73: Planning territory

The afternoon sunlight spilled across the Small Valley, gilding the emerald hillsides in a layer of golden halo.

Lin Yan stood on the ridge of the field, the corners of his mouth lifting involuntarily.

After returning from the Grand Elder, he had impatiently begun to measure the five-mile radius of his territory.

"Let's go, Shuangyuan, let's hurry and measure the specific range!"

Lin Yan waved to his side, and Little Fatty Xu Shuangyuan immediately trotted over, holding measuring ropes and wooden stakes in his hands.

"Senior Brother, did the Grand Elder really say he would give you a five-mile radius of territory?" Xu Shuangyuan's face showed disbelief.

"Could that possibly be fake?" Lin Yan laughed proudly. "I am now the Personal Disciple of the Hall Master!"

At the beginning, he had been resistant to becoming the Hall Master's Disciple.

Now, he just wanted to say, it's so good!

Little Fatty packed up the tools while saying enviously, "A five-mile radius, how many Spirit Rice fields could that open up?"

Lin Yan rolled his eyes at him. "It's not as simple as you think."

He began to educate Little Fatty. "High-yield spirit plants like Spirit Rice not only absorb Spiritual Qi, but also consume excessive earth qi and soil fertility. If this five-mile radius were completely planted with Spirit Rice, this Small Valley would likely become a dead zone."

"Therefore, there can't be too much land actually used for planting Spirit Rice."

"Besides, if we opened it all up into Spirit Rice fields, would you be able to farm them all?"

"That's true." Little Fatty smiled. "Senior Brother, you really know more."

"I told you to read more books in your spare time, but you wouldn't listen." Lin Yan continued.

"Later, I'll go to Lingxu Pavilion to borrow some books. You better study hard every day when you have free time, you hear me?"

"Okay, Senior Brother!" Little Fatty smiled and nodded repeatedly.

"Haha, let's go!" Lin Yan laughed and patted his shoulder, leading him across the Spirit Rice fields toward the hillsides surrounding the Small Valley.

Their Spirit Rice fields were located in the middle of a Small Valley. The valley opened to the south, with mountains on the east, west, and north sides, the north being the highest.

The valley was about one hundred meters wide and about one mile deep, shaped like a crescent moon.

Lin Yan's Spirit Rice fields were situated right in the center of the Small Valley.

The area around the Spirit Rice fields was mostly barren, with only some sparse weeds and low shrubs.

The two started from the center of the Spirit Rice fields and extended their measurements in all directions.

Lin Yan carried the wooden stakes and ropes, marking the ground every certain distance, while Xu Shuangyuan carefully recorded the data and calculated the distances.

"Fifteen zhang to the east, we've reached the foot of the mountain; continue measuring four miles along the hillside..."

"Twenty zhang to the west..."

"Half a mile to the north, we've reached the mountain wall..."

"One mile to the south, we've reached the creek. Let's stop here; we won't worry about what's outside the Small Valley for now."

A five-mile radius didn't sound very large.

But after measuring, the five-mile radius actually happened to encompass the entire Small Valley and the surrounding hilltops!

In the southern direction, Lin Yan only measured one mile before stopping.

This range was big enough.

Lin Yan and Xu Shuangyuan stood at the entrance of the Small Valley, gazing into the distance.

To the west of his Small Valley were rolling gentle slopes, suitable for planting things like Spirit Fruit and Spirit Wood.

To the east was a relatively steep mountainous area, which wouldn't be easy to develop.

The mountain to the north was the highest and had the most sunlight, making it an excellent place for planting sun-loving spirit plants.

"Hahaha, now the zhenyang spirit tea garden has a place!" Lin Yan rubbed his hands excitedly, already beginning to plan in his mind.

"Shuangyuan, listen up." Lin Yan pointed around, beginning to assign the future blueprint:

"The Spirit Rice fields in the Small Valley don't need to be expanded, but we can reclaim some flat land to plant Alfalfa."

"Alfalfa?" Xu Shuangyuan blinked in confusion. "Senior Brother, are you planning to raise Spirit Beasts by planting so much Alfalfa?"

"Yes, and when the time comes, we will transplant that Purple Stem Alfalfa over there," Lin Yan said.

The Purple Stem Alfalfa could accelerate the growth of surrounding Alfalfa, and Spirit Rabbits were particularly fond of this Alfalfa influenced by the Purple Stem Alfalfa.

This thing wasn't considered very rare, so Lin Yan naturally had no need to keep it from Xu Shuangyuan and had told him long ago.

Lin Yan continued, "I'll leave this matter to you. Once the Alfalfa grows, I'll go to the Spirit Beast Hall to buy a few Spirit Beast cubs to raise."

"Great, great!" Xu Shuangyuan's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Spirit Beast dung is excellent fertilizer! I've heard that some Spirit Beasts can even produce precious beast meat and fur."

"And we can raise some smart Spirit Beasts to help us guard the Spirit Rice fields..."

"The mountainous area to the west..." Lin Yan turned to the other side.

"It's relatively gentle, and the soil seems suitable for planting Spirit Wood. When the time comes, we'll go to the Spirit Wood Hall to find some suitable saplings to plant."

"Spirit Wood is great, once planted, it doesn't need much care." Xu Shuangyuan nodded in agreement.

"Hahaha." Lin Yan smiled.

Cultivators are usually very busy because they have to Cultivate.

Outer Sect Disciples generally hire one or two Utility Disciples as helpers.

In Lin Yan's situation, it would be best to have at least three or four Utility Disciples.

But Lin Yan didn't want to hire those Utility Disciples whose backgrounds he didn't know.

"You'll have to work a bit harder for this period. Later, I'll find a way to get you two more helpers." Lin Yan patted Little Fatty.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother won't treat you unfairly."

"Haha, I will work hard, Senior Brother." Little Fatty laughed.

"Following Senior Brother, my cultivation is rising by leaps and bounds! Where else could I find such a good thing!"

...

"Although the mountain to the north is steep, the soil is good, and it has the best sunlight." Lin Yan's gaze landed on that sunny slope.

"It's most suitable for planting Spirit Fruit! I plan to go to the Spirit Fruit Hall to buy some things like Spirit Peaches and Spirit Apricots. Once they bear fruit, we can satisfy our cravings and also sell them for money."

"This is good, this is good!" Little Fatty's eyes lit up. "We can plant more Spirit Fruit!"

Lin Yan's gaze continued to move forward. "And on the mountaintop to the north, I plan to open up a Tea Garden and plant zhenyang spirit tea!"

"What Spirit Tea?" Xu Shuangyuan hadn't heard clearly.

Lin Yan had to carefully explain to him what zhenyang spirit tea was.

"So that's how it is!" Little Fatty said with some surprise. "It can help people comprehend the Dao; there is actually such a magical spirit plant?"

"Hehe, next time I'll let you taste this zhenyang spirit tea; it's very fragrant!" Lin Yan said with a smile.

Xu Shuangyuan nodded repeatedly upon hearing this and said excitedly, "Long live Senior Brother!"

This little life is really getting more and more promising!

...

The next morning.

The thin mist had not yet completely dispersed, and Lin Yan led Little Fatty Xu Shuangyuan on the journey to the northern mountaintop.

The soil under their feet was soft and full of vitality, and the wildflowers and grasses by the roadside were still hung with crystalline dew, shimmering with faint light in the weak rays.

There was no path in the process of climbing the mountain; they climbed upward while using the long swords in their hands to hack out a winding road.

"Senior Brother Lin, this mountain is really steep!" Xu Shuangyuan panted heavily, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

His figure was round, and climbing the mountain was much more strenuous for him than for others, but thinking of the Tea Garden that would soon be born on the mountaintop, he was full of energy again.

"We're almost there, hang in there a little longer." Lin Yan encouraged with a smile.

His cultivation was higher, and he had Cultivated the "Eight Directions Sword Step", so his steps were steady and his breathing even when climbing the mountain, as if walking on flat ground.

"Tomorrow, go call Lu Zhengfeng and the others to build a few decent roads in these mountains; it will be easier for you to go up the mountain in the future," Lin Yan said.

"Okay, Senior Brother." Little Fatty said while panting.