Return to the Land of Hot Water

Neji quietly returned to Spring City without attracting anyone's attention. Calculating the time, he had been away for over twenty days. He then summoned Okiki-Tatsuryu and his group to the conference room, wanting to hear about the progress of the tasks he had assigned.

Not long after, everyone except Hayashi Ki, who was busy with construction at the new stronghold outside the city and settling orphans, had arrived at the conference room. Okiki-Tatsuryu, Qi Feng, Tenbu, and Tanaka Iko took their seats.

Neji spoke first, asking, "How is everyone progressing with the tasks I assigned?"

Okiki-Tatsuryu stood up and replied, "Reporting to the leader, your subordinate has established 25 strongholds inside and outside Spring City, with a total of 37 core intelligence personnel and 121 non-core intelligence personnel. We have infiltrated intelligence personnel into the four major powers and the Daimyo's mansion. However, due to our shallow roots, we have not yet reached core positions!"

"Your subordinate has also established two strongholds each in the Daimyo's mansions and ninja villages of the five great nations, totaling twenty! However, these twenty strongholds are only newly established and can only obtain general intelligence! In the coming period, your subordinate will continue to dispatch more personnel and find ways to obtain more classified intelligence," Okiki-Tatsuryu said solemnly.

Neji was quite satisfied with Okiki-Tatsuryu's efficiency and progress. The beginning was always the hardest, and establishing an intelligence system was no different, especially when lacking personnel and funds.

Neji nodded to Okiki-Tatsuryu, agreeing to his next steps, and then turned to Qi Feng, asking, "How is the refining of the secret Body Reinforcement Fluid progressing?"

Okiki-Qi Feng stood up and replied, "Reporting to the leader, we have currently established one alchemy workshop at the new stronghold and one at our current location, hiring a total of twelve alchemists and over thirty alchemy workers. Following the method provided by the leader, we have completed the Natural Energy infusion for nearly five tons of Jingtianlian juice and its accompanying medicinal materials that we acquired. The formal alchemy work began five days ago."

"Since the market supply of Jingtianlian juice is not abundant, this is all that could be purchased within a five-hundred-mile radius. To further expand the scale of alchemy, we either need to produce it ourselves or expand our purchasing range."

"If our two workshops operate at full capacity, we can process approximately 400Kg of medicinal materials every five days, producing about 100Kg of medicinal liquid. It is estimated that we will process this batch of acquired medicinal materials in two months."

Neji did a rough calculation: one person needs about 300g of medicinal liquid for a medicinal bath every two days, which amounts to about 55Kg of medicinal liquid per year. The acquired medicinal materials would only yield 1250Kg of medicinal liquid, enough for just over twenty people for a year.

If he weren't cooperating with the Okiki Family to cultivate Jingtianlian on a large scale, his idea of using secret medicinal baths to cultivate his forces would likely fall through. Thus, Neji turned to Tanaka Iko and asked, "How is the cooperation with the Okiki Family progressing?"

Tanaka Iko also immediately stood up and replied, "Reporting to the leader, the Okiki Family is very cooperative. In just two days, they have completed the reclamation of two plots of land totaling four hundred acres. Through various channels, they have purchased enough medicinal herb seeds. Due to the mild climate in the Land of Hot Water year-round, the seeds have already been sown."

"If the harvest is abundant, it is estimated that we will yield a total of 200 tons of various medicinal herbs, with a cycle of 10 months."

"At the same time, the Okiki Family has hired several array masters to set up multiple arrays in both medicinal gardens! As per your instructions, I will replenish Natural Energy to the medicinal gardens every five days. Currently, the medicinal herbs in both gardens have sprouted and are growing faster than ordinary medicinal herbs. It is highly likely that they will be harvested in about 8 months, and the yield is also expected to be higher than estimated. Since this is the first time using Natural Energy for catalysis, I cannot provide precise data!" Tanaka Iko reported the details of the cooperation one by one.

Neji was quite satisfied with the Okiki Family's performance. As long as they remained loyal, Neji was willing to have a professional family handle matters for him, saving him trouble and worry!

Finally, Neji looked at Okiki-Tenbu!

Okiki-Tenbu, without waiting for Neji to ask, proactively replied, "Reporting to the leader, during this period, I have established two orphanages in Spring City and a total of five orphanages in surrounding towns. As of yesterday, we have taken in 287 orphans, including 186 children aged 3-12. After communication, 124 of the 186 children aged 3-12 are willing to join our organization and have been secretly sent to the new stronghold to begin preliminary training."

"At the same time, I have secretly arranged for dedicated personnel to travel to more distant places to continue establishing orphanages. More children of suitable age should join us soon!"

Neji was quite satisfied with the work of the four, giving them his affirmation. He informed them that he would teach them an extremely powerful cultivation secret technique that would bring about a qualitative change in their strength.

This made the four of them excited, as they themselves knew that their limited strength had caused many things to be carried out with great difficulty. To further develop and expand their work, they needed stronger backing. This had been a shadow in their hearts.

Now, hearing that their leader could enhance their strength, they were naturally overjoyed.

He also vaguely mentioned that this was a unique Ninjutsu of the God of Ninjas, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, which made them even more excited, their faces flushing red.

They couldn't wait to begin cultivating immediately.

Ignoring their eagerness, Neji rode the Black-Winged Thunder Roc alone towards the stronghold outside the city.

As the distance was short, he arrived above the new stronghold in just a moment.

During the construction of the stronghold, Hayashi Ki did not excessively damage the trees in the valley. Most of the housing and training grounds were built underground.

This made it difficult for Neji to detect anything from above with the naked eye.

Neji was quite satisfied with this!

Without further hesitation, Neji leaped from the Thunder Roc's back into the valley. Just as he was about to land, he used Empty Palm with his left hand to strike downwards, creating a reactive force that counteracted the falling gravity, allowing Neji to land steadily.

This move was quite impressive for showing off, but in actual combat, it would make him vulnerable to enemies, as being in mid-air made it difficult to gain leverage, turning him into a sitting duck.