Chapter 566: Spring Sowing and the Price of Growth

Zhao Ze was fuming. “Even if we catch someone alive, it won’t matter. Su Feng Squad is thick as thieves with the territory managers. Whatever punishment they get will be a slap on the wrist.”

Yue Haiying tried to steady everyone. “Territory policies are tied to our nation’s food security. This invasion is the first major, serious case since the policy began and the casualties were severe. They’ll definitely make an example out of this. Right now, our top priority is breeding new crops. Has everyone received their rice seeds?”

Everyone nodded in response.

Xia Qing spoke up. “Qi, can you tally up how many pounds of rice seed we’ve collected in total?”

“Already done!” Qi Fu flipped open a little notebook. “Qing, you’ve got 2.5 pounds. Section Four got 4.5. Six and I each took 10.5, Section Fifteen got 9.5. That’s 37.5 pounds total. Add the 40 pounds of rice you swapped for, and with a 40% germination rate, that’s equal to 31 pounds of usable seeds. These evolution-era rice grains are way bigger than before the Cataclysm. With the transplanting method shown in the tutorial video, our two acres in the valley won’t even need all this.”

The 40 pounds of premium rice seeds Xia Qing exchanged with Zhang San were even better quality than the ones Fire Phoenix used as compensation for the other lords. Of course, those would be started in the valley too.

Xia Qing clarified that the rice from her trade came with strings attached—she was only allowed to plant it herself. After the rice ripens in June or July, she’d be free to use it in swaps. The alliance lords were more than happy to hear it.

Xia Qing nodded. “Conditions are different now. The atmosphere, soil, everything’s changed since the Cataclysm. The video isn’t enough. Territory Seven is also starting rice this spring. I’ve sent a request to Third Brother; our alliance can send two people over to visit and learn.”

This great news left everyone in high spirits. Xia Qing asked, “Who do you think should go?”

Zhu Li spoke first. “I’ve got to take care of Old Kuang and things are hectic here. Besides, I probably wouldn’t learn much anyway.”

Zhao Ze chimed in. “Same here. I’m worried I won’t pick it up and end up screwing things up for everyone.”

Yuan Yan raised her hand. “I’d like to go—what does everyone think?”

Qi Fu and Yuan Yan’s plots always had the best crops, so she made a great candidate. Plus, she was a Magnetic Sense evolver—perfect for the job. Everyone agreed.

Section Five claimed a spot. Sections Four and Six passed. Xia Qing was too busy, so the other slot had to go to either Section Ten or Fifteen.

Before Shizhong could speak, Yue Haiying said, “We don’t have anyone suitable. What about you, Shi?”

Shizhong consulted the group. “How about my wife goes? She knows her stuff better and she’s in good health. Sound good to everyone?”

Madam Shi, a Strength-Based Evolution, had solid resistance and farming skills. She could transplant rice in the valley once she learned. No one raised any objections.

Once they settled on who was going, they also picked Qi Fu, Shi Du and Yu Shou to install the grow lamps. Then the alliance moved on to the next item.

Xia Qing led off. “To get good seedlings, aside from proper temperature and rich soil, there’s one more key factor: handling the Devastation Rain period.”

“When the Devastation Rain hits, the Devastation Element in the air skyrockets. Even if the seedlings don’t mutate, their element levels still rise, dropping quality. Right now, there are two ways to lower Devastation Element during the rains: Yi Stone and ventilation filtration equipment.”

Everyone was familiar with greenhouse air filters, but aside from Yue Haiying and Zhu Li, the rest had never heard of Yi Stone before.

Xia Qing gave a detailed rundown about Yi Stone, leaving the group of lords in awe. No one had expected Blue Star’s evolution to produce something so valuable.

After her explanation, Qi Fu spoke up. “Our seedling area isn’t sealed up, so an air filter wouldn’t work.”

Zhu Li, working hard to keep up, asked, “Sister Qing, is using Yi Stone cheaper, or building a closed space with filters?”

Xia Qing turned to Zhao Ze. “Zhao, is it possible to build a fully enclosed greenhouse in the valley?”

Zhao Ze answered, “If we want full closure top to bottom, we’d need to block the ground and all cracks. In theory, it’s doable, but not in time. I’ll crunch the numbers before the next meeting.”

Xia Qing nodded, then answered Zhu Li’s question. “We’re raising seedlings to plant outdoors in the end. That means we just need to keep the seedlings safe from high Devastation Element during the rains. For that, using Yi Stone is cheaper than building a closed greenhouse with air filtering. But if we ever want to grow specialty crops that need protection from Devastation Element their whole life, then Yi Stone won’t cut it.”

Zhu Li nodded right away, making sure to remember every point Xia Qing explained.

Yi Stone counted as a rare and precious resource, so Yue Haiying asked, “Xia Qing, can you get your hands on some? If not, I can try.”

Xia Qing nodded. “I’ve got a way. Actually, I want to talk prices with everyone today. To cover our valley, we’d need to evenly place two pigeon egg-sized pieces of Yi Stone. That’s the only way the seedlings can stay safe. The current going rate? One mid-grade, pigeon egg-sized Yi Stone goes for 200,000. Buying isn’t worth it—that’s why I suggest renting. Each stone’s test run lasts two months, but we’ll just rent them for three days for safety’s sake. Total rent: 20,000. Sound fair?”

Zhao Ze chuckled. “If Xia Qing’s okay with it, then I’m in too.”

Under their agreement, the cost for breeding would be split based on each territory’s share of seeds. This time, they totaled 87.5 pounds. Xia Qing provided 42.5, so she’d pay just over 10,000 of the rental. Zhao Ze’s share was barely over a thousand.

Xia Qing grinned as well. She was good with it—after all, the Yi Stone they’d be ‘renting’ was the same stone she’d traded from the Wolf Pack. At city rates, all the rent ended up back in her own pocket.

Qi Fu, quick as ever, checked with Xia Qing, “Will we only get the Yi Stone for this one rental, or can we count on having it for future Devastation Rain periods too?”

Xia Qing didn’t make any promises. “We should be good this year.”

Shizhong figured out what Qi Fu was thinking. “Once we finish raising rice seedlings, if we can still borrow a Yi Stone to protect crops from the Devastation Rain, then we can plant the valley full of that premium Green Lantern crop!”

According to the agreement, everyone shared the two acres of valley farmland during the seedling stage. Once that ended, an acre west of Pure Spring belonged to Xia Qing. The acre east of it was divided among Sections Four, Five, Six, Ten and Fifteen—each got two-tenths.

Third Brother? He was an elite. His territory had several standardized greenhouses. No way did he care about an acre and a third inside a cave.