Chapter 705: Immortal Mansion's New Project (Part 3)

And this was precisely what the Immortal Mansion lacked most. Fang Qingyuan couldn’t allow outsiders to enter, nor could he use the disciples of the Qingyuan Sect. Relying solely on the Spirit Field Puppets and Long-armed Apes was no match for a true Spirit Plant Cultivator.

Previously, Fang Qingyuan had the inclination to manage them personally. However, as his cultivation level increased and the Immortal Mansion’s area expanded wildly, he truly didn’t have much energy left to tend to these Spirit Plants and flowers.

It was only in recent years, after the Bee Queen successfully achieved Core Formation, that her intelligence grew substantially. She could now meticulously direct the bee swarm to tend to the plants, and as a result, the Spiritual Medicine yield had risen somewhat. But even tens of thousands of bees were still no match for the profits generated by a single high-tier human Spirit Plant Cultivator.

‘Should I just kidnap a few Spirit Plant Cultivators to work for me?’

For a moment, Fang Qingyuan entertained the thought. Given his current status, position, and power, if he were to recruit Spirit Plant Cultivators, most of them in White Mountain would eagerly sign up. But the Immortal Mansion could not be exposed to the light. This frustrated Fang Qingyuan; because he couldn’t hire anyone, the Immortal Mansion’s development depended solely on his own efforts, leading to a great deal of wasted resources at present.

If he could get the Qingyuan Sect disciples involved, the Immortal Mansion’s productivity would absolutely explode. At that point, the Qingyuan Sect’s strength alone would be enough to supply the entire White Mountain.

‘Is there a way to let the Qingyuan Sect disciples handle production without exposing the Immortal Mansion?’

‘Compared to bees, apes, and puppets, Cultivators and humans are the best beasts of burden, after all.’

As Fang Qingyuan pondered this problem, he spoke aloud:

“If I were to separate this herb garden, do you think it would be possible to hire a Spirit Plant Cultivator to manage it?”

The Bee Queen’s compound eyes flickered. She understood Fang Qingyuan’s concerns. With her higher intelligence after Core Formation, the Bee Queen, who previously only had a partial understanding of the Immortal Mansion’s existence, now comprehended the magnitude of the secret her master was carrying.

“I believe it’s feasible. Designate it as a sect forbidden area, accessible only via an Array, and cut it off from all contact with the outside world for closed-off management. This way, if a single Spirit Plant Cultivator is hired for a year or two, even after they leave upon completing their task, they will just assume they were still within the Qingyuan Sect, or perhaps inside a small Secret Realm. They would never suspect anything else.”

Listening to the Bee Queen’s suggestion, Fang Qingyuan calculated for a while longer. The Immortal Mansion was vast. The mulberry trees and Spirit Rice took up the most space, but they were relatively easy to manage and didn’t require a Spirit Plant Cultivator. However, the higher the tier of the Spiritual Medicine, the more skilled a Spirit Plant Cultivator was needed to tend to it. Therefore, spending Spirit Stones to isolate the medicine garden seemed quite necessary.

As long as there was no contact with the outside world for the entire duration, and the Spirit Plant Cultivator was made to stay within this Array for two or three years with the promise of a handsome reward afterward, many Cultivators would actually be willing to cultivate in peace. It was just like when Fang Qingyuan had raised turtles in the turtle garden back in the day; he hadn’t seen anyone for half a year and was perfectly content.

At this thought, Fang Qingyuan’s heart began to race with anticipation. If this was feasible, the development speed of the Immortal Mansion would immediately jump to a new level. The medicine garden could be handled this way, but could he also raise Spirit Beasts inside? Could he forge it into a Sect Secret Realm exclusive to the Qingyuan Sect?

Fired up, Fang Qingyuan casually tossed a round object to the Bee Queen. After she caught it, he continued:

“This is the Golden Core of a Golden Core Insect Beast that the Music Master obtained from the Awakening Lion Valley front lines. He used it to pay off a debt. I think it might be useful to you. Eat it and see.”

The Bee Queen held up the smooth Golden Core and examined it. She sensed a rich aroma emanating from it, and her own body craved it, so she opened her mouth and swallowed it whole.

As the Golden Core entered her mouth, an immense amount of Spiritual Qi burst forth. It was a good thing the Bee Queen’s body was powerful; a human Cultivator would have likely exploded and died on the spot.

In truth, the primal Spiritual Qi contained within a beast’s Golden Core was secondary. The crucial part was the Innate Divine Technique of the original owner inscribed within. If the Bee Queen was compatible enough with it, she might even be able to comprehend some of the technique. And even if she couldn’t, it would still provide a beneficial supplement to her current innate abilities.

Leaving the Bee Queen to slowly digest the Golden Core, Fang Qingyuan’s consciousness returned to his physical body. He then stood up, summoned the disciple on duty at the door, and had them fetch Chen Huicheng.

When Chen Huicheng arrived, he carried the fiery scent of Elixir Pills, a clear sign he had just been practicing Alchemy.

Chen Huicheng was in charge of the sect’s construction, and the Spirit Plant Cultivators also fell under his management. However, he didn’t particularly enjoy administrative duties and generally left all mundane affairs to his deputy.

“Huicheng, among the Spirit Plant Cultivators currently in the sect, who is the most skilled?”

Chen Huicheng immediately replied with respect:

“Reporting to the Sect Leader, it is Huang Jing. He is currently a Tier Two, middle-grade Spirit Plant Cultivator.”

“Oh? And what are his origins?”

“He is an externally hired Spirit Plant Cultivator. His family is the Huang Family of the Spirit Wood Alliance. After the great war between the Spirit Wood Alliance and the Pill Alliance, the status of Spirit Plant Cultivators like them dropped drastically, so many of them came to us seeking a place to settle. This Huang Jing is the third son of the current Huang Family Patriarch. His talent for cultivating Spirit Plants is excellent, and the Huang Family couldn’t bear to let him join the Spirit Wood Array, so they pulled some strings to send him to us.”

“A cunning rabbit has three burrows—the survival wisdom of a great family. However, a man from the Spirit Wood Alliance has entered our sect’s heartland. Has he been thoroughly vetted?”

Chen Huicheng blinked and said:

“Ancestor, you misunderstand. Huang Jing is not currently within the sect. He was assigned to an external pharmaceutical workshop to process medicinal herbs. The Spirit Plant Cultivators currently inside the sect are all our own disciples, thoroughly loyal and reliable.”

“I see. The Qingyuan Sect’s Spiritual Land is so small it doesn’t warrant the attention of a Tier Two Spirit Plant Cultivator anyway. Go and fetch this man. Have him hand over his current duties properly. I have an errand for him.”

After giving his instructions to Chen Huicheng, Fang Qingyuan dismissed him. He then went to the Spirit Vein beneath Qingyuan Mountain and began modifying the pre-existing Array.

‘I’m about to send someone into the Immortal Mansion, so I have to set up the facade perfectly. I hope this Huang Jing is a sharp one. Otherwise, making him disappear would mean I’d have to explain things to the Huang Family, and that would be a hassle.’