Chapter 444 - 402: Secret Mission

Chapter 444: Chapter 402: Secret Mission

Winter passed, spring arrived, summer faded, and autumn was born.

In the blink of an eye, it was already the eighth month of the 372nd year of the Jia Shen cycle, during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The bright moon filled the sky, its brilliance like frost, but as far as mortals were concerned, they had no leisure to enjoy the moon; they had a more important task to accomplish.

Creating babies.

All along, the mortals on this land have been under the protection of Immortal Masters. Although they couldn’t guarantee favorable weather conditions, any large-scale epidemic or pest plague would be swiftly eradicated by the Immortal Masters, and during times of drought or flood, Immortal Masters would use their immortal methods to control them.

Furthermore, among the mortals, boundaries were defined at the county level, strictly prohibiting mutual invasions, severely punishing evildoers and thugs, allowing mortals to live peaceful and orderly lives.

The most crucial point is, Immortal Masters do not covet mortal wealth!

To Immortal Masters, mortal treasures of gold and silver were akin to worthless scrap metal. Each year, they only needed to submit a certain proportion in taxes to the county to ensure there was enough emergency stockpile in the county’s large warehouse, and to support a batch of mortal officials, constables, and guards, among others.

With Immortal Masters supervising and laws binding, even if the City Lord of a county was a greedy individual, they dared not collect excessively. Moreover, since there were no wars between counties, collecting more was unnecessary, as even by indulging oneself excessively, it couldn’t be depleted, rendering it meaningless.

Therefore, the taxes on mortals were quite light, and life was very pleasant. As long as one worked diligently, one was sure to live a full and sufficient life.

Over a thousand years, the only requirement the Immortal Masters had for mortals was reproduction!

When one individual attains the Dao, even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. If a child possesses a Spiritual Root, the whole family not only becomes prominent but is also bestowed Spirit Pills, remaining free from illness and disaster, and enjoying prolonged life.

With abundant resources, peace and prosperity, every piece of tranquil land in the Cultivation Realm had a high population density and birth rate.

In each county, varying in size with small ones covering several tens of miles and large ones nearing a hundred miles in radius, the average population per county was tens of thousands. However, those who could become cultivators were rare, one in ten thousand, rendering the number of cultivators still insufficient.

Especially in some sects after major battles, where cultivators were dwindling and urgently needed replenishment, measures were enacted, commanding the mortals within their territory to exert full effort on one task: to give birth!

Thus, on this Mid-Autumn night, in a small mountain village under the direct jurisdiction of the Xuanguang Sect, it was utterly dark with harmonious sounds faintly rising and falling. Neither cats nor dogs dared to move or bark recklessly, fearing they’d disturb the owners’ good deeds.

Suddenly, in the mountain village, a thin fog arose. The mist was quite peculiar, not floating elsewhere but gathering in the village under the same strange wind.

With merely the time for a stick of incense to burn, the entire village was enveloped in the increasingly dense fog, and the previously resonating harmonious sounds of life in the night sky vanished, rendering the whole mountain village as silent as death.

On the roof of the village chief’s brick and wood house, two cultivators appeared silently.

The voice of a female cultivator was barely audible: "Senior Brother Fanx, let me keep watch, you should be quick."

Fanx Shang nodded almost imperceptibly: "Junior Sister Wuh, be careful."

He placed a Spirit Pill in his mouth, and with a flash of his figure, slid into the thick fog.

Watching Fanx Shang’s figure disappear, Wuh Zilan tensed her heartstrings and stayed on the roof, cautiously observing the surrounding movements.

These tasks were secretly arranged by their master, even the other Elders in the sect knew nothing about it. Therefore, the two of them wouldn’t receive any support and had to rely on themselves for everything.

Fortunately, the work was mostly completed, and if they could find something in this village, it would be their last stop.

Fanx Shang quickly darted through the silent village, which lacked almost any anti-theft facilities; every household’s main door was the simplest latch, easily moved by a puff of spiritual power to open.

He held an Ascension Mirror, entering and exiting each household, scanning over the Dantian of one baby after another.

The living beings in this village were all under the influence of the Secret Medicine, Sweet Dream Fragrance, bestowed by their master. This Secret Medicine was almost harmless to humans and animals but would put them into instant slumber upon inhalation, only waking by sword slashing or blade chopping.

However, the fragrance had an exceptional effect on mortals without spiritual power and was almost useless to cultivators.

Being cautious about prolonged exposure, Fanx Shang still held an antidote in his mouth.

Speaking of which, in this past half-year, apart from several unique Spirit Pills whose effects were gradually strengthened, many peculiar Secret Medicines were concocted within the sect. Although production was low, they were indeed effective in special scenarios.

According to a good brother adept at Alchemy and Medicine Refining, they had even developed a colorless and tasteless medicine called Drunken Immortal Powder, capable of dissipating the spiritual power and weakening the muscles of even Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars, although whether that’s true remains unknown.

The source of these Secret Medicines all pointed to one person, their master, the Punishment and Security Elder, Wang Yu.

Recalling his master’s eyes devoid of any whites, Fanx Shang couldn’t help but shudder.

In this past half-year, their master’s methods were stern and disciplined, enforcing strict regulations so that even minor offenses would incur heavy punishment, making him the most feared presence in the Yunshan Sect.

It was heard that several elders had tried to advise him multiple times, but with little success.

Resultantly, both he and Wuh Zilan, as disciples, inevitably became shunned by others.

However, credit where credit’s due, their master had been exceedingly generous on the path of cultivation guidance, offering rewards and resources generously enough to shock anyone. In these past six months, he felt significantly more powerful, truly experiencing the benefits of being a True Disciple.

Thus, they could only follow their master wholeheartedly.

Upon receiving this secret mission, they naturally accepted without question.

While Fanx Shang’s mind was swirling with thoughts, he traversed through room after room, where the male and female homeowners were mostly entangled in various postures, continuing their deeds in their dreams.

Though he had seen such scenes countless times, Fanx Shang couldn’t help but feel a sense of not wanting to look directly. Especially when he saw an elderly couple, with chicken skin and crane hair, he was quite shocked, having to sigh that age hadn’t diminished their vigor.

His gaze turned, and in the corner of this bedroom lay a swaddle, inside which a chubby baby boy was sound asleep.

Was it the grandson or the son of the elderly couple?

With wandering thoughts, Fanx Shang lifted the Ascension Mirror for a gentle scan, and unexpectedly, a mass of chaotic Spiritual Light burst forth within the mirror!

A Spirit Seed!

Fanx Shang was overjoyed, quickly cradling the infant in his arms, then rapidly scanning through the remaining rooms.

About half an hour later, Wuh Zilan finally saw Fanx Shang’s figure reappear, with a baby in his hands, her heart instantly understood.

"Finally found another Spirit Seed, this time leaving a living one, we can call it a day," Fanx Shang said in a low, brisk voice.

Wuh Zilan let out a long breath of relief, nodding with bright joy. The two mounted the Flying Spiritual Artifact and transformed into a stream of light, departing.

Unrestrained, the fog spread away from the village, dispersing in all directions.