181: Scientific farming!

The next day.

Su Ming gathered Old Wang, Old Li, and Zhang Asheng for a short closed-door meeting.

"From today on, your tasks have changed," Su Ming said, cutting straight to the point.

He handed three new, more detailed procedural manuals to the three men.

"Old Wang, your 'Quality Inspection Manual' needs an upgrade. You must not only record errors but also analyze the causes and propose at least three improvement plans. I need you to become the 'brain' of the Repair Hall."

"Old Li, your 'Maintenance Manual' must also change. I don't just want you to repair things well; I want you to summarize the easiest maintenance techniques and compile a 'Newcomer Crash Course.' I need you to become the 'instructor' of the Repair Hall."

"Asheng, your 'Materials Processing Manual' will be the same. I want you to quantify the characteristics of every material, the pros and cons of substitutes, and the differences in treatment methods, then create a reference chart. I need you to become the 'database' of the Repair Hall."

He looked at the three men, who were speechless from shock, his voice steady and powerful.

"What I need are not three skilled craftsmen, but three 'teachers' capable of training hundreds of qualified craftsmen!"

"The future of our Repair Hall does not lie with me alone, but in whether we can replicate and pass on this standard!"

These words completely ignited the fire in their hearts. Looking at the manuals in their hands, they realized this was no longer just a job, but a heavy, pioneering cause!

Just as Su Ming was about to further elaborate on his expansion plan, a clear, slightly arrogant voice came from outside the courtyard gate.

"May I ask, is this the so-called 'Pillar of the Sect,' the Formation Inscription Repair Hall?"

Su Ming looked up to see a young man wearing the robes of a Heavenly Sword Peak Personal Disciple, carrying an ancient longsword on his back, standing at the entrance. He had a tall, straight figure, sword-like eyebrows, and star-like eyes, radiating a sharp Aura like an unsheathed sword.

In his hand, he held a damaged scabbard, engraved with strange runes that Su Ming had never seen before, emitting a faint, bloody light.

Su Ming's gaze lingered on the scabbard for a moment, especially on those strange runes emitting the faint, bloody light. It was a structure he had never seen in the "outline of formation basics"; it was full of a primitive and violent Aura, as if it were breathing like a living thing.

Inside the xuantian ring, Lin Yu's spiritual sense became instantly alert: "Disciple, don't touch it! This thing is not right. It looks like some kind of evil rune from a living sacrifice or blood refining. We don't have this in our knowledge base; getting involved with it will be a huge trouble!"

Su Ming understood, but his expression remained calm and professional.

He cupped his hands to the young man with sword-like eyebrows, neither humble nor pushy.

"Senior Brother, I am truly sorry," his voice was gentle yet distant. "Our hall has just been established, and our manpower and skills are limited. Currently, we only undertake the repair and maintenance of basic Array Patterns within the Sect. The runes on your scabbard have an exquisite structure that is far beyond our capabilities. To avoid delaying your important matters, please seek a more capable expert."

These words were airtight, clearly stating his position while giving the other party plenty of Face.

The young man clearly did not expect such a blunt refusal. He frowned, and his sharp Aura intensified a bit more: "You truly cannot repair it?"

"I truly cannot repair it." Su Ming's answer was without a hint of hesitation, his eyes clear as he met the other's scrutiny calmly.

The young man gave him a deep look, as if trying to find some trace of pretense on his Face, but saw only calmness. He was straightforward, put away the scabbard, and turned to leave.

"Farewell."

Su Ming bowed slightly to the young man's back.

Su—Chief Engineer—Ming turned around and said calmly: "Clean up the workstations and prepare to record yesterday's data."

A small disturbance was thus dismissed by him with a light touch.

The wind of "standardization" had finally blown out of the small valley of the External Affairs Hall.

Three days later, an unexpected visitor knocked on the door of Bing Zi Qi Hao Courtyard.

The visitor was a Steward from the Spiritual Plant Garden, surnamed Sun, a middle-aged Cultivator with a kind Face and dark skin from years of tending to herbs.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was shocked by the huge "data wall" and the orderly assembly line work inside.

"I have long heard of the Repair Hall's great reputation. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its name!" Steward Sun's attitude was extremely polite.

After the pleasantries, he stated his purpose.

The Spiritual Plant Garden was responsible for cultivating over forty percent of the Spiritual Plants for Alchemy in the Sect. The two most important basic Formations—the "Spirit Gathering Array" to maintain Spiritual Qi concentration and the "Cloud and Rain Formation" to regulate temperature and humidity—were in constant operation and suffered great wear and tear.

"...The Senior Brothers from the Formation Peak are either busy studying profound Formations or look down upon these small tasks. Asking them to take action not only costs a high price but also requires waiting in line for several months," Steward Sun said with a distressed look. "I heard that the Repair Hall is not only highly efficient but also very skilled at optimizing processes, so I took the liberty to come here to invite Senior Brother Su... oh no, Senior Brother Su, to lead a team to our place and see if you can help optimize things."

This was exactly what he needed.

Su Ming immediately agreed. Early the next morning, he took Old Wang and Zhang Asheng and followed Steward Sun to the Spiritual Plant Garden on the mountainside of Danding Peak.

As soon as they stepped in, a rich Spiritual Qi of vegetation, almost tangible, rushed towards them, mixed with the scent of moist soil and the unique fragrance of various herbs, which was refreshing. Looking around, rows of neatly planned herb fields, like emerald checkerboards, appeared and disappeared amidst the clouds and mist.

However, Su Ming's brow furrowed tightly the moment he stepped into the herb field.

Inside the xuantian ring, Lin Yu's spiritual sense had completely exploded.

"My god! Disciple! Look at what that group of people is doing!"

Su Ming looked in the direction his Master pointed. He saw a herb farmer operating the "Cloud and Rain Formation." He closed his eyes and stretched out his palm, seemingly feeling the subtle moisture in the air. A moment later, he opened his eyes abruptly and injected a burst of Spiritual Qi into the Formation Plate. In an instant, a burst of spiritual rain "splashed" down, and several drought-loving "Blazing Sun Flowers" were instantly drenched until they drooped their heads.

On the other side, a Disciple was carefully adjusting the position of a Spirit Stone in front of the eye of the "Spirit Gathering Array." The basis for the adjustment was actually the "physical sensation" of his Dantian and Qi Sea regarding the changes in the surrounding Spiritual Qi concentration!

Countless "unscientific" primitive operations made Lin Yu's eyes twitch.

"Spiritual Qi irrigation relies on feeling? Temperature and humidity are all based on experience? This... this efficiency is simply too touching! This isn't farming; this is artistic creation! Disciple, I can't stand it! Today, we must teach these old farmers of the Cultivation world a good lesson on what 'scientific farming' really is!"