Aunt Yun, I Have a Plan

"This is bad!"

"A mid-stage Meal Cloud cultivator can't block this!"

Daoist Xuanqing reacted like a startled beast, the hairs on his back standing on end, his composed expression vanishing in an instant.

From his dark, profound eyes, two brilliant streaks of light suddenly burst forth.

In a flash, Daoist Xuanqing quickly released the cultivation he had been suppressing.

But it was still too late!

A deafening thunderclap exploded in the backyard.

It was like a sudden bolt of lightning from a clear sky.

Or the first spring thunder awakening the hibernating creatures.

Boom!

A sound like a massive bell echoed, spreading in all directions.

A terrifying air current, mixed with green lightning, swept through.

Wherever it passed, lightning covered everything.

Within a hundred-foot radius, the area transformed into a pool of lightning in that instant.

The ground beneath Daoist Xuanqing's feet looked as if it had been ploughed by cannon fire, collapsing downwards and scorched black.

Further away.

The craggy rockery instantly disintegrated.

The pond burst, and mist permeated the air.

The gardener's meticulously tended flowers, plants, and trees were reduced to broken branches and scattered debris, leaving a mess.

"Is that thunder?"

"It's His Highness!"

In the study, Yun Menglan, who was organizing scrolls, suddenly raised her head and looked out the window.

A faint surprise and suspicion rose in her bright eyes.

She sensed His Highness's aura within this lightning strike.

"When did His Highness learn lightning techniques?"

Yun Menglan's red lips parted slightly in astonishment.

Fang Heng's Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning.

It came quickly and left just as quickly.

In a breath, the lightning dissipated.

The sky above the backyard returned to normal.

Daoist Xuanqing stood with his hands behind his back, still maintaining the demeanor of a master.

However, his right hand, hidden behind his back, trembled uncontrollably, appearing scorched black.

"This talent…"

Daoist Xuanqing took a deep breath, managing to speak.

Fang Heng looked at the backyard, which was almost in ruins, feeling a bit shocked.

This was his first time using the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning; he hadn't controlled its power and hadn't expected it to cause such a commotion.

"Master, how do you think I've cultivated my Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning?"

"My disciple, you are exceptionally talented; you have already reached the perfect realm."

"However… you mustn't become complacent."

"Our lineage has always had profound insights into cultivating the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning."

"Back then, when I received the method from my own master and cultivated the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning, I also perfected it in one go." Daoist Xuanqing lied without a blush or a flicker, truly putting in great effort to prevent Fang Heng from becoming overly self-satisfied.

"You, my disciple, have inherited my aptitude and have not tarnished the reputation of our lineage."

"For now, consolidate your cultivation. Next month, I will teach you the other three ultimate techniques."

With that, he didn't give Fang Heng a chance to ask any questions.

Daoist Xuanqing transformed into a streak of green light and disappeared from the Ninth Prince's manor.

He only stopped once he was outside Yujing City.

Daoist Xuanqing raised his right hand.

His right hand was completely scorched black.

It looked like a roasted pig's trotters.

A faint scent of cooked meat lingered.

Such injuries, let alone for ordinary people, would be considered severe even for martial artists.

However, for Daoist Xuanqing, it was no big deal.

He circulated the Evergreen Temple's supreme technique, the Evergreen Indestructible Body.

Green light flickered on his right hand, and vitality surged.

In less than three breaths, his right hand was restored to its original state.

After healing, Daoist Xuanqing let out a long breath of stale air.

He recalled when he first cultivated the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning.

Achieving mastery in ten days, his master had already called him a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, the most talented person in their lineage's history.

Therefore, Daoist Xuanqing had always been proud of his cultivation talent.

He considered himself to be of the highest caliber in Great Qian.

Occasionally, he would hear rumors circulating in the market about cultivation prodigies who could understand things at a glance and achieve perfection in a day.

He had always scoffed at these rumors.

How could there be such a genius in this world?

Until today, he finally had his eyes opened!

His gaze towards Yujing City was filled with satisfaction, praise, and even fervent excitement.

"Such a beautiful jade should rightfully enter my tutelage."

"Without my guidance, it would be a wasted talent."

Fang Heng watched his master leave in a hurry and shook his head.

Mastery of the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning?

No!

He had only cultivated it to the flawless realm.

Because of the Wood-Thunder Body's enhancement, the power of the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning was three times that of ordinary cultivators, which led Daoist Xuanqing to misunderstand.

However, Fang Heng didn't bother to correct Daoist Xuanqing.

With his understanding of the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method, he could reach the perfected realm within a month.

Yun Menglan approached Fang Heng, carrying a pile of scrolls.

Her steps were graceful and lithe, exuding a unique and alluring charm.

"Your Highness, these are the dossiers of all officials in the Seed Selection Department."

"Aunt Yun, thank you for helping me organize them."

"It is my duty, Your Highness."

Yun Menglan curtsied.

Her every move was disciplined and proper, perfectly showcasing what it meant to be a noblewoman in public.

If only she could show a more alluring side, Fang Heng sighed inwardly, then composed himself and began to examine the dossiers of the Seed Selection Department officials.

As the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles."

Fang Heng was not going to the Seed Selection Department to merely "gild his resume" or to slack off.

He intended to accomplish something significant.

A great undertaking that would benefit both the country and its people.

Therefore, understanding the officials, from top to bottom, in the Seed Selection Department was essential.

Especially the backgrounds of these officials.

Who stood behind them?

Which prince? Or which chancellor? Which minister?

All of these needed to be clarified.

Yun Menglan had organized the dossiers neatly, categorizing them by rank.

At the very top was the Director of the Seed Selection Department—Xu Xingzhi.

Xu Xingzhi, a fifth-rank official, was the head of the Seed Selection Department.

He was also Fang Heng's nominal superior.

Fang Heng was somewhat surprised by the evaluation in Xu Xingzhi's dossier.

"Honest and incorruptible in office, upright and unyielding."

He was actually a person of the caliber of Hai Rui.

"This is truly rare."

In a feudal dynasty, it's even rarer than a giant panda.

As for his background…

He has no background at all.

After Fang Heng finished reading Xu Xingzhi's dossier, his evaluation of him could be summed up in eight words:

Virtuous but lacking in ability.

He had been an official for twenty years, known for his integrity, so much so that his wife often complained about it.

On the other hand, during Xu Xingzhi's ten years in the Seed Selection Department, the Seed Selection Department had produced no results whatsoever.

This showed that his ability was so mediocre that even calling him "mediocre" would be a compliment.

Putting down Xu Xingzhi's dossier, Fang Heng began to read the dossiers of other officials.

The more he read, the more surprised Fang Heng became.

The officials in the Seed Selection Department, without exception, had no background.

"Aunt Yun, are you sure there are no omissions in the dossiers?"

"Are all the officials in the Seed Selection Department truly without any background?" Fang Heng asked, frowning.

Yun Menglan nodded slightly, her red lips parting just a little.

"Your Highness, the Seed Selection Department is inherently a clean government office, with no real perks. It also requires extensive travel and is very demanding."

"Anyone with even a slight background would have been transferred to another department long ago."

"I see!"

After hearing Yun Menglan's explanation, Fang Heng stroked his chin.

Then, he pursed his lips and sighed.

"Before long, the Seed Selection Department will have so many perks, it'll make people sick."

A look of curiosity appeared on Yun Menglan's beautiful face.

"Your Highness, what kind of perks could the Seed Selection Department possibly have?"

"I have my ways!"

"You'll know in a while, Aunt Yun."

Fang Heng smiled mysteriously, not explaining further.

Fang Heng knew all too well how incredibly profitable seed companies like Monsanto would be in later generations.