Chapter 446 Aquatic Tribes (1)
Even though there are aquatic creatures in the continent, dredging the waterways is no easy task.
A group of aquatic creatures need to create waves to lift up the silt accumulated at the bottom of the river, and two powerful beings need to stand downstream to quickly throw the remaining mud and sand onto the shore. Only in this way can the first step of the dredging work be considered complete.
However, because it is a proactive dredging process, it has to be quick. Otherwise, if the river channel is already blocked, it is quite normal for floods to occur and inundate the settlements of a dozen or so tribes.
None of the people in Ji Rong's team this time were aquatic cultivators. Logically, the mountain python could also be used to clear the silt, but there was only one of them. Ji Rong always felt that it was a waste of the source stream to ask the gods to do things that could be done by cultivators.
Originally, it would have been most convenient for her to go to the Canglan Mountains and waterways to bring some capable aquatic creatures, but the Buzhou was too poor, and Ji Rong was worried that they wouldn't be able to stay.
Because this water cannot be treated and then left; it requires long-term management by aquatic cultivators.
A river without aquatic life is no different from a dead river, and Ji Rong can even estimate when it will become blocked again.
Secondly, desires are cultivated, and Ji Rong did not want to let cultivators from other major clans in to wreak havoc on the already shattered state.
She looked at the wooden tablet that Shan Zhongfeng presented, which recorded the family's assets, and then at Shan Zhongfeng and the others. She sighed and said, "Father, the state is poor now, and there are few native aquatic tribes. Let's not make a fuss. I will go to other places to search and see if there are any weak aquatic tribes willing to move here."
After that, they would be given a share of the shipping business on their respective waterways, based on their performance. What do you think? How much would be appropriate?
Shan Wudao said, "In the past, the river gods did not pay much to the mountains and rivers of Canglan."
“Then let those who contribute their labor get 20% of the shares,” Ji Rong said. “The state is too dilapidated. Not only will we need to invest a lot in the early stages, but the wealth we earn in the future may have to be used to fill the dikes.”
Qing Guanzi nodded and said, "That's right."
Choosing cultivators to migrate to the tribe to manage the river is not as easy as choosing treasures, and must be done with caution. Therefore, Ji Rong decided to choose them herself.
Without a word or telling anyone, she transformed into a common bird named "Ji Da" wearing a white dragon ring, and wandered through various states and rivers.
As the land of Kyushu prospered, this prosperity gave rise to many minor reforms at the grassroots level. Although the system was also becoming more and more perfect, it was always lagging behind and could not be perfect from the very beginning.
Ji Rong quietly observed the character and demeanor of the cultivators from various places. When she met someone she thought was good, she would spend some time with them and get to know them. Then she would whisper in their ear that she had some connections and ask if they had ever thought about managing a river elsewhere.
"Go elsewhere to manage the river? Ji Da, where should we go?"
Ji Rong said mysteriously, "It is Buzhou."
“So it’s Buzhou.” On the Dan River in Liangzhou, Ni Sha, a Xuanling Realm white carp cultivator with tenacious vitality and a penchant for sticking to the mud, shook his head repeatedly and said, “I’m not going, I’m not going!”
Ji Da, our clan is not good at fighting, and besides, our Liangzhou region is already quite good.
Our Lord Baosheng sent many cultivators to the Canglan Mountains and waterways to learn how to open up river transport. Now our clan can also queue up and transport goods once a month to earn some wealth.
When there's no work, we go to that cool pool cave to plant medicinal herbs. We get food and wages for it, and we're very content with this life now.”
"Although Lord Baosheng is kind and benevolent, you are not of high status here."
The Dan River is becoming increasingly crowded. Few of your tribe members have attained enlightenment. In the past, many have suffocated in the mud trying to avoid larger tribes. Don't you think about your tribe and want to fight for it?
Ji Rong looked at her and stretched out the three claws on his wings, saying, "As long as you go there, you will not only be able to monopolize a river, but also get a share of the river's future profits."
The river now possesses spiritual energy; all you need to do is clean up the silt. I only told you this confidential information because I know you're a good person. Why do you insist on wasting your time here, living a life with no path to advancement?
"Master Ji, don't try to persuade me anymore, I'm not going!" The white carp cultivator, Ni Sha, shook his head firmly.
Seeing her determination, Ji Rong could not force her to stay, and she continued to search for her next target on the Dan River.
However, before Ji Rong could find the next one, Ni Sha came looking for her. This time, her head and body were swollen, and some of her tail fins were swept away.
Ji Rong looked at her miserable appearance and said, "It's only been a few days, how did you end up like this? Did someone beat you up?"
Ni Sha stared at the swollen face and nodded, saying, "Yes, the other day I wanted to earn more money, so I bought a lot of goods and transported them along the river."
The cargo was too heavy, and they didn't pay much attention to the road. They took a wrong turn and entered the fast-swimming path, where they were then hit by the Blue Fish Clan.
The goods spilled, the wages were gone, and we're even losing money. Rather than toiling away here, barely scraping by to pay off our debts, I'd rather go with you to Buzhou and try my luck there.”
Hearing this, Ji Rong was pleased and praised, "Good for you, Ni Sha! You have ambition! I will summon Lord Baosheng right away and ask him to allow me to take you to Xuewan River in Buzhou to clear the silt. I will also provide some food to prepare a farewell feast for you."
Ni Sha's little brain was full of scenes of being mistaken for other fish cultivators, and he didn't notice that Ji Rong's address to Baosheng Jun was too casual. He also didn't bother to think about why someone from a small clan like his could have Baosheng Jun host a farewell banquet for him.
When Baoshengjun arrived, he was so busy spraying water, kowtowing, and consuming the spiritual treasures that he didn't notice Baoshengjun's respectful attitude towards "Ji Da" at all.
When "Ji Da" took out a finely crafted cage and carried his entire clan away, he belatedly realized that Ji Da, who wore a white dragon ring, was probably just a wealthy bird with no real background.
They arrived at Xuewan River at the foot of the Niannu Mountains. Ji Rong put the Nisha clan into the water, and then transformed into a radiant phoenix, saying, "Now that we're here, you can no longer call me 'Master Ji,' you must call me Lord Ji."
After saying that, Ji Rong, under Ni Sha's astonished gaze, said to the dragon-patterned ornament on her neck, "Little White, call the mountain python to come and work with us."
Then the jade pendant moved, stretched its limbs, and landed on "Ji Da's" neck, transforming into a real dragon. This real dragon flew away like mist, and soon brought back a large python that shimmered with golden light.
The python approached "Ji Da" and respectfully bowed to him. Then it opened its mouth, spat out a python-shaped seal, and darted into the river like a golden phantom.
As white mist rose, Ji Rong's roots penetrated the dried-up spiritual veins beneath the Snow Bay River, drawing some source water from the place where the mountain python had passed. After tying its head and tail together, it returned to its original form and handed a storage ring to Ni Sha, saying, "Alright, Ni Sha, from this day forward, you are in charge of this Snow Bay River. You must lead your people to quickly clean up the silt in the river and maintain the peace of this area."
If you encounter any difficulties or injustices, swim westward to Bitter Water Lake. There, you will find Shan Zhongfeng, the chief administrator of the prefecture. He will arrange supplies for you and support you.
You live near Bitterwater Lake, so remember to set a date to go there monthly to report on your work.
Having said that, Ji Rong calmed her mind and merged her three bodies into one.
She raised her wing claws, grasped the air roots that grew from beneath her wings, used the roots as a brush and the source of her inner energy as ink, and gently carved in divine language on the face of the fish called Ni Sha: "Ni Sha, the master of the Xuewan River in the Niannu Mountains of Buzhou."
Ni Sha felt a slight stinging and itchy sensation on her face, and her mind became much clearer.
At the bottom of the Xuewan River, with the influx of the source, the seeds that had been dormant for many years began to sprout. Ni Sha watched Ji Rong walk away and finally realized at this moment that he had reached the most precious moment in his life and had become rich.
The golden patterns on her face swirled for a few breaths before disappearing into her flesh. However, when Nisha stroked her face with her fins, one could still vaguely sense the sacredness emanating from the characters on her face.
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