Qingfeng Villa now has thirty-six inner disciples, twelve hundred outer disciples, and one hundred thousand handyman disciples.
There are also tens of millions who do not have the title of disciple, calling themselves handymen, and over 7 billion mortals.
For over a hundred years, Yang Hong has been promoting the "Ten Martial Arts Techniques," and the region under the jurisdiction of Qingfeng Villa has truly achieved a state of universal cultivation, where everyone is like a dragon!
The tens of millions of Qi Refining realm disciples are all products of the "Ten Martial Arts Techniques."
Even without stepping onto the path of immortal cultivation, ordinary mortals can reach the Grandmaster realm of martial arts before the age of thirty, and become Great Grandmasters before fifty.
Those with even a little talent can break through to the Heavenly Human realm, and then switch to immortal cultivation, becoming an immortal cultivator.
Therefore, with just one command, tens of millions of cultivators arrived at Qingxun Plain to harvest the rice planted by Yang Hong.
In just three days, not only was the rice harvested, but the ground was also leveled using the Spirit Planting technique.
"Sect Master, according to your instructions, this rice can be planted in ordinary farmland. What should be the price, and should it be sold to mortals or cultivators?"
Looking at the rice being transported away continuously through the teleportation array, Gu Boji, the head of the internal affairs department, could not suppress his shock.
In a mere one hundred and forty-two days, the entire Qingxun Plain, spanning millions of miles, was filled with rice. Although not precisely measured, this rice amounted to at least a trillion piculs.
Now that they are growing it themselves, they definitely won't be able to consume it all, so how to sell it becomes a problem.
"Sell it directly to the human race's common people, at a low price, and accept only silver coins. It's best not to involve immortal cultivation sects. If any sect tries to interfere, only conduct a single transaction with them."
"Is that alright?"
"You just need to carry out my orders."
"Yes, disciple obeys."
Regarding Gu Boji's question, Yang Hong sternly ordered, giving them no chance to refute.
He had not forgotten the vast amount of merit gained from promoting high-yield seeds in the Great Sui Dynasty.
Although he had encountered many hardships and dangers on his journey, often losing cultivation or facing life-threatening crises, he always managed to turn misfortune into fortune, even benefiting from adversity.
The protection and resolution provided by merit were indispensable in this.
This rice seed had caused him to be burned by karma four times, implying a great cause and effect. If it were to be promoted widely, would the merit also be immense?
"Gu Boji, while you are selling the rice seeds, also collect all other mortal crop seeds you can find. I will continue to cultivate various grains and vegetable crops."
"Disciple understands, I have been carrying out the collection in this regard."
"Oh, has the food crisis worsened?"
Hearing Gu Boji's reply, Yang Hong's heart stirred, sensing an ill premonition.
"Yes, as the mortals' original grain reserves gradually dwindle, the human race across the entire continent has fallen into a food crisis; and various wild plants are beginning to mutate, with demonic beasts and wild beasts gradually lacking food, leading to situations where wild beasts and demonic beasts are rushing out of the mountains to attack humans."
"The food crisis is a crisis for all living beings in the Taiyuan Realm."
Gu Boji's expression grew more solemn as he spoke.
Although it was currently a crisis only for mortals, low-level cultivators, wild beasts, and low-level demonic beasts.
Once these foundational lower strata starved to death, they would face a fatal disaster for the immortal cultivation world.
Without the replenishment of fresh blood, after thousands upon thousands of years, the Taiyuan immortal cultivation world might even perish.
Thinking of this, Yang Hong asked again, "Have the Buddhist and Immortal sects taken any measures?"
"Yes, they have sent cultivators to guard the mortal realms, defending against wild beasts and demonic beasts while using Spirit Planting techniques to help mortals cultivate.
Although some progress has been made, it still cannot prevent the deepening of the food crisis."
"Have they found the source of the demonic energy?"
"No, the Buddhist and Immortal sects claim that the demonic energy is very faint but pervades the entire Taiyuan Realm, making it impossible to detect or prevent.
The Buddhist and Immortal sects have already requested help from the upper realms, but the specific response has not been announced."
"Hmm, I understand. Spread my words throughout the immortal cultivation world: any sect that cannot support its populace, Qingfeng Villa will take them in!
Promote this widely, this is a great opportunity to snatch population and disciples, do not miss it."
"Hehe, as long as you say so, Sect Master, the population of Qingfeng Villa will surely double and redouble."
Upon hearing Yang Hong's command, Gu Boji, who was once an emperor and understood the importance of population, became excited, preparing to undertake a grand undertaking.
"Alright, you may withdraw. I need to begin cultivating new grain crops."
"Yes! Disciple will leave now."
With that, Gu Boji began shouting for his disciples to hurry away.
Previously, he and many Qingfeng Villa disciples had witnessed the terrifying "closed-door cultivation" of the Sect Master outside the seven-colored barrier.
They had seen the foreign cultivators who had lingered there increase their cultivation, only to be struck down by heavenly tribulation, and those who survived were killed by accelerated time, turning into dust.
They had died so cleanly!
Now that the Sect Master was about to begin again, why linger and court death?
The Qingfeng Villa disciples quickly disappeared. Yang Hong first checked to ensure no disciples were lingering before taking out a grain of wheat and beginning a new round of planting.
...
In the Central Divine Continent, at the Heavenly Secret Sect, on a peak ten thousand feet high, a small mountain only eighty-eight feet tall was suspended upside down.
On the thousand-foot-wide flat surface atop the small mountain stood nine ancient and simple palaces.
Currently, the largest and most central palace, the Five Blessings Hall, was filled with cultivators, yet it was exceptionally quiet.
Suddenly, a white light flashed, and a figure slowly materialized on the white jade throne in the center of the palace.
*Clatter~*
All the cultivators, regardless of their cultivation level, knelt down, including the immortals who had descended earlier.
"Rise."
"..."
The figure exuded a brilliant white light and an unparalleled pressure. No mortal or immortal could stand up.
Seeing that no one could rise, the pale white figure nodded and said faintly.
"My cultivation is too high, and I cannot descend to the Taiyuan Star in person. I have investigated the situation you reported."
"It seems our plan with the Buddhist sect was detected by the demon race. Although they were constrained by our methods, they still used formations to transmit demonic energy to the Taiyuan Star."
"In response, our sect and the Buddhist sect have also used formations to transmit immortal and Buddhist energy. Now, the entire Taiyuan Star has formed a special barrier, preventing immortals, Buddhas, and demons from descending to the Taiyuan Star.
Resolve any issues yourselves."
After saying this, the pale white figure slightly withdrew its pressure, allowing the sweating mortals and immortals to begin breathing again.
Fairy Mingqin, the True Immortal with the highest cultivation among them, hurriedly asked,
"Venerable One, can we return to the Immortal Realm?"
"No, immortals cannot enter or exit. Only those who ascend normally can enter the upper realm."
Fairy Mingqin anxiously asked, "Ah~ are we being abandoned?"
"Do not worry, no immortal will abandon you. As long as you purify the demonic energy in the lower realm in a timely manner, you can return to the upper realm.
At that time, you will be exempt from three conscriptions in the war between immortals and demons."
"Thank you for your guidance, Venerable One."
Hearing this, Fairy Mingqin breathed a sigh of relief, while the Sect Master of the Heavenly Secret Sect, Tian Shu, quickly inquired,
"Immortal Master, the Taiyuan Realm is experiencing food problems. Do you have any solutions?"
"Hmph~ Why worry about the lives of mortal ants? You should focus on improving your cultivation in preparation for the war between immortals and demons!"
"Ah~ Yes, yes, yes, I understand."
Sect Master Tian Shu, bleeding from the corner of his mouth, dared not wipe it and quickly knelt to admit his mistake.
The pale white figure stayed for only a quarter of an hour, answered a few questions, and gave some instructions before disappearing and returning to the Immortal Realm.
The expressions of all the cultivators were dim and disappointed, while the immortals also sighed.
The Taiyuan Realm had been abandoned, abandoned openly and justifiably.
A sense of despair spread through the Immortal sects.