spirit Medicine he personally tends experiences halved growth cycles and doubled yields."

"This fellow doesn't need to venture out; simply remaining within the sect allows him to accumulate substantial Contribution Points."

"He must be the wealthiest True Disciple by now."

The Qiantian Fire Spirit Pearl remarked with a hint of envy.

While people often claim Alchemists are the wealthiest profession, they fail to realize that top-tier Spirit Plant Masters are the truly affluent ones.

The reason is that Alchemists face the possibility of failure during Alchemy.

Should they fail, all the Spirit Medicines used in the refining process are wasted, resulting in significant financial loss.

Only elite Alchemists can manage to boost Alchemy success rates and minimize costs.

In contrast, Spirit Plant Masters enjoy substantial profits with minimal expenses involved.

Each year, they can amass considerable wealth.

"There's no other way; Senior Brother Mu's talent with Spirit Plants is simply unparalleled."

Shen Yanci nodded in agreement.

However, he was aware that this Senior Brother didn't possess the Wood Emperor Body.

Instead, he harbored the Immortal Destiny of Withered Wood Evergreen.

It was precisely this Immortal Destiny that enabled him to cultivate Spirit Medicines on such a grand scale.

This was Senior Brother Mu's innate talent, something others could only dream of.

Yet, Shen Yanci's own talent was far from shabby; he possessed the Immortal Destiny of Fusion of a Thousand Fires.

This talent not only benefited his Alchemy but also proved advantageous in combat.

As his Cultivation level increased, the potency of this Immortal Destiny became increasingly evident.

"No wonder my master selected me as a True Disciple."

"It was entirely due to the Immortal Destiny I possess."

"I never imagined that cultivators in the Cultivation Realm with special constitutions would possess Life Charts."

"So special constitutions are not inherited; they can only be randomly acquired by any individual."

Shen Yanci's eyes gleamed.

Initially, he had no understanding of what Life Charts entailed.

However, his master had shared this knowledge with him openly.

It was this revelation that allowed him to recognize his true potential.

Frankly, the difference between knowing and not knowing is immense.

Once one understands their inherent talent, they can dedicate their efforts towards that specific direction.

Consequently, regardless of the endeavor, one can achieve doubled results with halved effort.

Swoosh!

Reflecting on this, Shen Yanci swiftly departed the volcano.

After all, he had successfully acquired the Anomalous Fire hidden there, completely fulfilling the objective of his journey.

Therefore, lingering longer served no purpose; it was best to return to the sect for cultivation.

Before long, Shen Yanci arrived back in the vicinity, at Flame Sun City.

This was a colossal city, capable of housing ten billion inhabitants, effectively forming a massive nation.

It was encircled by city walls soaring a hundred meters high, exceptionally formidable.

Intricate Restriction Arrays and potent Runes were inscribed upon these imposing ramparts.

Even if a Divinity Transformation Cultivator were to launch a forceful assault, they would be annihilated by the existing Restriction Arrays, reduced to mere dust.

It was precisely due to these magnificent city walls that numerous beast tides had been repelled, safeguarding a vast populace.

Otherwise, the frequent emergence of beast tides would have inflicted catastrophic casualties upon humanity.

"Master truly possesses great foresight."

"He knew that the Revival of Spiritual Energy would unleash terrifying beast tides."

"Thus, he anticipated the construction of these super cities to shelter countless lives."

"If humanity were still scattered as before, who knows how many would have perished."

"Likely, the mere passage of numerous Demon Beasts would have obliterated village after village."

"But with the cities providing protection, there is no longer any concern about these beast tide attacks."

Gazing upon this majestic cityscape, Shen Yanci felt a profound sense of appreciation.

Initially, he couldn't comprehend the reasoning behind his master's decisions.

However, as Spiritual Energy from the Void Realm revived and a multitude of Demon Beasts rapidly appeared.

Those fearsome Demon Beasts reproduced at an astonishing rate.

It’s unknown how many might be spawned within a single year.

Now, those previously desolate mountains and forests have transformed into the exclusive territories of Demon Beasts and Desolate Beasts.

If humanity were to persist in living in scattered settlements as before, no one could predict the sheer number of lives that would be lost.

One could confidently assert that his master's strategic foresight and meticulous planning were incredibly astute.

Furthermore, through years of continuous fortification and enhancement, these colossal cities have achieved an unprecedented level of defensive strength.

They stand like unyielding fortresses, firmly established upon the Southern Continent.

These structures are more than capable of providing refuge for countless human lives.

"However, this fortified city system is not without its inherent vulnerabilities."

"While congregating residents together certainly reduces the per-capita cost of defense,"

"the potential casualty count in the event of a breach would be catastrophically high."

Qiantian Fire Spirit Pearl recognized the critical weakness of the consolidated city system: an excessive concentration of population meant that a city's fall would result in immeasurable loss of life.

"Actually, this particular concern presents no significant issue."

"This is because our Primordial Talisman Sect possesses the mastery of the Heaven-Reaching Bridge Talisman."

"Should any single city come under attack, cultivators from various other cities can be dispatched without delay to provide immediate reinforcement."

"Adversaries might believe they are engaging merely one city, only to find themselves confronting the unified might of all humanity residing on the Southern Continent."

"This represents the profound strength of the city system, embodying the aggregated power of humankind."

"Should a truly insurmountable threat emerge, humanity's extinction would be inevitable regardless of our arrangements."

Shen Yanci maintained that this was not a fundamental flaw.

He reasoned that if a catastrophic enemy were to appear, one against which even these formidable cities could not stand, humanity would face annihilation regardless of their living arrangements—even a dispersed existence would merely prolong their final moments.

"Moreover, my Master has already devised a contingency for this exact scenario."

"The solution is to retreat into the Secret Realm World."

"If such a devastating enemy were to materialize, seeking sanctuary within the Secret Realm World would be the most prudent course of action."

"At the very least, the Secret Realm World can serve as the ultimate bastion for the Primordial Talisman Sect."

"If even the Secret Realm World proves incapable of repelling the threat, then utter extinction would be our unavoidable destiny."

Shen Yanci stated this with a calm demeanor.

He believed that this comprehensive plan accounted for even the most dire and catastrophic of outcomes.

If, even with these preparations, extinction could not be averted, then truly nothing more could be done.

This outcome would be dictated by the grand design of Heaven itself.

It would represent the ultimate fate destined for the Primordial Talisman Sect.

"Considering all these points, your perspective holds a certain validity."

"However, with the current widespread ability for cultivation, the demand for Spirit Rice and Spirit Medicines is exceedingly high."

"Could this not lead to anxieties regarding a potential food crisis?"

Qiantian Fire Spirit Pearl found himself in agreement with this particular concern.

He felt that sustaining such a vast population would be an immensely challenging endeavor.

A widespread food crisis, should it occur, could escalate into a monumental disaster.

Such a situation might easily ignite internal strife.

It is often said that the most formidable defenses can ultimately be undone from within.

"This matter is indeed a significant point of concern for the sect."

"To proactively address this very issue, the sect initiated the comprehensive Spirit Rice Storage Plan."

"In reality, throughout the preceding years, the harvests of Spirit Rice have been exceptionally bountiful, far exceeding immediate consumption needs."

"The challenge, however, is that without proper preservation methods, Spirit Rice will inevitably spoil within two to three years."

"But thanks to the sect's advanced research, we have developed the capability to store immense quantities of Spirit Rice within Life Source Stones."

"Even after enduring for millennia, the Spirit Rice remains perfectly preserved, appearing as fresh as the day it was harvested."

"It is precisely due to this technological breakthrough that, over the past several decades, the sect has successfully accumulated a colossal reserve of Spirit Rice."

"Currently, even if Spirit Rice cultivation were to cease entirely from this moment forward, our existing reserves are sufficient to sustain the entire population for a full century."

Shen Yanci elaborated on the plan's details.

It was evident that this represented the Primordial Talisman Sect's ingenious solution for long-term Spirit Rice preservation.

This initiative also played a crucial role in maintaining the stability of Spirit Rice prices.

After all, the annual yield of Spirit Rice is inherently variable, fluctuating between periods of abundance and scarcity.

Unchecked volatility in market prices would invariably disrupt the established pricing structures and sales dynamics of Spirit Rice.

Since the implementation of this strategic plan, the market price for Spirit Rice has achieved an unprecedented state of stability, remaining consistent for several decades.