316 The Rise and Fall of the Royal City (Chapter 45)
A whisper of anger, unwilling to hear it.
"The rice was planted by watering it with the blood of demonic beasts. Some say it angered a great demon sage, who then attacked and tried to destroy it. Although the sage intervened, the cultivators were never able to improve the Dragon Blood Rice. Therefore, very little of this story is known."
Han Linling agreed, "Yes, our sect also has records. This Spirit Rice Sect is extremely bloody. In the beginning, they used poultry blood for irrigation, but although the Dragon Tooth Rice can sprout, it cannot mature."
Then came the practice of irrigating with the blood of demonic beasts. Unexpectedly, the blood was very effective, leading to a massive hunt for demonic beasts and the captivity of many that had already developed some intelligence. This created enormous slaughterhouses.
This behavior finally angered the demon race, who saw it as an insult and a challenge to their authority. Subsequently, powerful demon figures intervened, and although their efforts were thwarted, the improvement of Dragon Blood Rice was forever prohibited.
Seeing the attentive expressions on everyone's faces, he continued, "It is said that the Dragon Spirit Sect can cultivate Dragon Blood Rice. It is said that dragons are willing to provide their blood, and thus, the spiritual energy is abundant, allowing it to thrive for a long time. As for the specific exchange conditions, outsiders have no idea."
However, I heard long ago that the Dragon Spirit Sect was suffering from insufficient spiritual energy due to the cultivation of Dragon Blood Rice, which caused various parties to have grievances and different ideas.
Later, I heard that Dragon Blood Rice had become widespread, and some evil people were even using it to cultivate elixirs resembling human blood—a truly vicious practice. However, this method requires a huge amount of blood, and I've only heard of some heretical cultivators using this method to grow it.
After speaking, she looked at her lover with some curiosity, knowing that he was not a bad person. She didn't understand how he could cultivate it, but she didn't doubt his abilities.
However, over the past few days, I've gained a general understanding of this border region. The spiritual energy is mixed and chaotic, so these rare and precious materials sometimes grow randomly and in unpredictable locations. Therefore, those looking for treasures might still find them.
However, when one seeks out a sacred burial site, one finds none. Upon careful reflection, one remains unaware of its existence, and a sense of surprise and doubt arises spontaneously.
Yun Su and Piao Miao Yue felt the same way. Upon careful consideration, it seemed that there really were no spirit fields nearby. If there were high-quality spirit fields, it would be an invaluable asset for development.
Whether it's cultivating medicinal herbs or nurturing rare spiritual materials, it's indispensable.
Yun Su looked expectant and quickly said, "Chen Lang, the new mansion is very large, with a large courtyard in the back that is more than an acre in size. I wonder if that will satisfy you?" As she spoke, she crossed her arms and began to act coquettishly.
He nodded slightly, without elaborating, "That's fine, that's enough."
She looked at her lover without saying a word, tilting her head slightly. Her clear eyes sparkled with dependence and curious exploration, while her lover's eyes were filled with doting affection and tenderness.
Gently stroking her soft, long hair, he couldn't help but want to pull her into his arms, and whispered with a smile, "Su'er, don't worry, you'll know soon."
He responded softly, "Mmm."
Yunfeng walked swiftly, and along the way, the scenery was beautiful. The square-patterned fields were bustling with activity.
The roads were being paved by road maintenance workers, widening the area and creating a constant flow of people—oxcarts, horse-drawn carriages, and handcarts—a hurried but orderly scene. This simple order was what everyone desired: simple peace and tranquility.
Occasionally, a magnificent carriage would drive into the city, its patterns and flags quite impressive, but He Chen didn't know much about them and didn't pay much attention. He just needed to follow the rules here.
"Huh!" Han Linling exclaimed softly in surprise, "This is the Ji Family Trading Company!"
Then, realizing her lover might not be aware of this, she explained, "The Ji family's trading company is located in Bodai Prefecture, quite far from here, and primarily deals in grain. Of course, no one dares to underestimate them."
"Chen Lang, look, that's the carriage embroidered with peonies. I've heard the Ji family merchants have their own secret method, supposedly a very large storage artifact. It can carry large quantities of ordinary goods for fast, long-distance transport. I wonder if this carriage has one."
Upon closer inspection, the group saw an orderly and solemn procession slowly heading towards the city gate. The procession exuded an air of grandeur. On the curtain of the car window, a pale pink peony flower adorned the scene, symbolizing nobility, elegance, wealth, prosperity, and good fortune—a noble quality that was not something an ordinary person could possess.
A line of six carriages, each pulled by two horses, the horses strong and powerful, the wheels rolling, the hooves pounding the ground with a deep and powerful sound.
The coachman, clad in full armor with gleaming checkered plates, resembled a fierce warrior on the battlefield. His upright posture suggested he was highly trained. Holding the reins steadily, he seemed to maintain composure and resolve at all times and in all places.
The flags on the carriage fluttered high, with a three-foot-long flagpole standing straight and tall, embroidered with the character "纪" (Ji). The background was wheat fields and rice ears, and the flags were like clouds and brocade.
Inside the carriage stood a figure dressed in black, exceptionally tall, with a slender, pine-like frame. Her features were delicate and elegant, beautiful yet resolute, exuding a noble and aloof air that created a sense of distance. However, beneath the black attire lay a unique charm, like an unsheathed sword, silent yet sharp, impossible to ignore.
Lifting the carriage curtain, he carefully observed his surroundings. He could tell what kind of place it was by looking at the surrounding environment and the lives of the people a little further away.
If you're too close, it's naturally difficult to tell if someone is an actor putting on a show; if you're a little further away, you're definitely out of reach and can see things clearly.
This trip wasn't just about the border region, where a large amount of supplies and food are needed. In this world, food shortages can happen anywhere. Coming from so far away, it's obviously not just about food. Moreover, we didn't intend to take advantage of the situation; we'll just offer the usual prices, or even cheaper.
However, they came for the sake of the owner of this place. This border region has many treasures and specialties, and this person is naturally very important as well.
However, what they saw along the way was quite different. Before Dalong Prefecture, the various cities that knew about it naturally wouldn't cause too much trouble. There were quite a few bandits along the way, most of whom fled at the first sign of trouble, but some were incredibly audacious. It was easy to imagine that the situation had already begun to deteriorate into chaos.
Although he only passed through Dalong Prefecture in a hurry and did not meet the Commandant Guan after the upheaval in Dalong Prefecture, he still sensed something different.
Unexpectedly, not long after the young lady decided to send them out, the former prefect of Dalong Prefecture was beheaded, and the master changed instantly. This change made her realize how quickly the Holy Emperor's disappearance had affected them.
I never thought there would be any major upheavals, unless it was a demon attack or a strange occurrence. Even then, it wasn't anything extraordinary.
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