Niu Ergen was clever, but he was also very honest. In ordinary times, he only did whatever Hu Donghan told him to do, and he always did it perfectly. So long as Hu Donghan gave no instructions, Niu Ergen would never rashly disturb him! This was precisely what Hu Donghan valued most about Niu Ergen.
What Hu Donghan needed now was for Niu Ergen to manage these menial disciples, ensuring that each performed his own duties instead of running about everywhere and disturbing Hu Donghan.
Thus, Hu Donghan pointed at Niu Ergen and said coldly, "From today onward, Niu Ergen is your leader. You must obey orders in daily matters. Whoever dares disobey will immediately get the hell out of Little Jade Flat! If any losses are caused to the medicine fields because of you, then pay for them with your lives!"
"Yes." The ten menial disciples looked at one another in dismay, panic written across their faces, before finally nodding together—Hu Donghan's law enforcement disciple robes gave them an especially stifling feeling. Just moments ago, their usual leader had been driven out of Little Jade Flat with a single sentence from Hu Donghan. Their minds had become tangled knots, leaving them unable even to think properly, and they all agreed just like that.
As for Hu Donghan, after giving his orders, he waved a hand and had the menial disciples return to their previous tasks. He himself began strolling around Little Jade Flat, observing the terrain.
Since Little Jade Flat bore the word "little" in its name, its area naturally could not be very large.
As this was a special medicine field located halfway up the mountain, spiritual energy was abundant only within this particular area. Due to several ravines in the mountain, it was divided overall into three plots, two large and one small. Its total area was only around sixteen mu. The spiritual energy and yin energy within were both dense, making it an excellent place for spiritual herbs to grow.
The two larger medicine fields each covered six and a half mu, while the smaller one was less than three mu. The two Large Medicine Fields were somewhat closer together, but the Small Medicine Field stood alone, roughly five hundred meters away from them.
The three medicine fields were densely planted with the most common spiritual herbs. Most matured within half a year or a year, while only a small number required more than ten years to mature. Of course, these spiritual herbs with relatively short growing periods were the main ingredients for refining pills used by Qi Refining Stage cultivators. A rough glance showed that each mu of medicine field contained around fifteen to sixteen hundred spiritual herbs. Across all sixteen mu, there were more than thirty thousand spiritual herbs.
Naturally, these spiritual herbs did not ripen at the same time. For various reasons, some matured early while others matured late; some had even been replanted after the previous herbs died, and so their growth periods were not fixed. Moreover, spiritual herbs faced all manner of disasters as they grew. There were weeds that specifically stole their nutrients, insects that devoured them, and so on. In short, for all sorts of reasons, perhaps not even one twentieth of these spiritual herbs would truly reach maturity in the end.
However, under normal circumstances, as long as they were carefully watched and tended, completing the monthly quota of one hundred plants was not much of a problem.
After gaining a general understanding of the medicine fields, Hu Donghan returned to the residential area of Little Jade Flat.
The residence at Little Jade Flat was located within the ravine between the two larger medicine fields.
It was impossible to say which cultivator had created it in the past. Hundred-meter-long hardwood logs had been driven directly into the ravine as a foundation, and wooden houses had been built on top. Once inside, one could observe the conditions of both Large Medicine Fields at any time through the windows on either side.
While resting in the house, Hu Donghan thought to himself, Next, I need to find a time to see just how large an area of spiritual herbs the Medicine Spirit Ghost can tend to at present! Also, tending medicine fields with the Medicine Spirit Ghost consumes a great deal of yin energy. I should contact Lang Tianya and see whether he can send some Wandering Souls to Little Jade Flat... But it is still daytime. It would be better to wait until night to test the Medicine Spirit Ghost's effects... And if I am running tests, it would naturally be best to stay farther away from the others. Trying it out in that Small Medicine Field should be ideal.
In the blink of an eye, the sun had already set.
Menial disciples from outside Little Jade Flat delivered food. After eating, Hu Donghan summoned Niu Ergen and questioned him about the situation with the ten menial disciples.
Niu Ergen was clever. In an honest and straightforward manner, he explained how he had relied on Hu Donghan's status to keep those menial disciples completely under control.
Hu Donghan did not particularly care after hearing this. At last, he said, "Niu Ergen, since I brought you here, naturally I hope you can be of help to me. To tell you the truth, the reason I am able to take charge of Little Jade Flat is because I have a Medicinal-Scent Ghost with me! Tonight, I will release the Medicinal-Scent Ghost at the Small Medicine Field and examine its effects. Therefore, I do not want a single menial disciple to appear anywhere near the Small Medicine Field tonight!"
"If you handle tonight's matter well, your position will be secure. From now on, you will receive another monthly stipend from me, and depending on my mood, I may even give you some rewards. Of course, if you fail to handle it properly, then get the hell out of Little Jade Flat at dawn tomorrow!"
Niu Ergen's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded. "Yes, Martial Uncle Hu. This disciple understands!"
"Do you really understand? I said anyone!" Hu Donghan reminded him again.
Niu Ergen was very sharp and immediately understood the meaning behind Hu Donghan's words. He promptly said, "Martial Uncle, rest assured. Tonight, none of the menial disciples will go near the Small Medicine Field, including this disciple."
"Good! Very good!" Hu Donghan nodded again before sending Niu Ergen off to make preparations.
Very soon, Niu Ergen gathered all the menial disciples together. Then, claiming it was Hu Donghan's order, he led them in patrols around the two Large Medicine Fields. Though the menial disciples were doubtful, they did not dare voice any objections.
Hu Donghan watched the menial disciples' movements from afar, smiling as he narrowed his eyes. Then he left the house alone and headed into the Small Medicine Field.
The Small Medicine Field covered less than three mu and contained only a little over four thousand two hundred spiritual herbs. Most of these herbs were medicinal ingredients needed to refine pills for Qi Refining Stage cultivators' cultivation. Aside from those, there were also over a hundred spiritual herbs used to assist Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in refining cultivation pills.
The medicine field was mostly occupied by Qi-Nourishing Grass, Three-Death Leaves, Ghost Valley Flowers, Spirit-Gathering Fruits, and the like. These medicinal ingredients were the primary materials used to refine Qi-Nourishing Pills, Qi-Refining Pills, and Spirit-Gathering Pills. It could be said that once all the herbs here matured, they could be directly used to refine pills.
"The Medicine Spirit Ghost is still not very strong, and the exact number of medicinal herbs it can cover remains uncertain. For now, I should first determine the Medicine Spirit Ghost's maximum range!"
As Hu Donghan pondered this, the Soul List within his divine soul stirred, releasing the Medicine Spirit Ghost. Then Hu Donghan directly issued an order through the Soul List, commanding the Medicine Spirit Ghost to cultivate spiritual herbs over the greatest possible range.
(End of Chapter)
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