Establishing the Magic Potion Tunic

The serfs kneeling spontaneously along the Cinder Path to welcome their lord caused a certain shock to Russell's heart.

"This world, this era... the authority of the nobility is far too heavy."

He dared not imagine how he would break the shackles of class and enjoy a free life if he had transmigrated as a serf.

"Perhaps..."

He raised his head, his gaze passing over the kneeling serfs to look further south. That area was completely different from the Glimmering River Valley, as it remained covered in ice and snow.

Beneath the ice and snow, where the Glimmering River flowed into a basin, lay a dark cave known as the Xiangshui River Cave.

Living within that cave was a group of free people who belonged to no lord.

Indeed, they had attained freedom, but their lives were precarious, constantly teetering on the edge of death.

As the baron lord of Wuyou Snake Manor, one of Russell's major duties as a vassal was to strictly guard the territory's borders to prevent these free people from crossing over to pillage—for those who did not submit to a noble lord received no protection from one.

Withdrawing his gaze, Russell looked at the serfs still kneeling and said in a clear voice, "Everyone, rise. From now on, when I, Russell Fluorite Mushroom, your lord, pass by, you need only offer a respectful gaze. There is no need to kneel and kowtow."

"Ah, praise the Master!"

"Master, you are so kind and generous!"

"Kind-hearted Master!"

"Master, you are a true noble!"

"Wuwuwu, how fortunate we are!"

"Praise the Master! Master, your glory is boundless!"

The serfs expressed their gratitude in a cacophony of voices. Simply by exempting them from kneeling, they felt their new lord was absolutely a wonderful person.

Taking a cursory look at the Small Market Town, Russell discovered that only two places could truly be called shops.

One was a bakery, responsible for making bread for the serfs and helping them purchase essential supplies in town.

The other was a blacksmith shop—or perhaps one could call it a stonemason's or carpenter's shop. It dealt in all kinds of ironware, stone tools, and wooden furniture. Russell even saw leather goods hanging from the lintel, which showed just how versatile the owner's craftsmanship was.

In addition, there was one place that didn't quite qualify as a shop; it was a row of sheds that barely passed for a farmers' market.

Serfs set up stalls here to sell their own eggs, rice wine, bacon, and other agricultural products.

"How pathetic..." Russell sighed once more.

Wuyou Snake Manor covered nearly twenty thousand hectares, which was larger than some townships back on Earth, yet the difference in prosperity was vast.

The primary issue was the population: thirty-five hundred people, the size of a slightly larger village.

It simply couldn't support the commercial system of a small town.

"There are too few serfs. In the past, the manor's agricultural output couldn't support many people, but now that I've brought the Spirit Worms and can plant magic potions, I should be able to support many more... Where can I obtain more people?" He couldn't help but cast his gaze once again toward the Xiangshui River Cave.

This matter required careful consideration.

Leaving the Small Market Town, he continued along the Cinder Path. The terrain rose and fell, forming an atypical valley landscape centered around the Glimmering River.

In Russell's view, the entire Glimmering River Valley was a basin.

Wuyou Snake Manor sat at the southern mouth of this basin, with the land characterized by rolling hills.

Further away were the low mountains on the east and west sides, covered in ice and snow.

Crossing a dirt slope, two riders came galloping toward him from afar. They were his two teachers, Charles and Eric.

"Lord Russell, welcome to inspect the territory. Haha, I saw a few knights from afar and guessed it was you returning." Charles performed a hat-tipping salute while on horseback, a briar pipe still tucked between his fingers.

Eric struck his chest with his right hand: "My Lord."

"Greetings, teachers. How has the manor inspection gone? Have you found any suitable places for planting magic potions?"

"The most suitable places remain the banks of the Glimmering River." Although Charles was a fallen aristocrat, he still possessed a fair amount of knowledge. "The Baron Lord's magic potion fields were distributed along the banks of the Glimmering River, and it is the same for us here."

Russell was noncommittal: "Is that so?"

"I have made a simple plan. The west bank of the Glimmering River is home to Lentil Tunic and Alfalfa Tunic, while the east bank holds Bean Wheat Tunic, Barley Tunic, and Wheat Tunic. We can carve out the farmland near the river from these five tunics to form a new Magic Potion Tunic."

Standing on the dirt slope on horseback, one could overlook the entire Glimmering River.

Charles gestured casually: "This way, the Magic Potion Tunic can receive sufficient irrigation from the Glimmering River, and it will also be convenient for patrols at any time. If danger is encountered, the Worm Grass can be retracted into the Spirit Worm's body in time to avoid major losses."

Farming in this world was not quite the same as farming on Earth.

The cultivation of ordinary crops might not differ much, and the serfs could handle it well.

However, the cultivation of magic potions required the Spirit Worms to maintain it, providing the special environment for the potions to grow through the influence of the Worm Grass.

The Worm Grass was the plant or mushroom body that nurtured the Spirit Worm.

Simply put, it was a magical artifact.

The Spirit Worm could retract the Worm Grass at any time, or sow it, and regulate the range of influence on the magic potions through the grass.

Russell was a man of action: "Let's go take a look together and determine the scope of the Magic Potion Tunic while we're at it."

Charles shrugged: "You are the lord; as you wish."

Galloping along, they arrived at the banks of the Glimmering River.

"Look, Russell, there is a large birch forest here, all old trees with some age to them. It is a perfect fit for the growth of Fluorite Mushrooms." Charles pointed to a patch of trees that had just sprouted new buds. The forest was distributed along the river, sparse but covering a significant area.

Fluorite Mushrooms liked to grow on tree trunks; they were a type of parasitic mushroom.

"Very good, but this forest isn't enough to plant one hundred and fifty acres of Fluorite Mushrooms. We need to continue planting trees to expand the birch forest." Russell expressed his satisfaction. "John, go find Old Hans and tell him to bring people to measure the land."

"Yes, My Lord!" The Armored Knight John accepted the order and rode off.

Seeing this, Charles hesitated: "Russell, are we starting the land survey today? The sun is almost setting; wouldn't it be better to start tomorrow?"

"Don't put off until tomorrow what can be done today. The Magic Potion Tunic must be planned as soon as possible," Russell said, leaving no room for refusal.

His own territory, his own farmland, his own crops... everything ignited his infinite creative passion.

Things that could be done quickly simply could not be left overnight.

Russell's will was well-reflected in his attendants and subjects. Old Hans arrived quickly, followed by a group of Tunic Chiefs and Serf Managers.

"Monochoria, Fluorite Mushrooms, Dill. The Magic Potion Tunic will be divided into three plots. The birch forests on both banks will serve as the planting ground for the Fluorite Mushrooms, leaving enough for one hundred and fifty acres." Charles, who had wanted to slack off, had to pull himself together to preside over the work.

He couldn't push everything onto Russell, or he would lose his own value.

"Yes, Lord Charles. We shall begin measuring from the birch forest now. I have brought the rulers and stakes," Old Hans said with a bow.

Under the direction of Charles and Eric, the Tunic Chiefs and Serf Managers measured the land plot by plot.

The sunlight spilled into the birch forest, gilding the straight birch branches with a faint golden hue. Tree after tree, with emerald new buds and golden branches, the beauty of nature was displayed to the fullest at this moment.

Russell gently rode his horse to the riverbank, stepping on the stones by the water, and sighed silently in his heart: "It is as beautiful as a scenic spot here... unfortunately, I am the only tourist."