Ning Fengzhi's Visit

Ning Fengzhi sat upright in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's study. Outside the window, the jeweled glow of glazed tiles fell across his face, which was as gentle and refined as jade, yet unable to conceal his shock. The thin sheet of paper in his hand now weighed as heavily as a mountain. This was his third time reading Yan Zu's reply, and each time, the vision and breadth of mind beyond his years revealed between the lines made Ning Fengzhi's heart surge beyond his control.

"Not for one person's glory and reward, but for the well-being of the countless people of Douluo Continent." Ning Fengzhi softly read the words aloud, a complex light flickering in his eyes. As master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had devoted his life to its prosperity. He knew well how hard it was for a support-type sect to survive and develop on Douluo Continent, where strength reigned supreme.

They had to maneuver between the two great empires and Spirit Hall, maintaining a position above the fray and good relations with every faction, yet never drawing too much attention and arousing Spirit Hall's wariness. Maintaining that balance was like dancing on the edge of a blade; one careless step would lead to eternal ruin.

But Yan Zu's letter seemed to push open an entirely new door before him. The people's livelihood!

Those words exploded in his mind like a thunderclap. Indeed, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was as wealthy as a nation and wielded immense influence, but it had always been confined to the exchange of high-end resources and political maneuvering among Soul Masters.

If it could direct its strength toward the far broader world of ordinary people, toward the most basic production of grain, it would undoubtedly open up a "safe zone" in which Spirit Hall would never lightly interfere and might even be pleased to see succeed.

If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect took the lead in promoting high-yield crops and Soul Tool farming implements, benefiting hundreds of millions of commoners, it would not only greatly enhance the sect's reputation and win the support of the people at the bottom, but also consolidate and expand its influence in a way that was entirely nonaggressive and even aligned with some of Spirit Hall's ideals.

This move would achieve several things at once: for the sect, it would bring renown, open new paths, and secure its foundations; for the continent, it would aid the people and advance civilization; and in the broader scheme, it would avoid direct confrontation and plan for the long term.

"How could a talent like this boy remain a creature confined to a pond? That Rongrong was able to meet him is truly the sect's good fortune!" Ning Fengzhi hesitated no longer. He had made up his mind.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood nearby with his hands behind his back, his sword resting at an angle against the ground, its cold gleam restrained. Seeing that Ning Fengzhi had been silent for a long while, he raised an eyebrow. "Sect master, how did Yan Zu respond? A hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins and the honored position of an elder-even an established Soul Tool grandmaster would flock to such an offer. Did he refuse?"

Bone Douluo Gu Rong also came over, curiosity on his face. "That boy is extraordinarily gifted and gets along well with Rongrong. By rights, he had no reason to refuse. Could he have thought the terms were too low?"

Ning Fengzhi slowly raised his head, shock still lingering in his eyes. He handed the letter to the two men, his voice carrying a barely perceptible note of wonder. "Read it yourselves. This child's vision is far beyond anything we could imagine."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong took the letter and read it carefully side by side. Only the soft rustle of paper remained in the hall. As they read on, their expressions gradually changed, from initial puzzlement to gravity, and finally to a measure of admiration.

"Not for one person's glory and reward, but for the well-being of the countless people of Douluo Continent..." Chen Xin repeated the words from the letter in a low voice, the Seven Kill Sword in his hand trembling slightly. "Such breadth of mind came from the mouth of a ten-year-old boy?"

Gu Rong stroked the beard on his chin and said with feeling, "High-yield crops, Soul Tool farming implements... What he wants is to use the art of Soul Tools to benefit the people, rather than merely for struggles between sects. His intentions are far purer than those of old fellows like us."

"We can't wait any longer." Ning Fengzhi rose, determination in his eyes. "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, come with me to Nuoding City."

Several days later, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong quietly arrived in Nuoding City. Without alerting the academy, they went straight to Yan Zu's home. Yan Zu was somewhat surprised that Ning Fengzhi had come in person, but he felt even greater appreciation for the sect master's decisiveness and foresight.

"Sect Master Ning, Senior Jian, Senior Gu, my humble home is a simple place, and my hospitality is lacking. Please forgive me."

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand and smiled. "No need for courtesy, young friend Yan. We are the ones who came unannounced. The vision you described in your letter was so astonishing that I could neither eat nor sleep in peace. I had to come and see for myself."

Yan Zu understood and smiled. "Sect master, please follow me."

Yan Zu led the three men into the small courtyard.

Ning Rongrong was chasing Little Jade around the courtyard. Suddenly sensing something, she looked up in delight. "Dad! Grandpa Jian! Grandpa Gu!"

She flung herself toward them like a pink butterfly. Ning Fengzhi gently caught her first, then Sword Douluo lightly ruffled her hair, and finally Bone Douluo used his Soul Power to "lift" her up and spin her around.

"You've grown taller, girl." Chen Xin's normally stern features softened.

Ning Rongrong was both surprised and delighted by the sudden arrival of her father and Grandpa Gu.

Ning Rongrong threw herself into Ning Fengzhi's arms. "Dad! Grandpa Jian! Grandpa Gu! Why are you here? Did you miss Rongrong?"

Ning Fengzhi stroked Ning Rongrong's hair. "Yes, Dad missed Rongrong, so I came to see you."

"And while I'm here, I have an important matter to discuss with young friend Yan Zu." Ning Fengzhi turned to Yan Zu, appreciation in his gaze. "I received your letter, young friend Yan Zu. Every word was a pearl of wisdom, and I benefited greatly from it."

Yan Zu knew what he meant. He led Ning Fengzhi and the Sword and Bone Douluos to an experimental field he had cleared in his backyard. The field was about half a mu in size, and the crops growing there were entirely different from the grains commonly seen on Douluo Continent. Their stalks were thick and sturdy, their leaves a vibrant green, and their full, heavy heads of grain bent low under their own weight. At a glance, they were growing splendidly.

"This is the high-yield crop I mentioned. It's called rice." Yan Zu pointed to the plants in the field. "It adapts readily to different conditions, yields more than three times as much per mu as ordinary grain, and has a better taste and richer nutritional value. I planted it on a trial basis three months ago. The grains are now filling out, and it will be ready to harvest in another month."

Ning Fengzhi bent down to examine the rice's growth, his fingertips gently brushing a full head of grain, his eyes filled with shock. He had grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and seen many rare crops, but never grain of such quality. The heads of ordinary grain were small and sparsely seeded, but the rice before him had heads as long as a palm, densely packed with full grains. Even to the naked eye, its yield was clearly far greater than that of ordinary crops.

"This... this is real?" A trace of disbelief entered Ning Fengzhi's voice as he turned to Yan Zu. "Three times the yield per mu? Young friend Yan Zu, do you know what that means? If it can be widely cultivated, no one under heaven will suffer from famine again!"

Gu Rong came over as well, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes. "Such a wondrous thing is truly unheard of. Young friend Yan Zu, how did you cultivate this crop?"

"I happened upon an inheritance called the Hundred Grains Manual. It records methods for cultivating several high-yield crops." Yan Zu did not reveal the existence of the system, instead giving the same explanation as before. "Besides rice, there are crops such as wheat and corn, all of which can greatly increase yields. I've already begun cultivating seedlings."

Next, Yan Zu took out several simple drawings. They showed prototypes of farming implements, including plows, harrows, and water-drawing devices, with ingenious structures that appeared capable of being driven by a small amount of Soul Power. "These are preliminary ideas for Soul Tool farming implements. The key is to lower the requirements for using them, so that Soul Scholars below level ten and even physically strong ordinary people can operate them after simple training. They can greatly reduce the labor needed and improve farming efficiency."

Ning Fengzhi took the drawings. Though he was not well versed in making Soul Tools, his merchant's instincts and knowledge as a Soul Master allowed him to recognize their immense value at a glance. These were not merely tools, but a revolution in productivity!

"Good! Good! Good!" Ning Fengzhi said the word three times in succession, gripping Yan Zu's hand tightly. "Young friend Yan, I judged a gentleman's heart by my own petty standards. I thought only that you were an extraordinary talent, without knowing that you carried a desire to save the world in your heart! My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to devote its full strength to walking this new path of civilization with you! As for the details of our cooperation, just name your terms!"

Yan Zu nodded calmly. "You praise me too highly, Sect Master Ning. Even with the technology, my strength alone would be hard-pressed to bring its benefits everywhere. That is why I hope to draw on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength to promote it."

Sword Douluo suddenly spoke. "If Spirit Hall intervenes along the way, or demands that the technology be shared..."

"Then we share it," Yan Zu said calmly. "What we want is to improve the people's livelihoods, not monopolize technology. If Spirit Hall can help advance it, more people will benefit. Besides, the more deeply they participate, the less likely they are to view it as a 'threat.'"

The appreciation in Ning Fengzhi's eyes grew. "Young friend, you understand people's hearts and the larger picture."

The negotiations that followed went exceptionally smoothly. The two sides quickly settled on a framework for their cooperation:

Yan Zu would provide the complete techniques for cultivating high-yield crops, including the full range of methods such as selection, crossbreeding, and raising seedlings, as well as the core designs for Soul Tool farming implements;

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would provide resources, establish a secret breeding base, mobilize skilled craftsmen to research and produce Soul Tool farming implements, and use its vast commercial network for small-scale trials in the early stages and large-scale promotion later.

As for the division of profits, Yan Zu asked for only a symbolic ten percent. The rest would go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for continued investment and expansion. His only insistence was that prices must remain affordable to ordinary people, ensuring that they truly benefited.

Ning Fengzhi readily agreed and proposed naming the joint undertaking the "Dawn Project," signifying the dawn of civilization. He also gave Yan Zu a higher-tier Glazed Tile Token, granting him the authority to call upon some of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources as a sign of absolute trust.

At the same time, he arranged for one Soul Saint and three Soul Emperors to protect the Yan family from the shadows.

With the cooperation settled, Ning Fengzhi acted swiftly and decisively. That very day, he sent a message back to the sect through a special channel, mobilizing its most trusted personnel and resources to launch the Dawn Project immediately.

He knew full well that cultivating and improving grain varieties, mass-producing Soul Tool farming implements, establishing distribution channels, and training personnel were all interconnected and would take time. Grain seed in particular would be no overnight undertaking: they had to accumulate enough seed for widespread cultivation and adapt it to the climates, soils, and waters of different regions.

As he left Yan Zu's home, Ning Fengzhi spoke gently to his daughter, who had come to see him off. "Rongrong, learn well from Yan Zu, and don't worry about the sect. Father has to go back to sow the seeds of hope for you, for the sect, and for this continent. I expect it will take at least another year or two to roll everything out fully and see results, but it will all be worth the wait."

Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously, her eyes full of pride and anticipation.

Standing beside the carriage, Ning Fengzhi cast one last look back at the ordinary courtyard, his heart swelling with lofty ambition. It was as though he could already see golden waves of rice sweeping across the continent in the future, convenient Soul Tool farming implements roaring through the fields, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's prestige reaching unprecedented heights through this achievement that benefited all people. And the starting point of it all lay in joining hands with a young boy today.