Unlimited priesthood

Chapter 133 Intelligence
A year later, in the thatched hut.

Shen He, with his five hearts facing the primordial, hovered above the bamboo couch, his body surging with spiritual energy, faintly displaying five-colored radiance, making him appear ethereal and otherworldly, as if he could ascend to immortality at any moment.

After an unknown period of time, the spiritual light entered the body and permeated the five internal organs. A strange power was generated, which did not conflict with the Qi Yuan, but instead merged with it, forming a unique Qi Yuan magic power.

Martial Arts Stage 3, the Realm of罡元 (Gāngyuán).

The second stage of the Immortal Path, the realm of cultivation.

The power of the罡元 (Gāngyuán) magic allows one to cultivate both immortal and martial arts.

Xingyiquan Gong and the Five Elements Method, the basic techniques of these two major systems of martial arts and immortality, can be cleverly practiced together, combining the power of immortality and martial arts in one person. Not only do they not conflict, but they complement each other.

Shen He opened his eyes, which were clear and ethereal, exuding a sense of otherworldly grace.

"Magic power was fully cultivated in one year!"

"Although he has absorbed a lot of spirit stones and taken some low-level pills, his progress as a pseudo-spiritual root body is extraordinary and can be described as astonishing."

Shen He sighed, then stood up, took out two black iron scythes from his storage bag, and stepped out of the thatched hut.

Outside the thatched hut, the golden rice fields stretched as far as the eye could see. It was the ten acres of spiritual rice fields he was cultivating. The golden rice stalks were bent low by the full ears of grain, and even before the harvest, the aroma of spiritual rice filled the fields.

A bumper harvest! A great harvest!

Although it was only a year, thanks to the spirit-gathering effect of the secluded cultivation ground, as well as the farming techniques and spirit farming spells downloaded and learned from the human empire, the ten acres of spirit fields yielded a bountiful harvest under Shen He's careful care.

Compared to his surroundings, his spirit rice was even more striking. Even though other martial cultivators diligently irrigated their fields with fertilizer and water, the spirit rice that grew in his field was still shorter than the rice in his field.

It can be concluded that there will be a significant difference in yield and quality after harvesting.

However, this disparity did not attract much attention.

This is the effect of a secluded retreat.

It subtly reduces its own presence, silently gathers spiritual energy to enhance itself, and hides various changes. Even if it cannot hide them, it will change perceptions, allowing followers to give themselves a reason to convince themselves to stop paying attention.

Shen He has conducted research in this area.

The rice in his field is growing so well that anyone with eyes can tell there's something wrong with it.

But despite the problems, these people didn't cause him any trouble, nor did they intend to investigate the issue further.

why?
Because they found their own answer, believing that it was only because of his good farming skills as a spirit farmer that the spirit rice grew well, and that there was no major problem.

This is a change in "cognition".

Is it because of good farming techniques that Lingdao (a type of rice) is good?

This seems like normal logic, but it doesn't make sense in the cultivation world. Because of the existence of "immortal destiny," cultivators are very sensitive to all kinds of strange occurrences. When they see something that is different from ordinary people, they should, in principle, be suspicious or even investigate.

But they didn't. They used a normal yet abnormal logic to convince themselves not to cause trouble for Shen He, and even ignored this anomaly.

This is the effect of a "secluded retreat".

Not only spirit fields, but also fishing. In the past year, Shen He has caught a lot of spirit fish in the spirit stream of Red Maple Valley. The value of these fish is not only thousands but also hundreds of spirit stones. If things continue as they are, even if it doesn't cause a sensation, it should attract the attention of those who are interested.

But not now. Everyone just thinks he's good at fishing, and Red Maple Valley just thinks he's a spiritual farmer who knows how to fish. That's all. There's no further development or strong suspicion.

This is the change in perception brought about by "seclusion"—a silent, subtle, and gradual change.

Such power is terrifying, because it silently changes people and even the world.

However, as a professional force, it is reasonable, since professions are inherently irrational and unconventional.

Of course, as a second-tier profession, its power is also limited; it can only conceal minor anomalies and change minor perceptions.

If Shen He were to grow a spirit rice plant that is tens of meters tall, or reveal his cultivation level and go on a killing spree, then even if he had the power of a hidden cultivator, it would not change people's perception of him.

This obvious anomaly, this crucial understanding, will not be changed, at least not by a second-tier profession.

In addition, those with high cultivation levels, such as Golden Core cultivators at the fifth level of the Immortal Path, can also offset such effects.

As for Foundation Establishment cultivators... the fact that Red Maple Valley didn't bother him is enough to show that Foundation Establishment cultivators are powerless to uncover the secrets of this secluded cultivation place.

Therefore, Shen He can now rest easy and enjoy his pastoral life in peace.

He wielded two sickles, charged into the field, and swept through it, transforming into a human harvester to harvest all ten acres of spirit rice.

During this time, there were also some petty thieves attracted by the spirit rice. They were all snakes, insects, rats and ants, and they possessed some spiritual energy, making them difficult for ordinary people to catch.

But faced with his scythe, they could only be mercilessly killed, their corpses stored in their storage bags, to be kept as a side dish or as bait.

In this way, the ten acres of spiritual fields were harvested in half a day.

Shen He gathered the harvested rice together, then made a hand seal to activate the internal energy of his body. Instantly, a beam of spiritual light flew out and enveloped the mountain of rice.

Spirit Plant Magic - Shedding the Shell Technique!

"Crash!"

Under the influence of the magic, tens of thousands of kilograms of spirit rice quickly shed their husks, separating the pearl-white spirit rice from the rough, yellowish-brown husks.

The second stage of the Immortal Path is the realm of cultivation, where one has already cultivated magical power and can cast spells.

The shedding technique in this spiritual plant method is one of them.

Although using magic to husk rice is a luxury for low-level cultivators, Shen He is not a low-level cultivator, so he doesn't care.

Tens of thousands of catties of spirit rice, after being husked, yielded 13,000 catties of white spirit rice, 18,000 catties of spirit rice husks, and 100 catties of yellow millet.

White Spirit Rice, needless to say, is the pearl spirit rice that Shen He planted in Dongting Lake. It contains a certain amount of spiritual energy. Although it is not as good as spirit stones, long-term consumption can still help with cultivation. Like spirit stones, it is a hard currency in the cultivation world.

Yellow millet is a variant of white spirit rice. It not only contains more spiritual energy but also slightly enhances the soul, which is helpful for cultivators establishing their foundation. After all, breaking through from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment requires condensing essence, Qi, and spirit, and using the "Three Elements Gathering at the Top" technique to solidify spiritual consciousness. Since yellow millet can enhance the soul and thus aid in Foundation Establishment, its value is far higher than that of white spirit rice; a hundred catties of it can be worth ten thousand catties.

In total, the year's hard work resulted in Shenhe harvesting 23,000 jin of Bailing rice.

A bumper harvest, an absolute bumper harvest!

It should be noted that the annual rent for these ten acres of spiritual fields in the contract with Red Maple Valley is only three thousand catties of white spiritual rice, while the actual yield should be between four and five thousand catties, or about five hundred catties per acre.

But Shenhe can now produce 1,300 catties per mu, with a total output of 13,000 catties, and has also grown yellow millet worth 10,000 catties. If such a yield were to be mentioned, it would surely shock the jaws of countless spiritual farmers in Red Maple Valley.

"After paying the rent, there are still 10,000 catties of white spirit rice and 100 catties of yellow millet left. We can consider using them for alchemy and brewing wine."

"White Spirit Pills and Yellow Millet Wine are hard currencies in the market, especially Yellow Millet Wine. I heard that a jar of it is worth half a Foundation Establishment Pill. I wonder if that's true?"

As he murmured to himself, Shen He took out a special bag of spirit rice and carefully put away the white spirit rice and the yellow millet rice. He also took the more than 10,000 catties of spirit rice husks, as well as the excellent materials for making fish bait.

After harvesting the spirit fields, Shen He checked the sky and then headed towards the spirit stream, intending to fish for two hours as usual.

Two hours later, it was already late.

Shen He carried the fish basket and, instead of returning to the thatched cottage, headed towards the market town in the center of Red Maple Valley.

Red Maple Valley, Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

"Brother Zhong, you're here to sell fish again!"

In the restaurant's kitchen, a ruddy-faced, burly man looked at Shen He, who was carrying a fish basket, and smiled warmly: "What good catch did you catch today?"

"It's nothing, just a little green dragon."

Shen He handed over the fish basket, and the man took it and saw a river shrimp lying inside. It was as thick as an arm, with bluish-black scales and long claws. It was a spirit shrimp of the "Gathering Spirit" level.

"Okay, I'll take it."

The man nodded, then turned to the shop assistant beside him: "Go to the counter and get twenty-five spirit stones for Brother Lai Zhong."

The shop assistant nodded and quickly brought over a small bag of spirit stones and handed it to Shen He.

"Please make your order."

"no need."

Shen He accepted the spirit stones without even glancing at them, then bid farewell to the burly man, saying, "Farewell!"

"Walk slowly!"

"..."

After leaving Zuixianlou, he went to the outskirts of the market, changed his appearance to that of a slightly fierce middle-aged man, and then went back to a tavern with bright red lanterns and singing and dancing girls.

It's called a restaurant, but it's actually...

"Sir, what do you need?"

A woman came forward, her alluring gaze and captivating manner evoking pity in me.

Shen He said calmly, "I want to find out some information."

"this way please!"

The woman didn't say much, but led him upstairs to a room: "What information do you wish to inquire about, sir?"

Shen He cut to the chase: "It's about a predestined connection with immortals!"

"Oh?"

The woman glanced at him: "Are there any conditions?"

"No."

Shen He shook his head: "Let's talk about the most troublesome ones among the three sects and five kingdoms recently."

"That's it."

The woman murmured something, then spoke: "The biggest incident involving immortals among the three sects and five kingdoms recently is the Dongting Fisherman in the mortal realm within the Chen Kingdom."

"The Old Fisherman of Dongting Lake?"

Shen He raised an eyebrow: "How so?"

"About a year ago, a rare spirit beast, the Nine-Star Dragon Carp, was born in Dongting Lake within the territory of Chen Kingdom. Many cultivators went there, and various forces also moved upon hearing the news. Even the two major Golden Core sects, Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain and Cloud Dragon Sect, sent Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Thus, as the winds and clouds gathered, a strange man appeared in Dongting Lake, calling himself the Dongting Fisherman. He first committed many major crimes in the five prefectures of Dongting, destroying several gangs and the cultivators behind them, and then clashed with the Golden Fish Gang under the Thunderbolt Sect."

"Finally, he used overwhelming force to kill Ding Shengji, the chief disciple of the Thunderbolt Sect and a Thunderfire Sword cultivator, with a single blow. He then fought a fierce battle with five Foundation Establishment cultivators before calmly leaving without a trace."

"All parties believed that he possessed a great destiny to the immortals, so they searched the entire Dongting Lake, but they could not find him anywhere. After half a year of entanglement, the matter was finally dropped."

The woman explained the whole story in her words.

"Such a person exists?"

Shen He feigned surprise: "And who will win the Nine-Star Dragon Carp?"

"No one has found it!"

The woman shook her head: "After the incident with the old fisherman, the Nine-Star Dragon Carp also disappeared without a trace. Several Foundation Establishment cultivators used their spiritual senses to scan Dongting Lake but found no trace of it. They had no choice but to give up. All the Foundation Establishment cultivators have returned, leaving only some low-level disciples and mortal forces to continue the search."

Shen He: “…”

(End of this chapter)