Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World Chapter 1227 - 564: Development of Green Willow Village After a Century, Population Explosion (2)

Their innate talent was already quite formidable, but their location within the Cyan Stone Mountain Range meant scarce resources, hindering breakthroughs. However, with Shi Ping’an's assistance, a vast quantity of cultivation resources became available, leading to rapid advancements in their cultivation.

Other cultivators from Green Willow Village experienced similar progress.

"After a century of dedicated development, our Green Willow Village's population has finally reached five million."

"In the human realm, this might be considered a sizable city."

An elder from Green Willow Village remarked.

Green Willow Village began as a mere hamlet with only tens of thousands of souls, perpetually on the precipice of extinction.

A single demon tide could easily obliterate them.

Yet, in a mere hundred years, the population has burgeoned by over a hundredfold.

Furthermore, the average cultivation level has seen a substantial climb.

While such strength is inconsequential in the formidable Demon Realm, it at least furnishes them with the means of self-preservation.

As long as they evade discovery by the demons, dealing with lesser demon creatures remains manageable.

"Village Chief, if our situation permits, should we consider further expansion?"

"Several other settlements have expressed a desire to join our village."

Another elder inquired.

In truth, the swift population boom in Green Willow Village stemmed not solely from natural procreation; more significantly, they absorbed numerous smaller villages, directly contributing to the surge in numbers.

If reliant on natural growth alone, such a rapid increase would be impossible.

"Foolishness, do not become overly confident."

"Do not forget the nature of this perilous place."

"This is the Demon Realm, the dominion of demons."

"Our continued existence here is not a testament to our strength."

"Rather, it is because of our small numbers and ability to remain hidden, thus avoiding detection by the demons."

"Should demons discover our presence, every soul in the village would perish, regardless of our numbers."

"Indeed, a larger population only hastens their demise."

The village chief, Shi Hao, articulated with profound seriousness.

He sensed that the inhabitants of Green Willow Village had grown complacent over the past century, with some even forgetting the terrifying reality of their surroundings.

It is imperative to remember that this is the Demon Realm, inhabited by countless powerful demons.

Even a single Refining Void Demon discovering them would spell their utter destruction.

With a mere thought, hundreds of thousands of humans could be annihilated.

This exemplifies the terrifying might of High-tier Demons.

Upon hearing these words, the elders of Green Willow Village fell into a stunned silence, their hair standing on end, and a palpable fear gripping them.

They had, in fact, become somewhat complacent.

The notion that possessing some strength guaranteed survival in the Demon Realm was nothing more than wishful thinking.

"The Village Chief speaks the truth."

"Our population size is secondary; what truly matters are powerful cultivators."

"Regardless of our development, we must never forget the immense power and terrifying nature of demons."

"To truly cast aside the threat of demons, we must cultivate at least one Mahayana Cultivator."

"Currently, our highest attainment is the Nascent Soul stage, which is a considerable distance away."

Zhu Ming, the leader of the hunting squad, stated with a grim expression.

Having spent countless years hunting in the Cyan Stone Mountain Range, he was acutely aware of the demons' terrifying power.

The mere appearance of one High-tier Demon would spell a catastrophic disaster for Green Willow Village.

Furthermore, even if they were miraculously successful in defeating it, this would not signify the end of their peril, but rather its commencement.

It would inevitably draw endless hordes of demons, trapping them in a deadly endgame no matter where they sought refuge.

Consequently, Green Willow Village has consistently maintained an extreme level of caution, refraining from any actions that might draw attention.

While they aspire to incorporate other human villages to augment Green Willow Village's populace, this ambition is fraught with peril.

The congregation of too many humans would inevitably attract demons, leading to their swift annihilation due to insufficient means of defense.

Therefore, their focus is not on sheer numbers, but on the potential for cultivating high-tier experts.

This is the fundamental basis for Green Willow Village's continued survival.

"Indeed, an excessively large population might not be beneficial."

"We are confined to living underground, unable to inhabit the surface."

"This severely limits the arable land we can cultivate, resulting in a meager yield of spirit rice each year."

"If the population continues to swell, we may face a severe food shortage."

"In fact, without Ping’an procuring substantial amounts of food from external sources, sustaining our current population would be impossible."

An elder from Green Willow Village stated grimly.

As a matter of fact, the current thriving state of Green Willow Village is entirely attributed to Shi Ping’an’s mastery of inter-realm trading, facilitating the influx of external commodities and the export of the village’s unique products.

This reciprocal commerce has ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity for Green Willow Village, marking a true golden age.

It is essential to recognize that within the Demon Realm, mineral resources are the most abundant commodities.

Particularly noteworthy are the special ores unearthed from deep within the earth, which have remained untainted by the insidious influence of demon forces.

Apart from Green Willow Village, no other entity possesses the capability to excavate these precious minerals.

Even if excavation were possible, the inability to trade them would render them useful only for personal consumption.

Only Shi Ping’an has the unique ability to offer these special ores to the cultivators of the Great Xuan Dynasty, thereby acquiring substantial quantities of spirit rice, spirit medicine, elixirs, and even diverse cultivation techniques and secret manuals.

"To be able to conduct trade across endless spatial divides is truly a formidable power, exceeding all comprehension. It remains a mystery where Ping’an obtained such a unique ability."

"Is it not perfectly clear? It must surely be from Mr. Jiang. All the remarkable transformations witnessed in Green Willow Village are a direct result of Mr. Jiang’s immense generosity; without him, our development would never have progressed at such a rapid pace."

"Indeed, were it not for Mr. Jiang's intervention, Green Willow Village would likely have been annihilated by demons a century ago, and we would not be celebrating our current prosperity."

"It is indeed regrettable that Mr. Jiang departed not too long ago, leaving us unable to receive his sage guidance any longer."

"Such is the way of the world; Mr. Jiang must undoubtedly be a mighty figure among the human race, burdened with overseeing countless critical matters, making it naturally impossible for him to remain permanently in a humble human village such as ours."

"One can only speculate about Mr. Jiang's cultivation level; surely he has long surpassed the Divinity Transformation stage."

"Heh, it’s not merely Refining Void; this is the Demon Realm, the very den of demons, a place where even Integration Cultivators would hesitate to tread. It is highly probable that Mr. Jiang has already attained the Mahayana Cultivator realm."

"Precisely, only Mahayana Cultivators possess the audacity to traverse the Demon Realm freely; encountering Mr. Jiang was truly the zenith of our fortune."

"However, even as a Mahayana Cultivator, Mr. Jiang cannot possibly contend with the combined might of the demons. He must exercise extreme caution to evade them, as the power wielded by the demons is beyond measure."

"There appears to be no alternative; rumor has it that the Demon Realm harbors over a hundred Mahayana Demons. Regardless of Mr. Jiang's prowess, he is but a single individual, incapable of confronting such a formidable legion."

"Ultimately, Green Willow Village must maintain a low profile and refrain from any further expansion of its population. Otherwise, should the demons perceive any anomalies, Green Willow Village would face certain doom. We must ensure our existence remains completely concealed."

The esteemed elders of Green Willow Village engaged in a prolonged and thorough deliberation on this critical matter.

They held Jiang Fan in the highest regard, recognizing that all the advancements and current well-being were owed to this enigmatic benefactor.

Even though they lacked complete knowledge of the gentleman's true origins, it mattered little; the mere assurance that he harbored no ill will towards them was more than sufficient.

"Speaking of which, where is Ping’an? What destination has Ping’an ventured to?"

A query arose out of curiosity, as Shi Ping’an’s presence was conspicuously absent.

Typically, Shi Ping’an would undoubtedly grace such elder-level assemblies with his attendance, given his esteemed position as the most powerful Divinity Transformation Cultivator within Green Willow Village.

Had he not been indifferent to the responsibilities of village leadership, he would likely have ascended to the position of Green Willow Village's Chief by now.

"Not long ago, Ping’an made a significant discovery: an ancient teleportation array."

"And he proceeded to activate this very teleportation array."

"It is understood that this array has successfully transported Ping’an to a sanctuary."

"This particular territory falls under the dominion of the Demon Race, yet remarkably, it is devoid of any demonic presence."

"Ping’an is currently undertaking extensive exploration of this region, actively searching for a secure haven."

"Should a truly safe location be discovered, it is conceivable that we might be able to relocate a portion of our populace there."

"That area could potentially serve as one of Green Willow Village's vital escape routes."

The village chief, Shi Hao, articulated these possibilities in a soft, contemplative tone.