Enhancement

Reform was a tangled web of countless threads, impossible to accomplish in a single stroke.

Even with a rough plan in place, many minor issues still needed to be sorted out one by one.

Fortunately, it was now June, and the previous crop of Spirit Grain had only recently been harvested. There was still a month before the next season's Spirit Grain planting, leaving ample time for all kinds of preparations.

In truth,

regarding Shen Changchuan's reform plan,

most people remained doubtful.

That was perfectly normal.

Many people were accustomed to clinging to old ways and unwilling to change. Whether the change was good or bad, they would instinctively loathe change itself, loathe stepping out of their comfort zone.

Among them, those who had long been used to cutting corners and loafing around were even less willing to change.

But clearly, there was no such thing as democracy in all of Great Bay Village; as an Immortal Cultivator, Shen Changchuan possessed absolute authority.

For everyone in Great Bay Village, whether they understood or not, they still had to carry it out.

There was simply no room for opposition.

And,

Shen Changchuan's reforms were not without support.

At the very least, most members of Teams Eleven and Twelve, as well as his Maternal Grandfather, Han Qinhu, supported them.

For the former,

if production increased, the Martial Artists of those two teams would have a chance to receive a share of the Spirit Grain as a reward.

Such an Immortal Item was far more precious than yellow and white trinkets like gold and silver!

It was something that might allow oneself or one's descendants to embark upon the Immortal Path!

Its preciousness to mortals went without saying.

As for his Maternal Grandfather, Han Qinhu, after reading the reform plan, he approved with both hands.

His grandson wanted to accomplish something. If he succeeded, it would naturally be a wonderful thing.

Even if he failed,

the reform plan Shen Changchuan had produced was enough to serve as a safety net and would not cause any great losses.

To be honest, even Han Qinhu, who had traveled far and wide and seen much of the mortal world, had inwardly been astonished when he saw Shen Changchuan's reform plan.

That reform plan was far too steady,

and far too ingenious!

Especially the plan to leave ten mu of land unchanged as before, while conducting experimental improvements on only two mu.

It left even the worldly Han Qinhu with a feeling beyond words.

"Before considering victory, consider defeat first. He acts without arrogance or impatience. My grandson Shen Changchuan is destined for great achievements in the future!"

That was Han Qinhu's inward sigh.

He even took the initiative to shoulder the duty of supervision and management afterward, devoting most of his time and energy to assisting Shen Changchuan's reforms.

He ensured that the reform plan was carried through to the letter.

Time passed amid Great Bay Village's bustling changes, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.

Yet while busy with Great Bay Village's restructuring,

Shen Changchuan had not neglected his cultivation.

Or rather, ever since escaping the vortex that was Tiannan City Shen Family Manor,

he had never once relaxed his cultivation!

For Shen Changchuan had an extremely clear understanding of this world.

In this feudal world of immortal cultivation, the authority a person possessed came from the power they held.

The stronger one's strength, the stronger one's voice, and the greater one's authority.

Whether reorganizing Great Bay Village,

or improving Spirit Grain production to obtain greater harvests,

the purpose of all these actions

was ultimately to serve the enhancement of his own strength!

Shen Changchuan would not put the cart before the horse.

It was for that reason

that even at his busiest, Shen Changchuan had never forgotten to cultivate.

And reality did not disappoint his efforts.

In merely half a month,

his Cultivation Realm had already broken through, advancing another small step to Peak Qi Gathering Third Layer.

Only one step remained

before he could reach the Qi Gathering Fourth Level.

He would then enter the middle stage of the Qi Induction realm!

"Peak Qi Gathering Third Layer... Qi Gathering Fourth Level is already within sight!"

Sensing the more abundant spiritual power within his body, Shen Changchuan felt greatly refreshed.

This should be related to leaving that oppressive place, Shen Family Manor. Once I broke free of the cage, the sea became vast and the sky boundless, and my state of mind improved.

Once freed from the cage, I returned to nature. The ancients truly did not deceive me!

Of course, it also has much to do with cultivation resources.

With the essence-rich flesh of that Qi Gathering Fourth Level Yao Pig replenishing me, I was able to make up for the deficiencies caused by rapidly increasing my spiritual power and reach Peak Qi Gathering Third Layer in such a short time!

Near the Spirit Spring, the very core of Great Bay Village,

Shen Changchuan sat cross-legged atop a massive stone within a secret chamber, in an excellent mood.

At that moment, the Spirit Spring beside him trickled continuously, strands of spiritual energy dispersing through the surrounding space.

The secret chamber was a square space. Its walls and ceiling were built from enormous stone bars, each weighing a thousand jin, completely enclosing the Spirit Spring within this space.

If one stepped outside, one would see layers upon layers of loose earth piled and compacted atop it, almost like an artificial hill. There was only a passage tall enough for one person to enter and leave through, and within it stood a heavy wooden door that tightly sealed the passage entrance.

The purpose of this was naturally to lock as much as possible of the spiritual energy evaporating and spreading from the Spirit Spring within a small space, so that people could cultivate there.

As for the effect,

how should he put it?

Shen Changchuan felt that it was far better than casually meditating in the wilderness.

Just the circulation of his spiritual power alone felt somewhat faster here.

And it was precisely because of that Qi Gathering Fourth Level Yao Pig's flesh,

combined with the decent spiritual energy environment near the Spirit Spring,

that Shen Changchuan had risen so quickly to Peak Qi Gathering Third Layer.

One had to know,

he had only reached Late Third Layer Qi Gathering two months ago.

Yet in a mere two months, he had advanced by a minor level.

The speed of his cultivation was obvious for all to see.

Sure enough, leaving the great vortex of Shen Family Manor was the most correct decision I could possibly have made!

Recalling his two and a half years in Shen Family Manor, Shen Changchuan could not help sighing once more.

Compared to his life in Shen Family Manor, where he had to tread carefully, dared not offend anyone, dared not cultivate too diligently, received only a bowl of Spirit Rice porridge every ten days, and was only qualified to taste a few bites of Demon Beast meat during major festivals such as the New Year,

his days stationed in Great Bay Village were incomparably more carefree!

At the very least,

he was completely free now!

And that was not all he had gained during these days.

Shen Changchuan gazed into the void, and a light screen appeared before his eyes:

Name: Shen Changchuan

Realm: Peak Qi Gathering Third Layer

Cultivation Art: Elephant Mountain Qi Absorption Art

Dharma Artifacts:

Two Golden Needles (quasi-low-grade Dharma Artifacts)

Spells:

Golden Needle Stab: 100% (Traits: slight improvement in concealed weapon accuracy; negligible experience in metal-element spell cultivation)

Light Body Technique: 100% (Perfect Traits: slight speed increase; negligible Movement Technique cultivation experience)

Wind Blade Technique: 52%

Fireball Technique: 43%

Vine Technique: 13%

Spirit Eye Technique: 2%

Not bad,

his Light Body Technique had also reached perfection.

With the ample essence replenishment provided by the wild Yao Pig meat, Shen Changchuan had managed to squeeze out time from his packed schedule over the past half month,

successfully cultivating the Light Body Technique to perfection,

while also bringing the Spirit Eye Technique Shen Shiying had left him to the entry level.

There was not much to say about the Spirit Eye Technique. When activated, it merely allowed him to see faint spiritual glimmers or traces of demon aura.

It was only an auxiliary spell.

What mattered was the Light Body Technique, which had already reached perfection.

Like the Golden Needle Stab, once the Light Body Technique's cultivation progress reached 100%, two lines of Traits appeared after it as well.

Shen Changchuan did not yet fully understand the effect of the latter phrase, "negligible Movement Technique cultivation experience."

But he had felt the effects of the first phrase, "slight speed increase."

When he used the Light Body Technique that had reached 100% progress,

he, who had originally been able to leap four or five zhang in a single bound, could now fly eight or nine zhang.

After activating the Light Body Technique, its agility-enhancing effect was at least one-third stronger than before!

This also increased the speed at which he struck!

Without question, Shen Changchuan's overall strength had been further enhanced!

The current Shen Changchuan

even felt that if that gigantic Peak Fourth Layer Qi Gathering Yao Pig appeared before him again,

he would be confident in killing it through hit-and-run attacks!