Liu Tianning didn’t expect that Zhao Xing not only developed the Pure Essence Soil but also did so on such a large scale.
Over three thousand square meters, many old fifth-rank members of the Self Sect could barely achieve as much.
"You have made significant progress." Liu Tianning nodded, "These three hundred million points were well spent."
With such a performance, the three hundred million points were definitely worth it.
Zhao Xing said, "In fact, it cost resources worth ten billion. The Princess has given me considerable attention, and my Ten Thousand Skill Avatar had some fortunate encounters while exploring the East Sea."
Liu Tianning pondered, "When you reach the fifth-rank realm, I will find resources worth one hundred billion for you."
Resources worth one hundred billion? This time it was Zhao Xing’s turn to be stunned.
Could Lao Liu be that wealthy?
Liu Tianning said calmly, "When the Pacification War ends, whether I am promoted to a third-rank official or not, I will become the Vice Dean of Shangluo Academy."
"Even if it is just the initial stage, the resources I can command will be at least of a trillion level. These resources are mainly used to nurture the Self Sect’s talented ministers of agriculture."
"As my disciple, you will have no difficulty receiving the support of resources worth one hundred billion."
Zhao Xing thought briefly and immediately understood.
The Liu Tianning of Taihe County’s agriculture minister family might not be able to casually offer a hundred billion to his disciple. Even if he had that much, the Liu Family was a huge clan, and he still had an elder brother, who happened to be the head of the family.
But Liu Tianning, the leader of the Self Sect, was different.
The Dao of Agriculture has been passed down for millennia. The Shangluo Academy and Lianhua Academy, places where agriculture ministers gather, have a long and storied history.
But no matter who ruled the land, it never affected their farming activities.
Since agriculture officials had no political inclinations, their ambition was farming and achieving prosperity for all.
No dynasty would ever massacre agriculture officials; instead, they would be the first to win over.
In times of war, the Nineteen States were ravaged by conflicts, their timings and geographical advantages thrown into chaos. Quickly restoring stability was impossible without agriculture officials.
Whether Liu Tianning was promoted to a third-rank official after the Pacification War, as long as he became the leader of the Self Sect, he was sure to obtain a high official position.
The reason why he would be the Vice Dean of Shangluo Academy was mainly because the current leader of the Self Sect, Xu Xing, was still alive.
But Xu Xing wouldn’t last long either. Zhao Xing recalled that this second-rank Junior Agricultural Minister was already 775 years old.
Xu Xing, a second-rank official with first-grade strength, would hardly live past 800 years.
And in the past, Xu Xing had also died in the 17th Year of Da Zhi’s rule.
The Self Sect wouldn’t wait until someone died to elect a successor; the selection process had already begun. From the moment Liu Tianning emerged from the Military Realm, it was a foregone conclusion.
The most representative spell of the Self Sect was the Ten Thousand Skill Grass Man.
Liu Tianning’s great-grandfather was the Dean of Lianhua Academy. Though not the leader, he held a high position.
With such impeccable lineage, Liu Tianning had elevated the Ten Thousand Skill Grass Man to a new height.
The other Vice Deans could hardly compete; they were just along for the ride.
Liu Tianning himself might not have that much money to give to his disciples.
But once he assumed office, he would take on the responsibility of the Self Sect’s prosperity. He did not need to wait for Xu Xing to die to start acting.
Nurturing the Self Sect’s agriculture ministers was his mission, just as when he taught the Grassman Skill in the Ten Suns Cave Heaven.
The members of the Self Sect were few but very united. To be called a Self Sect agriculture minister, one had to be at least a fifth-rank realm.
When Liu Tianning said he commanded trillion-level resources, he was actually being modest!
Promoting talent without avoiding kinship, even though Zhao Xing was his disciple, his skill warranted receiving resources worth one hundred billion without any opposition.
However, it wouldn’t come free.
Given Lao Liu’s personality, his assessments of his disciples were stringent.
Sure enough, Zhao Xing heard Liu Tianning continue:
"For the first stage, I will give you five billion."
"With this five billion, you must cultivate mainstream fifth-order plants categorized into ’class,’ ’order,’ ’family,’ ’genus,’ and ’species.’ You need to dabble in each level of classification."
"Additionally, you must proficiently use the Pure Essence Projection, master its combat techniques, and improve your ranking in the Dojo."
"This is the first stage’s goal."
"For the second stage, I will give you at least twenty billion to cultivate sixth-rank plants and fifth-level Pure Element Soil."
"Also, you need to train yourself in the Dojo. Whether you are fifth-rank or fourth-rank, you must become the top middle-grade realm Self Sect agriculture minister of Pinghai State."
"For the third stage, I will give you at least eighty billion to cultivate seventh-rank plants across six levels, aiming to be the top middle-grade realm Self Sect agriculture minister of Pinghai State."
Liu Tianning didn’t mention what came after, because if Zhao Xing achieved the three goals, regardless of his official rank, he would already possess high-grade combat strength.
By then, Zhao Xing would also be a senior figure and would take on the responsibility of nurturing future generations. As for the path beyond, Liu Tianning hadn’t arranged that far ahead yet.
Zhao Xing listened quietly.
He could easily cultivate fifth-rank plants.
The only difficulty lay in what Liu Tianning mentioned: encompassing all series.
Some plants had a long growth cycle, like large trees. Given his current scale, planting large trees would still be quite difficult.
Of course, the first stage’s goal overall was relatively simple, and accomplishing this with five billion wouldn’t be hard.
The difficult part would be the second and third stages.
"Complete the first stage goal and come find me again."
"Yes, Master, thank you for your guidance," Zhao Xing said respectfully.
Liu Tianning then asked a few more questions, mainly about Zhao Xing’s insights on the three secret texts. The master and disciple discussed through the Earth Mirror for an hour before concluding their conversation.