Come Take a Look-My Carving Is Huge!

Once Lin Ke had thoroughly understood the Blackgold Silkworms' habits, an idea began to form in his mind.

Science!

Science and technology!

The most powerful thing about science was not technology, but the logical thinking that science itself represented.

You might say that a flower was a treasure of heaven and earth, the only one in existence, and that growing a second flower of the same variety was absolutely impossible.

But from a scientific perspective, if you met its requirements for seeds, cultivation time, soil, water, air, nutrients, and so forth, you could grow it.

Growing an identical one might be impossible, but growing one of the same variety with very little difference was quite likely.

That was how so many so-called medicinal herbs had been cultivated in the brilliant civilization of his previous life.

At first, people thought they could only grow deep in the mountains or dense forests. Later, they discovered that simply recreating the same conditions allowed those plants to grow just as well in greenhouses.

Even artificial wombs existed, so why not artificial soil? Artificially controlled temperature and humidity?

Thus, the current methods of raising and breeding Blackgold Silkworms were still akin to those of China's Han dynasty. The crux of the problem was that no one took them seriously or bred and produced them scientifically.

The farmers working in the Green Mulberry Garden could not be bothered to concern themselves with so much or think so deeply. They simply did whatever the exalted immortals told them to do, which was why science and technology related to Blackgold Silkworms had developed so slowly.

Based on the farm woman's experience, however, Lin Ke already had a few ideas.

For instance, Blackgold Silkworms liked warmth but could not withstand harsh sunlight, so they could only eat mulberry leaves from the underside to avoid direct exposure.

In that case, why not build a greenhouse?

It would keep out direct sunlight while retaining warmth.

Aside from temperature, there were also oxygen concentration and the mulberry leaves themselves to consider.

According to the farm woman, Blackgold Silkworms tended to instinctively crawl downhill and disliked staying on mulberry trees at higher elevations. Why was that?

Altitude!

Altitude affected oxygen concentration, temperature, humidity, and a whole series of other factors.

As long as he gathered enough information and conducted a few simple experiments, Lin Ke could determine the Blackgold Silkworms' preferred environment.

Then he would only need to put those experimental findings into practice.

As for how?

Although he was applying scientific thinking, he naturally could not rigidly limit himself to the technology of his previous life. He needed to adapt to local conditions and make flexible use of cultivators' abilities!

Whether through formations, talismans, or spirit artifacts, altering the Blackgold Silkworms' growing environment was entirely achievable.

The core lay in the thinking embodied by science. Whether technology, immortal arts, or magic was used to put that thinking into practice made no difference.

That was what it meant to master math, physics, and chemistry, and fear no journey across the myriad worlds.

"Then... let's build a greenhouse!"

Lin Ke considered the knowledge in his mind, then stood up.

The egg in his head had not hatched, and he could not cultivate anyway. This was the perfect time to get busy with this project.

Having made up his mind, Lin Ke headed down the mountain.

The Green Mulberry Garden lay on the sect's border, so he had some distance to travel to buy anything.

Fortunately, he knew a few basic spells, so he did not need to worry too much about his stamina or the journey.

"Swift Travel!"

The Yi-Wa Market was not far away.

The Golden Wing Sect, to which he belonged, was situated in the Ailao Territory of the Cloud Frontier. An enormous mountain range stretched across the region from north to south, named the Poison Tempering Mountains.

Beside the Poison Tempering Mountains ran a great river called the Red River, flowing mightily from the northwest toward the Golden Wing Sect.

The Red River should have flowed southeast, but a mighty expert of the Golden Wing Sect had used supreme immortal arts to divert it. It curved at the sect, enclosing it on three sides before flowing northeast.

This made the entire area within the Golden Wing Sect's protective formation hot and humid, highly suitable for flowers, trees, snakes, insects, rats, and ants.

The Yi-Wa Market Lin Ke had now reached was the Golden Wing Sect's largest market. Situated beside the Red River, it was bustling and prosperous.

It held not only shops and vendors from the sect, but also outsiders who came to do business. Fish and dragons mingled together, and goods were plentiful.

After all, the Golden Wing Sect was far from the only sect beside the Poison Tempering Mountains and the Red River. Across the entire Ailao Territory, there were too many to count.

Before he even approached, waves of noisy hawking reached him from inside.

"Two-hundred-year-old river catfish! Only thirty low-grade spirit stones!"

"That's far too expensive! What kind of insect egg costs three spirit stones? Is it certified by the Golden Wing Sect's Spirit Insect Cave?"

"Sword cultivators! Sword cultivators wanted! Old Master Mu needs sword cultivators to perform at his birthday celebration! Six places left, first come, first served!"

"Buying Three-Yang Saffron and shrew oil in bulk!"

"Sixth-level Qi Refinement cultivator from the Gorgeous Flower Sect available for hire! Three spirit stones a day! Can pose as your spouse to deal with your sect elders..."

There were plenty of hawkers, offering all sorts of things.

High above the market, a Luomie Silver Hat rich in the distinctive style of the Miaowei People radiated a powerful aura, keeping the entire market under control so that no one dared cause trouble.

The Cloud Frontier was home to many ethnic groups, and the Miaowei People were one of the stronger groups specializing in insects.

The Yini People, the Black Wa People, and the others each had their own strengths and specialties.

Thus, as soon as Lin Ke stepped into the Yi-Wa Market, the first thing that greeted him was a multitude of languages, followed by a multitude of styles of dress.

Black, gray, dark blue, silver, red-the dazzling array made his eyes swim.

"These peoples certainly have style and character," Lin Ke could not help praising.

Still, he had little leisure to admire the exotic sights. He immediately followed the route in his memory to the Yi-Wa Market's stall area.

In the stall area, both cultivators and mortals conducted business.

People who liked hunting for hidden treasures or cheap bargains enjoyed shopping here.

People who liked swindling others also sold their wares here.

Who profited from a transaction depended on each person's eye and methods.

What Lin Ke needed now was to establish a production line for breeding Blackgold Silkworms and producing their silk.

Research and breeding would originate in the Niwan Palace, while production could be left to the mortals in the Green Mulberry Garden.

Once he established this system, completing the sect's assignment would be just around the corner.

As he thought about this, Lin Ke suddenly felt the Niwan Palace inside his head tremble slightly.

Hmm? This is... His head instinctively turned toward a certain spot in the stall area.

"Spirit roots, spirit roots! Finest-quality spirit roots! Strengthen your kidneys and replenish your qi! One spirit stone per spirit-root carving! Going cheap, going cheap!"

A dark-skinned young man with a sly look in his eyes sat cross-legged on the ground, selling his wares.

His stall was covered with wooden objects of various sizes, resembling root carvings.

These root carvings came in strange shapes, yet seemed to overflow with spiritual energy.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell they were fraudulent goods sprinkled with a little spirit-stone powder.

But some mortals could not see through them and might be taken in by the supposed "spirit-root carvings" and claims of "strengthening the kidneys and replenishing qi."

Naturally, Lin Ke had no interest in such things. They were clearly fake.

But the change in his Niwan Palace and his body's instinctive reaction told him...

There was something unusual among these root carvings!

The Niwan Palace resided in the head, and the so-called sixth sense also originated there.

Its reaction meant that something among these root carvings was compatible with him.

Or rather, compatible with his Niwan Palace and the mysterious pearl that had opened it up.

Without a word, Lin Ke took a few steps forward, then a few steps back, before circling around with the vendor at the center.

His Niwan Palace only reacted when he entered a certain range.

With that, he pinpointed the little stall.

That was the spot!

"Fellow Daoist, come take a look at my carvings!" Noticing Lin Ke's gaze, the young man hurriedly greeted him with a smile, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"My carvings are incredibly useful. Look at this one-big and good!"

He picked up a large root carving and enthusiastically presented it to Lin Ke.

A look of interest immediately appeared on Lin Ke's face. He walked over, crouched down, and asked quietly, "Fellow Daoist... do these root carvings really strengthen the kidneys?"

His cheeks were slightly flushed, his voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and his eyes shifted evasively.

Seeing Lin Ke like this, the seller's smile immediately grew warmer and more sincere. "They work! They work extremely well!"

He leaned closer to Lin Ke and whispered, "I use these myself... Let me put it this way: I only do business during the day now. I have three concubines at home, and they've already borne me six sons!"

Six sons? You really take me for someone who knows nothing. You're only fifteen or sixteen yourself... Lin Ke was inwardly speechless, but to buy a particular root carving, he still put on a tempted expression.

"Then... shall I buy one to try first? You're not going to cheat me, are you?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Hearing that Lin Ke wanted to buy one, the seller grew even more excited. "Once you buy the first, you'll definitely be back for a second in two days! Fellow Daoist, trust me!"

"Fellow Daoist, listen to your big brother here. When you become Dao companions with the woman you love, the first time is especially important. That's true for mortals, and it's just as true for cultivators like us!"

As he spoke, he patted his chest. "Back then, your big brother here lost his chance to become an inner disciple because he wasn't prepared for his first time. Otherwise... ah!"

One moment, the seller brimmed with enthusiasm; the next, he sighed mournfully. The drastic changes in his expression left even Lin Ke somewhat amazed.

After a few more words, Lin Ke seemed to finally make up his mind. "Then... I'll take this one!"

Lin Ke pulled a low-grade spirit stone from his pocket and tossed it over. Then, moving very quickly yet very casually, he bent down, picked up an oval root carving, and walked away with a flushed face.

The seller paid no attention to which root carving Lin Ke chose. Instead, he hurriedly caught the spirit stone Lin Ke had tossed him and tucked it into his pocket, wild with delight.

A moment later, he looked up to say something, but Lin Ke was already nowhere to be seen.

"Heh, next time? If you can find your grandpa next time, I'll take your surname!" Seeing Lin Ke run off in embarrassment, the seller murmured happily, then resumed hawking his wares.

Meanwhile, Lin Ke forcibly suppressed his curiosity, put the root carving into his storage pouch, and slipped into the crowd. Only once the seller behind him could no longer see him did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"Let's see what this thing really is..."