The one who spoke was Second Senior Brother, Zhu Qinghao.
He was lean and slender, with a refined beard, already a cultivator at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, and his alchemy skills had inherited much of their master's teachings.
A compulsory task always came with punitive measures. He had never seen the sect issue such an order to everyone.
"To tell you, it isn't out of the question that this matter won't stay hidden for long.
The two Patriarchs spared no cost to invite the Thousand Peaks True Lord of the Central Continent's Panshan Sect to survey our sect's spiritual veins. After nearly two months of investigation, he devised a plan to accelerate the elevation of our main spiritual vein."
Ge Ying's words carried an excitement she could hardly suppress. The sect possessed two top-grade second-tier spiritual veins, and more importantly, the two veins shared a mysterious resonance.
If one of them could be elevated, the other would gradually benefit and be nourished as well. This had already been proven.
About two thousand years ago, when the southern vein was raised to second-tier high-grade, the northern vein advanced to the same level four hundred years later without additional nurturing.
One resource investment, twofold gain. This secret was something even she had only just learned.
Now, after two millennia of cultivation, the southern top-grade second-tier vein stood on the edge of advancement.
If it could be raised to the third tier, then in due time the other vein would follow, and the sect would hold two third-tier veins. At that point, their sect would unquestionably become the strongest in the entire Western Continent.
"Raise the spiritual vein's quality?" Zhu Qinghao muttered, swallowing back his saliva.
The looming beast calamity was like a sword hanging over every Western Continent cultivator's head. If the sect's veins advanced, they could lay down far stronger defensive arrays, and everyone's safety would be far better secured.
All eyes lit up with excitement. This was a boon to every member of the sect.
When the main spiritual vein advanced, the subsidiary branches would advance as well.
At the same time, the range of the spiritual veins would inevitably expand, giving rise to even more branch veins. That meant the sect could support more high-level cultivators in their cultivation.
Ji An pondered quietly, perhaps one day, spiritual veins might even appear beneath the fields around Bihai Lake.
Ge Ying clapped her hands lightly, her expression turning stern:
"Ordinarily, such things should be carried out in secret, even if it takes longer.
But the situation is urgent, the beast calamity looms close. We don't have the luxury of patience.
Thus, the Patriarchs have chosen to act openly, issuing compulsory tasks to gather enough Five Element spiritual materials in the shortest possible time to nurture the veins.
Our rise in strength is not something other factions will necessarily welcome, so when you leave the sect for missions, stay alert."
She tossed a jade slip to her second disciple and continued:
"Pass this around. The jade slip details the exact spiritual materials and quantities required for the compulsory task.
You may leave the sect now to sweep the marketplaces before the prices surge, rather than waiting until it delays your cultivation.
Remember, do not purchase within the sect, and do not leak the news outside.
The task will run on a yearly cycle, and failure to complete it will incur heavy punishment.
And don't bother with the major shops in the markets, the Patriarchs already dispatched people yesterday to clean them out."
"Master, time is of the essence. I'll take my leave first."
Zhu Qinghao rose, bowed, and departed. The others quickly followed, until in the blink of an eye, only one remained.
Ji An cupped his fists with a smile.
"Master, this disciple has an unworthy request.
Once the news leaks, prices of all related resources will skyrocket and stay high until the task ends.
Right now, while the outside world is still ignorant, I'd like to stockpile some goods.
The window for high profits is only these few days. I hope to borrow some spirit stones from Master to turn over."
"Ah?"
Ge Ying couldn't help but laugh. In all her years of teaching disciples, this was the first time she'd encountered one who took the initiative to ask their master for spirit stones.
"And what if you lose money? How will you pay me back?
You're already at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement and should be preparing to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, aren't you?
If this gamble fails, how will you afford one?"
She felt this new disciple was still too caught up in worldly concerns. It wasn't a problem yet, but if he remained fixated on profit after building his foundation, it would harm his cultivation in the long run.
After the Foundation Establishment, one needed to devote much more time to comprehending the deeper meaning within one's cultivation method, single-mindedly focusing on Dao insight.
At that stage, spirit stones, while still important, gradually became less central. The higher one's cultivation, the less significance mere stones held.
Ji An answered steadily, "The only reason this disciple seeks such trade is to gather enough contribution points sooner to exchange for a Foundation Pill.
The risk of failure is very low. Even if I did lose the principal, I could repay the debt through farming.
There are many unused plots of barren land in the sect, which cost little rent.
And this disciple, unworthy though I am, has recently comprehended the Dao-Intent of the Thick Earth Art."
He spoke smoothly, saving that final detail for last, the trump card.
Comprehending Dao-Intent in two of the most vital planting arts was no small matter. With skill as collateral, he was confident he could borrow spirit stones.
His master, an expert in agriculture herself, would surely understand what that meant.
A glimmer of sharp light flashed in Ge Ying's eyes. She quietly formed a hand seal, and the restrictions along the wall slid open.
"Go in. Let me see for myself the Dao-Intent you've grasped in the Thick Earth Art."
She had her own habits when it came to disciples: after her Qi Refinement students all advanced to Foundation Establishment, she would rest for several years before accepting a new batch.
When she'd met this disciple, she hadn't truly intended to take him in merely to hire a skilled spiritual farmer for her medicine garden.
But once he demonstrated the Dao-Intent of the Minor Rain Technique, she had been moved by his talent and brought him under her wing.
Now, Ji An stepped into the medicine garden and calmly performed the spell.
A dense, nurturing aura spread as earthen-yellow radiance pulsed, seeping into the soil.
When he finished, he lowered his hands and stood quietly beside his master, waiting for her judgment.
Ge Ying remained still for a long moment, then her eyes softened with genuine satisfaction.
"Very good. Keep working hard."
She thought to herself: this disciple might very well become the finest spirit farmer since the sect's founding.
The top-grade second-tier spirit peach tree was nearing the end of its life, and she had long worried she would not, before her own lifespan ended, manage to cultivate a new top-grade spirit tree for the sect.
Now that worry was much lighter.
Even if she failed, her disciple could carry on her burden.
Turning, she walked toward the exit, her voice warm as it drifted back:
"I don't have much in the way of spirit stones left. I'll lend you twenty mid-grade spirit stones."
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