Chapter 416: A Great Harvest

"A great harvest today! A great harvest, truly a great harvest!" Third Third Shixiong carried the spirit wood, looking extremely proud, chanting as he walked.

"Less talking while working." Eldest Third Shixiong also carried a piece of spirit wood larger than himself.

"Aiya, as expected of the Temple Master, you certainly have a wide reach!" Third Third Shixiong shook his head, "It's a pity that I, this Daoist, have left the mountain and am no longer a disciple of your Fuqiu Temple!"

"……"

"By the way, you certainly can't use up this much spirit wood. Even if you take it back to the temple, you won't use it all up in several generations. You definitely can't store it all either. It's best to take it to seek the Mountain God, and have the Mountain God help find a treasure land with abundant spiritual energy to bury it in, so as to ensure the spiritual aura of so much spirit wood doesn't dissipate. When you need to use it in the future, just go and dig it up." Third Third Shixiong said, "You can use the desserts written in Little Ma Shidi's cookbook as offerings. Be sincere when making them, don't cut corners. If Mountain God Grandfather tastes them and is pleased, he will surely agree to your request."

"I know."

"Bloody battles bring full granaries, today we return home to report peace……"

Third Third Shixiong continued to chant as he walked, his mood excellent.

Lin Jue was much the same—

The hardness of this Longevity Wood actually surpassed the Ten Thousand Year Floating Iron Wood gifted to him by the Mountain God. One must know that Longevity Wood itself is not famous for its hardness; the reason it is an excellent material for making Bean Soldiers is mainly due to its spiritual aura and the mysterious ability to self-repair after being slightly damaged.

Therefore, what was obtained today was Longevity Wood that surpassed Ten Thousand Year Floating Iron Wood in hardness alone, could self-repair, and came from a grass-and-tree Many Yaoguai King who had attained the Dao; its spiritual aura was incomparably abundant.

It could almost be said that "it has immortal energy on it."

It is hard to imagine how powerful Bean Soldier armored warriors or even Long Bo giants made from such Longevity Wood would be.

And Lin Jue's harvest was even greater than theirs—

Earth Many Yaoguai Pills, the method of taking life and granting longevity, the fully accumulated merit, and these ten-thousand-year Longevity Immortal Woods.

The only flaw was that the most precious wood heart was still inside the golden light barrier.

However, the wood heart is the essence of a grass-and-tree spirit, and not to mention that Wang Mu of the West has not yet completely died, such a treasure was not something they should have obtained in the first place. Regardless of merit or strength, they could not have obtained Wang Mu of the West's wood heart, so this applies to what Eldest Third Shixiong said: "Contentment brings happiness."

"How does Ma Shidi intend to use it?"

"Naturally, to carve Bean Soldiers, to give the heroes a place to reside." Lin Jue replied, "What about Third Third Shixiong?"

"The same. First, give those hero remnants a place to reside, and later, if there is time, I can replace the statues of other Bean Soldiers." Third Third Shixiong said, "Anyway, there is still a long time ahead."

"When I am free, I intend to do the same."

Lin Jue nodded, feeling that Third Third Shixiong's words made sense.

After all, if one calculates carefully, the current Bean Soldier armored warriors, except for the first twelve, have only been refined for a year or two, or even less, with some only a few months. Although re-refining is very time-consuming, if he waits until he attains the Dao, he will have plenty of time. Compared to that long remaining life, this bit of time is nothing.

Moreover, as his cultivation increases in the future, the efficiency of refining will also be higher. Bean Soldiers that previously took a year or two or several years to refine might only need a few months or even a dozen days to be re-refined to that level.

Other spirit woods might not be worth it, but encountering this Longevity Immortal Wood that has attained the Dao makes it worth doing so.

Longevity Immortal Wood is truly rare and hard to find; he probably won't encounter better spirit wood in the future.

"Other Daoist priests, do you have any thoughts of practicing my 'Method of Carving Beans into Soldiers'? If you do, please curry favor with me, this Daoist. I will carve a few Bean Soldiers for you along the way, make some armor and weapons, and when you learn, you can directly refer to them. After you learn, when you find suitable remnants, you can directly use my statues first; it's better than you starting by making crude ones." Third Third Shixiong said, "After refining for a period of time, they can protect the Dao and defend the body."

"……" Seventh Third Shixiong thought for a moment, did not answer, but said, "Third Shixiong, the other Shixiongs have just arrived, and haven't properly listened to your stories yet. It's better to listen to you talk about your experiences first."

"Forget it if you don't want to!"

Third Third Shixiong immediately quieted down.

Just at this moment, a white egret suddenly flew over and landed on the wood Lin Jue was carrying on his shoulder.

"Eh?"

Lin Jue put down the spirit wood and took off the letter bag and letter paper.

A burst of pungent ink fragrance, a piece of elegant small regular script.

Several Shixiongs stopped accordingly; the Long Bo giant, the Cloud Leopard and big wolf, and the numerous Bean Soldiers all stopped.

"What is it?"

Fourth Third Shixiong asked with concern.

"Nothing, nothing at all, it's a letter sent by Daoist Jiang." Lin Jue had a strange expression, "She knows we are practicing the Method of Carving Beans into Soldiers and need spirit wood, and also knows we suffered losses, so she specially went to ask True Lord Husheng Zhenjun Baosheng for some high-quality spirit wood yesterday, saying she wants to send it to us in Zhang Ziyun. Then she said a word of thanks, and a few words of polite concern."

Lin Jue paused as he spoke, looking down at the letter paper:

"Finally, she also said that the war between the True Lord and the Many Yaoguai King has ended, so our war has also ended. If there is nothing else, we can leave or return to the capital."

"Daoist Jiang is very thoughtful." Eldest Third Shixiong said steadily.

"A Daoist priest from the Profound Heaven Sect of Qiyun Mountain, who worships Southern divine beings, asking True Lord Husheng Zhenjun Baosheng for spirit wood—even with merit, I'm afraid it wouldn't be easier than it was for us." Third Third Shixiong said with a smile, "Very thoughtful."

"Very thoughtful." Seventh Third Shixiong also smiled.

"Are you going to split this equally too?" Fourth Third Shixiong asked naively.

Lin Jue did not respond, but just put away the letter paper, picked up the spirit wood, and continued on his journey.

The large group also started moving again because of this.

Only then did Lin Jue ask: "What do you Shixiongs intend to do? Return to the capital or return to the mountain?"

"I must return to the mountain. Although I have preached the scriptures and taught the Dao, there are still two children on the mountain, and I must return to look after them." Eldest Third Shixiong said.

"It's different when you become a Temple Master." Third Third Shixiong said.

"I also have to go back. My disciple is still young and is still on Fuqiu Peak, let Yu Yin and Yu Yang take care of him." Second Third Shixiong said.

"It's different when you become a Master." Third Third Shixiong said again. "I have to go to the capital for a trip. While the chaotic times haven't arrived yet, I have to go see the prosperity of the capital." Seventh Third Shixiong said.

"The chaotic times have already arrived. The northern military towns have already sent troops south, but they must keep a portion of their strength to guard against the northern Great Foot. It is said that the imperial court, led by General Cui, has blocked them at Grass Sea Pass with heavy troops, but looking at this situation, it won't be able to block them for long." Lin Jue said.

"Then we must hurry." Seventh Third Shixiong said, looking around, "Should the other Shixiongs also go for a stroll? It's not far anyway."

"Good." Sixth Third Shixiong said, "It's just right to avoid those people from Huizhou."

"Can do." Fifth Third Shixiong also said.

"My good friends……" Fourth Third Shixiong hesitated.

"Xiao Shimei lives on Fengshan, which has a large area of mountain forest. The demons that the seniors in the temple got to know in the past live there. Why should Third Shixiong worry about having nowhere for your good friends to play and hunt?" Lin Jue said, "It's better to go to the capital to see. After I return from this trip to the capital, I will also have to go on a few long journeys."

"Fine."

Fourth Third Shixiong then had no objections.

Everyone had a premonition—

This might be the last glimpse of prosperity before the chaotic times.

【System Note: Content omitted for brevity】

The next glimpse will probably be the next dynasty.

……

When they returned to Zhang Ziyun, the Daoist priests of Zhen Yu Jian Gong had already arrived.

"I heard that Lord An of the Gathering Immortal Mansion and Daoist Friend Fan were unfortunately harmed by demons in Jiguang County. Sigh, Lord An had great righteousness, and Celestial Master Fan had great righteousness, especially since Celestial Master Fan is buried outside Jiguang County, we naturally have to go and pay a visit." Daoist Daoist Qingxuan said to them, "It's further to go from Le Tian's side. It's just right, we can send the spirit wood to Daoist Friend Lin along the way."

Lin Jue saw that piece of spirit wood.

It was also very huge. It is said that they used the transportation talisman of the Talisman Sect to transport it over with the power of ghosts and gods.

And on this spirit wood, a pair of huge eyes were growing impressively.

"This is a piece from Wang Mu of the West's cheek. Although its spiritual aura is not as abundant as the wood heart, it is stronger than other main trunks." Daoist Jiang said calmly, "I don't know that several Daoist priests also went to ask True Lord Husheng Zhenjun Baosheng for spirit wood, so I first asked True Lord Husheng Zhenjun Baosheng for one piece. Although it is a bit redundant, since it has been obtained, several Daoist friends should distribute it yourselves."

"Not redundant! Not redundant!" Third Third Shixiong said, "Since it is a kind intention, there is absolutely no such thing as being redundant. Moreover, this piece of spirit wood is better than what we obtained."

"Hmm……"

Daoist Jiang did not say much.

Eldest Third Shixiong asked: "What is the situation now?"

"What situation?"

"In heaven and on earth."

"Naturally, as Daoist Brother sees, Emperor Zi Xu has completely broken with Lord Lord Tianweng, and is determined to win the position of the co-lord of the Nine Heavens gods and Buddhas." Daoist Daoist Qingxuan stood out and said, "Humans and gods coexist; heaven and earth are originally one body. The northern military towns naturally also sent troops south at the same time. It is hard to say who came first and who came later, and who borrowed whose momentum. In short, the northern army is also coming aggressively."

"Can the south be asked about?"

"This……" Daoist Daoist Qingxuan was a bit embarrassed, and turned to look at Sixth Third Shixiong, "Daoist Friend Huang probably knows better than us, right?"

"I only know about the underground, but heaven and earth probably aren't much different." Sixth Third Shixiong said, "The south is wealthy, but in terms of fighting, it is hard to compare with the north. If one wants to compete for the world, one must wait for a good opportunity."

"What if you can't wait?"

"Wait again!"

"Do the people in the capital know?" Seventh Third Shixiong asked.

"They know, and they don't know." Daoist Daoist Qingxuan replied, "The ducks know first when the spring river warms up. The people on the shore don't know, and the people in drunken dreams, busy with making a living, are even less sensitive."

"Sigh……"

Several people sighed.

"Eh? By the way, there is one thing. Daoist Friend Lin hasn't had much correspondence with the capital during this period, so you might not know, but we have been paying attention to the capital here, and knew it a step ahead of you. It's an interesting thing related to you." Daoist Daoist Qingxuan said.

"What thing?"

"Didn't you go to Jinping County last year, protect the people of a city, and then go to Leopard Forest to eliminate the Leopard King?" Daoist Daoist Qingxuan said, "The people know that 'True Man Lin' has the strongest magical power and contributed the most, so they specially built a temple and set up a statue for 'True Man Lin' outside Jinping County and Leopard Forest. It has already been built."

"Daoist Brother, you flatter me."

"What does the people's action have to do with me?" Daoist Daoist Qingxuan smiled, "If I didn't tell you, you would still hear about it when you return to the capital."

"How am I worthy of having a statue set up?"

"Why are you telling me, Daoist Friend? You should go tell the people."

"……"

Lin Jue thought for a moment, but didn't say anything.

He seeks freedom and longevity himself, so he naturally shouldn't have statues set up and temples built, but since they have already been built, tearing them down would be a waste.

At that time, he can let them change it into a Daoist temple or an ordinary temple. It just so happens that decades later, when there is another peaceful dynasty, there will be Daoist priests coming down from Fuqiu Peak, who are idle and have nothing to do, and it will be just right for them to live and practice in these Daoist temples.

This was originally the responsibility of the "Shishu" of Fuqiu Temple.

He has now also become a Shishu, so in this way, his responsibility as a Shishu can be considered completed.

And it was completed beyond the standard.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 417 =====