NOVPUBListening to Xi Kui’s words, he couldn’t help but feel a touch of surprise.
"Tribulation Crossing Treasure Raft... It turns out that the plan is to use this as a retreat for the Wanhua Sect, to avoid the disaster of a great flood."
"But... if the great flood never recedes, wouldn’t it become a tree without roots?"
No matter how many resources are hoarded on the Treasure Raft, they will eventually run out one day.
Wang Ba didn’t quite believe that the high-ranking members of the Sect would fail to understand even this.
"There must be some other arrangements," he thought to himself.
After listening for a while, he quickly came to understand the main thrust of this gathering.
It was quite simple, to mobilize the divisions of the Five Elements Division to increase production and efficiency, and targets were also issued to each division accordingly.
When he heard the target for the Spirit Food Department, Wang Ba did some calculations and figured that the intensity was about three to four times that of normal times. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
It was almost as intense as when they supported the West Sea Country initially.
But unlike before, it had only lasted a few months.
This time, however, the duration was completely uncertain.
Several years, or even several decades, or a hundred years were all possible.
"Do not throw away the eliminated resources of all kinds, transfer them all into the substandard channel, and no one is allowed to waste them carelessly..."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the various ministers sitting in attendance immediately turned slightly grim.
A few cultivators with substantial seniority couldn’t help but say:
"Hall Master Xi, we don’t care about these substandard products, but the disciples below all rely on these eliminated items to exchange for cultivation resources. If even this is controlled, the little merit they earn really won’t be enough!"
Xi Kui didn’t immediately respond.
Next to him, Song Dongyang quickly explained:
"We understand the difficulties you all face, so although these substandard products must not be taken for personal use, everyone’s merits have been significantly increased, enough to cover the losses of these substandards."
"This... Alright then!"
The various ministers hesitated, exchanged glances, and finally nodded their heads in agreement.
Yet, Wang Ba felt some puzzlement in his heart.
Substandard products were the loss quotas that each department tacitly agreed could serve as a hidden benefit for the deacons and assistants. Such items were treasures to the cultivators of small countries, but within the Wanxiang Sect, almost no one used them except for those who were really in a bad condition.
Why would the Sect specifically emphasize such things?
For some reason, he suddenly remembered his past experience co-hosting the Changyi Society with Wen Yong in Yan State.
Wen Yong had managed to earn a significant margin by sourcing many treasures discarded by cultivators from the Chu Dynasty and trading them with rogue cultivators.
It was something of a low-buy high-sell trick.
But could the massive Wanxiang Sect also covet such meager profits?
Was the Sect really in such hardship?
Wang Ba wasn’t sure.
Although he felt the Sect was unlikely to be that hard-pressed, he also thought there must be another plan for these items.
But he could feel the increasing difficulty of the overall environment.
With this in mind, he no longer resisted the position of Vice Minister.
At this time, any addition to the resources was good.
"It looks like I can’t stop providing Spirit Food... or cultivating either," he thought silently to himself.
After entering the Golden Core Realm, he had indeed become a bit complacent.
However, this gathering had again tightened his resolve.
Before long, the gathering finally concluded.
...
Cui Daqi and the big drinker He had things to do and left after giving Wang Ba a few instructions.
As it happened, the Spirit Plant Department was not far from the Spirit Food Department, so Wang Ba decided to walk with Ma Shengxu.
In the area overseen by the Spirit Plant Department, he saw Bu Chan tending to the spirit fields and cultivating with the help of the Earth’s Qi, as well as Wang Yi’an, now being looked after by Bu Chan and playing in the fields with a few other children of similar age.
The little boy, like a little overlord in the fields, led children of the same age around causing mischief.
However, the adults were not annoyed. It was very difficult for cultivators to have children, so watching these mischievous kids, their eyes were filled with amusement.
"It’s about time for Liu Jin to consider cultivation too. Have you and your wife thought about it?" Ma Shengxu asked as he watched Wang Yi’an in the field, a trace of affection flashing in his eyes, then followed with concern.
Wang Ba couldn’t help but show a helpless expression, "To be honest with you, Uncle Master, I have never taught a disciple and I really don’t know what Liu Jin should learn... Do you have any suggestions?"
"Suggestions?"
Ma Shengxu shook his head, "My suggestion is for you to take him to Rende Hall when you have time. There, the child can be tested to see what he’s more suited for. Though it may not be completely accurate... at least you’ll have an idea in your heart."
Wang Ba quickly nodded his head in agreement.
Without disturbing Bu Chan and Wang Yi’an, he quietly returned to the Spirit Food Department.
Seeing that the deacons still had cold expressions on their faces.
Wang Ba, however, had already calmed his emotions.
Since he had not yet received an official appointment and had not been assigned a room on the second floor, he simply began refining spirit food like the others.
Compared to his time in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Mother Qi of Dharmas he now wielded was much purer, and both in terms of quality and quantity, it was incomparable to before.
