Chapter 145 White Jade Bees

Six months later.

As the sun set, only the last rays of light remained, and the golden-red and emerald-green hues intertwined in the cold pool, creating a dreamlike hue.

Ji An made a hand seal and released the Thick Earth Returning to Origin Mantra. Warm yellow spiritual light shone down, making the land look as if it were covered with a layer of golden tiles.

A gentle breeze blows, and the green waves of the mulberry fields ripple.

Ji An stood with his hands behind his back, quietly sensing the faint "joy" emotion released by Ling Sang after the spell was cast. He was pondering the true meaning of the three words "wood overcomes earth".

Trees can take root in the soil, absorb nutrients, break through the soil, and grow strong. He believes that the growth process of trees is about overcoming and relying on the soil.

The so-called "wood overcoming earth" should not be simply about restraint and confrontation, but should also include the meaning of mutual restriction and interdependence.

The earth elemental light was slowly absorbed by the earth, and the Dharma intent that it carried and received also disappeared into the earth.

He made a hand seal to release the Azure Wood Transformation Technique, and the sky above the mulberry field resembled a celestial river of emerald green, with shimmering light and shadow like a fairyland.

Ji An noticed that the number of light spots in some areas was significantly higher than in other areas, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly. Could it be...?

He smiled slightly, and after the light faded, he walked to the place where the strange phenomenon had occurred.

The branches of the Ficus lyrata in front of me were noticeably thicker than those of its counterparts around me, and its leaves were a more vibrant green. Several large yellow flowers, about the size of wheat ears, peeked out from under the lush foliage.

He released his magic power to sense the spiritual energy within the mulberry wood, and his face immediately lit up with joy.

This spirit mulberry tree has reached the first-grade superior level, and it has subconsciously learned to absorb more spiritual energy to nourish itself.

I just did a rough count and there were about a dozen places where the anomalies occurred, which means that more than a dozen first-grade high-quality Jade Leaf Mulberry trees have been cultivated.

This is just the beginning; more and more first-tier spirit trees will be cultivated in the spirit fields.

The flowering season of the mulberry tree has arrived, and it's time to start raising mulberry bees.

"good!"

Ji An's hearty laughter startled the birds returning to the forest. A gray sand goose playing in the water glanced at the laughing man and then plunged into the pool.

Ji An's fingers blurred into afterimages, and with the changing hand seals, he released the Spring Breeze and Rain Technique.

After the clouds gathered, they dispersed, enveloping the spirit fields and revealing a golden-red hue under the setting sun.

The gentle rain fell softly, pattering on the mulberry leaves, like fingers plucking the strings of a zither to play a joyful song.

He returned to the vicinity of the stone houses and gave the following instructions:

"Yuhan, go to Luoyan Mountain tomorrow morning and invite your Aunt Jiang Wanrong to come here for lunch."

Xia Yuhan bowed gracefully and said softly:

"yes."

Ji An nodded slightly, then activated his flying shuttle to begin his routine tour around Crimson Flame Peak.

He remembered which spirit fields needed rain and which needed the Flame Spell.

Two hours later, Ji An returned to the yam's cave after finishing his work. It was almost midnight.

He took out a jade bottle, poured out a Yunzhi Pill, swallowed it, and sat cross-legged on the stone bed to begin circulating his internal energy to neutralize the medicinal power.

The moon shines silently on the two lush red pine trees at the entrance of the cave.

The next day, at noon.

Ji An and Jiang Wanrong sat facing each other around a stone table, on which were placed two side dishes and a spirit fish.

The two sisters, Xia Yuhan and Xia Yuhan, served by her side, diligently filling the wine glasses.

Jiang Wanrong put down her wine glass and said softly:

"After two months apart, I found that the spirit mulberry trees planted by my senior brother are even more lush and abundant. Congratulations!"

After arriving at Crimson Flame Peak today, I discovered that my senior brother had only invited her. A strange feeling welled up in my heart. Could it be that...?

Her heart began to beat faster, and her gaze softened.

After meeting several times, she had already found out about her senior's situation.

He established his foundation before the age of thirty, and reached the third level of foundation in ten years, making rapid progress in his cultivation. His cultivation and temperament were also excellent.

Crimson Flame Peak is rich in resources, and Senior Brother's talent for planting is exceptional. It's safe to assume that he won't lack the elixirs and spiritual items needed for cultivation.

If her senior brother is interested in her and the two can become Daoist partners, her path will be much smoother.

Ji An nodded slightly and smiled:

"The reason I invited my junior sister here is to discuss matters concerning Fei Ye Sang."

I've discovered that first-grade, high-quality spirit mulberry leaves have begun to appear in the mulberry fields, which will ensure a stable supply of excellent mulberry leaves for my junior sister in the future.

It's time to recoup costs. The other party had previously expressed a need for top-grade Jade Leaf Mulberry leaves, and he kept the customer's needs firmly in mind.

Just for mulberry leaves?

Jiang Wanrong felt her face stiffen and quickly picked up the spiritual tea and took a sip.

She coughed lightly, regained her composure, and forced a smile, saying:

"You've cultivated a first-grade high-quality spirit mulberry tree so quickly! Senior brother is truly talented! I wonder how many first-grade high-quality spirit trees you have now?"

She tried to dispel her disappointment and casually brushed a stray strand of hair from her side.

"There are twenty-three trees in total. In less than a month, the number of top-grade spirit mulberry trees will definitely increase several times."

Ji An smiled; he had made a point of inspecting the experimental field that morning.

If there are hundreds of spirit mulberry trees, it is possible to support a small group of spirit silkworms.

He paused, then continued:

"Junior sister, do you still stand by what you said about needing fresh mulberry leaves?"

"Of course it counts. My spirit silkworms often need to be fed with mulberry leaves from medium-grade mulberry trees. The quality of the silk is not good enough, so it is difficult to improve the grade of the spirit silkworms."

My senior brother's ability to consistently supply high-quality mulberry leaves has been a great help to me.

"I've found out that the price of top-grade fresh mulberry leaves within the sect is one spirit stone per hundred catties. Let's go with that price. What do you think, Junior Sister?"

The leaves of the Jade Leaf Mulberry are relatively heavy; a single Jade Leaf Mulberry tree can produce about four pounds of tender leaves.

If you take good care of the mulberry leaves after picking them, they can grow back in just over half a month.

More than 300 mu of Emerald Leaf Mulberry trees are planted here on Crimson Flame Peak, with 100 mulberry trees per mu of spiritual field.

Ideally, these Emerald Mulberry trees could produce 1,400 spirit stones every half month.

After deducting the sect's rent and the cost of hiring disciples to pick the fruit, they can save about eight or nine hundred spirit stones.

For about half the year, you can sell fresh, tender mulberry leaves, which is equivalent to having 10,000 spirit stones in hand.

Of course, this is just wishful thinking. It would take many years to cultivate all these mulberry trees to the highest quality, and there would also be various reasons that could lead to reduced production.

However, if you include the honey made by the spirit bees, the net income can be about 10,000 spirit stones per year.

If we consider the income of the entire Crimson Flame Peak, he feels that his income should be among the top tier of all Foundation Establishment disciples.

"Okay, let's sign the agreement now."

Jiang Wanrong said that this is the price within the sect, but often it is not possible to buy enough high-quality mulberry leaves.

The agreement signed by the two left behind their respective magical imprints.

After the business deal was concluded, Ji An was very satisfied and raised his glass, saying:

"Junior sister, drink this cup again."

"Senior brother, I feel like I can't hold my liquor today, I can't drink anymore."

Jiang Wanrong seemed somewhat disheartened and gently shook her head.

Green Bamboo Peak.

As Ji An entered the Beast Taming Hall, a female disciple dressed in a light green silk dress immediately came to greet him.

"Uncle-Master, is there anything you need?"

"Do you have any recommended bees to buy some 'spirit bees' to collect nectar from 'jade leaf mulberry' flowers?"

"White jade bees are very suitable for collecting mulberry honey. May I ask how many acres your spirit fields are, so I can calculate how many spirit bees you need?"

"It's about 350 mu, but the mulberry trees were just planted this year. We only discovered that some of them are flowering these past few days. There aren't many mulberry trees that can be harvested for honey right now, so let's say 50 mu."

Ji An estimated that only the mulberry trees in the experimental field by the cold pond would bloom this year. Buying too many bees now would be a waste, as they would have to be kept alive when there are no flowers to collect nectar.

The disciple smiled and said:

"Based on my uncle's situation, it's too early to buy the white jade bee colony now."

How about this, I'll provide my uncle with a queen bee and two hundred white jade bees.

Once the nectar source is large enough, the queen bee will accelerate egg laying to spawn new bees.

“I’ll do as you say. Also, I’ll buy some secret recipes for raising spirit bees, as well as enough food for the bee colony to live on for six months.”

Since others are professionals, Ji An naturally follows their advice.

"Uncle-Master, there happens to be a queen bee in her pupal stage in the hall right now, and we can take her away today."

"Please have a seat here and wait a moment while I go to the breeding room to get the bee pupae."

The female disciple smiled sweetly, led Ji An to a seat, and then quickly left.

Soon, she took out a pupa as thick as a thumb, glistening with a jade-like color.

"Uncle-Master, please instigate the blood pact."

Ji An used his object manipulation technique to capture the bee pupa in his hand, skillfully forcing out its essence and blood, and then used hand seals to instill a blood pact.

The blood pact has a special connection with the cultivator's soul, and the patterns that each person generates when using the same incantation will have slight differences.

The jade-colored bee pupa was quickly stained blood red, becoming even brighter.

Suddenly, the blood on the surface of the pupa quickly faded, and then a plump queen bee emerged from it, her body as white as jade, with her internal organs faintly visible.

The female disciple opened a round, white jade box, handed it out, and said:

"Uncle-Master, the queen bee is still very weak when she is first born. Please apply this special honey to your finger, just a small clump the size of a soybean."

Ji An picked up the jade spoon from the box, scooped out a dollop of honey, smeared it on his index fingertip, and then placed his hand in front of the queen bee.

The queen bee immediately crawled onto his hand and quickly swallowed the honey.

The female disciple took out a jade slip and a porcelain jar from her storage bag and said:

"Uncle-Master, the porcelain jar contains prepared food for spirit bees, made from various pollens, and the jade slip contains the secret method of beekeeping."

She then took out a beehive from her spirit beast pouch, which was filled with countless eggs.

"Here are 110 eggs that will hatch soon. Because there may be dead eggs, we're giving you 10 extra."

In total, everything adds up to two thousand contribution points.

Ji An took out the jade token, paid the contribution points, and rode the flying shuttle back to Crimson Flame Peak.

He handed the jade slip and the bee colony to Xia Yuhan, saying:

"You two sisters should learn how to raise spirit bees, and I will give you an extra five spirit stones every month from now on."

In addition, I will give extra rewards based on the amount of honey produced.

He only needs to control the queen bee to control the bee colony; the beekeeping work can be left to others.

(End of this chapter)