Chapter 676: Chapter 414: Hard Work (8k)_2
Chen Mobai managed to find time to visit Sun Gaochang, the inspector of the Spirit Plant Division. Both belonged to Chu Zuoshu’s lineage, and they communicated frankly.
“Harvesting thousands of acres of Spirit Fields each year is a tremendous burden on the workforce of the Spirit Plant Division. Furthermore, because the sect is preparing for war, all the Spirit Stones are used in the four major departments of Sword Training, Artifact Refining, Formation, and Body Forging. This year, our Spirit Plant Division budget has also been cut and allocated to them. Shi Fengping is merely using your situation as an excuse to cry poverty to the Sect Leader.”
After hearing Sun Gaochang’s explanation, Chen Mobai finally understood why Shi Fengping had such an attitude.
If he did cultivate a thousand acres of Spirit Fields, and harvested two rounds of Fire Spirit Rice each year, the Spirit Plant Division would need to spend thirty thousand Spirit Stones even at market price.
The annual budget of the Spirit Plant Division was merely one hundred thousand Spirit Stones and contributions, which this year is additionally cut by ten thousand each. If they were to spend an additional thirty thousand Spirit Stones on his end, it really would put them in a strain.
“I see.”
Chen Mobai nodded his understanding.
At this point, Sun Gaochang on the opposite side showed hesitation. Considering that Chen Mobai was already a Town Guard of Jian Country and certainly one of the high-ranking officials of the Twelve Divisions and Three Halls in the future, he decided to reveal some of the unspoken internal rules.
“Chen, although I’m the inspector of the Spirit Plant division, most of the authority within the department rests with Shi Fengping and Jin Shanping.”
“Typically, five percent of the budget allocated for the division will end up in our hands through various methods.”
“The release of your thirty thousand Spirit Stones equates to a loss of thousands of Spirit Stones for them, hence the vehement opposition.”
This was an unwritten rule among higher-ups in the Divine Wood Sect; it was the same for all twelve divisions and three halls. These norms were even more extreme when the sect was first established, and it was only after the position of inspector was added that they were controlled at around five percent.
Therefore, the more Spirit Rice Chen Mobai planted, the more the trio of Foundation Establishment from Spirit Plant Division would lose.
The deputy director of the Spirit Plant Division, Jin Shanping, was very close to E Yun. Chen Mobai often had drinks with him at E Yun’s mansion during holidays and festivals and both of them had quite a friendly relationship.
However, on this matter, he remained silent and sided with Shi Fengping; it turned out to be because Chen Mobai had taken a slice of their cake.
What Sun Gaochang said today was indeed reminding Chen Mobai that he too had lost quite a bit of Spirit Stones because of this matter.
“Thank you for the guidance, Sun.”
Chen Mobai understood immediately after grasping the implications of Sun Gaochang’s words. He intended to meet Shi Fengping and Jin Shanping to see if there was a good solution to this problem.
However, to his surprise, he was turned away at the door.
Both of them excused themselves saying they were in retreat due to a breakthrough in their cultivation level.
To this, Chen Mobai responded with a wry smile. Regardless of whether they were actually in retreat, he was certainly going to remember this incident.
He thought about the advanced experiences from the Immortal Gate, and in light of the current circumstances of the sect, came up with a plan to bypass the Spirit Plant Division and went straight to Shenmu Hall to find Chu Zuoshu.
“That seems like a good solution.”
After hearing Chen Mobai’s proposal regarding alleviating the burden on the Spirit Plant Division, Chu Zuoshu thought it over carefully and found it very appropriate.
However, because this matter pertained to the channels of sect contributions, he could not make a decision on his own.
“Anyway, there are still a few months left before your Fire Spirit Rice matures. I will present your plan at the next meeting of the Three Halls and Twelve Divisions, and invite you to attend at that time.”
Chu Zuoshu took good care of Chen Mobai, who was his direct disciple. Judging by today’s situation, if it came to a vote, it was very likely that his proposal would pass.
“Thank you, Sect Leader.”
After leaving Shenmu Hall, Chen Mobai returned to Xiao Nanshan.
The Formation Division was still setting up the Green Cloud White Fog Formation. Yi Shaoqing had already left, leaving behind Guan Xiaolong, the true disciple of the Formation Division, and Chen Mobai’s two disciples.
Guan Xiaolong seemed to be quite interested in the enchantingly beautiful Luo Yixuan and took this opportunity to frequently show attentiveness towards her.
Although Luo Yixuan was repulsed, she couldn’t be rude as they were there to help.
Zhuo Ming also noticed this and subsequently had Luo Yixuan take care of things at Xiao Nanshan while she handled the Formation Division matters with Guan Xiaolong.
After the formation was set up, Guan Xiaolong unhappily left.
“These new spiritual lands – Dishi Mountain and Jishan Mountain terraces need normal cultivation, while just the foot of Shan Mountain will suffice.”
After returning, Chen Mobai led his two disciples to survey the five hundred acres of new spiritual land. They stood in mid-air guided by a ‘Red Misty Cloud Silk,’ pointing at the three spiritual mountains below.
Shan Mountain was home to a group of ferocious and brave Monster Mountain Civet Cats. If their territory was limited, they could likely engage in internecine slaughter, so the formation here covered almost the entire mountain, according to Chen Mobai’s request.
“On the tops of Shan Mountain and Jishan Mountain, there is a Qingyang Spirit Tree. As one of the nodes for the sect’s Large Formation, a small formation has also been set up for protection. Do not try to break in forcibly.”
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Ming and Luo Yixuan nodded in agreement.
“By the way, I heard from Sister Ma that these Mountain Civet Cats like to bare their fangs and claws. Zhuo Ming, didn’t you always think your magic duel skills were lacking? Once you’ve mastered your nine-storey Law Body, you can come into the mountains to practice with these creatures.”