Chương 24

According to Garrick, the Moonwatch Sect's territory stretched for well over a thousand miles, encompassing three or four entire kingdoms and countless ordinary people. More than a hundred second-tier cities like Valehaven likely fell under its rule. The sect might also control over a dozen first-tier cities, but it had only one true capital: Moonwatch City, which shared the sect's name and served as the sacred heart of its territory.

Joining a power this formidable would give me credible backing once I begin revealing more of my Talents. Elara quietly considered the advantages....

"Dawnmere Trading House, Rank One Mindveil Grass fields: approximately two acres cultivated, with a total yield of seven hundred fifteen pounds. Average yield: three hundred thirty-five pounds per acre. Qualified!"

"Rank One spirit-rice fields: approximately twelve and a half acres cultivated, with a total yield of eight thousand six hundred pounds. Average yield: seven hundred pounds per acre. Excellent!"

"Rank Two Flamewyrm Fruit grove: approximately half an acre cultivated, producing sixty pounds of standard fruit and another six and a half pounds of elite-grade fruit. Average yield: roughly one hundred thirty-five pounds per acre. Quota exceeded!" Elara watched the outer disciples record the figures, their abacuses clacking so quickly that the beads blurred. The sight was impressive, but she was far more interested in the crop yields themselves.

The plant she understood best was rice—or spirit rice, as this world called it. Apart from the substantial amount of spiritual qi contained within each grain, it looked almost identical to the rice she remembered from Earth. Almost. Although the spirit rice was fully mature, Elara couldn't shake the impression that the plants had suffered from poor nutrition. Spirit rice in this world is supposed to be superior in almost every way.

It resists lodging and pest infestations, and its entire growth cycle lasts only about a month. Even when pests do appear, Spirit Gardeners can eliminate them with Pest Ward. So why is the yield still this low? Elara considered whether this particular variety prioritized a short growth cycle at the expense of production. Yet when she examined the processed grain, she found a large amount of broken rice and far too many cracked kernels. This world probably has no concept of selectively breeding hybrid spirit rice.

They may not understand hybridization at all. Nearly every branch of development in this world appeared to revolve around cultivation. Even its spirit plants were naturally occurring varieties rather than crops deliberately improved over generations. Without a scientific understanding of biology, no one would have developed concepts such as genetics or systematic hybrid breeding.

If I could develop a high-yield variety of spirit rice like the ones from Earth and raise production to four or five thousand pounds per acre—or even higher... The improvement would amount to far more than a simple sevenfold or eightfold increase. The possibility had already taken root in Elara's mind. For now, however, her priorities were earning her Rank One Spirit Gardener certification and becoming an outer disciple of the Moonwatch Sect.

Only after securing those formal positions could she reduce the risk of someone stealing her work or claiming her achievements as their own. If this approach to improving spirit plants actually works, I may never have to worry about Spirit Stones again. As someone from a technological world, Elara might truly be capable of introducing changes no one in this cultivation world had ever considered. While she contemplated her future, the outer disciples finished inspecting and recording the mature plants.

They packed the harvest into crates and loaded them onto a wooden platform lowered from the field-inspection vessel. One batch after another rose into the air, and the entire operation proceeded in perfect order. Once everything had been secured, Elder Voss took out the roster in his hand and summoned the crowd once more. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. It was time to distribute the recommendations for the Moonwatch Sect's outer disciple assessment.

"Based on the quantity and value of the spirit plants supplied by each family and faction this quarter, I will now announce how many recommendations each of you will receive." Elder Voss spoke as casually as if he were discussing an ordinary matter, but Elara immediately noticed the change in the crowd. Breathing grew heavier all around her, and hostility crept into the atmosphere.

If Elder Voss and the inner disciple behind him—both Foundation Establishment cultivators—had not been there to maintain order, Elara had little doubt that some of these people would have fought over the recommendations on the spot.

"House Wang of Valehaven met its spirit-plant quota this quarter. After review, it will receive five recommendations."

"House Li of Valehaven met the required standard. After review, it will receive four recommendations." As Elder Voss announced each allocation, Elara gradually realized that the recommendations were far scarcer than she had expected. Garrick alone had earned two, so she had assumed each of Valehaven's great families would receive close to ten. Instead, they received barely half that number. The three great families and the City Lord's estate generally received only four or five recommendations each.

Some obscure minor families received none at all, while the luckier ones were granted a single opportunity. Before long, it was Dawnmere Trading House's turn. Elder Voss surveyed the crowd before announcing his decision in a clear voice.

"Dawnmere Trading House performed well during this assessment. All production targets were met, and certain results were particularly outstanding. After review, it will receive nine recommendations." Nine? That was nearly twice as many as any of the great families had received. Having powerful backing really does make a difference. Dawnmere belongs directly to the Moonwatch Sect, so even when it receives twice as many recommendations, none of the other families dares to object. Elara rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

Then again, the recommendations had been openly issued in the Moonwatch Sect's name. No one would be foolish enough to challenge the decision in public. Secret schemes—such as releasing a swarm of strange insects into someone else's spirit fields—were another matter entirely. Once all the recommendations had been allocated, Elder Voss and the other disciples boarded the flying ship. The colossal field-inspection ship rose into the air once more, pierced the clouds, and sped away from Valehaven.

What followed would be settled through private negotiations among the local factions.

"Garrick, those six and a half pounds of elite-grade Flamewyrm Fruit you produced made quite an impression on that inner disciple." Flamewyrm Fruit was a Rank Two spirit plant. Each fruit contained an abundance of fire-aspected qi and offered considerable benefits to cultivators who practiced fire-aligned methods. For the Moonwatch Sect's more influential disciples, it also made an excellent snack.

Elite-grade fruit had not quite reached Rank Three, but its effects still surpassed those of most other Rank Two spirit plants. It was a rare commodity even within the sect. An inner disciple's monthly allowance was not unlimited. Under normal circumstances, it included only ordinary Rank One spirit fruit. Anyone who wanted Rank Two or Rank Three varieties had to spend a substantial number of Contribution Points. Garrick, however, had arranged to supply the fruit directly as a favor.

Flamewyrm Fruit trees matured on a cycle of approximately one month, making them ideal for a regular monthly supply. In return, the inner disciple needed to offer nothing more than his personal goodwill, leaving both sides satisfied with the arrangement. In the end, repaying that favor had required only a few words between the inner disciple and Elder Voss. Those few words had earned Garrick an additional assessment recommendation.

"I hardly deserve the credit," Garrick said modestly.

"If Master Cedric hadn't helped me resolve that difficult infestation, I never would have had the opportunity to establish this connection." While the other Rank One Spirit Gardeners watched enviously, Garrick conversed comfortably with Dawnmere's managers. The two recommendations currently in his possession were worth a considerable amount of money by themselves. Recommendations were distributed every quarter, but the Moonwatch Sect's assessment was extremely difficult.

Even the most promising members of Valehaven's cultivation families often needed three or four attempts before successfully entering the outer sect. Most candidates could receive eight or nine opportunities and still fail every time. An additional recommendation meant another chance to recover from failure. No family would ever consider such an opportunity unnecessary. During his conversation with Dawnmere's managers, Garrick made a point of crediting Cedric for part of this quarter's success.

The gesture cost him nothing and gave everyone a reasonable explanation for what would happen next. Elara had been the one who truly resolved the infestation, but she lacked both status and powerful connections, while her cultivation remained low. If House Wang learned the truth, she could easily become a target. Cedric had therefore accepted public credit for dealing with the insects. In return, it would be perfectly reasonable for Garrick to transfer one of his recommendations to him.

Once that recommendation entered Cedric's hands, it would naturally pass to Elara.

"So, Garrick," Dawnmere's head manager asked after they had spoken for a while, "what do you intend to do with your two recommendations?" The head manager and third manager both supervised large numbers of apprentices. Together, they had several dozen people working beneath them, yet the two or three recommendations under their control were nowhere near enough. Several of those apprentices were experienced candidates who had narrowly failed the sect's assessment multiple times.

People like that generally had to be given another opportunity.

"I intend to give one recommendation to Master Cedric," Garrick explained.

"He went to considerable trouble to help me resolve the infestation. As for the remaining one, I plan to trade it." He had barely finished speaking when a group of people hurried over from the distance.

"Garrick, you've struck it rich this time! Two recommendations in one man's hands—that's half as many as an entire great family received!"