Fellow Daoist Yuankang was the top official of Jiuchuan County—the officially invested County God, Gu Yuankang.
After listening to Sun Qinghan’s words, how could the Daoists present, all of whom had entered the immortal path through the civil service examinations, fail to understand the implications?
They could not help feeling uneasy.
Now that the new Heavenly Edicts had been issued, it meant that many old precedents would have to be changed.
Some had yet to adjust their mindset, still holding a cautious attitude toward things from beyond the heavens: “Those not of our kind are sure to harbor different hearts.”
And now they were to connect with the world beyond the heavens? This…
“County God Qinghan, you mean to have this spirit orange planted on trial in our Jiuchuan?”
Liu Shichang asked, fine sweat already beading at his temples.
This was undoubtedly an experiment in reform.
To Sun Qinghan, it might be an attempt at political achievement, but to the Agricultural Spirit Office, it was an enormous challenge.
Especially for a principal person in charge like him—one slight mishap, and it could spell the end of his immortal path.
“Correct.”
Sun Qinghan folded her hands atop the desk. Her hair stirred slightly, and her tone was calm yet brooked no doubt.
“I have already consulted a master of plants and trees from the Zijin Grotto-Heaven on this matter.
Jiuchuan, and even the entire Lushan Blessed Land, is mostly composed of red spirit soil, which is highly suitable for the growth of citrus-type spirit plants.
Therefore, this matter will be entrusted to your Agricultural Spirit Office.
This time, I have brought a total of one hundred and fifty-six spirit orange saplings, which will be handed over to you for cultivation and research.”
When Sun Qinghan finished speaking, the government office fell utterly silent.
Everyone looked at one another, and in the end, all eyes turned toward Deputy Director Liu Shichang.
Liu Shichang braced himself and said,
“This matter is of great importance. Might we wait until Director Guo returns, discuss it carefully among ourselves, draft a proper plan, and then report to the county temple?”
This matter was a burden of immense weight.
This new County God was determined to forge ahead in pursuit of merit, but they could not so easily allow themselves to become experimental pawns.
Leaving aside the saying that oranges grown in the south become trifoliate oranges in the north, whether spirit plants from beyond the heavens could survive in Dongsheng Tianxia and maintain their quality was still unknown.
Just agreeing to this matter meant that during this County God’s tenure, they would have to produce results.
If they could not, then they would have delayed a major county initiative, and someone would have to shoulder the responsibility.
Who would that be? Naturally, the one who had approved it.
For such an important matter, how could he, a mere deputy director, dare decide on his own? The proper director had to be the one to take the lead.
That was why he said they needed to wait for Director Guo Shanshan to return before discussing it.
But Sun Qinghan said, “There is no need to wait for Fellow Daoist Guo to return. I am discussing this matter with all of you on behalf of the county temple. The official document will be issued in the coming days.”
Liu Shichang’s heart shook violently.
On behalf of the county temple? That meant County God Gu and the other key officials of the county temple had all already approved it?
This newly parachuted-in female County God actually had such influence?
She had only just taken office, yet she could already unite the opinions of everyone in the county temple and directly issue a mandatory official document?
Wasn’t it said that only the top official held absolute authority?
How had the Deputy County God ended up making decisions for the proper County God?
Was this really the second-in-command?
Between the proper County God Gu Yuankang and the Deputy County God Sun Qinghan, who also concurrently held the post of Land God, who exactly was the true master of the county?
As thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind, Liu Shichang forced out a smile. “This… after the meeting, this subordinate will immediately send a jade slip to Director Guo and report this matter clearly.”
“Mm.” Sun Qinghan nodded slightly, then rose. “It is still early. In that case, let us go take a look at the observation fields of the Agricultural Spirit Office. I hear there is a master hand with plants and trees in the office, known as Elder Huo? This is a good opportunity to pay him a visit and hear his esteemed opinion.”
Since she had risen, everyone in the government office naturally stood up in a flurry as well, surrounding her as they left the office and headed straight for the observation fields.
……
Inhale—
Stepping into Spirit Field C-3, Qin Chuan stood amid a patch of spirit mushrooms and drew in a deep breath. Dense particles of spiritual qi surged into his body like a tide, more than three times richer than at Mr. He’s home. He could not help murmuring in admiration,
“Public spirit fields really are not something those scattered spirit sites outside the wards can compare to.”
Over the past ten days, he had already condensed nearly one hundred thousand spiritual qi particles. He had tried again and again to break through, attempting to transform spirit particles into spirit waves, but had failed repeatedly. Instead, he had wasted quite a bit of spiritual qi during the compression process.
Now, standing in this place brimming with spiritual aura, he subconsciously circulated his qi according to the route of the newly acquired Peiyuan Art. Within his body, there was faintly a throbbing sensation of breaking through a barrier.
“Could it be that the reason I was unable to break through before was because I lacked an orthodox mental cultivation method, and relying solely on the instinctive guidance of the Daoist register ultimately couldn’t bring me to the threshold?”
His thoughts spun swiftly, while the cultivation method had already begun naturally drawing along his divine sense, frantically seizing the surrounding spiritual vitality. Those one hundred thousand spirit particles trembled in response, spreading like mist, as though about to burst out through his body—
This was… a breakthrough?
But Qin Chuan’s heart jolted, and he forcibly suppressed the impulse.
This was the Agricultural Spirit Office, a public field. How could he treat a breakthrough as a trifling matter?
Even if he were ninety percent certain, he absolutely could not take the risk here.
If someone harbored ill intentions and disturbed him even slightly, the consequences would be unimaginable.
His gaze swept swiftly over the other Daoists along the field ridges.
Though perhaps it was the caution of a petty man, since he had stepped onto the Dao path, he had to maintain twelve parts vigilance toward everyone.
In the sea of officialdom, fortune and disaster were hard to predict. The slightest carelessness could lead to eternal damnation.
Fortunately, the other Daoists were all several mu away, and no one noticed the movement on his side.
“Although I won’t break through, I may as well take the chance to absorb more spiritual qi.”
While bending down to inspect the growth of the red spirit mushrooms, seeing that they grew from decaying wood, were deep crimson in color, and had uneven buds, he secretly circulated the Peiyuan Art, continuing to accumulate spirit particles.
A breakthrough consumed a great deal of spiritual vitality. The more he stored up now, the greater his certainty would be.
Though it did rather seem like fleecing public resources, this sort of thing was just like turning on the company air conditioning at work in summer—if he did not use it, it would only go to waste.
Just as his mind relaxed slightly, he suddenly sensed something and abruptly raised his head. He happened to see a group of people walking toward the observation fields.
“They really came.”
He immediately restrained his breathing and focused his mind. Following Elder Huo’s earlier instructions, he not only stopped absorbing and exhaling qi, but also did his utmost to conceal his own aura, blending it with the surrounding plants and trees.
The other fire-worker Daoists and field helpers also noticed, and one after another held their breath and lowered their heads, pretending to be busy, not daring to slack off in the slightest.
The new County God had personally come to inspect the place. If any fault were found, the punishment from the office would by no means be light.
The person at the head of the group wore black-and-white Daoist robes and had a cool, clear bearing. It was none other than the newly appointed County God, Sun Qinghan. Her steps were unhurried, and a smile rested at the corners of her lips like the first bloom of winter plum. She said to Elder Huo, who wore a straw hat,
“This must be Fellow Daoist Huo Yuanjue, yes? I am Sun Qinghan. Before I came to Jiuchuan, I had already heard that the county had a master hand with plants and trees. Today, I finally have the chance to meet you.”
Elder Huo had long since removed his hat and bowed, a modest smile squeezed between his wrinkles.
“County God Qinghan praises me too highly. I would never dare accept the title of master hand with plants and trees. I merely have a bit more experience tending spirit plants than others.”
“Elder Huo is too modest.”
Sun Qinghan did not exchange many pleasantries, cutting straight to the point.
“Just now, I discussed a matter with the fellow Daoists of the office. Elder Huo, you might as well listen as well…”
Her voice was clear and steady. Liu Shichang at her side immediately took over, explaining the matter to Elder Huo. His face bore an amiable smile, completely different from the solemnity he had shown during the earlier discussion.
Huo Yuanjue lowered his head and stroked his beard as though deep in thought, but a faint, almost imperceptible gleam flashed through his eyes.
“What a troublesome matter…”
Having spent so many years in official affairs, how could he fail to hear the crux within?
The first fire the new County God lit upon taking office was to push through sweeping new policies, and the first place it burned was the Agricultural Spirit Office.
If this matter of trial-planting spirit oranges was not handled well, then for the next several years, or even the next dozen, the Agricultural Spirit Office would have no peaceful days.
“What is Elder Huo’s opinion?” Sun Qinghan’s gaze was bright and clear, as though it could illuminate the human heart.
Huo Yuanjue raised his head and slowly answered, “Jiuchuan’s soil is indeed suitable for planting citrus-type spirit fruits. County God Qinghan’s insight is truly keen.
However, there are still several difficulties:
First, foreign spirit seeds are prone to insect infestations, and there is as yet no precedent for preventing and treating them;
Second, this type of spirit fruit requires abundant rainfall, and may even require spirit rain for irrigation…”
He first praised the County God’s plan, then listed the difficulties, leaving himself some room in his words.
“I will resolve the matter of spiritual qi. As for the other technical difficulties, I trust that everyone in the Agricultural Spirit Office will be able to overcome them.”
Sun Qinghan, however, seemed to have seen through everyone’s thoughts long ago and allowed no evasion. She then asked,
“How much empty land remains in the observation fields? Which plots are most suitable for planting the ‘Liuxiang orange’?”
Liu Shichang was quite familiar with this and had already prepared. He immediately replied,
“Reporting to the County God, the observation fields currently have six mu of empty land remaining. Two mu in Field C-3, and four mu in Field B-2. The plot before us is Field C-3.”
As he spoke, he led the group to the field Qin Chuan was responsible for.
Sun Qinghan stepped onto the field ridge, her gaze falling on the two empty mu of red soil. “These two mu are the red spirit soil suitable for citrus?”
Liu Shichang and Huo Yuanjue exchanged a glance, both seeing the bitterness in each other’s eyes. They could only answer, “Yes.”
“Who is responsible for this place?” Sun Qinghan suddenly asked.
Huo Yuanjue’s heart skipped. He had been afraid that the newly arrived fire-worker Daoist would make a mistake and had specifically told him to keep away. Who would have thought that by a twist of fate, they would run right into him?
Composing himself, he replied, “It is a fire-worker Daoist named Qin Chuan. He only just…”
But before Sun Qinghan let him finish, her gaze had already fallen deep within the spirit mushroom field.
Onto a young man bending over behind a tree stump, loosening the soil.
She paused slightly, then looked at him once more and softly praised,
“This person has rather fine talent.”