A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 184 Technology is the primary productive force in the spirit world

"The Xuanlei Sword Sect and the Xuanyuan Dao Sect are simply going too far, actually setting up a Daoist temple at the entrance of the Five Elements Sect!"

Inside the Green Wood Hall, Tian Ru's face turned red with anger as she spoke indignantly.

Both companies have planted a flag and stationed personnel permanently within the rebuilt Qingshui City...

The city lord of Qingshui City, Su Wan, said helplessly, "The excuses they gave were also very high-sounding. The scourge of the Sinful Clan is very serious, and the Five Elements Sect is in a mountain-sealing area. The seven sects are closely connected and are the guardians of the righteous path in the Northern Spirit Domain. We cannot just stand by and watch the righteous cultivators near the territory of the Five Elements Sect suffer from the poison of the Sinful Clan again."

"fart!"

Tian Ru lost her temper and cursed, "They were the ones who averted the disaster that befell the criminal clan that day?"

Li Weizhou cheerfully advised, "Master's wife, why be angry? I originally thought that prestigious sects like the Xuan Yuan Dao Sect and the Xuan Lei Sword Sect would have great vision and ambition, but now it seems they're nothing special. Just because they plant a couple of flags doesn't mean this place belongs to them. Don't worry, once my master comes out of seclusion, our Five Elements Sect's territory will expand, and Qing Shui City will be included. Every merchant will have to pay us a tax..."

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Su Wan's pretty face froze for a moment, then she stopped her, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? That piece of land belongs to Xuantian Pavilion, why should we pay taxes to you?"

Li Weizhou said with a smile, "When the Sin Clan attacked, what right did you have to seek refuge in my Five Elements Sect? There's no need to discuss that further; we'll talk about it after my master comes out of seclusion. But that's definitely how things are."

Su Wan stared at Li Weizhou for a moment, and seeing that he was unmoved, she turned to Tian Ru and said, "Is this your good disciple?"

Tian Ru said with difficulty, "As you know, Wei Zhou is the current sect leader, so what I say doesn't count..."

Su Wan's face turned pale with anger, and she sneered, "Fine, fine, you really think you can do whatever you want just because you've reached the Immortal Spirit Realm? I'll be waiting for you to come and collect my taxes!!"

Having said that, he turned and left.

After she left, Tian Ru complained to Li Weizhou, "Why did you have to say that out of the blue?"

Li Weizhou shrugged and said, "If Qingshui City does the first thing, we'll do the fifteenth. Without Xuantian Pavilion's approval, how could those two families get in and plant their flags? Heh."

Tian Ru spoke up for Su Wan: "She can't make all the decisions. Although Su Wan is the daughter of the previous Xuan Tian Pavilion Master, that was the previous one. The current Xuan Tian Pavilion Master is her uncle. So, her word doesn't count for many things."

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "Since what she said doesn't count, someone who does will come and talk to us."

Tao Ling'er was initially very upset, but upon hearing Li Weizhou's words, she grinned broadly and said to Tian Ru, "Mother, Junior Brother is standing up for you! Now it's someone else's turn to have a headache! It's the Sect Leader who has the best solution!"

Tian Ru glared at her, then asked Li Weizhou, "So, should we just let those two families stay there permanently?"

Li Weizhou laughed and said, "This is a good thing. It's not good for Yue Niang and the others to be in seclusion for cultivation all year round. By next year, we can probably end the mountain closure ahead of schedule."

Tian Ru asked in surprise, "Why did it end early?"

Li Weizhou said, "Times have changed. If we really go into seclusion for five years, those people will probably cause trouble when we reopen the mountain gates. I overestimated their humanity... However, the inner sect's great formation will remain intact, protecting Master."

Tian Ru said worriedly, "Once the mountain gate is opened, people will come to pay their respects."

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "It just so happens that Yue Niang and Situ are also at the time of their training."

"Is a year... enough?"

Tian Ru said with some doubt.

"That's enough. By this time next year, they should all have entered the Spirit Origin Realm."

Li Weizhou was very confident.

Tian Ru felt like she was dreaming; the Li family had only been in power for a little over a year.

Even if it takes another year to repair, it will only be two years...

Is the one who opens the temple of the gods so favored by the heavens?

Li Weizhou smiled and recounted the story of the Ice Heart Pill, concluding, "It is said that three pills can be refined. One will be for Senior Sister, and one each for Yue Niang and Situ."

Tao Ling'er immediately felt embarrassed and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "I don't want it, there's not enough for your own family."

Li Weizhou glared: "So, Senior Sister wants to kill four women with three pills? There are three in total. If you give me any less than one, she'll fight me to the death. Wow, Senior Sister, you're so ruthless!"

"Ah!! I'll fight you!!"

Tao Ling'er was furious and wanted to punch this hateful junior brother flat!

After calling out to Tao Ling'er, Tian Ru asked Li Weizhou, "What about Biwu and Erniang?"

Li Weizhou said, "I have other plans, it's alright. Master's wife, next year will be the real lively time for our Five Elements Sect."

Next year, he should also enter the Spirit God Realm.

After discussing the matter of opening the mountain gate, Li Weizhou stood up abruptly, grabbed Tao Ling'er's sleeve, and walked out, saying, "Senior sister, come with me to the kitchen! I'll get you something good!" He then said to the smiling Tian Ru, "Master's wife, you don't like spicy food, so I won't take you."

Tao Ling'er hadn't recovered from the anger over "San Dan killing four women" when he pulled her, making her stagger: "What are you up to now? I haven't settled accounts with you yet!"

"Forget about the accounts, let's eat first!"

Without turning his head, Li Weizhou said, "I guarantee you'll never forget it once you've tasted it!"

Watching the two senior and junior disciples walk away, Tian Ru's anger at the Xuan Yuan Dao Sect and the Xuan Lei Sword Sect for overstepping their boundaries eased considerably.

That Ice Heart Pill truly moved her.

……

The small kitchen on Hunyuan Peak wasn't large, but it was kept clean, with a spirit beast that had just been hunted from the back mountain on the stove.

The Azure Flame Fox's hind legs were still warm, its fur had been cleaned, and its meat glowed with a pale blue spiritual light. The Ice Spirit Rabbit was skinned until it was snow-white, with slender and even tenderloin strips that looked incredibly tender. Next to it were several bundles of spiritual herbs, including Ice Condensation Grass, Firethorn Fruit, and Hemp Spirit Root with thin vines, all freshly picked by Li Weizhou from the herbal section of the medical classic.

Tao Ling'er followed her in and looked at the pile of things, puzzled, "Are you going to roast meat? You don't need so many spirit herbs, do you?"

"Who wants barbecue!"

Li Weizhou pulled out a large object from his treasure pouch—a giant iron pot he had specially made in the forge. It had a deep bottom, wide rim, and two handles. He chuckled and said, "We're having hot pot today!"

This is probably the first time these things have been stored in the treasure pouches of the successive leaders of the Five Elements Sect.

"Hot Pot?"

Tao Ling'er was puzzled; she had never heard of this term in the spirit world.

However, Zhou Yueniang and the others smiled gently, as they recalled the Drunken Immortal Pavilion opened by Li Weizhou in the mortal realm...

Li Weizhou didn't explain. He first poured half a pot of spiritual spring water into the iron pot, then threw in the smashed Xuan Shui tortoise shell and Qing Yan fox spine, and boiled it over a high flame to make a rich broth.

Soon, the pot started bubbling and white foam rose to the surface. He skimmed it off with a spoon, then threw in a few pieces of ice grass to cool it down. He then pinched a handful of firethorn berries and broke them open. The flesh of the firethorn berries was orange-red and had a spicy kick when bitten into, making them a perfect substitute for chili peppers. He then grabbed a handful of malathion roots, chopped them up, and put them in. Instantly, a fragrant, spicy, and slightly numbing aroma wafted out.

"This is……"

Xi Mei leaned closer to smell it, her eyes widening slightly as she looked at Li Weizhou with delight, exclaiming, "Brother, this soup smells much better than the soup made in the mortal realm!"

"This is just the beginning!"

Li Weizhou sliced ​​the Azure Flame Fox leg meat into thin slices, so thin they were translucent and carried a faint fire elemental aura. He also cut the Ice Spirit Rabbit tenderloin into thin strips and sprinkled them with spirit salt to marinate.

He set out four small dishes. One dish contained dew flower sauce made with spirit honey, another contained ground spices, and the other two contained chopped ice spirit algae and roasted spirit sesame seeds, all of which were "dipping sauce substitutes" that he had gathered from the herb garden and the back mountain.

Once the broth had thickened, Li Weizhou first picked up a slice of Green Flame Fox meat, dipped it into the spicy broth, and the meat slice curled up instantly upon contact with the heat, its surface coated with the orange-red broth. He quickly picked it out, dipped it in some Dew Flower Sauce, and held it to Ximei's lips, saying, "Little sister, have a taste!"

Xi Mei chuckled and glanced at her four sisters-in-law, which earned her a slap on the bottom from Zhou Yueniang. Then, as she put the food in her mouth, her exaggerated expression made everyone swallow hard.

Tao Ling'er had intended to be reserved, but the aroma was simply too tempting. So, at Zhou Yueniang's urging, she followed Li Weizhou's example and took a bite. Then, she opened her mouth and her eyes widened...

The moment the meat entered my mouth, the spiciness of the firethorn fruit exploded first, followed by the tenderness of the green flame fox meat, carrying the sweetness of the spiritual spring. Finally, the sweetness of the dew flower sauce neutralized the spiciness. My mouth was filled with an explosive spicy flavor that slid down my throat, and it seemed as if even my dantian was getting warm.

"Wow~~~"

With a trembling voice, Tao Ling'er exclaimed from the bottom of her heart, then, disregarding her image, she eagerly ate, "It's so delicious! Much more tender than roast meat, and not dry at all!"

Situ Qingyue also picked up a slice of ice-cold rabbit tenderloin and put it into the soup pot. After the rabbit meat was cooked, it was snow-white and tender. She dipped it in some spices and it tasted refreshing and pleasant.

Qi Erniang smiled at Li Weizhou and said, "This method is good! It's delicious and nutritious, and it doesn't waste the spirit beast meat."

Feng Biwu didn't say anything, but silently picked up a piece of ice grass with her chopsticks and put it into the spicy pot. The ice grass absorbed the soup, and the first taste was spicy, followed by a refreshing sweetness, which relieved the spiciness. A hint of approval flashed in her eyes, and she picked up a few more pieces.

Tao Ling'er praised Li Weizhou: "How did you come up with this? No one in the spirit world has ever eaten spirit beast meat like this before."

"This is called hot pot, it's how we eat it in my hometown!"

Seeing that everyone was enjoying their meal, Li Weizhou was also pleased and said, "Since there are no spirit beasts in the mortal realm, we'll just use ordinary pork and mutton for hot pot, and we'll have even more seasonings than this!"

As she spoke, she threw a handful of lingzhi mushrooms into the pot. They were picked by Cangshui Peak, and their caps were snow-white. Once cooked, they were bursting with broth when bitten into, so delicious that they made one's tongue melt. Everyone ate with great enthusiasm, and even the usually calm Situ Qingyue had two empty plates in front of her.

Just as they finished eating, Hou Haikun came to report something. Before he even entered, he was drawn in by the aroma and asked, swallowing hard, "Sect Leader, what are you eating? It smells so good!"

Just as Zhou Yueniang and the others were returning to the mountain to digest their food, Li Weizhou tossed him a pair of chopsticks and said, "Cook it yourself! Try the hot pot I created in the mortal world."

Hou Haikun didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up a slice of Azure Flame Fox meat and threw it into the pot. After taking a bite, he almost swallowed his tongue: "My god! Sect Leader, this is so delicious! If I opened a shop selling this, the business would definitely be great!"

Li Weizhou nodded with a smile. He already had this idea, and Hou Haikun's words made him even more certain. He said, "I think so too. Back in the mortal realm, we all thought that people in the spirit realm were all enlightened immortals, detached from worldly affairs, living on dew and wind, with pure hearts and few desires. But after coming up here, we realized that they are not lacking in anything—wine, women, wealth, anger, greed, ignorance, and hatred. Well, cultivators are also human beings, with seven emotions and six desires, and they also have lives."

Hou Haikun, with half a spirit mushroom still stuffed in his mouth, nodded vigorously upon hearing this, soup dripping down his chin. He hurriedly wiped it with his sleeve, slapping his thigh and saying, "Sect Leader, you're absolutely right! So what if we're cultivators? Cultivators need to eat too, and they also like to join in the fun! Take Qingshui City for example, the restaurants there were doing like fire! The 'Juxianlou' in the west of the city only sells roasted spirit deer, and there are lines from opening to closing every day. If you're even a step late, you can't get a seat. And the 'Wanbaotang' on North Street sells tiger penis pills. Good heavens, they can sell a hundred or so bottles a day, and sometimes they even have to limit the quantity! Not to mention the brothels... Hehe, Sect Leader, you've seen it all! So Sect Leader, you really see things clearly!"

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "Can it be done?"

"Of course it can!"

Hou Haikun himself has limited talent, so he can't improve his cultivation much, but he really likes and is good at this kind of economics.

His eyes lit up as he said, "Sect Leader, Baicaotang has now joined our Five Elements Sect! Our restaurants can even sell medicinal cuisine! Our Five Elements Mountain has spirit fields, herb gardens, and spirit beast enclosures. If we make use of them, we can make a fortune!"

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "You're thinking the same thing as me. I've been thinking about this for a while now. The Ice-Gathering Grass in the herb garden can reduce internal heat, and the Firethorn Fruit, besides adding flavor, can also help fire-elemental cultivators stabilize their spiritual power. The Ice Spirit Algae gathered from Hidden Water Peak can even moisten the water veins. They're all edible spiritual ingredients. Cooking them in a pot won't ruin the flavor and will even add some nourishing effects. It's much more comfortable than those bitter and dry pills they have to eat."

"you do not say!"

Hou Haikun beamed with joy, saying repeatedly, "No pill can compare to the comfort of this hot pot! I'll go talk to Granny Jin Hua in the herb garden right now and ask them to plant more medicinal herbs. I'll also tell the independent cultivators in the tenant area to specifically hunt spirit beasts like the Azure Flame Fox and Ice Spirit Rabbit, which replenish spiritual energy, to ensure there's plenty of ingredients!"

Li Weizhou smiled and nodded, saying, "No rush, let's test the recipe thoroughly first. For example, we need to figure out how much Qingxin grass to add so that it doesn't overpower the flavor, and how long to boil Nuanyang flower for the best medicinal effect. Once we've tested it all, we'll put up notices in the tenant area, and I guarantee it will be a hit as soon as we open."

Hou Haikun rubbed his hands together, his eyes full of anticipation: "It'll definitely be a hit! Back in the day, the most popular restaurant in Qingshui City, Baixianlou, could earn at least fifty mid-grade spirit stones a day. Our hot pot is delicious and nutritious, so it'll definitely earn more than that! But this recipe must be kept secret. We can't let Xuantian Pavilion find it!"

Li Weizhou smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't worry, they won't be able to touch it no matter what."

How about trying some old-fashioned oil hot pot?

……

Aoki Peak Pharmacy.

Li Weizhou looked at Bai Zhiwei and Granny Jinhua with a smile. He didn't know what Situ Qingyue had said to them, but after that day, the feeling between the master and servant was completely different.

He didn't bring up the issue too much, hoping to keep the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

He believed that Situ Qingyue was far superior to him in this regard, so there was no need to nag any further. However, he still gave her a reminder: "Today, two disciples from the Xuanlei Sword Sect were trying to find out about your Hundred Herbs Hall, but Hou Haikun turned them away. Be careful and don't run into them outside..."

Having said that, he ignored the sudden awkwardness on their faces, took out a roll of blueprints, and began to inquire about the aquaculture business: "I am confident that I can complete these scenario settings without using spiritual power. Including severe cold, continuous wind for twelve hours a day, viewing snow from a high place, and so on..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhiwei, forgetting her initial shock, exclaimed, "Impossible!!"

Li Weizhou waved his hand and said, "Whether it works or not, we'll know in a few days. Now, help me decide on a suitable location and how to build it."

Bai Zhiwei was still reeling from the shock, while Granny Jinhua carefully examined the blueprints and slowly said, "It would be best to build it on Hidden Water Peak, where the water vapor is most abundant. In addition, we should invite construction cultivators to build it. Most of them are earth element cultivators, with rich experience, and can build it according to the blueprints very well... Sect Leader, this is truly a miniature ice and snow realm."

She looked up at Li Weizhou, amazed.

However, he then hesitated and asked, "How could it be built to be so big?"

Even the smallest secret realm is still a small world, no smaller than the Northern Spirit Realm.

Li Weizhou pointed to the middle section and laughed, "I'll only build this big."

That is, the area within a hundred meters of the giant ice crystal where the ice dragon is located.

Although it is not small, it is actually the size of a large stadium.

Bai Zhiwei regained her senses slightly and murmured, "How could that be?"

Li Weizhou pointed to the “temperature control zone,” “air supply system,” and “visual simulation layer” marked on the blueprint, his fingertips lightly tracing the surface of the paper, and said with certainty, “It doesn’t use spiritual power; it relies on the ‘craftsmanship’ of artisans from the mortal world! Simply put, it’s about using objects to create an environment just like the Ice and Snow Secret Realm, without any fluctuation of spiritual power.”

Bai Zhiwei stared at Li Weizhou in shock, her mouth agape. "But how can such a cold environment be maintained without using spiritual power?"

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "There is a technology in the mortal world called 'superconducting cooling module,' which is excellent and very useful."

There is a type of metal on Earth called 'superconducting material', which can conduct electricity with zero resistance at extremely low temperatures. Using it as a refrigerator, along with a 'liquid nitrogen circulation system', can stably maintain a low temperature of minus 150 degrees Celsius.

This thing was originally intended for nuclear fusion, but unexpectedly, Li Weizhou used it to create an ice and snow world first.

As for the "air supply system" on the drawings, the lines are dense and spread like a spider web throughout the entire "secret realm". It can ensure uninterrupted airflow for twelve hours a day, thanks to the "silent axial flow fan".

This type of fan uses titanium alloy blades, runs silently, and can precisely control the wind speed through an airflow sensor.

Didn't these two say that the Ice Soul Insect requires "wind that is neither too strong nor too weak"?

Idiot!
The accuracy at the University of Tokyo can be adjusted to ±0.1 meters per second, which is even more stable than natural wind.

The fan was hidden in the ice cellar wall, with the vent facing the high place where the Ice Soul Insects lived. The wind came from all directions, just like the cold wind in the secret realm.

As for the "visual simulation layer," it relies on "holographic projection," a technology that projects light and shadow into the air to create a scene that looks just like the real thing.

Li Weizhou had previously filmed a video in the Ice and Snow Secret Realm, which is perfect for this purpose!

The University of Tokyo designed a '360-degree holographic screen' for him, which was placed on the top of the ice cellar and could project a scene of 'vast ice and snow' when powered on.

The distant snow-capped mountains, the nearby ice fields, even the way the snowflakes fall looks just like the real thing.

Moreover, the Ice Soul Insect is most sensitive to spiritual energy, but its eyesight is just so-so.

From a high vantage point, they would surely think they were on a mountaintop in a snowy wonderland, and would definitely be willing to form pearls!

Bai Zhiwei's eyes widened as she listened, reaching out to touch the lines on the drawing, as if she could feel the invisible "refrigeration modules" and "fans"...

Granny Jin Hua's doubts gradually dissipated. She looked up at Li Weizhou, her eyes filled with amazement, and said, "I never imagined that such a wondrous technique existed in the mortal realm! Sect Leader's method... is even more powerful than the 'Illusory Snow Creation' of Medicine King Valley back then. Illusions always have fluctuations in spiritual energy, which the Ice Soul Insects can detect and be frightened, affecting the formation of the pearl. But these 'craftsmen,' if they can truly be made... can truly be made just like a natural secret realm, without the slightest flaw."

Li Weizhou patted the blueprints and said cheerfully, "It'll definitely work. I've been working day and night to rush the equipment, without eating or drinking. I estimate it will be finished next month. This month, Hou Haikun will invite earth element cultivators from the Construction Hall to build our Five Elements Sect's 'Ice and Snow Secret Realm.' They'll build it according to the blueprints. You two are familiar with that area, so you can help him keep an eye on it. I'm too busy, otherwise I would supervise it myself. Besides, you two know the habits of the Ice Soul Insects, so you can help adjust the environment. Let's try to build the little secret realm before winter."

Granny Jin Hua nodded emphatically, her eyes no longer showing the previous restraint but rather a hint of expectation, and said, "I will do my best!"

It's amazing! Who would have thought that such a filthy place, which isn't even a place of bitter cold, would have such a wondrous thing!
Bai Zhiwei clenched her fists, looking at the "Ice and Snow World" on the blueprint, her unease gradually replaced by excitement.

If she can accomplish this, she will have caught up with the glory of her father and grandfather!
The branch that successfully cultivated the Ice Soul Pearl in the Medicine King Valley of Zhongzhou back then was the founder of Baicaotang, the ancestor of the Bai family!
She wants to bring glory to her ancestors!

Looking at the grandfather and grandson, Li Weizhou felt at ease.

He could probably succeed if he tried to figure it out himself, but it would require a lot of time and effort, which wouldn't be worthwhile.

With these two around, they can help him with his work.

Once the Ice Soul Pearls are mass-produced, the Five Elements Sect will have a true "pillar industry".

He won't be like the characters in his previous failed online novels, who cleared the Northern Spirit Realm, went to the Central Continent, fought their way up layer by layer, and eventually ascended to immortality.

Boring!

Once we're strong enough, the whole family can go on a trip and visit various famous scenic spots.

The rest of the time, they hibernate in the Northern Spirit Realm...

He put away the blueprints and smiled, "Then it's settled. You guys first figure out the layout of the ice cellar's interior, and work with Hou Haikun to build it. By the time you've finished building it, I estimate the equipment will be almost finished too. Then we can discuss the details. Oh, and hurry up and refine the Ice Heart Pill; we need it soon!"

Granny Jin Hua and Bai Zhiwei agreed in unison, and their steps were much lighter as they saw Li Weizhou off from the pharmacy.

The evening breeze from the herb garden, carrying the fragrance of medicinal herbs, brushed against my face, and the previous coolness was gone.

Perhaps because I felt more confident, even the wind seemed to warm up.

Having been given such a great responsibility, you will surely be able to live a peaceful life from now on!
Although it might be a bit busy, being busy is good! Being busy is what makes their value shine!

The two were filled with gratitude for their sect leader's benevolence...

Li Weizhou was in a very good mood the whole way back to Hunyuan Peak.

The day the small secret realm is built will be the day the Five Elements Sect truly has roots.

Indeed, technology is the primary productive force in the spirit world.

Expectation!

……

(End of this chapter)