The Meng Family Presents a Treasure: The Wood Demon Heart!
Speaking of Yingchuan--
Qin Lu had even studied this matter in detail.
Logically speaking, the upstream area is rich in Spiritual Power and is located in the middle reaches, so it should also be a treasure land. Moreover, Yunchuan Lake in the lower reaches of the Ying River is also a blessed land!
But the middle reaches of the Ying River turn out to be a barren land, which defies common sense and convention...
Such an abnormality--
This piqued Qin Lu Lu's curiosity, and after consulting various ancient texts...
He actually found an High Antiquity cryptic text!
Perhaps, in the past, the lands of Yunmeng Marsh and Yingchuan, and the present-day Da Zhou Plain, should have been a single, interconnected plain...
At that time--
This vast plain should be called: Spirit-Stabilizing Heaven!
It covers the Da Zhou Plain, the Daliang Plain, Longchuan Prefecture, Yunmeng Marsh, and a large part of the Zhengyuan Dao District, etc...
The change must have occurred ten thousand years ago.
Legend has it that this was during the early days of the Da Zhou Dynasty...
At that time, Spirit-Stabilizing Heaven was in great chaos.
It was controlled by a cultivator Qin Feizi. Later, when the Da Zhou conquered this area, Qin Feizi was defeated and submitted. He then raised horses for the Da Zhou in this area...
Later, somehow...
Qin Feizi suddenly perished on the plains, and the place where he fell eventually became the land of Yingchuan...
It is estimated that at that time--
Its fall caused a collapse of the Dao Law, completely severing the spiritual energy of the earth's veins in the Yingchuan region, thus making the area barren...
This part of history was only recorded in a few brief strokes.
The fact that it has survived to this day proves that the death of Qin Feizi was most likely not the work of the Da Zhou.
Otherwise, they would have found a way to completely bury this history long ago...
Speaking of which--
Qin Feizi's surname was Qin, and Qin Lu's surname was also Qin. Furthermore, Qin Lu was born in the very place where Qin Feizi perished. Could this be their ancestor?
Qin Lu had this suspicion in his mind.
Moreover, the probability is not small; otherwise, why would he have the aptitude, while his descendants, though less aptitude, are still potential cultivators...?
This made Qin Lu wonder if his ancestors had once been wealthy!
However, let's leave that aside for now.
Qin Lu had a new idea about the Yingchuan region!
If the geological veins of Yingchuan can be repaired, and the waterways of the Ying River can be dredged to receive spiritual energy from upstream and downstream areas, could Yingchuan be put back on the right track?
This will completely change the situation.
Transform Yingchuan into a paradise for cultivators!
If this matter succeeds, it will be a great achievement for the present and future generations, making the Beichuan Qin Family a truly prominent clan!
But the goal is to change the landscape of a county.
Such methods are clearly beyond the capabilities of the Qi Condensation Realm...
Perhaps once I reach the Dao Foundation Realm, I can give it a try!
"Father..."
"The head of the Meng Family, Meng Ao, requests an audience, saying he has a valuable treasure to offer."
Upon hearing this—
Qin Lu snapped out of his reverie and said:
"Let him come..."
"Also... how are the results of the governance? Is it necessary for your father to intervene?"
Qin Xiao shook his head and said:
"Things are going smoothly. The entire Yunmeng Marsh region has been taken over. It just needs time to develop and consolidate. I don't think it will take many years..."
"This will bring a wealth of resources to my Qin Clan!"
"We could also relocate some people to Yingchuan to further develop the barren mountains of Yingchuan..."
Having said that--
Qin Xiao then handed Qin Lu a list detailing the spoils of the day...
"They looted over eighty Spirit Stone..."
"More than two hundred First-Tier talismans, and over thirty First-Tier Law Artifact..."
"Thirty-two types of First-Tier Spirit Plant, totaling over five hundred and thirty plants; one Second-Tier spiritual fruit tree: a yellow pear tree."
"Captured alive wild First-Tier spirit beasts: thirteen Black Armor Crocodile, eight Snake-Necked Spirit Turtle; captured spirit insects: three Crimson Millipede..."
"Over one hundred First-Tier spiritual items, mainly various Spirit Stone and spirit wood, and also..."
"..."
Looking at the miscellaneous profits, Qin Lu smiled, a smile he hadn't shown in a long time...
Clearly, these items were obtained from hunting down the remnants of the Floating Cloud Sword Sect. They look like a lot, but their total value is only a little over three hundred Spirit Stone...
Of course, this is also an unexpected windfall for the Lineage!
But unlike before--
Compared to what the Floating Cloud Sword Sect gained, it was nothing but a drop in the ocean...
That's the culmination of a sect's accumulation over a hundred years; the gains are worth at least two or three thousand Spirit Stone...
Qin Lu didn't even blink; he said no, and that was it!
With this money, he repaid the debt of saving his life. For Qin Lu, it wasn't a loss. Being able to sever this debt with material possessions was well worth it!
And he--
As long as we protect Yunmeng Marsh, this is a tangible resource that will benefit future generations...
Furthermore, he cultivated good relations with the Huang and Zhang families, gaining two close friends, which was quite rare. As long as the Qin and Zhang families didn't have any conflicts...
For at least the next few decades or centuries, there will be no major upheavals.
"Good!"
"Once the war has stabilized, we will bring the rosewood tree back to the Lineage and have Hui'er cultivate another peak, turning it into a spirit fruit garden to nurture spirit fruit trees..."
"As for the other spirit beasts, let Zhuang'er reopen a Spirit Beast Peak to raise them..."
"To prevent the spirit beasts from mixing and affecting the original deer population, these deer demons will become a major pillar of our race in the future!"
After listening to his father's arrangements--
Qin Xiao readily agreed, and then summoned Meng Ao to the mountain...
A short while later.
A burly man approached Qin Lu, carrying a treasure box in his hands; the contents didn't appear to be very large...
But a faint, almost imperceptible inspiration stirred something within Qin Lu, making him inexplicably restless.
The fact that it could arouse such restlessness, even desire, in Qin Lu, a cultivator at the Qi Condensation Realm, clearly indicates that it is some kind of treasure of heaven and earth...
"Junior Meng Ao pays respects to Ancestor Qin!"
As he spoke--
Meng Ao then immediately performed a full kneeling ceremony to demonstrate the Meng Family's loyalty and submission...
"Get up."
"Speaking of which, your daughter is my second child's relative. According to seniority, we are of the same generation, so there's no need for such a grand ceremony..."
Qin Lu smiled kindly and amiably, and his handsome appearance made people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze.
Meng Ao was certain in his heart, but he dared not be overconfident.
Qin Lu was only being polite to him out of respect for his son and for giving Meng Ao face...
If he takes advantage of the situation, he'll be ungrateful and lose face, making it difficult for him to perform well in the future!
So Meng Ao wisely didn't respond.
Instead, he opened the treasure box directly and presented the treasure with both hands!
"This junior has come here today to find a treasure, which I offer to my ancestor."
"However, this junior is ignorant and does not recognize this object."
"But I am certain that this is at least a Second-Tier spiritual item. I humbly request the ancestor to appraise it."
Seeing this--
Qin Lu lightly tapped the box, and the contents flew out and landed in front of him...
Its shape resembles roots and a heart. Although it is dark brown, it exudes the spiritual light of wood. Its magnificent vitality is restrained, just like a lump of wood.
Yet its precious aura cannot be concealed, adding a touch of mystery...
"Could it be...?"
"The Heart of a Wood Demon left behind when plants and trees fell from grace?!"