Seeing Luo Changsheng's stern expression, Cheng Xiaofan's heart bloomed with joy. This trick was really effective, saving him from being dragged onto the stage during tomorrow's ceremony.
"Grandpa Luo, you and Xueyun can wander around here. I need to rush to the back mountain to check on those monkeys!" Cheng Xiaofan said to Luo Changsheng.
Luo Changsheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Alright, Xiaofan, you go take a look. This is a big deal. We don't want those monkeys messing up when they come out!"
"By the way, Xiaofan, when the monkeys arrive tomorrow, what does the village need to prepare?"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, "I plan to divide those monkeys into two groups. One group will cut the rice, and the other will thresh it. The village needs to prepare sickles and threshing buckets."
"Also, prepare some fruits and things, so the monkeys can have something to eat to fill their stomachs during their break at noon!"
Luo Changsheng nodded and said, "Good, good, good, I know what to do!"
"Screech—"
At this moment, the Sky-Breaking Eagle, sensing something, flew to Cheng Xiaofan's side.
Cheng Xiaofan immediately leaped up, jumped onto the Sky-Breaking Eagle, and flew towards the back mountain.
Mei Xueyun watched as the person and the eagle disappeared into the sky. She immediately withdrew her gaze and said to Luo Changsheng, "Once the video of the monkeys cutting and threshing rice on the mountain tomorrow goes viral, it will surely shock the world and attract countless tourists to Zhuxi Village."
"This can bring a large amount of income to the villagers!"
Luo Changsheng sighed, "Indeed, ever since Xiaofan returned to the village, tremendous changes have occurred. This kid is remarkable!"
"Xueyun, give your father a call and tell him that we will officially start harvesting the rice on the terraced mountain tomorrow!"
"Okay, I'll call Dad right away!" Mei Xueyun said, her face beaming, and she took out her phone.
...
Meanwhile, Cheng Xiaofan had already arrived in the primeval forest of the back mountain.
Even before the Sky-Breaking Eagle took off, he had used his spiritual sense to inform Er Huang to gather the trained monkeys.
When Cheng Xiaofan dismounted from the Sky-Breaking Eagle, Er Huang and the other spirit eagle had already herded the monkeys into a clearing.
"Screech!"
Upon seeing Cheng Xiaofan arrive, the two spirit eagles, Da Huang and Er Huang, let out a long cry.
The more than a hundred monkeys immediately chattered and automatically divided themselves into two groups.
One group of monkeys held short sticks in their hands, while the other group held long bunches of grass in their arms.
Cheng Xiaofan understood at a glance. The short sticks represented sickles, and the bunches of grass represented the rice to be threshed in the threshing buckets.
Looking at the normally restless monkeys, they were acting in a surprisingly orderly and serious manner, as if they were actually working.
Clearly, the monkeys knew that Cheng Xiaofan was the central figure today, and they all focused their attention on him.
Their expressions were all respectful.
"Sky-Breaking Eagle, begin!" Cheng Xiaofan commanded.
"Screech—"
With a long cry from the Sky-Breaking Eagle, Er Huang also let out a sharp screech.
Upon receiving the command, the two groups of monkeys immediately began their respective actions.
The monkeys holding the short sticks quickly bent down, holding the long grass on the ground with one hand and swinging the short sticks to cut with the other. Although it was just a simulation, it was no different from farmers cutting rice in the fields.
The other group of monkeys swung the grass in their hands, mimicking the motion of threshing rice, with a very rhythmic feel.
Cheng Xiaofan had experience in both cutting and threshing rice.
And now, this scene was vividly unfolding before him again.
He couldn't help but curiously ask the Sky-Breaking Eagle, "Sky-Breaking Eagle, how did Er Huang and the others train the monkeys so proficiently to do this farm work?"
"Screech!"
The Sky-Breaking Eagle replied, "Master, besides foraging in the forest, Er Huang often flies to the reclaimed land to find food."
"They frequently see people working in the reclaimed areas, so they are naturally familiar with these tasks."
"These monkeys were all carefully selected by Er Huang. They are all quite smart and capable, learning quickly!"
Cheng Xiaofan nodded with satisfaction and said, "The two spirit eagles you found are truly excellent. Training these monkeys to this extent is something that ordinary humans could not achieve."
"Tell Er Huang to bring the monkeys to the terraced mountain of Nanshan Lake tomorrow to work!"
The Sky-Breaking Eagle replied, "Reporting to Master, I have already informed them!"
As a reward for Er Huang and the monkeys, Cheng Xiaofan took out two pieces of river monster meat from his spatial artifact and a large pile of pastries, scattering them on the ground for them to enjoy.
Er Huang didn't hesitate, each grabbing a piece of river monster meat and tearing into it.
The monkeys, upon seeing the pastries on the ground, chirped excitedly, picking up the pastries and stuffing them into their mouths, eating with great delight.
It wasn't until the sun began to set that Cheng Xiaofan returned to the bamboo pavilion in the back mountain.
He called the Sky-Breaking Eagle to his side and asked, "Sky-Breaking Eagle, I have a premonition that in the next few days, you might have a major breakthrough. Is that right?"
Last time in the desert oasis, the Sky-Breaking Eagle had received a spiritual pill from Shennong Emperor's remnant soul and had remained outwardly calm.
But Cheng Xiaofan knew very well that no matter where the Sky-Breaking Eagle carried him, it had never stopped cultivating and strengthening its energy.
Especially recently, Cheng Xiaofan had a strong feeling that the Sky-Breaking Eagle was about to break through.
Once the Sky-Breaking Eagle broke through, it could carry him beyond the stars, taking him to the deepest parts of the universe to find another self.
As long as he found his other self and they merged into one, just as Shennong Emperor's remnant soul had instructed the Sky-Breaking Eagle, he would become the second generation Shennong Emperor on this Earth.
It was for this reason that Cheng Xiaofan longed to find his other self.
The Sky-Breaking Eagle immediately responded, "Reporting to Master, what you said is absolutely correct. I also feel that I might have a major breakthrough soon."
"I believe that after I break through, I will indeed be able to carry Master across the stars, just as Shennong Emperor said!"
Cheng Xiaofan listened and happily patted the Sky-Breaking Eagle's head a few times, saying, "Sky-Breaking Eagle, you've worked hard."
"From today onwards, I will live in the bamboo pavilion in the back mountain every night, accompanying you and waiting for your breakthrough!"
"Thank you, Master!" the Sky-Breaking Eagle replied.
Cheng Xiaofan stood up and said, "It's getting late. I'll go back for a bit and report to Goddess Bai about my intention to stay in the back mountain!"
"Screech—"
The Sky-Breaking Eagle nodded and responded, "You go ahead!"
What an obedient Sky-Breaking Eagle!
Cheng Xiaofan descended from the pavilion and hurried back.
Upon arriving home, Bai Yiling and the others had already returned from the village office.
"Xiaofan, when I was leaving work earlier, I met Grandpa Luo. He repeatedly warned me that you shouldn't go out these few days!" Bai Yiling said to Cheng Xiaofan with a smile during dinner.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled and said, "I wasn't planning on going out these few days anyway!"